2018 Exhibits included Tree Spirits: Works in Wood by Regional Artists, Midwest Grain: Watercolor Paintings by Debbie Aune, Portrait, Inklings by Jill Levene, Visual Art by Ivy Bailie, Paintings by Judy Szklarski, Skin, Local Author Jayne Flaagan & We Are Water.

Tree Spirits: Works in Wood by Regional Artists

January - February 2018

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) exhibited woodworking pieces of art–all exceptionally carved, chipped, formed, sawed or turned–by regional artists from Northwest Minnesota. Artists featured in this NWMAC Gallery in East Grand Forks included

Candace Osborn of Ada, Cliff Nelson of Crookston, Dick Grega from Warren, Jim Johanneck from Red Lake Falls, Matt Kroulik of Stephen, & Matt Noel from Stephen.

Midwest Grain: Watercolor Paintings by

Debbie Aune

March 2018

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council’s exhibit Midwest Grain, a collection of watercolor paintings by Debbie Aune, featured familiar landmarks to all of us living in northwest Minnesota: grain elevators. A longtime artist of Gatzke, Minnesota, Debbie grew up on a small farm in northern Minnesota.

Debbie's art, primarily watercolor paintings, often depicts scenes of daily life in our communities-and our region's history. "With no surprise, farming, farming equipment and storage buildings have again made their way into my latest watercolor exhibit, Midwest Grain. Elevators, tracks and trains swarm with history, stories and memories good and bad. Every town big or small has (or had) a grain elevator. Good thing I like the color gray!"

Debbie's exhibition is now open through March 31, 2018 at the NWMAC Gallery in East Grand Forks.

Portrait Exhibit

April - May 2018

Traditionally, a portrait is a representation of a person, with a focus on his or her face–giving the viewer hints not only to the lifestyle and qualities of the individual, but also a snapshot of the time and culture wherein he or she lived. With further artistic depth, the viewer may also get a glimpse of the experiences the person represented may have enthralled in or endured. A single portrait may have the power to become a statement for an entire generation, or contrarily, it can simply be a personal moment captured in time. Whether public or private–a portrait can reveal, but it can also disguise. A portrait can enlighten, but can also leave viewers mystified, wanting to know more.One thing is for certain–whether drawn, painted, photographed, sculpted, carved, commissioned or caught by accident–without the art of portraiture, the identity of humanity today and throughout history would be harder to trace or understand. It would be hard to look to the past and understand who we are and where we’ve been. Perhaps one of the most important subject matters in fine art, portraits also remind us to really look at one another, rather than just consider each other with a passing glace. If you could choose one portrait to represent who you are–what would it look like?“The works of art on display at the NWMAC gallery feature many subjects–the young, the elder, and everywhere in between. Subjects range from self-portraits, loved ones, those we’ve lost, and those we’d like to know better. A must see collection–each representation tells a story. Each portrait is a unique work of art.” – Kat Allen, NWMAC Exhibition Specialist.

June- July 2018 Judy Szklarski, Stephen paintings

PAINTINGS BY JUDY SZKLARSKI

Open through July 14, 2018

An exhibition of paintings and other works by Judy Szklarski, a long-time artist of Argyle, Minnesota was open at the NWMAC Gallery in East Grand Forks June through July 14, 2018. Judy grew up in rural Stephen, Minnesota. She started painting in 1990, primarily using pastels, acrylic, oils and watercolor. Thirty-four pieces of her artwork were featured in the gallery – quite a collection! Over the years, she finds that landscapes, especially sky and water scenes, are her biggest inspiration and subject matter in her art. “I take a picture of the sunset almost every night,” Judy explained. “I am inspired by the beauty that is around me.”Judy also enjoys painting older buildings, such as barns and sheds, from around the region. “Old buildings always get torn down, and when I paint them, it is a way to keep them alive. It is vey nostalgic.” Judy also likes to create abstract paintings, and has been showcasing more of her photography art. Married to Mike Szklarski, their children are Tiffany Schantz and Brandon Szklarski. An Artist’s Reception was held for Judy on Saturday, June 9 and Saturday, July 11.

Inklings by Jill Levene at Middle Sister Made

July 19 – August 26, 2018

These original pen and ink drawings by Artist-Printmaker Jill Levene are balanced not just in their black and white composition, but in their dreaminess that is not without weight. Like a daydream that verges on deep thought, her work draws you deeply in, but warmly. Levene's Inklings featured animals and the natural world, and the “wildness” of the subject matter is met with the formality and familiarity of their titles: drawing of a fox titled Roxanne, a stand of trees titled Friends on the Cloquet, and more.

