Event Link:  Project412mn.org/Charley-Harper.

FEE: FREE to attend the exhibition.

A vibrant new art exhibition featuring the work of iconic American artist Charley Harper has arrived in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota thanks to a unique international collaboration with the Muséum de Toulouse in France in partnership with the Charley Harper Art Studio. 

 

Muséum de Toulouse —the second largest museum in France—contacted Project 412 after learning about its recent work bringing artist Thomas Dambo and the world’s largest permanent troll exhibition to the area. Impressed by the organization's commitment to engaging the community through art and nature, the Muséum de Toulouse offered Detroit Lakes the first stop on the international tour of their “Colors & Shapes – Nature as Seen by Charley Harper” exhibit.

 

The indoor-outdoor exhibit features over 50 reproductions of Charley Harper’s art throughout Detroit Lakes in three locations: 

Zone 1: Who Was Charley Harper?  / See 12 Works of Art at Ortenstone Gardens & Sculpture Park (28499 Randolph Rd)

 Zone 2: Charley Harper’s Unique Vision of Nature / See 27 Works of Art at the Becker County Museum (714 Summit Ave)

Zone 3: Charley Harper, Artist & Activist / See 13 Works of Art at the Washington Square Mall (808 Washington Ave)

 

The exhibits will remain open during each venue’s operating hours through September 15. This exhibition is free and open to the public - thanks to Project 412 Wave Makers.

 

“We’re thrilled to bring this visually striking display to Detroit Lakes and to continue showcasing internationally renowned art in our community,” said Amy Stearns, Executive Director for Project 412. “Charley Harper’s distinctive style and joyful celebration of nature align beautifully with our mission and our community’s creative spirit.”

 

For more information about the exhibition visit Project412mn.org/Charley-Harper.

Event Link: https://www.therourke.org

FEE: FREE to attend the Gallery.

Catherine Esmond Mulligan: Earth Pattern

Fri May 30th - Sun Aug 10th

Katherine-Kilbourne-Burgum/Gustavian-Gallery-Exhibit

The Rourke Art Gallery + Museum, 521 Main Ave, Moorhead, MN 56560, USA  

This exhibit is presented in part by the generous sponsorship support of Ene & Nick Vogel.

Event Link: https://www.therourke.org

FEE: FREE To attend Gallery

Queer Joy 2025

Fri Jun 6th - Sun Aug 10th

Queer Joy Opens This Weekend

The Rourke Art Gallery + Museum is thrilled to present Queer Joy, a group exhibition of LGBTQIA+ artists, juried by Tobias Zikmund, in celebration of Pride Month and FM Pride Week from 5 June to 10 August 2025.

All are welcome to join us for the public opening of the exhibit this weekend from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday 7 June in The Rourke Reading Room and Archives.

At 2 p.m., we’ll hear from Lydia Repnow, organizer behind Art Unbound, a recent mentorship, community building, and art-making program for queer teens held at The Rourke and Parachigo.

This event is free and open to public. Tea, coffee, and cookies will be provided

Duane-K.-Mickelson-Gallery-Exhibit

The Rourke Art Gallery + Museum, 521 Main Ave, Moorhead, MN 56560, USA 

Event Link: https://plainsart.org

FEE: Free and open to the public.

Plains Art Museum is pleased
to announce the opening of Floating Beauty: Women in the Art of Ukiyo-e. The exhibition will be on view from June 7 to September 28, 2025, in The Museum’s Jane L. Stern Gallery.

Floating Beauty examines historical
perspectives on women and their depiction
in art in Edo Period Japan (1603 – 1867).
Made up entirely of woodblock prints created
in the ukiyo-e style, this exhibition highlights
female characters in literature, kabuki theatre,
and poetry; the courtesans and geisha of the
Yoshiwara district; and wives and mothers from
different social classes performing the duties
of their station, in order to gain some insight
into the lives of women in pre-modern Japan.
Through a Washitsu display, and the Usuki
Family objects, you will learn about historical Japan and gain insight into the lives of women during this period.

