Our annual Awards reception and program was held on Sunday, April 21 at the Kittson County History Museum. The exhibit opened at noon that day. Mingling and refreshments started at 2:00 PM along with live music by Eagle Creek and Eden Rowan Johnson.

The Awards Program started at 3 PM.

Of the Year Awards were presented to Potter Betsy Saurdiff for the NW Star Award -- Lifetime Achievement, Musician Randy Larson for Artist of the Year, and Radio Host Rom Ogaard for Arts Advocate of the Year, in addition to exhibit awards. Randy Larson performed 2 songs with his adult children.

The Exhibit and Reception were open to the public and free to attend. 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 was a wonderful day of celebrating the arts in our region.

Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit Winners Announced

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is excited to announce the Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit Winners. Student and adult artists residing in a seven-county region including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau and Red Lake recently entered the Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit and competed for $2,300 in cash awards. The winners were recognized at the Northwest Minnesota Artist Reception in Lake Bronson on April 21.

Exhibit cash award winners were chosen while the exhibit was on display at the Kittson County History Museum in Lake Bronson by qualified juror and Grand Forks Artist Pat Danielson.

Danielson has been an active, well known visual artist for decades and is a member of the River Forks Watercolor Society and of Arts for Vets. She has a B.S. in Education from the University of Missouri in Columbia. Of the exhibit, she said, “What a pleasure it was to see the rich display of art at NWMAC’s show at Lake Bronson! As this year’s juror, I viewed each piece several times. While technique is important, I looked for art that surprised with its original idea, showed clear intention, was well executed and presented, and especially that drew me back to learn more about it.

This exhibit showed a wide variety of media — paintings, ceramics, fiber arts, sculpture, photography, fused glass, mosaic, assemblages, digital art — in many sizes and many shapes! Some of the treasures offered were small works and made no less impact than large ones. Congratulations to all the artists who entered this exhibit. Art is a community where everyone can participate. I hope you will continue to show your work, learn from one another, and support each other. You all win — with or without prizes awarded.”

Walk through the exhibit at https://youtu.be/EeSvf3_tVVg.

Exhibit Awards include:

Adults:

1st $500 Andy Hall of Climax for photography “Backlit Milkweed”

2nd $300 Irene Bertils of Crookston for watercolor painting “Warm Summer Evening “

3rd $200 Aliza Novacek-Olson of Roseau for folk/traditional wool “Solitary Qoshmas”

Merit $100 Michael McColl of Lengby in drawing “You're Getting Very Sleepy”

Merit $100 Betsy Saurdiff of Grygla for folk/ traditional porcelain “Pitcher”

Merit $100 Elizabeth Kitchell-Rockstad of Ada in mixed media “No Constraints”

Merit $100 Sara Jo Trangsrud of Thief River Falls in sculpture “Bursting Out”

Merit $100 Gail Ose of Thief River Falls for fused glass “The Dreams We Hold Sacred”

People’s Choice $100 Debbie Aune of Gatzke

Students:

1st $300 Brigitta Novacek of Roseau in acrylic painting “Valorous”

2nd $150 Anita Foster of Thief River Falls for mixed media “Ruth”

3rd $100 Mary Jane Crane of Red Lake Falls for drawing “Beauty in Self-Image”

Merit $50 Kyleigh Halvorson of Fosston for drawing “Iris”

Merit $50 Kaytlyn Knutson of Red Lake Falls for digital art “Orion”

Merit $50 Mason Grivno of Felton for sculpture “German Wirehaired Pointer”

Merit $50 Mahli Holter of Red Lake Falls for mixed media “Almagations”

Merit $50 Izzy Swenson of Lancaster for painting “Purple Iris”

People’s Choice $50 Dana Brown of Lancaster

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 Lydia Christianson of Fertile “Omaha Jellyfish,” Kyleigh Halvorson of Fosston “Iris,” Carter Lee Johnsrud of Goodridge “A Broken Heart,” Dana Brown of Lancaster, (Kittson Central) “Jesse and Walt,” and Melody Voeltz, of Lancaster “Barred Owl.”

Juror Pat Danielson judged the NW Art Exhibit in Lake Bronson late last week.

Walk through the exhibit at https://youtu.be/EeSvf3_tVVg.

Exhibit Awards include:

Adults:

1st $500 Andy Hall of Climax for photography “Backlit Milkweed”

2nd $300 Irene Bertils of Crookston for watercolor painting “Warm Summer Evening “

3rd $200 Aliza Novacek-Olson of Roseau for folk/traditional wool “Solitary Qoshmas”

Merit $100 Michael McColl of Lengby in drawing “You're Getting Very Sleepy”

Merit $100 Betsy Saurdiff of Grygla for folk/ traditional porcelain “Pitcher”

Merit $100 Elizabeth Kitchell-Rockstad of Ada in mixed media “No Constraints”

Merit $100 Sara Jo Trangsrud of Thief River Falls in sculpture “Bursting Out”

Merit $100 Gail Ose of Thief River Falls for fused glass “The Dreams We Hold Sacred”

People’s Choice $100 TBD

Students:

1st $300 Brigitta Novacek of Roseau in acrylic painting “Valorous”

2nd $150 Anita Foster of Thief River Falls for mixed media “Ruth”

3rd $100 Mary Jane Crane of Red Lake Falls for drawing “Beauty in Self-Image”

Merit $50 Kyleigh Halvorson of Fosston for drawing “Iris”

Merit $50 Kaytlyn Knutson of Red Lake Falls for digital art “Orion”

Merit $50 Mason Grivno of Felton for sculpture “German Wirehaired Pointer”

Merit $50 Mahli Holter of Red Lake Falls for mixed media “Almagations”

Merit $50 Izzy Swenson of Lancaster for painting “Purple Iris”

People’s Choice $50 TBD

The Northwest Minnesota Annual Art Exhibit

Open April 3 – April 21

Kittson County History Museum in Lake Bronson

Reception and Program on April 21 to

Honor Exhibit & Of the Year Award Winners

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce the NW Annual Art Exhibit is at the Kittson County History Museum in Lake Bronson from April 3 until April 21.

