artspulse

Published by

A guide to the AreA’s Arts And culture march/april 2013

of the Red River Valley

• i n s i d e a R t s p u l s e •

F M V A s h o w a W o m a n ’ s p e R s p e c t i V e n o r t h e r n p l A i n s b o t A n i c g A r d e n

More hello world on page 2

Taking ARTSpulse digital full-time

A screen capture of the ARTSpulse at theartspartnership.net/artspulse.

hello worldBy Kris Kerzman

Some 40 years ago, in the early days of computer programming, a simple

snippet of code was devised that would output the phrase “hello, world” to a display. It’s a sentiment that still has incredible value as the computer and its cousins, the smartphone and the tablet, have since revolutionized the way we communicate with each other and gather information about the world around us. The computer says hello to us, often on behalf of our closest family and friends, and we can use it to give the entire world a fond hello any time we wish.

That’s a spirit we like to keep in mind as we bid farewell to the print version of ARTSpulse and turn our full attention to our digital version at theartspartnership.net/artspulse.

Since launching the blog in July, we’ve been able to cover and promote arts and culture in our area much more efficiently and with greater expediency than we could ever imagine with only a bimonthly print edition. We’ve expanded our potential

By TaP sTaff

L ast year, The Arts Partnership launched the Community Supported Art (CSA) program to great success. TAP juried the artists’ applications and selected nine finalists. When

the shares went on sale in late winter, we sold all 50 in 36 hours. If you followed TAP on Facebook, you know we were deliriously happy watching those numbers go up and up.

It works like this: 50 people purchase a CSA share, which includes nine pieces of original art given out over the course of three wine and hors d’oeuvres parties at Primary Partner locations for shareholders and a guest. Entertainment and brief artist talks also happen at each party.

The artists selected for this year’s shares include Karen Baake, the FM Area Youth Symphonies, Stevie Famulari, Eric A. Johnson, Jill Johnson, McCal Joy Johnson, Meredith Lynn and Erika Lorentzsen, Tangerine Life, and Emily Williams Wheeler.

Dates for this year’s CSA parties are May 7, July 9 and September 10. The shares go on sale April 9. Go to theartspartnership.net for more information.

Art enthusiasts:get ready for season II of the CSA

the csa program was purchased from springboard for the arts in st. paul and adapted to fit our community’s needs

this is the FinAl print edition of Artspulse. Visit theartspartnership.net/artspulse to follow our digital version via email and social media. enjoy!

march/april 20132 myNDarts.com

publisherthe Arts Partnership

Executive Director and managing Editordayna del Val

co-managing EditorKris Kerzman

publications committeelisa FarnhamPam gibberin Kofflersue spingler

Design and layoutshawn olson

co-FoundersJohn gouldsteve revland

contact us1104 2nd Ave. s., suite 315Fargo, n.d. 58103701-237-6133 [email protected]

this publication was made possible by the cities of Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo through their allocations for arts & culture and members of the Arts Partnership.

ArtsPulse is published six times a year by the Arts Partnership. All rights reserved by ArtsPulse. reproductions of any kind without written permission are prohibited. the publisher and editor assume no responsibility for unsolicited material, manuscripts or photographs. All materials are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but published without responsibility for errors or omissions.

ArtsPulse accepts advertisements from organizations believed to be of good reputation, but cannot guarantee the authenticity or quality of objects, events, or services advertised. opinions and/or ideas expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publisher.

letters to the editor should include the author’s name, address and phone number. All letters are subject to editing. letters can be submitted to [email protected]

Foundation and institutional Support• cities of Fargo, Moorhead

and West Fargo• north dakota council on the Arts• carol l. stoudt donor Advised

Fund (ii) of the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation

For calendar listings visit myNDarts.com and for the Arts Partnership information visit theartsparnership.net.

A guide to Fargo-Moorhead area arts and culture

By Dayna Del Val

W elcome to the latest and final issue of ARTSpulse in its print iteration. Kris Kerzman, our digital media producer,

or our “Human ARTSpulse,” as I have taken to calling him, and I have decided that this issue is far less about saying goodbye to a newspaper and far more about saying hello to the new and limitless possibilities of a digital media, cross-platformed, community engaged version of ARTSpulse.

When I joined The Arts Partnership in July 2010, much conversation had already occurred regarding the effectiveness of the newspaper version of ARTSpulse. What were the metrics surrounding who was reading it? What were the actual audience development benefits for Primary Partners? Was the paper actually serving the arts in the best, most effective way possible? These were big questions that the board and the Partnership had been grappling with far before I came on board.

I had my own opinions, but I was smart enough to meet with the publications committee, which at that time, consisted of Kris Kerzman, Erin Koffler, Lisa Farnham, Pam Gibb and Eric Daeuber. They had a much longer history with the publication than I did, and I very shortly learned that they were committed to the betterment of the paper while engaged in extremely interesting dialogue about a variety of topics. This quickly became my favorite committee meeting because of their dedication and group dynamic.

Now, nearly three years later, we have made the decision to take the paper version out of circulation and focus, instead, on engaging the community in a way that will show numbers, be much more responsive to the needs and activities of our Partners, both share our arts out to and fold in the arts happening outside our community, and magnify the work our Partners are doing in a way that is unlike any other source in town.

I want to thank the many publication committee volunteers, who for years and years have given much time and talent to the production and evolution of ARTSpulse. I am quite certain that

ArTSpulse is marching on

VIEWpoint

without this foundation to move away from, our development of a digital media producer and our social media work with ARTSpulse would have been much harder to create.

I want to thank our administrator, Sue Spingler, who has sold ads for the newspaper with terrific flair. Special thanks goes out to designer Shawn Olson, who never yelled at me for quick turn arounds, another version of edits or last minute additions. Shawn’s work has been instrumental in the sophisticated evolution of the paper in these last few years. Thanks to Kris Kerzman for co-managing the paper with me. I appreciated Kris’ talent and time long before he joined our staff, and I have thoroughly enjoyed having him at my finger tips to bounce ideas off of, share the work load with, and dream of ways to make ARTSpulse all that it is and all that it is yet to be. Thanks also to the board, who saw the vision and had the courage to fund a new position and stop producing our main form of communication in one fiscal year.

Finally, thank you to YOU. You have been loyal readers over the years; you have contributed articles; you have written to say what you liked and didn’t like; you have gone to Partner events because of articles you read; you have become Advocate Partners by sending in donations from our paper coupon; you have picked up ARTSpulse and shared it with others. As with all art, without an audience, it’s a pretty lonely profession, and our paper has only lasted this long because of your commitment to it. I invite you to sign up for the weekly newsletter. Go to theartspartnership.net/artspulse. You’ll love the information that gets sent out weekly, and if you are mourning the loss of the paper, you will very quickly see how exciting this new version of ARTSpulse really is.

