Crookston – Walking Alone
The Bennington Center for the Arts has now been in existence for almost twenty years but has never had a more impressive summer schedule. With fine art exhibitions such as the Oil Painters of America, the California Art Club and Artists for the New Century, and performers such as Tom Rush, those who relish the arts have a lot to look forward to in the coming months.
Better known as “The Bennington” by art collectors and artists from around the country, the Center opens this season with an exhibition of their own creation, Artists for the New Century. The show focuses on artists that have a wonderful talent but for any number of reasons have not yet receive the national recognition they deserve. “While many of the artists are fairly young, many just haven’t received the promotion or marketing to elevate them to the covers of the national magazines,” notes Gallery Director, Shirley Hutchins. This show opens the 9th of June and is a great opportunity for not only art lovers who want to see what is new on the art scene but also for collectors in the area as all of the art work will be available for purchase.
The following weekend is the opening of the seventeenth annual Art of the Animal Kingdom. This year the almost 100 piece show was juried by internationally recognized Wyoming artist Greg Beecham. Artists from around the country and abroad will display their work, with many coming to the opening festivities in on June 16th. The presentations and opening reception are open to the public on Saturday, free of charge.
The entertainment season at “The Bennington” opens with Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio, performed by the Hubbard Hall Opera Theater on June 16th. Additional events on the schedule include a classical pianist, classical guitarist and famed vocalist Tom Rush.
To see this calibre of both fine and performing art one usually has to travel to major metropolitan areas. As residents of this area, we have not only the beauty that surrounds us but the beauty inside the walls of “The Bennington”. Many people comment that they have driven by the Center time and time again but have never stopped. Perhaps this summer is the time to finally stop and see what they have to offer!
