Visit Area Art Galleries
during Celebrate Art! Celebrate Coffee!
 

The featured Gallery Artist for 2009 is Sharon Schuetze from Spicer.  Sharon’s works will be on display in the Gallery in the Willmar Education and Arts Center throughout the month of September and she will be honored at a reception in the Gallery on the Festival Day, September 19, from 1 to 3 p.m. 

Artist Statement: 

‘I have been primarily a watercolor landscape artist the past few years.  My goal has been to honor our local culture and rural natural beauty by capturing the essence of it in paintings for people to enjoy.  Water, given our many lakes and rivers, has been a favorite subject. More recently, I have been drawn to the animals that populate our area…sheep, horses, eagles, loons, etc. I am also developing my own personal style using acrylic paint on canvas.   I aim for a style of richness and clarity of color, with bold splashes and intricate detail often combined in the same painting.  I hope that the viewer will feel anxious and eager to step into each of my works!’ 

Sharon has a studio art major from the University of Minnesota and has worked as a professional design artist.  She currently works full time at producing fine art.  She has been an active member in the Willmar Area Arts Council & SW MN Arts & Humanities Council, and is a recent new member of the Glacial Ridge Artists.  She has lived in Dallas, Milwaukee, & Nashville, was originally from Litchfield, MN, and has called Spicer home since 1994. 

Bethel Lutheran Gallery (11-3pm pie and coffee)

Karen Bell, an award winning Willmar artist, is from Bethel's featured artist this year. Karen works in mixed-media, oil,pastel,watercolor, pen & ink, and graphite. Come enjoy her work and have some pie and coffee for $2.

Potato Eaters Gallery 320 W Litchfield Ave

Maria Horvath and John Stout of Potato Eaters Gallery were invited to create an adjunct exhibition to complement “Celebrate Art!” and the Arthur Norby display, and have responded with a five-artist event and reception (and fundraiser for Music Matters as well?). Along with Maria’s paintings and John’s subtle concrete sculptures, the showing will include the pottery of Gossman the Elder, illustrious Mayor of New London and previously unexhibited portraits in oil by his son, Jais, also known as Gossman the Younger. Rounding out the showing will be the woodcarvings of Fred Cogelow, somebody from beyond the tracks.

The Exhibition will include a special kickoff reception on Friday, Sept 18, from 8:30 to 10:00 P.M., which will be open to the public with a special invitation to all “Celebrate Art!” participants, whether they be organizers, volunteers, artists, musicians, or venders. Arrangements for live music are incomplete at this time, but come prepared for auditory as well as visual scintillation, as well as solicitations for Music Matters, a fundraising effort for music programs in the Willmar schools.. This will be an opportunity for participants in Celebrate Art, Solorlagstevneians, and residents of the area to socialize and get acquainted. Don’t miss it! (and bring your own acoustical instrument in case there’s a jam session.)

The Exhibition itself will run from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Saturday, the 19th.

Art Norby Exhibit 316 4th St SW

A unique collection of sculpture and paintings by Arthur Norby, consisting of several plaster cast busts from Norby's public sculptures, bronze sculptures and a selection of atmospheric paintings. The collection will be at Heritage Square Sept. 18 through Oct. 3. 

The Barn Theatre 321 4th St SW

An exhibit of oils and acrylics by artist Paula Janet Pena will be on display at the Barn Theatre during the month of September. Included will be her unique stylized painted chairs.