The First Friday Art Walk supports both the artists and businesses of Bemidji’s downtown community by providing a festive self-guided walking tour featuring an average of 8 artist receptions each month throughout downtown Bemidji’s restaurants, libraries, schools, and businesses. Watermark Art Center is the anchor exhibitor of the First Friday Art Walk, as well as its media liaison.
An estimated 100 people are out each month during the First Friday Art Walk to attend art openings, visit with artists, and listen to artist talks, live music, readings, or demonstrations. The fun continues into the evening as attendees visit area restaurants and bars for musical entertainment, food, and drink.
View the interactive map for this month here!
Bemidji First Friday Art Walk
August 3, 2018
Dunn Brothers Coffee will feature work by Anne Washburn. Washburn is a surrealistic artist, creating art that features animals, nature and different cultures. She uses saturated colors and lots of shading. Dunn Brothers is located at 501 Paul Bunyan Dr SE and is open 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Wild Hare Bistro and Coffeehouse continues “Plein Air & Natural History Painting” by artist Laurel Sundberg through the month of July. Sundberg is a professional naturalist and artist who paints outside and on-location (“plein air”) which provides endless inspiration and challenges while adding a fresh, honest look to her landscapes of grand skies and vistas. She is a member of Outdoor Painters of MN (OPM), and Minnesota Naturalists Association (MNA). Wild Hare is located at 523 Minnesota Ave and will be open 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on First Friday.
The Bemidji Library wall will continue the work of Gabor Nemeth. This month’s exhibit will include a few new pieces updated from last month’s display. Nemeth worked in many different mediums including French pastels, oil, watercolor, pencil and charcoal. This exhibit will be an eclectic mix of all of those mediums and styles showing his wide range of interest and talent. The library will be open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is located at 509 America Ave NW.
Neilson Place continues the display entitled “A Medley of Hues” by Elaine Netland. Netland grew up in Littlefork, MN. She owned a beauty shop in Bagley and one of her customers invited her to take painting classes. That was in the early 80’s and since then Netland has painted every chance she can get. Her art pieces include the mediums of oil, watercolor and acrylic. She belongs to Gallery North in Bemidji where she exhibits her art and teaches classes. At Neilson Place, Netland’s artwork will include original prints and greeting cards. Neilson Place is located on the Sanford WoodsEdge campus, 1000 Anne Street NW and is open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
First Lutheran Church features a fiber exhibit by Lettie L. Blackburn in the Fellowship Hall Gallery. A reception for the artist will be held on Friday, August 3 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. during Bemidji’s First Friday Art Walk. Blackburn draws inspiration from what she knows best – the natural world, trees and other living things. Most of her work is created from photographs she takes either while spending summers in Walker, where she was born and raised, or winters in southwest Missouri. Her approach to her work is intuitive and instinctual, rather than studied, and is based upon her preference for strong linear design, vibrant color, and organic forms. Her work has been accepted into numerous juried shows, won awards, and is in private and corporate collections across the country. She is a member of the Visual Artists Alliance of Springfield, Leech Lake Arts League, Uncommon Threads, Studio Art Quilt Associates, and the Artists of Minnesota. First Lutheran Church is located at 900 Bemidji Ave N.
Gallery North presents featured artist and newest Gallery North member Charles Alberti during their First Friday open house, August 3, 2-6 p.m. Alberti was born and raised in Chicago. He earned a BFA from the School of Art Institute of Chicago in painting, drawing and art history and an M.Ed. and Ph.D. at Loyola University of Chicago. In 1988 he began teaching at BSU and retired as Emeritus Professor of Professional Education and the Honors Program. Alberti has exhibited in New York, Chicago, California, Connecticut, Texas and Minnesota. His artwork is in private, corporate and museum collections in the states and abroad. He served on many organizational boards and committees in greater Minnesota. During First Friday, also visit with basket maker and Showcase Artist Eve Sumsky about her newest projects. Gallery North is located at 310 4th St NW.
Watermark Art Center continues the exhibits Elements of Nature, Being Here and Bagakaande. View painting, prints, pottery, photography, sculpture and more! The most recent installation at Watermark, The Way I See It by The Artists of Studio 10, will also be on display during the art walk. Watch for the artist reception for The Way I See It on August 9, 5-7 p.m. Watermark is located at 505 Bemidji Ave N. and will be open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. during the art walk.
Butch Holden Studio will feature experimental photos, along with porcelain and stoneware pottery during the First Friday Art Walk from 6-8 p.m. A 15 minute pottery demonstration will start at 7 p.m. Garden walks will be available. Holden’s studio is located at 1104 Minnesota Ave. Entrance is in the back alley.