CLC Cultural Thursday: Mysteries of the Anasazi

The next Cultural Thursday event will be held on February 5 at Central Lakes College. Sociologist Gary Payne will display images captured on photo safaris to the southwestern territories of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, which had been the homeland of the Anasazi, several closely related American Indian cultures. Payne will demonstrate how life was possible in the scorching heat of desert summers and icy cold high altitude winters common in this region. The history, geology, wildlife, vegetation, and artifacts in the area will be discussed in regard to how they affected Anasazi shelters, hunting, art and diet. 

“Mysteries of the Anasazi” will be presented at noon with an encore presentation scheduled for 7 pm. Both presentations will be held in the lecture lab E354 at the Brainerd campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Photo Caption: Local father and son photographic team Gary and Sayer Payne pause beneath a gigantic arch that remains after 60 million years of erosion at Utah's Dead Horse Point State Park.

CLC Music Department Fall Band Concert

The CLC Music Department presents it's Fall Concert, "A Bit O' Brit, A Wee Dram O' Scotch" on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Chalberg Theater. 

The Jazz Band will feature music from the Spring Fine Arts Festival which took place at Cragun's Resort last April. Styles will range from easy Swing to Funk and Latin.

The Central Lakes College Community Band will feature music of the two countries they toured last summer, England and Scotland. Composers of Concert Band music from England and Scotland have added many wonderful pieces to the Concert Band repertoire and some of these will be on the program. During the Concert Band portion of the concert, slides from the tour will be featured showing the places in which the band performed and those they toured.

Admission for the concert is $5.00 with CLC students and children 12 and under admitted free of charge. There is no advanced ticket sales and no reserved seating.

Nominations Accepted for Educator of the Year

The MnSCU Board of Trustees is now accepting nominations for Educator of the Year Award for Excellence in Teaching. This award is an honor bestowed upon Minnesota State Colleges & Universities faculty to acknowledge and reward exceptional individual professional accomplishment and to encourage ongoing excellence in teaching. Central Lakes College (CLC) has been fortunate to have so many wonderful, caring, engaged and outstanding faculty in its ranks. Indeed in recent years, several of our faculty have been successfully recognized through this award. 

Verse Like Water: Poet Robert Hass

Verse Like Water: the visiting poet program of Central Lakes College, in collaboration with The Crossing Arts Alliance, invites you to this literary event featuring former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass. The Brainerd campus is hosting this great American poet, translator, teacher, and prodigious advocate for world peace. The reading is at noon on October 29, and will be followed by a book signing and craft talk at 1:30 pm. Special thanks to Minneapolis poet, musician, and songwriter Brian Laidlaw who will perform at 11:00 am in the Chalberg Theater. 

Community Invited in "Charting the Future"

Central Lakes College and other Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are engaged in a collaborative process called Charting the Future to develop specific actions to better serve our students and communities, strengthen our colleges and universities, and protect our unique character and autonomy. 

Charting the Future (CTF) implementation teams in the areas of Student Success, Diversity, Comprehensive Workplace Solutions and System Incentives & Rewards have spent the past several months researching and developing initial ideas that will better serve our students and communities across the state and strengthen our colleges and universities. 

CLC Students Play Role at Governor’s Fishing Opener

The 67th annual Governor’s Fishing Opener, hosted by Governor Mark Dayton and held at Grand View Lodge on Gull Lake was the media “hot spot” in Minnesota this past weekend.

Along with the multitude of seasoned media professionals, two CLC Videography students recorded the events at Grand View Lodge for KARE 11 News. KARE 11 has contracted with CLC Videography to act as a bureau in this region when they need additional coverage.

Cultural Thursday Season Finale “Fun Foreign Fotos” with Jan Kurtz

Fifteen years ago, Cultural Thursdays became an official Central Lakes College event under the direction of Jan Kurtz.  On Thursday, May 1 at noon, in the Chalberg Theater, Jan will be hosting her final show entitled: “Fun Foreign Fotos”, before retiring.

“As a finale” Jan said, “I wanted to look over a span of time and favorite photos to share with the audience.  I have chosen examples from seven countries taken on eleven different trips.  The idea is to graduate from being ‘just an observer’ of travel, taking only photo ops, to being a seasoned traveler who includes knowledge of culture, history and yes, languages in their experience.”

"Verse Like Water" Poet Program Presents Billy Collins

"Verse Like Water: the visiting poet program of Central Lakes College, in conjunction with The Crossing Arts Alliance, presents Billy Collins on April 29th. Billy is one of the great poets of our generation, and he has twice been named U.S. Poet Laureate by the Library of Congress. 

This poetry reading will be at noon in the CLC Chalberg Theater, and will be followed by a book signing, meet and greet, and workshop for anyone interested in hearing him speak about poetry, creativity, and the imagination (around 1:30 and also in the Chalberg).  