Adult artists from our 7 county- service region (Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau, and Red Lake Falls) have entered 68 pieces of art and students have entered 59 pieces, including oil, acrylic, watercolor painting, pencil drawings, pen and ink, pottery, sculpture, fiber art, glass mosaic, and mixed media. and are competing for $2,300.00 in cash awards. Attendees at the exhibit can vote for People’s Choice. Exhibit cash award winners will be chosen while the exhibit is on display by Pat Danielson, a qualified juror from Grand Forks. They will be recognized and receive their check at the Artist Reception.

Walk through the exhibit at https://youtu.be/EeSvf3_tVVg.

Exhibit Awards include:

Adults:

1st $500 Andy Hall of Climax for photography “Backlit Milkweed”

2nd $300 Irene Bertils of Crookston for watercolor painting “Warm Summer Evening “

3rd $200 Aliza Novacek-Olson of Roseau for folk/traditional wool “Solitary Qoshmas”

Merit $100 Michael McColl of Lengby in drawing “You're Getting Very Sleepy”

Merit $100 Betsy Saurdiff of Grygla for folk/ traditional porcelain “Pitcher”

Merit $100 Elizabeth Kitchell-Rockstad of Ada in mixed media “No Constraints”

Merit $100 Sara Jo Trangsrud of Thief River Falls in sculpture “Bursting Out”

Merit $100 Gail Ose of Thief River Falls for fused glass “The Dreams We Hold Sacred”

People’s Choice $100 TBD

Students:

1st $300 Brigitta Novacek of Roseau in acrylic painting “Valorous”

2nd $150 Anita Foster of Thief River Falls for mixed media “Ruth”

3rd $100 Mary Jane Crane of Red Lake Falls for drawing “Beauty in Self-Image”

Merit $50 Kyleigh Halvorson of Fosston for drawing “Iris”

Merit $50 Kaytlyn Knutson of Red Lake Falls for digital art “Orion”

Merit $50 Mason Grivno of Felton for sculpture “German Wirehaired Pointer”

Merit $50 Mahli Holter of Red Lake Falls for mixed media “Almagations”

Merit $50 Izzy Swenson of Lancaster for painting “Purple Iris”

People’s Choice $50 TBD

The exhibit is at the Kittson County History Museum at 332 East Main Street, Lake Bronson and will be open for the public to view art and vote for People’s Choice on Mondays through Fridays from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Exhibit Hours

Monday - Friday 9 AM to 5 PM

Extended hours:

Wednesday, April 10  9 AM to 7 PM

Sunday, April 14  1 to 4 PM

Wednesday, April 17  9 AM to 7 PM

There will be a reception and program on April 21 at the Kittson County History Museum. The exhibit will open at noon that day. Mingling and light refreshments will start at 2:00 PM with the program at 3:00 PM. Of the Year Awards will be presented to Potter Betsy Saurdiff for the NW Star Award -- Lifetime Achievement, Musician Randy Larson for Artist of the Year, and Radio Host Rom Ogaard for Arts Advocate of the Year, in addition to exhibit awards. Randy Larson will play the music with his adult children. The Exhibit and Reception are open to the public and free to attend. Many pieces of art are for sale and the public is encouraged to shop. Purchases can be marked as sold and picked up on April 21 after the reception. 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.

Visit our website for more information at www.NWArtsCouncil.org. Funding for these awards is provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Legislature.

The Northwest Minnesota Annual Art Exhibit

Open April 3 – April 21

Kittson County History Museum in Lake Bronson

Reception and Program on April 21 to Honor Exhibit & Of the Year Award Winners

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce the NW Annual Art Exhibit is at the Kittson County History Museum in Lake Bronson from April 3 until April 21.  

Adult artists from our 7 county- service region (Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau, and Red Lake Falls) have entered over 70 pieces of art and students have entered over 40 pieces, including oil, acrylic, watercolor painting, pencil drawings, pen and ink, pottery, sculpture, fiber art, glass mosaic, and mixed media. and are competing for $2,300.00 in cash awards. Attendees at the exhibit can vote for People’s Choice. Exhibit cash award winners will be chosen while the exhibit is on display by Pat Danielson, a qualified juror from Grand Forks. They will be recognized and receive their check at the Artist Reception.

The exhibit is at the Kittson County History Museum at 332 East Main Street, Lake Bronson and will be open for the public to view art and vote for People’s Choice on Mondays through Fridays from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Exhibit Hours

Monday - Friday 9 AM to 5 PM

Extended hours:

Wednesday, April 10  9 AM to 7 PM

Sunday, April 14  1 to 4 PM

Wednesday, April 17  9 AM to 7 PM

There will be a reception and program on April 21 at the Kittson County History Museum. The exhibit will open at noon that day. Mingling, light refreshments, and music will start at 2:00 PM with the program at 3:00 PM. Of the YearAwards -- the NW Star Award -- Lifetime Achievement, Artist of the Year, and Arts Advocate of the Year will be presented, in addition to exhibit awards. The Exhibit and Reception are open to the public and free to attend. Many pieces of art are for sale and the public is encouraged to shop. Purchases can be marked as sold and picked up on April 21 after the reception. 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.

