Calendar of Events

Blank Canvas Gallery Revisited art show

Blank Canvas Gallery (BCG) artists determined that June 2020 would be an excellent opportunity for a BCG 10-year Reunion Art Show. Planning included numerous artists with new exhibits to be held at the Armory Arts and Event Center based on the significant progress in developing that venue. Meanwhile, we all struggle to maintain a safe and healthy life knowing adjustments are necessary to protect ourselves, our family, our friends, our neighbors.BCG plans are intact – just paused. A show will proceed when appropriate. Watch for the 11-year BCG Reunion announcement. Thanks to all patrons for their continued support.

Park Rapids Sculpture Trail unveiling

The City of Park Rapids and Park Rapids Arts and Culture Commission invite the public to an unveiling and tour of the Park Rapids Sculpture Trail at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27. The event will start at Red Bridge Park and end in Downtown Park Rapids where six additional artworks will be installed this year. Ten new sculptures have been selected and will remain in place for a year. This year's artists and titles of their works are: Paul Albright, Akeley, Leaf Chair #9 and Red Cedar Portal; Al Bellevue, Puposky, MR. Rocket; Tim Cassidy, New York Mills, Dimetromorph; Barb Christiansen, Ponsford, Rocky Road; Mark V. Hall, Kasota, Sprout and Shard; Tim Nelsen, Bemidji, Sprocket; James and Ryan Pedersen, Walker, and Simon Zornes, Bagley, Turtle and 13 Moons. The artists will be invited to the ceremonies to talk about their work and answer questions. One sculpture, Sunrise by Patrick Shannon of Vergas, will carry over for another year and has been relocated from Red Bridge Park to Downtown. This year's sponsors are CHI St. Joseph's Health, Heartland Arts, Klein Insurance, Northview Bank, Northwoods Bank, Park Rapids Downtown Business Association, Park Rapids Rotary Club, Russel Skoe Family Trust, Thelen’s Excavating & Septic and Thielen Motors.

Nemeth Art Center opens

The Nemeth Art Center gallery season will open Thursday, July 9 with the exciting group show: Of Course, Where Else, curated by gallery director Tessa Beck. Tessa has brought together a multimedia exhibit with the work of five exceptional artists from Minnesota and North Dakota: Meghan Duda – photography; Amber Fletschock – collage; Alonzo Pantoja – weaving and installation; Galilee Peaches – painting and drawing; Lauren Roche – painting. Shown collectively throughout the entire gallery, the artists' work covering a wide range of subjects will engage audiences in a conversation about landscapes of the body and the embodied histories they encounter in the social realm. The show will also explore how an upper-midwestern sense of place influences individual expression. The Nemeth Art Center is located in the Historic Hubbard County Courthouse at 301 Court Avenue in Park Rapids. All exhibits are free and open to the public through September. Open hours are Thursdays-Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please visit www.nemethartcenter.org.

Evening Under the Pines at Itasca State Park: Northern Bass

When events resume at Itasca State Park they will be held at the NEW Lake Itasca Amphitheater (near the swim beach in the picnic grounds). Northern Bass is scheduled to play from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 26. Northern Bass entertains a variety of music from the '30s through the '70s. From Pop, Rock, Instrumentals, Jazz and Standards, Louise, Mike and Dan combine their unique style with familiar tunes from the past. Louise plays keyboard, bass keyboard and sings. She has experience in many musical endeavors including working as a Woodtick Musical Theatre band member and a public school music teacher. Mike, an experienced drummer and singer, is involved with a number of musical groups and has been a touring musician. He is a master of providing playing styles from simple surf beats to complex jazz rhythms. Dan plays guitar and sings. He has been a member of a variety of musical groups and trios covering styles from instrumental surf to acoustic Bluegrass. The group performs together to have fun, so please come out and have some fun with Northern Bass. The concert will be held inside Forest Inn if it rains.

Nemeth Art Center Artists Reception

A reception for the artists involved in the Of Course, Where Else exhibit is planned Saturday, Aug. 22, conditions permitting. Audiences will have a chance to absorb the work and ask questions directly of the artists about their work and their process. In addition, several of the artists will host arts workshops, either in-person or via online link. Please check back for details as NAC adjusts its schedule to the fluid circumstances of the pandemic. The Nemeth Art Center is located in the Historic Hubbard County Courthouse at 301 Court Avenue in Park Rapids. All exhibits are free and open to the public through September. Open hours are Thursdays-Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please visit www.nemethartcenter.org.

Art Leap - Annual Driving Tour

Planning is under way for Art Leap 2020, a driving tour of artists' studios and other cultural destinations. This year's event will feature several new sites and artists as well as some familiar studios. Visitors can expect some guidelines will be in place to keep themselves and artists safe and healthy. Please check back for more details. This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Heartland Concert Association: Seeger to Springsteen

The Heartland Concert Association invites you to hear Seeger to Springsteen, the music you grew up with, at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 24 at the Park Rapids Area High School Auditorium. Husband and wife duo Max and Darcy Demers will invite the audience to sing along during the program. This concert opens the HCA 2020-2021 season. Season ticket information will be available at Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery, Park Rapids; Northwoods Cafe, Nevis; and Thrifty White Drug, Walker. Tickets also may be purchased at the door. For more information, visit heartlandconcertassociation.org and visit HCA on Facebook