The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce Birds – An exhibit featuring the work of Ross Hier of Crookston, Stephanie Anderson of Fosston, Doug Dallman of Thief River Falls, Sherri Kruger of Badger, Zach Rowatt of Roseau, Travis Hanel of Warren, Ivy Baille of Fosston, Rock Bakken of Hallock, Betsy Saurdiff of Grygla, Kathryn Rynning of Kennedy, Janet Johnson of Roseau, Karen Monson of Plymouth, and Cindy Kolling of Gully.
The exhibit is open from March 2 through April 29, 2021 at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. It includes paintings, stained glass mosaic sculpture, fiber and mixed media, bird houses, pen and ink, photography, pottery, chalk pastel, and watercolors. Like art, birds reveal a spot of beauty with their plumes and songs and allow us to escape the stressful and mundane. These artists have captured the simplicity, as well as the complexity of birds.
The exhibit features a large body of work of Crookston Artist Ross Hier. Ross’s love of nature from a young age led him to a career as a wildlife biologist. He retired after 35 years with the Minnesota DNR Wildlife Section. A self-taught artist, he thoroughly enjoys the versatility of transparent watercolors. Nature provides him with unlimited subject material. Many of his subject ideas arose after observing some interaction in nature, landscape, or creatures. “I am drawn more to days when life wasn’t so driven by technology and was lived at a slower pace.“
In 2019 Ross experienced “a wonderful birding expedition in Ecuador. I observed 33 species during my 13-day adventure and when I returned home, I set out on a personal project to paint all 33 of them. Thus far, I have completed 15 of those 33 species; these watercolors are on display at this exhibit. It is an extreme challenge to capture the vibrant, often neon-esque colors of hummingbirds with watercolor pigments. Also, mimicking blurred wing-movement is very difficult. I have learned much on the project and continue to revel in memories of the ‘amazing 33 species.’”
You won’t want to miss this extensive and multifaceted exhibit! A number of these pieces are available for purchase. Please see our website for more information.
The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30-5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Enter through Door A. Visitor parking is free and at this time in the large end lot.
For more information about our exhibits look to our website at www.NWArtsCouncil.org, or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 280-4917 or email NWArtsCouncil@gmail.com. This exhibit is made possible with funding from The McKnight Foundation. Please sign up for our e-newsletter on our website home page to see the latest news and grant announcements. Email director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886 to reach our office during regular business hours.
