2009 It’s Only Clay Award Winners

The BCAC and BSU Visual Arts Dept would like to announce this years Harlow Collection purchase awards and the BCAC Placement Awards made possible, in part, by the Region 2 Arts Council and the Minnesota State Legislature.

Harlow Purchase Award pieces will now become a part of this permanent teaching and exhibit collection dedicated to functional ceramics at Bemidji State University.  This years selections are;

• Top Left: Wenfen Pan from Okemos, MI – Pitcher, stoneware, 6″x4″x4″
• Top Right: Marion Angelica from Minneapolis, MN – Split Moon Platter, porcelain, 1″x 11″x11″
• Lower Left: Marcia Paul from Deephaven, MN – Set of two Tumblers selected for collection, cone 10 soda-fired stoneware, 7″x3″x3″
• Lower Right: Ai Yamamoto from Lansing, MI

The recipients for the BCAC Placement Awards are;

• First Place (top) - Marion Angelica from Minneapolis, MN - $800     Split Moon Platter, Porcelain, 1″x11″x11″
• Second Place (left) – Jon McMillan from Rye, NY – $500                Granary Jar, wood fired stoneware 15″x 13″x13″
•  Third Place (right) - Mark Johnson from South Portland, ME – $300 Bowl, white stoneware, cone 10, soda fired, 5″x9″x9″

November First Friday at a Glance

• Bemidji Community Art Center -  join us from 5 to 7pm for the opening of the 7th Annual It’s Only Clay National Ceramic Exhibition.  Announcement of the Margaret Harlow Collection and BCAC Awards will be at 6pm, presented by Professor Butch Holden. 
• NEW VENUE!!!!  Paul Bunyan Senior Activity Center is pleased to present the Bemidji Woodcarvers Club as they showcase their beautiful woodcarvings during the First Friday from 4:00-6:00pm
• NEW VENUE!!!!!!!  Headwaters Unitarian Universalist Fellowship – will feature the collaborative work of Bemidji artists Marlon Davidson and Don Knudson on First Friday, November 6th as a part of their new exhibit program.  The church will be open to the public from 4-6 PM.
• Gallery North – join us from 2 to 5pm for Gallery North’s Christmas Boutique and Featured Artist and painter, Pat Shough.  AUTHOR OF THE MONTH: Gallery North presents author David C. Swenson who will do readings from his recently published book “Miracle at Mercy Hospital” starting at 2pm. 
• Wild Hare Bistro and Coffee House – presents Bemidji native Mali Mattsen, November 6th through December 1st.  Mali will present tendril and gestural mobiles and sculptures, formed of metal and colorful handmade paper.  Reception from 3 to 5pm.
• Beltrami County History Center  - The Beltrami County Historical Society, in conjunction with Gallery North, presents “School Days”Grand Opening of a new exhibit on weddings entitled, “Just Married, Best Wishes” featuring a grand assortment of vintage wedding gowns.  Open 10am to 4pm, free admission on First Friday!
• Cabin Coffeehouse and Café – Terry Honstead and a new exhibit “Local Ojibwe Leaders”.  Reception time – 4 to 6pm. 
• Dunn Bros Coffee – presents the work of artist and painter, Mary Lingen.  now through the month of November.
• Bemidji Public Library – Paul Simonson and his exhibit of spin-art paintings entitled “Potpourri” from 3 to 5pm.
• Bad Cat Creations Gallery & Gifts - Malisa VanMaasdam will present her exhibit “Lost in the Leaves”  -a collection of seasonal watercolor mono prints from 4 to 6pm
• Glazed & Amused – While on the First Friday Art Walk stop by Glazed & Amused – Paint your Own Pottery Studio located at 311 3rd Street in downtown Bemidji.  We are open on Fri. from 12 to 9pm.
• Neilson Place -  Terry Honstead, “Another Take” continues  through the month of November.
• Mask & Rose Women’s Theater Collective and the Northwood’s Folk Collective – First Friday Coffeehouse at the Wild Rose Theater starting at 7:30 PM.  Performer sign-up begins at 6:30 PM, cost is $2.00 single – $5.00 family.  Also showing in the Fleur di Lis Gallery, “New Sculptures” by Suzi Rhae Ross.  The Fleur di Lis Gallery will be open every Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 through Dec 14.
• Brigid’s Cross Irish Pub – presents Longville, MN.  artist – Sean Moran -opening reception from 6 to 8pm.