January Dean's Report

Mary Sam, Director of Diversity, Equity & Tribal Relations

CLC is committed to providing the necessary training and education to expand the cultural and professional competencies of our employees and students regarding diversity. This commitment was evident on January 8th, as all CLC faculty and staff participated in a full day of training for the 4th year in a row.  The theme of this year's training was "Bridges Out of Poverty."

 

Out Front Minnesota: ‘Bullying: Minnesota Safe and Supportive Schools Act’ presented on January 27 from 6:30-8:00 in the Chalberg Theater at the Brainerd campus. This event for anyone concerned about bullying or interested in learning more about the proposed bullying legislation. The presentation will cover the current anti-bullying legislation as well as the proposed Safe and Supportive MN Schools Act. There will be personal sharing by those affected by bullying, and a panel will facilitate a question and answer session.

CLC Cafeteria named After the "Mad Hugger"

Courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch • October 3, 2013

By Jennifer Stockinger, Staff Writer
Happy Joe’s Cafe may be the perfect name for Central Lakes College (CLC) cafeteria.

The cafeteria was recently named when the college awarded its three-year food service bid to Prairie Bay Grill & Catering in Baxter that started this academic year of 2013-14.

Nick Miller, general manager of Prairie Bay, said the cafeteria was named after Joe Plut, who retired from CLC as the English and humanities instructor, and who is known as “the mad hugger.”

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Photo contest results

The 45th annual Central Lakes College Photo Contest in Brainerd was one of the largest, with 72 photographers from 33 communities entering 490 photographs. The contest included nine categories -- Landscape, Portrait, Action, Creative, Birds, Animals, Flowers, Children, and the theme category Everything Under the Sun. Photographers from 13 communities were recognized for their Best of Show images. Jamie Birkedahl of Nisswa, a CLC student and 2009 Brainerd High School graduate, received Best of Show in the Everything Under the Sun theme category with a narrow landscape of a sunrise viewed from inside a cave.

The Art of Science

Lindy Jo Johnson was named winner of the CLC Juried Student Art Contest for 2012, receiving the award from Joli Austin, adjunct faculty member who judged the works with assistance from Heidi Steadman. Artwork entered and qualifying for exhibit is displayed in the CLC Gallery, where a reception was held April 20. "The Art of Science" art show kicked off with a meet and greet, hors d-oeuvres, beverages, and live entertainment hosted by the 50-member CLC Science Club. Lindy Jo's oil on canvas titled "Simple Twist of Fate" took top honors. Runner-up Martin Nelson of Brainerd created an acrylic and mixed media on canvas piece titled "The Great Divide, AKA Black Gold." Lindy Jo credits CLC art instructor Mic Stowell with inspiring and mentoring her artistic side. Lindy Jo, president of the CLC Science Club, will next pursue an environmental engineering degree at Bemidji State. Martin thanks his artist-father Mitchell Cory Nelson, for raising him in an artistic environment and nurturing creativity. Martin is headed to St. Cloud State to study fine arts. He currently has one of his works displayed in the Wells Fargo building in St. Paul, as part of the Chancellor's Exhibit (Minnesota State Colleges and Universities).

Photo contest

The 45th annual photo contest at Central Lakes College, Brainerd campus, is currently on display with one of the largest collections of photos in the history of the contest, according to contest coordinator Larry M. Kellerman. This year 72 photographers from 33 Minnesota communities entered a total of 490 photographs in the nine categories of landscape, portrait, action, creative, birds, animals, flowers, children and the theme category “Everything under the sun.” The photos will remain on display in the hallways near the library and theatre until Monday, April 30.

Juried student art show

Open to all Brainerd Campus Central Lakes College students, the 2012 Juried Student Art Show, "The Art of Science," is accepting entries through April 2. An exhibit is scheduled for the CLC Art Gallery across from the Jon Hassler Library, and a reception April 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. will take place in the area around the Gallery, hosted by the CLC Science Club. Artwork registration forms are available outside the Gallery. The art must have been completed within the last three years. Information is available from Martin Nelson, nels8748@go.clcmn.edu

Photo contest winners

A record 559 entries from 76 photographers made history in the 44th annual Central Lakes College Photo Contest. Submissions came from 31 communities. Contest coordinator Larry Kellerman awarded ribbons to 93 firsts, 162 seconds, and 208 thirds. Brandi Jerby, Wadena, captured Best of Theme in Glass, followed by Megan Maki, Brainerd. Gary Harris, Brainerd, received Best of Show in Color. Marion Segersten, Crosby, was first runner-up. Larry Helsene, Pillager, was second runner-up. Megan Bollings, Silver Bay, won Best of Show in Black and White, followed by Bill Kuehl, Nisswa. Judge’s Awards went to Juliette Omundson, Staples; Jeff Mozey, Brainerd; Carolyn Corbett, Lake Shore; and Vanessa Lenzen, Eagle Bend. Photos will be displayed from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. through April 29 in the hallways near the Jon Hassler Library at CLC.

