The Dream

Art lovers have long wished for a place to show case and celebrate the artists living in western Minnesota. A Center for The Arts in Fergus Falls, which has successfully developed programming in the performing arts, has exhibited area artists as much as possible but its space is very limited. The empty space on the ground floor of the Kaddatz beckoned. The site is owned by Art Space of Minneapolis, which renovates buildings for artistic purposes, what could be more logical?

The Action

In 2008 local art enthusiasts formed a Board of Directors, incorporated as a non profit, and set about remodeling part of the main floor of the Kaddatz. Art Space concurred and cooperated in the renovations. Typical of Minnesotans, organizations and individuals responded with enthusiasm, gifts and labor.

Today

A committee of board members and artists collected and displayed the works in our first exhibit. Our gallery manager, Gretchen Boyum, joined us May 28 and immediately set to work . The art we see here in our first exhibit features the work of Charles Beck, the local artist whose work interpreting Minnesota landscapes has earned him the widespread respect of artists and collectors. Other local artists, several of whom were students of Charles Beck, are displayed to suggest the diversity of creativity within our region.

Tomorrow

The Galleries future plans are ambitious but positive. They include, developing a permanent collection of works to portray the variety of media that are representative of the region's artists, building an educational program for all age groups to include hands on art instruction, demonstration programs of various techniques, and art appreciation experiences. By collaborating with arts organizations and artists in the region, Kaddatz Galleries will aim to bring visitors on return visits frequently for a variety of enriching experiences.
With the help of art lovers these things are possible.