Funding for these awards is provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Legislature.

NW Art Exhibit Award Winners Announced

The Northwest Minnesota Annual Art Exhibit is open until April 30 at the Legacy Center in Middle River

Reception and Program on April 30 to Honor Exhibit & Of the Year Award Winners

Adult artists from our 7 county- service region (Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau, and Red Lake Falls) entered 60 pieces of art, including photography, sculpture, drawings, and paintings, into this exhibit and are competing for $2,300 in cash awards. Attendees at the exhibit can vote for People’s Choice. Exhibit cash award winners were chosen while the exhibit is on display by Karen Goulet, a qualified juror. They will be recognized and receive their check at the Artist Reception. Student art is also be eligible for cash awards.

The awards are as follows:

Adults

1st Place Jessica Ross painting Field Work

2nd Place Betsy Saurdiff pottery Grandma's Quilt

3rd Place Megan Sugden photo Abandoned Divco Milk Truck

Merit Dennis Lee acrylic painting Old House

Merit Nancy Vraa hat and mitten set Country Classic

Merit Tim Anderson wood bowl Let Your Light Shine

Merit Debbie Aune watercolor painting Long Shadows

Merit Andrea Halvorson drawing Carrying Mom to Heaven

People’s Choice TBD Voting through April 30

Students

1st Place Carter Lee Johnsrud of Goodridge mixed drawing Masking

2nd Place Andrew Glad of Greenbush textile Vincent

3rd Place Geneva Gartner of Fertile mixed Moth

Merit Quinn Pittman of Greenbush drawing Moe

Merit Ashton Jensrud of Fertile typewriter drawing 15 (boston terrier)

Merit Rhiana Utter of Greenbush print Elsa (cat)

Merit Paris Sondreal of Middle River sculpture Vase Tumbler

Merit Logan Krueger of Fertile mixed Frederick (burned paper skull)

People’s Choice TBD Voting through April 30

The exhibit is at the Middle River Legacy Center at 335 4th Street, Middle River and will be open for the public to view art and vote for People’s Choice

· Mon - Fri Until April 28. City office business hours.

· Sunday, April 30 from 1 - 4:00 PM. Closing day.

There will be a reception and program on April 30 at the Middle River Legacy Center. Exhibit will be open for viewing artwork at 1:00 PM. Reception with light refreshments and music will start at 3:00 PM in the cafeteria with the program at 4:00 PM. Of the Year Awards -- the NW Star Award -- Lifetime Achievement, Artist of the Year, and Arts Advocate of the Year will be presented, in addition to exhibit awards. The Exhibit and Reception are open to the public and free to attend. Many pieces of art are for sale and the public is encouraged to shop. Purchases can be marked as sold and picked up on April 30 after the reception. The reception is a wonderful day of celebrating the arts in our region.

Funding for these awards is provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Legislature.

Take a virtual tour of the exhibit here: https://youtu.be/bQGJLtDppB0

This year’s annual exhibit was judged by Karen E. Goulet. Goulet is a practicing artist, poet, community organizer and educator. She is the Project Director of the Miikanan Gallery at the Watermark Art Center in Bemidji, Minnesota. This gallery, dedicated to Indigenous arts, is the first of its kind in the region. Karen received her BA from The Evergreen State College, MFA in Sculpture from The University of Wisconsin – Madison, and MEd from University of Minnesota Duluth.

She grew up in a family of 'makers' and artists. Her mother sewed and knitted and her father was an oil painter and woodworker who also taught her to embroider. Her decision to become an artist occurred when she went to college and met instructors who would become her mentors and supported and encouraged her to go on and pursue a degree that would give her opportunity to stay in the arts for a career. She has lived in interesting places, mostly rural, where she has met many interesting creative people. She believes in the power of art and community and takes opportunities like this to visit new places to see what creative people are doing.

The Northwest Minnesota Annual Art Exhibit

Open March 11 – April 30

Legacy Center in Middle River

Reception and Program on April 30 to

Honor Exhibit & Of the Year Award Winners

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce the NW Annual Art Exhibit is at the Middle River Legacy Center from March 11 until April 30.

Adult artists from our 7 county- service region (Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau, and Red Lake Falls) have entered 60 pieces of art, including photography, sculpture, drawings, and paintings, into this exhibit and are competing for $2,300.00 in cash awards. Attendees at the exhibit can vote for People’s Choice. Exhibit cash award winners will be chosen while the exhibit is on display by a qualified juror. They will be recognized and receive their check at the Artist Reception.

Student art will be included in the exhibit in April and will also be eligible for cash awards.

The exhibit is at the Middle River Legacy Center at 335 4th Street, Middle River and will be open for the public to view art and vote for People’s Choice

· Saturday, March 11 from 1 - 5:00 PM. Opening day.

· Mon - Fri, March 13 - April 28. City office business hours.

· Saturday, April 8 from 1-5:00 PM; will include high school entries and start of people's choice student voting for student art.

· Tuesday, April 11 and 18 open late until 7:00 PM.

· Sunday, April 30 from 1 - 4:00 PM. Closing day.

There will be a reception and program on April 30 at the Middle River Legacy Center. Exhibit will be open for viewing artwork at 1:00 PM. Reception with light refreshments and music will start at 3:00 PM in the cafeteria with the program at 4:00 PM. Of the Year Awards -- the NW Star Award -- Lifetime Achievement, Artist of the Year, and Arts Advocate of the Year will be presented, in addition to exhibit awards. The Exhibit and Reception are open to the public and free to attend. Many pieces of art are for sale and the public is encouraged to shop. Purchases can be marked as sold and picked up on April 30 after the reception. The reception is a wonderful day of celebrating the arts in our region.

