LOCAL BRIEFS
Pine River artist's work on display
Pine River artist Karen Kersten's work will be on display at the Brainerd Public Library until March 31.
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Kersten's works are examples of "Classical Realism" done in oil and pastel. Kersten's paintings have been displayed in many Minnesota galleries, including in private collections, and they've won several awards.
Kersten is from the Twin Cities area, where she was educated at a formal art school in which she later taught for several years.
Soloists for the Central Lakes College winter jazz and brass concert scheduled Tuesday include Isaac Armstrong (left), Brittany Stegora, Laurie Savage and Rohana Bjorkquist.
In an e-mail, Kersten wrote, "I would like my images to allow you to look at art in a moving new way. In landscapes, I strive to go beyond photorealism in capturing light and atmosphere in a manner no camera can, portraying dimension, space and ambiance. There is a mood, a story and symbolism in each still-life composition. I wish to communicate a spirit of character in my portrait and animal pieces, always delving into the personalities of my subjects before ever picking up my palette."
Ostroushko to perform Grassroots Concert
NISSWA - Peter Ostroushko, virtuoso mandolin player-fiddler and a favorite of the Grassroots Concerts music series, will open the spring season Feb. 27 in the new location, the Live Well Nightclub and Coffee Bar in Nisswa.
Admission is $10 at the door and $5 for children under 12.
The three-concert spring season is the shortest in 20 years due to economic issues and discussion surrounding the future of the series after 237 concerts. Organizers are hopeful that cost-savings efforts will bring the nonprofit series back to its perennial stature as a family entertainment value.
Ostroushko has performed frequently on public radio's "A Prairie Home Companion" and appeared on public TV's "Austin City Limits."
One of Karen Kersten's works on display at the Brainerd Public Library. This oil painting is called "With Time Span."
Those wishing to donate to keep the series alive may write checks payable to Brainerd Community Action and mail to Grassroots Concerts, PO Box 561, Brainerd, MN 56401.
Other concerts this spring include Cam Waters on March 27 and the April Verch Band on April 24.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the new concert site at 5459 County Road 18 in downtown Nisswa, and nonperishable donations to a local food shelf are welcomed.
For more information, call 829-4092 or visit the Web site at www.grassrootsconcerts.org.
Wine-tasting event scheduled Feb. 19
AITKIN - The Beanery Internet Cafe located in Downtown Aitkin is hosting a wine-tasting event at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19.
Kevin Lietzau from Vineyard Brands will present several wines from the world-famous Perrin family, one of the international wine community's leading producers. The Perrin's are fifth-generation proprietors of Chteau de Beaucastel, widely recognized as one of Chteauneuf-du-Pape's finest domains. Attendees will sample the wines of Chteau de Beaucastel, Perrin et Fils and their North American partnership with Robert Haas at Tablas Creek Winery in Paso Robles, Calif.
This is an informal and educational event for those interested in expanding their knowledge and love of fine wines. A small assortment of appetizers will be served.
There is a charge for members and non-members, but you need not be a Northern Lights Wine Club member to attend and no product purchase is required. Tickets are available at the Beanery Cafe.
For more information, contact the cafe at (218) 927-7811 or Ross Otto at (218) 343-4410.
Winter concert set Tuesday at CLC
The Central Lakes College Music Department will present its winter jazz band and brass ensemble concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Chalberg Theater on the Brainerd campus.
Peter Ostroushko
"Bourbon Street to Funkytown" will feature soloists Brittany Stegora of Brainerd, Isaac Armstrong of Pine River, Rohana Bjorkquist of Crosslake, Sue Kavanaugh of East Gull Lake and Laurie Savage of Pequot Lakes, among others.
The CLC Brass Ensemble will play a set of four tunes from the early days of jazz arranged by Luther Henderson. The CLC Jazz Band will perform compositions by Earth, Wind And Fire, Tower of Power and a tune by David Sanborn arranged by Anderson.
"The Classics" to perform in Aitkin on Feb. 21
AITKIN - "The Classics" will perform Sinatra-era music with sophistication and humor in a Las Vegas-style show at the Friends of the Arts Midwinter Night's Dinner on Feb. 21 at the Westside Church in Aitkin.
"The Classics" - Ron Christianson will play the role of Dean Martin and Bob Saulsbury will play Frank Sinatra - began their musical careers by forming rock-'n'-roll bands in junior high school. Throughout their 30s and 40s, they continued playing and singing in separate bands. It was their church's contemporary music group in which they first performed together - Christianson playing the guitar and Saulsbury playing the upright bass, and they both sang. The two created a musical skit and starting calling themselves "The Classics."
Ruttger's Bay will provide the meal, and tickets are $35. Tickets are available at the Aitkin Independent Age or by calling (218) 549-3221.
Ellens touring with Concordia Choir
Joshua Ellens, the son of Paul Ellens of Moorhead and Jenny Kiffmeyer of Baxter, a junior at Concordia College, Moorhead, is touring with The Concordia Choir in February and March.
The tour included a performance Feb. 7 in California. The choir also planned to perform from Feb. 21 to March 3 in the Washington cities of Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Honolulu and Kahului, Hawaii. The tour concludes with a March 7 concert in Minnetonka and a March 8 concert in Moorhead.
BHS graduates tour with Concordia Orchestra
Several Brainerd High School graduates who are students at Concordia College, Moorhead, toured with Concordia Orchestra Feb. 10-15.
Tour stops included Bemidji, Grand Rapids, Mahtomedi, Minneapolis, Sauk Rapids, Thief River Falls, Grand Forks, N.D., and concluded with a tour in Moorhead.
Area students who toured were Lisa Holte, the daughter of David and Ellen Holte of Brainerd; Crystal Wright, the daughter of John and Jeanne Wright of Baxter; Brett Severson, the son of William Severson and Cheryl Severson, both of Brainerd; and Joseph Trucano, the son of Charles and Dagny Trucano of Brainerd.
Brainerd One-Act play to compete at state
The Brainerd High School One-Act play took first place in the Region 8AA section meet to qualify for state, scheduled at 10 a.m. Thursday at The O'Shaughnessy at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul.
The Section 8AA was held Feb. 7 in Alexandria. Brainerd won the competition with its play, "Mr. Ginsburg," a 1941 radio play by Arch Oboler. Moorhead took second place, Little Falls third, Detroit Lakes fourth, Alexandria fifth and Sauk Rapids-Rice sixth.
Brainerd students involved in the One-Act Play are Jennifer Petagno, Jennifer Hudson, Nick Swenson, Luke Gruenhagen, Andrew Nelson, Mike Strohmeyer, Shasta Smith, Ashley Juenemann, Alicia Wallin, Dillon Finger, Kristian Olson, Paige Schmidt, Colin Sullivan, Alyssa Hagel and Bre Storlie.
Meagan Kedrowski served as director, assisted by Audra Albrecht of the BHS Drama Club. Arielle Schnur, Mackenzie Paradeis and Kim Miller also helped with the play.