Enjoy our look back through these pages, and welcome to ARTSpulse: the electronic newsletter, the Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr pages, the videos, the sound bites, the articles, the photos, and most importantly…the amplified conversation! We would have never been able to do this without you, and we look forward to an even better connection going forward!

The arTs ParTnershiP’s BoarD of DirecTors

Brad Bachmeier, board chair

Andrew Mara, vice chairAlyson Bjornstad,

treasurer

Erin Koffler, secretaryCarol Schlossman, past

chairNicole Crutchfield

Beth Fortier

Michael OlsenEllen Shafer

Michael StrandMark Weiler

Dayna Del Val Executive Director, The Arts Partnership

Finally, thank you to YOU.

audience from the areas around newsstands to the entire planet.Most importantly, we’ve been able to give our artists and organizations the attention they deserve, providing a much stronger voice for

our Partners and for our region’s arts and culture. How have we done this? Through video interviews with FM Symphony Orchestra conductor candidates. Through hours of archived

audio from The Tell, a local storytelling event. By venturing into the projectionist’s booth at the Fargo Theatre in response to their new digital transition fund raising campaign. By listening in on Acappella Xpress, a local women’s singing group. By getting to know local artists like Andy Stark and Jessica Matson-Fluto and learning about their inspirations. By providing annotated event information that breathes life into the same old laundry list of things to do. And, by discussing national and international arts and culture trends to foster a bigger sense of community.

Hello world, indeed.We urge you to join our growing online audience by receiving our weekly email, by following us on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr, or

by visiting theartspartnership.net/artspulse and bookmarking us. You’ll find links to everything you need right there, too. And if you have any questions, don’t be afraid to reach out to TAP Digital Media Producer Kris Kerzman at [email protected].

We’re truly excited by the possibilities that a fully digital ARTSpulse presents to The Arts Partnership and to the area. Hop online now and join in. There’s a whole new world waiting for you to say hello.

hello world: Continued from page 1

march/april 2013 3myNDarts.com

nEWsbriefsFollow the yellow brick roadBy anDrea ParaDis

In its 47th year, the Shanley Players present The Wizard of Oz. The timeless classic comes to the GROW Auditorium stage with the annual “First Nighter” dinner on March

21 and subsequent performances at 7:30 p.m. March 22-23 and at 2 p.m. March 24.Dorothy’s life seems unfair and difficult when she wishes to be in a different land some-

where over the rainbow. But when she is whisked away to a new land she only wishes to go home. With the help of friends and some ruby slippers, Dorothy journeys to find the Wizard who can help her get home to her family. Unfortunately, the evil Witch of the West wants those ruby slippers and will stop at nothing to get them. Will Dorothy make it back to her family? Or will the Wicked Witch stop her?

More than 60 students make up the company of actors, musicians and technicians. With the help of parent volunteers, a full production with magical costumes, whimsical dances and a loveable Toto will be ready for audiences in March.

Tickets are $10 and all seats are reserved. Call Maria at 893-3233 for more information and to reserve your seats.

Art from above comes down to earth at the rourke Art GalleryBy VicKy Jo BogarT

The challenge came from above. Fiber artists were given a bird’s eye view for inspiration in rendering their piece of the earth and its habitats. The ritual of a challenge, met by

more than 50 artists, is on display at the Rourke Art Gallery in Moorhead.It started with a donated book discovered on a cart at the Waite Park Public Library.

Worker Caron Lage from St. Cloud, Minn., started leafing through the aerial photographs in Earth From Above by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, French photographer, journalist, reporter and environmentalist.

“Wouldn’t this make a great quilt?!” said Lage. “And this! And this one!” She brought the book to her other job at Aunt Annie’s Quilts & Silks in Avon, Minn., inspiring her boss, Lucy Senstad. The two cohorts launched a challenge for other fiber artists and novices to rip out a page and use it as inspiration to create a piece of down-to-earth art.

Three picture books, 52 artists and 84 original art pieces later, the show has landed at the Rourke Art Gallery, 523 Fourth St. S. in Moorhead. Presented in conjunction with A Woman’s Perspective, Art from Earth From Above runs March 8 through April 20, closing on the day it premiered in 2012: Earth Day.

In addition to wall art quilts, patrons view dimensional pieces of wood mosaic, rug

hooking, weaving, garments and accessories. Several local fiber artists are a part of this regional exhibition at the Rourke. Fiber art by the challenge creators Lage and Senstad is on display concurrently at Nichole’s Fine Pastry, 13 S. 8th St. in Fargo.

A Woman’s Perspective sponsored exhibitions and events are supported in part by American Association of University Women--Fargo/Moorhead, HandWorks, Les Skoropat Design, Nichole’s Fine Pastry, Prairie Public and Quilters’ Guild of North Dakota. For more information, visit http://awp.handworks.org or call 701-232-5389.

Another year of big fun from the FMVA Big ShowBy The hisTorical anD culTural socieTy of clay counTy

I s the work exceptionally big, as in large-scale? Not necessarily, but the sheer size of the show truly is.The Fargo-Moorhead Visual Artists’ (FMVA) Big Show, opening April 6 and running

through June 3 at the Hjemkomst Center, has become an annual fixture on the F-M arts calendar and rivals plenty of “bigger” shows for the styles and sheer number of artists represented. More than 50 artists typically participate, making it an excellent snapshot of the various activities of our visual arts community.

Past Big Shows have included plenty of painters and sculptors, but also mixed media works, wood carving, fabric works and more. It’s a large undertaking for the FMVA and the result is worth it: a dynamic and comprehensive pulse-taking of the area’s trends in visual art.

The FMVA has grown in recent years to more than 200 members, many of whom are young artists eager to show their work to the world. The Big Show is the perfect way to see their work alongside the work of established artists like Jon Offutt, Kim Jore and many more.

For more information on the Big Show and the FMVA, visit fmva.us.

Audiences enjoy 2-D and 3-D work from area artists.Photo courtesy the HCSCCPhoto courtesy the HCSCC

Captions


For more information, visit ConcordiaCollege.edu

Feature film to debut at Fargo Film Festival before national release

By fargo TheaTre sTaff

The Fargo Film Festival will host a special sneak preview of the new feature film The Brass Teapot at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 8 at the Fargo Theatre during the Festival. Director Ramaa Mosley, producer Kirk Roos and actor Steve Park (best

known for his scene-stealing work in the film Fargo) will attend the screening along with other actors to be announced soon.Fargo Film Festival Executive Director Emily Beck noted this premiere is a special milestone for the annual festival.“We are thrilled to present the first theatrical screening of The Brass Teapot in the United States. This is the first

time the Fargo Film Festival will debut a feature film before it is released to cinemas across the country. It will be a remarkable evening, made all the more special by the film’s unique ties to this community.”

