Summer student art

Fosston High School Alumni Exhibit

August - the Downhill Slope to Fall

August is here, which means we are on the downhill slope to fall. We have escaped most of the excessive heat plaguing much of the country (and the world), and I’m always a little bit sad to see summer come to an end. Let’s enjoy what is left of it. At the Fosston Community Library Arts Center, August will be a relatively quiet month. The Sorenson Gallery will feature the work of the Fosston Youth Art Club. More than 60 young people ages six through twelve participated in the program so expect to see lots of colorful pieces and make sure you allow enough time to see them all. The library summer reading program came to an end July 31. Participants are reminded to turn in their reading logs by Saturday, August 5. Prize drawings will be held the following week, and there are lots of fun prizes. On Thursday, August 17, Ed Lavelle, editor of the Thirteen Towns, will present a special program at the library. He will discuss the history of the paper and highlight favorite stories uncovered during the digitization of issues from 1891-1900. If you are interested in regional history, journalism history, or genealogical research, this is the program for you, and if you just need to get out of the heat, remember that the library is air-conditioned. This program, which is made possible thanks in part to funding from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, is at 2 p.m. You can also stop at the library any time to view old issues of the paper on microfilm. The FCLAA sponsored two successful “Make It to the Lake” events, each one featuring art projects and a picnic supper. These events were held in Lengby with proceeds donated to the Lengby Improvement Club. One of my favorite summer activities is to sit on my deck with a glass of iced tea, reading a good book. If that sounds appealing to you, stop by the library and pick up something to read. Enjoy the lazy days of summer while you can. Just don’t spill iced tea on your library book.

Special Events in July

This year July brings the Fosston All-School Reunion, and at the Sorenson Gallery at the Fosston Community Library and Art Center, the display for the month will feature art from Fosston High School alumni. It should be a fun exhibit. The gallery is open during library hours so if you are here specifically for the reunion, stop in to look and say hello to the librarians while you are there. Sponsored by the FCLAA, but held on the Heritage Center grounds, the Music on the Porch concerts continue throughout the month of July, every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. These free concerts are a great way to spend your Thursday evenings. Bring a chair or grab a spot at one of the picnic tables under the shelter. July’s concerts include Dan Rodriguez on July 6, Steve Turner on the 13th, Sam Miltich and the Clearwater Hot Club on the 20th and Caleigh on the 27th. Most of these artists have played in Fosston before and if you’ve heard them once, I’m sure you want to hear them again. If you haven’t, you are in for a treat. I know Dan Rodriguez has played at the art center previously – Tickets for that performance sold out so fast I didn’t get to hear him. I remember enjoying Steve Turner’s performance last summer on the porch. Originally from Naytahwaush he is now based in Nashville, Tennessee. Sam Miltich is a jazz guitarist. The publicity material says he was born and raised in the woods of northern Minnesota – maybe he will be more specific about that. Caleigh is a Minnesota band with three female musicians who perform a variety of musical styles, including folk, Celtic, bluegrass and American old-time. Express Yourself!, the summer library experience continues through the month, so there is still time for kids up to 18 to track their reading and be eligible for some great prizes at the end of the month. If you are already signed up – keep reading. On Wednesday, July 12, there will be a special presentation by an Itasca State Park naturalist. “It’s Showtime” for the animals. Bright colors, crazy dancing, loud sounds and more – Minnesota animals know how to put on a show. The program is at 2 and will be suitable for all ages.