In the tradition of ukiyo-e, women are most commonly represented in the bijinga (“pictures of beautiful women”) genre. Featured in these prints are beautifully depicted courtesans with elaborate hairstyles, heavy make-up, and highly decorative clothing. These beauties were considered the ‘ideal woman,’ and aside from their physical radiance, they were passive, attentive, and well trained in the entertainment of their male companions.

Looking beyond the bijinga, this exhibition shows that women in Edo society were hard working and industrious individuals. Society scorned idleness in women of all ages, and even high-ranking females were required to perform a litany of tasks. Women were expected to be subservient but not weak; weakness would not run a demanding household or manage business affairs. For those outside of a traditional household role such as the courtesans
and geisha of the Yoshiwara, life was even more harsh. Similarly, female literary characters were well-defined and robust, but often did not fare well, eventually falling victim to the devices of men.

Over fifty woodblock prints will be featured in the exhibition, including works by ukiyo-e masters Suzuki Harunobu, Kitagawa Utamaro, Katsushika Hokusai (The Great Wave off the Coast of Kanagawa), Utagawa Kunisada, Kikugawa Eizan, and Utagawa Hiroshige. The entire exhibition is taken from the permanent collection of the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania, who organized the exhibition.

Event Link: https://www.therourke.org

FEE: Tickets required for Opening Reception for June 18th and other museums day free to public.

Wednesday 18 June 2025

The 66th Midwestern Preview
at The Rourke Art Gallery + Museum
Tickets | Members $15, Non-Members $30
TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-PURCHASE AT THE MUSEUM and AT DOORS

Preview | Doors Open 5 p.m.

Celebration in the
M. Dorian Clemedtson Sculpture Court
with music from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Awards Ceremony 6:30 p.m.

The 65th Anniversary Dinner
at Rustica Eatery & Tavern
Limited Seating: Reservations Required
​Social 7 p.m.
Dinner Served 7:30 p.m.

$57.50 per person plus beverages
paid at Rustica Eatery & Tavern

DINNER MENU & RESERVATION FORM

Thursday 19 June 2025

The Midwestern Luncheon with Emily Dickinson
at The Rourke Art Gallery + Museum
Very Limited Seating: Reservations Required
Social Hour 11 a.m.
Luncheon Served 11:30 a.m.

$47.50 per person pre-paid within Reservation Form

LUNCHEON MENU & RESERVATION FORM

Event Link: https://lrac4.org/currently-on-exhibit

Fee: Free & Open to the Public

We are honored to present the work of Laura Youngbird, a renowned mixed media artist, printmaker, educator, and advocate for Native Art and Culture. Her exhibition is now on view in our gallery.

Closing Reception:
Tuesday, September 16
5:30 - 7:00 PM

Come meet the artist and experience the stories behind the work.

Event Link: https://www.hcscconline.org

FEE: Regular admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $9 for college students, $8 for youth 5-17, and free for under 5, for active military families, HCSCC members, and everyone on Tuesday evenings from 5 to 8pm.

The Unchosen Ones is a photography exhibition displaying the work of R. J. Kern. His photography explores the ideas of home, agriculture, and rural livelihoods. The Unchosen Ones focuses on young contestants at county fairs throughout Minnesota in 2016 and 2020 who didn’t win in their contests. These contestants, some of them as young as four years old, dedicated time and energy to raising livestock to show and Kern's portraits capture a sense of wisdom and heartiness in his subjects beyond their years.

Event Link: https://www.kaddatzgalleries.org/current-exhibitions.html

FEE: Free to Attend the Gallery and reception on July 10th.

NAOMI RAMONA SCHLIESMAN:
HEILUNG SAAÁM (HEALING MEDICINE)

On View at in the Charles Beck Gallery July 8 - August 16, 2025

Opening Reception: 5-7PM Thursday, July 10, 2025
This event is free to attend and open to the public.