Funding for these awards is provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Legislature.

The NWMAC is Calling for Entries for the

2023 Annual Art Exhibit. 

The deadline to submit your artwork is 

February 28, 2023!

This year, the annual Art Exhibit will be in Middle River at the Legacy Center in March and April. Adult artwork will be dropped off starting on Monday, March 6 and student artwork later that month. More information will be announced soon.

Artists from our 7 county- service region can enter into this art exhibit and will be competing for $2,300 in cash awards. Artists must reside in Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau, or Red Lake counties to be eligible. Both adult and student artists are encouraged to enter. Exhibit cash award winners will be chosen while the exhibit is on display by a qualified juror. They will be recognized and receive their check at the Artist Reception at the Middle River Legacy Center on Sunday, April 30. Artists are welcome to have their work in the exhibit available for sale.

See https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/nwmnartsexhibit-apply for more information, including the exhibit entry rules and directions.  If you would like the application mailed to you, please contact our office 218-745-8886 or director@nwartscouncil.org. The application must be submitted no later than February 28, 2023.  

Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit Winners Announced

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is excited to announce the Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit Winners. Student and adult artists residing in a seven-county region including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau and Red Lake recently entered into the Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit and competed for $2,300.00 in cash awards. The winners were recognized at the Northwest Minnesota Artist Reception in Thief River Falls on April 27.

Exhibit cash award winners were chosen while the exhibit was on display at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls from March 8 to April 27 by qualified juror and North Dakota Museum of Art Education Director Matt Anderson. Anderson is from the rural town of Gackle, ND. He earned his BA from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, and his MFA from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. He is currently the Director of Education for the North Dakota Museum of Art. He has exhibited his works nationally and internationally and is a part of public and private collections.

“One of the most rewarding, but also challenging, tasks asked of arts professionals is to jury a show. Within a short time span of a few hours, I’m asked to make many decisions and ultimately conclude, does this work merit an award? There is no rule book, and the process is highly subjective. Another juror would choose differently. I come equipped only with the sum of my artistic knowledge, experience, and my intuition.

There are several elements and factors that I take into consideration. First, I look at craftsmanship, technical skill, presentation, and creativity. Secondly, I consider use of medium, subject matter, and composition. Does it express a mood or message? Does the piece resonate in some way with me? Does it invite me to explore it further? Has the artist created a style that is markedly his or her own? Would I like to see more work by this artist?

I appreciated the artistic conversation between the generations of art makers. Many of the pieces in the student work were highly emotive while the adult work tended to be more contemplative. The visual art conversation in this show also merges into the context of an overall large Conversation of Art that has been happening for hundreds of years. At the end of the day, all of the works are part of that larger dialogue and I hope all the artists continue to invest in their unique creative voice.

The jury process is not an exact science, but it is a time-honored method for artists to receive feedback. Again, I can only encourage artists to continue to submit works to shows such as this one.” Anderson said.

Exhibit Awards include:

Adult Winners

1st Place $500 Beau Bakken of Hallock in acrylic painting “Sunny Day”

2nd Place $300 Bert Foster of Thief River Falls in photography “Gooseberry Cataract”

3rd Place $200 Ross Harper Hier of Crookston in painting “Wood Splitter’s Alarm Clock”

Merit $100 Nick Reitzel of Karlstad in painting “Across the Purple Sky”

Merit $100 Sarah Amaral of Fosston in mixed media/other “Record Cape”

Merit $100 Cindy Kolling of Gully in drawing “Looking Pretty Good”

Merit $100 Paulette Christianson of Badger in drawing “Under the Orange Moon”

Merit $100 Betsy Saurdiff of Grygla in sculpture “Butter Dish”

People’s Choice $100 Christine Foster

Student Winners

1st Place $300 Addison Severts of Grygla in mixed media “Wave of Money”

2nd Place $150 Morgan Chisholm of Ada in sculpture “Teatime in the Spring”

3rd Place $100 Anna Mickolio of Goodridge in drawing “Wilbur”

Merit $50 Kaytlyn Knutson of Red Lake Falls in digital art “A Night on Another Planet”

Merit $50 Valiant Underwood of Ada in painting “Leviathan”

Merit $50 Lakykie Brobst of Grygla in photography “Hayes Lake Skies”

Merit $50 Paige Sturre of Thief River Falls in drawing “Recognizing the Value”

Merit $50 Mason Owens of Euclid in wood sculpture “Peace in the Roughness”

People’s Choice $50 Addison Severts

Fifteen 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.

The Northwest Minnesota Annual Art Exhibit Open Through April 27

NWMAC Gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls

Reception and Program on April 27 to

Honor Exhibit and Of the Year Award Winners

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce the NW Annual Art Exhibit is in Thief River Falls until April 27.

Adult artists from our 7 county- service region (Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau and Red Lake Falls) have entered 60 pieces of art, including photography, sculpture, drawings, and paintings, into this exhibit and will be competing for $2,300.00 in cash awards. Attendees at the exhibit can vote for People’s Choice. Exhibit cash award winners will be chosen while the exhibit is on display by a qualified juror. They will be recognized and receive their check at the Artist Reception.

About our juror: Matthew Anderson is from the rural town of Gackle, North Dakota. He earned his BA from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, and his MFA from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. He is currently the Director of Education for the North Dakota Museum of Art. He has exhibited his works nationally and internationally and is a part of public and private collections.

