Current Events

Artside Chat: Malik and Marquis Revisited

March 27, 2025 - 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Artside Chat: Malik and Marquis Revisited

Join Danielle Gravon and Kelvin Monroe for an engaging discussion on Alfred Conteh’s Malik and Marquis, on loan from Art Bridges and newly reinstalled in a pop up gallery located on the first floor. This Artside Chat explores the layered dialogues between Conteh’s evocative painting and Powell’s architectural legacy, creating an exhibition-within-an-exhibition that examines themes of space, structural dynamics, and the role of architecture shaping the way we experience space. Reflecting on how Conteh’s work transforms the gallery into a contemplative space, this discussion highlights the intersection of art, architecture, and dynamic structural inequalities occurring within the built environment. Don’t miss this opportunity to investigate the dynamic interplay of these powerful works.

Generous support for this project provided by Art Bridges.

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Native American Blessing

March 31, 2025 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Native American Blessing

Spirit Room Presents: Healing Art Series at Plains Art Museum. Experience the art of healing in a serene environment, surrounded by Anne Labovitz’s exhibition inside the third floor gallery. Join us for eight different well-being sessions designed to inspire and restore.

Mondays for eight weeks: March 17 – May 5, Noon – 1 PM, Free

Wishkobizi Nibi Ikwe (To be sweet like the water woman) will share relaxation and meditation techniques while using a traditional dewe’igan (Hand drum) that the indigenous peoples call the Heartbeat of Mother Earth! The vibration of the dewe’igan cleanses the air around us, allowing for mindful relaxation and calming of the mind, using soft drumming sounds, one can feel free to relax and reclaim a sense of peace we are all seeking.

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Kid Quest – Great Free for All

April 5, 2025 - 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Kid Quest – Great Free for All

Bring your creativity for the final Kid Quest of the season! All supplies will be out for you to create something entirely your own. Not sure what to make? Examples will be available for inspiration. Kid Quest is FREE fun for the whole family! Popular art adventures in the museum galleries and art-making in the Center for Creativity.

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

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Opening Reception: Jaque Fragua’s Ghost Writing

April 5, 2025 - 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Opening Reception: Jaque Fragua’s Ghost Writing

Step into the dynamic world of Jaque Fragua at the opening reception of Ghost Writing, a mid-career retrospective that bridges the past and present through a bold reimagining of Indigenous art and identity. Fragua, a contemporary artist from Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico, employs an array of media—digital painting, sculpture, installation, and public art—to challenge narratives, reclaim cultural iconography, and address critical issues faced by Indigenous communities today. Free with registration.

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Brain Enhancement Dancing

April 7, 2025 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Brain Enhancement Dancing

Spirit Room Presents: Healing Art Series at Plains Art Museum. Experience the art of healing in a serene environment, surrounded by Anne Labovitz’s exhibition inside the third floor gallery. Join us for eight different well-being sessions designed to inspire and restore.

Mondays for eight weeks: March 17 – May 5, Noon – 1 PM, Free

Join us for Senior’s B.E.D. Class (Brain Enhancement Dancing), a fun and engaging way to boost memory, concentration, and balance through ballroom dance. Backed by a 21-year study, dancing has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of dementia while improving cognitive function. No partner is needed—just bring your energy and enjoy this social and brain-boosting activity!

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Critical Grooves Book Lab

April 10, 2025 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Critical Grooves Book Lab

April 10: The Healing by Gayl Jones

Plains Art Museum invites you to join the seventh (7th) iteration of Critical Grooves Book Lab, where we explore four extraordinary books through the lens of art, culture, and social reflection, and their linkages to the museum’s current exhibitions. Ages 16+ are welcomed, FREE.

