January 20th, 2022
By John Showalter
It seems like technological advancement accelerates more and more. There’s something newer, quicker, and sleeker every year, every month, every week. But even in this society where smartphones are ubiquitous and virtually everyone has a camera in their pocket, there are still people who hearken back to the analog methods. Kary Janousek is one of those people.
Janousek, a 17-year resident of Fargo, is one of four active wet plate photography…
November 20th, 2021
By Alicia Underlee Nelson
alicia@hpr1.com
Creative Moorhead is injecting new life into Moorhead’s art scene and revitalizing its downtown spaces. Artistic or handy people with a connection to the city are encouraged to connect with this informal and inclusive group.
“Any creative can join as long as they live, work or attend school in Moorhead,” explains Mara Morken, Creative Moorhead project coordinator. “And we’re pretty lax about what we consider ‘creative.’ A baker is a…
October 23rd, 2021
By Sarah Nour
On Sunday, November 7th, the Spirit Room will hold a reception for “Contaminated Nightmares,” their current exhibition of mixed-media pieces by local artist and musician Adam Bursack. This reception—free and open to the public—will begin at 5 PM and go on until 7 PM, with an artist’s talk, refreshments, and hors d'oeuvres. The collection will be on display until November 13th.
This exhibition is made up mostly of framed photographic art and…
September 15th, 2021
sabrina@hpr1.com
2021 marks the 18th annual FMVA Studio Crawl, the Fargo-Moorhead Visual Artists’ largest event. This year 38 participating local artists clean up their studios and invite the public to see where the creative magic happens.
Studio Crawl events will take place the weekend of October 2 and 3 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Crawlers will have the opportunity to connect with local artists,…
September 15th, 2021
By Alicia Underlee Nelson
alicia@hpr1.com
Downtown Fargo has a new mural that commemorates a music legend and a Grammy-winning concert. Artist Jeff Knight completed a painting of Duke Ellington on the alley side of the Rhombus Guys building at 606 Main Ave. this summer. The mural features the composer, pianist and band leader at his piano against an aqua background dotted with other musical instruments.
The painting is just steps from the site of the Crystal Ballroom, which stood at the…
September 15th, 2021
By Alicia Underlee Nelson
alicia@hpr1.com
Colorful painted flowers are in bloom along a nondescript stretch of University Dr. in Fargo. Adrian’s Autocare Center, located at 102 N. University Dr., commissioned the street artist known as Shun Oner to create a mural on a wall on the north side of the property.
The mural, which features richly colored flowers on a black background, was completed this summer. It’s visible to motorists as they drive south on University.
“They gave me free…
July 13th, 2021
By Alicia Underlee Nelson
alicia@hpr1.com
Downtown scored a new mural from The Greetings Tour, a project that aims to create a mural in the style of a vintage postcard in every U.S. state. The Downtown Neighborhood Association contacted muralist Victor Ving and photographer Lisa Beggs and helped secure the location on the west side of Orange Records at Roberts Street and 1st Avenue North.
The colorful…
June 15th, 2021
by Kris Gruber
17 June 2021
Along with lemonade and hotdogs, words and images marking the pavement are synonymous with summer. The accessibility of sidewalk art is appealing, but there is something to be said for kicking it up a notch, and bringing it to the street. Chalk festivals showcase artists by using both a commonplace medium and platform to create often mind-blowingly uncommon -- and fleeting -- works of art.
High Plains Reader interviewed Mindi Schmitz, Executive…
April 22nd, 2021
Color Fest: The City of West Fargo wants YOU to help paint the town
By Sabrina Hornung
sabrina@hpr1.com
On Saturday May 8 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, at The Yards on Sheyenne street, the city of West Fargo is hosting Color Fest and inviting the public to roll on out and paint the town--and they’re even providing the paint!
After issuing a call for artists willing to lead a large scale mural project on the streets of downtown West Fargo, the city selected proposals from Leigh Nelson…
November 14th, 2020
By Jill Finkelson
We’ve been hearing the word Unrest a lot lately. Unrest in the streets. Unrest in the capital. Unrest in our own homes as we struggle to hunker down in the face of the unseen pandemic. People are restless. They are angry and scared. There are scenes from across the country, from Minneapolis to Philly to Portland, of people protesting the injustices they continue to come across every day. The images of police brutality that have come out are shocking and horrific. The…