James Wegner, the longtime local art instructor, will present some of his work next month.

A retrospective of James Wegner will be the featured exhibition in May at the Austin ArtWorks Center at Oak Park Mall. Wegner has selected a variety of works that span his 50-year career. The show traces the influences of a variety of 20th century art movements on Wegner’s unique explorations of both figurative and abstract forms.

Simple forms derived from nature become his primary concern. He likes to work directly with his material, allowing the forms to emerge as natural and uncomplicated as possible.

Wegner taught art at Austin Community College (now Riverland Community College) for 28 years, and in the Austin Public Schools for 10 years.

He has exhibited at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Tweed Gallery in Duluth, Mason City McNeider Museum and Rochester Art Center. He has also shown work at Riverland’s James Wegner Art Gallery, Albert Lea Art Center and Naeve Hospital.

The public is invited to an artist reception on Sunday, May 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. The Austin Art Works Center is located in Oak Park Mall, 1301 18th Avenue NW, in Austin, Minn. The gallery hours are noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.