Entertainment Briefs - Feb. 1

Best-selling poet to speak at CLC

The visiting poet program of Central Lakes College, Verse Like Water, will present New York Times best-selling author Nick Flynn at noon Feb. 14 in the Chalberg Theatre.

Flynn is a poet, playwright and memoirist. His book "Being Flynn" topped The New York Times bestseller list. It was subsequently turned into a film starring Robert De Niro, Julianne Moore and Paul Dano.

"Enlisting brilliant, vivid language, Nick's poetry fearlessly interrogates all topics," Jeff Johnson, Central Lakes College English instructor and proprietor of Verse Like Water, stated in a news release. "He is sometimes hilarious, and other times his work shines light on suffering and darkness that for him is quite personal. His three books of poetry so far include 'Some Ether,' 'The Captain Asked for a Show of Hands' and 'My Feelings.' He truly is one of the beloved stars of the American poetry scene."

This literary event is free and open to the public, and sponsored by Five Wings Arts Council and Minnesota Public Radio. It will be followed by a book signing, and a craft talk on creativity and the imagination, also in the Chalberg Theatre.

Grassroots Concerts spring schedule announced

NISSWA-Five Friday night concerts have been scheduled for the spring 2018 season of

Grassroots Concerts in the Live Well Nightclub and Coffee Bar of the Journey Church

at Nisswa.

Concerts are as follows:

• Feb. 23: Michael Shynes: When Michael Shynes lost his father at an early age, he decided to honor his dad by following his lifelong dream of becoming a musician, writing and performing his own songs, a news release stated.

• March 16: Jonathan Byrd and "The Pickup Cowboy" Johnny Haken are musical gunslingers, vaudevillian hucksters and old-fashioned tent revivalists, the release stated.

• April 6: Annie Humphrey is a singer, songwriter and visual artist born on the Leech Lake Reservation. Humphrey states, "I write songs because there is so much beauty, injustice, sadness, and love in the world."

• April 20: Ann Reed has performed for more than 40 years with songs that find a permanent place in the heart. A dedicated feminist, she has given her time and talent to raise funds and awareness for organizations that benefit women and children, the news release stated. Reed will be joined by bassist and instrumentalist Joan Griffith.

• May 4: Mark Olson is a founding member of the Jayhawks, a country band. According to Jam Base website, Olson left the band in 1996, but continued to record music with his new band, The Creekdippers.

Nonprofit Grassroots Concerts are at the Live Well Nightclub and Coffee Bar in the Journey Church in Nisswa. Admission is $10 at the door for adults and $5 for children under 12 with listening attention, when accompanied by an adult. At all shows, seating is first-come, first-served.

Showtime is 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

The nonprofit welcomes nonperishable food or cash donations at concerts to be donated to the local food shelf.

For more information, call 218-829-4092 or go online at www.grassrootsconcerts.org .

CLC presents 'Sky is Falling'

Central Lakes College Art Gallery presents "The Sky is Falling," an exhibition and workshop by visiting artist Tim Kowalczyk this month.

During the workshop, Kowalczyk will demonstrate his building process and image transfer techniques. The exhibition will showcase his trompe-l'oeil ceramic sculptures.

The artist workshop will be 1-3 p.m. Feb. 9., when the artist will demonstrate his process for making clay cups that appear to be cardboard with packing labels. An artist talk then will be 2-3 p.m. Feb. 20, with an artist reception from 3-5 p.m. Kowalczyk will be available during the reception to meet and discuss his work and creative process.

The exhibition and all events are free and open to the public. The exhibition will be on display Feb. 12 to March 9, and is open to the public 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The art gallery is located at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.

'Love Shack' to hit Little Falls stage

LITTLE FALLS-The fourth annual Rock 'n' Roll Valentine's Dance Party titled "Love Shack" with Brother Tone and The Big Groove will be Feb. 9-10 at Great River Arts in Little Falls.

A.T. the Black and White is presenting the show, where doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the party will get started at 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are $18 for general admission and are available at Great River Arts, online at greatart.org or at Reality Roasters Coffee Co. Limited VIP reserved tables are available at an additional cost for parties of six to eight.

"Love Shack" consists of a laser light show and dance party and live music. Brothers Tone and The Big Groove consists of a horn section of a trumpet, saxophone and trombone, percussion, guitars, keys, lead and backup vocalists featuring between 11-14 local musicians. The band will cover sounds of Queen, Heart, Bruno Mars, Prince, Chris Stapleton and Chicago.

Last year both performances sold out, so organizers encourage people to get tickets early.