The student art will be included in the exhibit on April 11 and will also be eligible for cash awards.

The exhibit is at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls and will be open for the public to view art during the week from 8:30 am - 5 pm and at other times when events are held at the college. Enter through Door A. Visitor parking is free in the large end lot.

There will be a reception on April 27 at the gallery. According to NWMAC Director Mara Hanel,

“Our artist reception is a great time to celebrate our award winners and the talented residents from our area. Please attend to show your support and see the high-quality art on display. Reception day this year, includes an art creation workshop from 4:00 - 5:30. Come early to make a piece centered around the theme of nature and nature's offerings. Pieces created will remain at our gallery and be part of our next showcase. Registration for the workshop is encouraged so we can prepare correctly. I look forward to this reception each year since it is an annual highlight!"

Mingling, dessert, and live music begin at 7:00 pm and the program at 7:30 pm in the auditorium. Of the Year Awards, the NW Star Award -- Lifetime Achievement, Artist of the Year, and Arts Advocate of the Year will be presented. The Exhibit and Reception are open to the public and free to attend. Many pieces of art are for sale and the public is encouraged to shop. Purchases can be marked as sold and picked up on April 27 at the reception. The reception is a wonderful day of celebrating the arts in our region.

To sign up for the art creation workshop around the theme of nature within the visual art classroom, email nwartscouncil@gmail.com. Funding for these awards is provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Legislature.

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Announces

Fiddle Tunes, Fiber Folk & Prairie Prints

Featuring Jeanne Griffin O’Neil and Erin Jeanne O’Neil

Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery

NCTC in Thief River Falls through April 2024

Artist Reception Wednesday, April 24 at 6 PM — The O’Neil Family Band will perform

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce the opening of Fiddle Tunes, Fiber Folk & Prairie Prints Featuring Jeanne Griffin O’Neil and Erin Jeanne O’Neil. This exhibit is open through April at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls.

East Grand Forks Artist Jeanne O’Neil explained, “The focus of this show is the celebration of Erin's recently completed book, Twenty of Plenty, in which twenty of her original fiddle tunes are transcribed. We are both folk musicians and visual artists, and it is fitting to bring these forms of artistic expression together, as the tunes and art are both inspired by the rural landscapes we live in.”

The newest prints in this show come from a series of sketches made over the past summers on Jeanne’s land. “Walking the fields and pathways every day, year after year, the colors, contrasts, textures and lines of trees, grasses, sky, river are impressed in my mind, creating an accumulated knowledge of these places. The making of each print creates a deeper knowing and a stronger connection to that knowing.”

Jeanne’s daughter Erin O’Neil learned to play the fiddle by the age of seven. Erin plays by ear and the Twenty of Plenty tune book project was an effort to get some of her tune compositions transcribed so that they could be introduced into wider circles of musicians who read music. With a grant from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council through funding from the McKnight Foundation, she collaborated with a folk musician originally from Norway. The descriptions and illustration throughout the book offer insight into the meaning of the compositions. The cultural influences for these tunes include French Canadian, Irish, Scandinavian, Scottish traditional fiddle music, New England Contra Dance music, Old Time Appalachian music, and Metis fiddle tunes.

Erin also has Rag Folk pieces in this exhibit. The Rag Folk represent preservation of what has been used in everyday life and creating new lives out of old scraps and rags. The Rag Folk contain memories and essences of what has passed, and the joy of childhood carried forward and honored in adulthood. Erin started creating these pieces with a passion for recycling and reducing waste and a desire to connect with others.

Jeanne and Erin both play in the O’Neil Family Band. Erin plays the fiddle and feet, while Jeanne plays the banjo and concertina. The band holds many community dances in our region.

Watch this video featuring Erin’s music for a virtual tour of the exhibit at https://youtu.be/8lZbCEPmtik.

An artist reception at the gallery will be held at Northland Community and Technical College on Wednesday, April 24 at 6 PM. Everyone is welcome to join us for this free event. There will be refreshments and live music by the O’Neil Family Band.

Most of the pieces in the exhibit are for sale. You can purchase at any time and pick it when the exhibit is over.

The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30-5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.

For more information about this exhibit our website at www.NWArtsCouncil.org, or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 745-8886 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.

We are pleased to announce the opening of Pulled in Many Directions Photography by Andy Hall. This exhibit is open through February 26 at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls.

Take a virtual tour of the exhibit at https://youtu.be/81b-LEr1S8c

Andy Hall has been a full-time photographer for more than 23 years. He lives in Climax and owns Sweetlight Gallery in Crookston. According to Andy, his subject matter “varies tremendously and my techniques are ever evolving. What comes to life through my camera is all but invisible to me until I quiet my mind and allow my eyes to see the perfection in the obvious and the stunning beauty of the often overlooked. I revel in discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary!”

Of his technique and methods, Andy explained, “The photographs that you see here were created with digital cameras, a variety of lenses, a handful of filters and a tripod. I own camera gear from several different manufacturers. I print on archival photographic paper and canvas. I spray coat my canvases with a water-based UV protection that also makes them quite durable. I perform all aspects of my craft.”

There are 45 pieces in this exhibit that are either wrapped in canvas or framed canvas. All are for sale. In addition, Andy can tailor make any print to multiple sizes. All of the images in the exhibit are available in at least 5 other sizes and offered on canvas or metal, framed or unframed. He also offers paper prints that can be matted or framed to your own personal preference. Visit his website sweetlightphoto.com to view many other photographs. To make a purchase, contact Andy at 612-269-3601.

