Dakota Prairie Quilt Guild's "Harvest of Quilts"

During the month of September, the Dakota Prairie Quilt Guild will hold a quilt show with featured quilter, Ellen Harris. In Gallery I, the quilts will be on display from September 1-29 and in Gallery II, the quilts will be on display from the 1-9 of September. These are all handmade and will be all different types and sizes of quilts on display. Come check out these handmade beauties while you can!   

The Dakota Prairie Quilt Guild’s Artist Reception scheduled for  September 25th has been canceled due to new Covid-19 restrictions and guidelines put in place by Williams County. A smaller Artist Reception may take place in the future so people still have the chance to chat with featured quilter, Ellen Harris. Thank you for your understanding during these uncertain times.

Avis Veikley's "Of This Place"

Avis Veikley’s “Of This Place”

Avis writes, “This collection of paintings is about the quiet “empty” spaces of North Dakota—-the land and sky—-and indirectly, it’s people. There are no humans in these images, but we see them in the working of the land, the occasional building, the rowed trees, a fence line. They, too, have been slow, patient shapers of the landscape, like the glaciers, the wind, the rain, and the frost cycles.”

“For a few years I have been toying with the idea of painting a scene from each of North Dakota’s 53 counties, as a way of expressing my “sense of place.” It’s a bigger project than I expected, and I have only just begun. In preparing this body of work, I began a wandering of the back roads of the state, and shooting reference photos and gradually expanding my “country list.” I can’t even say at this point what my county score is—I keep getting lost.”

BIO:

Avis Veikley served as Director of the Northwest Art Center at Minot State University from 2006 until 2018. She is an adjunct instructor in the MSU Music Division, teaching percussion and assisting with the MSU Marching Band, and choir director at the Minot Congregational United Church of Christ.

Veikley received her BS degree in Music and Art from Minot State University, and Master of Music from Northern Illinois University at DeKalb. She worked as a graphic designer with Lowe’s Printing in Minot for over 20 years. Veikley has studied painting and drawing at the Woodstock School of Art in Woodstock, NY, Art Students League of New York, Art Students League of Denver, and in numerous workshops. She grew up on her grandfather’s homestead near Glenburn, ND, and continues to be a partner in the family farm with her three nephews.

Avis Veikley’s “Of This Place” will be on display in Gallery I at the James Memorial Art Center until August 28th. The James is hosting an Artist Reception on Friday, August 7th from 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm. Come chat with Avis and other art enthusiasts. Free and open to the public.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

WAVA's exhibit entitled, "Inspired Visions" in Gallery I & Bill Lord's exhibit entitled, "Prairie Rose"

   Williston Area Visual Artists “Inspired Visions” & Bill Lord’s “Prairie Rose” exhibits at the James in July

Stop into the James during the month of July to view WAVA’s (Williston Area Visual Artists) exhibit entitled, “Inspired Visions” in Gallery I and Bill Lord’s exhibit entitled, “Prairie Rose” in Gallery II. Both exhibits are on display throughout the month of July. WAVA’s exhibit is filled with different artist’s work from area artists who work with different mediums and Bill Lord’s exhibit is his Photography works. There will not be an Artist Reception for the month of July per the artists’ request. Gallery admission is always free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 9am-2pm and Fridays, 1-5pm.

WAVA(Williston Area Visual Artists) Mission Statement:

The purpose of the Williston Area Visual Artists(WAVA) is to provide a nurturing and supportive environment by which artists feel inspired and encouraged to pursue the arts in carious mediums. The organization does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, handicap, nationality or any other ethnic origin, in the processes of administration or any of its action or functions.

WAVA’s Member Challenge to reproduce a 12” x 12” piece of artwork in the member’s own medium and style. When all finished, it was assembled to complete one piece of art(picture shown here). Inspiration from “Melody of the Night” by Leonid Afremov

Bill Lord’s Artist Statement/Bio on “Prairie Rose”:

“I’ve Spent my entire life in NE Montana but I was born in Williston, because Plentywood was between doctors at the time. I was the neighborhood kid with the camera when I was growing up. I took over the family ranch in 1972 and farmed ad ranched until 2015 when my son took over. Rose was my Ranching partner from 1979 until we retired. I bought my first of many SLR’s in 1973 and have been photographing the ranch, the prairie, and the people of the area ever since. I’ve used many cameras, SLR’s and point and shoots(pocket cameras)and many types of film. A lot of my portraits were done with point and shoots (my favorite was the Leica Mini-Lux) because i carried one most of the time, The prairie was hard to put on film, then I started taking photos of Rose and she turned the prairie into a true thing of beauty. She was the artist and i just did the mechanics. I especially loved the Black and Whites because because the were so forgiving. I now shoot digital and love it but for me the photos taken with film had a feeling that’s hard to get with the digital. The oil boom in the Williston Basin was, and still is, a wonderful opportunity for photography.

A piece from Bill Lord’s exhibit, “Prairie Rose”

James Memorial Preservation Society's Board of Director's show

The JMPS’s Board of Directors is happy to present their exhibit, on display at the James March 1st until March 18th. Each member of the board has a special connection to some form of art, be it photography, painting, writing, mixed media, and more. The show will consist of works of art from members currently serving on the board. The Board of Directors are happy to share their artistic talents with the community. You can even purchase some of the work!

Miranda Merritt’s “Gerald”

Mitch Melberg’s “Sunflowers”

Deana Novak’s “Llama” “Sloth” & “Narwhal”

Andrea Placher’s “Triumphant”