If you’re looking to kickstart your creativity in 2024, there’s no better place to seek inspiration than at the Hutchinson Center for the Arts.
The center’s seventh annual Community Showcase runs through Feb. 16. It features the work of artists, makers and creators 18 or older from Southwest Minnesota.
Rather than focusing on the work of one or two professional artists, this show turns the spotlight on the art and crafts of many. It’s one-stop looking for everything from needle arts, photography and pottery, to paintings, wood carvings and more. The best part? Each piece is created by a friend, neighbor or resident.
Meet them and learn about their creative processes at an artist reception 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at the arts center, 15 Franklin St. SW. Admission is free.
Sandy Tracy, a quilter who has participated in past exhibits but is not displaying this year, said she is looking forward to the reception.
“I plan to attend and meet the various artists,” she said. “I like seeing the variety of techniques used by the artists. My appreciation for the talent of artists in the area has grown through this annual event.”
ABOUT THIS YEAR’S SHOWCASE
This is Molly Rivera’s third year putting together this show, and every year she sees a more diverse representation of work.
“It’s easy to think that this show is only for fine art ... painting, printmaking, photography and so on,” she said. “But it’s more about celebrating the local creativity whatever that may be. I want to emphasize art and craft, because they are both equally important. Pottery, fibers like knitting and weaving, homemade cards ... We even have a digital video submission. This year we have a significant amount of woodworking and it’s cool to see the variety of styles that are represented through wood.”
To share more about the exhibit, Rivera participated in this Leader Q&A.
This is the seventh year of the Community Showcase, why has it stood the test of time?
This show is successful year after year because we have a very creative community! Each year, there are new artists or makers that show up and repeat artists always have new work. There are so many creative medias out there that this show represents. There’s room for everyone that has a creative outlet.
Has there been an increase in the number of pieces submitted?
We have about the same amount of work submitted this year as in previous years. However, there are a lot of new makers and artists that brought work in which is always exciting!
Is the work for sale?
Some artists choose to sell their work while others don’t. (The NFS in the photo captions stand for Not For Sale.)
Is most of the work submitted by local artists and makers?
There is a representation of all ages. Most people are from Hutchinson, Litchfield or Glencoe. While our name is the Hutchinson Center for the Arts, we have a regional draw and want to serve a broad range of audiences and artists.
How do you display this show? Do you hang like items together or do you mix it up?
Hanging this show is very different from other exhibitions. I’m working with 25 to 30 artists as opposed to one or two. There’s not a cohesive set of work, but the show always comes together in a wonderful way. I start by laying out pieces based on medium and scale, so work is dispersed evenly throughout the space. I avoid putting work that is too similar next to each other. From there, I fine-tune placement to make sure everything feels balanced. It’s a very back-and-forth process with some creative problem solving thrown in.
There’s an artist reception Jan. 19. What can guests expect?
The reception is free and open to the public, with light refreshments. It’s a great time for artists to meet other creatives in the community, catch up with old friends, or meet new ones.
What do you want viewers to take away from seeing the show?
Creativity transcends many platforms. This show represents all different kinds of artists and makers, and it’s a celebration of the creativity in our region.
What should people look forward to at HCA during 2024?
We are working on some collaborative events with other organizations, and are planning out more community events to participate in this year. We’re looking forward to getting out and providing arts experiences for people of all ages.
— For more information about the Hutchinson Center for the Arts, call Rivera at 320-587-7278 or visit hutchinsonarts.org.