The Brass Teapot will premiere April 5 in select theatres, nationwide, as well as a premium V.O.D. (video on demand) run that will begin in late February, but not before the sneak preview at the Fargo Film Festival, with the fortunate connection between the festival and some of its longtime names and faces.

Magnolia Pictures, the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Companies, acquired North American distribution rights to The Brass Teapot, starring Juno Temple and Michael Angarano, following its debut screening at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.

Mosley is an award-winning commercial and music video director who also developed the story, which was written by Tim Macy. The film is produced by North Dakota native Roos, with Darren Goldberg, James Graves and Mosley, with Northern Lights Films.

“I’ve been fascinated by the eclectic vibe at the Fargo Film Festival for some time now,” Mosley said. “I’m excited to be able share The Brass Teapot with audiences there because this movie is a fairy tale set in a small town that could be anywhere in middle America – could even be Fargo. It will be a treat to watch the film with the audience and see how they respond to this story.”

“We’re excited to be coming back to Fargo for a second year in a row, especially with this film,” Roos said. “When we first sold it to Magnolia, we were worried about scheduling conflicts, but it worked out great. It was a priority to bring the film back home first. The Fargo Film Festival has been good luck for us.”

Northern Lights is a company with Fargo roots, started by Roos and Jeff Schlossman, who met at one of the first ever Fargo Film Festivals. The duo began making documentaries, and the partnership evolved into the creation of Northern Lights Films in 2009 when Erik Rommesmo was added to the team. The three partners now run the company and are looking forward to future productions.

“We’re really proud of all of our films,” said Rommesmo, an executive producer on The Brass Teapot, “but this one we took a risk on because it’s a unique blend of high concept movie and a touching dark comedy, which I don’t think you see too often.”

The film, dubbed a magical dark comedy, tells the story of a couple, John and Alice, who live in small town America. They’re in their 20s, married, very much in love and broke. Once voted “most likely to succeed,” Alice struggles to make ends meet while her friends enjoy the good life. Her husband John, neurotic and riddled with phobias, just wants to get the bills paid. But an accident leads them to a roadside antique shop where Alice is spontaneously drawn to a mysterious brass teapot. It isn’t long before they realize that this is no ordinary teapot and that perhaps they have found the answer to all of their financial woes.

North Dakota native Kirk Roos is a producer of The Brass Teapot, a feature film that will have its worldwide debut at this year’s Fargo Film Festival.

Photo courtesy of Kirk Roos


FArGo FilM FeSTiVAlMarch 5 - 9 at the Fargo theatre

Visit fargotheatre.org for details and schedule

By Barry KuTzer

In my most recent past life I was a musician. Although I was on speaking terms with assorted musical instruments I always considered my major instrument to be the 60-70

high school students in the band I directed. We worked together to turn notes on a page into something that was exciting musically, artistically satisfying for us and musically pleasant for an audience to enjoy. We succeeded most of the time.

Now as a wood sculptor/carver I transform a block of wood into something that is artistically satisfying for me and aesthetically pleasing to others. I succeed most of the time. It was with a great deal of satisfaction that I saw students turn into musicians and now see wood turn into art.

To get other perspectives I asked some of my friends in the Red River Valley Woodcarver’s Club two questions about getting started as a carver and how they feel about their art. Here are their responses:

QuesTion 1 – How did you get started in woodcarving?maynarD hemmah: As a youngster of 18, I was taught to carve Ice, Butter and

Tallow for buffet presentations in food service displays. Years later I applied the same principles to chainsaw carving. I carved many chainsaw carvings as a summer time source of employment. Wanting to improve my skills I went to classes in caricature carving. This proved to be a blessing in that, as I grew older, I was able to turn these skills into a much-needed hobby.

Wayne hanKel: As Southeast Area 4-H Agent, I planned a variety of educational programs for youth and adults, one being a series of classes on woodcarving. While evaluating the instructor I took along my Barlow jack knife and carved the first project, a stylistic otter. After seeing another of the class projects, I proceeded to carve a stylized deer. I have been carving ever since.

JuDy anDerson: I started carving because I thought I wanted to learn how to deal with some trees in my north yard. I took beginner carving from Moorhead Community Ed teacher Wayne Hankel. He encouraged the class members to join the Red River Valley Woodcarvers.

larry longTine: About 30 plus years ago I decided I wanted a wooden duck decoy. I was too conservative (cheap) to buy one, so my wife bought me a kit. Using my pocket knife and other woodworking tools I had, the project got completed. It went so well that I never looked back and have been carving a variety of things ever since.

QuesTion 2 – What do you like most about carving?maynarD h: I enjoy humor and am able to incorporate this into my work. I also

believe that woodcarvings should look like woodcarvings so I practice Flat Plane carving, a style that does not require sanding and clearly shows the knife cuts. I like the variety of styles and unlimited possibilities of projects that never allow carving to become boring!

Wayne h: Carving fit well with my busy schedule. It was a way to relax. I can carve for an hour or a day, and it requires little time to set up and is easily put away. My greatest satisfaction comes from being able to create something from a piece of wood. My special interest is creating wildlife carvings. It is a joy to unleash the creative skills that we all possess and to see a student realize that “yes” I can do that!

JuDy a: I like learning and sharing carving ideas with the other carvers over coffee and conversation locally, and taking classes with well-known instructors at carving weekends.

larry l: What I like most about carving is that it is relaxing, has a very wide range of subjects and allows me to be creative in the process.

You have a chance for a closer look at the art of wood carving during the Red River Valley Woodcarvers’ 37th International Wood Arts Festival on April 20-21 at the Doublewood Inn, Fargo. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 20 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 21. About 60 carvers from the region and Canada will be exhibiting their work. There will be a carving competition for cash prizes, vendors selling carving related items, carving classes and demonstrations and drawings for carving and non-carving items. A small admission fee will be charged.

red river Valley woodcarvers present the 37th annual show

sponsors

Multimedia ArtExhibition

February 1–March 30, 2013Hjemkomst Center

202 First Ave. N, Moorhead•

Art fromEarth From AboveMarch 8–April 21, 2013

Rourke Art Gallery523 4th Street S, Moorhead

•Rhythm of RitualMarch 5–April 20, 2013

Nichole’s Fine Pastry13 South 8th Street, Fargo

Schedule atawp.handworks.org

Spring FeverWorkshop

Friday, March 158 a.m.–7 p.m.

Saturday, March 167 a.m.–noon

Sew It Forward!Celebrate National QuiltDay with us as we sew

hats, quilts,and pillowcases

for local charities.

Monthly meetingsthird Saturdays

1 p.m.

