2026

2026 is here. I don’t know how many of you make New Year’s resolutions in January (and maybe by now you’ve already abandoned the resolutions you made), but a good resolution would be to take advantage of all good things the Aurora Center for the Arts and the Fosston Library has to offer. The current display in the Sorenson Gallery features work by Roseau fiber artist Aliza Novacek-Olson. There are examples of many traditional skills, not just fiber arts (spinning, felting, weaving, crocheting, etc.) but also basketweaving and woodcarving. As a quote from the artist’s Website says: “By considering purpose, colors, materials, and techniques, we can learn about the culture that followed the same steps and appreciate how our ancestors lived, worked, and passed on tradition.” The gallery is open during library hours and is well worth a visit. While you are there, you might want to sign up for the Book Blizzard Winter Reading Challenge. Pick up a reading log, return it for a sticker and a chance to win a prize each time you’ve read four titles. Also coming up this month is the Aurora Center for the Arts annual meeting on Wednesday, January 14, at 6 p.m. All members are welcome to attend, and if you are interested in becoming a member, you can come check it out. The theater renovation is currently underway, even as it is in use as a practice space for the Fosston High School one act play cast who will compete on January 23. The Sponsor a Seat program is going strong, with 50 seats currently sponsored. If you are interested in sponsoring a seat go to auroracenterforthearts.org or e-mail Abby Pearson at hello@auroracenterforthearts.org. The library book club will meet Tuesday, January 20, at 2 p.m. This month’s book is Remarkable Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. I haven’t started it yet, but it appears the narrator is an octopus. It should be interesting. Check with the library for a copy. Bingo for children is scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, at 3:30. Prizes, prizes! The library will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observation of Martin Luther King’s birthday.

December - Winter Has Arrived

Winter has arrived – not surprising given that December is here. There is cold and snow, but you can find warmth and excitement at the Aurora Center for the Arts and the Fosston Library. On Saturday, December 6, with the art of micro mosaics, you can make a beautiful pendant under the guidance of Kathy Sanders. The workshop is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On the evening of that same day, Dan Rodriguez will be presenting his Christmas concert at 7 p.m. There are still tickets available as of this writing. Go to auroracenterforthearts.org for concert tickets or to register for the micro mosaic workshop. Concert tickets are also available at Nord’s Pharmacy. New things are coming to the theater – new carpeting and new seating, renovations necessary because of water damage last winter (leaky roof). If you would like to help with this, there is a Sponsor-A-Seat program. For $200 you will have a personalized plaque mounted on one of the new chairs. Honor a loved one, celebrate your family name or demonstrate your business or club’s support. Contact Abby Pearson at hello@auroracenterforthearts.org for more information or go to the aurora center website. In a related note, if anyone is interested in the old seats, contact Abby about that as well. Coming up at midmonth at the Sorenson Gallery will be Aliza Novacek-Olson’s fiber art display. She lives on a ranch near Roseau and creates clothing using fiber from some of the animals she raises. The techniques she uses include spinning, weaving, crocheting, wet-felting, needle felting and more. It should be an interesting exhibition. Also, rehearsals have begun for the high school one act play. It will be presented at the end of January. Meanwhile, at the Fosston Library, Food for Fines will be in effect during the month of December. For each non-perishable food item brought into the library, a $2 late fee will be waived from the customer’s account. The donated food items will go to the local food shelf. Book club meets Tuesday, December 16, at 2 p.m. This month’s book is Vanderbilt by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe. Participants may also read a Christmas book of their choice, so if you are not interested in the Vanderbilts, come prepared to share something about another book. Bingo for the kids (with prizes) is scheduled for Wednesday, December 17, after school. Christmas week (Dec. 22-27) children are invited to search for Gnorman the Gnome. If they find him, they may pick a prize from the treasure chest. The library will close at noon on December 24 and will be closed Christmas Day, reopening on Dec. 26. It will also be closed on Jan. 1.

