Inspiring, Nurturing
& Celebrating
the Arts
NWFA Invites Photos for exhibit: “People That I've Known“
February’s (Feb 6-28) exhibit at Northwoods Friends of the Arts will feature photos of people you know.
NWFA 2025 PHOTO CONTEST A SHOT IN THE DARK
THE CONTEST BEGINS THURSDAY, MARCH 6, AND ENDS FRIDAY, MARCH 28. ALL ENTRIES NEED TO BE AT THE NWFA GALLERY BY ONE PM ON MARCH 1.
THE CONTEST ENDS WITH A RECEPTION AT THE GALLERY ON MARCH 28 FROM 5-7. VOTING ENDS AT NOON ON THE 28TH. WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED AT THE RECEPTION.
REGISTRATION MATERIAL ARE AVAILABLE AT THE GALLERY DURING GALLERY HOURS (10-4, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY; 9-1 SATURDAY) OR CLICK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FORM! ENTRANTS MAY MAIL THEIR PHOTOS WITH REGISTRATION FORM TO NWFA, PO BOX 44, COOK, MN. 55723 OR MAY DROP THEM OFF AT THE GALLERY DURING GALLERY HOURS.
YUP…. WHETHER YOU INTENDED IT OR NOT THIS PHOTOGRAPH TURNED OUT BETTER THAN YOU THOUGHT IT MIGHT. ENTER IT IN THE NWFA 2025 PHOTO CONTEST.
THERE ARE PRIZES! $100 FOR WINNER; $50 FOR RUNNER UP. VIEWERS VOTE AND CHOOSE THE WINNER.
THE ENTRY FEE IS $10.00 PER ENTRY. YES, YOU MAY ENTER MORE THAN ONE. THE FEE INCLUDES A DISPLAY MAT AND SLEEVE. STUDENTS (18 OR YOUNGER) MAY ENTER 3 PHOTOS FREE.
PHOTOS MUST BE EITHER 5X7 OR 8X10.
NWFA Winter Hours begin the week of November 3.
Beginning the week of November 3, NWFA gallery will be open each Thursday & Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesday hours will resume April 2, 2025.
Let's Soar…photograph it…enjoy it, share it! #NorthwoodsFriendsOfTheArts #LetsSoar @NWFAMN
Happening Now
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Hello NWFA Members… Hope you all enjoyed the Holidays and are looking ahead to a healthy and joyful 2025!
NWFA had a wonderful, and successful holiday season thanks to all of you, and now we have some exciting events lined up for 2025! Planning for classes and exhibits is underway, and all dates and times will be shared over the next few months.
Upcoming 2025 Events Include:
January Fabric Art Show January 9 - 31
“Piecing It Together”, The fabric art collages of Ely artist, Cecilia Rolando, will be featured along with quilts by NWFA's Round Robin Quilt group, including Vicki Lange, JoAnn Anderson, Cheryl Harelstad, Barb Schmidt, and Alberta Whiteneck. Details about a possible reception coming soon.
Carl Gawboy Zoom Book Talk January 22 at 11 am
Renowned local author Carl Gawboy will discuss his book, Fur Trade Nation on our first public Zoom event!
Mark your calendar and look for details on how to register, which will be shared on nwfamn.org and email communication.
February Photo Exhibit: People That I've Known
NWFA members and the public are invited to provide personal photographs of people in their lives for display. You need NOT take submitted photos (new or old). However, we do ask that you share how this person is important to you. Additional details to follow.
March 6 - 28: Take a Shot in the Dark Photo Contest with cash prizes for first and second place!
A special photo contest will be on display at the Gallery from March 6-28. Entries will be judged by popular vote and cash prizes of $100 for 1st and $50 for 2nd place will be awarded. Registration is $10 per photo and participants are asked to include a theme for each submission (voting ends at 12 pm on March 28).
NWFA Members will be receiving registration materials by mail and the contest will be announced on social media and in local newspapers.
All are invited to attend the Reception/Awards Ceremony Fri., March 28 from 5 pm - 7 pm
As always, thanks to you, our members, and best wishes for a Happy New Year!
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Northwoods Friends of the Arts is pleased to announce two special performances presented by the Piatigorsky Foundation. Enjoy the supreme musical talents of Katsura Yuasa on clarinet and pianist, Mary Au on Tuesday, March 18th in Cook and North Woods School.