Skills and TechnologyTraining Center

1305 19 Ave. N, Fargo

QGNDP.O. Box 2662

Fargo ND 58108

ndquilts.com

By hcscc sTaff

M arch winds will blow in exciting arts events at the Hjemkomst Center. The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County (HCSCC), which runs the museum

there, keeps the community well-stocked with opportunities.The Celtic Festival, produced by the parks and recreation departments of Fargo and

Moorhead, is March 9 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Bringing together the music, dance, food and visual arts and cultures of the seven Celtic nations, this free festival has become a community favorite.

Electrifying Minnesota, an exhibit on loan from the Minnesota Historical Society, will open March 13 and showcase the impact of electricity on our everyday lives.

Continuing a winter tradition started in November, HCSCC hosts two heritage arts workshops. On March 23, calligraphy diva Anne Kaese teaches the art of fraktur, also known as Black letter or Gothic script, which was used throughout Western Europe from approximately 1150 to well into the 17th century. It continued to be used for the German language until the 20th century. This class teaches the fundamental techniques of writing in this medieval script. On Saturday, March 30, artist Kim Jore will share the art of pysanka. A Ukrainian folk art, pysanka is decorating eggs using a wax-resist method and dyes. This class teaches the fundamentals for making pysankas. Students will be able to decorate their own eggs and take home the stand used in the class. Each workshop costs $25 and requires pre-registration. Call Kelly at 218-299-5511, extension 6731, to register.

Don’t miss the A Woman’s Perspective Multimedia Art Exhibition with the theme of Rituals this year. The exhibit runs through March 30. This iconic exhibition brings together emerging artists with professionals in one non-juried exhibit with a different theme each year.

April showers nurture the Fargo-Moorhead Visual Artists Big Show, an always- adventurous multimedia exhibit of FMVA members’ works. The opening reception is from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, and all are welcome to see the museum’s exhibits for free.

The HCSCC will host a wine-tasting with local wine expert Sam Wai from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 30. Wai will provide information on select wines from Germany as participants sample them. Light edibles appropriate to bringing out the best in the wines will be served. Reservations are required, and seating is limited. Call Tim at 218-299-5511, Ext. 6737 to make your reservation. This event is held in conjunction with the first annual German Culture Day scheduled for Sept. 28 at the Hjemkomst Center. After the daytime activities, a contemporary gourmet German dinner with fine German wines and beers will be served that evening as a fundraiser for the HCSCC.

hCSCC to host a busy spring season


is becoming its own ritual

Donna Chalimonczyk, Moorhead, Minn.Nutcracker Suite, watermedia, 23x19, 2007

Photo courtesy of Vicky Jo Bogart

STATeMenTnutcrackers are a part of our December holidays—from listening to

tschaikowsky’s The Nutcracker to attending the ballet, to having the little creatures decorating our homes. i had a few of them, and my wonderful children thought i might be ‘collecting.’ one christmas,i received ole and the large king nutcracker; then came santa and two antique hand-carved nutcrackers, along with several other nutcracker characters. it was then i said, “cease this madness—enough already!” our family does look forward to them about the house – making the holiday special. and they do make a wonderful and decorative group to share with others and to remind them to build their own memories and rituals.

By marTha Keeler olsen

ARTSpulse is, once again, in transition as it delivers on bringing arts news to arts patrons in the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo area and beyond.

When I became executive director of the then Lake Agassiz Arts Council in 2002, the Art Forum, a quarterly art-focused newspaper, had become the Arts Forum. The reach of the paper had stretched from covering mostly visual arts to covering all art forms – visual, performance, cinema, television and more – and the name change was a reflec-tion of that.

During my seven years at the Lake Agassiz Arts Council, the Arts Forum developed in significant ways.

When I joined the organization, a publications committee, loaded with talented and committed volunteers, was already in place. They were truly dedicated to covering arts events and arts interests with creativity and quality, and did so on volunteer time, with limited resources.

Graphic artist Mark Chamberlain had been hired to give the paper a new look, which

he did. His design expertise updated the look and inspired efforts to improve the paper’s content.

The publications committee developed a style guide, created workshops for arts council members who wanted to improve their writing skills, and developed relation-ships with North Dakota State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead for journalism students to gain experience by writing arts articles.

It was the intention of my predecessor, Gene Okerlund, to expand the reach of the Arts Forum geographically. He had arranged for the purchase of a supply of red news-paper stands, which were distributed all over Fargo-Moorhead. We continued the effort by placing stands and newspapers in communities throughout Cass and Clay Coun-ties. We also worked with North Dakota tourism to have the Arts Forum placed at rest stops along I-94 and I-29.

When the Arts Council board approved the hire of the first Arts Forum managing editor, Anne Kelley, in 2006, the newspaper took another step forward. The board saw the Arts Forum as the main vehicle for driving the interests of the arts in the

Becoming ArTSpulse

A woman’s Perspective

“...I found complacency in

isolation and had no fear of

letting my mind wander.”

By Tara r. schueller

V ibrant and moving depictions of daily life rituals line the gallery walls of the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County at Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead. Visual

artists from around the country showcase their creative works in A Woman’s Perspective, a multimedia art exhibition with a nurturing atmosphere and a non-competitive environment.

Each time the exhibit is held a different theme is chosen to inspire the artist. Coordinator and founder of A Woman’s Perspective, Vicky Jo Bogart of Fargo, chooses a unique theme from the many suggested over the years. “Themes, “ Bogart says, “are selected to inspire a broad spectrum of interpretation by visual, literary, and performing artists.” This year, the theme that has attracted artists all the way from Sanibel, Florida, is Ritual.

Collaborative fiber art partners, Donna Kjonaas from Sanibel, Florida, and Vicki Kessler from West Fargo, created an installation piece about the ritual of the dinner party. The colorful contemporary fiber work, made with a delicate touch and attention to detail, illustrates with fabric and string the ironic twist of dishevelment behind a well-planned dinner party.

The vibrant complementary mix of cool and warm tones in a watercolor painting depicting a café by Kim Jore from Moorhead gives off a comfortable and soothing feeling of stopping at your favorite coffee shop each morning, ready to start the ritual of a new day. Sabrina Hornung’s graceful black and white photograph of a young woman blowing away the petals of a flower in a flowing grass field captures a fleeting moment in time with soft contrasts and skillful composition.

All works of art from paintings to sculptural pieces show repetition and events that each artist has recognized as an important and often overlooked ritual in their own, and perhaps in everyone’s lives. Artist Tracy Tanner-Melendez from Fargo said, “It is the simple things in life that can make a ritual, like walking in fresh snow, a ritual worth preserving.” Through their work these women have created a way to safeguard their special rituals for everyone to see.

A Women’s Perspective on Ritual also features literary and performing art, giving voice to poets, writers, and composers alike. Phyllis Emmel from Moorhead, Minnesota, has been in the show almost every year and submitted two literary pieces. Phyllis said,”Writing...helps (me) to process what’s going on in (my) life.”

