9th Annual IOC Exhibit and Events

The Bemidji Community Art Center is proud to announce the opening of the 9th Annual It’s Only Clay National Juried Exhibit featuring a lecture and workshop with our 2011 Juror, Guillermo Cuellar and the opening reception for IOC 2011. 

Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela in 1951 Guillermo Cuellar studied ceramics at Cornell College in Mt.Vernon, Iowa where he graduated with a B.A. in Art in 1976.  After working as an environmentalist he returned to pottery in 1980.  In 1986 he set up a studio in the village of Turgua, an hour southeast of the capital city, Caracas, where he made pots for the following 18 years.

Platter by Guillermo Cuellar

In 1981 he worked as an assistant to Warren MacKenzie, who was teaching in Caracas. Subsequently he regularly shared studio experience with MacKenzie inStillwater, Minnesota, from 1984 to 2006.  Guillermo’s experience includes teaching workshops inVenezuela and Chile and participating in the organization and execution of workshops given by international guest potters in Venezuela.

His work has been on display in the Venezuelan National Art Gallery,  Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Caracas Sofia Imber,  Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico,  The Smithsonian Institution,  Northern Clay Center,  Mashiko Municipal Pottery Art Museum and private galleries in Minnesota, the United States, England, Venezuela and Chile.

In 1992 Guillermo brought a group of potters together to found Grupo Turgua, a non-profit association of artisans dedicated to the support of good craft inVenezuela.   Grupo Turgua hosted twenty-eight group sales with from 1992 to 2005 offering Venezuelan native crafts and other creative work.

Guillermo at work in Studio

In 2005 Guillermo and his family, established a home, studio and showroom in the upper St. Croix River valley near Shafer, Minnesota, where he is currently making pots and participates as one of seven host studios on the Minnesota Potters of the Upper St. Croix Valley Annual Pottery Tour.

Join us on Wed November 2^nd at 7pm for the IOC community lecture.  Cuellar will trace his personal history fromVenezuela to Minnesota and explore how the physical surroundings, sound examples of hand-made crafts, and a spirit of community have influenced his work and enriched his life.  The lecture is free and open to the public and will be hosted at the Headwaters School of Music and the Arts,519 Minnesota Ave, Downtown Bemidji. 

The workshop – Techniques For Wheel Thrown Utilitarian Pots will be hosted on the Campus of Bemidji State University on Nov. 3 thru 4. 

The Opening Reception for IOC 2011 Exhibit will be at the BemidjiCommunityArtCenteron Friday Nov 4^th from 5 to 7pm with a brief presentation and awards announcement by Butch Holden and Cuellar at 6pm.  This event is a part of the November First Friday Art walk and free and open to the public.

IOC 2011 is cosponsored by the BCAC and the BSU Visual Arts Department.  Support is provided by Holiday Inn Express Bemidji and the BSU Ceramics Club.  This activity is also made possible, in part, by a grant provided by the Region 2 Arts Council through funding from the Minnesota State Legislature.

For more information regarding this program go to IOC 2011

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Kids Workshop and Artist Demo for October

The BCAC is Celebrating fiber during the month of October.  As a part of our ongoing exhibit fiber exhibit, “Land by Hand: Fiber Artists Explore Place”, the Bemidji Community Art Center and the Textile Center of Minneapolis will be hosting two workshops and a demonstration during the month of October.  This is an exciting opportunity to work with nationally recognized artists and for anyone interested in learning more about fiber art

Join us for our Kids Workshop on Saturday October 15, 2011 from 9am to 12 noon.   

Things with String is 3 hours of open class time presented by the BCAC and Textile Center featuring with Instructor Lynn Cooper.  From braids to knots to twisted cords, there are lots of ways to turn yarns into fiber art.  We will ply novelty fibers and yarns together to make our own custom yarns.  Learn to finger knit and make yourself a trendy skinny scarf.  Finally learn kumihimo, a Japanese 8 stranded braid with cool spiral patterns that makes great bracelets and more.

This class is free and for students Ages 8 and up!  We will be making projects through out the class time so come and go as you please!  Stay for one project or stay for them all!! 

Fiber Arts Demonstration – Saturday October 22, 2011 from 10am to 3pm – Tapestry Weaving by Local Weavers Group featuring hands-on opportunity!

Stop by the Bemidji CommunityArt Centerduring the 2011 Studio Cruise weekend to learn about the art of Tapestry Weaving!  Join us for this afternoon demonstration and learn more about this unique form of weaving.  Artist Kristin Majkrzak will provide a loom to give visitors an opportunity to try their hand at weaving.  Members from the group will be on hand from 10am to 3pm to show their work and answer questions.

For more information contact Cindy and Lori at the BCAC or stop down to the art center located at 426 Bemidji Ave N.

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October 7th First Friday at a Glance

• Bemidji Community Art Center – presents the October Spoken Word featuring writer Susan Carol Hauser and her latest publication, My Kind of Journey Seeking Passage on the Mississippi.  Oct 7th from 5 to 7pm for a reception, reading and book signing. Reading begins promptly at 6pm.  Some space still available in the Saturday Oct 8th workshop with Hauser.  EXHIBIT: “Land by Hand: Fiber Artists Explore Place”, featuring contemporary fiber art from the Textile Center touring show now thru October 23, 2011. 
• Bad Cat Creations Gallery & Gifts – Jane Carlstom’s “Fantasy Hats & Other Flights of Imagination”.  Opening reception and meet the Artist 4pm to 6pm.  
• Cabin Coffeehouse and Café – presents “Autumn Expressions” - a collaborative effort from: Photographer Trish Barthorpe, Floral Designer Jill Bitker and Up-cycled Glass Artist Jane Marks-Hastig.   Meet the artists Reception  5-7pm.
• Dunn Bros Coffee presents Eli Balbach.  Opening reception on Friday Oct 7th from 5 to 7pm. 
• Gallery North – presents Patty Lovegreen as their Featured Artist Oct. and the BEMIDJI WOODCARVERS group as their Showcase Artists for Oct.  Demonstrations,  meet the artists and enjoy refreshments  from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.
• Glazed & Amused presents painter and Bemidji native Mike Mohler and his exhibit “Mike’s Unique Take on Life”. 
• Headwaters Unitarian Universalist Fellowship presents master potter Cyrus Swann.  Join us from 4 to 6 PM.  The artist will be present and refreshments will be served. 
• The Beltrami County History Center – The Beltrami County Historical Society, in conjunction with Gallery North presents “Fall Reflections,” a collection of works by various artists celebrating the autumn season.  Stop by for refreshments and free admission in the museum on Friday, October 7, 2011 from noon to 4 p.m. 
• Neilson Place – The Neilson Place Art Committee is pleased to host artistMary Lingen now through October, 2011.
• Rail River Folk School – will host The Northwoods Folk Collective Coffeehouse Open Mic.   Coffeehouse starts at 7:30pm, performers come early to sign up for your performance time. 
• Saarens Productions invites you to stop by the Fleur de Lis Gallery  for new works by local artists from 2 to 6pm.  Terry Honstead, B. E. Jolly, Dee Anne Najjar, Wanda Reise Odegard and Pat Shough/Sillimandi. 
• Wild Hare Bistro and Coffeehouse presents “Three of a Kind”, by fiber artist and basket weaver Eve Sumsky from 3:00 to 5:00pm.  After the Art Walk, Wild Hare’s First Friday Wine Bar, 5:00-9:00pm.

For more information go to Upcoming First Friday.

 

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