IMAGE Art Show 2017

IMAGE Art Show 2017 Awards Announced!

The IMAGE Art Show is an annual event open to any artist residing in Region 7E (the MN counties of Chisago, Kanabec, Isanti, Mille Lacs, and Pine.) The Art Show and the awards honor some of the finest art in the area. The judges for the show were Brandon Kuehn and Bethany Whitehead. They both have a wide range of artistic skills and art show judging experience.

The East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) is proud to honor the award winners of the 30th annual IMAGE Art Show which opened Saturday, April 22nd. Over 450 people attended the opening event which was held at the ECRAC offices in Braham. The 2 Judge’s Choice (Best of Show) Awards went to Patricia Larson of Sturgeon Lake for “Clovis and Brighid” and Paul Olson of Hinckley for “Flatland – Night Heron Explains the Sea to Shadow”.

A total of 168 artists from the East Central Minnesota region entered this year’s IMAGE Art Show. There were also ten Excellence Awards (1st Place) and ten Merit Awards (2nd Place).                                                                     

2017 Artistic Excellence Awards (1st Place): Erica Belkholm, Mora; Julie Bjerke, Hinckley; Jessie DeCorsey, Lindstrom; Nathan Hager, Isanti; Terri Huro-Torgerson, Brook Park; Ryan Kroschel, Mora; Jim Larson, Milaca; Mike Menasco, North Branch; Nikki Schneider, Cambridge; Jade Wilson, Lindstrom

 2017 Artistic Merit Awards (2nd Place): Fred Anderson, Cambridge; Perry Carlson, Pine City; Claire Fix, Cambridge; Anita Gislason, Ogilvie; Dennis Jenereaux, Isanti; Barb Johnson, Isanti; Lois Lapp, Pine City; Beth Anne Palmer, Cambridge; David Spohn, Lindstrom; Barbara Young, Taylors Falls.

 Purchase Awards were also made and announced during the show opening. ECRAC purchased 5 works of art which now become part of the Council's permanent collection of artwork.  2017 Purchase Awards: Karrie Anderson, Milaca; Yvonne R. Herrmann, Foreston; Dennis Jenereaux, Isanti; Nikki Schneider, Cambridge; and Bruce Thompson, Mora.

 The People’s Choice Award votes were accepted from all attendees through the end of the show. The People's Choice Award winner is Jana Merten of North Branch for her artwork entitled, Letting Go.

                                          Letting Go by Jana Merten - winner of the IMAGE Art Show 2017 People's Choice Award 

According to ECRAC Executive Director Mary Minnick-Daniels "The IMAGE Art Show is a wonderful event and it keeps getting bigger and better every year! Any artist residing in the 5 county East Central Minnesota region can exhibit a piece of their own artwork. It could be an artist's very first work of art or they may make their living as an artist. This means the show is an incredibly visually vibrant art exhibit and a true celebration of all of the artists that entered."

IMAGE was open weekdays 10 am to 4:00 pm through April 28th. ECRAC is located at 112 Main Avenue South in Braham. There was no charge to enter or to attend.

A new study on the health and impact of the nonprofit arts and culture sector in East Central Minnesota was released during the last day of the IMAGE Art Show at 1:00 PM on April 28, 2017, by Creative Minnesota, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and the East Central Regional Arts Council. (ECRAC). The presentation of the results was made among the artwork hung as part of the 30th Annual IMAGE Art Show, followed by a brief discussion of the economic impact of the arts and culture in the region. If you are interested in learning more, check out this video or the Creative Minnesota webpage.

This art exhibition was made possible by The McKnight Foundation and also by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Legacy Fund. Thanks also to all that came to support the artists and their work at the 30th Annual IMAGE Art Show.