Northwest Minnesota Arts Council News | | The Latest in Regional Arts Opportunities | | Exhibits, Grants, Announcements, Events, Trainings, Calls for Art, Awards, & More! | | |
- April 30 Grant Deadline for Govt and Nonprofit Organizations
- May 9 Submissions Due for Welcome the Whimsical Exhibit
Learn more about these programs, services, and events in this newsletter!
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The NW Annual Art Exhibit Winners
Forty-three adult artists from our 7 county- service region (Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau, and Red Lake Falls) and 42 students from 9 schools entered 128 pieces of art, including oil, acrylic, watercolor painting, photography, pencil drawings, pen and ink, pottery, sculpture, fiber art, glass mosaic, and mixed media and competed for $2,300.00 in cash awards. Attendees at the exhibit voted for People’s Choice. Exhibit cash award winners were chosen while the exhibit was on display by Glen Henry, a qualified juror from Minnesota State University Moorhead.
Henry is a versatile and accomplished Indigenous artist whose creative journey spans a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, and graphic design. He is the Director of Exhibitions at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He received his BA and MFA from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.
He explained that “jurying an exhibition can be a difficult process. There are numerous deserving artworks, with many exhibiting interesting subject matter, style, creativity and skill. However, these attributes are not the only ones considered when choosing artworks. I also consider aesthetic, ambition, insight and original thought. Congratulations to all the artists (the award winners and to the artists who were not selected) for their skill, ambition, and courage to submit artworks. Perseverance is key when creating and submitting art.”
Walk through the exhibit at https://youtu.be/QJeYb-pkZ-A?si=uAr8Rz1hzoX4PtJY
Exhibit Awards include:
Adults:
1st Place $500 Elizabeth Kitchell-Rockstad of Ada in mixed media for "In My Nature"
2nd Place $300 Denise Jenson of Badger in photography for "Underwater Pac-Men"
3rd Place $200 Jessica Lundeen of Thief River Falls in acrylic for "Bee's Marigold"
Merit $100 Cindy Kolling of Gully in pen and ink for "Slough pumper in Habitat"
Merit $100 Dennis Kinkead of Hallock in watercolor for "Where Are You Guys Going?"
Merit $100 Fred Hartmann of Thief River Falls in folk/traditional fine craft for "Country Church"
Merit $100 Jodi Peterson of Moorhead in fused glass for "The Wave"
Merit $100 Marj Mercil of Mentor in textile for "Little Boxes"
People’s Choice $100 Beau Bakken of Hallock
Students:
1st Place $300 Alyssa Foster of Thief River Falls in drawing for "One Act Matters"
2nd Place $150 Melody Voeltz of Lancaster in watercolor for "Field Bunny"
3rd Place $100 Addison Severts of Grygla in sculpture for "Serenity"
Merit $50 Ava Halvorson of Goodridge in drawing for "Grandpa Lewie"
Merit $50 Autumn Osse of Wannaska in digital photography for "Tank"
Merit $50 Mahli Holter of Red Lake Falls in photography for "All You Have to Do"
Merit $50 Issybelle Johnson of Fosston in sculpture for "The Well"
Merit $50 Aimee Ross of Fisher in mixed media for "Alaskan Dolly Varden"
People’s Choice $50 Aimee Ross of Fisher
There was mingling, snacks, and live piano music during the reception before the awards program. The exhibit provides an opportunity to see what our regional adult and student artists are creating in their studio spaces and in the classroom. The reception is a wonderful day of celebrating the arts in our region.
Fourteen exhibit pieces of student and adult art were chosen to be included in the Traveling Art Exhibit, which will travel this next year to area libraries. Watch for the schedule to be announced and for it to arrive in your community. Five exhibit pieces of student art were also chosen to be hung in the hallway of Senator Mark Johnson’s office in St. Paul. These students and their work include Courtney Webster of Lancaster “Sunflower,” Kyleigh Halvorson of Erskine “Existential,” Aimee Ross of Fisher “Kachemak State Park, AK,” Autumn Osse of Wannaska, “Tank,” and Addison Pal, of Crookston “Reflection.”
