Written by: WACAC Administration

Press Release:

WACAC Awards Solo/Duo Shows

Exhibits at the Hallberg Center for the Arts now booked into 2020

Each year, a panel of Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community artists from the board of directors and Events Committee interview artists that had applied to have a solo or duo exhibit at the Hallberg Center for the Arts. 

This year the organization’s panel interviewed artists from across Minnesota to fill available slots for solo and duo exhibits at the Hallberg Center for the Arts in 2019 extending into 2020.

From a field of 26 artists who had applied, 6 artists were awarded exhibitions at the art center.  These artists included Shirl Chouinard, Susan Aamot, Gary Carlson, Annie Young, Richard Mittelstadt, and Allison Baker. 

Shirl Chouinard, an accomplished fiber artist, received her BFA from Minneapolis College of Art and Design and her MA in Arts Administration at Saint Mary's University of MN. Chouinard and has had solo shows in Cambridge, Minneapolis, and Winona. Her work has been featured on the cover of Minnesota Women’s Press.  Shirl’s work will be on display in the Main Gallery beginning March 2019.

Susan Aamot, owner of a Peruvian Paso horse business is a plein air painter working with warm colors and a pallet that merges influences from her homes in Minnesota and New Mexico.  She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a double major in both Fine Arts studies and Illustration in 1992 from the College of the Associated Arts in St. Paul.  Susan’s work will be on display in the Cube Gallery beginning in March 2019.

Gary Carlson is a found object sculptor who was an award winner at last years In. Art Show & Competition at the Hallberg Center for the Arts.  Gary taught in art and photography in the Mounds view district from 1969 through 2003.  A Rush City resident, he has been exhibiting throughout Minnesota since 1978.  Gary’s artwork will be on display in both the Main and Cube Galleries beginning in April of 2019.

Annie Young is an abstract painter whose interview was probably one of the most inspiring and humbling interviews the panel had ever encountered.  Annie’s is a story of rebuilding a life with art as a tool.  Working primarily with acrylics, she manipulates the interplay of color and gesture to both conceal and reveal the underlying tactile landscapes.  Annie is blind.  Annie’s artwork will be on exhibit in the Main Gallery beginning in September 2019.

Richard Mittelstadt is Annie Young’s teacher.  Both credit each other for much of their successes and outlook on life.  Richard, a retired Rosemount teacher is a more abstract, non-objective painter producing fascinating colorful works that are both fluid and detailed.  Richard has a BS in art education and a Master of Arts Degree in studio art.  Richard’s artwork will be on display in the Cube Gallery beginning in September of 2019.

Allison Baker is a large sculpture installation artist with a Masters of Fine Arts in sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design.  She’s had residencies throughout the world including Minnesota’s Franconia Sculpture Park and has exhibited in galleries across the United States from New York to San Diego.  Allison is currently a professor of art at Hamlin University.  Allison’s exhibit will open in both the Main and Cube Galleries in November of 2019 and run into mid-January of 2020.

Additionally, in July of 2019, WARM (Women’s Art Resources of Minnesota) will have their exhibit at the Hallberg Center for the Arts in both the Main and Cube Galleries.  WARM connects emerging and professional women artists, encouraging them to create and exhibit art and to increase their participation in the art world.  As a catalyst for women artists to assist each other in achieving their goals, WARM promotes and provides advocacy and assistance for its member’s projects.

The organization also has plans to add additional Walker Hanging System and track lighting in the lower level of the art center this year, expanding the available gallery space for special projects and to give up and coming artists the opportunity to have an exhibit of their own artwork.  Lori Norman, a found object and polymer clay artist and Cadence Eischens, a talented young photographer and writer are two artists that have been awarded shows on the lower level in early 2019.

The Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community is totally funded by grants and donations and is currently looking for sponsors for these remarkable exhibits as well as other collaborative exhibits.  Interested sponsors are asked to contact Board Chair, Eric Peterson at (651) 238-0245 for more information about sponsoring an exhibit at the Hallberg Center for the Arts.

Two and a half years ago, with the establishment of the art center, the Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community has brought new exhibits of artist's work to the area almost every month.  This past year, the organization interviewed artists from throughout the region and has now booked the main gallery with new exhibits into 2020.  Today, the organization has over 180 members not just from this area, but throughout the Twin Cities, up through Princeton and Mora, down through Mankato and into Stillwater and western Wisconsin.  

Volunteers are at the heart of the organization putting in countless hours. The organization has no paid staff and everything they do is through donations, grants, and many dedicated volunteers.

The Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community encourages personal growth and discovery, providing mentorship for artists through presentations, performances, displays, classes and exhibitions.

WACAC Mission:

(adopted April 19, 2012)

Our mission is to encourage creative expression, promote networking of local artists of all ages, and champion a learning environment that builds community participation in the arts.

Find out more about the Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community at:  https://WyomingCreativeArts.org

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Written by: WACAC Administration

Press Release:

Three Artists, Three Mediums

Horizons and Fibers of the Soul art exhibits open Thursday, March 22 at the Hallberg Center for the Arts.

