Inspiring, Nurturing
& Celebrating
the Arts
Check out ART TO GO!
It’s amazing! Art to Go is a free program NWFA developed with funding from the Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. The program offers 10 transportable art kits that contain all the supplies and complete instructions to host a one-hour+ or multi-day activity. These ready to use kits are curated by local professional artists and educators and each kit accommodates a range of ages and up to 10 participants.
Open the link to preview each of the kitted projects that are geared towards building artistic skills in the comfort of your own setting! Look through the options to select the project you are interested in providing to your guests!
GALLERY HOURS!
Summer Hours (Starting April)
Wed - Friday: 10-4. Sat: 9 – 1
Winter Hours
Thurs-Fri: 10-4 Sat: 10-2
Let's Soar…take a photo with our wings mural! Photograph it…enjoy it, share it! #NorthwoodsFriendsOfTheArts #LetsSoar @NWFAMN
Happening Now
-
Hello NWFA Members and Friends!
August is coming in hot and busy! We have had some great classes at the gallery, and the music on Wednesday evenings has been so much fun!
Blue Water Big Band, a 14-piece ensemble, will perform in concert from 6 – 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 20 at Cook Community Center, located at 510 Gopher Drive, Cook. Doors open at 5 p.m. Bring your dancing shoes!
Tickets can be purchased at the door, ahead of time from a friendly board member, or at the gallery Wed – Fri from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sat from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Save steps and reserve your tickets by calling either 218-750-1989 or 218-780-6510 There will also be raffles and a silent auction, complimentary beverages and desserts. Burgers, brats and more can be purchased from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church before the concert.
Members are needed to help sell 50/50 raffle tickets for $5 each and $25 per person for tickets to the concert. Tickets to sell for both can be picked up at the gallery.
On Sat, Aug 20, we need volunteers to collect tickets at the door, help us set up the event, sell raffle tickets, and tidy up at the end! If you are available, please call Shawna Kishel at 218-780-6510.
Happening Now!Check out the amazing dollar raffle items that are already on display at the gallery! $1.00 tickets can be purchased on the spot.
ClassesThere is still time to register for the following classes at www.nwfamn.org, email nwfamn.org@gmail.com, or call 218-780-7130.
Wed Aug 5: Free Curious & Creative Class: Fun Printing for Kids with Lyn Reed from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sat Aug 8: Acrylic Painting from Beginner & Onward with Dafne Caruso from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Music in the Park
Our August lineup for Music in the Park each Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.
Aug 5: BitterSweet with Jay and Mary performing on guitar and piano
Aug 12 Roseanne Omersa polka party with Matt on drums!
Aug 19: Robert Walker plays traditional, contemporary and original tunes
Aug 26: Cameron Elijah Erickson will offer a versatile singer-songwriting acoustic set featuring a blend of classic covers and compelling original music.
We continue to promote our newest program, Art to Go, which includes transportable activity kits for use to Boys and Girls Clubs, Lake Vermilion Resorts and interested groups. Stop by the gallery to see the kits and learn more about the program NWFA developed with support by the IRRR. Please check our website nwfamn.org for updates throughout the month.
NWFA, is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to Inspiring, Nurturing, & Celebrating the Arts
-
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!
-
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!
-
MN Public Radio Art Hounds…2025
From July 17 2025 Art Hounds interview MPR:
Live music by the lake
"Jeanne O’Melia, who lives on Lake Vermilion, makes her way to Cook, Minn., every Wednesday evening — often by boat — to enjoy the free live music at the gazebo downtown. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. In the event of rain, concerts move indoors to the VFW.
The music runs from 6–8 p.m. on Wednesdays throughout the summer. Next week, central Minnesota cover band JustUs takes the stage. On July 30, Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame inductee Keith Secola performs.,,,,mprnews.org/podcasts"
https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2025/07/17/art-hounds-shakespeare-music-and-pottery-all-outdoors
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!
COOK, MN Each Wednesday at the Gazebo (in case of rain, the event will move to VFW)
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
BURGERS, BRATS, ROOTBEER FLOATS and more available for purchase each week by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
JUNE
17 - Uncle Eric & Billy Boyce- Classic oldies and Country favorites
24 - The Hutter Bunch- Americana and Traditional gems
JULY
1 - Shannon Gunderson on Keyboard
8 - The Dithyrambs- B-side hits & jam band favorites
15 - Sam Miltich Band. Miletici-New music from the old country
22 - Lindula Brothers- Bluegrass & folk music selections
29 - Just us- Jack & Rosie play and entertain with your favorite tunes.
AUGUST
5 - Bittersweet- Jay & Mary play a wide musical variety on guitar and piano
12 - Roseanne Omersa polka party with Matt on drums!
19 - Robert Walker- Traditional, contemporary and original tunes
26 - Cameron Elijah Erickson
SEPTEMBER
2 - Uncle Eric’s All Star Finale
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 NWFANWFA is a recipient of the Mineral Articles Funding through the 2024 Mineral Taxes Grant.
The following projects are supported by the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR)
Facility Upgrades
New Point Of Sale System
Programming
Northwoods 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