Visual Art by Ivy Bailie September 2018

Artist Ivy Bailie’s work joined Jill's and was exhibited in September 2018. Glimpse the world through an artist’s eye, one shared by Ivy Bailie through her paintings of landscapes, florals, and even abstractions. Moving through medium as well as subject matter, Ivy demonstrates a close attention to light and shadow as well as color. Her artistry continues off the paper as she also skillfully mats and frames each piece. Ivy’s works offer original perspectives, and viewers might be moved to consider new angles in their own lives. As Ivy concludes her Artist’s Statement, we should all take moments to “look at [our] world through artist eyes.”

SKIN

October - November 2018

What does “skin” mean to you? Do you hear the noun, something we inhabit? Or do you hear the verb, an act of peeling away? The SKIN exhibit at the NWMAC Gallery expressed this contemplation manifested through art. Several local artists featured were: Heather Sabian of Crookston, Tracy Mehrkens of Thief River Falls, Kennedy Truscinski of Greenbush, and Mara Hanel of Warren. Artistic mediums range from photography, pencil on paper, acrylic on goat skin, to muskrat hide. Open through November 3, 2018. Artist Heather Sabian created the following video about the exhibit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q28R9DYBVjE

October and November 2018 Jayne Flaagan: Local Author

Jayne Flaagan, Local Author

Looking for local reads? Books by local author Jayne Flaagan were on display at the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery. Her books make up an eight part series about Ella the dog. Jayne Flaagan grew up in North Dakota and made the big move to Minnesota many years ago. She lives with her husband and her goofy dog named Ella. She also has three great children. Books have always been a huge part of her life and reading to children is something that she feels is critical to every child's learning experience. Between her jobs and raising her children, she estimates that she has probably read over a million books to children over the years! Jayne Flaagan grew up on a farm with a Husky for a pet and she has many fond memories of him. When it was time to get a dog for her own family, she knew that it had to be a Husky. Huskies are fun, lovable and have lots of energy! Ella is the second husky that she and her family have had the joy of including in the family. Ella has provided so much joy and entertainment for her own family that Flaagan decided she wanted to share Ella with other families. Thus, "Ella the Doggy" book series was born! Jayne Flaagan's website can be found at www.ellathedoggy.com and you can reach her at djflaagan@gra.midco.net.Jayne was also featured on our radio podcast on Pioneer 90.1FM on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

We Are Water Exhibit

December 2018 - January 2019

We Are Water Art Exhibit, on display at the NWMAC Gallery in East Grand Forks, Minnesota and later at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Artworks were created by area residents during workshops that were held throughout the region this fall. Participants were encouraged to create using the theme “We Are Water” as inspiration. In a similar spirit to our Equality and Respect for All workshops, participants were provided a 12x12 canvas, supplies and instruction to create a piece of art around this theme. Water can be a source of recreation; it keeps us alive; it is used for daily life. Participants were encouraged to bring snippets or photographs or anything else they might want to use as material, medium, or inspiration. The workshops and exhibit are part of a larger We Are Water MN project that spans the state of Minnesota. We Are Water Art Exhibit, through January 18, the exhibit will then move to the University of Minnesota Crookston on Friday, January 25 where there will be an artist’s reception and display of other works in the statewide We Are Water MN project. Doors Ten years of Clean Water, Land and Legacy funding (Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008) will also be celebrated with special guest speakers.

About We Are Water MN: West Polk County Soil and Water District in Crookston was selected to host the impressive We Are Water MN traveling exhibit from January 20 to March 4, 2019. Other sites include St. Paul, Bemidji, Duluth, Austin, Northfield, Grand Rapids and Onamia. The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council worked in collaboration with leaders in Crookston to compliment this family friendly, interactive Humanities Commission exhibit with our own local art creations.This exhibit is made possible with funding from The McKnight Foundation in Minneapolis and the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in Minnesota to the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council.

What is the We Are Water MN traveling exhibit?

West Polk County Soil and Water District in Crookston was selected to host the impressive We Are Water MN traveling exhibit from January 20 to March 4, 2019. Other sites include St Paul, Bemidji, Duluth, Austin, Northfield, Grand Rapids and Onamia. The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is working in collaboration with leaders in Crookston to compliment this family friendly, interactive Humanities Commission exhibit with our own local art creations.

We Are Water MN explores the connections between the humanities and water through an exhibit, public events and educator resources. Visitors reflect on local stories and the meaning and experiences of water in Minnesota with space to add their own stories. By creating relationships around water, we are creating networks that can promote positive social norms, and share a vision for and participate in water stewardship. The website on We Are Water MN shares stories from people in Minnesota relating to this theme. To read these stories visit https://mnhum.org/we-are-water-mn/

NWMAC Exhibits in 2018