Plains Art Museum offers great fun
Some people travel the world to see great art without realizing they can find it right here in Fargo.
With artists like Andy Warhol, James Rosenquist, Salvador Dali, Ellsworth Kelly and Sol Le Witt in its permanent collection, The Plains Art Museum is the perfect place to appreciate art or stop for a coffee at Café Muse.
Located at 704 First Ave. N., just across the street from NDSU downtown, the museum not only has three galleries open Tuesday through Sunday but also offers a variety of classes for all ages.
Each of the three current exhibitions has its own distinct type of art.
This mélange of work is sure to please all ages and will satisfy all art-lovers’ appetites.
The first exhibition, entitled “Tools in Motion: Works from the Hechinger Collection,” is a traveling exhibition organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington D.C.
It features 20th century art that utilizes repetition and motion in everyday tools and hardware.
The works for “Tools in Motion” feature the familiar forms of hammers, saws and wrenches, to create witty and light-hearted new shapes.
A faucet drip is fixed in glass, vice grips are turned into a school of silver fish and hammers form a xylophone.
The exhibition’s bright colors, vivid textures and liveliness are enjoyable for all ages.
It will run May 3 through July 29, 2007.
The second exhibition, entitled “Keys to the Collection” features works from the museum’s permanent collection.
Most of the art in the permanent collection was donated by local collectors or acquired from local and regional artists.
This collection is rotated annually.
“Keys to the collection” is an ongoing exhibition.
The third exhibition has the working title “Personal Journeys on Common Ground” and features regional landscapes by Robert Crowe, Dan Jones and Carl Oltvedt.
Crowe, Jones and Oltvedt have a deep passion for art making and nature, and their work comes from direct observation of nature.
The artists are particularly interested in capturing the unique character of the region’s land and emphasizing the individual style of each artist.
“Personal Journeys on Common Ground will run May 17 through Sept. 16, 2007.
In addition to the three galleries, The Plains Art Museum offers classes for college students, adults and children.
Home improver classes and landscape painting classes are offered this summer to adults. Classes start anywhere from May 10 to Aug. 11.
One must register at least five days before the start of the class, but it is best to register early to ensure a spot.
Three summer art camps are offered to children by the museum this summer, including a creativity camp, a construction camp and a clay camp.
Each camp is specially designed for specific age groups.
There are many other events offered year-round at The Plains Art Museum, including lectures, art openings, the yearly spring Gala, an auction of local artwork, internships in different areas of the museum, tours and art activities for all ages.
The museum also holds different events for businesses, schools and families,
including holiday parties, business meetings, wedding receptions and
graduation parties.
For more information visit www.plainsart.org.