Showcase Specialist Trey Everett shared, “I have known Andy and seen him work over the years. He is all about quality. He spends hours upon hours finding the perfect shot, sometimes standing outside in subzero weather, keeping his camera and hands as warm as possible. His artwork is instantly captivating and mesmerizing. Andy is continually experimenting with subject matter, so his work is always evolving and expanding. This exhibit is a taste of the talent of Andy Hall.”

An artist reception at the gallery will be held at Northland Community and Technical College on Wednesday, January 24 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Everyone is welcome to join us for this free event. There will be live music, drinks, and dessert.

The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30-5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.

For other information look to our website at www.NWArtsCouncil.org, or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 745-8886 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.

Figures of Ghosts & Dreams: The Artwork of Stephanie Olson

Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery

NCTC in Thief River Falls through November 29

Artist Reception Wednesday, October 18 from 6-8 PM

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce the opening of Figures of Ghosts and Dreams: The Artwork of Stephanie Olson. This exhibit is open through Wednesday, November 29 at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls.

Stephanie Olson is a public-school English teacher in Goodridge and lives with her husband and kids in rural Thief River Falls. She holds a Writing MFA degree from Hamline University. Her visual work has appeared in several group shows, including past exhibits with the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, two This Week Only exhibits at the North Dakota Museum of Art, and a group show at the Vine Arts Center in Minneapolis.

Figures of Ghosts and Dreams includes 42 pieces of watercolor on paper, India ink on paper, and acrylic on wood, cork, and canvas. Stephanie explained, “This exhibit reflects the art that comes to me. When I sit down with an idea, with a plan, my art fails almost every time. But when I sit down with no intention, it's like a door is left open. In the beginning, my art was more abstract: lines, color, depth. Now, I have these figures. Sometimes they seem peaceful, as if visiting from a dream. Sometimes they remind me of loved ones who have passed on, like visiting ghosts. There are undeniable motifs that I can't escape: houses, snakes, dogs, cats, women. I must let it all come as it is, like the weather. I wouldn't say it's like the notion of a muse taking over, not at all. It's more like a house filling up with guests. I'm never sure how long they'll stay, but this is what I find when I manage to steal time to sit down and paint. It's always a surprise. Try it! You never know who might show up, who you might meet.”

Experience the exhibit virtually with this video https://youtu.be/nkG_lKjq71o

An artist reception at the gallery will be held at Northland Community and Technical College on Wednesday, October 18 from 6 to 8 PM. Everyone is welcome to join us for this free event. There will be live music and refreshments and Stephanie will be painting during the event. Come and see Stephanie creating art while viewing her large group of expressive pieces! Stephanie’s art is available for purchase.

The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30-5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free. 

For more information about this exhibit or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 745-8886 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.

Spirituality invites us to create art. Art invites us into spirituality.

 Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery

NCTC in Thief River Falls through September 29, 2023

Artist Reception Sept 27 from 6 to 8 PM

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce the opening of Art & Spirituality, featuring the art of Sister Denise Schonhardt. This exhibit also includes artwork by Trey Everett, Gail Ose, Elizabeth Wavra, Betsy Saurdiff, and Noah Hanson and is open through September 29 at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls.

Sister Denise Schonhardt of Crookston is an accomplished painter who “grew up among the hills, lakes, and trees,” which is evident in her art. She explained that her “paintings are about how colors interact, how they push and pull, how they change each other, and how they convey emotion.”

Watch the Artist Spotlight with Sister Denise here. She speaks about how spirituality influences her art and so much more!

The 35 pieces in this exhibit include oil and acrylic paintings, ceramic art, and pen and ink and depict the nuances and breadth of spirituality. Showcase Specialist Trey Everett explained, “I am very happy with our newest exhibit "Art and Spirituality." It is difficult to convey in words and sentences what spirituality is to us let alone our personal spiritual experiences. However, art, in any form, can express the transcendent. The artwork in this exhibit is highly varied and a very intimate expression of what spirituality is to each artist. Sister Denise's hypnotic and prophetic artwork gave the whole gallery a surreal orange-red tint when it was installed. The religious philosopher Rudolf Otto coined the word Numinous from the Latin word numen which means a "divine majesty" or "presiding spirit." He believed "that the essence of holiness was to invoke in the observer a feeling of awe, wonder, and even dread." He called this the "Numinous." I hope when people interact with this exhibit, they experience the numinous, a sense of peace and awe as well as a sense of unease and challenge.”

Gail Ose of Thief River Falls explained, “The canvas is a sacred meeting place for me between the seen and unseen realms.” Elizabeth Wavra disclosed, “My art is the fruits of my prayers and my contemplation of God, and my attempt to share those experiences with others.” Multilayered with meaning, Trey Everett’s works are symbolic images of stations of the cross. “These images of the stations of the cross are designed to be a meditation on themselves.” Finally, Noah Hanson’s pieces depict scenes from Dante’s Inferno and are a part of a series of 68 paintings. He shared, I wanted to connect with the text on a couple different levels. The Divine Comedy is a poem about witnessing. Dante in the story, and by extension the reader, is invited to come and see, and in seeing to make heaven and hell manifest. I wanted to bear witness and to understand the role of a witness, as such is a large part of the artists role. I also tried to put myself in the role of the poem's sinners, creating a purposefully laborious and repetitive project to give myself a taste of that kind of hell.”

Watch this video for a virtual tour of the exhibit at https://youtu.be/t_nCcw8vrPg

An artist reception at the gallery will be held at Northland Community and Technical College on September 27 from 6 to 8 PM. Refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome to join us for this free event.

