BEMIDJI — For 58 years, the Watermark Art Festival has been a summer tradition in downtown Bemidji. This year's festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, July 18-19.
In addition to art vendors, there will be live music, a food court area, artist demonstrations and hands-on activities for kids and adults.
Watermark Art Center Executive Director Lori Forshee-Donnay told Area Voices on the KAXE Morning Show that there will be some artists participating for the first time and others who have been coming to the festival for years.
“It becomes sort of almost like a reunion kind of thing ... it's really an exciting opportunity to explore art,” Forshee-Donnay said.
Indigenous art demonstrations will be on the south lawn of the Watermark Art Center, along with minnow races and a face painting station from a Boy Scout troop.
Booths and activities will be at Library Park and outside the Watermark Art Center, as well as activities inside the Watermark building. Art Education Program Director Jill Neumann said there will be art-making stations in the education studio, and it’s a chance for people to check out the art in the four galleries.
Forshee-Donnay credited the festival’s success in attracting residents and returning artists to a few key factors.
The Watermark puts emphasis on taking care of the artists who participate. This experience leads past participants to refer new artists, she said. Forshee-Donnay also said it helps to be a smaller festival. The event is not overwhelming and has the added bonus of being at a park on the lake.
The preparation for the festival begins a year in advance. Neumann said it’s an “all hands on deck” situation, but staff members love what it brings to the community.
The festival is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, July 19. It’s free to attend.
The Watermark Art Center will remain busy after the festival with the Bi-Annual Members Show in early August and the It’s Only Clay competition going on in November.
Listen to the full conversation with Forshee-Donnay and Neumann by clicking above.
Tell us about upcoming arts events where you live in Northern Minnesota by emailing psa@kaxe.org.
Area Voices is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