October First Friday at a Glance

• Bemidji Community Art Center -  5 to 7pm for “Spoken Word” featuring the work of local writer and poet Marsh Muirhead and  “The Long and the Short of It – It’s all about the Words”.   Marsh will be reading from his collection of short stories, poems, including haiku, fiction, non-fiction and essays starting at 6pm.
• Gallery North is pleased to present Tammy Kubiak as their October Showcase Artist featuring her lampwork glass beads made from recycled glass.  Featured Artists are jewelry maker, Kerri Dinkel and oil painter Jeannine Brooks.   AUTHOR OF THE MONTH:  Art Lee will read from his book “Real Scandinavians Never Repeat Gossip -So Listen Carefully” starting at 2pm for the First Friday reception
• Wild Hare Bistro and Coffee House presents the paintings of Terry Honstead, October 2nd through November 4th.   Join us for the opening reception on Friday October 2nd, from 3:00-5:00pm. 
• Cabin Coffeehouse and Café – reception from 4 to 6pm featuring painter Paula Lawler.
• Bemidji Public Library featured artist for the Art Wall will be painter Kay Schuver.  Join us from 3-5.
• Bad Cat Creations Gallery & Gifts reception from 4 to 6pm featuring local photographer Michael Thomas Sunnarborg. 
• Glazed & Amused – open until 9pm every Friday!
• Beltrami County History Center   presents “School Days” at the History Center. Stop by 10 to 4pm.  
• Neilson Place – featuring artist Terry Honstead and her exhibit, “Another Take” now through November.  
• Mask & Rose Women’s Theater Collective and the Northwood’s Folk Collective coffeehouse starts at 7:30 PM.  Performer sign-up begins at 6:30 PM, cost is $2.00 single – $5.00 family. 
• Dunn Bros Coffee presents painter Mary Lingen, reception from 5 to 7pm. 

September First Friday at a Glance

• Bemidji Community Art Center -The BCAC invites you to First Friday Art Walk and Opening reception on September 4th from 5 to 7pm.  Join us for the opening of “Unique Vision” featuring landscape photos from Utah, Wyoming and Minnesota by photographer Jon Heller. 
• Gallery North is pleased to present Steve Herriot as their September Showcase Artist featuring his landscape paintings in acrylic.  Featured Artists for September are Monie Martin and Dianna Johnson and Gallery North will also feature author Wendy Potratz.  Join us from 2 to 5 pm
• Headwaters School of Music and the Arts invites you to their September First Friday Art Walk featuring jewelry artist Christina Thorne of Bad Cat Creation from 5pm to 7pm. 
• Bemidji Public Library is pleased to announce that their featured artist for the Art Wall at the Bemidji Public Library in September will be photographer Kathy Jo McKeown. Join us from 3-5
• Dunn Bros Coffee – presents the work of artist and photographer John Eggers and his exhibit “Local and Global: Photographs that make you wonder” from 5 to 7pm.  dunnbros106@dunnbros.com
• Bad Cat Creations Gallery & Gifts – September First Friday Art Walk Reception will feature Bagley potter, Malotte Backer.  Stop by from 4pm to 6pm, live wheel-throwing demos outside Bad Cat weather permitting! 
• Glazed & Amused – While on the First Friday Art Walk stop by Glazed & Amused – Paint your Own Pottery Studio located in downtown Bemidji.   Walk-in painters are always welcome!!!  Open Fridays  from 12 to 9pm.
• Beltrami County History Center   The Beltrami County Historical Society, in conjunction with Gallery North, presents “School Days“
• Neilson Place – The North Country Health Services Art Committee is pleased to host Artist Terry Honstead and her exhibit, “Another Take”
• Mask & Rose Women’s Theater Collective and the Northwood’s Folk Collective invites you to their First Friday Coffeehouse on September 4th at the Wild Rose Theater starting at 7:30 PM.  Performer sign-up begins at 6:30 PM, cost is $2.00 single – $5.00 family.  
• Cabin Coffeehouse and Café -  featuring artist Grace Garland from 5 to 7pm on Sept 4th.  

August Exhibit – REVEAL

The BCAC is pleased to feature the collaborative work of John Bauer and  Heidi Holtan in this unique exhibit of portraits and interviews.  REVEAL is and intimate exhibition of photography by Bauer and audio by Holtan, featuring individuals from Itasca County.  Each subject’s story, as told in their voices, reveals something about themselves and about who we are as individuals. 

The black and white large-scale portraits are unflinching in their ability to grab your attention.  There is a immediate impression of a possible story at first glance.  Encouraged along with with titles like  “bumpity”, “purple”  and “happen” we think we know the story.  Then, as we listen, comes the REVEAL.  Some of the stories are difficult while others are hopeful and uplifting.  All are absolute and uncompromising,  a testament to the human spirit and what makes us all unique in some way and possibly the same in others. 