​Exhibition Statement (in her own words):This new body of work reflects a deeply personal journey—one of healing, connection, and transformation through art. It tells the story of how I have used creative practice as a tool for personal healing, both for myself and in relationship with my child. Rooted in the belief that healing is multi-sensory and multifaceted, these works explore how we can use our senses—touch, sound, vibration, color, and spatial awareness—to reestablish a connection with ourselves, our bodies, and our environments.
Drawing from both Western and Eastern understandings of medicine, this installation considers the role of art as a form of care and restoration. I am interested in how we nurture the body—not only through what we consume physically, but through the environments we create and inhabit. In this work, healing becomes a sensory conversation between the self and the space: art is the medium, and the body is both the receiver and the responder.
I create immersive installations that explore the interplay of material, scale, and perception. Using a vibrant palette and a diverse mix of materials—wood, plaster, fiber, and paint—I build tactile environments that play with contrast and contradiction: hard and soft, domestic and institutional, playful and contemplative. These material tensions become metaphors for emotional and physical states, inviting the viewer into a space where meaning shifts depending on perspective and experience.
My goal is to create a space that is both nurturing and provocative—a place where viewers feel compelled to touch, to feel, to pause. Color becomes a bridge between the aesthetic and the emotional; texture becomes a point of entry into deeper contemplation. Through these works, I invite others to consider how they care for their own bodies, how they create spaces of healing in their lives, and how art can act as both a mirror and a balm.
This body of work is not just an installation—it is an offering. A space for curiosity, comfort, reflection, and ultimately, connection.


About the Artist:
Naomi RaMona Schliesman is an award-winning interdisciplinary artist with over 20 years of experience of exhibiting her work in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, Seattle, and throughout the Midwest. With a deep-rooted passion for sculpture, mixed media, and community engagement, she holds an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2009) and a BFA with an emphasis in sculpture from Minnesota State University Moorhead.
Schliesman has been recognized with prestigious fellowships from Ragdale and Kimmel Hardening Nelson Center for the Arts and was awarded 2nd place in the Miami University Young Sculptors Competition for the William and Dorothy Yeck Award. She was also a LEAP finalist for the Society of Contemporary Craft Award. Her commitment to art as a catalyst for community engagement led to her selection by Smart Growth America, Forecast Public Art, and West Central Initiative to develop a reusable community engagement kit, integrating both virtual and physical tools to benefit West Central Minnesota.

A passionate advocate for mentorship and storytelling through art, Schliesman was one of two Artist Organizers leading a youth mentorship project in Otter Tail County. This initiative resulted in Return to Normal? COVID Diaries from Local Youth, a multimedia exhibition funded by the CDC Foundation in partnership with Springboard for the Arts, Otter Tail County Historical Society, and Otter Tail County Public Health Department.

Her artistic journey extends internationally, having traveled to Italy, Scotland, Ireland, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Belize to study art movements and participate in prestigious residencies, including Vermont Studio Center, Kimmel Hardening Nelson Center for the Arts, Ragdale, The Traveling Museum, and Hospitalfield Arts.
In addition to her own practice, Schliesman is deeply committed to arts education and professional development. She taught 2D and 3D Design and served as Gallery Director for the School of Arts at Minnesota State University Moorhead (2011–2013). From 2013 to 2020, she was the Artist Development Director for rural programming at Springboard for the Arts in Fergus Falls, MN, where she managed the Hinge Arts at the Kirkbride residency program, led Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists workshops, facilitated artist development panels, and provided career consultations for artists across the United States.

Currently, Schliesman resides in rural Minnesota, where she maintains an active studio practice and continues her freelance work. She is a contracted Artist Career Consultant and Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists facilitator for Springboard for the Arts, a teaching artist for Kaddatz Galleries, and the Gallery Curator at Lake Region Legion Arts Council.

Through her extensive collaborations with artists and organizations nationwide, Schliesman remains dedicated to fostering creative storytelling, community engagement, and producing her work in her studio practice.

