Art Beat
Spring 2021
Quarterly Regional Guide
Ant-Venture sculpture will be installed this spring Thanks to a Park Rapids Community Fund grant, Heartland Arts and the Park Rapids Rotary Club, a large fun sculpture will be installed at Deane Park this spring. The Park Rapids Parks & Beautification Board and Park Rapids Arts & Culture Advisory Commission are leading this project first proposed last fall by Liz Smith, who was serving on the Parks Board at the time. Smith saw the purchase as an opportunity to add a permanent sculpture in a city park and contacted Al Bellevue of Puposky, who created the Ant-Venture sculpture that is being purchased. She had seen the sculpture when it was on display as part of the Red Bridge Park Sculpture Trail in 2018. Bellevue offered the artwork at a good price and Smith began working on grants to cover the cost. Bellevue’s own description of Ant-Venture is that its unique construction is well suited to outdoor public display. It is interactive – a sculpture you can go into and sit on some granite ant eggs with no sharp edges or dangerous projections. It sits on ground or cement. It also acts as a unique display of Minnesota geology including amethyst from the North Shore of Lake Superior. Belleveau adds, “It is designed to portray an ant hill and is handicap, wheelchair accessible. Ant-Venture has a Queen ant on top welcoming you in, a teacher ant inside with a schematic of below ground chambers, mimicking
Katie Deschene took this photo of Club 309 kids when they visited Ant-Venture on the Park Rapids Sculpture Trail in 2018.
the above ground stone and steel construction.” Deane Park is a community park of approximately three acres with primary users being families, groups enjoying picnics, reunions, graduation parties and group events. The park has new handicapped accessible bathrooms, many picnic tables, grills, an open air shelter and very outdated playground equipment. The equipment consists of two swing sets and two climbing play structures. The park is used heavily by young families and this sculpture will give children and adults the opportunity
to use their imaginations as well as the sculpture itself. They can crawl into it, around it and even stand upright. It blends perfectly with the park’s woodlands, Smith says. Ant-Venture is a sculpture originally commissioned by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for an exhibit about the things underground. It was on display there for six months. The sculpture has spent a year on the Sioux Falls Sculpture Walk, two years on the Bemidji Sculpture Walk, a year at the St Cloud Sculpture Walk, a year at the Red Bridge Park Sculpture Trail and in-between times at Belleveau’s studio. The purchase is timely in that it supports a regional artist in these Covid-19 challenged times, supports the original intent of the Park Rapids Sculpture Trail and adds to the community’s arts and cultural assets. The Parks and Beautification Board will determine the precise location for the artwork in Deane Park. In addition to the sculpture purchase price of $6,000 in hand, donations are still welcome for other project costs including moss grass, installation and a plaque to recognize donors. Heartland Arts’ portion of funding for this project was provided by a Region 2 Arts Council Grant through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by Minnesota voters on Nov. 4, 2008.
Armory Arts & Event Center opens for small groups to gather If you’ve been wondering what’s happening at the Park Rapids Armory - wonder no more! The Armory Arts & Events Center (AA&EC), previously known as Armory Square, has a Board of Directors closely watching the Minnesota and federal COVID-19 guidelines to allow us to open our doors to community events once more! AA&EC held a Facebook Live Celebration May 25, 2020, to signify transfer of ownership from the developer to the City of Park Rapids, with bonding money provided by the Minnesota Legislature. This exciting event took place just as COVID-19 was beginning to have devastating effects on our families, businesses and nonprofits. The City of Park Rapids now leases the Armory to the Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corp. in Detroit Lakes and MMCDC is subleasing the Armory to the Park Rapids Armory Arts & Events Center, previously known as PRCDC. AA&EC’s Board of Directors is responsible for management and operation of this unique community space. Just as events were gearing up for summer events to take place in the Armory, AA&EC had to close its doors to large group events to comply with all COVID guidelines to keep people safe. Months have passed with the Armory sitting quietly waiting for the ability to serve the community. In January 2021, AA&EC’s Board of Directors moved to open The Armory Arts & Events Center to small groups of 10 or under!
So if you are looking for a space to meet in person and indoors during these subzero temperatures with the space to stay six feet apart the Armory is available. The board has contracted with Julie Kjenaas for Operations and Events Management to assist individuals looking to book the Armory. Please call Julie at the newly established Armory office at 218-237-3722 if you’re interested in booking events or with any questions you might have pertaining to the AA&EC. Her office is located in the northeast corner of the Armory building A tour of the many spacious rooms at the Armory can be arranged by appointment. Events must comply with all current and prevailing COVID-19 restrictions. One more thing! AA&EC has established a capital fundraising campaign to obtain funding to acquire telescopic seating and other needed improvements for more flexible utilization of our space when the Armory doors again open wide and host large events, such as the very popular Northern Light Opera Company summer productions. If you are interested in supporting The Armory Arts & Events Center in their fundraising endeavors, contact Julie and she will gladly provide you with donation information. AA&EC looks forward to providing a wonderful event space to the community in this new year of 2021 and beyond! Thank you for your interest and continued support of this important community asset. Go to https:// parkrapidsarmory.org to learn more.
Heartland Concert Association DON’T WAIT TO BE ASKED. JOIN NOW!
The Armory Arts & Events Center is currently open to small groups for socially distanced events. A fundraiser is underway to pay for seating and other needed improvements.
HEARTLAND CONCERT SERIES FOR 2020-21 SEASON IS CANCELLED
Due to COVID-19, many postponements and the uncertainty of restrictions for gatherings, plus the unknown venue restrictions, the Heartland Concert Association Board of Directors had to make the difficult decision to CANCEL the 2020-21 concert series. We apologize, but the health of our audience and artists is our top priority. We look forward to seeing you in 2021-22!
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.heartlandconcertassociation.org This activity is funded in whole or in part by a Region 2 Arts Council Grant through an appropriation by the MN Legislature, and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by MN voters on Nov. 4, 2008
