Common Ground, the new Lakeland Public Television weekly series highlighting the artistic and historical culture of northern and central Minnesota, will feature two well-known Bemidji artists this week: Christina Thorne of Bad Cat Creations and Josh Boock, a master potter who will explain his view of Southern Folk Art Pottery. The third exhibitor, Dick Carlson, will talk about the train depot in Nisswa. The show will be broadcast at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, and repeated at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, on local Lakeland Public TV channels. Common Ground is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Foundation.
BSO concert
"Movie Night," Bemidji Symphony Orchestra's Fifth Annual Valentine concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the Bemidji High School auditorium. This family-friendly event will feature songs from the movies such as "Moon River" and "My Funny Valentine," "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and "Star Wars." There is no charge for this concert. A free will offering will be accepted to cover expenses for the program.
Mixed media
There is still time to view A Collaboration of the Talents of the Bemidji State University Faculty and Staff, an eclectic collection of photography, painting, sculpture and domestic craft. The exhibit will be up until Friday, Feb. 5, in the Touché Gallery which is located in upper Hobson Memorial Union and open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. with no charge for admission.
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First Friday
First Friday of February events can begin at the Beltrami County Historical Society, which in conjunction with Gallery North, presents, "Winter Wonderland." Stop by on First Friday for refreshments and free admission into the museum. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Saturday and is located in the historic James J. Hill Great Northern Depot at 130 Minnesota Ave. SW.
- Gallery North, 502 Third St. N.W., will welcome Dianna Johnson and her works in oil and acrylics as featured artist of the month. Gallery North's showcase artist of the month is photographer John La Tourelle and his nature photography of the Bemidji area. The reception will be held from 2-5 p.m.
- Gallery North will hold a reception for its Author of the Month, Beth Solheim, who will present an introduction to the first in the Sadie Witt Mystery Series, "At Witts End." At 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13, Solheim will read from her humorous mystery and meet the public.
- Bemidji Public Library, 509 America Ave. N.W., welcomes artist Ron Lyman and his exhibit "Brush Strokes" for February. A graduate of Bemidji High School, where he discovered his love of painting, Lyman is now a member of the Northern Artists Association. Meet with Lyman and enjoy refreshments at the opening reception from 3-5 p.m. The library is located is open Monday-Saturday.
- Glazed and Amused is a Paint Your Own Pottery Studio where walk-in painters are always welcome. They are open Wednesday through Sunday and hours are posted on the door at 311 Third St. NW.
- Cabin Coffeehouse and Café, 214 Third St. N.W., will welcome photographer Don Schubbe and his work entitled, "Beauty-Naturally." A free lance photographer, Schubbe's scenic, wildlife and floral photography will be up for February. Meet him during the opening reception from 4-6 p.m. Also on display and for sale are painting and cards by Audrey Merschman. The Cabin is open seven days a week.
- Headwaters Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 522 America Ave. N.W., is hosting paintings by Natalia Himmirska for February. A painting instructor at Bemidji State University, Himmirska is a European and American trained artist. Join her at the opening reception from 4-6 p.m.
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- Wild Hare Coffee House and Bistro, 523 Minnesota Ave. N.W., will welcome "Peacefulness of the Northwoods" by Maureen O'Brien for February. Known locally for her work on nature in northern Minnesota, join her for the opening reception from 3-5 p.m. After the Art Walk, the Friday Wine Bar will feature a Mardi Gras inspired menu with libations to complement from 5-9 p.m. Wild Hare is closed on Sunday.
- Brigid's Cross Irish Pub and Restaurant, 317 Beltrami Ave. N.W., invites the public to view the work of Ashleigh Buck and Candice Billiups and their work of encaustic paintings, also known as hot wax painting. The pigment is added to the hot wax and then used to create paintings, sculpted works and collage. Meet them during the opening reception from 6-8 p.m. Their art is also for sale. The pub is open Monday-Saturday at noon.
- Bemidji Community Art Center will host the Annual BCAC Members Show from 5-7 p.m. to announce the new Arts and Cultural Heritage (Legacy) grants and programs. This announcement will include a brief talk by legislators about the Legacy Amendment. Sue Gens, executive director of the Minnesota State Arts Board and Sheila Smith, director of MN Citizens for the Arts and executive director of the Region 2 Arts Council Board Terri Widman will also be present.