The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30-5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. During the summer, the college may be closed on Friday afternoons so please confirm before making a special trip. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.

For more information about this exhibit visit or for other information look to our website at www.NWArtsCouncil.org, or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 745-8886 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.

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Announces a

Student Exhibit Featuring K-12 Artwork from NW MN

Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery

NCTC in Thief River Falls through July 31, 2023

Artist Reception Tuesday, June 27 from 6-8PM

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce the opening of a Student Art Exhibit, featuring K-12 Artwork from throughout Northwest Minnesota. This exhibit is open through July 31 at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls.

The exhibit features art by area students throughout northwest Minnesota, including the schools of Sacred Heart in East Grand Forks, Crookston, Warren-Alvarado-Oslo, Kittson Central in Hallock, Ada-Borup West, Fosston, Tri-County in Karlstad, and Roseau.

NWMAC Showcase Specialist Trey Everett said, “We have a variety of collections in this gallery from "Art Inspired by Art," to Artist in Residence mask making, to written pieces that have been published, to artwork that was chosen by area art teachers. It is all quite fascinating and inspiring to walk through our gallery and just take in the quality, creativity, and talent packed into this exhibit. I am very proud of our regional students' artwork as well as art teachers, teachers, artists in residence, parents and others who help teach and inspire our students."

Watch this video for a virtual tour of the exhibit at https://youtu.be/UQX4C4upQqg.

There are 105 total pieces in the gallery divided up into four sections:

Section 1. Mask Making High School and Fifth Grade, Tri-County Schools, Karlstad / Mask Making Residency with Artist Lisa Arnold, 2023 / Photos of mixed media masks. 23 pieces with 21 students.

Section 2: Write On Roseau Community School District, Roseau / Essays for the Roseau Times-Region Newspaper from Roseau Community School District Students, 2023 / Newspaper essays NFS. There are 17 entries in this section. All were published in the paper between January and May of 2023.

Select students from Roseau Community School wrote essays of 800-1,000 words. The essays were published weekly in the Roseau Times-Region Newspaper. This project has run for four years. English teacher Kelsey Didrickson’s 12th grade college English class has contributed to this project. Artist Julie Elick explained, “This project instills the arts into our community and public life, providing a weekly place for students to enhance their writing talents. Roseau County is growing stronger each year with its encouragement of literacy. “

Section 3: Art Inspired By Art.

3a High School. This section includes artwork that was inspired by famed, as well as obscure art pieces. Students drew inspiration from Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night, MARINA’s song “Are you Satisfied?”, and Michael Angelo’s The Creation of Adam. One student’s work Polybius drew inspiration from an urban legend Polybius and a song by Lemon Demon called Cabinet Man. Art in this section was created by NCTC student Wyatt Bring (cat image), Ada-Borup-West student Carlie Nerhus (ceramic art), and Sacred Heart’s Sophia Modeen (skeleton hands reaching out to each other), Aalliyah Griggs (digital art of purple and pink pieces of paper), Rhilynn Leroux Peters (red/orange swirl sky painting), and Mackenzie Gjerswold (video game painting). Total of 6 pieces.

3b: Kindergarten Students. Kittson Central School, Hallock Pigeons, 2023. Kwik Stix tempera paint pens on paper 12 x 18 inches.19 pieces. Pigeons Kindergarten students at Kittson Central in Hallock created pigeons as a directed drawing of the character from Mo Willems’ books that follow the adventures of pigeon and his friends. (For example, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus). They learned to use shapes to create the character and then added a colorful background.

Section 4: General Student art chosen by art teachers. This section has artwork from Crookston, East Grand Forks, Fosston, Ada-Borup-West, and Warren Alvarado-Oslo. It features pen and ink, pencil, acrylic on canvas, mixed media, pottery, glass casting jewelry, Styrofoam prints, woodblock prints, watercolor pencils, watercolor, chalk, linoleum block print, oil pastels, aluminum metal embossing, and digital artwork. There are a total of 40 pieces in this section.

An artist reception at the gallery will be held at the end of June in conjunction with the 101 Dalmatians play at Northland Community and Technical College. Refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome to join us for this free event. Stay tuned for details.

The exhibit will be open on Thursday, July 27 during the Art & Wine Walk and the musical at NCTC.

The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours in the summer are Monday-Thursday from 8:00-4:30 PM, Fridays from 8:00 AM to Noon, and at other times when events are held at the college. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free. 

For more information about our exhibits please contact Trey Everett at (218) 745-8886 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.

Art and Spirituality Call for Art. The deadline is July 20 for this August/September exhibit at our gallery at NCTC. Contact Trey to learn more.

The Art of Addiction

An Exhibit Featuring the Ceramic Art of Kate Hammer and

Artwork by Other NW Minnesota Artists

Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery

NCTC in Thief River Falls through Friday, April 28

Artist Reception Rescheduled to April 18 from 3 to 5PM

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce the opening of our latest exhibit -- The Art of Addiction. This exhibit is open through Friday, April 28 at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls.

The exhibit features ceramic art by Roseau Potter Kate Hammer and other pieces of art by NW Minnesota artists around the theme of addiction. Kate Hammer explained, “For me this exhibit symbolizes healing and growth as an artist and a person living in recovery.” Other artists with work in the exhibit are Courtney Olson of Crookston, Mara Hanel of Warren, and Karrie Taie of Roseau.