Visit our website for more information at NWArtsCouncil.org. Funding for these awards is provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Legislature.
| | Elizabeth Kitchell-Rockstad won 1st place in the adult category for her mixed media piece. | | Aimee Ross won a merit award and People's Choice for students | | Denise Jenson won 2nd place in the adult category | | Addison Severts won 3rd place in the student category for her pottery | | Beau Bakken won People's Choice for adults. | Jessica Lundeen of Thief River Falls won 3rd place for her acrylic painting. | | Fred Hartmann won a merit award for his Country Church. | Sue Gens, Director of the Minnesota State Arts Board spoke at during the program. | | Marj Mercil of Mentor received a merit award for her textile piece. | Cindy Kolling of Gully received a merit award for her pen and ink piece. | | NW Art Exhibit and Awards Program and Reception | | |
Of the Year Award Winners
Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our seven-county Minnesota region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Of the Year Award winners were nominated by area residents.
Of the Year Award Winners include:
Darcy Reese of Thief River Falls will receive the Northwest Star Award for Creative Choir Directing. Darcy was a choir teacher for 37 years in Thief River and received national recognition and awards for choir direction. She received the Minnesota Music Educators Hall of Fame Legacy Award earlier this year. The NW Star Award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award once as a lifetime achievement award. To qualify individuals must be a professional artist and have earned a substantial portion of income through artistic endeavors. Congratulations, Darcy! Read more about Darcy on our website at https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/blog/darcy-reese-receives-nw-star-award
Loreen Hanson of Thief River Falls is the Northwest Artist of the Year for Visual Art. Hanson has over 76 years of experience drawing and painting. Her prolific artwork captures the beauty of her world with images of wildlife, flora, and fauna, still life arrangements, portraits, and paintings of people doing everyday activities -- all of which celebrate life. She has participated in more than 30 art exhibits. Our Artist of the Year award can be given to any discipline artist including visual, performing, or creative writing who are active in their artistic endeavors including emerging artists. It is a cash award of $500. Congratulations, Loreen! Read more about Loreen here.
Rena Zapata Bouchard of Crookston will be awarded the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year Award for Media Art. A makeup artist and portrait photographer, Rena is passionate about empowering others and using the arts as a tool for social change. In 2019, she spearheaded the creation of Studio 110, a permanent space dedicated to digital storytelling for youth and adults in Crookston and the surrounding area. Studio 110 had been a Crookston satellite site since 1996 for Minneapolis organization In Progress. Studio 110 has become a space for media arts creativity with themes related to breaking stereotypes and acceptance. Media arts is art made looking through a lens like photography and video. Rena strives to help students who identify as persons of color find a welcoming home base at Studio 110. Today Rena coordinates media arts workshops, bringing in talented professional artists from across the nation to teach and empower those who come to their downtown Crookston location. Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and includes arts from all disciplines. Congratulations, Rena! Learn much more about Rena's work here.
These awards were presented on Sunday, April 27 in Crookston at the University of Minnesota.
For more information about these awards, click Artists on our website then Nominations for Of the Year Awards at http://www.northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/ A list of past winners is also under Artists on our website. Northwest Minnesota Arts Council has been celebrating our artists with this award program since 2002.
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Artists of Northwest Minnesota 6th edition is here!
Featuring artists, performers, and
arts businesses & organizations in our region
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council publishes a directory every 3 years that lists fine craft and visual artists, photographers, writers, and performing artists who answered our call for entries, as well as arts organizations. It's an invaluable resource when you are looking for art and artists in our region. This resource allows you to connect with and find local artists and their products, as well as businesses that support the arts. Our goal is to assist creative people, organizations, and businesses to flourish in our area.
As you know, our region is home to talented writers, visual artists, performance artists, fiber artists, sculptors, 3D artists, photographers, mosaic artists, printmakers, jewelers, metal artists, wood carvers, and more. The booklet helps you find them. This edition of the booklet includes a new section of performing artists, including musicians who play in our area.
Artists of NW Minnesota was designed by Kat Allen of Warroad and edited by NWMAC Promotions Specialist Kristin Eggerling and Executive Director Mara Hanel with funding from the McKnight Foundation.
Pick up a copy of this directory at no cost at your local library, coffee shop, or other businesses in our region. To view the booklet online visit https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/artists-of-nw-minnesota-booklet
| | FREE services offered in our office space! | |
Did you know that we offer free services in our office space?
We have an audio recording room, a grant writing station, meeting rooms, a photography room, and an enhanced art gallery that you are free to use at no cost!
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Our photography room offers amateur headshots, photography of instruments and samples of art pieces, as well as live recording shots.
