Wood Creations in the Gallery

Sheldon Mattson has a variety of pieces on display.

Harlan Haroldson also works with a variety of styles.

It's August!

It’s August, so hopefully there will soon be ripe tomatoes and sweet corn available – one compensation for summer coming to an end. At the Fosston Community Library Arts Center, the Summer Library Experience is coming to an end, too. If your kids are participating, remind them to get those reading logs turned in by August 10.  The major prize is a Kindle, but there are other prizes as well – books, bears, and even a vintage Twins Bobblehead.

The new display going up in the gallery will feature carved wood art by Sheldon Matson and Harlon Haroldson. They have some beautiful, unique pieces.
As August is a relatively quiet month at the library arts center, you are invited to check out a few good books spend some time relaxing on your porch reading, now before the weather forces everyone indoors and the fall rat race starts up again.
Looking ahead to September, there is an extra special event scheduled for Saturday, September 14. The second annual Farm to Table Fundraiser Dinner will begin with a social hour at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6.
Served under the lights at the East Polk Heritage Center shelter and sponsored by the FCLAA, the four-course meal will feature locally-grown seasonal ingredients and wines from Grape Mill Vineyards & Winery, East Grand Forks.
Minnesota author Amy Thielen from Park Rapids, whose recipes will be used for the meal, will be there to give a presentation and to sign books. She is the author of the cookbook The New Midwestern Table and the memoir Give a Girl a Knife.
Thielen currently lives in rural Park Rapids, her home town, with her husband Aaron Spangler, their son, his dog, a bunch of chickens and a huge vegetable garden. She spent some years in New York City working for several celebrated chefs, but moved back to Minnesota in 2008. She hosted Heartland Table on the Food Network and writes about food for several newspapers and magazines.
Proceeds for this event will benefit the FCLAA Theater Accessibility Project. Reservations are required. For more information, contact Bonnie Stewart (435-6119).

Paintings by Pam

Paintings by Pam Kerssen are currently on display in the Sorenson Gallery.

It's July!

It’s July, and I can tell you at least two things about that month: First, once we hit the Fourth of July summer will be over before we know it, and second, the Fosston Library will be closed on the Fourth.

However, there are several happenings at the Fosston Community Library Art Center during the month. The Summer Library Experience continues until August 10, so pick up a reading log and fill it out for a chance at some great prizes for all ages.

While there will be no special program on July 3, the week of July 8-13 will feature a space-themed scavenger hunt. Come in during library hours, find all the pictures and pick out a prize.

On Wednesday, July 17, at 2 p.m., children are invited to explore the phases of the moon with Oreo cookies, and I would be willing to bet they will get to eat a few too.

On Wednesday, July 24, also at 2 p.m., there will be a special performance by the Everett Smithson Band, playing music familiar to the Mississippi River region, including rockabilly, blues and more. Plus, a short harmonica lesson with free harmonicas for children will be offered after the show. This event, which will probably appeal to adults as well as children, is offered free of charge thanks to funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

During the week of July 29-August 3, children are invited to visit the library any time to learn about the planets and to create their own planet using a paper lantern and watercolor paints.

The library has a new employee, Caese Haroldson, who will be working part-time as a library assistant. Caese, who grew up in Fosston and graduated from Fosston High School, lived in the Twin Cities for 20 years and moved back to her hometown a couple of years ago. She is the daughter of Sandy and Harlan Haroldson. She worked as a nanny for 16 years and now works as a paraprofessional at the Fosston school. In addition to that, she has a photography business. She is a busy lady, and says that so far, she loves working at the library.

The new gallery exhibit for July will feature Fosston artist Pam Kerssen. Her colorful acrylics include both landscape and still life paintings and maybe a few others as well. Watch for information about an artist reception for Pam.

Deedee Narum's mosaics in gallery

Mosaics made with stained glass pieces - colorful and beautiful

Because it's June. . .

June – and one can finally leave the house without putting on a jacket. Summer must be here, and at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center, the Summer Library Experience began on June 1.

Pre-readers and readers of all ages (including adults) are invited to pick up a reading log and keep track of the books they read as well as some other library experiences for chances to win some great prizes. Also (this is just for the kids) find the hidden owl and pick a prize from the treasure chest. The owl moves around from week to week, so come back often.

In addition, there will be special space-themed programs each Wednesday at 2 p.m. On June 12, a naturalist from Itasca State Park will share star stories. For thousands of years, people have grouped stars into patterns called constellations and told stories about them. Here’s your chance to learn about them.

On June 19, the Headwaters Science Center of Bemidji will bring its Starlab inflatable planetarium. Those in attendance can watch stars, constellations and planets as they appear in the night sky, without staying up past your bedtime.

Continuing the space theme on June 26, Cheryl Winkelmann will demonstrate decorating alien cupcakes and launching straw rockets. Cheryl’s food-based crafts are always a big hit.

Preschool storytime will be held every other week this summer on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. Dates in June are the 14^th and the 28^th.

The big event for June is the Fosston Community Children’s Theater production of Mary Poppins, Jr. on Thursday and Friday, June 27 and 28, at 7 p.m. Directed by Abby Pearson, the musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International which also supplies all authorized performance materials. You have probably seen the Walt Disney film and maybe even have read the book by P.L. Travers. Using a combination of magic and common sense, everyone’s favorite nanny, Mary Poppins, has lessons for all of us. Now you can see a live performance by area young people. Tickets are available at Generations Clothing in Fosston.

On display in the Sorenson Gallery during June will be mosaics by DeeDee Narum. Watch for an announcement about a reception for DeeDee some time during the month.

 

We Welcome May

After a long, hard winter, I think most everyone is happy to see the calendar turn to May. I’m starting to see a little green grass, and before the month is over, we should have leaves on the trees. However, whatever the weather, I know there are some enjoyable events scheduled at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center.

May means recitals by the music students who have been working so diligently since last September. Now is the time for them to show what they have learned. Two recitals are coming up. On Sunday, May 5, the piano students of Molly Peltier and the piano students of Dwana Carroll will perform. On Sunday, May 12, Jeff Menton’s string students will have their turn, along with my piano students. Both programs are scheduled for 7 p.m. and are open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
On Thursday, May 2, there will be a reception at 7 p.m. for the artists and businesses taking part in the Spring Art Crawl. The public is invited to meet the artists, enjoy some refreshments and see the current gallery exhibit “Abigail & Audrey.” In other gallery news, the show going up in May will feature FCLAA’s in-house collection of vintage photographs.
The library book club will meet Tuesday, May 14, at 7 p.m. to discuss Any DreamWill Do by Debbie Macomber. I haven’t started reading it yet, but it is described as “the story of a woman who is forced to start her life over after finding herself in a dangerous situation.” There are always coffee and goodies as well as some interesting discussions.
Writers’ group will meet on Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m., then will probably take a break for the summer months. New members are always welcome.
Looking ahead to June, the theme for the summer library experience this year is “Explore!” Once again there will be special programs every Wednesday at 2 p.m. The kickoff on Wednesday, June 5, will blast off with a chance to learn about rockets and even launch one. Once again there will be prizes given away at the end of the summer. The big one this year is a Kindle.
Just a reminder: The library will be closed on Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day.