On The Mark: Art tradition continues at newspaper office

We've just finished a heady year of two-month exhibits by Carlton County artists in our refurbished Pine Knot offices on Avenue C in Cloquet.

It's been quite a whirl. Altogether, we hosted works by seven artists. We've enjoyed working with them to hang their creations, hosted receptions for each show, and written about them in our weekly newspaper.

We began 2019 with Ken Hanson's marvelous three-dimensional paintings of Jay Cooke landscapes on two-dimensional canvas. We hosted Lloyd Backus' lovely watercolors of area scenes, including one of Bayfield, Wisconsin, that I couldn't resist purchasing. Kris Nelson's colorful chairs hung on our walls during May and June. If you wonder where her signature yoga chair went, it's now in our home. Adam Swanson's acrylics depicting scientists at work graced our walls in July and August. His painting of two women scientists analyzing their samples in an Antarctic lab is now on its way to my niece, Hilary Dugan, a gift celebrating her years working on her dissertation on Antarctic lakes.

This past fall, our team loved working surrounded by Karen Savage-Blue's paintings. On canvas, Karen often places the human form among plant forms or with woodland animals. Our final exhibit featured two photographers, Mark Cline and Vern Northrup. Using quite different techniques, both work with subjects in nature.

To our delight, Kris Nelson, who curates the Encore Performing Art Center and Gallery, initiated a Carlton County Roundabout in 2019, following our earlier three-venue Art Hop. In addition to the Pine Knot, Magnolia Café and Encore galleries, the Roundabout included exhibits at the Oldenburg House, the Historic Scott House, the Fond du Lac Museum, Dragon Fire Ceramics, and Gateway Goods. It was quite successful – many people made it to at least three of the venues. Some venues reported that between 50 and 80 people came through their doors. This year, Roundabouts will be held one each: Spring, Summer and Fall. The roundabouts provide an informal way for old friends to bump into each other and to make new friends.

We've just issued a call for submissions for 2020. In February, we'll be trying something a little different, with a display focused on hats created by Jody Dixon.

In March, we'll begin two-month exhibits, each with an artist reception and short talk. Drop-in visitors always welcome. All types of original artworks – ceramics, sculpture, paintings, photography, prints, woodturning and carving, and other – are welcome. If you are interested in submitting a proposal for an exhibit, send your application to me at [email protected] and to [email protected]. Your application should include a short statement of your work (techniques, subjects), five to 10 images of your work or links to an online photo gallery, the sizes of your pieces and whether wall-hung, floor-standing, or for our window ledge which is 2-plus feet deep and 20 feet long. Include your place of residence and/or studio, email address and phone contact info.

Ann Markusen is an economist and professor emerita at University of Minnesota. A Pine Knot board member, she lives in Red Clover Township north of Cromwell with her husband, Rod Walli.