Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our seven-county Minnesota region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Of the Year Award winners were nominated by area residents. Of the Year Award Winners include:
Loreen Hanson of Thief River Falls is the Northwest Artist of the Year for Visual Art. Hanson has over 76 years of experience drawing and painting. Her prolific artwork captures the beauty of her world with images of wildlife, flora, and fauna, still life arrangements, portraits, and paintings of people doing everyday activities — all of which celebrate life. She has participated in more than 30 art exhibits. Our Artist of the Year award can be given to any discipline artist including visual, performing, or creative writing who are active in their artistic endeavors including emerging artists. It is a cash award of $500. Congratulations, Loreen!
Rena Zapata Bouchard of Crookston will be awarded the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year Award for Media Art. A makeup artist and portrait photographer, Rena is passionate about empowering others and using the arts as a tool for social change. In 2019, she spearheaded the creation of Studio 110, a permanent space dedicated to digital storytelling for youth and adults in Crookston and the surrounding area. Studio 110 had been a Crookston satellite site since 1996 for Minneapolis organization In Progress. Studio 110 has become a space for media arts creativity with themes related to breaking stereotypes and acceptance. Media art is art made looking through a lens like photography and video. Rena strives to help students who identify as persons of color find a welcoming home base at Studio 110. Today Rena coordinates media arts workshops, bringing in talented professional artists from across the nation to teach and empower those who come to their downtown Crookston location. Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and includes arts from all disciplines. Congratulations, Rena!
Darcy Reese of Thief River Falls will receive the Northwest Star Award for Creative Choir Directing. Darcy was a choir teacher for 37 years in Thief River and received national recognition and awards for choir direction. She was inducted into the Minnesota Music Educator’s Hall of Fame in 2024. The NW Star Award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award once as a lifetime achievement award. To qualify individuals must be a professional artist and have earned a substantial portion of income through artistic endeavors. Congratulations, Darcy!
These awards will be presented on Sunday, April 27 in Crookston at the University of Minnesota. The NW Art Exhibit, with over 120 high quality works of art made by local adult visual artists and high school artists, will be open that day for viewing artwork starting at Noon in the International Room in the Sargeant Student Center. A reception with light refreshments and music will start at 2:00 PM with the awards program at 3:00 PM in Bede Ballroom. The exhibit and reception are open to the public and free to attend. The reception is a wonderful day of celebrating the arts in our region. Please join us!
For more information about these awards, click Artists on our website then Nominations for Of the Year Awards at http://www.northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/ A list of past winners is also under Artists on our website. Northwest Minnesota Arts Council has been celebrating our artists with this award program since 2002. 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.
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