Arts

Sheer Loon-acy

March 3rd, 2016

Mackenzie Kouba could be referred to as a hometown hero. She was born and raised in the area and claims to have been embellishing her world since cognizance. Once she received her baccalaureate degree at NDSU in 2009 she moved into the Roberts Street Studio, where she produced work and assisted in curating exhibits in the attached space, The Upfront Gallery. She has a community-forward approach, whether it be through art or social change.

In 2010 she was voted best emerging visual…

All the Colors of the Igloo

February 27th, 2016

The winter season has a reputation for being one of the gloomier times of the year, even in a place as acclimated to it as North Dakota. The short days and lack of variety of color seem to bring out the melancholy aspect of people. Shelby Steidl, a senior art student at North Dakota State University, had that in mind when she embarked on her latest project, a vibrantly-colored igloo located on NP Avenue west of Renaissance Hall.

“I wanted to create a work of art with lots of color and…

A 48 hour Photo Shoot

February 25th, 2016

The folks at the NDSU Memorial Union Gallery are inviting the citizens of Fargo-Moorhead and beyond to dust off their cameras and participate in a 48 hour photo shoot to encourage family friendly urban exploration in our city. The event was designed by Anthony Faris, the Memorial Union’s newest gallery coordinator, who was also kind enough to chat with the HPR about the project.

High Plains Reader: How did the concept of the 48 hour photo shoot come to be?

Anthony Faris: This is a…

Guerrilla Tactics

February 22nd, 2016

By Jacinta Macheel Zens

The Guerrilla Girls are a New York-based anonymous, feminist art group whose main focus is illuminating gender and racial inequalities in the art world. To ensure their anonymity, the women wear plastic gorilla masks during events to hide their identities. With over 30 years as an art group, the Guerrilla Girls have received international acclaim for their works of protest art.

Since this January, they have been involved in the largest collaboration with a…

Concrete Thoughts

February 3rd, 2016

Rugby artist Terry Jelsing tears down the wall

Rugby based visual artist Terry Jelsing is that not only focuses on his art as an individual artist, but practices social art as well. In the past 30 years has worked as an art educator, worked in arts administration, and as a curator. Jelsing is no stranger to the FM area. One may observe his work in the permanent collection in the Hodo lounge, Fargo South High School, the West Acres Mall, and numerous private collections. He was also one…

Stick it!

February 3rd, 2016

Albino Buffalo artists to exhibit at The Rourke Art Museum

Part of the thrill of the thrill of inserting your quarters into a sticker vending machine at the arcade or roller rink is the thrill of the unknown. Put your quarters in, receive a small nondescript cardboard slip, open said slip and your sticker is revealed. What you do with it at that point is entirely up to you.

Fargo Native, educator, and graphic designer Jeff Knight is bringing back that sensation.

The Albino Buffalo project…

Happy birthday, Charles Beck!

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…

All Bark? All right!

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…

Man of Many Talents

December 28th, 2015

Inside the studio part two: Ron Koskela

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…

Inside the Studio: Artist Adele Koskela tangles ZenDels

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…