The White Birch Artists are kicking off Art Leap 2009 with a reception from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the Park Rapids Area Library.
Talking Stick, Volume 18, Common Threads, officially releases at a weekend party.
IF I DIDN’T ALREADY have a jam-packed weekend and I lived closer to the Park Rapids area, I would certainly consider heading north this weekend for Art Leap 2009, a driving tour of artists’ studios and other cultural destinations.
That’s according to info I gleaned from www.parkrapids.com, where you can find details about the Sept. 26 – 27 event. Unless otherwise noted, hours are 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Bemidji artist Al Belleveau tipped me off today to this arts tour. Bemidji has a First City of Arts: Studio Cruise set for Oct. 16 – 18.
Autumn arts tours seem to be growing in popularity in Minnesota. We have one coming up in the Faribault area (Southcentral Minnesota Studio Art Tour, Oct. 24 – 25) and there’s one in southwestern Minnesota (Meander, Upper Minnesota River Art Crawl, Oct. 2 – 4). And that’s a good thing. What a perfect mix—driving through our beautiful state to view the fall colors and stopping along the way to visit with artists or take in a performance.
The Park Rapids Area Arts Council is sponsoring Art Leap 2009, a tour that leads visitors to places like Menahga, Forestedge Winery & Gallery, Stoney Lake, Nevis, the Long Lake Theater, Park Rapids and Strawberry Lake Corner. I love the folksy sound of that name, Strawberry Lake Corner.
No matter your artistic bend, you’re sure to find a medium of interest, like woodcuts, pottery, stoneware, weaving, jewelry, batik, photography and much more, not to mention live theatrical and musical performances and poetry readings.
The Jackpine Writers’ Bloc is also hosting a book release party on Saturday, Sept. 26, in Park Rapids for The Talking Stick, Volume Eighteen, Common Threads. This literary journal features a collection of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction from some of Minnesota’s most gifted writers. I haven’t read volume 18 yet, but volume 17 has made me a fan of this outstanding anthology. Check it out at www.thetalkingstick.com or www.jackpinewriters.com.
That said, if you’re free this weekend, head to the Park Rapids area for a little culture.
Henry Schoolcraft's poetic words in stone at the Itasca State Park interpretative center. Click on the photo to enlarge. The Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center is on this weekend's Art Leap 2009 tour.
A Native American doll for sale at the Itasca State Park gift shop. Native American crafts, foods and more are featured in the Art Leap 2009 tour and can be seen at Strawberry Lake Corner this weekend.
(Watch upcoming blogs for more info about Minnesota art tours.)
© Copyright 2009 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
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