Month: April 2022

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 displayed 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. 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 art 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 the 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 their own? Would I like to see more work by this artist? 

I appreciated the artistic conversation between the generations of artmakers. 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

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

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

3^rd 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 of Thief River Falls

Student Winners

1^st 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 of Grygla

Several exhibit pieces from students and adults 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 arrive in your community.

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The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council announced this year’s winners for three annual awards to local artists that help spread art and their talents around their communities.

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce this year’s recipient for the Arts Advocate of the Year Award is Philip McKenzie of Thief River Falls. McKenzie received the award at a program in Thief River Falls on April 27.

Originally from Crookston, McKenzie is a musician and actively promotes the arts in our region and statewide. He is the Chair of the Minnesota State Arts Board, an adjunct oboe faculty at both UND and NDSU, and hosts a weekly radio show – Northern Classics on Pioneer 90.1 radio — that brings classical music to our region. He was an executive director of the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, played in the Virginia Symphony, and has served on the board of Thief River Falls Community Theater, Greater Grand Forks Sympathy, and Rotary. He has conducted many musicals in Thief River Falls over the years. Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and includes arts from all disciplines.

McKenzie has a Master of Management degree from Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University; a Master of Music degree from Michigan State University; and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of North Dakota.

McKenzie realized he wanted to be a professional musician when, during his sophomore year in high school, he heard the Minnesota Orchestra play in the Crookston gymnasium as part of a statewide tour funded by a State of Minnesota grant. Exposure to the arts at that one event changed the course of his life. McKenzie feels a strong connection to music and a camaraderie among musicians. He described the visceral “soul-filling” experience he feels when listening. 

According to Thief River Falls Area Theater Director Jane Anderson, “Phil is a masterful musician unlike any I’ve worked with. Although he is infinitely talented, he lacks the attitude and ego that many with his degree of talent possesses. He works well with amateurs and is a joy to be around. We are very fortunate to have Phil in our region.”

Minnesota State Arts Board Executive Director Sue Gens said, “This is such a fitting honor given Phil’s vast talents, experiences, and contributions to the arts in Minnesota. He’s a Renaissance person — a professional musician, music educator, arts administrator, art board member, and volunteer. He is a tireless champion for the arts, a tremendous advocate, and a leader. Phil was first appointed to serve on the Minnesota State Arts Board by then-Governor Mark Dayton and reappointed to a second term by Governor Tim Walz. In four short years, he has demonstrated strong statewide leadership and was elected chair of the board in July 2021, a post he still holds. Congratulations, Phil, on this well-deserved award!”

Asked about the impact of the arts on individuals or society, Phil explained, “The arts act as a glue for our culture. They are almost exclusively an uniter than a divider. They do more to unite us than anything else.” Phil also shared that “I couldn’t be more proud to be a Minnesotan where we per capita provide more to the arts than any other state. We impact Minnesotans in every geographic corner of the state.”

McKenzie had this advice for aspiring artists, “Don’t forget why you became an artist. Keep the love and passion for it even when you need to earn a living while establishing yourself. Don’t let paying the bills get in the way of finding your pathway to being an artist.”

Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is given each year to recognize arts advocates within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of volunteerism in the arts. Often our arts advocates are also artists. “Of the Year” award winners were nominated by area residents. This award comes with a cash award of $500. Funding for the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year comes from the Minnesota State Legislature.

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is also pleased to announce that Ross Hier of Crookston has been awarded the Northwest Artist of the Year Award. Hier is a talented visual artist from Crookston.

Originally from Jackson, Minnesota, Hier’s love of nature from a very early age led him to a career as a wildlife biologist. A self-taught artist, he thoroughly enjoys the versatility of transparent watercolors as they allow him to work in loose “washes” or fine detail. Hier also draws in pen and ink. Hier described his training as “from the School of Hard Knocks” and stated that “every painting is a learning experience.” Nature provides Ross with unlimited subject matter, and his painted subjects are wide-ranging. Although birds amaze him most of all, he also enjoys painting landscapes, prairie plants, fish, reptiles, and hunting and fishing scenes. His watercolors have been exhibited at numerous venues in both the Dakotas and Minnesota, including many NWMAC exhibits. He also makes wooden, working duck decoys and many other creations. 

