A building is transforming in downtown Crookston. Once known as The Crookston Times, the corner building, located at 124 S. Broadway, is taking on a new light and a new function, and people are very interested in the new business. Queen City Art Center, the vision of a local artist, is coming to fruition, and owner Jenn Walz is excited about opening the doors and watching her vision take off.
“I’ve always been interested in art, I actually went to school for pottery at BSU in Bemidji,” says Walz. “Since I haven’t really been doing any creativity, last year I joined Muddy Waters in Grand Forks. It was hard for me to get over there. I loved the space, I loved the people, but with the kids, hockey, and everything, I just couldn’t find the time to make it worth it to be a member.” Walz says she suspended her Muddy Waters Clay Center in Grand Forks membership and started doing some work out of her basement.
With space being tight and having a desire to do something bigger, a discussion with her father, Robin Steinbrink, turned to the possibilities within a building he owned, the Crookston Times Building. “My dad had mentioned this building, and I said, well, that would be a really cool, like, art center,” says Walz. “He said, alright, let’s try it, let’s do it. So, here we are.”
Work inside the building is underway. The goal, Walz says, is to have multiple small spaces for local artists, as well as larger spaces for parties and classes, and an area for retail space as well. “My goal is to have retail space where artists from around the area. Local artists and native artists from Crookston can sell their works on consignment,” says Walz. “I also will have studio space available for artists if they need space to do work. I would love to offer all sorts of classes.”
Word is out about the art center, and already a few artists are ready to hold classes at the new facility. “I have two classes scheduled already. I have a mosaic class and a shibori class, which is a traditional dying technique from Japan, and Mary Bratrud is teaching that one,” says Walz. “Jo McFarland is teaching the mosaic class. I want to get all the artists together to learn from each other and bring art to the community.”
Walz is planning to have Paint Your Own Pottery, where kids can come in and paint pieces. Parents can book a birthday party and bring the kids in to paint pottery and have something fun that they made while there. Walz is open to ideas, different art mediums, and all types of classes.
Queen City Art Center will also have a classroom available for rental for private parties or get-togethers. Maybe you want to host a bridal shower, baby shower, or a private art class. Keep Queen City Art Center in mind as an option for your next function.
Everything is still very new, the building is under construction, but the vision is there, and the plans are in place. Walz wants to hear from the community and has been working to get as much information about Queen City Arts Center out there as possible. “Right now, everything is being done through Facebook. I’m working on getting a phone number, I’m working on getting the website up and running,” says Walz. “So, yes, I will eventually have a phone number, and the website will be queencityartcenter.com.”
Walz is very excited to get the doors open, as she says the feedback about Queen City Art Center has been fantastic. “The response I have heard from people around town has been very overwhelming,” says Walz. “I first posted my Facebook page, and the responses and comments I read almost made me cry because I was so excited that everybody was excited. It’s something that I have always been passionate about, the arts, and I want to get kids in here, and I want them to learn and be creative.”
Walz hopes that the doors will be open by Ox Cart week. There is a beautiful green space on the north side of the building that Walz looks forward to utilizing for classes and events as well. Watch for updates and see upcoming events on Facebook. Queen City Art Center is located at 124 S. Broadway in Downtown Crookston. For questions, you can also email Walz at queencityartcenter@gmail.com.