In November, Winter Approaches

November is here, winter is approaching, and at the Aurora Center for the Arts and the Fosston Library, there are lots of exciting activities scheduled. The Daisy Haugen Auction for the Arts, Aurora’s signature fundraiser, will be on Sunday, November 30. Held every other year, the auction offers a chance to bid on a grand variety of donated artwork, homemade goodies (maybe some caramels), unique services, and who knows what else. Preview the items from 1-2 p.m. before the auction begins at 2. If you are interested in creating your own piece of art, there are a couple of opportunities for that, too. On Saturday, Nov. 8, Mike McColl will teach participants techniques of marbelizing paper to put on a hard-cover journal. The class will be held at the Old School Artist Retreat Center in Lengby. On Saturday, Dec. 6, Kathy Sanders will be teaching a micro mosaic pendant class. Using tiny pieces of glass and small stones (tesserae), students will design and assemble their own work of art. There are fees for these classes. To register, go to auroracenterforthearts.org. Betsy Saurdiff’s pottery is currently in the Sorenson Gallery. There will be an artist’s reception for her on Thursday, November 20, from 5-7 p.m. Saurdiff, who lives and works in Grygla, has received numerous awards. Her techniques include altering wheel-thrown work, sgraffito, and brushwork. If you want to find out what that means, come to the reception. Tickets are now on sale for the Dan Rodriguez Christmas concert scheduled for Saturday, December 6, at 7 p.m. He has performed in Fosston several times and has quite a few fans here, so you might want to get your tickets sooner rather than later. They are available at Nord’s Pharmacy & Gifts and online at the Aurora Center Website. Meanwhile, at the Fosston Library, book club will meet Tuesday, November 18, at 2 p.m. This month’s book is Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon. Contact the library for a copy of the book. Bingo for kids is Wednesday, Nov. 19, beginning at 3:15. Prizes, prizes, prizes! The next week, beginning Monday, Nov. 25, kids are invited to search for some sort of hidden treasure in the library. When they find it, they can pick out something from the prize box. And just a reminder: The library will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day, and on Thursday, November 29, for Thanksgiving Day.

And October

October is here. The temperatures maybe unseasonably warm, but the leaves are turning (and falling) and the light is waning. The Aurora Center for the Arts has just hosted a successful Lit Fest with several Minnesota authors. Coming up this month isa stained glass mosaic class with JoAnn McFarlin on Thursday, Oct. 9. Attendees will learn glass cutting, proper adhesives, grouting and color composition. Ten people are enrolled. . Information for a couple of upcoming classes, one in November on making a marbleized journal and one in December on micro mosaics, can be found at auroracenterforthearts.org. Coming to the Sorenson Gallery in October is a display of pottery by Betsy Saurdiff. She is from Grygla, and her pottery pays homage to her grandmothers and mother. The winner of numerous awards, Saurdiff is influenced by her rural roots, including sewing, berry picking, hunting, fishing and working on the farm. Meanwhile, at the Fosston Library, on Friday, October 24, at 1:30 p.m., author Christopher Lehmanwill discuss his book It Took Courage: Eliaz Winston’s quest for Freedom. The book is the story of a woman who escaped slavery by petitioning a judge in Minnesota. He will talk about his inspirations for writing the book, methods of research and the people and places involved. It should be an interesting presentation. Book club meets Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. This month’s book is Maria by Michelle Moran. A novel based on Maria Von Trapp, heroine of “The Sound of Music,” the book is an attempt to tell the real story behind the movie. I’m looking forward to reading it. If you are interested, contact the library to obtain a copy of the book. Bingo for the kiddos is scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, at 3:15 p.m. Always a fun time. Everyone likes to win a prize. One last reminder: The library will be closed on Monday, October 13, for a staff workshop. (That’s Columbus Day and/or Indigenous Peoples’ Day.)