- Neilson Place and the North Country Health Services Art Committee will host artist Maureen O'Brien and her exhibit, "Let Nature Nurture." O'Brien's work will be on display through February for the pleasure of residents, families, staff and the community at large. Her work is for sale, and a price list will be at the reception desk. Neilson Place is located at 1000 Anne St. NW.
- Bad Cat Creations Gallery, 315 Irvine Ave. N.W., is a boutique of art and fine craft with more than 50 artists. This venue will be closed Sunday and Monday until April.
Student exhibit
Talley Gallery will welcome Malisa Van Maasdam and her installation, "Dasein," translated as "existence being" in completion of her Bachelor of Fine Arts at BSU. The gallery will have Van Maasdam's work on view until Feb. 25, with an opening reception from 4-7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The gallery is located in room 212 of the BSU the Education Arts Building. There is no admission charge.
Re-enactment
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George Nelson, Fur Trader, as presented by the Minnesota History Players, will take viewers back to the fur-trading days of the early 1800s in this living history presentation at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11. All ages are welcome to this free event which is sponsored by the Blackduck Community Library with Minnesota Legacy Funds. The seating is limited so contact Blackduck@kris.org to make a reservation or for further information.
History program
Candace Simar, author of "The Abercrombie Trail," as published by North Star Press in June 2009, will talk about her imaginings of what ordinary people would do in historic times, such as during the 1862 Sioux Uprising. More information on this presentation will be posted on the artsnews blog. The presentation will begin at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb.20. This free event is sponsored by the Blackduck Community Library with Minnesota Legacy Funds. The seating is limited so contact Blackduck@kris.org to make a reservation or for further information
Children's musical
"Seussical the Musical" will return for Bemidji audiences. The show presents many Seuss characters like Horton the Elephant, Mayzie, Gertrude McFuzz, Sour Kangaroo and Cat in the Hat in a musical romp. Directed by Cate Belleveau and music director Suzy Jones, the show is a presentation of the Mask and Rose Women's Theater Collective. Performance times are 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Bemidji High School Auditorium. Tickets may be purchased at Brigid's Cross Irish Pub and at the door beginning one hour before show times.
Bluegrass concert
Lonely Pines Concert will returns to Bemidji with featured groups Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice and the Woodpicks at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, in the historic Chief Theater, 314 Beltrami Ave. N.W. The Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association, in cooperation with their local sponsors Ken Berge Construction, Super 8 Motel, KRKB Music Outlet and Overbeek Electronics, will bring these traditional bluegrass and Americana groups to Bemidji as part of a tour. More information on the groups may be found on the ArtsNews blog. Tickets may be purchased at KRKB and Overbeeks Electronics: $14 in advance and $16 on the day of the show; $8 for teens and free for children 12 years old and younger. All seating is general.
Pipe band
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Macalester College Pipe Band will perform for Bemidji at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the historic Chief Theatre, 314 Beltrami Ave. N.W. This bagpipe and drum band is reputed to be the finest in the upper Midwest region and features several Grade I musicians, including Bemidji resident, Brian Solum. As an added attraction, a group of Highland dancers from the Minnesota Scottish Country Dance Association will also perform. Tickets are on sale now at Realty Sales, Brigid's Irish Cross Pub and the Keg-n-Cork for $10 each. If available, tickets will also be sold at the door the night of performance. Look at ArtsNews blog for more information on this event.
Other events
- "Love Songs and Arias for Valentine's Day," a dinner and program to benefit the 2010 Lake Bemidji Summer Opera Festival will be start at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at the Hampton Inn and Suites, 1019 Paul Bunyan Drive S. The price of $55 is for an elegant dinner spiced with musical selections from operas, musicals, and jazz. Contact Fulton Gallagher at 586-2536 or fgallagh@paulbunyan.net .
- Northern Bass Family Band - Dan, Louise and Brian Bass - will perform a benefit concert to support the scholarship program at Headwaters School at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, Headwaters School of Music and the Arts, 519 Minnesota Ave. N.W. Tickets are $10 per person and will be sold at the door.
- Calls for Artists: Bemidji-First City of the Arts Studio Cruise is alerting artists within a 40 mile radius of Bemidji to apply to be part of this year's events. The October cruise is an opportunity for artists to invite the public into their studios, showcase their art and craft. The cruise has the potential for direct sales and commissions, and will raise the public's awareness of the art scene in Bemidji. New this year is an opportunity to be a guest artist at a host studio. Each location will be limited to a maximum of three artists at each host studio location. All artists must successfully meet the jury and monetary qualifications and requirements established for participating in the cruise. Applications are available at http://bcac.wordpress.com or http://firstcityartcruise.wordpress.com . For more information contact Dave Towley at 333-3547 or dtowley@paulbunyan.net or bcac@paulbunyan.net . Fees are $10 non-refundable jury fee and $100 artist participation fee. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2010.
