March at the Arts Center

Just the other day one of my Facebook friends, who lives in Tennessee, mentioned that the dandelions were out. Looking out my window at the thick layer of white stuff in my backyard, I don’t think they’ll be blooming here any time soon. However, it is March, month of the vernal equinox. The days are getting longer, and of course, there continues to be plenty of activity at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center.
William Kent Krueger, award-winning author of Vermilion Drift, this year’s Community Read selection, will be at the library on Wednesday, March 29, at 7 p.m. He will read an excerpt from his book, take questions and have books available for purchase. A resident of St. Paul, Krueger writes a mystery series set in Minnesota’s north woods. Vermilion Drift is the tenth book in the Cork O’Connor series.
If you heard last year’s Community Read author, Susan May Warren, you will be glad to hear that she will be back in Fosston to lead a writers’ conference on April 1-2. If you are an aspiring writer, you’ll want to attend this event. Warren’s agent, Sandra Bishop, will also be presenting. Conference space is limited to 30 attendees. Contact Bonnie Stewart at 435-6119 for more information.
On Tuesday, March 8, jazz musician George Maurer will present a 7 p.m. concert at the arts center. Maurer is a composer and educator, as well as a musician. His Web site states that he has “arranged music for the Chiffons, played for members of the Bill Clinton White House and written original music for the Saint Paul City Ballet.” This concert is free and is funded with money from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage fund, created with the Legacy Amendment.
Another Legacy-funded event, coming up on Tuesday, April 5, is motivational speaker Renee Rongen, who will be at the Fosston Library at 7 p.m. Rongen, who lives in Fertile, travels all over the country delighting audiences with her humor while challenging them to make a difference. Her presentation here will be “Life is your Legacy - Live It!” I heard her at last fall’s LARL All-staff workshop - she was great!
Michelle Curfman’s photography is currently on display in the Sorenson Gallery. Most of the pictures have been taken in the local area. The upper gallery currently features photography by Shannon Balstad, whom Curfman has mentored. You’ll want to see all these pictures next time you’re in the library.
Other March events include the third grade musical on Monday, March 14, and the Teen Variety Show on Tuesday, March 22, at 7 p.m. Sorry, I don’t seem to have a time for the third grade musical, but if you have a third grader in your family, you’ll know.