“The Music Nut,” a ceramic sculpture by Tami Resler
I AM A PERSON WHO DELIGHTS in art, like the devoted sports fan loyal to a team.
“The Music Man,” oil on canvas by Dana Hanson
Perhaps it is the absence of access to the arts in my formative years that causes me to so appreciate art today. I can’t recall ever visiting an art gallery while growing up in rural southwestern Minnesota. If there were any galleries, I was unaware. Art, for me, was limited to school art projects. Life was about the basics, not the arts.
“Central Park Notes,” oil on canvas by Pat Johnson
I especially celebrate occasions when the arts are brought to folks in an unpretentious way. For years, Faribault, my home of 33 years some 120 miles from my prairie hometown, has offered free weekly outdoor summer concerts in Central Park. This year, visual art was added, much to my delight. It’s important, I think, to expose people to art in a relaxed setting, where they feel comfortable approaching artists, watching them create and asking questions.
A snippet of Linda Van Lear’s “Girl & Violin” watercolor pencil
Local artists set up their easels, pulled out their supplies and created music-themed art as musicians performed. It was perfect, this melding of music and art in the park.
A poster posted at the initial exhibit.
And then, to honor the participating artists, a several-day “Nature of Music” exhibit was staged in a connecting space between the library and community center to showcase selected pieces. I missed that event. But the en plein air art will be exhibited again, this time from September 22 – November 10 in the Lois Vranesh Boardroom Gallery at the Paradise Center for the Arts in historic downtown Faribault. An artists’ reception is slated for 5 – 7 p.m. on Friday, September 25. Other gallery openings are also set for that evening.
This shows one of the many faces in Irina Mikhaylova’s “Faces in the Crowd,” done in soft pastels.
The Paradise is a wonderful center for the arts. Sometimes I can’t believe how lucky I am to live in a community with an arts center and a library. You see, I also grew up in a town without a library…although today Vesta has a Little Free Library.
“At the Bandshell” in soft pastels by Barbara Bruns
Murphy’s face in “Murphy at Central Park,” acrylic on hardboard by Julie Fakler
A section of Nicole Volk’s “Camelot Calls,” inktense on watercolor paper
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Artwork was photographed with permission of Jeff Jarvis, Faribault Park & Rec Enrichment & Communications Coordinator, who organized the en plein air program.
Note that unavoidable glare on glass shows up on some of the photos. That is the reason I sometimes did not photograph an entire work of art. But sometimes I wanted only to show you a snippet peek at the entire piece.
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Very COOL))
You make your city Proud, darling!!! xx
Love from Duluth.
Ah, thank you, Kim.
Love Murphy!!!!!! And you had me with that ‘music nut’! The schools I attended considered art/music as part of the basics so field trips to various galleries were common along with the ballet and opera. It was awesome!!!
Wow, you had a great, well-rounded education. Not that I didn’t have art classes. But there simply were not performing arts like ballet and opera or visual arts centers or theatres in southwestern Minnesota where I grew up. I always wanted to play piano or an instrument. But there was no money for lessons or instruments, although my younger siblings were able to participate in band.
I’m so thankful for all the opportunities I had for such! My mom played piano and believed we kids should, also. My youngest brother became quite adept and, once married and having his own children, purchased a piano and saw to it they had lessons. Money was very tight but somehow it was there for our lessons.
How wonderful that your mom passed her love of music on to her children.
What was really neat is I was able to take lessons from a teacher she had many years prior (Dixie-land jazz……great teacher!!!!!)!!!!!
Now that’s a cool connection.
I’m glad I was old enough (high school age) to grasp how very special it was!!!!!!!
Nice variety of work there!
I agree. It’s fun to see how the various artists took the challenge and created distinct works of art.
Great pictures. And people say the Midwestern states are only fly over states. They don’t know what they are missing.
That’s right.
I can appreciate art, and enjoy the diverse mediums people use to express themselves. My Son Brice is an artist, he studied at the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul. Sadly after 100 years, the college closed it’s doors 2 years ago due to the economy and costs. I’m so glad Brice attended there, he learned so much and the college is the reason he is, were he is today. Back to your photo’s, I really liked “the music nut”, he’s adorable…those eyes 🙂
Sounds like Brice got a great education. You definitely have those artist genes, too, with your photography.
I was blessed with parents who appreciated all forms of art and exposed me to it at an early age. I still love it in all forms –music, paintings, pottery, every little bit and piece of it makes me smile and appreciate the artist as well. Wonderful that this is available for residents to enjoy.
You’re right. That was a blessing. I think for me it was more about lack of the arts in the rural area where I grew up.
That makes perfect sense.