Russel and Marie McWilliams

 What started as a kernal of an idea between two friends has grown into an amazing exhibit that we hope you will take the time to experience.  Thank you to John and Heidi for there amazing work and to all of the individuals for sharing with them and with us.

REVEAL will be at the BCAC from August 7th through the 28th.

August First Friday at a Glance

• Bemidji Community Art Center -   First Friday Reception August 7th from 5 to 7pm with an artist talk at 6pm featuring “REVEAL” - an exhibit of photography by John Bauer and audio by Heidi Holton, an exhibit of portraits and audio recordings of Itasca County individuals .
• NEW VENUE!!!  Brigid’s Cross Irish Pub- First Friday August 7th from 5 to 7pm featuring the exhibit – “Erja + Mike = Art Show”.  This exhibit is a collaboration between Erja and Mike Wiltse showcasing paintings in oil and watercolor. 
• Cabin Coffeehouse and Café -  Reception on August 7th  from 5 to 7pm featuring photographer, Brooke Knisley’s exhibit – “Reflections in the Landscape”. 
• Gallery North – August Showcase artist - painter Linda Walker.  Featured Artists  – Erma Stelter and Grace Garland,. Linda, Erma and Grace will be on hand to meet the public at the Open House on Friday, August 7th from 2 to 5 pm.   AUTHOR OF THE MONTH former Bemidji resident Bill Kruger and his book of tales for children entitled “Mr. Euchre and other Northwood’s Fables”
• Mask & Rose Women’s Theater Collective and the Northwood’s Folk Collective invites you to their First Friday Coffeehouse on August 7th at the Wild Rose Theater starting at 7:30 PM.  Performer sign-up begins at 6:30 PM, cost is $2.00 single – $5.00 family. 
• Bemidji Public Library Art Wall for August will be work by students K through 12, that participated in the art workshops at the Library. The art work on display includes sketches, yarn art, “piano hinge books” and wind chimes. 
• Wild Hare Bistro and Coffee House -  presents “Body Ornaments” – works by Karen Bradley, August 7th through the 31st.  Reception time on August 7th – 3pm to 5pm, First Friday Wine bar 5pm  to 9pm.
• Dunn Bros Coffee presents the work of artist Terri Honstead and her exhibit “Feminine Fancy” for the month of August. Reception time on Aug 7th -5pm to 7pm. 
• Bad Cat Creations Gallery & Gifts – August First Friday is artist Pamela Lee Johnson of Pamela Lee Photography.  Stop by from 4pm-6pm to meet Pamela, to talk about her nature and wild life photography and what inspires her photography.
• Glazed & Amused – While on the First Friday Art Walk stop by Glazed & Amused and check out the window display featuring beautiful ceramic pieces painted by the customers, walk-in painters are always welcome!!!  Open until 9pm on Friday.
• Beltrami County History Center   The Beltrami County Historical Society, in conjunction with Gallery North, presents “Summer Breeze” at the History Center now through the month of August.   Free Admission to History Center every First Friday!
• Neilson Place – The North Country Health Services Art Committee is pleased to host Natalia Himmirska’s exhibit, titled, “Embrace” on display now through the month of August.

July First Friday features Spoken Word

As a part of the July First Friday Art Walk the BCAC hosted a CD release party for local writer and poet Anthony Swann.  Guests were treated to an artist talk and reading by Swann of a selection from his new CD, “The Kali Yuga Rag” .

Anthony Swann reads work at opening reception.

In visiting with Anthony about his work, I asked him why he decided to do a recording for his first collection.  He explained that as a writer and poet and someone who appreciates the spoken word, he finds it exciting to hear and author read his or her own work. 

The Kali Yuga Rag is the title and the final piece presented in this collection of 24 poems.  A practicing Hindu for almost 30 years, Anthony says he has selected Kali as his chosen deity.  He went on to explain that there are 4 Yugas in the world cycle of Hindu Philosophy.  The Kali Yuga is the last and most violet which appears before the dawn of a more spiritual time.  Often misunderstood by Western cultures, Anthony feels the Kali Yuga is a symbol for the age we are living in now.

From short snippets and lyrical poems to the blues like song lyric style of the Kali Yuga Rag, Anthony offers a body of work that ranges from the 1960’s to present time – sort of a microscopic biography of his life and interests.

audience at reading

To buy a copy of “The Kali Yuga Rag” send inquiries to: roadrunner, po box 3124, bemidji, mn 56619-3124

Also available for sale at Overbeak Electronics & Music, 502 Paul Bunyan Dr. S., Bemidji, MN.  56601  218-751-6291

The BCAC Announces their 42nd Annual Art in the Park on July 18th 10am to 5pm and July 19 10am to 4pm

Featuring over 100 artists, food vendors, demonstrations and activities the 42nd Annual Art in the Park will take place once again on the beautiful shores of Lake Bemidji at the waterfront and Library Park in Downtown Bemidji.