The creative atmosphere in which these exhibits and events are held is a one of a kind opportunity for artists to share ideas and learn new ways of expanding their art. I had the

opportunity to chat with Bogart for the originator’s perspective of A Woman’s Perspective. I asked her, as the coordinator for these events, to tell us about the motivation behind organizing and helping set up these exhibits.

“The artists are the motivators,” said Bogart. “What began as a small exhibit in a small space has grown and settled into a multimedia, multi-disciplinary series of exhibitions and events with a strong emphasis on mentoring the emerging artist while sustaining the established artists in all media. Organizing a visual art exhibit requires one set of skills, but adding the performance and literary events, workshops and mentoring requires an additional understanding of how these acts and educational opportunities complement one another and fit into the overall theme. Having longtime bonds while forming new relationships with visual artists, writers, performers, musicians, and teachers as well as with sponsors, patrons, and venues is a formula for success that requires dedication and collaboration by all players.”

Recognizing the importance of community galleries in the Fargo Moorhead area for budding artists, Bogart said, “Community and group shows can be an accessible and inclusive place to show a first piece of artwork. Each year it seems one or two artists emerge from their debut of art or performance to achieve a solo exhibition, publication of a written piece, performance in other venues, or additional teaching opportunities. They in turn assist others, and the field grows.”

Bogart closes with what she hopes the participants and viewers get out of the 2013 exhibits and events. “I view everyone’s involvement as part of their own personal journey. In a clear and accessible manner, I present those who have something to say to those who wish to listen, “ Bogart said. “Then I watch the ripples.”

In addition to the visual art presented at the Hjemkomst Center, more art by women of A Woman’s Perspective is on display throughout the community. The Rourke Art Gallery hosts Art from Earth From Above and Nichole’s Fine Pastry shows fiber works by Caron Lage from St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Lucy Senstad from Avon, Minnesota.

Events and exhibits are supported in part by Quilters’ Guild of North Dakota, Prairie Public, Nichole’s Fine Pastry, Les Skoropat Design, HandWorks, and American Association of University Women-Fargo/Moorhead. Events and exhibitions schedule through April is available at http://awp.handworks.org or call (701) 232-5389.

A Woman’s Perspective on Ritual Multimedia Art Exhibition is open through March 30 at the Hjemkomst Center, so come and support regional women artists. Make attendance at this gallery a ritual of your own.”


Vicki Kessler, West Fargo, N.D., and Donna Kjonaas, Sanibel, Fla.Dinner Party, mixed fiber installation, 16x66x10, 18x27, 2010, 2012

Photo courtesy Vicky Jo Bogart

STATeMenTWho doesn’t enjoy the ritual of gathering friends or family for a lovely dinner party? imagining

festivities—beautiful food, lively conversation, energetic exchanges, laughter—conjures satisfaction. of course, the preparation and stress of getting ready for such an event can leave us wondering “What were we thinking!?” Dinner Party is an ironic comment on the behind-the-scenes dishevelment and imperfection that contrasts with our elegant image of a fine dinner party. the mannequin continues the effect of contrasting reality pairing party wear (the sleeve and hat) with an apron.

BioVicki and Donna prefer to work with vintage and historical fiber, material remains that speak

of previous lives. they use found objects and recycled materials to enrich the surface with abundant embellishment. they are skilled practitioners with needle and thread, engaging in the creative combination of a wide variety of materials and objects.

Sabrina Hornung,Fargo, N.D.Rituals of Childhood, photograph, 22x28, 2012

Photo by Sabrina Hornung

STATeMenTi have been working on a series of pieces that serve as a personal tribute to being an only

child growing up on the drift prairie, where i found complacency in isolation and had no fear of letting my mind wander. For Rituals of Childhood, my sister, morgen Kastner, served as a model at my childhood home in Jamestown, n.D. i like to use a lot of regional elements and sentimentality in my pieces. Who can walk past a giant dandelion and resist making a wish? it’s one of those summer rituals of childhood that one can never forget no matter what age you are.

Biosabrina Hornung was born in Jamestown, n.D., roamed around the prairie a bit, and currently

resides in Fargo. she attended minnesota state university moorhead in pursuit of photography and plans to go back to school eventually. she’s active in many artistic feats throughout the wind swept prairie, including founding the state’s first modern burlesque troop: BadWeather Burlesque. Hornung’s north Dakota roots play an integral role in her artwork. Her pieces are all very regional and serve as an ode to the north Dakota prairie.

Ann Arbor Miller, Fargo, N.D.The Fifth Season, digital photograph, 22x17, 2011

Photo by Ann Arbor Miller

STATeMenTthe four seasons often provide a backdrop for annual rituals. Yet, here in the Red River Valley,

we often face—in both reality and anticipation—a fifth season. it arrives when late winter meets early spring. this photograph, titled The Fifth Season, was created near Fargo’s oak Grove the morning of april 9, 2011. it features a dog named mattie and her search for voles beneath a plastic sheet. the Fifth season is part of a larger collection of flood-related photographs by the same name that will soon be available for viewing online.

Bioann arbor miller is a north-Dakota based photographer and owner of arbor photographic, a

photography business that creates compelling images for a myriad of editorial, commercial and nonprofit clients. she is a domestic nomad who has lived in 11 states and had the good fortune to be named for ann arbor, mich. ann earned a bachelor’s degree in print journalism and French from the university of montana [1994] and a master of arts in visual communication from ohio university [2004]. she lives in Fargo’s clara Barton neighborhood with her husband and son. connect with ann online at arborphotographic.com or facebook.com/annarbormiller.

Catherine Mulligan, Boulder, Co.2533 Ritual, mixed, 14x11, 2012

Photo courtesy Vicky Jo Bogart

STATeMenTa bunch of old crows hanging out at a woman’s perspective.

Biocatherine e. mulligan is a former senior lecturer in Fine arts at north Dakota state university

and the creator of the widely-heralded creative arts project, a studio arts program for gifted youth located in Fargo, developed under the auspices of the national endowment for the arts. mulligan has received numerous national, regional and local awards and grants including three prestigious John F. Kennedy Fellowships for travel to australia, china and the former u.s.s.R. she has displayed her art in more than 300 exhibitions in museums, galleries, university and private collections on four continents, in several countries and in more than forty states in this country. she now devotes all her energies to work in her colorado studio.

area and wanted to continue to provide the quality coverage this rich arts commu-nity deserved.

The Arts Forum became ARTSpulse at a time of significant growth and change for the Lake Agazzis Arts Council. It started with the creation of CulturePulse.com, a new arts and culture website funded in part by the state of North Dakota and part of a unique state wide arts website network. CulturePulse.com was to become the go-to arts infor-mation source online. ARTSpulse was seen as the go-to arts information source in print.

