ART SHORTS

Artwork by four printmakers will be on display through Dec. 15 at the "Highpoint Four" exhibit at the Central Lakes College Gallery in Brainerd.

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The artists produce their works at the Highpoint Center for Printmaking in Minneapolis, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the art of printmaking.

The artists are:

Sally Gordon, who earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota and whose primary interest is lithography. After completing her Master's thesis exhibition in 1974, Gordon left school and worked at Styria Studio in New York City. She then left printmaking to focus on raising her two daughters and helping her husband's jewelry-making career. Today, she is making art for pure enjoyment.

Amy Sands, who received her Master of Fine Arts from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y., and her BFA from Concordia College in Moorhead. Sands' work has been shown nationally and internationally and it is featured in collections of the New York Public Library, Skopelos (Greece) Foundation for the Arts, the Pratt Institute and the Highpoint Center.

James Boyd-Brent, an artist/printmaker and an instructor at the University of Minnesota, where he teaches drawing, graphic design and design theory. He has exhibited throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.

Shannon Brady, a Milwaukee native now based in Minneapolis. He earned his BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1985. His first job was with the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group as the art director. He found lucrative work in the corporate world but after two years decided to change course. His exhibits have been shown at the Minnesota Institute for the Arts and other Minneapolis galleries. He works as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

GRAA holiday art show to open

LITTLE FALLS - The Great River Arts Association's second annual Downtown Holiday Art Show will be held Friday-Dec. 31 at the Arts Center in Little Falls. Opening receptions will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

The show will include watercolors by Angie Beaumont and Kathy Braud; paintings by Richard Lozier; wildlife and floral artwork by David Kraemer; paintings and drawings by Muriel and Carrie Poehler; photography by Jan Bieringer and Duane Paulson; Donna Jarvis' painted glassware; oil paintings and digital photography by Laurie Mahling; pottery by Susan Beyer, Sara Valesano and Esther San Felippo; pen and ink drawings by Luke Eidenschink; Gail Walsh's Chinese Brush; and willow baskets by Len Sharon.

For more information, call (320) 632-0960 or visit www.greatart.org.

Bieringer exhibit at Morrison County Government Center

LITTLE FALLS - Jan Bieringer's debut exhibit of photographs will be on display through January in the Second Floor Gallery at the Morrison County Government Center. It features more than 40 photographs.

Many of her photographs reflect the rural Sauk Centre countryside she calls home with her husband, John.

Bieringer will be on hand at the opening reception for the Downtown Holiday Art Show from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the Great River Arts Center in Little Falls.

For more information, call (320) 632-0960 or visit www.greatart.org.

Nature photography featured at Family Medical Center Gallery

LITTLE FALLS - The work of nature photographer Shirley Strom will be on display through January at the Family Medical Center Gallery in Little Falls.

Strom lives with her husband in Sartell. By enhancing their lot with gardening and birdhouses, baths and feeders, Strom has been able to work in her own back yard. The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds while other features draw the birds.

For more information, call (320) 632-0960 or visit www.greatart.org.

Jaques auction, dinner slated

AITKIN - A silent auction will be held from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Jaques Art Center in Aitkin. Proceeds will benefit the Access Jaques Building Fund.

Many items are up for auction, including a Chang print, a champagne brunch for four and an eight-piece set of hand-carved Tahitian furniture.

Winners of the items will be announced at Saturday evening's Holiday Dinner or contacted by phone. Also at the dinner, the winners of the Terry Stein quilt/Les Kouba print raffle will be announced.