June, June, June

June, June, June – just because it’s June (to quote the song), there is a great variety of things in the offing at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center. At the library, Express Yourself!, the summer library experience, started June 1. Kids of all ages may track their reading (or listening) on reading logs available at the library to be eligible to win all kinds of great prizes. In addition, there are all sorts of special programs. On Saturday, June 10, at 3 p.m. there will be a special children’s concert by the Grammy-nominated Ralph’s World, a music group created by Ralph Covert. Covert combines rock and roll energy with kid-friendly lyrics. One of his best known songs is “At the Bottom of the Sea.” The library is not usually open Saturday afternoons, but it will be for this special performance. On Wednesday, June 14, there will be an livestreamed drawing class and watch party at 2 p.m. featuring cartoonist Rick Stromoski. Suitable for ages five and up. Drawing materials provided. On Wednesday, June 21, youth ages 11-18 are invited to create a leather keyring. Registration is required for this 2 p.m. class to have materials available for all participants. On Wednesday, June 28, students ages five to eleven are invited to make a live story podcast. Time for this event is also 2 p.m. I wouldn’t have a clue as to how to go about making a podcast, but I’m sure the kids will catch on fast. On Friday, June 30, at 10:30 a.m. there will be a mini-play “The Ant & The Grasshopper.” The performance is intended for ages three to ten but anyone is welcome. On Monday, July 3, or Thursday, June 6, kids are invited to stop by the library to decorate a parade bag – their very own candy catcher. Come any time between 1 and 4 p.m. If you come to the library on the right day, you may get to greet a new employee. Keni Evje will be helping out as a sub. Many of you already know her, as she has lived in Fosston her whole life, except for a short stint in Wisconsin. She was in charge of the elementary school library for 20 years, retiring from that job five years ago. She and her husband Richard have four grown children and nine grandchildren, with one more due soon. She has worked in a variety of jobs, including EMT, nursing home activities , and running a board and care home. She enjoys baking, crafts and, of course, reading. Concerts on the Porch, sponsored by the FCLAA and held at the Heritage Center Grounds, begin Thursday, June 22, with Annie Fitzgerald and Sarah Morris. Singer/songwriters based in the Twin Cities, they performed here last year as did Acoustofiddle, the featured duo for the June 29 concert. Concerts will be held through July. All are free and begin at 7 p.m. The summer theater production, “Bugsy Malone, Jr.” is scheduled for June 27-29 7 p.m. and June 30 at 2. Gallery display during June will be by artist Brea Abrahamson. Sorry, I don’t have much information on her currently. Stop by and be surprised. One final note – the library will be closed on Monday, June 19, in observation of Juneteenth, and on Tuesday, July 4, Independence Day.

May Is Here

May is here, and hopefully winter has had its last hurrah. At the Fosston Community Library Arts Center, we can look forward to several enjoyable activities to usher in spring. On Saturday, May 6, at 11:30 a.m. there will be an artist reception giving everyone a chance to meet photographer Monika Lawrence, whose display “Clearwater Creatives” will be in the Sorenson Gallery until May 17. Stop by to meet her and enjoy some refreshments. On Sunday, May 14, at 3 p.m. plan to come and hear some music. There will be a recital featuring the piano students of Kay Carlsen and the string and guitar students of Jeff Menten. The recital is free and open to the public, and of course, refreshments will be served. The library book club will meet Tuesday, May 9, at 7 p.m. This month’s book is The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner. This memoir by a woman who grew up in a polygamist family in rural Mexico promises to be an interesting read. And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, there will be coffee and goodies. There will be school visits at the library during the month of May to promote the summer reading program Express Yourself, which will run from, June 1 through July 31. Reading logs will be available at the library by the end of this month. There are a limited number of T-shirts available for the first people who turn in a completed reading log, as well as some great prizes at the end of the program, including themed baskets and Fosston Bucks. Sponsors of the program include Fosston Family Dental and Nord’s Pharmacy and Gifts. Tryouts for the summer youth musical, “Bugsy Malone, Jr.” will be held Thursday, May 4, at 3:30 and 6:00. Students entering 3rd grade through 12th grade are eligible. They must be prepared to sing a song from Bugsy or another song of their choice. Performances of the musical will be held June 27-30. E-mail Abby Pearson at abbypearsonmassage@gmail.com for more information. Looking ahead to June, the Music on the Porch concert series will begin June 22. Sponsored by the FCLAA, the concerts are held at the Heritage Park. Look for more information in next month's column.

April Fools?