We begin with Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns, which chronicles the Great Migration and resonates with Anne Labovitz’s exhibition exploring themes of well-being, resilience, and connection. We then move onto Percival Everett’s So Much Blue—a richly layered novel about an artist navigating memory, secrecy, and creativity—which creates a dynamic dialogue with Don Powell’s A Little Grey for Color, examining the emotional resonance of design and architecture. Gayl Jones’s The Healing, a lyrical tale of reclamation and transformation through a mysterious faith healer, converges with the energy of Jaque Fragua’s Ghost Writing, where layered expressions of history and spirituality unfold. Finally, we close with Richard Wright’s Native Son, a searing exploration of systemic inequality and structuring narratives in mid-20th century America, which powerfully aligns with Mickey Smith’s examination of history, text, and media in shaping public and private identities. Whether you’re new to these authors or revisiting their works, join us at Plains Art Museum for engaging discussions and reflections, with hot tea, hot chocolate, and/or your own snacks and beverages.

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.

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Chakra System (Energy Centers) Alignment

April 14, 2025 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Chakra System (Energy Centers) Alignment

Spirit Room Presents: Healing Art Series at Plains Art Museum. Experience the art of healing in a serene environment, surrounded by Anne Labovitz’s exhibition inside the third floor gallery. Join us for eight different well-being sessions designed to inspire and restore.

Mondays for eight weeks: March 17 – May 5, Noon – 1 PM, Free

Join Kaiva Rose for an immersive journey into the Chakra System. Explore the significance of the seven energy centers, how they influence your well-being, and experience their energy through guided movement and meditation. Cultivate awareness and harmony within as you attune to your body’s natural flow.

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Gentle Yoga

April 21, 2025 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Gentle Yoga

Spirit Room Presents: Healing Art Series at Plains Art Museum. Experience the art of healing in a serene environment, surrounded by Anne Labovitz’s exhibition inside the third floor gallery. Join us for eight different well-being sessions designed to inspire and restore.

Mondays for eight weeks: March 17 – May 5, Noon – 1 PM, Free

Experience a gentle yoga practice that nurtures the body and mind with smooth, gentle postures. Ashley Thornberg will guide you through slow, supportive postures and breath-focused exercises to enhance mobility, ease tension, and encourage deep relaxation. This class offers a peaceful space to stretch, unwind, and feel refreshed.

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Convergence Expo

April 26, 2025 - 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Convergence Expo

This exciting event highlights Anne Labovitz’s exhibition, featuring time with the artist, guided tours, and interactive activities. Explore community resources centered on health, wellness, mindfulness, and well-being, enjoy make-and-take art activities, and connect with others through networking opportunities. Food will be available for purchase, and the day will culminate with a dynamic panel discussion featuring Anne Labovitz and notable health professionals, exploring the intersection of creativity and wellness. Stay tuned for more details—don’t miss this unique opportunity to celebrate the power of art and well-being!

Generous support for this project provided by Art Bridges. This project is supported in part by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Art + Autism: Exploring Color + Water

April 26, 2025 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Art + Autism: Exploring Color + Water

Art + Autism is a family program that centers youth with Autism in an art exploration experience. Through hands-on art experience and guided art making, we strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all families. Each class has a different theme and related art project. Free with registration. For ages 4-10.

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Tai Ji Quan

April 28, 2025 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Tai Ji Quan

Spirit Room Presents: Healing Art Series at Plains Art Museum. Experience the art of healing in a serene environment, surrounded by Anne Labovitz’s exhibition inside the third floor gallery. Join us for eight different well-being sessions designed to inspire and restore.

Mondays for eight weeks: March 17 – May 5, Noon – 1 PM, Free

Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance is an eight-form routine to reduce risk of falling. Experience sensory integration in a series of mindful body positioning, stepping maneuvers and coordinated breathing. Join Mary Jo Cayley in therapeutically based “swing and sway” movements for better balance.

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Spring Gala: Color Flings

May 3, 2025 - 7:00 pm to 11:59 pm
Spring Gala: Color Flings

Fling into Spring with Color!

• Silent Auction of Art
• Dance to Low Standards & DJ Star IV
• Hors d’oeuvres by VIP catering
• Libations by Chef’s Table Catering
• Delectable Desserts by Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Café
• Wine Tasting by Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops

This year’s theme, Color Flings, invites you to color your mood. You may want to emerge from winter in your boldest and brightest colors, or you may choose varying hues of one color only. Explore new colors—have an affair (a fling, if you will) with a color not in your typical palette.