Student art exhibit

The 2011 Central Lakes College Juried Student Art Show runs through May 5 in the CLC Gallery on the Brainerd campus. Artist and educator Andrew Nordin of New London judged the entries in this annual exhibit. Luke Grittner of Pillager received Best of Show with untitled earthenware. Merit Awards went to Ryan Hollen, Brainerd, for his untitled pen drawing and Lindy Jo Johnson, Crosby, for “Family Generations,” a watercolor. “The students’ work is of a really high quality overall,” said Nordin. “I’m impressed with the earnestness and straightforward search for originality and beauty.” He said that all of the works he judged has, “in at least one way, great qualities.” The important thing is that the works create a dialog and a cohesive idea with the viewer.

Photo contest

“Glass” is the theme for the 44th annual photo contest on the Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College beginning April 18, according to coordinator Larry Kellerman. The public contest has traditional photo entry categories of “landscape,” “portrait,” “action,” “creative,” “birds,” “animals,” “flowers,” and “children.” And each year there is a special theme category. Entries must have a print image of at least 5 by 7 inches and be no larger than 11 by 14 inches. A photographer may enter one photo in each category, in both in black and white and color. The photos must be matted. Each photo must have the photographer’s name, address, and phone number on the back of the print. The entry fee is 50 cents per photo. There will be a number of awards for first, second and third place finishes and overall awards for Best in Show for color, black and white, theme, and judge’s preferences. Photos will be on display near the Jon Hassler library and fine arts hallway through April 29 for public viewing. Entry deadline is Monday, April 18 at 9 p.m., with photos registered in the library on the Brainerd campus. Photo entries may be sent by mail with the registration fee to Larry Kellerman, Central Lakes College, 501 West College Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401. For information contact Kellerman at 218-855-8179 or lkellerm@clcmn.edu

Iraq war exhibit

Artist Megan Rye of Minneapolis is featured in the Central Lakes College Gallery on the Brainerd campus with an exhibit titled “Iraq: The Forgotten War” Feb. 23-March 24. She is best known for large scale oil paintings of the ongoing conflict in Iraq. “Although we have had all great shows, this one might be a step up,” said Mic Stowell, art instructor at CLC and CLC Gallery curator. “Megan Rye has been getting a lot of attention in Minnesota and nationally. Her work is timely.” Rye’s paintings of scenes from Iraq “are the most effective in conveying something of the tensions and bewilderment that U.S. soldiers must experience on patrol there,” said reviewer Mary Abbe in the Star Tribune. Most are based on snapshots taken by her brother Ryan, a Marine who served in Fallujah and the Sunni Triangle for seven months. “Beautifully designed and artfully executed, the scenes have a compelling grace that belies the gritty reality of their war-zone origins,” Abbe said. The gallery is open to the public at no charge during regular campus hours. It is located across from the Jon Hassler Library.

Gallery exhibit

Digital images created by Martin Springborg are displayed in the Central Lakes College Gallery on the Brainerd campus Jan. 18-Feb. 10. “Teaching and Learning” is the title of the exhibit by Springborg, an adjunct instructor teaching online digital photography at CLC. The gallery is free and open during regular campus hours, located across from the Jon Hassler Library. Springborg is employed by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities’ Center for Teaching and Learning. He is a tireless artist and educator who is also teaching art history in college classrooms. “Teaching and Learning” is a photographic essay that Springborg began as a faculty member at Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, Minn., in 2006. Springborg in 2003 published the paperback “Proof: Ruminations on the Everyday,” an example of his influences – Harry Callahan and Emmet Gowin. “I photograph the complexities of the commonplace,” he said. For more about Martin, go to http://www.springborgphoto.com/

Unusual exhibit

Anyone who has ever been to the dump, the Crow Wing County Landfill, or the Cass County Recycling Center has been to Gina Dabrowski’s world. But the internationally acclaimed photographic artist from Northeast Minneapolis has done what nobody else would do. She has captured via large-format camera the immensity of our garbage collection and explored the cultural reality of trash disposal. “Refuse Reimaged” is her exhibit in the Central Lakes College Gallery on the Brainerd campus through Dec. 14. Images provide a unique perspective, including the people who patronize the modern-day, well-engineered and finite burial site of everything we throw away. Dabrowski gave a slide lecture to art students at CLC on Nov. 17, explaining the genesis of her multi-year photographic journey to numerous landfills. She showed images from a massive dump near Oaxaca, Mexico, as well as the recycling center north of Pine River and a landfill transfer station in Virginia. She retraced a commitment to provide the impressive apolitical account given praise from grant funders (McKnight, Minnesota State Arts Board, U.S. Department of Education) and kudos from a critical public audience (Minnesota Historical Society, Rochester, N.Y. Visual Studies Workshop, California Institute of the Arts, and numerous colleges and universities). Dabrowski is working on new projects, including a visual expose’ on old dumps long since reclaimed as useful public space, such as parks.