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Students, others pause to observe Tjaden’s works [UPDATED]
Published 9:30am Thursday, November 10, 2011 Updated 11:30am Thursday, November 10, 2011On Wednesday M State freshmen Megan Endreson and Carly Gaytan, both from Elbow Lake, were walking through the Charles Beck Gallery at Legacy Hall. They took the opportunity to stop and take a look at some of the metal, wood, stone and clay sculpture produced by the late Otto Tjaden.
The assembled works of art will be on display in Legacy Hall through Dec. 9.
“We see from the handout that this (Exhibit 17) is an abstract piece of work,” said Endreson, “made from welded metal.”
She and Gaytan also found that this particular piece of work, produced by Tjaden, is on loan from Fergus Falls artist Scott Gunvaldson.
“This is a rare opportunity for people to see Otto’s works,” said M State curator Warren Olsen.
The Beck Gallery, which includes the Tjaden exhibits the next four weeks, is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and whenever M State – Fergus Falls is open.
Many long-time Fergus Falls area residents remember Tjaden as an excellent craftsman. He also was a creative artist, amateur philosopher and poetry lover.
“Otto had such a wonderful variety of special works,” said Carolyn Glesne, executive director for the Fergus Area College Foundation and daughter of artist Charles Beck.
There are 57 works of Tjaden on exhibit at M State’s Legacy Hall. All are listed in a handout titled, “Otto Tjaden Retrospective.” Listed are the title (ie. “The Red Stone”), medium (ie. welded metal) and the person who loaned the particular piece of work.
Another handout includes a short biographical sketch about Tjaden.
He was born Oct. 7, 1907. in Wolverton, southwest of Barnesville. Tjaden married Hilda Lindberg in 1932, and they raised four children.
Hilda recently celebrated her 100th birthday and attended the Tjaden reception at Legacy Hall this past Sunday.
Tjaden worked at his home as a sign painter, in a shop which also served as his art studio. He spent his spare time creating sculptures. Tjaden was an active artist until his death, in 1982.
The majority of his artwork currently on display at M State’s Legacy Hall (Beck Gallery) was produced during the 1950s and 1960s.
“His work,” said curator Olsen, “reveals Otto’s humor, compassion and spirituality. Visitors can see and appreciate a wide range of styles.”
Most of the works, on loan for the exhibit, come from family and friends of Tjaden.