- North Country Health Services Art Committee is accepting artwork for the Temporary Exhibition Program at Neilson Place. Artists who would like their work to be considered, please submit a CD to the NCHS Art Committee by Monday, March 15. The CD may be mailed to Temporary Exhibition Program, Neilson Place, 1000 Anne St. N.W., Bemidji 56601 or dropped off at the same address. For more information, contact Linnea Papke-Larson at lpapkelarson@nchs.com or 333-6285.
- "Warm Your Heart Classes" will be offered free to the public with a limit of two classes per person during February and March at Gallery North. Classes are as follows: Wire Wrapped Jewelry with Nancy Engelson and Jeanie Fenner, 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb.16; Beginning Basketry with Monie Martin 1-4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19; Beginning Acrylic "Acrylics Landscape" with Grace Garland and Marion Reil 1-4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26; Ukrainian Eggs with Mary Morton 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, March 16; Beginning Oil Painting "Landscape Escape" with Jeannine Brooks 1-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 18-19. Registrations will be taken in person at Gallery North.
- Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program is an exhibition which takes places every 10 years at the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts. Foot in the Door celebrates the diversity and enthusiasm of Minnesota's visual arts community. For more details and registration information, visit www.artsmia.org/maep . Art drop off and registrations are Feb 5 -7.
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- Bemidji Community Arts Center is calling artists for the 43rd Annual Art in the Park Fine Art and Craft Fair July 17-18. For an application or more information, visit www.bcac.wordpress.com or bcac@paulbunyan.net . Final deadline to apply is March 13.
- Talking Stick Volume 19 is published by the Jackpine Writers Bloc of Northern Minnesota and they are looking for writers to submit poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. Writers must be from Minnesota or have a connection to this area. Deadline to apply is March 1. Complete submission guidelines available at www.jackpinewriters.com .
- Beltrami County Historical Society will hold its annual Valentine, White Elephant and Bake Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. The center will accept donations of new or gently used items that can be dropped off at 130 Minnesota Ave. S.W. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
- A special thanks to those of you who link to the ArtsNews blog, the numbers of those accessing the site are encouraging. To all those who have sent in announcements of upcoming events for the ArtsNews blog on the Bemidjipioneer.com website, thank you. The calendar is filling up and new events are added frequently. I also add some additional comments of groups that will be or have been featured in articles. This week, there is some interesting information on the Macalester College Pipe Band and the Lonely Pines Concert. Any information that groups, individuals or arts organizations would like printed in the blog, send entries to prall@bemidjipioneer.com . At this time, the blog lists events as far in advance as October. If ArtsNews is not on the home page, just hit "Our Voices" and scroll down.
- The Talley Gallery has on display the work of Holly Wong that reflects the devastation that war and unfair labor practices have on the most vulnerable among us, especially women and children. The gallery will have Wong's acrylic and oil stick paintings and drawings on view until Feb. 5.
- Tutto Bene, 300 Beltrami Ave. N.W., a restaurant and art gallery, has an ongoing display of new art work by Michael De Witt, Beverlee Olson, Jane Freeman, Judy Selby, Pat Shough (Sillimundi), Michael Thomas Sunnarborg and MaryBeth Vaudrin for viewing pleasure and sale. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and is closed on Sunday.
- Stop by Tourist Information Center, 300 Bemidji Ave. by the statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe, for a map and information on the pieces included in the Bemidji Sculpture Walk.
Mark your calendars now with these upcoming events:
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- Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. Doc Severinsen and El Ritmo de la Vida, Bemidji High School Auditorium.
- March 5-7 and 11-13 "Wait Until Dark" by KG Entertainment. All shows are 7:30, Elks Lodge, 116 Fourth St.
- Brigid's Cross Irish Pub hosts Open Stage every Thursday at 9 p.m. Call 444-0567 for more information.
- Pelican Railroad 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. every Wednesday at the Backyard BBQ 119 Third St. N.W.
Announcements of arts and entertainment events may be sent to the Bemidji Pioneer, P.O. Box 455, Bemidji, MN 56619-0455 or e-mailed to news@bemidjipioneer.com