Artists MaryAnn Cleary, Andy Tinkham, and Heather Tinkham collaborate to form a powerful exhibit of fine art at the Hallberg Center for the Arts.  Opening Thursday afternoon, March 22, starting at 4pm, this show will introduce the inspiring landscape paintings of soft brush strokes by MaryAnn Cleary contrasting the vivid night photography of Andy Tinkham on metal in the main gallery with Heather Tinkham’s remarkable, revealing fiber art in the Cube Gallery.

Opening night for a fine art exhibit at the Hallberg Center for the Arts is a unique opportunity to get a first look at an exhibit with opportunities to meet and converse with the artists as well as other guests.  Complimentary refreshments are served at this event which is free and open to the public.

From the Artists…

"Living in the Twin Cities metro, I don’t always get the chance to see the full wonders of the night sky. While I cherish my opportunities to go up north to see things like the Milky Way and the Northern Lights (both favorite subjects of mine), I find that the bright lights of the city, rather than diminishing the experience, change it. They bring new challenges and convey new emotions." - Andy Tinkham

"To me, art is a way of expressing something in two dimensions that normally would be taken for granted by others in life. I love capturing the emotional essence of that moment in time. As I pursue my passion, I hope to capture those precious moments with the magic of a paintbrush or a stick of charcoal by utilizing light, contrast, value and color onto the paper or canvas. My ultimate goal is to take something ordinary and make it something magical and emotional to the viewer." - MaryAnn Cleary

"At its best, art is a way to bring more beauty, joy, honesty, and authenticity into a world that is increasingly busy and chaotic. My work extends the idea of art destined for gallery walls in to our everyday lives, as Artwear for both our bodies and our homes, as I see a life integrated with art as richer and more grounded overall." - Heather Tinkham

This event will remain open to the public through April 14, 2018 during regular art center business hours.  Located at 5521 East Viking Blvd, in Wyoming, MN, the Hallberg Center for the Arts is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 4pm to 8pm and Saturdays from noon to 4pm.

Two and a half years ago, with the establishment of the art center, the Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community has brought new exhibits of premier artist's work to the area almost every month.  This past year, the organization interviewed artists from throughout the region and have now booked the main gallery with new exhibits into 2020.  Today, the organization has over 180 members not just from this area, but throughout the Twin Cities, up through Princeton and Mora, as far south as North Mankato, and into Stillwater and western Wisconsin.  

It should be mentioned that this organization has no paid staff, everything they do is through donations, grants, and countless volunteer hours.

The Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community encourages personal growth and discovery, providing mentorship for artists through presentations, performances, displays, classes and exhibitions.

WACAC Mission:

(adopted April 19, 2012)

Our mission is to encourage creative expression, promote networking of local artists of all ages, and champion a learning environment that builds community participation in the arts.

Find out more about the Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community at:  https://WyomingCreativeArts.org

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Written by: WACAC Administration

Press Release:

Hallberg Center for the Arts accepted into N.A.R.M.

North American Reciprocal Membership Association adds Prestige and Value

The Hallberg Center for the Arts is now a member of the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association which offers reciprocal membership benefits to over 970 art institutions, museums, and conservatories throughout North America.

What is the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association?  The North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association® is one of the largest reciprocal membership programs in the world with members in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, El Salvador and Mexico! NARM has 973 arts, cultural, and historical institutions along with botanical gardens, children’s museums, science and technology centers and more that offer their individual NARM qualified members reciprocal benefits.

The Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community (WACAC), the owners and operators of the Hallberg Center for the Arts join six other Minnesota institutions in this prestigious organization.  The other Minnesota members include The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, the Rochester Art Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Tweed Museum of Art, the Museum of Russian Art, and the Walker Art Center.

The Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community offers a wide variety of NARM memberships (all uniquely named after famous artists) starting at $100 a year for a Rockwell Membership (the minimum requirement for a NARM membership) and a variety of other memberships starting at only $25 a year.

The funding to run this art center is totally dependent on donations and grants (even grants require donations to fulfill the cash match requirements) so the NARM membership is an important addition to the benefits and recognition that WACAC offers for higher level memberships and sponsors (general, project, and art exhibit).

Two and a half years ago, with the establishment of the art center, the Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community has brought new exhibits of artist's work to the area almost every month.  This past year, the organization interviewed artists from throughout the region and has now booked the main gallery with new exhibits into 2020.  Today, the organization has over 180 members not just from this area, but throughout the Twin Cities, up through Princeton and Mora, down through Mankato and into Stillwater and western Wisconsin.  

Volunteers are at the heart of the organization putting in countless hours. The organization has no paid staff and everything they do is through donations, grants, and many dedicated volunteers.

The Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community encourages personal growth and discovery, providing mentorship for artists through presentations, performances, displays, classes and exhibitions.

WACAC Mission:

(adopted April 19, 2012)

Our mission is to encourage creative expression, promote networking of local artists of all ages, and champion a learning environment that builds community participation in the arts.

Find out more about the Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community at:  https://WyomingCreativeArts.org

Find out more about NARM at:  https://narmassociation.org