Naomi RaMona Schliesman is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.​​

Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/16j2gDJfkj/

FEE: FREE and Open to the Public

Lake Region Arts Council (LRAC) is pleased to announce the opening of the 2025 Guest Juror Exhibition, juried by esteemed artist and cultural organizer Nancy Ariza. The exhibition will be on view at the LRAC Main Gallery from July 14 through September 16, 2025, with a closing reception on Tuesday, September 16, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. This event is free and open to the public.

This annual exhibition is a highlight of LRAC’s gallery season, showcasing the creative breadth and talent of regional artists. Each year, a guest juror is invited to review submissions from artists working in all disciplines. For the 2025 exhibition, Ariza selected 28 works from a competitive pool of 102 entries, resulting in a vibrant and compelling mixed media show that includes two-dimensional and three-dimensional work, as well as bold explorations of color, texture, and form.

Naomi RaMona Schliesman, LRAC Gallery Curator, shares:

“The Guest Juror Exhibition is always very popular with regional artists, and we receive over 100 submissions each year. Every Guest Juror brings their own talent, aesthetic, and professional eye when jurying the work. It transforms our gallery space and creates a buzz with our visitors. We invite established artists to select the very best from our regional talent, and it’s consistently one of the strongest mixed media exhibitions we present.”

About the Guest Juror – Nancy Ariza

Nancy Ariza is a printmaker, educator, and arts and cultural organizer with over a decade of experience designing and leading arts programming in museums and nonprofit organizations across Minnesota. In 2024, she founded Amilado Press, a collaborative print studio based in Richfield, MN, focused on publishing, artist residencies, and arts education.

In addition to her work at Amilado Press, Ariza serves on the Leadership Council of Serpentina Arts, supporting Latinx artists across Minnesota, and is a board member of the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center. She holds an MA in Education from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, specializing in culturally responsive teaching, and earned a BA in Art History and a BFA in Printmaking from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Exhibiting Artists:

Katie Muzquiz (Detroit Lakes, MN), Thom Tammaro (Moorhead, MN), Marie Merten (Alexandria, MN), Mary Erickson (Menahga, MN), Loretta Cantieri (Moorhead, MN), Kim Baird (Moorhead, MN), Tricia Coulson (Rochert, MN), Annette DuBord (Moorhead, MN), Laura VonBank (Moorhead, MN), Linda Beilke (Detroit Lakes, MN), Alyssa Christoffers (Moorhead, MN), John Shaw (Battle Lake, MN), Carmen Bruhn (Detroit Lakes, MN), Lrez (Perham, MN), John Beaudine (Moorhead, MN), Nancy X. Valentine (Battle Lake, MN), Katy J. Olson (Underwood, MN), Dennis Krull (Moorhead, MN), Torri Hanna (Fergus Falls, MN), and Maggie Peterson (Detroit Lakes, MN).

Gallery Hours:
Monday – Thursday | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Closed Friday – Sunday
Please call or email in advance to ensure the gallery is open on the day of your visit.
Contact: 1-800-262-2787 or 218-739-5780 | Email: LRAC4@LRACgrants.org

“This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Lake Region Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, with additional support from the McKnight Foundation.”

Event Link: https://lrac4.org/call-for-artists

FEE: FREE to Apply!

“ART of Toys”

Exhibition Dates: Monday, October 7th – Tuesday, December 16th, 2025

Call for artists Monday, July 21st - Monday, August 18, 2025

https://lrac4.org/call-for-artists to apply

Reception Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - 5:30-7pm – Artist Talk 6pm

Toys are a part of our lives at a very young age and help us to use our imagination! You can build with toys, create with toys, play with others and be inspired by toys. We ask artists, “how toys have inspired you, and how they “played” a role in your life?

Eligibility & Guidelines

This Call for Art is open to all artists living in the nine counties served by the Lake Region Arts Council:
Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin counties in west central Minnesota.