Shortly after the launch of CulturePulse.com and ARTSpulse, the Lake Agassiz Arts Council became The Arts Partnership.

And now The Arts Partnership is creating the latest version of ARTSpulse by going electronic.

Prior to my retiring as executive director in 2010, we made yet another change to ARTSpulse, and set the stage for its current innovation. In an effort to make the cover-age more relevant, the board approved, and the publications committee went to work to publish ARTSpulse every other month rather than quarterly. Designer Shawn Olson was

hired to create the new look. Seeing the possibilities of an online version of ARTSpulse, which includes the reach

of area arts news way beyond Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo, Cass and Clay Counties, we developed a template for what is a reality today. I credit former TAP board chair Carol Schlossman with envisioning and encouraging this innovation.

As I review the evolution of ARTSpulse, I cannot say enough about the work of the dedicated, knowledgeable and talented volunteers of the publications committee. The contribution and growth of ARTSpulse, and its contribution to The Arts Partnership and the arts community, is a direct result of their excellent work.

I want to acknowledge, as well, TAP Primary Partners, who have seen and continue to see value in having an effective outlet for promoting their work by contributing to it.

And it would be an oversight, indeed, if I failed to recognize the TAP administra-tive assistants during my years as executive director who did the work of managing the many publication details on a daily basis — Pam Rue, Cassondra Sweet Johnson and Paulette DeMers.


By lauren housman

F argo’s Theatre B is ending its 2012-2013 season with Yasmina Reza’s worldwide hit, God of Carnage. Reza’s play has been translated into 35 languages and produced

all over the world, from Switzerland, France, Britain and Ireland to Canada and North America, and even in Slovenia, Croatia and Romania. God of Carnage has also been translated into film with Roman Polanski’s 2011 movie Carnage.

The play made its debut in Zurich in 2006, saw premieres in Paris and London in 2008 and then came to Broadway in 2009. It has been the recipient of the Tony Award for best play, the Oliver Award for best new comedy and the Laurence Olivier award for best com-edy. But it is a black comedy, or, as translator Christopher Hampton calls it, a “comedy of recognition.”

The play could be considered a four-person character study. Reza’s strongly-written characters and realistic dialogue combined with the universality of their conflict are the focus of God of Carnage. Because every audience member is apt to recognize something within one or more of Reza’s characters, and possibly not like what they see, Hampton’s “comedy of recognition” label is a fitting one.

The catalyst for the play’s continuous action (no intermission — you won’t miss it) is an offstage altercation between two adolescent boys. When two very different sets of parents — lawyer Alan and broker Annette versus salesman Michael and author Veronica — meet to discuss their sons’ behavior, more carnage ensues.

What begins as a struggle drawn over family lines morphs into a gender-based battle

before finally degenerating into an every-man-for-himself war. Audiences see the charac-ters dissolve their roles as civilized adults and regress into increasingly childish behavior. The play’s title is originated in a comment that Alan, the lawyer, makes when he discusses man’s inherently violent nature: Alan says that he believes in the God of Carnage. Judging by the characters’ behavior, Reza believes in that God, too.

But the man who was to have turned Theatre B into a temple of carnage as the produc-tion’s director, Matthew Burkholder, passed away in December. Burkholder had been a Theatre B ensemble member for more than five years, serving the cast and community in various roles including props, puppet and sound designer as well as director. Burkholder worked in Boston and New York before gracing the Midwest with his talents. He left a lot of friends and a large legacy.

Burkholder also left a hit play without a director. And as the saying goes, “The show must go on.” So Burkholder’s fellow Theatre B ensemble member Brad Delzer has stepped up to direct the production. Delzer has directed plenty of Theatre B productions since he joined the ensemble in 2007. Plays like Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Year of Magical Thinking are already notched into his belt; now he will, albeit a bit unexpectedly, add God of Carnage to his directorial reper-toire.

God of Carnage will run for five weeks of foul play. Catch it at Theatre B any weekend between April 11 and May 11.

Theatre B’s season concludes with dark comedy

By TaP sTaff

This spring, The Arts Partnership will be hosting the first annual Artists’ Health Fair. The health fair is intended for uninsured and under insured artists and their families as

well as arts administrators and organizations looking to explore healthcare options. The Health Fair will feature resources and information about programs offered by health care providers, medical and dental insurance, chiropractic health, alternative health, lifestyle

and mental health. In addition, the Health Fair will feature presentations and speakers on healthcare topics as well as free or low-cost health screenings.

The event is set for Tuesday, April 23, time and location to be determined. The Health Fair is free of charge to all attendees; there will be refreshments and free giveaways. There is also the chance to register for a number of door prizes. Visit theartspartnership.net for further updates.

An artists health fair is coming to Fargo

God of Carnage


Peter Mayer March 22 - 7:30 pm - $15

Ray Bonneville April 26 - 7:30 pm - $15

Eric Taylor May 17 - 7:30 pm - $15

Thursday Feb 14 7:00 pm

$10

For more details, music and video links thelisteningroomfargo.com

Located at The Spirit Room

Broadway North Up the street from Hotel Donaldson & over Moxie

Java – Enter the RED door!

Advance reserved tickets at The Spirit Room 701-237-0230

cut the conversation, we’re here for the music…

The lineup at The Listening Room this spring brings some of the finest singer-songwriters and bands from the US and Canada to Fargo. The audience sits just feet away from the musicians on the finest sound stage Fargo has to offer.

ARTS pulse

artspartnership.net/artspulse

facebook.com/artspulse

@artspulse

artspulse.tumblr.com

ARTSpulse delivers thoughtful,

up-to-the-minute coverage of area arts

and culture right to your inbox and social streams.

Email event info to [email protected].

ARTSpulse is a service of The Arts Partnership1104 2nd Ave. S., Suite 315, Fargo, ND 58103 • 701.237.6133

Spring opportunities are in bloom at the

One of he many beautiful flower beds that grace the Northern Plains Botanic Gardens grounds.Photo by Ann Arbor Miller

By John z

Spring arrives at the Northern Plains Botanic Gardens with many opportunities and events for the season. As the flowers begin

to spring forth from the warming ground, we see the first colors of the season. Along with the blooming plants come amazing gardens full of incredible textures and colors that allow you to take a little time out of your busy schedules to just sit back and enjoy nature’s incredible beauty.

If you want to assist the Botanic Garden Society with making the gardens even more beautiful this year, take an hour or two out of your week to come out to help plant, weed and water the plants so they can achieve their full potential. The garden society will not turn anyone away who wants to be a part of this public garden. If the outdoors are just not your thing, the organization also designs and assists in maintaining the plants at West Acres Shopping Cen-ter. If you have a passion for maintaining a large array of indoor plants in a consistent environment, this may ideal for you.