Pequot plans events

PEQUOT LAKES-Pequot Lakes Community Education is sponsoring the following activities:

"Crafty Ladies Night" will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Seven Swans Studio in the Jack Pine Center in Pequot Lakes. Women will make earrings and most materials will be supplied. Instructors are local artists Jenni Sommerness and Darnell Nelson. Cost is $30.

"Crafty Kids Saturday Art" will be 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 17 at Seven Swans Studio. Event is for children ages 8-11 and they will make string art. Instructor are Sommerness and Nelson. Cost is $15.

"Art Challenge for Teens" will be 1-3 p.m. Feb. 17 at Seven Swans Studio. Class is for ages 12-18 and teens will make peace signs. Instructor are Sommerness and Nelson. Cost is $35.

A cooking class on making homemade focaccia bread and pizza dough will be 6-8 p.m. Feb. 20 in Room G102 at Pequot Lakes High School. Kara Super-Peterson will be the culinary chef for this class. Cost is $35 per person.

Pre-registration is required for all classes and may be done by contacting Pequot Lakes Community Education at 218-568- 9200 or online at www.isd186.org and click on community education.

First Saturdays at Jaques

AITKIN-Kaleidoscope, an art class for children age 8 and older, will be 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Jaques Art Center in Aitkin.

This month students will design an art piece using their own name by writing them using fancy lettering techniques and designing a fancy border around it. Cost is $10 but scholarships are available.

New program in NYM

NEW YORK MILLS-The Cultural Center in New York Mills is offering a new monthly mid-day art program titled Art For Lunch, with its debut at noon Thursday, Feb. 1.

Each month, on the first Thursday at noon, a new art project is facilitated by Center Education and Outreach Coordinator, Cheryl Bannes. All activities are 45 minutes long, to be completed over a lunch period.

The spring schedule is as follows: Feb. 1, Mardi Gras Masks; March 1, Fabric Baskets; April 5, Bead and Brass Wire Brooches; and May 3, Paper Bird.

The program is for adults and those ages 16 or older. People may bring their own lunch, and beverages are provided by the center. A $3 fee is charged to help cover the cost of supplies. Registration is encouraged by calling 218-385-3339 or visit the center's website at www.kulcher.org .

Piano dedication concert set in New York Mills

NEW YORK MILLS-The Cultural Center in New York Mills presents Six More Weeks, with a free piano dedication performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The show features local reporter Eric Bervig's five-piece band, Chasing Clarence, with a brand of folk rock harmonies, underpinned by bassist Jesse Haugen of Ottertail. The event, which highlights the band and a few solo piano selections, also includes a short-story told by award-winning storyteller, Steve Maanum of Park Rapids. This piano dedication performance incorporates the work of long-time musician Ron Bervig from Halstad.

The concert directly follows the gallery reception for Everyday Otter Tail County.

Artists Jon Solinger and Blayze Buseth are available to meet and give a short presentation from 5-7 p.m. Friday on their works in the gallery. Solinger presents photography taken around Otter Tail County and Buseth showcases his character archetype ceramic vessels.

Buseth pursued his ceramic career in 2012 after winning the Downtown Fargo Art Competition, where he was the featured artist at the street fair. Buseth then studied in one of the oldest pottery cities in the world, Jingdezhen, China. There he was mentored by Walter Ostrom, an internationally-renowned potter. Buseth has since opened his studio in Fergus Falls, where he creates his art.

This show is a series of artwork that sprung from Buseth's interest in representing people through symbolic carvings.

Solinger received his bachelor's degree in art with photography emphasis from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Solinger has exhibited regionally, including the North Dakota Museum of Art in Grand Forks, N.D., the Rourke Art Museum in Moorhead, the Plains Art Museum in Fargo, N.D., and galleries in Minneapolis, Fargo and Fergus Falls.

Solinger's recent photographic work involves rural places in his region, observing how physical and human geographies shape each other and making photographs in response to subtle and ordinary beauty.

The reception and concert are both free to attend and open to all. Light refreshments are served and a cash bar is available.

For more information, call the Cultural Center at 218-385-3339 or online at www.kulcher.org .

1/2: These are art pieces by Tim Kowalczyk. Kowalczyk’s exhibition titled “The Sky is Falling” will be on display from Feb. 12 to March 9 at the Central Lakes College Art Gallery in Brainerd. Submitted

2/2: Jenny Kiffmeyer talks with Sean Costas Jan. 27 during the Theatre and Actors Guild Inaugural Red Carpet Gala at the Lakeside Ballroom at Breezy Point Resort. Kiffmeyer and Costas were both nominated for the roles they've played in different theater companies. Theresa Bourke / Echo Journal