Pecha Kucha event scheduled
BEMIDJI-Pecha Kucha will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Rail River Folk School, 303 Railroad St. SW. The event will feature several speakers on a variety of topics. The speakers and topics are as follows: Dan Carlson, thermodynamics; Kathryn Gonzalez, participatory art making; Steve Maanum, wood ducks; Charlie Parson, glaciers; Liz Potter, spirit medium; Jason Schoning, love and kindness; Lonnie Sorrell, topic to be announced; Blair Treuer, aerial arts and Laura Lobo as the guest emcee. The event is open to the public and the suggested donation is $3. To learn more about PKN and see past presentations, visit pknbemidji.org.
Annie Humphrey performance at RRFF
BEMIDJI-Annie Humphrey, Native American singer and songwriter, will perform from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Rail River Folk School, 303 Railroad St. SW. Humphrey was born and raised on an Ojibwe Indian reservation, the daughter of author Anne Dunn. Her father taught her to play the guitar when she was in the first grade, and two years after that she taught herself piano and began writing songs. After attending high school and a community college, she teamed with guitarist Don Robinson and they made the 1989 album "For the Children," which was released regionally.
She spent a year in the Marines, stationed in Okinawa, among other places, and played
ADVERTISEMENT
in bands during this period. Returning to Minnesota, she attended the Police Academy and graduated, but decided not to pursue a career in law enforcement. Instead, she enrolled at the
University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where she studied art and began performing professionally at coffeehouses. In 1995, she made her first solo album, "Justice Hunter," which
was released regionally.
She moved back to the Ojibwe reservation and began performing around northern Minnesota. She sang three songs on the various-artists album "The Whispering Tree," released
by the independent label Makoche. Makoche signed her to a contract, giving her her first
nationally distributed release, "The Heron Smiled," in 2000.
Featured artist at Bemidji Public Library
BEMIDJI-Kathy Sanders will be the featured artist for the Friday Friday event held Friday at the Bemidji Public Library, 509 America Ave. NW. Sanders has had a lifelong interest in the arts and started painting about 40 years ago. Her favorite subjects are floral arrangements and flowers as she is also an avid gardener.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sanders has been teaching classes in oil and acrylics for almost 20 years and most recently, started creating and teaching gourd art and lampworking.
The public is invited to view Kathy's "Floral Views" collection throughout the month of December.
Holiday open house and ornament sale
BEMIDJI-Watermark Art Center will hold its annual holiday open house Friday-Saturday at the center, 505 Bemidji Ave. N. The Gallery Shop sale will include 15 percent off any purchase for Watermark members and 10 percent off for the general public. The Gallery Shop features functional and decorative handmade items created by over 30 artists and includes pottery, wood, jewelry, silk scarves, knit items, prints, photography, soaps, cards, and more.
Watermark's current exhibit, "It's Only Clay," will be on display, featuring functional ceramic items. Handmade mugs, platters, bowls, tea pots, and more will be available for viewers to appreciate or purchase.
The fourth annual ornament sale will also be launched during the open house. Each year, local
artists donate handmade tree ornaments as a fundraiser for the art center. Watermark receives
100 percent of the cost from these items, helping make money for next year's programming.
ADVERTISEMENT
During the event, there will be free coffee and hot cider available, as well as treats and other goodies.
'Holiday Boutique' set
BEMIDJI-A"Holiday Boutique" First Friday reception will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday at Gallery North, 502 Third St. NW. The featured artist for December is Jeannie Fenner. Fenner enjoys making paper snowflakes, crocheting, knitting, sewing, twisting wire, and beading. For more information visit www.gallerynorthbemidji.com .
Art and acoustics at The Least of These Gift
BEMIDJI-The Least of These Gift Shoppe and Make and Take Studio presents independent artist Heather Harrom. An art and acoustics reception will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at The Least of These Gift Shoppe, 310 Fourth St. NW. Live music will be performed by Crooke. Harrom takes emotions, positive and negative energy, and strategically transforms them into tangible and often useful creations. She uses a variety of earthly elements, such as fire or heat, wood, metals, stones and minerals, leather and wool to emphasize her love for nature. While utilizing different man-made materials like inks, polymer clay, acrylic paints and acrylic fiber, she makes a beautiful connection between organic and mechanical. Some of Harrom's latest creations have been hats, scarves, slippers, headbands, purses, water bottle carriers, various baby items, wire wrapped jewelry, wooden jewelry, drawings and prints.
Sumsky opening reception
BEMIDJI-"Ribbed Out: A Construction in Baskets and Woven Vessels" by Eve Sumsky will be on display from Friday through Feb. 2 at Wild Hare Bistro and Coffeehouse, 523 Minnesota Ave. An opening reception will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday at Wild Hare. 2. As the recipient of an Individual Artist's Grant from the Region 2 Council, with funding from the McKnight Foundation, Sumsky was provided the opportunity to attend the National Basketry Organization's Bi-Annual conference, "Tradition and Innovation in Basketry." The three day class was about freeform weaving and a more sculptural shape in woven form, and inspired Sumsky to weave a more
contemporary or "new" style of basket for this show. Sumsky lives in Tenstrike, and has
ADVERTISEMENT
been weaving baskets since 1995.
First Friday reception at Paul's Print Shop
BEMIDJI-A group of local artist will be presenting their "Minnesota-ish" work during a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Paul's Print Shop, 216 Fourth St. Milk, cookies and other refreshments will be served.