Mother Nature may be playing an April Fool joke on us –“ Ha, ha, bet you thought it was spring” – but there are some great events coming up at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center Library book club will meet Tuesday, April 11, at 7 p.m. to discuss the book The Lying Game by Ruth Ware. It tells the story of four women who get together 17 years after being asked to leave a boarding school, where they played the lying game, trying to make others believe all sorts of outrageous stories. Mystery – suspense – even some romance, it’s a good read. Come and join us. Saturday, April 22, at 7:00 p.m. The Wildwoods will be in concert at the Arts Center theater. This folk/Americana trio is based in Lincoln, Nebraska, and includes a husband and wife team, Noah and Chloe Gose, as well as bassist Andrew Vaggalis. General admission tickets are available at Nord’s and online at www.fclaa.org. The new exhibit in the Sorenson Gallery is entitled “Clearwater Creatives.” Photographs by Monika Lawrence of Bemidji will feature ten different artists, all of whom live in Clearwater County. Art featuring artists – an interesting concept. This poem I wrote some years ago seems appropriate: Maybe I’ll Write a Poem If I could write a poem about spring, Would it make me feel it were here? WouldI see a flock of robins out there Instead of those hungry deer? Would icicles onthe picnic table Magically all melt away? Instead of white snow would I see green grass Inviting me out to play? I’d like to replace the biting north wind For now with a southerly breeze. By writing of flowers would I forget That daily I’m ready to freeze? Ah, Spring, what a lovely season it is! We know it will come here some day, Not just in my poem, but actually, At least by the end of May.

Winter display in the gallery

Ah, March!

Ah, March – will it mean the end of winter or will the snow and ice linger on into April? I can’t really predict the weather, but I can tell you a few things about the Fosston Community Library Arts Association and what’s new for the month. The newest FCLAA board member is Karen Norland, who grew up in Ankeny, Iowa, which incidentally is in Polk County, Iowa. Norland, who has lived in Fosston since 2003, is married to Mike Norland and has a 13-year-old son, two cats and two dogs. She is a woman of many talents. In addition to having worked as a paramedic for 35 years, currently in Blackduck, she is a yoga instructor and an aromatherapist. Her yoga studio, Junkyard Yoga, is located in The Ginger Junker in McIntosh. She enjoys doing counted cross stitch and distilling her own essential oils, as well as playing the piano and several other musical instruments. In joining the board, she is interested in learning more about the arts in the area, particularly things that are family oriented. The current exhibit in the Sorensen Gallery, “Walk through Winter,” will be coming down (I hope that means the end of winter.) Thanks to everyone who stopped by to view it. A drawing will be held on March 1 to determine the winner of the framed painting. The next display, which will be coming up some time this month, will be work from the Fosston Youth Art students. The library book club will meet Tuesday, March 14, at 7 p.m. This month’s book is The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. I haven’t read it yet, but apparently it’s a mystery and a fantasy involving a doctor who finds he has eight days and eight different incarnations to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. Sounds interesting, to say the least, and the coffee and treats are always good. Bingo for the kids is the first Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. That would be March 1 and April 5. Everyone likes to win prizes. If winter drags on, or even if it doesn’t, stop by the library to pick up a book or two to read, Also, the library has a puzzle exchange, so bring home a jigsaw puzzle as well.

It's February

It’s February, and winter continues with some enjoyable opportunities at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center. Fittingly enough, the exhibit coming up at the Sorenson Gallery is entitled “Winter!” It features photography, painting, mosaic and pottery, all depicting our cold winter days. A winter youth art club series led by Kirby Vossler, began January 29th and will run for five weeks. The classes are open to students in grades 6 through 9, but if there is room, slots will open for older students and adults. There is a charge, but scholarships are available. Email hello@fclaa.org to register. The Book Blizzard reading program continues at the library through the month of February. Pick up a reading log at the library and once you’ve read four books, you may turn it in and you may win a prize. Keep in mind that a book blizzard is much more pleasant than one with snow and wind. If you aren’t sure what you want to read, the library will once again feature the Blind Date with a Book, so you might want to check that out. Book club will meet Tuesday, February 14, at 7 p.m. This month’s book is The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey. I haven’t read it, but any book with the word library in the title must be good. There will be treats. The FCLAA held it annual meeting in January. Officers and directors elected include Abby Pearson, pres.; Barbara Johnson, v. pres.; Joann Papke, sec., Maggie Stewart, treas.; and directors, Jason Steinbrenner, Kirby Vossler, Kate Moore, Mike Mulry, Sarah Steinbrenner, and Karen Norland. There will be Bingo for the kiddos on Wednesday, Feb. 1 after school. That’s always a popular activity. Prizes, you know. On Sunday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. the Arts Center theater will be the location for a special presentation sponsored by the East Polk Heritage Center. Caleb Curfman will speak about “Peddlers Cure-Alls to Secret Liquor Halls.” The presentation is free and open to the public. And – if you want to think about something other than snow during February, there will be a take and make craft available at the library. It is a suncatcher. It is suitable for all ages and free while supplies last.

Nordic textile folk art by Stephanie Anderson