Current Events

Select Thursdays, October 24, November 21, December 19, 6-7 PM, Free
Exhibition: Eerie Selections From the Collection

Once a month, on select Thursdays, join us in an artistic setting, for an intimate chat between curatorial department members, educational department members, our Director/CEO, and guest artists for what we call an Artside Chat. This intimate format allows for deeper discussion about studio processes, the intent behind an artwork, and the broader social and cultural implications of works of art. These chats are intended as a safe space to facilitate wide ranging dialogues on contemporary issues, and respect and represent a broad range of diverse creative practices. Sometimes, we invite the opportunity to learn and understand something about the thinking that goes into what we do here at Plains Art Museum. We do not shy away from tough, thorny topics; also, we can do deep dives on topics when necessary in order to respect and represent a broad range of diverse creative practices.

Select Thursdays, October 3, November 7, December 5, 6-6:45 PM
Exhibition: Convergence: Health and Creativity: New Works by Anne Labovitz

Have you ever wanted to explore further certain themes or concepts related to our exhibitions? If so, then join a member of our curatorial staff select Thursdays for a themed-tour about an aspect of the art, the artist(s), an exhibition, or our permanent collection. Also, these tours can be designed and tailored to fit special requests, with six-weeks advanced notice, please. Free.

If you could build anything, what would it be? Artists create artwork based on their surroundings and to help make your world more colorful! Join us and learn about architecture and create your own city building. We will make a collaborative project all day long and create a beautiful city together. Kid Quest is a FREE program designed for the whole family to explore and create at your own pace. Each month has a unique theme with new artwork to explore and art projects to create.

Kid Quest is made possible with funding from Xcel Energy Corporation and the Kiwanis Club of Fargo.

Select Tuesdays, October 8, November 12, December 10, 1-1:45 PM, Free
Exhibition: Gigawaabimin

Looking for a good place to start your museum visit? Join a knowledgeable guide from the museum for a tour of our current exhibitions with a deeper look at key objects on display from our current exhibitions. During this participatory and collective experience. You’ll also have a chance to connect and share your ideas with fellow visitors. Most tours are about 45 minutes.

Enjoy five days of free holiday concerts featuring some of the area’s best musicians! Music begins at noon. Purchase lunch from Chef Sara Watson, featuring classic menu items from her Mosaic Catering days and more. Explore the galleries for free, shop for artful gifts at The Store with free gift wrapping. Museum memberships make great holiday gifts—members receive 20% off store purchases (10% for nonmembers) from November 24 to December 24. During concert week, don’t miss our Ceramic Sale, showcasing handmade works by the Plains Art Museum ceramic staff.

December 9: Russ Peterson and Concordia Saxaphones
December 10: Dave Ferreira Trio
December 11: Fargo-Moorhead Opera
December 12: Lyra Trio
December 13: Sarah Morrau & Bekka Devrie

Enjoy five days of free holiday concerts featuring some of the area’s best musicians! Music begins at noon. Purchase lunch from Chef Sara Watson, featuring classic menu items from her Mosaic Catering days and more. Explore the galleries for free, shop for artful gifts at The Store with free gift wrapping. Museum memberships make great holiday gifts—members receive 20% off store purchases (10% for nonmembers) from November 24 to December 24. During concert week, don’t miss our Ceramic Sale, showcasing handmade works by the Plains Art Museum ceramic staff.

December 9: Russ Peterson and Concordia Saxaphones
December 10: Dave Ferreira Trio
December 11: Fargo-Moorhead Opera
December 12: Lyra Trio
December 13: Sarah Morrau & Bekka Devrie

Select Thursdays, 6:30-8 PM, Free

• September 12: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
• October 10: Palace of the Peacock by Wilson Harris
• November 14: The Autobiography of my Mother by Jamaica Kincaid
• December 12: Parable of Sower by Octavia Butler

Plains Art Museum’s announces its sixth iteration of Critical Grooves Book Lab. Ages 16+ are welcomed, FREE.

For our sixth (6th) session (Fall–Winter ’24), we will read four lesser-known writers who will productively intersect with the museum’s scheduled exhibitions during Fall – Winter 2024. We begin with Ocean Vuong’s award-winning novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, to intersect with the Thomas-Suwall collection on exhibition in Full Disclosure. From there, we move on to Wilson Harris’s Palace of the Peacock to discuss aspects of the novel’s convergence with A Little Grey for Color. Then, Jamaica Kincaid’s The Autobiography of My Mother provides important context for a robust discussion of several past and upcoming exhibitions in our Starion Gallery. Finally, Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower (a speculative fiction novel set in 2024) captures the perils of climate change, the disparities within human rights, and the struggle for sovereignty—issues found in the upcoming exhibition, Water Talks.

If this assemblage of lesser-known writers sounds compelling, then please join us at Plains Art Museum on the select dates below. We offer an array of hot teas and hot chocolate. However, feel free to bring your own beverages/snacks, as well.

To encourage broad participation, you may acquire the selected texts through convenient means, as per your situation. Also note: Critical Grooves Book Lab selections will also be available for purchase from The Store at Plains Art Museum.

For more information and/or participation contact Dr. Kelvin Monroe kmonroe@plainsart.org.

Enjoy five days of free holiday concerts featuring some of the area’s best musicians! Music begins at noon. Purchase lunch from Chef Sara Watson, featuring classic menu items from her Mosaic Catering days and more. Explore the galleries for free, shop for artful gifts at The Store with free gift wrapping. Museum memberships make great holiday gifts—members receive 20% off store purchases (10% for nonmembers) from November 24 to December 24. During concert week, don’t miss our Ceramic Sale, showcasing handmade works by the Plains Art Museum ceramic staff.

December 9: Russ Peterson and Concordia Saxaphones
December 10: Dave Ferreira Trio
December 11: Fargo-Moorhead Opera
December 12: Lyra Trio
December 13: Sarah Morrau & Bekka Devrie

Enjoy five days of free holiday concerts featuring some of the area’s best musicians! Music begins at noon. Purchase lunch from Chef Sara Watson, featuring classic menu items from her Mosaic Catering days and more. Explore the galleries for free, shop for artful gifts at The Store with free gift wrapping. Museum memberships make great holiday gifts—members receive 20% off store purchases (10% for nonmembers) from November 24 to December 24. During concert week, don’t miss our Ceramic Sale, showcasing handmade works by the Plains Art Museum ceramic staff.

December 9: Russ Peterson and Concordia Saxaphones
December 10: Dave Ferreira Trio
December 11: Fargo-Moorhead Opera
December 12: Lyra Trio
December 13: Sarah Morrau & Bekka Devrie

Select Thursdays, October 24, November 21, December 19, 6-7 PM, Free
Exhibition: Convergence: Health and Creativity: New Works by Anne Labovitz

Once a month, on select Thursdays, join us in an artistic setting, for an intimate chat between curatorial department members, educational department members, our Director/CEO, and guest artists for what we call an Artside Chat. This intimate format allows for deeper discussion about studio processes, the intent behind an artwork, and the broader social and cultural implications of works of art. These chats are intended as a safe space to facilitate wide ranging dialogues on contemporary issues, and respect and represent a broad range of diverse creative practices. Sometimes, we invite the opportunity to learn and understand something about the thinking that goes into what we do here at Plains Art Museum. We do not shy away from tough, thorny topics; also, we can do deep dives on topics when necessary in order to respect and represent a broad range of diverse creative practices.