“Photography just grew on me,” shares Nelson, who retired last spring from the Morris Area High School. A graduate of Moorhead State University, Nelson served as yearbook adviser and taught business education classes that included desktop publishing, multimedia, and photography. Throughout the years, the teacher also played the role of student, taking courses in photography, painting, and graphic design. “I love nature, especially flowers,” says Nelson, “I love to take my camera and go for a walk with my dog or for a ride on my bike, and just see all the beauty around me, right here in our community. I’ve photographed my neighbor’s tree hundreds of times-in the spring, in the winter with red berries and no leaves. There’s so much beauty around us.” In addition to her photographs, Nelson will also display prints created by pounding petals and leaves onto linen, embellishing the dyed fabric with ink, and scanning to paper.

A Valentine’s feast for the eyes and a spring harbinger for winter-weary souls, visit Nelson’s floral exhibit at 630 Atlantic Avenue in Morris. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

Friday, February 5th 3:00 to 6:00 Recycled Paper Beaded Jewelry at PRCA Date: Friday, February 5, 2010
Time: 3:00 to 6:00 pm
Fee: Members pay $30.00 Non-members pay $40.00
Limited to 6 participants
Learn the skills needed to make beaded jewelry in this one day workshop designed to teach the process and practice of jewelry making. Students will learn to roll the paper into beads, design the beads and shape into a necklace or braclet. Welcome ages 16 and up

Saturday, February 6th Handmade cards at PRCA
Date: Saturday, February 6, 2010
Time: 10:00 to 1:00
Fee: Members pay $20.00 Non-members pay $25.00
Students will have fun using a variety of materials to create new and interesting handmade cards. Sarah McDermott from Hancock will be facilitating the class. Ages 16 and up welcome.

Saturday, February 6th from 8:30 to noon at the Soils Lab.

We start with our famous potluck breakfast and then get into some good fun, wild creative thinking and out-of-the-box problem solving. Topics we’ll cover include fundraising, programming, the center and we envision where the PRCA will be in the future. Bring your vision and ideas and get in on this important day in our calendar. Everyone is welcome to come for some or all of the meeting.

Exploring symbolism in contemporary life, the show will consist of photographs printed straight up as well as photographs printed in a montage style. Allenspach has applied his sense of design and color to create an intriguing display of images that are open for interpretation. Come enjoy a refreshing look at the world we live in.

Dan Allenspach graduated from Moorhead State University with a BA in Art and taught Art at Jordan High School for two years before moving to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Allenspach returned to his hometown of Hancock, Minnesota in the early 1990’s and is known to some for his garden full of flowers and sculptures.