Embrace winter by taking in arts

By Rebecca Petersen | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, November 15, 2008

I’ve been telling people that it’s time to winterize — their home, work, mind, body and spirit. So, they’re coming to check the furnace at home, we’re battening down the hatches here at A Center for the Arts and, personally I’ve decided to “embrace winter.” What other choice do we have?

I’ve also noticed that on cold mornings, if I walk out the door all shivery and clenched up, I’m much colder than if I walk out the door with scarf and gloves and embrace the cold.

There are other ways to embrace winter. There will be more time for reading good books and watching great movies now that the gardening and yard work are put to rest.

There will also be ample opportunity to attend a myriad of arts events right here in our own community. Watch our show on Channel 1, Otter Tail TelCom’s new television station. It’s called The Week In the Arts and airs on Thursday nights at 7 p.m. and other opportune times throughout the week.

David Stoddard and I host an hour-long show that includes arts happenings around town and often a musical guest as well. We have so many fine musicians in our community.

Already we’ve hosted, Neal Page on violin, Margie Eerdmans on cello, Laurie Strom on viola, Eric Vigesaa on French horn, Bob Torkelson on accordion, Jim Worner with his clarinet and David Stoddard on guitar and piano. Others might include Jerry Barney with his autoharp, string bass players and other band and orchestra instruments not to mention a myriad of folk instruments.

Between the public and private Schools, the Concert Association, the Community College and A Center for the Arts, there is definitely a lot going on. I’ll give you a “for instance” with the week ahead of us.

This week is the high school fall play, “Sherlock Holmes,” at A Center for the Arts Nov. 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 16 at 2:30 p.m. at A Center for the Arts. The MSCTC Jazz Band and Choral Concert Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m., at the Community College; Nov. 20, Rush Hour concert with pianist Chu Fang Huang at A Center for the Arts 5:30 p.m. Nov. 21, Michael Johnson and Anthony Miltich, 7:30 A Center for the Arts, Nov. 22 and 23, Two person Musical Theater in The Last Five Years (Saturday at 7:30; Sunday at 2 p.m.), Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m. FM Symphony String Quartet. (the quartet program and the Rush Hour Concert are “free will” donations — other Center for the Arts Programs are ticketed events).

Also, join us for Center Saturdays where specials occur on Saturday Event Nights at The Spot, a great downtown gathering place either before or after the show.

So beat those winter doldrums and get out and embrace winter by supporting local activities — the arts and otherwise.

With a gloomy economy on the horizon there is no reason to be gloomy. There is so much to be thankful for right here in our own community. By supporting our local programs we can save on gas and travel expenses AND we can help energize our local talent and locally sponsored touring programs by coming out and supporting them – arts events, athletic events, public libraries – the list goes on and on.

I plan to stock up on hats and mittens and good boots and warm clothes for winter and do more walking, skating, sledding and attend more local events. I plan to embrace winter by embracing Fergus Falls activities. I hope you will join me.

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Rebecca Petersen is the director of A Center for the Arts in Fergus Falls.