You must make an appointment for this service. director@NWArtsCouncil.org or 218-745-8886.
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Need an images of your art?
Take advantage of this free service to elevate your arts business.
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Do you need a headshot?
Or images of you performing your art?
Take advantage of the photography room.
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Don't Wait -- Applications Open Apply Now
Deadline for Arts Grants for Organizations is
April 30
Thinking about public art in your community? Nonprofits and government organizations can start submitting applications for arts projects. The next deadline is April 30. Grants are between $500 and $10,000 and you can apply for one arts project at a time. Funding sources for these grants are Clean Water, Land and Legacy funds and general allocation funds from the State of Minnesota.
Organizational arts activities funded through these two very important grant opportunities include festivals, community theatre projects, folk music entertainment, sponsorship of visual demonstrations, creative writing workshops and many other activities that improve the quality of life of people in our communities.
Schools in our seven-county region can also apply for an Artist Residency grant of $2,600 plus an additional $400 if the residency needs supplies. Our teaching artist roster is a great resource to view artists available to teach in our area and is available on our website at www.NorthwestMinnesotaArtsCouncil.org under the artists tab. Another resource to view artists available to enhance curriculum is COMPAS.
Schools can initially apply for one residency. Then based on remaining funding, can request up to three additional residencies into spring and summer. Funding for residency activities comes from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in Minnesota.
Read more here about our grants and how to apply.
We offer grant training workshops via Zoom or in person at the NWMAC office in Warren. You must RSVP to attend. Email director@nwartscouncil.org to RSVP or with questions. Don’t let your questions about the grant process keep you from applying! We are here to help.
To learn more about grant programs and start an application visitwww.NorthwestMinnesotaArtsCouncil.org. The grant application process is completely online and NWMAC's Director Mara Hanel can help walk you through the process of using the grants portal to get accustomed to it. Please contact her at director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886.
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Heritage Through Image
a photography exhibit
Carnegie Library, 102 Main Ave N, Thief River Falls
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce the opening of Heritage Through Image, an exhibit open through June. This exhibit includes 22 images (2 images of each subject), along with a 5 x 7 framed narrative for each person that depict traditional practices, customs, and folklore that serves as a visual representation of regional heritage.
This exhibit was first shown at the Sorenson Gallery in Fosston last year and was sponsored by the East Polk Heritage Center. The show features individuals that depict the heritage, art, culture, and talents of our region. Photographer Monika Lawrence, formerly of Bemidji now living in Germany, was commissioned to capture the images that reflect traditional practices, customs, and folklore to serve as a visual representation of the heritage of East Polk County.
Come and see images and information featuring folk arts such as Hardanger embroidery, Scandinavian desserts and pastries, rosemaling, historical storytelling including stories from Indigenous communities, woodworking, experimental archaeology and textiles, blacksmithing, tractor and vintage car restorations, and more. There’s something for everyone!
Lawrence interviewed and photographed the subjects who are featured in this exhibit. They include Stephenie Anderson, John Balstad, Dustin Carlson, Caleb Curfman, Amy Mulry, Al and Vicky Olson, Jeffrey Olson, Earl Steinbrenner, Lynn Sundrud, Rosayn Watnemo, and Carol Wold.
She moved to the United States in 2007 and lived in Bemidji until 2023 where she taught photography and photojournalism at Bemidji State University. She was also a freelance photographer for Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) News. She and her husband have now returned to Germany after their retirement.
She explained, “In my photography, I focus on people in their environment as well as people’s impact on the environment. I want to tell stories that indicate our bonds to the past but that may also let us reflect about today and the time beyond tomorrow. I am also passionate about dance, which is about other, creatively imagined environments. Capturing briefly appearing moments before they are gone is what I am seeking.”
The Carnegie Library in Thief River Falls is at 102 Main Ave N. The gallery is open Mondays & Fridays from 10 AM - 2 PM and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from 8-11 AM. It will be open when the Chamber of Commerce office is open. You can contact the Chamber of Commerce to see about other possible open hours at trfchamber.com, 218-681-3720, or info@trfchamber.com.
For more information about this exhibit, visit our website at NWArtsCouncil.org, or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 280-4917 or email NWArtsCouncil@gmail.com. Please sign up for our e-newsletter on our website home page to see the latest news and grant announcements. Email director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886 to reach our office during regular business hours.
| Let's Talk Art is our weekly radio interview and podcast with host Phil McKenzie | |
Let's Talk Art Podcast
Our podcast program features artists, arts organizations, and arts events in our region. To hear all of the past podcasts visit our website here.
