Fergus is on its way to being arts community

By Rebecca Petersen | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, June 14, 2008

Someone once said to me, “Some day I want Fergus Falls to be known as ‘The Arts Community,’ by folks in town and out of town.”

Well, folks, it becomes more and more apparent to me that perhaps that day is just around the corner, if it isn’t already here.

Certainly Fergus Falls is known for a lot of things but it does seem to me that we are becoming even more well-known for the arts here, thanks to the artists and the arts programs in our community.

For example, how often do you see a program that references the arts? Just pick almost any day and see what arts activities are going on around you. Recently we talked with Ken Garrahan and The Prairie Wetlands Learning Center about their upcoming “Art on the Prairie” event in August.

Last month we celebrated the District 544 Fine Arts Festival. Last week the Fergus Falls School of Dance hosted four amazing performances with students in their Spring Concert. This month I received a flyer from the Otter Tail County Museum inviting folks to a “great evening of food and art” with local guest artist Lance Albers giving a presentation on The Evolution of Gerda.

As I sat writing this column on Thursday, I ran through the list of activities slated for today. There’s the first summer film at 2 p.m. here at A Center for the Arts (Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day), with a new schedule that runs into August.

Wednesday (when I picked up the film at Westridge Cinema – accidently dropped there), I had to wend my way through a long line of movie goers — more evidence of the bounty of arts activities and arts enthusiasts.

Also, Thursday, was the first summer Concert in the Park, which is the first of 10 consecutive weeks of Thursday night Concerts in the Park.

There was also the unveiling of Lance Alber’s painting of Gerda Thursday, by the Otter Tail County Historical Society at The Kaddatz Hotel.

The museum’s theater project with Lowell Carpenter and the Sesquicentennial project started this week. The plays, “Wizard of Oz,” and “Robin Hood,” are in full rehearsal mode.

Next week the Summer Arts Academy begins out at the college as does a special theater production for The Bag Lady Project.

Plans are underway to work with Artspace Projects on completing The Kaddatz Hotel with more gallery and classroom space.

The Minnesota State Community and Technical College – Fergus Falls continues to focus on arts curriculum with an associate of fine arts degree.

There’s talk of expanding other galleries in town. Who knows, maybe one day The Lincoln Avenue Fine Arts Festival might return.

And Summerfest is going on this weekend, with lots of arts and entertainment activities that go along with the celebration.

Today here at A Center for the Arts, we’re hosting Lance Johnson at The Mighty WurliTzer Theatre organ in concert at noon.

Then, following his concert we’ll be having a special screening of the film “Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day,” at 1:30 p.m. and showing again on Sunday, June 15 at 4 p.m.

Yes, indeed, thanks to all of our talented artists, musicians, dancers, actors and arts enthusiasts, I do believe that Fergus Falls is becoming a community that can easily call itself an arts community.

Now, let’s see if we can get some statewide, regional and national attention.

That, too, may be just around the corner. (At least this is my prediction for 2008!) Together we’re making it happen.