April 3 - April 28 in Gallery II

community art show - manga theme

in Gallery II

Artwork submitted by community members of all ages will adorn the walls in Gallery II during the month of April. The theme for this show is manga or anime art. The art will be juried by members of the James Board of Directors with 1st Place, 2nd Place and Best of Show winners in both adult and youth categories. The Best of Show winners will also be awarded a $50 cash prize.

A Reception will be held on thursday, april 13th, from 7 - 8:30 PM. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

March 6 - March 31

ND museum of art RURAL ARTS INITIATIVE

"uff-da: the folkart of emily lunde”

in Gallery I & II

Emily Wilhelmina Dufke Lunde was born in northern Minnesota and, as she says, "with a handle like that you had to have a sense of humor." Laurel Reuter, Director of the Museum says of this North Dakota folk artist: "Were the people of North Dakota to name their living treasures, Emily Lunde would certainly be among them. She is one of the state's eminent folk artists and unofficial cultural historians." As both artist and author, Mrs. Lunde has recorded the life of Scandinavian immigrants settling the prairies and small towns of the Red River Valley during the early 20th century.

Mrs. Lunde did not begin to paint until the 1950s and always painted from memory. Her oils are widely collected. Dr. Robert Bishop, the late Director of the Museum of American Folk Art in New York City, personally gave over forty of her paintings to the Art in Embassies program for loan around the world.

 

I amaze myself when I think about what I was doing at the time. I was between five and ten years old when I perceived these things that went into my paintings. I was analyzing the adults. I guess you can't fool children as much as you want to.

—      Emily Lunde

  

Rural Arts Initiative

The North Dakota Museum of Art is the State’s official art museum. As it is located in Grand Forks, it can be difficult for schools to plan day trips to the Museum. Due to the great distances some schools face, the Museum started touring exhibitions to towns throughout North Dakota through its Rural Arts Initiative program, which started in 2003. Since then, exhibitions have been installed in all corners of North Dakota, including smaller towns such as Crosby, Pekin, and Bowman, and larger cities such as Jamestown, Fargo, and Bismarck. The Museum’s Education Department delivers, installs, and de-installs exhibitions of original artwork free-of-charge to North Dakota communities.

 

A Primary goal of the Museum’s Rural Arts Initiative program is to provide North Dakota schools with quality arts education opportunities. The Museum works with community members to bring schools within a 50 to 60-mile radius of the exhibition site to participate in this unique arts education program. To assist schools with out-of-pocket expenses, the Museum offers travel reimbursements for North Dakota schools wishing to participate. Lesson plans and activities are also available for free download on the Museum’s website.

  

A Reception will be held on Friday, MARCH 31ST, from 7 - 8:30 PM. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

March 24 - 26

WILLISTON AREA WOODWORKERS CLUB

in Gallery II

STOP IN THE WEEKEND OF mARCH 24-26 TO VIEW THE CLUB’S BEAUTIFULLY HANDCRAFTED ITEMS.

FRIDAY 10 AM - 7 PM, SATURDAY 10 AM - 7 PM, SUNDAY NOON - 4 PM

January 30th - March 3rd

Lee Silliman

"Homestead Fever: Celebrating the Early Settlers of the High Plains"

in Gallery I & II

The James Memorial Art Center is proud to present “Lee Silliman - Homestead Fever: Celebrating the Early Settlers of The High Plains”. The exhibit will feature the photographic work of renowned educator, photographer, and archivist, Lee Silliman. This beautiful exhibit features black and white photographs of the remnants of Montana’s Homestead Era of the early 20th century. The exhibition will open on Monday, January 30th.

The settlers who advanced upon the northern high plains struggled to establish homesteads in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The lure of owning land at minimal cost - but at great labor - was forcefully enticing. In the face of formidable odds against them, including drought, wind, cold, remoteness, and primitive tools, these determined people established homes, plated fields and gardens, and raised livestock. Climatic conditions and economic forces often conspired against them. Many persevered, and many sold out and moved on. 

“As a former resident of Montana’s Judith Basin, I have long admired these stalwart people. Recently I have returned with my 8x10” view camera to record their rapidly diminishing remnants. Their abandoned structures and rusting machinery, set against the immensity of sky and land, evoke in me a profound respect for their courage and resiliency. May these images honor their frontier spirit.” - Lee Silliman

This exhibit consists of black & white contact print photographs taken by Lee Silliman with his 8 x 10 inch view camera over six years in Central Montana. The exhibit presents views of long abandoned homestead dwellings, aging barns, old machinery like combines, tractors and road graders, school buildings, horse collars and tack still hanging in sheds, vintage trucks, wooden grain wagons, and old grain elevators.  These photographs were taken thanks to many private landowners who gave permission to record homesteading era remnants on their property.  The exhibit includes quotation panels which relate the historical context of the times.

An Opening Reception will be held on Friday, February 3rd, from 7 - 8:30 PM. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.