Special this year we are featuring the “In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre”  performing a special Pagaent Presentation about water, created just for this event at 2pm on July 18th and 19th.

Join us for art, food and fun all happening at the Bemidji Community Art Center.  For more information please contact the BCAC at 218-444-7570.

The HOBT is brought to you by the BCAC, the Headwaters School of Music and the Arts and the Bemidji School District Summer Kids Program and made possible in part by the Minnesota State Arts Board and an Arts Across Minnesota Festival Grant.

July First Friday at a Glance

LOCATIONS HOSTING A RECEPTION ON JULY 3RD

• Bemidji Community Art Center -The BCAC invites you to their First Friday Art Walk  Opening Reception on July 3rd from 5 to 7pm.  Join us for the CD Release Party for “The Kali Yuga Rag” a CD of recorded poetry by Anthony Swann, featuring a talk and partial reading by the author at 6pm.  In the Galleries: NEW WORK by Davidson, Holden, Jones, Kaul, Knudson and Morgan.
• Headwaters School of Music and the Arts invites you to their July First Friday Art Walk reception from 5 to 7pm featuring “Chasing the Wind” photographer, Brian Grund. 
• Cabin Coffeehouse and Café  featuring self taught artist Audrey Merschman.  Please come meet Audrey at the Cabin Coffeehouse July3rd from 4-6pm. 
• Gallery North presents their Showcase Artist for the month  Tom Hetznecker  and  Featured Artists Kathy Gustafson and Doug Zuehlsdorff, at a reception Friday, July 3rd from 2 to 5 pm.
• Mask & Rose Women’s Theater Collective and the Northwood’s Folk Collective invites you to their First Friday Coffeehouse on July 3rd at the Wild Rose Theater starting at 7:30 PM.  Performer sign-up begins at 6:30 PM, cost is $2.00 single – $5.00 family. 
• Bemidji Public Library Art Wallis pleased to announce that their featured artist for July is artist Janelle Christnesen.  Join us on July 3rd as a part of the First Friday Art Walk from 3 to 5pm. 

LOCATIONS WITH NEW EXHIBIT

• Wild Hare Bistro and Coffee Housepresents the photography of Tyson Kuznia July 3rd through the 29th. 
• Dunn Bros Coffeepresents the work of artist Pat Shough for the month of July. 

LOCATIONS WITH CONTINUING EXHIBITS

• Bad Cat Creations Gallery & Gifts – Bad Cat Creations is a boutique featuring Art & Fine Craft by over 35 different artists and an eclectic selection of fun gifts and contemporary accessories. 
• Beltrami County History Center   The Beltrami County Historical Society, in conjunction with Gallery North, presents “Summer Breeze” at the History Center now through the month of August. 
• Neilson Place – The North Country Health Services Art Committee is pleased to host Natalia Himmirska’s exhibit, titled, “Embrace” on display now through the month of August. 

June First Friday reception and exhibit

The BCAC was proud to host an opening reception June 5th from 5pm to 7pm  for their latest Exhibit – NEW WORK – featuring new and recent works by Davidson, Holden, Jones, Kaul, Knudson and Morgan.  The exhibit came together as a collection showcasing only local artists in multiple mediums.  Each artists own work stands alone but the collection works together as a whole with recurring themes of color, content and expression.   Collaborative pieces by Marlon Davidson and Don Knudson bring together organic elements with design focused collage pieces.  Ceramic artist Butch Holden plays with the eye by placing geometric shapes on clay forms that he brings together as wall hangings that are decorative as they are functional forms.  Whether it is in 2-D or 3-D, multi media artist Jay B. Jones

"Entry Point" assemblage by J. Jones

work ”represents the many facets of color, pattern and repetition that can be both seen and felt whether actually or abstractly.”  Marley Kaul uses the “garden as methaphor and subject”  in somewhat autobiographical  paintings that reflect experiences in Northern and Southern Minnesota.  With a rich palette of color Kaul is able to ”blend personal symbolism with social and political issues, transforming  simple images into complex metaphors”.  

Marley Kaul visits with Guests at opening.

The duality of Vivienne Morgans life is reflected in large landscape photographs taken in her adopted home of Northern Minnesota.  Originally from England, Morgans roots are evident in her photos of American Landscapes.

NEW WORK can be seen now through August 1st, 2009.  Go  to all artists statements for more information about the work and the artists.