According to Wayne Goeken of Erskine, “I have always been impressed with Ross’s ability to capture the essence and beauty of the natural world which he knows so well and how he brings images to canvas or paper in such detail and clarity that honors the subject matter at hand. In addition, Ross has generously shared his artistic skills via pen and ink drawings for nonprofit causes that I’ve been involved with over the years, including the Friends of the Rydell Refuge Association and the Agassiz Environmental Learning Center. His detailed images of prairie landscapes, flora, and fauna of the Fertile Sand Hills for an interpretive trail guide still stands today as a highlight to share with others the beauty of this special natural area which he captured so well.”

Fertile resident Matthew Forgit, OD explained, “Ross Hier’s lifetime of artwork celebrating the biodiversity of our region is an absolute treasure. His works amazingly cover the entire spectrum of large landscapes down to absolute minutiae of individual small native prairie plants or insects, and everything in between. His larger landscapes always capture the colors of our region, especially through the eyes of an artist. After you’ve looked at some of his pieces and then pay attention to the next prairie sunset you see, you realize all the colors that you had been missing before.”

In 2020, Hier was awarded a national award – the Ding Darling Memorial Award from The National Wildlife Society for Wildlife Stewardship Through Art. Hier is on the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society Board and serves as their Vice President, Secretary, Society Archivist, and Newsletter Editor. Annually, he donates original art to Minnesota and North Dakota chapters of The Wildlife Society to help them raise funds. He volunteered his time and talent to help paint a mural downtown Crookston last year.

When asked about the impact of the arts on individuals or society, Hier said, “Without the arts there is no society. Art is as close as you can get to some of the wonders of nature. The other things in our lives aren’t enough to sustain us. When you view art there is a spiritual interconnection.” He went on to say, “The arts are finally getting some due. The Legacy Amendment (Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment) has made a huge impact on the arts in Minnesota.”

As for advice for aspiring artists, Hier explained, “Not every painting is a homerun. Maybe it’s 1 out of 5 or 10 when everything comes together. Keep doing what you are doing. Go with what you feel inside your soul. Put it on paper or create it. Find contentment. You don’t have to prove to others.”

The Northwest Artist of the Year Award is given each year to recognize artists within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of artistry. This 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. “Of the Year” Award winners were nominated by area residents. The Artist of the Year award comes with a cash award of $500. Funding for the Northwest Artist of the Year is from the McKnight Foundation. 

Last but not least, The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce that LaVonne Forsberg of Thief River Falls has been selected as the 2022 Northwest Minnesota Star Artist of the Year for her lifetime achievement in art. Forsberg received her award at a program in Thief River Falls on April 27.

Originally from Goodridge, Forsberg, a visual artist, is known for her watercolors and stained glass. Forsberg began her painting career when she took a Rosemaling course through her homemaker’s club. She then branched into acrylics, watercolor, and stained glass and made art her life’s work. She owned Country Class Arts downtown Thief River Falls for many years, which offered framing services, classes, and art supplies.

Forsberg has received awards in past NWMAC art exhibits and other statewide exhibits for her art. You can find her stained-glass at the Carnegie Library in Thief River Falls (chandeliers), 13 area churches, the local hospital, and her paintings in the Kiehle Building on the campus at the University of Minnesota Crookston. She was commissioned by the state of Minnesota to design and paint the Old Mill State Park entrance permit and collector’s mug in 200l.

Thief River Falls resident Faye Auchenpaugh said, “Imagine Faith Lutheran in Goodridge or Redeemer Lutheran in Thief River Falls without their phenomenal stained-glass windows that LaVonne created. Or the stained-glass chandeliers at the Carnegie in Thief River Falls. We are so fortunate to have an artist of LaVonne’s caliber in our community.”

According to Fellow Artist and NWMAC Board Member Therese Masters Jacobson, “LaVonne Forsberg is a superb candidate for this lifetime achievement award. She has participated in NWMAC exhibits frequently, often being selected for the highest awards. Her paintings and stained-glass pieces demonstrate the highest excellence and mastery. LaVonne has been the featured artist in the NWMAC Gallery, and her name is well known throughout northwest Minnesota for her fine artwork and charisma.”

Asked about the impact of art, Forsberg said, “The arts help people learn in different ways.” She went on to explain that as someone who is dyslexic, she found reading challenging. Sewing, painting, and creating stained glass allows her to visualize things and imagine how things are put together.

As for advice for aspiring artists, she shared, “Determination and pay attention to details. Always be looking at things: Shape (how was it made?), unique (how is it different?), and color (how do the colors come together or contrast?).”

The Northwest Star Artist Award is given each year to recognize artists within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of artistry. Of the Year Award winners are nominated by area residents. This award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award once, as a lifetime achievement award. Funding for the Northwest Star comes from the McKnight Foundation.  