Anyone who loves plants and the outdoors, or anyone who simply enjoys supporting this project, is encouraged to become a member to receive benefits and information on upcoming events. Membership is $10 for students, $20 for individuals, and $35 for families. Members receive discounts on workshops and programs and on nursery purchases at Sheyenne Gardens in Harwood, Riv-erside Gardens in Valley City and Country Gardens in Jamestown. All nurseries offer an amazing selection of locally grown plants for your own gardens.

The annual Botanic Garden Spring Luncheon and Silent Auc-tion will be May 4. Enjoy an afternoon of conversation, food and unique auction items to bid on and take home.

On May 11, the Botanic Garden Society will hold its yearly plant sale where you can shop through many unique items grown in our area to add to your own garden collections. Stop in early for the best selection.

Spring is a fantastic season at the Botanic Gardens, as there is something new each day. Visit in person or at npbotanicgarden.com for more information. Contact us at [email protected] or call us at 701-281-2568 if you have any questions.

northern Plains Botanic Gardens


Mozart’s

701.239.4558fmopera.org

FARGO-MOORHEAD

April 12 and 14Reineke Festival Concert Hall, NDSU

By Karla PeDerson

In our neck of the woods, a March snowstorm can quickly make travel dangerous in open country, forcing people to “wait it out” until the roads are passable again. From

March 7-10, Tin Roof Theatre will take audiences back to the mid-1950s when a freak snowstorm causes a bus to layover for several hours in a small roadside diner outside of Kansas City. Among the handful of passengers stepping off that bus in American playwright William Inge’s comedy/drama are a cowboy and a pretty girl.

Actually, there are two cowboys — an older and wiser Virgil Blessing and the younger Bo Decker. Bo, with the manners of a bull, is chasing the pretty nightclub singer named Cherie. And so for a few hours during the middle of the night, these ordinary people are trapped in close quarters.

Although Virgil (Brian Fuder) attempts to corral the headstrong Bo (Dan Gronlie), Sheriff Will Masters (Craig Roath) eventually has to rescue Cherie (Alana Wilhelm) by knocking some sense into the young cowboy stud. When you add to the ensemble of char-acters the drunk ex-professor Dr. Lyman (Larry Schwartz) interacting with a naive high school waitress named Elma (Cameron MacKenzie), the somewhat hardened owner of the restaurant Grace Hoylard (Krissy Hibbard), plus a traveling bus driver named Carl (Mike Lochow), you have a “slice-of-life” play that offers up moments of truth — views of both dreams and loneliness.

Following on the heels of his Pulitzer prize-winning drama Picnic, Inge’s Bus Stop also met with immediate success when it opened on Broadway on March 2, 1955. Closing at the end of April in 1956, this American classic was nominated for four Tony Awards, including best play. Inge himself was born in the small town of Independence, Kan., in 1913, so many of his works reflect that life in the Midwest.

Tin Roof Theatre’s performances of Bus Stop runs at The Stage, the home of FMCT, at 7:30 p.m. on March 7, 8 and 9, closing with a 2 p.m. matinee on March 10. Charlie Chinquist is the director; Karla Underdahl is assistant director. Both are Tin Roof Theatre Company members. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students/seniors, and $5 for student rush. Reserve tickets at 701-235-6778 or tinrooftheatre.org.

Comedy, romance and drama in the middle of a Kansas snowstorm

Tin roof Theatre to stage ‘Bus Stop’


TAP’s Primary Partners 2013

Alan J. KlugerAlyson BjornstadAndrew Marry & Dayna Del ValAndrew & Miriam MaraBarbara Wood WilliamsBernie & Bonnie SinnerBernie’s Wines & SpiritsBeth FortierBonnie BowmanBrad & Carol SchlossmanBrad & Kristine MorrisBrad BachmeierBrian Hayer and in memory of

Dorothy GoosBrian & Lisa RoachBrian SlatorBritta TrygstadBurton & Patricia BelknapCatalyst Medical CenterCarol L. StoudtCarol ZielinskiCaroll & Jo EngelhardtCharles & Helen GrommeshCity of FargoCity of MoorheadCity of West Fargo

Davis Anthony ScottDuane HenricksEric & Anna RunestadErin & Monte KofflerFM Convention & Visitors BureauGen EidemGene OkerlundGeorge & Connie BlankGreen Market CateringInsight to Action, LLCJames & Annette CrovesDr. & Mrs. James McCulleyJames & Kristen WilliamsJane HellaJeff & Anne PeltierJennifer PaulsrudJoan JustesenJohn & Sherri SternJonathan & Amy Jo WarreyJulie BurgumKate PrieslerKevin & Paula BartschLake Agassiz Concert BandLisa TateLOFTMarjorie Schlossman

Mark & Betsy VinzMichael & Martha Keeler-OlsenMichael J. StrandMicrosoftNorth Dakota Library AssociationNDSU Women’s ClubNem SchlechtOtter Tail CorporationRandi MartinRebecca Berge-BussRobert & Janice MillerRoger MinchRonald Goos, in memory of

Dorothy GoosSam & Coralie WaiSanford HealthScott & Karen KostSusan SpinglerThomas & Ann RileyVirginia DambachWade and Theta MillerWest Acres Development, LLPWest Acres Merchant AssociationWilliam & Mary Schlossman

TAP’s Advocate Partners 2013

Grant funding provided by:

Acappella Xpress, Inc.Angels of the MuseAnne KaeseArbor PhotographicArtist in Residence Program Roger Maris

CCArtrends GalleryBachmeier PotteryBree ReetzCamria Ballet AcademyCarmen I. BruhnCarrie Lee WendtConcordia CollegeDan Francis PhotographyDensity Over Duration ProductionsDoug HamiltonDowntown Community PartnershipEcce Art & YogaEric A. JohnsonErika LorentzsenFargo Park DistrictFargo Theatre

Fargo-Moorhead Area Music ClubFargo-Moorhead Area Youth SymphoniesFargo-Moorhead BalletFargo-Moorhead Chamber ChoraleFargo-Moorhead Drum & Bugle CorpsFargo-Moorhead Master ChoraleFargo-Moorhead OperaFargo-Moorhead Symphony OrchestraFargo-Moorhead Visual ArtistsFine Arts ClubFM Golden Notes New Horizons BandFriends of the Fargo Public LibraryGallery 4Gin TempletonGivinity PressGooseberry Park PlayersGreat Plains HarmonyGreen PurseHarwood Prairie PlayhouseHistorical & Cultural Society of Clay

CountyHotel Donaldson

JPII Catholic SchoolsJenna Holt RheaultJill JohnsonKathryn LutherKaren Bakke Art and DesignKCCM, Minnesota Public RadioLake Agassiz Concert BandLake Agassiz Girls ChoirLearning BankLivewire Entertainment Media Services,

