Tracker Pixel for Entry

​May the art be with you: Plains Art Gala celebrates with sci-fi theme

Arts | April 18th, 2024

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

There’s no exaggeration when we say that this year’s Plains Art Gala is going to be out of this world, with a sci-fi theme inspired by a painting housed in the Plains Art Museum’s permanent collection called “Toward the Sun”by John Berkey. Berkey was an acclaimed North Dakota born sci-fi artist. He created art for “Dune,” “Star Wars,” National Geographic, NASA and a number of sci-fi books.

“I think that worked out really well because the Gala is on May 4, which is technically ‘Star Wars Day,’” said Plains Art Museum Executive Director Erin Shapiro. “I should watch the movies – I haven't yet, so I'm not the best person to speak to that. But no, I think it'll be a lot of fun. And it's a really broad theme that people can have fun with too, which I think is really fantastic.”

It’s no secret that the Plains Art Gala is one of the best and most highly anticipated parties of the year. One of the best parts of planning on attending an art party is you can fully embrace the theme and show up in full costume, tails, or jeans and you’ll fit in just fine.

Listen and groove to the sounds of Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome and DJ Star IV. Enjoy a wine tasting courtesy of Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops, hors d’oeuvres from Chef’s Table + Urban Foods, and sweet treats from Nichole’s Fine Pastry. Experience sci-fi art adventures from Fargo Pinball, Folkways, and Puzzled Escape rooms, while Livewire sets the mood.

Don’t forget to check out and bid on the art. It’s the most important part. It’s a juried exhibition, meaning a number of artists applied to have their work be part of the exhibit.

“I think we had more artists that applied than ever and it was a competitive year too, because we're in the Starion Gallery this year, which is a little bit of a change and is a smaller space,” said Shapiro. “So it was a competitive year to get into the art auction.”

The art featured in the art auction consists of work from local, regional and national artists. This year, the art was selected by Texas-based artist Annalise Gratovich, whose prints recently hung in the atrium of the Plains.

“When Annalise juried the show, she was really thinking about how the works would look as an exhibition as a whole,” Shapiro explained. “So she was thinking about how the different works from different artists really kind of spoke to each other and the dialogues that they created, which I really appreciated. It's about the individual artworks, but it's also about the exhibition as a whole. And of course, we want all of our exhibitions to look great and to be cohesive. So she did a really wonderful job of selecting works that worked well with other works in the show. So I think it's going to be really fantastic.”

The art for the Gala will be on view in the Starion Gallery at the Plains until May 4. Admission to the Plains Art Museum is free.

IF YOU GO:

Plains Art Gala

Saturday, May 4

7 p.m. - midnight

Plains Art Museum

704 1st Ave. N. in Fargo

For ticket information: plainsart.org/events/spring-gala-2024-sci-fi-artistry/

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee NelsonMore than 1,000 pro-worker events are planned for Thursday, May 1 across the country, including rallies in Fargo-Moorhead, Grand Forks, Minot and Jamestown. East Grand Forks and Bismarck will host protests…

From concerts and car shows to Japanese art and Juneteenth celebrations, there's so much going on around the region this summer. This year's High Plains Reader Summer Events Calendar is back and bigger than ever. It's packed with…

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…

By John Strandjas@hpr1.com One description that perhaps aptly describes the mental state of many lately is that they feel they are attached to a string. Or several strings. Call it the notion that people are played like puppets,…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comFor sale: White House in D.C. housing dung beetles and giant leechesI suspect someone close to Donald Trump has read “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,”because the Trump administration is…

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 After a very inspiring conversation with Kayla Houchin of Sonder Bakehouse a few weeks ago, I decided that it’s an appropriate time to write a column about some of the sweet people who are involved…

Mooncats and Pert Near Sandstone play Empire TheatreBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comThe MoonCats describe themselves as “Americonscious Campfire Folk.” They have a clear acoustic folk sound with a sense of whimsy — think…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com The writing/directing partnership of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck has to be one of the most curious cases of crazy connect-the-dots career moves in recent cinema. From short documentaries and…

By Raul Gomezraul@hpr1.com Minutes before Modern’s Celebration of Life opened its door at the Sons of Norway, I was fiddling with the bar computer, trying to pull up the playlists of Modern’s work I had set aside for the…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…

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 There appear to be differences in the incidence of mental illnesses between men and women. For example, women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, post-traumatic stress…

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.nd7@gmail.com Our trucking business has me driving almost daily from gas plants in western North Dakota's oil patch to Canada. I haul natural gas liquids (NGLs) products we used to see flared off at…