9:20 a.m. North Woods School at 10248 Olson Rd.Cook, MN
7:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church at 231 2nd St. E., Cook, MN
The Piatigorsky Foundation is dedicated to making live classical music an integral part of everyday life for communities throughout the United States. Gregor Piatigorsky, the renowned Russian cellist for whom the organization is named, believed that music is not a luxury for an elite few, but a necessity of life for all.
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Each Monday artists are invited to "do art" with others at NWFA gallery from 6 to 8 p.m. No registration required. Hope to see you there!
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The popular Wings Mural in Cook City Park by the Library and gazebo, has been duplicated and set back in place! The original was made up of feathers painted by children during NWFA Summer classes . Thanks to Lyn Reed and Lauren Nelson. The mural is up now, go check it out!
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MN Public Radio Art Hounds…2025
ListenMPR News“On fabric, dragons and freedom”
Listen to this broadcast here. If you select “Cecilia Rolando” online within the article you will see Rolando artwork.
Jan. 16 2025 Art Hounds on MPR News
A stitch in time
Lyn Reed is a former art teacher and a ceramic artist living in Orr, but she made the trip to the Northwoods Friends of the Arts in Cook, Minn., to take in the joyful colors and compositions of fabric artist Cecilia Rolando of Ely.
Entitled “Piecing it Together,” the exhibit runs through Jan. 31. Several small quilts designed and sewn by NWFA’s Round Robin Quilt Group are also on display.
Lyn Reed offers this look around the gallery, where the colors and textures provide a welcome burst of inspiration in January.
Lyn says: She calls it fabric collage, and that’s exactly what it is. She must have just an incredible resource of fabrics because I notice fabric from Southeast Asia … Japan … she’s used doilies, antique lace, gingham …There’s a piece I really like that’s red and white spiral.
She cuts different pieces of different sizes, and she’s collaged those together. You can see that she’s layered them. She’s using all different types of stitching, and the lines actually look as if they’re in a drawing. The compositions are really beautiful.
It’s like a cornucopia of all different types of fabrics from around the world. If you love fabrics, you will enjoy Cecilia’s work.
— Lyn Reed
Thank you to artist and NWFA member, Lyn Reed, for volunteering to be interviewed by MPR News “Art Hounds”.
Classes & Events
Did you know that Volunteers run Northwoods Friends of the Arts?
Priscilla Hiipakka is the volunteer coordinator and would love to have you stop in the gallery or contact her at nwfamn.org@gmail.com to volunteer. Some training is required and Artists exhibiting at the gallery may volunteer to work in lieu of the rent fee.
Writing Publicity for NWFA:
It’s fun and challenging and the volunteer experience looks good on a resume. Publicity is so very important to gallery. Do you know publicity or are you interested in learning? Email us at nwfamn.org@gmail.com and we can set up a class on ‘Publicity’.
Showing-n-Selling jewelry, watercolors, woodcarvings, textiles, greeting cards, oil paintings, stained glass, pottery/ceramics, mixed media, photography, crafts and more!
We work with community businesses, local schools, other arts organizations, and individual artists to provide a variety of quality arts experiences for Cook and the surrounding area residents.
There’s an ART for everyone here at NWFA!
You’ll find listings for painting classes, pottery, weaving and special youth painting and crafts classes offered on a regular basis in our classroom area. We also feature a summer writing class, concerts throughout the year, dance and drama performances and literary readings, too.
Literary readings and book signings are held here, too. So there’s always something of interest taking place in the gallery along with the lovely display of “Up North” artwork, prefect for your enjoyment and gift ideas.
Classes and workshops are taught by Gallery Members as well instructors from out of the immediate area.
Look around our site and discover all we offer and learn how we can make your art blossom!
Certain activities by NWFA are made possible in part by a grant provided by the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC) and is funded, in part, by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
Northwoods Friends of the Arts (NWFA) Copyright © 2011-2015 All Rights Reserved Northwoods Friends of the Arts (NWFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. No copies of text or photographs are to be made without permission by NWFANorthwoods Friends of the Arts Gallery (NWFA)
Your Community-Based Non-Profit Arts Organization!
Staffed by: Volunteer Members
210 River Street, Cook, Minnesota
218-780-7130
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