NW MN Arts Council Announces “Of the Year” Award Winners & Art Exhibit Reception

Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our seven county region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. “Of the Year” Award winners were nominated by area residents.  We are proud to announce this year’s recipients are Gayle Moen of Shelly, Jane Vigness of Climax, and Annelee Woodstrom of Ada!    

The “Of the Year” awards and the NW Art Exhibit awards will be presented at the Northwest Minnesota Arts Exhibit Reception on Sunday, April 30 in Halstad at the Norman County West High School cafeteria and small gym at 2:00 pm. Please come starting at 12:00 noon to view the 100 pieces of high quality regional artwork on display in the NCW library and vote for people’s choice.  At 1:15 enjoy a snack and music entertainment in the cafeteria.  The program will begin promptly at 2:00 with the main focus being the recognition and celebration of artists and the arts in Northwest Minnesota.  Everyone is welcome to this free event. 

In addition, the 2017 Creative Minnesota Report about Northwest Minnesota will be given by Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Executive Director Sheila Smith, followed by a brief discussion of the impact of the arts and culture in the region. Craig Dunn from VSA Minnesota (Very Special Arts Minnesota) will be attending to meet and greet and talk about the Americans for Disabilities Act. He will have information that helps arts organizations work towards inclusion for people with special needs. Kathee Foran will be attending as a program director at the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB).  She will have materials related to grants and services of MSAB. The public is welcome to attend. RSVP for the reception at 218-745-9111. For more information about the Arts Exhibit see the website: http://www.northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/2017/04/northwest-minnesota-arts-council-annual-exhibition/

Of the Year Award Winners include:

Gayle Moen, Shelly MN, will be awarded the Northwest Artist of the Year Award. Ms. Moen is a musician. She plays the piano and organ. She is a long-time educator in the Crookston Public School System. Our Artist of the Year award can be given to any discipline artist including visual, performing, or creative writing who are emerging or at a mid-way point in their artistic endeavors. It is a cash award of $500.00. 

Jane Vigness of rural Climax will be awarded the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year Award. Ms. Vigness is the librarian in Climax and is active in the Sandhill Historical Society. She is also active in the Association of the French of the North and as a board member helps organize their arts festival each year in August. Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and includes arts from all disciplines.

Annelee Woodstrom of Ada will receive the Northwest Star Award. Ms. Woodstrom is a writer and previously an award-winning school teacher in Twin Valley. She has written about her life in War Child: Growing Up in Adolf Hitler’s Germany and Empty Chairs. This award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award once, as a lifetime achievement award.

Please come on April 30 to show support for our artists.  Funding for Northwest Star and Northwest Artist of the Year comes from The McKnight Foundation. Funding for Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year comes from the Minnesota State Legislature.

MSHSL Triple A Winners

The MN State High School League Triple A banquet was held on Wednesday. These students are outstanding in Academics, Arts and Athletics.

Sub-Section 29

Girl  -  Hannah Anderson - Nevis H.S.

Boy  -  Samuel Eystad  -  Park Rapids H.S.

Sub-Section 30

Girl  -  Elizabeth Birkemeyer  -  Ada-Borup H.S.

Boy  -  Carter Mosher  -  Fertile-Beltrami H.S.

Sub-Section-31

Girl  -  Kayla Nelson  -  East Grand Forks H.S.

Boy  -  Benjamin Regorrah  -  East Grand Forks H.S.

Sub-Section-32

Girl  -  Emma Jo Brunelle  -  Warroad H.S.

Boy  -  Isaac Mills  -  Stephen-Argyle H.S.

Section 8A Over-all Winners

Girls  -  Elizabeth Birkemeyer  -  Ada-Borup H.S.

Boys  -  Isaac Mills. -  Stephen-Argyle Central H.S.

Elizabeth and Isaac will now advance to the state competition level with a banquet on March 25th at the boys state basketball championships.

Kiehle Auditorium Murals Focus of Presentation at UMC

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The murals that grace the walls of the Kiehle Auditorium on the University of Minnesota Crookston campus are 75 years old. Their history and impact will be the focus of a special presentation, “The Kiehle Murals: The Art of John Martin Socha,” by historian and librarian Bill Wittenbreer on Thursday, February 16, 2017, at noon. The presentation, which will take place in the Kiehle Building’s historic auditorium, will include the history of the Works Progress Administration’s (WPA) arts program and the artist and muralist John Martin Socha and his work around Minnesota and the country. The presentation is free, the public is invited, and parking permits will not be required.

Wittenbreer, a librarian and public historian, was the curator of An Artist’s Paradise:  Minnesota Landscape Painters, 1840-1940 at the Minnesota Museum of American Art, where he also serves on the collections committee.  He has written and lectured about Minnesota painters and holds graduate degrees in history and library and information science. He currently works as a librarian at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn.  

Background

The Kiehle Building, completed in 1910, was one of the first three buildings to be constructed on the campus. Originally, the building held administrative offices, the library, and, on the second level, a gymnasium for the Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA). In the 1930s, the second level of Kiehle Building was converted into an auditorium with a balcony. The renowned murals in the auditorium by artist John Martin Socha were added in 1942 as part of the WPA and in part were a gift from the NWSA Class of 1932. The murals have been retained as part of the building's historical significance.

The U of M Crookston Murals Committee is sponsoring the presentation by Wittenbreer in an effort to gain a better appreciation and deeper understanding of the history of the murals. The committee is charged with exploring ways to incorporate the murals into the ongoing education of current and future students; to engage the campus and the greater Crookston community in conversations about the history of the region, its rich and varied diversity, and the campus commitment to diversity; and to interpret the murals for those who visit Kiehle Auditorium.

Peterson Seeking Entries to Congressional Art Competition

WASHINGTON – Congressman Collin C. Peterson is inviting Seventh District high school students to submit artwork for the 2015 Congressional Art Competition.

The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students and the winning pieces are featured for one year in the Cannon Tunnel, which connects the House Office Buildings to the U.S. Capitol.

“I encourage students from across the district to enter this competition,” Peterson said. “The winning artwork is seen by thousands of visitors to the U.S. Capitol and is a great way for young artists to show their talent.”

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 as an opportunity for Members of Congress to recognize and encourage the artistic talent of their young constituents. Since then, more than 650,000 high-school students have participated in the nation-wide contest. 

Submitted artwork may be up to 28 inches x 28 inches x 4 inches (including the frame) and may be up to 3 inches in depth. Accepted mediums include:

·       Paintings – including oil, acrylics and watercolor

·       Drawings – including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink and markers

·       Collage (two-dimensional)

·       Prints – including lithographs, silkscreen and block prints

·       Mixed Media

·       Computer Generated Art

·       Photography

All entries must be original in concept, design and execution. Artwork that is a reproduction of another artist’s work, including photographs, does not qualify for this competition.

HOW TO APPLY:

To best ensure accessibility for all students, Peterson’s office will be accepting all Congressional Art Competition submissions online. Selection of the winning piece, made in early May, will be determined based upon the photograph submitted with the application.

To apply for the Congressional Art Competition, please submit a photograph of the artwork with the following information to congressional.art@mail.house.gov:

·       Student Name

·       Address

·       Phone Number

·       Artwork Title

·       Medium

The deadline for all submissions is Friday, April 24, 2015.