Annual art show planned

Now, the art society has grown to the point where it can offer an annual art show, scheduled this year for Dec. 6 at the Coffee Landing in International Falls.

And on Saturday, an Arts Crafts, Edibles & Collectibles event will be conducted with a Soup & Sandwich Supper and Festival of Trees Silent Auction. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Backus Community Center.

The annual art show is an opportunity for nearly 40 artist members to exhibit their work at one special event. The Coffee Landing backroom will exhibit paintings from watercolors to mosaics and acrylics.

Refreshments will be offered and handmade ceramics, including sculpting, molds, clay jewelry and pots and glass slumping work will be displayed. Hand-crafted greeting cards made by Adele McDonald will also be available.

“For a small town we are doing a lot of things,” said Kay Arnold, vice chairperson of the Northland Art Society.

A “blue dot raffle” will allow guests at the show to buy chances to purchase specially marked works that reach values of $100.

The art society artwork is on display at the Backus Community Center, the Falls Public Library, the Coffee Landing, Giovanni’s, and Border State Bank. Art society members also change out wall paintings at the Falls Memorial Hospital and International Falls Good Samaritan Center each month.

Starting in a local garage, the small arts organization maintained itself and expanded to 48 members around 1995. The art society moved into the Backus Community Center’s Room 114 in 2002. Shirley Kocinski, who is now in her 80s, is the only surviving founding member.

The former high school arts room at Backus is perfect for the art society, members say. There is plenty of room for projects, storage and space to work.

“It’s nice not to have to do the hauling back and forth,” said Arnold of its previous location.

Artists from beginner to professional are invited to join the organization. A $50 annual fee helps to pay the Backus rent and includes use of the art room. There are separate kilning fees to help cover the electricity and maintenance.

“That has been a asset for us to have space for two kilns, two potters wheels and workshops,” said Arnold.

The art society organizes workshops for all types of arts and crafts, from watercolor and oils to abstract painting and horsehair pottery. The art room is open Tuesdays and Thursdays for work, discussions and critiques.

The artists meet monthly in addition to individual project work. Artists bring their own materials, but collaborate on bulk rates for porcelain, sandy clay, red clay and other commonly used materials.

“A lot of people work in the day and will come in the evening or when they have a day off,” Arnold added. “But every Tuesday there is someone there all day.”

Barb Gray, society chairwoman, said she is thrilled with the arts group. In her 25 years of membership, she said she has watched the collective draw people that are interested in contributing and tends to be more cooperative than other groups of its type and size.

“It’s a really good group,” said Gray.

With more schools dropping arts, music and theater programs, art society members say it becomes more important to support summer youth arts programs in collaboration with theater and other projects.

The art society awards $200 scholarships to graduating seniors with an interest in arts at Indus, Littlefork, Northome and the Falls high schools.

“With all of this work going on we are still working together to do something for the kids,” said Arnold.

The art society also organizes an arts and crafts area during the International Falls Bass Championship in July and presents an Autumn Arts Fest with the Backus and Northern Lights Quilters Guild.

For more information contact Barb Gray at 278-4341 or the Coffee Landing at 283-8316.