Gallery North, a non-profit cooperative art gallery under the sponsorship of the Northern Artist Association, gives members a place to display and sell work, encourages growth, builds confidence and provides public exposure for art, while emphasizing variety and individuality.

It is dedicated to assisting emerging and established artists, promoting art, and benefiting the Bemidji area, the downtown business district, and the tourism industry.

Artists can find a support system through their interaction with other members and the Bemidji area community. Emerging artists can learn from other artists and can gain experience by exhibiting their work.

Gallery North has been displaying and selling area artists’ work in downtown Bemidji, Minnesota, since 1989. They opened in their present location, 502 3rd St. N.W. in November, 2001. They are housed in the same building as Ink Spot Press, Grandma’s Attic Antiques, and Clearwater Cottage, all across the street from The Woolen Mills. Look for the signs showing how to find the gallery.

On the first Friday of every month, from 2 to 5 p.m., the public is invited to observe demonstrations featuring one of the Gallery’s artists as well as visit with one of the community showcase artists or authors. The Gallery also contains a library/resource room, a showcase artist display area, and a classroom space for workshops and special events.

Members’ work is also displayed at various places throughout Bemidji: The Beltrami County History Center, Merit Care Walk-In Clinic, Riverwood Bank, North Country Regional Hospital, Merit Care – Lower Level Lab – Main Building, Bemidji Community Art Center, Kitchigami Library Art Wall, and at the Dunn Brothers Coffee, Wild Hare Bistro, The Cabin, Tutto Bene, and The Fleur de Lis Gallery.

In 1972, a dozen artists or so decided to join together in ‘…the promotion of art, art interest and art activities among the people of Bemidji and the surrounding area.’ Their ideas gave rise to the Northern Artist Association. Their goals then and now continue to be ‘…to seek places to display the art work of area members, … and to sponsor art education through speakers, demonstrations and exhibits.’ From that small group of twelve artists, membership has now grown to forty-four. To this day, the Northern Artist Association continues to hold weekly painting sessions and monthly special programs to which the public is always invited.

Gallery North hours are from 10am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday. Come in and check our Boutique area for all the handmade items during the month of January. Samples of art to be taught at the Warm Your Heart classes at the gallery in Feb. are displayed in the Showcase area until the end of Jan when they can be seen in the classroom area at the gallery.

Gallery North is always looking for artists for the Showcase Wall; if interested in displaying your art work, or in becoming a member, please contact the gallery at 218-444-9813 for more information.

Marion Caroline Reil will teach a watercolor class called ‘Paint a Winter Bird’ at the gallery on Sat., Jan. 28th starting at 1pm. Students will have a 16 × 20 In. matted watercolor done during the class, and will paint a bird of their choice. Class fee is $45 to be paid to Marion Caroline Reil, and all materials will be provided.

Come to our Open House on First Friday, Feb.3 from 2-5 p.m. at the gallery where you can meet our Featured Member Artist, Patty Lovegreen, and the Showcase Artists, Kathy and Les Sanders.

Featured Artist, Patty Lovegreen, makes jelled paper sculptures, and forms spirit guides, wall art, and framed paper work. She says, ‘I trust the intuitive sense of possibility that has guided me since I began making art as a child….I still strive to find a little pocket of whimsey, that characteristic playfulness, that you will find in all my art.’ To see pictures and for more information, check out her artist page on our website.

Showcase Artists, Kathy and Les Sanders, will be showing their paintings and wood carving. Kathy achieved her certification as a Teacher of Decorative Art and has been teaching classes in oil and acrylics for the past ten years. Most recently, Kathy has started to create and teach gourd art and paints woodcarvings utilizing various mediums. Les started woodcarving over 30 years ago, and often carves whimsical characters and houses, also larger western and Native American busts. He is especially talented at creating split cedar flutes and has taught several classes to share this knowledge. Look at the ‘Artists Featured’ page on our website for more information.

Also at the February First Friday Open House on Feb. 3, Whipstaff Ranch – Rescue in Solway will have animals on the stage area at Gallery North that are ready for adoption. This is the only 501C3 non-profit animal welfare organization in the northern part of the state that is able to work with all species of animals. The group is dedicated to education and stopping animal abuse and offers safe sanctuary to abused and neglected animals. They appreciate donations of dry food, collars and leashes, toys, paper towels, bleach, and small coffee cans and Pringle cans with lids that can be decorated for cash donations.

February is the time for the free mini art classes at the gallery — the Warm Your Heart With a Little Art classes. Please come to the gallery to register for the class ahead of time and to see a sample of what will be taught. Class size is limited and there are some age restrictions for some classes, so early registration is encouraged. Though the classes are free, some classes require a materials kit, which is payable to the instructor. Classes scheduled so far are:
1. Wire wrapping jewelry on Wed., Feb. 15 from 1-4 by Jeanie Fenner;
2. Wirewrapped suncatcher with beads on Thurs., Feb. 16 from 1-4 by Diana Johnson;
3. Intro to Paper Quilling on Tues., Feb. 21 from 2-4, by Julie Dodge Johnson;
4. Beginning Tapestry on Wed., Feb. 22 from 1-4 by Patty Lovegren;
5. Abstract Butterfly, Intro to Watercolor on Fri., Feb. 24 from 2-4 by Marion Reil;
6. Basket class on Sat., Feb. 25 from 1-4 by Monie Martin;
7. Ukrainian Eggs on Tues., Feb. 28 from 2-4 by Mary Morton
8. Watercolor picture on a card on Wed., Feb. 29 from 2-4 by Joyce Martin.