In the Sorenson Gallery

 

Paintings by Ta-Coumba

 

 

And Now It's November

November is here, although we seem to have had November weather through most of October. Does that mean we will have October’s bright blue weather in November?  Probably not, but we can hope. At any rate there are some exciting events scheduled at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center.

The musical Annie is in rehearsal, with four performance scheduled for the end of the month. Show times are 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29, and Friday, Nov. 30. On Saturday, December 1, there will be a 2 p.m. matinee and well as a 7 p.m. performance. Tickets are available at Generations Clothing, downtown Fosston.

There will be a new exhibit going up in the Sorenson Gallery with artistic works by Ta-Coumba, a Twin Cities artist, arts administrator, educator and community activist who focuses on public art and collaborative projects. His works can be found in public and private collections including those of the Walker Art Center, General Mills, and Maya Angelou. In the 1990s he visited Fosston, where he worked with local art students to create the mural depicting the history of Fosston. The mural can still be seen on the side of the building west of the stoplight on Highway 2. It will be interesting to see what he will display in a smaller space.

Book club will meet Tuesday, November 13, at 7 p.m. to discuss The Dry by Jane Harper. A small town in Australia hides big secrets. There will be coffee and goodies and some good discussion.

Adult coloring club will meet November 25, at 6:30 p.m. Coloring sheets, colored pencils and gel pens will be provided.

Also on November 25, writers’ group will meet at 7:30 p.m. If you have been meaning to jot down your memories for your family, or if you feel that you are destined to write the great American novel, coming to this group might be just the motivation you need. Bring a sample of you writing to share or just come and see what it’s all about.

The October used book sale went well, bringing in nearly $800 to be used for library programming. If you missed it, there will continue to be a smaller on-going  sale at the library.

The library will be closed on Monday, Nov. 12, in observance of Veteran’s Day. (And I know Veteran’s Day is really November 11.) It will also be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, and will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21.

October is here!

Once again October is here – often a pleasant month if we don’t think too often about what comes next. The Fosston Community Library Arts Center has plenty of activity going on this month to keep your mind off the w-word and the s-word.

Once again, the used book sale will be going on in the basement with books, magazines, DVDs and CDs. Nothing costs more than a dollar, and proceeds are used for library programing. If you need to do a little purging at home before you buy more books, donations of new and gently used items will be accepted until mid-month.

There are a couple of concerts coming up this month. On Friday, Oct. 5, at 6:30 p.m., The Lacewings, an acoustic duo from Minneapolis, will perform folk music interwoven with stories of some of Minnesota’s immigrant.  On Sunday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m., Arna Rennan will perform Norwegian ballads from the Middle Ages, singing and playing the langeleik and the overtone flute. Both concerts are free, thanks to funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Book club will be meeting Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. to discuss Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. I haven’t read it yet and it suspect it might be one that I wouldn’t have read except for book club. There is always a good discussion, as well as coffee and goodies.

On Thursday, Oct. 11, Fosston’s Fall Art Crawl will take place from 3-7 p.m. at various sites. The event will conclude with a reception at the Sorenson Gallery at 7 for all artists and the public.

Writers’ group will meet Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. New members are always welcome with or without a sample of writing to share.

Coloring club meets Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 6:30 p.m. Coloring sheets, colored pencils and gel pens are provided.

Family Fun time is scheduled for Wednesdays and 3:30 p.m. There will be games, puzzles, crafts, movies and more. (No Family Fun Time on Oct. 1 or Oct. 17.

Just a couple more things:

The winner of the tent for the summer reading experience was Quinten Lundell.

Also, the library will be closed on Monday, Oct. 8, for Staff Training.

Lynette Ross photography

September Days

The days may grow short when we reach September, but at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center, those short days are packed with plenty of activity.

School is starting, and music lesson will be resuming at the arts center. There will be an additional piano instructor this year. D’wana Carroll will be available with lessons for beginners and intermediate students. D’wana, who lives in Erskine, has played piano since she was five and has given lessons in a variety of places, most recently the Win-E-Mac school. She is a graduate of North Central University in Minneapolis with a B.S. degree in music and religious education. Her phone number is : 612-670-4522; email: dwana.carroll@gmail.com  Other instructors available for lessons are Jeff Menten, (violin, viola, cello, mandolin, upright bass and guitar)  218-255-0087 or jeffmentenmusic@hotmail.com; Kay Carlsen (piano) - aagekay@gvtel.com or 435-6710; and  Molly Peltier (piano and flute) mkcrane@gmail.com or 435-1200.

If you are interested in lessons for your child or for yourself, there will be an open house on Sunday, September 9, 3-5 p.m. Come and meet the instructors, sign up for lessons and enjoy some refreshments. If you can’t make the open house, feel free to contact the instructors directly.

The photography of Lynette Ross is currently on display at the Sorenson Gallery. There will be an artist’s reception for Lynette on Thursday, September 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Potter Tom Daly of Bemidji will be having an exhibit in the gallery beginning Sept. 24. Daly came to Bemidji from Rochester in the mid-80s to study art at BSU. He teaches pottery at the Headwaters School of Music and the Arts.

On Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. there will be a special program at the library entitled “A Minnesota Love Story.” Come hear how two teenagers, parted during the 50s because of an unplanned pregnancy, reconnected years later and how they found their long-lost birth daughter.

September also brings the resumption of book club on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. The book is Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. It’s the story of two families changed by a heartbreaking injustice.

Writers’ group will meet on Tuesday, September 25, at 7:30 p.m. If you haven’t been there, don’t be intimidated. Feel free to visit and see what goes on, and if you wish to share a sample of your writing, that’s okay too. That same evening at 6:30, the adult coloring group will meet so perhaps you want to check that out and then stay for writers’ group.
Family Fun Time will resume in September with Legos, bingo, puzzles, games and crafts. Children under the age of seven must be accompanied by a responsible caregiver age 12 or older

Art of Ric Sorenson and Fosston High School Alumni

Painting by Valerie Heide Martine, Class of 79

Work by Ric Sorenson

Work by Ric Sorenson

July starts with a bang!

July starts with a bang this year, with the Fourth of July followed by Fosston’s all-school reunion. The Sorenson Gallery at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center will be featuring works by long-time Fosston art teacher Ric Sorenson this month, and hopefully works by some Fosston High School Alumni as well. If you are in Fosston for the reunion, be sure to stop by the art center while you’re here.

Later in the month, July 27-29, area children will present “Shrek the Musical JR,” Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The family-friendly musical comedy follows the adventures of an ogre named Shrek who sets off on a quest to save a princess from a dragon. However, it turns out that to ultimately succeed, Shrek must battle an even bigger obstacle: learning how to believe in himself and open his heart to others. Watch for ticket information. It should be a fun performance.

Special programs in conjunction with Explore Summer Library Experience continue through July, although there will be no program on July 4, as the library will be closed. However, look for these fun events each Wednesday at 2 p.m.:

 Learn about Minnesota on July 11 with stories about our state and a chance to play Minnesota Bingo.

Explore Dance on July 16. Dance with Angie as she teaches a few moves. Enjoy the music and have fun while you exercise.

Explore Camping with the Boy Scouts on July 25. Boy Scouts will demonstrate knots, campfire building, and other camping related activities.

Summer Library Experience Finale will be held August 1 with a water balloon fest and a chance to make your own sundae.

Children are reminded to turn in their reading logs to be eligible to win the tent that is set up at the library. For more information, contact your librarian.

Remember, adults can also participate in the Summer Reading Experience. I don’t think they can win the tent, but there are prizes for them too. There is still time to read four books or complete three other challenges.