Inspiring, Nurturing
& Celebrating
the Arts
NWFA 2025 PHOTO CONTEST A SHOT IN THE DARK WINNERS!
There were 65 captivating photos entered this year, and we applaud all our participants for their vision and creativity. The top winner awarded a $100 prize was Mark Reed from Orr. His photo, “Bobcat”; the second runner up, Sherry Durocher of Cook, was awarded the $50 prize for “Just a Hoot “and honorable mention for third place went to Lauren Nelson of Britt, for his artistic photo, "Light Sculpture”.
North Woods School student art show at the NWFA gallery!
Beginning April 16, 2025, the art students who competed in the North Woods
School’s District 2142 art competition will be honored with an exhibition and a reception on Thursday, April 24 from 5-7 p.m.. The exhibit will end on April 26 at Northwoods Friends of the Arts Gallery (NWFA) in Cook, 210 S. River St. next to DreamWeaver Salon.
The school Visual Arts teacher and Art Club advisor, Mrs. Rachel Betterley, has guided these talented students who competed in the district contest:
Selena Ramos
Mya Kinsey
Kathleen Doten
Susan Aderman
Rory Bundy
Anna Nelson
Cody Kirkman
Nia Gaskell
Tatum Barto
Sadie Spears
Amber Sopocci
Lydia Trip
Chloe Anderson
Josephine Carlson
Lauren Burnett
Brittin Lappi
SUMMER HOURS ARE HERE!
Wednesday – Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
“80 Square Inches of Art”
“80 Square Inches of Art” is NWFA’s small canvas fundraiser. This will also be the July exhibit at the gallery. To register, come by the gallery during open hours and pick up 8X10 canvases for $10 each. Work in any medium of your choice…. paint, weave, quilt or glue on it. Return the canvases to the gallery by June 28. During the exhibit, canvases will be priced at $50 (if you wish) and 50% of the sales will contribute to NWFA fundraising.
Let's Soar…take a photo with our wings mural! Photograph it…enjoy it, share it! #NorthwoodsFriendsOfTheArts #LetsSoar @NWFAMN
Happening Now
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Upcoming Classes!
Addicted to Knitting 1 for Beginners Saturday,
May 3 10-2 Linda Revier, InstructorLearn basic stitches as you make a project. You will need – size 7 straight needles and 1 skein worsted weight cotton yarn.
Introduction to Personal Poetry Thursday, May 15 1-4 P.M. - Cecilia Rolando, Instructor
Discover yourself and create narrative poetry in this workshop.
*$30 for NWFA members and $45 for non-members.
2 Part Pottery Class
Saturday, May 17 10 A.M. -2 P.M.& Saturday, May 24 10 A.M.-2 P.M Lyn Reed, InstructorUnder Lynn’s expert supervision, you will create a hand-built vessel or sculpture using clay slab or coil method.
Finish and glaze your pottery * A $25 materials fee to the instructor plus $30 for NWFA members and $45 for non-members
Start Planning!
“80 Square Inches of Art”
“80 Square Inches of Art” is NWFA’s small canvas fundraiser. This will also be the July exhibit at the gallery. To register, come by the gallery during open hours and pick up 8X10 canvases for $10 each. Work in any medium of your choice…. paint, weave, quilt or glue on it. Return the canvases to the gallery by June 28. During the exhibit, canvases will be priced at $50 (if you wish) and 50% of the sales will contribute to NWFA fundraising.
The Spring Art Expo is coming up!
June 4-28
Planning for the Northwoods Friends of the Arts 2025 Spring Art Expo is underway. For an entry fee of $15.00 for NWFA members ($30.00 nonmembers) artists/crafters are invited to participate. There is no commission on items sold during this event.
The Expo is located at the NWFA gallery in Cook, Minnesota (210 River Street). Participants have approximately 4x8 feet of wall space or approximately 6 feet of table space. Artists may use their own display unit if it fits space guidelines.
This is a special event so those currently exhibiting at the gallery need to register and pay the entry fee if they choose to participate - remembering that no commission is collected during this event nor is rent charged.
Check out our Schedule of Classes! There are several ways to sign up for classes: visit www.nwfamn.org; email at nwfamn.org@gmail.com; call Alberta Whiteneck at 218-666-2153 or sign up in person at NWFA Gallery in Cook at 210 S. River St. adjacent to DreamWeaver Salon.
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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”.
Music in the Park!
Music in the Park returns this June! Friends & family, join us Wednesday evenings this summer for live music, great food, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Relax as the sun sets, enjoy local bands, and savor delicious eats with good company!
Check back for our wonderful lineup!
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.
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’.
We’re part gallery, part shop, and all about celebrating handmade creativity!
Swing by to check out (and take home!) beautiful jewelry, watercolors, woodcarvings, textiles, greeting cards, oil paintings, stained glass, pottery, ceramics, mixed media, photography, crafts, and more—made with heart by talented artists.
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
Come Visit and Shop NWFA GALLERY