These awards are given each year to recognize artists within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of artistry. These awards come with cash awards of $500. Funding for the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year comes from the Minnesota State Legislature.

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With the anticipated rain over the weekend, the sandbags around Trinity Lutheran-Crookston will stay in place this weekend. People will still have access to Trinity for Sunday worship and JAM, but they ask that people please use the Broadway Street doors to the sanctuary. The walk-up ramp from Broadway to the tower doors is available for those with concerns about stairs. The side door on the north side of the building will also be open.

For parking, if you are able-bodied, they encourage you to park in the parking lot at Trinity and any of the city parking lots close by, as they would like to reserve the street parking for those with mobility concerns.

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Grand Forks crews will be closing N. 4th St. from Demers Ave. through the intersection at 1st Ave. N. on Monday, May 2, 2022. The closure is for a complete reconstruction of the road and sidewalks.

The project is scheduled to be done in 4 phases. The first 2 phases involve the closure of the N. 4th St. and the 1st Ave. N. intersection. During the final two phases of the project, this intersection will reopen to traffic.

The entire project is expected to be complete by mid-October, weather permitting.

For more information on summer road construction projects in the City of Grand Forks, visit www.grandforksgov.com/roadconstruction.

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The Grand Forks Police Department, in accordance with North Dakota State Law, is notifying the City of Grand Forks and the surrounding area of the presence of a Level III (High Risk) Sex Offender living in Grand Forks.

Shawn Johnston currently resides at 1120 North 39th Street #6 – in the city of Grand Forks. Johnston has been convicted of Corruption/Solicitation of a Minor.

The North Dakota Sex Offender Risk Assessment Committee assigned Johnston a risk level of High and, as a result, has a Lifetime registration requirement in North Dakota.

The Grand Forks Police Department provides for the tracking and verification of those individuals who have been convicted of sex offenses, offenses against children, and those that have been adjudicated as sexually dangerous individuals. This is accomplished through the Offender Tracking and Verification Program (OTVP). There are 114 offenders registered with the Grand Forks Police Department who either live, work, or attend school within the City of Grand Forks. Of these 114, there are ten currently assigned a risk level of High. The rest are classified as Moderate or Low risk or have not been assigned a risk level.

Level III (High Risk) offenders are contacted at least every 30 days to verify their status, and upon initial registration or the assignment of a risk level, public notification is held as appropriate. Information about these and other registered offenders is available through specific request to the Grand Forks Police Department, although certain information regarding juvenile offenders is subject to restriction.

Conviction information about Level III offenders may be found at the North Dakota Attorney General’s website: www.sexoffender.nd.gov, which contains lists of all registered offenders in North Dakota.

If members of the public have questions regarding this program or have information pertaining to any unregistered offenders, they are encouraged to contact Corporal Hank Becker at the Grand Forks Police Department Specialized Resource Bureau at 701-787-8083 or via e-mail at hbecker@grandforksgov.com.

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The Minnesota Department of Transportation honors the men and women who have been killed or injured while working on state roadways during Worker Memorial Day today, April 28.

Gov. Tim Walz proclaimed April 28, 2022, as Worker Memorial Day in Minnesota in recognition of the high price transportation workers have paid in the construction and maintenance of Minnesota’s transportation system. Tonight, the Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis will be lit orange to honor those highway workers who have died while working in work zones.

Since 1960, 35 MnDOT workers and 16 contractors have lost their lives while working on Minnesota highways.

“Every day, road workers across the state put themselves on the line to keep Minnesota’s roads safe for everyone,” said Nancy Daubenberger, MnDOT interim commissioner. “Those workers – and everyone traveling through work zones – deserve to get home safely.  Please, slow down and avoid distractions in work zones to help keep our workers—and yourself—safe.”

MnDOT reminds Minnesotans that motorists and passengers are involved in the majority of work zone deaths and injuries, and the agency urges all drivers to follow these recommendations in work zones:

• Drive the speed limit. It helps create a consistent, more predictable traffic flow for everyone.
• Don’t drive distracted. Drivers need to be alert, especially in work zones, which constantly change due to lane shifts, closures, and moving workers and vehicles.
• Move over to give workers room to safely complete their work.
• Avoid unnecessary lane changes.
• Be patient; expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

Visit MnDOT’s Transportation Worker Memorial website to see the list of fallen workers in Minnesota and the worker memorial at MnDOT headquarters.

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