In addition, there are 9 12 x12 canvas paintings included in the exhibit that were created in a workshop with residents of the Northwestern Apartments transitional living facility in Crookston. Mike Anderson who manages the apartments stated, “For those who have struggled with mental health and substance use problems in their life, recovery is a sometimes long and arduous path. Often it can literally be a life and death struggle. Residents of the Northwestern Apartments (NWA) transitional living facility know that struggle intimately. Many residents come to NWA from inpatient mental health facilities, homeless shelters, substance use programs, and incarceration. Criteria for admission is to have a serious mental illness, and about 3/4 of residents also have a co-occurring substance use disorder. But whether it is stabilizing mental health symptoms, or the daily challenge to stay clean and sober, recovery is the goal of all. Inclusion in this art therapy project, The Art of Addiction, was a great way for residents to “go deeper.” After an initial session with local artist Trey Everett, the residents engaged with supplies and canvas to work on their own creation, with the general theme of addiction and recovery as a guide. Residents spent a week with their art. Many did several art pieces. Some were unable to finish one. Others felt their art was too personal to put on display. The project was captivating – residents were in the community room, sometimes alone, sometimes in groups, at all times of the day and night, working on their art, talking, and healing. One of the keys to recovery is connection, and this project provided that in addition to a personal and therapeutic experience that helped all involved on their healing path.”

Join us for an online discussion with Kate Hammer on Monday, March 20 at 11:00 am on the NWMAC Facebook or YouTube pages. After the broadcast, you’ll be able to watch the Artist Spotlight recording on our website, Facebook or YouTube.

Take a virtual tour of the exhibit here.

Join us for an artist reception at the gallery on Tuesday, April 18 from 3 to 5pm. Refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome to attend. There is no cost. Please note this has been rescheduled from an earlier date!

The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30-5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.

For more information about our exhibits or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 745-8886 or email NWArtsCouncil@gmail.com. This exhibit is made possible with funding from The McKnight Foundation. 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.

Northern Exposure: Paintbrush and Camera

An Exhibit Featuring the Artwork of

Christine Foster and Bert Foster

Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery

NCTC in Thief River Falls through Friday, March 3

Artist Reception Tuesday, January 31 from 6 to 8 pm

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce Northern Exposure: Paintbrush and Camera -- An Exhibit Featuring the Artwork of Christine Foster and Bert Foster. The exhibit is open through Friday, March 3 at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls.

The exhibit is composed of paintings created by Christine Foster and photographs taken by Bert Foster. Christine Foster has a masterful way of painting light amid everyday life. With rural scenes from NW Minnesota, Christine Foster’s work feels like you’re back on the farm. Of the photography in the exhibit, Bert Foster explained, “This exhibit is comprised of photos taken over the past four years. All the places, people, and animals you see are in Minnesota. These images come from the North Shore of Lake Superior, the Itasca State Park area, the Park Rapids lakes area, and my own backyard outside of Thief River Falls –- some of my favorite places in our beautiful state. My selection of color and black and white images capture scenes that inspire me and will hopefully inspire those who view them.”

Bert is a long-time photographer. He said, “I have been taking photos for about as long as I can remember. I recall snapping my first pics at age 8 using my parents’ Kodak Instamatic. In middle school I bought my first camera, a Kodak that produced instant prints, like a Polaroid. In high school I got my first 35mm SLR camera, and it’s been on and on from there...

My favorite subject to photograph is Nature. I greatly enjoy camping, hiking, and exploring the outdoors. While I am experiencing beautiful and interesting places, I love to capture images of what I see. Through my photos I seek to portray Nature in a way that is both familiar and unique, engaging, and inspiring.”

Bert appreciates the photography workshops that he’s taken with the help of grants from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council. Through the workshops, he learned new skills and was inspired to try new things as an artist.

Christine Foster is a visual artist who enjoys seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. “When I discover that moment, I feel compelled to capture it. Capturing the light is essential! When I am in the process of creating, I feel timeless -- at one with my Creator and free. My favorite way of painting is plein air, where I paint outside directly at the site -- the sounds I hear, the weather I feel, and the sights and smells I experience all influence the artwork. Art is about the communication between the artwork, the Creator, and the artist, and the artwork, the Creator, and the observer. Art is not just the end-product itself. Art is an expression, an experience, and a communication.”

Christine specializes in drawing, oil, and watercolor. She has been a working artist for over 30 years. She graduated from Bethel College (University) with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Art Education and had the privilege of mentoring under Dale Johnson. Dale taught her vision, visual expression, and artistic inspiration. She then had the honor of being mentored by Joe Paquet, a nationally renowned artist, for 7 years. Joe taught her how to see, as well as how to capture value, light, atmosphere, and color. He also showed her how to find unity and connectedness in her painting.

You won’t want to miss this interesting exhibit!

Please join us for an Artist Reception with Christine and Bert on Tuesday, January 31 from 6 to 8 pm at the gallery.

The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30-5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.

If you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 745-8886 or email NWArtsCouncil@gmail.com. This exhibit is made possible with funding from The McKnight Foundation. 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.

Did you miss our online discussion with Thief River Falls Visual Artist Christine Foster on January 20? The artwork of Christine and her husband Bert Foster is featured in our exhibit — Northern Exposure: Paintbrush and Camera at the NWMAC Gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls through March 3. We talked about the exhibit, Christine’s background and her artwork, insight into creativity and inspiration, and much more! The discussion was live on our Facebook page and YouTube Live. The discussion with Christine is here: https://youtu.be/JbZA18Mld88

You can view the discussion with Bert here: https://youtu.be/WHHi9r23Y8U

Stop by Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River to see hand crafted household and functional Somali artwork displayed in one of the window cases near our exhibit space and the library.