Arts

Who we are and where we come from: Fargo-Moorhead’s art masters

February 21st, 2018

Annie Stein painting of her family farm in the flood of 1897 -  HCSCCIn my tenure at the High Plains Reader, I have devoted a lot of column inches to promoting the local music scene of the Red River Valley. However, I would be doing an injustice if I didn’t also bring your attention to another important facet of Fargo-Moorhead’s artistic culture: the visual arts.

Recently I had the opportunity to interview Markus Krueger, the programming director at the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, located in the Hjemkomst Center, about the upcoming…

Read more...


Erotic Art Show at Red Raven challenges and stimulates

February 14th, 2018

The Red Raven had their annual opening party for the Erotic Art Show last week, drawing in a sizeable crowd that got to take home free condoms, lubricant, chapstick, and Planned Parenthood pins and brochures.

The red candles at each table gave the place some romantic ambiance, while cardboard hearts, bubble wands, and gag glasses made for some lighthearted photo ops.

The party began with a live performance by the local musical duo, So Sad. Later in the night there was a raffle for…

Read more...


Trompe l’oeil ceramics by Tim Kowalczyk

February 14th, 2018

Plains Art Museum will feature a two-day class headed by ceramic artist Tim Kowalczyk, featuring his trompe l’oeil “cardboard” ceramic technique.

Trompe l’oeil is a French term meaning, “deceive the eye,” and it is an art technique that uses a realistic image to create an optical illusion.

Kowalczyk explained what he learned from Ceramics: “Ceramics allowed me to have control and turn a seemingly lifeless ball of clay into anything I could think of. That challenge kept…

Read more...


​Chainsaw Dave takes on Fargo

January 23rd, 2018

Chainsaw Dave and his Pitbull, Artie, sitting before one of his sculptures - Photograph by Sabrina HornungFargo-based chainsaw artist David Belling, also affectionately known as Chainsaw Dave, has been creating chainsaw sculptures with logs since he was 15.

“Everyone was always asking me why I don’t just do ice,” he said, “doing wood in the summer is cool but it’s miserable in the winter. You have to clean up the mess and have a warm place to seal it--you can’t do it comfortably so I decided why not do ice in the winter --and it’s AWESOME! It’s way better than I thought…

Read more...


​Peter Yuenger and the daily grind

December 27th, 2017

Daily TrumpHigh Plains Reader: How did the idea for Daily Trump Cartoon come to you -- what was your call to action?

Peter Yuenger: It wasn't really a call to action, It was more of a New Year’s resolution to get back in the habit of drawing or doing some sort of art every day. The first few days after the election I realized that we would be dealing with "crowd sizes” and "alternative facts" on a daily basis, so I started drawing the ridiculousness.

The first few were just in my journal, but…

Read more...


​Craft corner

December 20th, 2017

By Ashley Morken

ungluedcraftfest@gmail.com

Instagram wood slice

Get your photos off Instagram and into real life by adding them to a fancy wood slice below!

Supplies:

Wood slice

Printable tattoo paper

Scissors

1. Follow the instructions on the printable tattoo paper and use an inkjet printer to print your photo of choice. Follow the paper's instructions again to apply the clear adhesive sheet that comes with it to make it a "tattoo."

2. Trim the paper down to be the shape of your wood slice.

3.…

Read more...


​The cowboy with a crowbar

December 20th, 2017

Bob Watts - photograph by Sabrina HornungBob Watts will be 80 next March. The Montana-based artist is armed with a crowbar and acrylic paint and can be found painting at the Miles City Saddlery during the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale each year. He painted with a brush all of his life, until he had an artist epiphany in 1975, after trying to sell his paintings at the grand opening of the Kirkwood Mall in Bismarck, North Dakota.

“I was so excited, boy, I was painting pictures and the mall was so busy with this grand opening…

Read more...


​Her story: Be heard and encouraged

December 6th, 2017

hanhe@mnstate.edu

There are a variety of types of events and groups in our communities that encourage and support women. Robin Swanson, organizer of Her Story, wanted to create another special event for herself and other women. “I was hungering for something that was really authentic-feeling; kind of like a bunch of girlfriends sitting around in a comfortable space and sharing from their hearts and gut,” and, “With all due respect, I hadn’t experienced this level of sincerity and…

Read more...


​Lana Suomala: ‘From the Cookie Jar: 12 Fairy Tales and Recipes’

December 6th, 2017

From the cookie jar - photo by Luna Suomala

hanhe@mnstate.edu

We may introduce Lana Suomala as a Moorhead High school Spanish teacher, but when you see her art, you will remember her as an artist.

Suomala gets inspired by human stories; her own, her relationships, and those she observes in the world. She explained, “I’m attracted to the stories we tell and retell, as in fairy tales. Also, patterns in the natural world, whether it’s the construction of a feather, the changing of seasons, or the life cycle of a…

Read more...


Holiday Art Market opens at APT, a creative incubator Saturday

November 24th, 2017

By Lauren Richardson

lrichar3@cord.edu

Despite the temperatures outside, warm memories are made every year when it comes time to shop for the holidays, and this season you can make gift shopping fun while supporting local art in the process, at the APT Holiday Art Market, opening November 25 at 225 4th Avenue North in Downtown Fargo.

The APT Holiday Art Market, hosted by The Arts Partnership, is open to the public 4:30-8pm Thursdays and 10am-2pm Saturdays, from November 25 to January 6…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry Cottonwood2 Tracker Pixel for Entry Nicoles Tracker Pixel for Entry Bahai Tracker Pixel for Entry Cottonwood1 Tracker Pixel for Entry FPL Tracker Pixel for Entry NewSalem2C

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comNorth Dakota communities will join a “nationwide day of defiance” against authoritarianism and President Donald Trump’s policies on Saturday, June 14. A range of "No Kings" events…

Back-to-school season is on the horizon, but there's still plenty of summer left. Check out our favorite August attractions and events in North Dakota and western Minnesota. And if if you missed them, here are a few excellent May…

June 21, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway N., Fargo“We Watch Shudder,” Fargo’s favorite horror podcasters, bring on the darkness during the longest day of the year. The Darkest Day of Horror Film Festival features…

Fighting the good fightBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Over two thousand rallies took place nationwide June 14 as part of the “No Kings" protest. Ten of those protests were held in North Dakota, with thousands in attendance.…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWe need Paul Revere on a Harley: “ants and autocrats are coming!”The Asian needle ant has been nesting in the American South since at least 1932. It probably hitched a ride on a freighter from…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com The weather warmed up quickly here in the upper Midwest this spring, sparking prime eating season. This means burger battles, food trucks and lake-season food travel. The 2025 Downtown Fargo Burger…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comThe Moorhead Public Library will offer three free, all-ages outdoor concerts featuring regional bands this summer. The series begins on June 12 with the Meat Rabbits, a group that blends…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com The June 9 death of musician Sylvester Stewart, known much better by stage name Sly Stone, saw an outpouring of tributes, memorials and appreciations from some who knew him personally and many…

By Deb Wallworkdwallwork@icloud.comI first met Catherine Mulligan at a party at her house. It was a small gathering, spontaneous, just a few people over for dinner. Directed toward a stack of plates and bowls and a big pot warming…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comAct Up Theatre, in partnership with Minnesota State University Moorhead, will present “The Sound of Music” on June 10-14. All shows are at 7:30 p.m. at the Minnesota State Moorhead’s…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

The drug that keeps re-purposing itselfBy Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com There is a drug that is getting a lot of attention nowadays all over the world. It has various commercial names (Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus), but…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…