Best Bets: Metro collage artist exhibit to open at ArtWorks Center

Published 6:30 am Thursday, January 9, 2020

The Austin ArtWorks Center is opening a new exhibit featuring the works of Emily Lavalier, Cora Feist and Cynder Higgins at 5 p.m. on Friday. The show will run until Friday, March 27.

All are welcome to celebrate at a free opening reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday. The artists will be present to discuss their work and light refreshments will be provided.

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Emily Lavalier is a self-taught collage artist residing in Minneapolis. Her high-density collage style begins with a hand-drawn sketch covered by layers of paper from recycled magazines, thrift store children’s books, and found objects. Each original is uniquely three-dimensional and takes anywhere from 200 to 500 hours to complete.

Lavalier earned a degree in communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and works as an employment consultant for Hammer Residences, helping adults with disabilities find gainful employment. Lavalier exhibited at the 2019 Austin ArtWorks Festival, where she won a Visual Artists Committee Award.

Cora Feist is an Austin High School freshman who says that oil painting is her favorite medium and that she enjoys “starting new paintings and discovering where they will go.” Feist won an award at the student exhibit at the Austin ArtWorks Festival in 2019.

In addition to her talents in a variety of visual art mediums, Feist was a finalist for the 2018 Richard Eberhart Poetry Contest.

Cynder Higgins is a senior at Austin High School and is enrolled in post-secondary classes at Riverland Community College. Higgins won awards in the student exhibit at Austin ArtWorks Festival in 2018 and 2019. She will be exhibiting a variety of media, including photography, watercolor, ceramics and mixed media.

“My art often represents the perpetual history a subject has and how it exists within its environment,” Higgins said.


Schedule of Events

Friday

• Defensive Driving Class, noon to 4 p.m. at the Mower County Senior Center. This is the 4-hour refresher course needed every three years to continue the 10 percent discount on your insurance premium. Cost for members is $17, non-members $19. To sign up or for more information, call 507-433-2370.

• American Red Cross Blood Drive, noon to 6 p.m. at Hollandale Christian Reform Church in Hollandale. To schedule an appointment to donate, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

• American Red Cross Blood Drive, 2-7 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hayfield. To schedule an appointment to donate, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

• Austin Bruins vs. St. Cloud Blizzard, 7:05 pm. at Riverside Arena. Go, Bruins! Tickets available at Hy-Vee, Holiday Inn, Games People Play, Jim’s MarketPlace and Riverside Arena. For more information, go to https://www.austinbruins.com.

Saturday

• Christmas Tree Pick-Up, 8 a.m. to noon throughout Austin. Pacelli students will once again be picking up Christmas trees – please have your tree at the curb by 8 a.m. with all ornaments, lights and tinsel removed. Students will come by during the day to pick the tree up. A free-will donation for the service will be gratefully accepted. Please call 507-437-3278 or email kkahle@pacellischools.org to arrange for the pick up.

• 2020 VEX Robotics Tournament, 8 a.m. at Austin High School. Annual robotics tournament that brings teams from across Minnesota. Open to the public – stop by and see these amazing kids and their creative robots.

• Second Saturdays Kids’ Craft, 10:30 a.m. at the Austin Public Library. All ages welcome; each child under 5 years of age must be accompanied by an adult for the entire craft. For more information, call 507-433-2391.

• Kids’ Studio – Three Kings Hanging Garland, 10:30 a.m. at the Austin ArtWorks Center. With instructors Gabriella and Alondra. Cost is $5 per kid; geared towards ages 5 to 10. To sign up or for more information, call 507-434-0934 or go to www.austinareaarts.org.

• The Story Show, 7 p.m. at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College. Eight community members will tell stories from their own lives based on a theme of curiosity. Presented by Austin’s AAUW, with proceeds going towards scholarships for non-traditional students at Riverland Community College. Tickets are $15, available at the door or in advance at Hy-Vee. For more information, contact Jenni Braaten at 481-7176 or jennibraaten@hotmail.com.