September is here

September is here, school has started, and activities at the Aurora Center for the Arts will be in full swing. Music lessons will again be available. Jeff Menten (218-255-0077) teaches violin, fiddle, guitar, including classical guitar, mandolin and cello. He is also available for on-line lessons (and yes, that is a thing – works well). Eric Olson (218-358-0605) teaches guitar (acoustic or electric), bass guitar, drums, vocal and songwriting. Check out his Website – thespawnpoint.com. Kay Carlsen (218-435-6710 or 218-289-3968) (that’s me) will continue to teach piano. I can also be reached at aagekay@gvtel.com. There are still open spots available for the 3-day acrylic class with Pamela Edevold to be held Friday-Sunday, Sept. 19-21. Students will learn to use Golden Open Acrylics to paint portraits. To sign up e-mail hello@auroracenterforthearts.org or go online at bit.ly/AuroraArtClass. She does incredible work. The current exhibit in the Sorenson Gallery features the work of Ruth Ann Nordlund. Titled “A Reflection of Scandinavia,” this display features still-life paintings of Nordic heirlooms. There will be an artist’s reception on Friday, Sept. 19, from 5-7, with a talk by the artist at 5:30. Dates for the Up North LitFest are September 25-26. Meet authors from all over Minnesota. Participate in breakout sessions and meals with keynote speakers Jean Cooney and Will Weaver. Ticketing options have been expanded. You may now choose à la carte sessions or opt for the complete program at a discounted rate. This event highlights the talents of Minnesota's vibrant literary community. For more ticket info, please visit https://auroracenterforthearts.org/shopdonate Starting this month, the open hours for the Fosston Library have changed slightly. New hours are 9-5 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 12-7 on Tuesdays, 12-6 on Thursdays, and 10-2 on Saturdays. On Friday, September 12, author Eric Dregni will be at the library at 2:30 to talk about his book, Vikings in the Attic. In the book, he explores significant historic sites, tales and traditions of Scandinavians in the Midwest. I have heard him speak, most recently at a Sons of Norway meeting, and he is quite entertaining. The library book club resumes meeting on Tuesday, September 16, at 2. This month’s book is Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate. Contact the library if you need a copy. One more exciting event for this month: On Tuesday, September 23, artist Dorothy Hoover will help participants decorate a plate with Telemark rosemaling. The class is scheduled from 1-6. All materials are provided and there is no charge for the class. However, preregistration is required. You may call the Fosston Library at 435-1320 to register or go to larl.libnet.info/event/14387106. Wow! That’s what I call a full month. Don’t complain that there’s nothing to do in Fosston.

August already

Oh, no- it’s August already. It seems as if summer has just gotten started, but before you know it, it will be back to school and farewell to the lazy, hazy days of summer. (Although I could do without the hazy days of Canadian wildfire smoke.) However, there are plenty of activities planned for August at the Aurora Center for the Arts. “Space Pirates,” directed by Kirby Vossler, will be performed August 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. and August 9 at 3 p.m. Twenty-five students in grades three-six are featured. Some of them presented a sample of their talents at the theater revue on July 24. Tickets are available online at auroracenterforthearts.org or at Nord’s. Want to learn how to knit and embroider your own hat? You probably won’t need to wear it this month, but winter will be here before you know it. Stephanie Anderson, an accomplished fiber/textile artist with a background in knitting, quilting and Viking age textiles, will be teaching a class on Tuesday, Aug.19, beginning at 6 p.m. To sign up e-mail hello@auroracenterforthearts.org or go online to bit.ly/AuroraArtClass There is a fee. No fee to visit the Sorenson Gallery to view the still life paintings of Ruth Ann Nordlund. Her work will be on display beginning August 22, with an artist’s reception on Sept. 19 from 5-7. The week of August 18-22 Aurora will be hosting a drama camp for students doing the “Wizard of Oz.” Directed by Abby Pearson, students will learn basic theater directions, costuming, and set making They will put on a show for the public on Friday, August 22, at 6 p.m. Coming up in September: Pamela Edevold’s acrylic class still has openings. Dates are September 19-21, 5-9 Friday, and 10-4 Saturday and Sunday. Students will learn to use Golden Open Acrylics to paint portraits. To sign up e-mail hello@auroracenterforthearts.org or sign up online at bit.ly/AuroraArtClass There is a fee charged for this class. Pam Edevold does incredible work. If you can learn to paint even half as well as she does, it will all be worth it. Registration is now open for Up North LitFest, a two-day celebration of books, storytelling and creativity on Thursday and Friday, September 25 & 26. Presenters include Jeanne Dooney, author of the Hotdish Mystery series, and Minnesota writer Will Weaver, as well as Kristen Eggerling, Dawn Duncan and Sheila Packa. You can sign up online at auroracenterforthearts.org. Just a little reminder – the Fosston Library/Aurora Center will be closed on Labor Day, September 1.

Children's summer art classes