Ticket price is $125, $150 after April 21. Discounts for members contact khoisington@plainsart.org. Your support helps the Museum provide free access to educational and artistic experiences

Presenting sponsor
Diamond sponsors: Drekker Brewing Company • TellwellWDAY 
Platinum sponsors: Folkways • Nymark Sign • Spotlight • Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops
Gold sponsors: Brian Hayer • Enclave • High Plains Reader • Kilbourne Group LLC • Marsh McLennan Agency • Microsoft • OpGo Marketing • Off The Wall Advertising • R.D. Offutt Company • Sanford Health • Stacy Kennedy Photography • T.L. Stroh Architects & Interiors

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Dance with the Day

May 5, 2025 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Dance with the Day

Spirit Room Presents: Healing Art Series at Plains Art Museum. Experience the art of healing in a serene environment, surrounded by Anne Labovitz’s exhibition inside the third floor gallery. Join us for eight different well-being sessions designed to inspire and restore.

Mondays for eight weeks: March 17 – May 5, Noon – 1 PM, Free

Vitalize your day with dance and curated music by Blaine! Led by Nathan Hanson, this session invites you to explore movement and self-expression in a welcoming, judgment-free space. Let go of self-consciousness, embrace the music, and move freely to uplift your body and spir

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Critical Grooves Book Lab

May 8, 2025 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Critical Grooves Book Lab

May 8: Native Son by Richard Wright

Plains Art Museum invites you to join the eighth (8th) iteration of Critical Grooves Book Lab, where we explore four extraordinary books through the lens of art, culture, and social reflection, and their linkages to the museum’s current exhibitions. Ages 16+ are welcomed, FREE.

We begin with Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns, which chronicles the Great Migration and resonates with Anne Labovitz’s exhibition exploring themes of well-being, resilience, and connection. We then move onto Percival Everett’s So Much Blue—a richly layered novel about an artist navigating memory, secrecy, and creativity—which creates a dynamic dialogue with Don Powell’s A Little Grey for Color, examining the emotional resonance of design and architecture. Gayl Jones’s The Healing, a lyrical tale of reclamation and transformation through a mysterious faith healer, converges with the energy of Jaque Fragua’s Ghost Writing, where layered expressions of history and spirituality unfold. Finally, we close with Richard Wright’s Native Son, a searing exploration of systemic inequality and structuring narratives in mid-20th century America, which powerfully aligns with Mickey Smith’s examination of history, text, and media in shaping public and private identities. Whether you’re new to these authors or revisiting their works, join us at Plains Art Museum for engaging discussions and reflections, with hot tea, hot chocolate, and/or your own snacks and beverages.

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.

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Ongoing Exhibitions

Convergence:

Convergence:
Hope, Love, Resilience, Rest, Community

This installation was created specifically for the atrium at Plains Art Museum as part of the exhibition Convergence: Health & Creativity. Inspired by Labovitz’s research on the psychological benefits of art, this piece celebrates the connection between art and well-being.

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S.P.A.C.E. 2024-2026

S.P.A.C.E. 2024-2026

The S.P.A.C.E. (Sculpture Pad Art Collaborative Experiment) project is a public art initiative led by Plains Art Museum in collaboration with NDSU, MSUM, and Concordia College. Sculptures are displayed for two years.

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No Time For Despair

No Time For Despair

To say that right now is the ideal time to make art that speaks directly to the people about social justice is an understatement. Because the very nature of art is to undertake or assume the role of a healer by shading light on the human condition.

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Bee in Flight

Bee in Flight

Community artist and school art teacher MeLissa Kossick, who guides youth classes at the Museum on art, gardens, and pollinators, has created an enchanting mosaic design in the Creativity Pathway in the Serkland Gallery called Bee in Flight.

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Fragile Preservation

Fragile Preservation
A Tallgrass Community

While the Tallgrass Prairie is a community made up of a great diversity of species, Fragile Preservation represents a selection of them.

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