Mara Hanel, Executive Director of the NWMAC, talks about the history and background of the NWMAC, upcoming grant application deadlines and an explanation of the application process for individuals, organizations and school districts and an update on the current “We are Water workshop series currently underway in Northwest Minnesota.

Guest: Stephanie Olson, Showcase Specialist with the NWMAC. Topic: Stephanie shares details of her role with the NWMAC. She’s also an artist and has completed our Teaching Artist Roster program. Stephanie also gave an update concerning the current NWMAC “SKIN” exhibit, the Jayne Flaagan book exhibit, the NWMAC traveling art exhibit and “We Are Water” workshops, plus future and other scheduled exhibits.

Guest: Regional artist Trey Everett of Crookston, MN Topic: “We Are Water” workshops will be held in a variety of locations throughout our region in September and October. Participants will be provided a 12×12 canvas, supplies and instruction to create a piece of art around this theme of water. Participants are encouraged to bring snippets or photographs or anything else they might want to use as material, medium, or inspiration. There is no cost to attend, but RSVPs are required. 44 canvas pieces of completed artwork will be exhibited at the NWMAC Gallery in East Grand Forks, MN in November and December and will then move to the University of Minnesota – Crookston in mid-January. A reception will be held on Friday, January 25 at UMC and the art will also be included in a catalogue of the exhibit. Workshops will be held in Stephen, Thief River Falls, Fosston, Crookston, Red Lake Falls, Hallock, East Grand Forks and Greenbush, Minnesota from October 2nd through early November.

Guest: Barb Geer, Publisher of the “Middle River (MN) Honker”
newspaper and director of the Middle River Community Theater
production of “How to Talk Minnesotan.”
Topic: The annual “Middle River Goose Festival” and associated events
and activities funded by the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council.

Guests: Teacher Debbie Aune of Greenbush-Middle River school in Greenbush, MN and a senior student from her art class, Issie Brockhouse. Topic: Through a grant from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) Debbie and her students were able to participate in an arts workshop in Bemidji, MN over the summer. They talk about their experiences including a painting that they did of the famous Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues on the shore of Lake Bemidji. Their work was place on a flyer that was produced by the Bemidji Tourism Department.