MONTICELLO — After a few sporadic years, between the pandemic and then downtown road construction last year putting the brakes on things, MontiArts is bringing back its popular Community Art Show.
To celebrate its return, along with the organization’s sixth anniversary, MontiArts will be throwing a big party, rain or shine.
The opening reception on Friday, June 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. at MontiArts headquarters, located at 213 W. Broadway, will also serve as a sixth birthday celebration for the city’s arts initiative, which started back in 2018.
Approximately 50 local artists will be displaying their work in the exhibit, showcasing a diverse range of media and styles.
“It’ll really run the gamut. It’ll be quite a mix,” said MontiArts Director Sue Seeger. “It should be everything from two-dimensional art, like paintings, and sculpture too. There is a style in this art show that will appeal to just about everyone because it’s so varied.”
Some of the artwork is sure to get folks talking, Seeger said.
“Of the pieces that have come in, several are going to be good conversation pieces,” she said. “Art is always subjective, so it’s always up to the opinion of the viewer.”
Artists proved to be quite creative with their entries this year, with a couple digging into their clothing closets.
“We had one artist who submitted a pair of shoes,” Seeger said. But these are not just any shoes.
“It’s a pair of high heels that they adorned with rhinestones and other three-dimensional things that they glued on,” Seeger said. “They’re basically glitzed-out shoes that they’ve turned into sculptures.”
Another artist submitted a traditional handmade headdress and dancing skirt from central Mexico, Seeger said.
In addition, there will be a couple pieces of what Seeger considers traditional folk art, along with work from MontiArts’ three resident artists and many of its open-studio artists.
“The whole point is to show off what everybody is working on, let all these folks connect with each other and let the community see what a great group of artists we have here,” Seeger said. “The more inclusive we can be, the better.”
Seeger, an artist herself, will even be showing off one of her own large metal sculptures.
The life-size mythical woman-creature named “Tina” is crafted out of steel, along with an old racing car the artist found out in the middle of the woods in Elk River.
“The entire body used to be an old Chevy Nova stock car,” she explained. “The old car was kind of rusting away in the woods and I hauled it away and made this lady out of it. On one of the fenders, it was hand-painted, it said ‘pit crew.’ And one of the names on there was Tina, so that’s what I named the sculpture.”
In an effort to encourage social lubrication between the artists and visitors to the opening reception, Seeger will be pinning a small lapel ribbon on each artist. It’s a technique she found successful in the past.
“When you see who’s wearing the ribbon, it’s a conversation starter,” she said. “You can go and meet the artists. It makes for nice connections. Last time, people came and just stayed and stayed and stayed. It was really a great social event.”
MontiArts’ last Community Art Show was held in 2022, when a couple hundred people showed up. She’s hoping to get even more folks out this year, and says it’ll be an annual tradition going forward.
“It’ll be a good hang,” she said. “It’s gonna be packed to the gills with artwork and people.”
Nordic Brewpub will be on hand, selling food and drinks, along with non-alcoholic beverage options, outdoors at a temporary patio set up out back.
“Nordic will be set up behind MontiArts,” Seeger explained. “We’ll for sure have picnic tables out back. In case of rain, it’ll all be indoors.”
The event will give the community a chance to mark MontiArts’ sixth summer of providing a platform for area artists to gather, make, express and develop their artistic interests and talents.
“It’s just marking the occasion, just kind of celebrating our arts community in a way,” Seeger said. “Wow, look at how cool this art show is and look at all the art popping up all around town. Look what we’ve done here in Monticello, look how neat, let’s celebrate ourselves.”
Those who can’t make it out to the party on Friday night can still check out the artwork, which will be on display through July 5, Seeger said.
It will be available for viewing this weekend, on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. People can also check it out on Tuesday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. and Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m.
For more information on MontiArts, visit the website at montiarts.com and find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/montiarts.
If you go
What: Community Art Show opening reception and sixth birthday party
When: 7 to 9 p.m. Friday
Where: MontiArts, 213 W. Broadway
Info: montiarts.com, www.facebook.com/montiarts
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