ArtWise to host Holiday Showcase and Sale at new Columbia Mall gallery
Oct. 31—The ArtWise Gallery and Creation Space will host its Holiday Showcase and Sale from Thursday, Nov. 4, to Dec. 31 in the Columbia Mall center court.
An artist opening will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday.
ArtWise is also partnering with the Ethiopia Reads organization to sell raffle tickets for an American Girl Doll. The raffle begins Thursday and continues through Dec. 12. Proceeds will be used to purchase art supplies for ArtWise and the Ethiopia Reads libraries. Information about the literacy organization will be available at the raffle ticket station.
Many artists in the Greater Grand Forks community are participating and displaying their artwork for sale in the showcase. The pieces represent a wide variety of media, said Rita Haag, ArtWise event coordinator.
The mission of ArtWise is to enhance the community through educational visual arts programs and exhibition space for youth, families and artists, Haag said. The organization was launched 28 years ago to support the Artist in the Classroom program in Grand Forks public schools.
The Grand Forks School Board voted to discontinue that program last spring as part of a budget reduction exercise.
Based in its Columbia location, ArtWise is hosting art camps and art lessons, as well as drop-in artmaking for families and individuals, there, Haag said. The space includes a gallery and an artists' gift shop.
ArtWise welcomes artists, who are 18 and older and who live or work within a 60-mile radius of Grand Forks, to apply to show in the gallery and gift shop.
For more information, visit www.artwise4kids.com or contact Haag at 701-757-2781 or artwisegf@gmail.com .