4.23.25 Rena Zapata Bouchard
A certified freelance makeup artist and portrait photographer, Rena is passionate about empowering others and using the arts as a tool for social change. She spoke about how she got involved in Studio 110, what they offer, and being a make-up artist and a photographer. She coordinates all the activities there now. Rena received the Arts Advocate of the Year Award recently in Crookston. Listen here.
4.16.25 Glen Henry A versatile and accomplished Indigenous artist whose creative journey spans a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, and graphic design, Glen was the juror of our NW Art Exhibit in Crookston this year. The exhibit featured 128 pieces of art by student and adult artists residing in a seven-county region including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau and Red Lake. He is the Director of Exhibitions at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He spoke about what he looks for when he judges an exhibit. Listen here.
4.9.25 Trey Everett and Ross Hier Crookston Artists Trey Everett and Ross Hier spoke about their background and road to becoming artists. Last summer they painted a mural together in East Grand Forks that featured over 30 species of fish. Trey has also painted a number of murals elsewhere, including some at the Golden Link Senior Center. There’s one in Crookston on the Ace Hardware exterior wall that Ross helped him with. They will be painting a mural in Fosston together this summer. Trey also spoke about being the Showcase Specialist for the Arts Council and NWMAC exhibits, including the NW Art Exhibit in Crookston at the University of Minnesota and Welcome the Whimsical (there is a call for art right now for 3rd grade on up through adult).
Listen here.
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Stay tuned for the upcoming
Traveling Art Exhibit
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) sponsors an annual Traveling Art Exhibit that travels to area libraries throughout the year. The exhibit includes 14 original pieces of art by regional adult and student artists, chosen from works submitted for our annual juried exhibit. Details about the upcoming exhibit will be released soon.
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Tuesday, May 20 at 5:30 PM. Join this ekphratic poetry workshop followed by an open mic! Ekphrastic poetry is writing inspired by visual art, using vivid language to bring artwork to life through words.
Learn more, and register for the FREE poetry workshop here: https://givebutter.com/poetry-openmic. Hosted by The Firefly Center for Art and Wellbeing, 102 S Kaiser Ave, Fosston 56542.
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North Country Fiddle and Dance Community Dance
Saturday, May 24 from 3 to 5:30 PM
Bernie's Restaurant
121 DeMers Ave. East Grand Forks, MN
Music by Four Mile Portage of Duluth
All ages – singles, couples, families
Traditional American folk dances : Reels, squares, circle mixers and more... all dances are taught, fun, and easy to learn!
Donations at the door
This event sponsored in part by a grant from the Minnesota Northwest Arts Council
Note: This is an after hours event, If you want to eat, come by 2:30 PM
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Classes and workshops at Warroad RiverPlace.
This new arts, culture, and events center is open Tue- Sat, 10 AM to 5 PM. The art gallery and tours of the space are free and open to the public. Contact the center at arts@warroadriverplace.org or (218) 986-0001.
Learn more at warroadriverplace.org
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- Saturday, May 10 from 1- 3 PM
Learn the art of pendant making in this hands-on class, where you'll design and create your own unique jewelry piece. Using various materials, including local handmade ceramic beads and pendants, you'll craft a one-of-a-kind accessory to take home. Perfect for beginners and experienced creators alike.
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- Thursday, May 8 from 3:30 to 4:30 PM
Join featured gallery artist Shawna Boulette Grapentine for an acrylic painting class. Explore bold, nature-inspired silhouettes in a welcoming, beginner-friendly environment.
For more info about these and other events visit https://www.warroadriverplace.org/events
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Arts for Vets is offering this upcoming workshop "The Magic of Alcohol Inks"
Sunday, May 18 from 3-5 PM with Julie Olson at Arts for Vets 215 North 3rd Street Grand Forks $45/person
Learn the fun of alcohol inks! All materials provided.
Light refreshments will be served. Limited to 10 people. Contact Julie to sign up at 701-343-2695 or
julie@themiddleofnowherestudio.com
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Listen to Let's Talk Art, our radio interviews, with host Phil McKenzie on Wednesday afternoons
Pioneer 90.1FM
Email Kristin Eggerling
The podcast of the interviews on our website. This is a great way to promote your art! Listen to past interviews here!
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