• Artists may submit 1 to 3 works of art for consideration.

• All mediums, styles, and themes are welcome!

• 2D artwork must be framed and/or ready to hang.

• Pedestals will be provided for 3D artwork.

How to Apply

The online application portal opens on Monday, July 21, 2025.
Apply here: LRAC Online Application

• New applicants will need to create an account.

• Returning applicants should log in using their previous credentials.

Important Dates

Call Opens: Monday, July 21, 2025
Application Deadline: Monday, August 18th, 2025 | 5:00 PM
Artist Notification: Friday, August 29th, 2025
Exhibition Dates: October 6th – December16th, 2025
Opening Reception: Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 | 5:30 – 7:00 PM

For more information, please visit the LRAC Gallery website or contact:
Naomi RaMona Schliesman, Gallery Curator: gallerycurator4@gmail.com

All Artwork needs to be framed and/or ready to hang for 2D pieces with hanging wire. We have pedestals for 3D artwork. Please fill out the online application located on the LRAC Gallery website page.

Call for Art Information: 888-735-9622

https://lrac4.org/call-for-artists

***New applicants will need to create an account, and returning applicants should use their previous credentials to log on.

https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=lakeregion

 “These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through Lake Region Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.”

Event Link: https://www.reddoorgallerywahpeton.com/call-for-worksartists.html

Fee: Free

Dates of Exhibition: September 30 – October 25, 2025

Deadline for Submissions: September 19, 2025

Deadline for Arrival of Art: September 27, 2025

Artists’ Reception: TBD, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

We invite artists to submit works with light horror or fantasy themes. The horror is not grotesque, but

subtle—a lingering unease, a flicker in the corner of the eye, a sense that something is just slightly off.

Forms of work include but are not limited to painting, drawing, sculptural work, photography, printmaking, mixed media, wood carvings, jewelry, and textiles.

This is an open call for all artists who: Currently reside in North Dakota, Minnesota, or South Dakota, or those who call Wahpeton ND or Breckenridge MN their hometown or have a local connection.

• Artists must submit an Artist’s Biography along with works if this is an artist’s first time exhibiting.

• All works must include the following information: Title, Year Completed, Brief Description, Media Used, Dimensions, and Price.

• The maximum each artist can bring is 3 – 5 pieces of artwork or 10 feet of wall space worth of artwork.

• All works must be for sale, and priced with the understanding that the Red Door Art Gallery does take a 30% commission on all works. The commission must be included in your price. Include a detailed and clear inventory of all works for our records.

• The Gallery does reserve the right to exclude any artwork that does not meet the standards set by the

Gallery’s Collections and Exhibitions Committee.

• All works that go on a wall must have a hanger on the back. All work must be equipped with a saw tooth hanger or wire.

• All artists exhibiting in this show must be members of the Red Door Art Gallery. Feel free to contact RDAG if you are unsure of your membership status.

• RDAG requests all artwork be able to stay in gallery throughout the entirety of the exhibit, except for in the event of a sale.

• RDAG reserves the curatorial discretion for all placement, lighting, display, and all other aspects of the exhibition of works

• Preference will be given to works that have not been previously exhibited at Red Door Art Gallery.

• Artist consignment agreement must be signed and/or previously on file before art can be accepted or

exhibited.

To Submit:

Please send images and descriptions of work to: director@reddoorgallerywahpeton.com

Images submitted to Red Door Art Gallery may be considered to be used in promotion of the exhibit. Artists are responsible for the delivery and/or shipping costs to and from the Red Door. If work is shipped, a reusable container must be used. RDAG is not responsible for damage during the shipment for any reason. Return shipment will be sent C.O.D. to the artist. No post office boxes will be accepted for return shipments.

For more information contact the Gallery at (701) 591-1010 or email at director@reddoorgallerywahpeton.com

EVENT LINK: https://www.evansvilleartcenter.org/events/al-stelton-exhibit

FEE: Free

"American Light is the title of the exhibit featuring paintings by visual artist, Al Stelton, on display in the EAC Gallery for the month of August.