LLCMcCal Joy StudioMichael J. StrandMidwest MudMoorhead Area Public SchoolsMoorhead Parks & RecreationMSUM College of Arts & HumanitiesMusic Theatre Fargo-MoorheadNDSU Dept. of EnglishNew Rivers Press/MSUMNichole’s Fine Pastry

Nordic Arts AllianceNordic Culture ClubsNorth Dakota Museum of ArtNorth Dakota State UniversityNorthern Plains Botanic Garden SocietyPenny & Pals/Kid CorePerry RustPlains Art MuseumPlants for PatientsPrairie Public BroadcastingQuilters’ Guild of North DakotaRaine DesignRasmussen College School of DesignRed Raven Espresso ParlorRed River Boy ChoirRed River Dance & Performing CompanyRed River Valley DesignRed River Valley WoodcarversRed River Watercolor SocietyRourke Art Gallery & MuseumRust Belt Bindry

Sherbanoo AzizSpider and CompanySpirit RoomSteven HammerStevie FamulariStudio eSusie Ekberg RisherTangerine LifeThe Bare Stage TheatreThe Jass Festival The Stage at Island Park, Home of FMCTTheatre BTheatre TalesTim Lamey StudiosTin Roof Theatre CompanyTrollwood Performing Arts SchoolWest Fargo Park DistrictWest Fargo Public SchoolsWilli Nilli

The Arts Partnership directly supports the organizations and programming that you have been reading about in this issue of ARTSpulse through re-granting. You can help support all the arts in the metro area by becoming an Arts Advocate Partner at any level. Join us today!

Name_______________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________

Telephone _______________________________________________

Email ___________________________________________________

$10 $25 $50 Other $______________

Please mail to: The Arts Partnership

1104 2nd Ave. S., Suite 315, Fargo, ND 58103701.237.6133

or go online to donate at [email protected]

cultivating the arts in our community


To register, contact Kelly at 299-5511 ext. 6731.

In Search of Rhine Gold: Wines of GermanySaturday, March 302pm – 4 pm$20 per person limited to 30 people

Tantalize your pallet with the wines of Germany. In two hours, Sam Wai, a wine specialist will present four di�erent wines representing the vineyard regions of Germany. The wines will be paired with appropriate German appetizers from each region for the participants to enjoy.Instructor: Sam Wai

Heritage Craft Workshops Hosted by the Heritage Shop at the Hjemkomst

Fraktur Calligraphy WorkshopSaturday, March 231pm – 4 pm$25 all materials are includedFraktur or Gothic script, was used throughout Western Europe from 1150 to 1600s. This class teaches the fundamental techniques to writing in this medieval script.

Registration due: March 16Instructor: Anne Kaese

Pysanka (Ukrainian Egg)

WorkshopSaturday, March 3010am – noon$25 all materials included

Historical & Cultural Society of Clay CountyHjemkomst Center202 1st Ave N, Moorhead, MNwww.hcscconline.org218-299-5511

A Ukrainian folk art, pysanka, is decorating eggs using a wax-resist method and dyes. This class teaches the funda-mentals for making pysankas. Students will be able to decorate their own egg and take home the stand used in the class.

Registration is due: March 23Instructor: Kim Jore

By lisTening room sTaff

The Listening Room, a monthly concert series at The Spirit Room, is beginning its fifth year of programming.

It’s a pertinent milestone for an event with humble beginnings. On July 17, 2008, a pilot concert was presented to test the waters and see if concerts held in a small, intimate setting would be of interest to Fargoans. Legendary singer-songwriter Eric Taylor performed for this first show. Taylor is known as one of the finest contemporary musicians. His music has been performed by long-time friend Lyle Lovette, his ex-wife Nancy Griffith, and a host of other musicians who know and respect his work. The Listening Room was filled to capacity. The concert was memorable, and since then, Taylor fans are always asking when he is going to return.

That concert passed the test, and plans were set in motion to begin monthly concerts. A partnership was formed between The Spirit Room and visionary Scott Curfman. Curf-man’s vision was to have a place where musicians could share their art with receptive audiences in a setting where their music was at the center. It needed to be a place where the musicians did not have to compete with bar noise, whistling cappuccino machines or busy conversations.

The name, The Listening Room, describes exactly what it is — a place to listen to music. Curfman had performed in bars, restaurants and coffee houses with his own music and was keen on providing a place that every musician longs for. A place where they can be heard. As a music lover, he also appreciated the rare opportunities when he was able to actually hear what the musician was doing.

The vision of The Listening Room was fashioned with the House Concert model. It’s a simple concept. The promoter fills a room with eager listeners who bring a reasonable donation, and the musician receives every penny. The only way to accomplish this is to have people and organizations donate whatever they can. The musicians are often on road tours going from town to town to play, so they are provided a hot meal and a place to stay for the night, usually at Curfman’s house. The Spirit Room provides a room with great acoustics and an office for Curfman as well as radio and print advertising. Posters are donated by an anonymous supporter. Beer and wine are donated by a local establish-ment. Curfman donates his time and sound equipment. He books the musicians, maintains the website, engineers the sound and a few other things to help things go smoothly. Jane Millikan works the door, collecting donations for the musicians. Noah Curfman helps run sound and take care of technical problems—not to mention helping tear down after every show. Volunteers from the Spirit Room help set up chairs, tend the bar, wash dishes and a host of other things.

The largest gallery at the Spirit Room is transformed into a sound stage for each con-cert. A raised stage is moved into place, stage lighting is erected and sound equipment is set up. One of Curfman’s goals was to provide the best sound possible, and the result is a professional sound system that is praised by musicians and patrons. Many musicians say it is one of the finest systems they have played through. Because of that, and a room that was remodeled with good acoustics in mind, The Listening Room is one of the finest rooms in the Midwest.

The spring lineup at The Listening Room brings high quality musicians and bands. The last time Peter Mayer was in Fargo, he played the FM Community Theatre. This time he plays an up-close concert at The Listening Room on March 22. Juno (Canada) winning blues artist Ray Bonneville flies into Fargo for a special performance on April 26. Eric Taylor missed his last performance after a heart attack, but he comes back May 17, strong as ever, performing songs from his latest record, Live at the Red Shack. Lyle Lovett, Nancy Griffith and some other great musicians gathered around Taylor at Rock Romano’s Red Shack in Houston to record the record with 20 or so of Taylor’s closest friends listening in.

The two main ingredients of The Listening Room are the musicians and the listeners. Make plans to attend one (or all) of the shows this year. More details at thelistening-roomfargo.com.

The listening room enters its fifth year

It’s a simple concept.

The promoter fills a room with

eager listeners who ring a

reasonable donation, and the

musician receives every penny.

thelisteningroomfargo.com

artspulse

Documents

arts culture

n s b o t

r t s p u

r d e nmore hello world

areas arts

red river valley i n

s h o w

n i c g