BROOKINGS – An exhibit by photographer Patrick Neiles will be open today through June 1 at the Brookings Arts Council, and a piece by a Minnesota sculptor is coming to the BAC.
Both artists will be at the BAC from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday to talk about their work.
Neiles is a Brookings resident. Born of artistic parents who encouraged his creativity, he found his love of photography in the second grade during a family vacation. As with many artists, his curiosity for other art forms led him to painting and doodling, but eventually he found his way back to his original love, photography.
Throughout his art explorations, his parents encouraged, guided, critiqued and discussed his art with him. Through that he found great guidance and a place to grow.
Neiles sees himself primarily as a nature photographer.
“I love seeing art in the mundane, like old dried leaves on black mats, rust on metal and leaves lying in the snow,” he said. “Things that most people would see as worthless.”
Through the use of different lenses, Neiles has now found love in his telephoto lens and the way it assists him in the creation of abstracts.
The Brookings Arts Council is unveiling its newest leased sculpture for the 2018-2019 season on Thursday.
“Dreams Take Flight” was created by sculptor Nicholas Legeros of Minnesota and is funded by a generous patron of the arts.
This sculpture is part of a larger grouping of figures that was originally designed to commemorate the women and men of Northwest Airlines and the career of its longtime CEO, Donald Nyrop.
The original sculpture is at Centennial Lakes Park in Edina, Minnesota. There is another copy recently installed at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. The 10-year-old girl in the artwork is holding a 747 and is standing on a dome representing three continents.
Legeros has a Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. For more than 20 years he was an artist-in-residence and instructor at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. He also taught for Metropolitan State University, Breck Schools and the Edina Art Center.
Sixteen years ago, Legeros left teaching to pursue a full-time career as a sculptor.
Legeros served on the board of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association for seven years and five years on the board of the Northeast Community Development Corporation.
The public is invited to attend a joint artists’ reception and talk, to be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday at the BAC, 524 Fourth St. Light refreshments will be served.
The exhibit is open to the public through Friday, June 20. There is no admission charge.
The Brookings Arts Council is open noon-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays. For more information, call 605-692-4177 or email directorbac@swiftel.net.
Courtesy image
