September 22, 2011

Stop by for Art Leap!

Everyone is excited about Art Leap this weekend!  That includes us here at Nemeth Art Center. 

 We have a poetry reading from our Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop attendants at 2:30 Saturday in the Great Gallery.  Some students from Nevis School and Park Rapids School may also join us for readings from their classes.  I’ve seen a few of the poems and all I can say is that people’s talent  amazes me!

Also, we will have the pleasure of  a sneak peek at Kayleen Horsma’s beautiful oil paintings.  She will be exhibiting with us next season and is bringing a few pieces in for the weekend.

We look forward to seeing you, and as always…

Create a beautiful life,

Kelly

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September 3, 2011

A Pause

After the busy, summer season, in which we try to fit as much as possible into the long days, I welcome the pause that autumn so graciously gives us.

I find that same gift, the gift of pause, given by the exhibits adorning the galleries. It is impossible to rush past such beauty, such stories.

The ankle bracelets from the Nigerian Collection for example; who wore them in ceremonial dance? Who surrounded the dancer and listened to their surprisingly resonant tones? Their hearts must have beat strongly, their muscles working through the movement of dance.

Melanie’s Prayer Pictures slow my pace as well. Her passion and soul come through her works to enliven our emotions, to ask us to see past our every day thoughts. Pausing is necessary.

The last of the Master Paintings are arranged in The Great Gallery for this final month of our open season. They too, ask me to pause. What have these paintings been witness to? What was going on in the daily lives of the artists who laid their brush against the canvas?

There are pictures of celebrations, gatherings, acts of domesticity, noblemen and commoners.  Who were these people who are not so different from who we are? The same things that are important to us, were important to them. It makes me pause.

My wish for each of you this autumn season, is that you pause; pause to see the beauty.

Of course a quote:

“Every beauty which is seen here below by persons of perception, resembles more than anything else that celestial source from which we all come…”

- Michelangelo

Create a beautiful life,

Kelly

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August 2, 2011

Oh My Stars, Triangles, Squares, Circles….

Oh My….Oh My….Oh My…..That’s all I can say as I come up the stairs to work!  The Quilts in the Pines show is so very beautiful.  Not only are the quilted pieces of art incredible, but this group is also full of masters of display.  They have created vignettes and corners that catch your eye, enhance the pieces and make one want to linger in the beauty. 

I am reminded of a quote…

“To become truly immortal, a work of art must escape all human limits: logic and common sense will only interfere.  But once these barriers are broken, it will enter the realms of childhood visions and dreams.”

- Georgio DeChirico                                                                                                                                                          

These quilters most assuredly break the barriers.  Come join the childhood visions and dreams!

Create a beautiful life,

Kelly

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July 30, 2011

Just keep writing!

Hello!  Summer is here and the writing is good.

Cynthia Ekren just finished up teaching the Teen Writing Workshop here at the Nemeth Art Center.

How wonderful to have these children expressing their thoughts and sharing ideas with each other.  I am always amazed at how courageous teens are.  Their energy is infectious!

I asked them to leave comments that I could add to our blog:

“Awesome!”

“Thank you so much for letting us use your museum!  It is a very nice place & very well kept.”

“Amazing!  It was very inspiring and very wonderful.  It makes me want to write!”

“Awesome!  Breathtaking art.  Nice feel to the place.”

They are so kind!

We have another workshop coming up in August.  This one is   The Art of Ekphrastic Poetry – A Writers Workshop taught by published poet LouAnn Muhm.

Want to know what an ekphrastic poem is?  Check out our events page for all of the details!

Create a beautiful life,

Kelly

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July 5, 2011

The Curtain Unveiled

“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.”
-Georgia O’Keeffe

There are no words to describe the talent of our current exhibiting artists.

The works themselves are stunning, however, after talking with the artists, I can’t stop thinking about the process. The artist’s ability to “see” what they are carving before blade, chisel or saw ever touches the piece of wood is pure magic!

Unlike a canvas, wood has something to say about how it is used.  When a larger cut is made, it sighs with relief at being let out of its long-held stance.  It may decide to crack in a place of its own choosing.  Its grain and streaks of color have their own way of showing up when the curtain is drawn.

Lucky me, I have a front row seat.  Don’t miss the show!

Create a beautiful life,

Kelly

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June 21, 2011

Daily Gifts of Art

Daily, I am amazed at the beauty that surrounds me here.  People put their time, thoughts and energy into their creations to share with the world.  It begs me to ask myself if I am so free with what I create in my life. 

When I look, I mean really look at the pieces; I am thoughtful of what each piece is trying to share with me.  Will I look?  Will I just pass by?  Will I miss the gift of this piece, this artist? 

The current artists; Sam Ekren and Nate Luetgers, are brave, unafraid young men.  They can teach me to explore new territories, new ways of thinking.

Today, as I close the doors for the night, I will stop and look at just one piece before I go home. 

It dawns on me why folks come and visit the same exhibit over and over again.  They are the wise ones who ask for the gifts!

Create a beautiful life,

Kelly

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June 4, 2011

Press Release from Congressman Chip Cravaack’s Office

Perry Nouis, from Congressman Chip Cravaak’s office was kind enough to send us their press release about the Congressional Art Competition that we hosted here this May. I thought you might enjoy seeing it!

It was an honor to be involved in this contest and a pleasure to work with Mary May, Ben Harper and Perry Nouis. A big thank you to each of them for all they did to make this a memorable experience for the students of the 8th district!

Cravaack Announces Congressional Art Contest Winner

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Congressman Chip Cravaack (MN-8) announced that Sarah Rajala, a junior at Grand Rapids High School, is the winner of the 2011 Congressional Art Competition for Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District. Rajala’s work, “Boundaries Broken,” will be displayed in Washington, DC, during the next year along with the works of other young artists from throughout the United States.

“The quality of the art work that was presented for judging in this year’s Congressional Art Competition was truly impressive,” said Cravaack. “Sarah Rajala’s winning entry was very intricate and demonstrated superb artistic ability. It will be a great representation of the artistic talent in Minnesota’s Eighth District.”

Rajala’s “scratch art” was selected from the 43 entries submitted for judging in the Eighth District competition. Judging was conducted at the Nemeth Art Center in Park Rapids in early May and a ceremony to recognize the winner and contest participants was held at the Center May 14th. Receiving Second Place recognition was Rachael Schulte, also a junior attending Grand Rapids High School. Schulte’s work, “Self Portrait,” will be displayed in the Congressman’s District Office in North Branch.

Each spring the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Students submit entries to their representative’s office and judges in each district select the winning entries, which are then displayed in the Capitol for one year.

Congressman Cravaack serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – where he is Vice Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee – the Homeland Security Committee, and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. The 8th Congressional District covers 18 counties in Northeast Minnesota.

Until next time…

Create a beautiful life,

Kelly

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