Al is a self-taught artist accomplished in several mediums and currently working in oil paint. His artistic abilities surfaced during his formative years drawing, doodling, and later painting on a variety of surfaces. His artwork grew into a passion that continues today. From researching his subject matter, attention to every detail, from the composition, to rendering painting in full detail, Al strives to produce a high-quality painting. Subject matter is no problem for Al, who has tackled subjects from portraits to wildlife to western fare.

This exhibition runs from August 1 through August 30 during regular Gallery hours on Friday and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Event Link: https://www.hcscconline.org/njals-saga-tapestry.html

FEE: Regular admission applies, Free Tuesday Evening from 5 to 8pm

The HCSCC is excited to display a small section of the Njal's Saga Tapestry from Iceland. The exhibition of this remarkable work of the hands will be in the Viking ship gallery of the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, MN, Aug. 6-13, 2025. Njal’s Saga is the most popular and famous of the Viking-era Icelandic sagas and a source of enormous cultural pride in Iceland and among Icelandic Americans.

Inspired by the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry in France, a small community in southern Iceland set out to create its own hand-embroidered illustration of its most famous tale. Begun on Feb. 2, 2013, and completed on Sept. 15, 2020, the 50-centimetre-wide tapestry was hand-embroidered on 100% linen with Icelandic wool yarn used for the stitching. The yarn was dyed with Icelandic herbs by ancient Viking methods. The two stitches used are based on those in the Bayeux Tapestry which are now thought to have originated in Iceland. Due to unprecedented interest and many volunteer embroiderers stopping in to work on it, the tapestry was completed more quickly than originally planned.​

Alongside this display will be a series of events hosted by  Claudia Pétursson , an Icelandic-American with a strong passion for the project. Events include:

 A Presentation on the Project by Claudia Pétursson - August 7 at 6pm in the Oak Room of the Hjemkomst Center, Free

A Workshop on the Stitches used in the Tapestry directed by Claudia Pétursson - August 9 & 10 from 1 to 3pm in the Oak Room of the Hjemkomst Center, Free
​
A Book Club Discussion of Njal's Saga led by Claudia Pétursson - August 12 at 6pm in the Oak Room of the Hjemkomst Center, Free

Copies of Njal's Saga and embroidery kits will be available for purchase at the Heritage Gift Shop in the Hjemkomst Center. 

 This 5-metre exhibit will also be shared at the following places and dates:
                                    Jul. 31 – Aug 3     Mountain, ND                               The Deuce-ICA of ND
                                    Aug. 4-5              Gimli, Manitoba                             Icelandic Festival of Manitoba
                                    Aug. 14-21           Nome, ND                                      Nome Schoolhouse
                                    Aug. 22-29         Minneapolis, MN                           Norway House              


This event is funded in part by a grant from the Lake Region Arts Council through a Minnesota State Legislative appropriation; The Arts Partnership with support from the Cities of Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo; the Alex Stern Family Foundation, the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation, the F-M Icelandic Klub, and Maureen Kelly Jonason.

Event Link: https://givebutter.com/c/5SEILy

Fee: Free

"The Return of Peter the Slug" on the second level of The Rourke from 15 August through 14 September 2025. The Rourke Art Gallery + Museum is pleased to offer Ann Solyst's original watercolor illustrations from the children's book Peter the Slug, written by Peter Schultz, as a benefit auction for the Jeremiah Program of Fargo-Moorhead. The auction winners will be able to collect these lovely, whimsical pieces after the conclusion of the exhibition.

The auction begins online at 10 a.m. on Friday 8 August.

View the illustrations and register for bidding at https://givebutter.com/c/5SEILy.

We invite you to join us for a special reception at the museum from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday 14 August to enjoy the watercolors in person and to celebrate the conclusion of the auction at 7:45 p.m.