January 29th, 2016
Charles Beck is one of Minnesota’s most recognized and treasured artists. His work depicts the rural landscapes that he often observed as an Otter Tail County native. He has worked with a variety of media ranging from sculpture, printmaking, and painting. Beck was born January 31, 1923 and is a descendant of Norwegian immigrants who came to the Fergus Falls area in the 1850s.
He started drawing in elementary school and studied under Cyrus Running at Concordia College. After graduating…
January 27th, 2016
By John Showalter
Generally, when we think about how trees have been used throughout human history, a lot of the same purposes come to mind: building shelter amongst other things, fueling fires, and making paper. A lot of us probably think of big lumberyards full of 2X4s just waiting to be bought for our next home improvement project. We’re interesting in the wood inside, not the protective bark which just gets in the way. Well, that’s where Pat Kruse would say you’re not seeing…
December 28th, 2015
By M. Koskela
Ron Koskela is a Vietnam Army Veteran, a North Dakota native and resides on a farm in rural Minnesota with his wife. He is a bearded, quiet man who has a variety of skills. Not only is he a woodworker that produces wood turnings and carvings but a carpenter, mechanic, photographer, visual artist and welder; Ron’s talent is not confined to one area.
His studio may appear cluttered to some; with vices, drill presses and wood chips…
December 22nd, 2015
By M. Koskela
You may be wondering, what exactly are ZenDels? Originally a watercolor landscape artist, Adele Koskela started learning tangling and soon developed a form of tangling she now calls ZenDels. They combine tangling concepts with landscape designs, creating delicate and intricate designs all originally designed by her.
Sometimes her landscapes are of places she has been such as Split Rock in Duluth, Minn. or Itasca State Park. Others are imagined, as in “Ladies of…
December 17th, 2015
It’s hard to pinpoint what sparked NDSU journalism senior Jack Dura’s interest in our state, but once Dura learned that North Dakota was celebrating 125 years of statehood last year, the wheels started turning. “I thought that was a pretty significant date,” says Fargo native Jack Dura, “then I found out the state had one waterfall, and I thought there must be a lot of things around here that people don’t know about.”
Armed with his…
December 10th, 2015
by Ben Rheault
As part of its ongoing series of classes and lectures, The Rourke Art Museum is bringing local artist, activist, and educator Michael Strand to discuss the history of craft from its origins as functional objects to its use as a tool bringing awareness to current issues. I asked Michael a few questions about his work, and what he will be discussing with us at his lecture this coming Saturday.
HPR: With your Bush fellowship, you have traveled throughout the world to study.…
December 9th, 2015
By David McCoy
Award-winning Virginian artist Deborah Mae Broad’s wood engravings are on display and for sale at the Uptown Gallery as part of her “Home on the Prairie” show throughout the entire month of December.
Broad works with the medium of canvas painting, but she is well known for her wood-cut engravings and prints. Her depictions of animals and landscapes have brought her nationwide fame and victories at several Midwestern outdoor art fairs. She won Best of Show for her…
December 3rd, 2015
By David McCoy
After years of providing a one-stop repository for art slides and projections for all students and their departments, Minnesota State University Moorhead’s slide library will be closing its doors in 2016. To commemorate the medium and history of visual projection and the decades of work archiving, categorizing and procuring slides, MSUM’s upper-level sculpting class will be showcasing its collection at the Plains Art Museum on Dec. 10 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Projectors…
December 2nd, 2015
The Ellendale Opera House is a rare gem hidden two hours southwest of Fargo on the south-central North Dakota prairie. Built in 1909, it was the largest venue between Minneapolis and Seattle in its day, and it is one of the few of its kind still standing. The initial purpose of the Ellendale Opera House was to serve as a cultural and social hub for the area, though it has encountered a few hiccups along the way.
A few individuals…
November 18th, 2015
Shane Balkowitsch is a photographer based out of Bismarck, N.D., though he is no ordinary photographer. He is a wet plate artist meaning his photo process dates back to the mid-1800s. In fact he is the only wet plate artist in the state. His work has appeared in numerous publications, and he does demonstrations statewide, thanks to a portable darkroom.
HPR: You are a self-taught ambrotypist. What sparked the passion? Was there one image that started it all?
Shane Balkowitsch: I never had…
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By Bryce Haugen In the week since Renee Good was killed by an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, the state’s largest city, ICE officers have fanned out throughout Minnesota. ICE agents have been…
By Kooper Shagena Just off of I-94 and Highway 83 on State Street in Bismarck, an abandoned Kmart sits behind an empty parking lot, watching the cars roll on and off the interstate exchange. It has been standing there quietly since…
Saturday, January 31, mingling at 6:15 p.m. and program at 7 p.m.Fine Arts Club, 601 4th St. S., FargoThe FM Symphony is getting intimate by launching a “Small Stages” chamber music series and it's bringing folks together via…
By John Strand If you are reading this editorial and you too are worried sick about the state of our country, keep reading. Maybe we can inspire each other. It was near closing time. We were discussing our values crisis. So this…
By Ed RaymondA mind that snapped, cracked, and popped at one hundredI wasn’t going to read a long column called “Centenarian: A Diary of a Hundredth Year” by Calvin Tomkins celebrating his birthday on December 17 of 2025…
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 GionSince the much-dreaded Covid years, there has been much ebb and flow in the Fargo-Moorhead restaurant scene. In 2025, that trend continued with some major additions and closings. Let’s start the New Year on a positive…
Saturday, January 17, doors at 7:30 p.m.The Aquarium above Dempsey’s, 226 N. Broadway, FargoThe Slow Death is a punk supergroup led by Jesse Thorson, with members and collaborators that include members of The Ergs!, Dillinger…
By Greg Carlson Writer-director Naomi Jaye adapts fellow Canadian Martha Baillie’s 2009 novel “The Incident Report” as a potent and introspective character study. Retitled “Darkest Miriam,” Jaye’s movie stars Britt…
By Jacinta ZensThe Guerrilla Girls, an internationally renowned anonymous feminist art collective, have been bringing attention to the gender and racial imbalances in contemporary art institutions for the last 40 years. They have…
Saturday, January 31, 6:30-9 p.m.Transfiguration Fitness, 764 34th St. N., Unit P, FargoAn enchanting evening celebrating movement and creativity in a staff-student showcase. This is a family-friendly event showcasing pole, aerial…
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…
By Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com At the beginning of the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas," the Grinch is introduced as having a smaller than average heart, but as the movie progresses, his heart increases three…
January 31, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.Viking Ship Park, 202 1st Ave. N., Moorhead2026 marks 10 years of frosty fun! Enjoy sauna sessions with Log the Sauna, try Snowga (yoga in the snow), take a guided snowshoe nature hike, listen to live…
By Vern Thompson Benjamin Franklin offered one of the most sobering warnings in American history. When asked what kind of government the framers had created in 1787, he replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Few words…
