Monthly Archives: April 2010

Living on the River’s Edge

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By Ben Karkela

During the flood of 2010, people flocked to the Main Avenue Bridge to check out the murky water of the Red River rising higher and higher. What also caught people’s attention was a new structure along the river that had also been slowly rising in Moorhead since spring 2009.

The structure is the new Riverfront Apartment Complex on Second Avenue South, which plans on opening in July.

The Riverfront Apartments overlook the Red River and Woodlawn Park.

Great view, no flood risk
Despite the close proximity to the river, the apartments are in no danger of being flooded.

Most people who watched the flood along the Main Avenue Bridge probably noticed how high the water was at the base of the apartments.

Project Supervisor Tyler Blaine said the flood had no ill effects on the construction of the apartments. They are built close to the river but at a much higher elevation. A retaining wall keeps the apartments and underground parking safe and dry.

Living with a view of the river ranges from $700 to $1,300 per month
Riverfront contains 52 separate apartments available for rent. The majority of them are either one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments, though a few three-bedroom apartments are available.

One-bedroom apartments run from $700 to 775 per month. Two-bedroom apartments run from $950 to 975 per month. Three-bedroom apartments range from $1,275-1,300 per month.

The most expensive apartments are on the top floor and feature wood-frame ceilings and, of course, a better view.


The Red River poses no threat to the new apartments.

Just a walk away
A wide range of people occupy the adjacent apartments near Riverfront.  Realtor Carrie Lynnes expects the same with the new apartments.

"We’ve got people of all ages," Lynnes said. "Most people enjoy the atmosphere. Everything that you need is at your fingertips."

Tenants at Riverfront will be within walking distance of everything from fine dining to greasy take-out pizza to a grocery store. They can soak up the sun at Woodlawn Park or head across the street to Soulista for lessons in yoga or Pilates.

So far 10 of the new apartments have been spoken for. An open house will be held on the completed first floor of Riverfront on May 22. People are welcome to come and take a look at the apartments for the first time.

A family affair

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Story and photos by Ashley Wirtzfeld
MSUM Mass Comm Major

 

Some people might shudder at the thought of working day after day by the side of their mother. However, this isn’t the case for mother-and-daughter pair Liz Walberg and Cari Luchau. They are the successfu1 owners of the arts and crafts store c.lizzy’s at 410 N. Broadway in downtown Fargo. 

 


Liz Walberg and her daughter Cari Luchau in c.lizzy’s.

 

Although they didn’t set out to build a business together, Walberg and Luchau saw an opportunity and took it.

“We were both at a crossroads in our previous careers,” said Luchau. “My mother was retiring after 25 years in the dental industry and my job in the software industry wasn’t moving anywhere. It was basically now or never.”


Industry background and talent equals business


Now or never turned into now for Walberg and Luchau. 

“My mother and I had always done craft shows,” Luchau said. 

They started out with a small studio store on First Avenue.

“We were drawn to downtown,” said Luchau. “Downtown seems to fit our product offering.”

“We also love the downtown feeling,” said Walberg. “It is like one you can experience in bigger cities.”

With their studio in the perfect location, business was taking off. When people started stopping by their house to pick up orders, they knew something had to be done.

“We made three moves and one expansion in four years,” said Luchau. “Then we moved into our current store in 2006 because there was a need for a larger workspace.”

The new store location features a retail side and a studio side, providing enough space for the growing business. Besides having their store, Walberg and Luchau sell wholesale wares to other stores.

“We ship all over,” said Walberg. “We are in about 200 stores.”

 


A section of the retail side c.lizzy’s located in downtown Fargo.

 

C.lizzy’s also carries other artists’ work as well. 

“We carry some local work but we also shop at wholesale shows,” said Luchau. “We bring national art to Fargo.”

The artwork of Ed and Kate Coleman is an example of national art featured in their store.


Ed and Kate Coleman


A line of clocks called “clique clocks” is currently featured at c.lizzy’s. The clocks were created by North Carolina couple Ed and Kate Coleman. The Colemans don’t have a retail store; they only have a studio behind their house.


A collection of ‘Clique Clocks’ designed by Ed and Kate Coleman.

 

Like Walberg and Luchau, the Colemans also sell their products on the wholesale market. The Colemans don’t sell their artwork on their website, rather they sell to galleries and stores.

“Our work is mostly one-of-a-kind pieces,” said Kate. “This makes it hard to sell on the Web unless someone is willing to photograph each and every piece. Some of the stores do sell it on their websites, though.”


Ed and Kate Coleman artwork in Fargo


With the Colemans such a distance from Fargo some might wonder how they even found out about c.lizzy’s and Fargo.

“We met Liz and Cari when we were both exhibitors at The Buyer’s Market of American Craft in Philadelphia,” Kate stated. “They came to our booth there and have been buying our work since then.” 

The Colemans say they love the idea of selling their artwork to fellow artists.

“We do try to keep our work in select locations so it isn’t in one store after the next,” said Kate. “We didn’t have anyone even close to Fargo carrying our work so it seemed like a good idea to sell to Liz and Cari.”


c.lizzy’s offers a variety


The products offered at c.lizzy’s are all American handmade arts and crafts. 

“The markets only have hand-created products made in the U.S. or Canada,” said Luchau. “So that is what we decided to specialize in our store.”

The variety of art designed by Walberg is always on display at c.lizzy’s. From jewelry to pottery, c.lizzy’s has a selection for all tastes. To add to the variety, Luchau also does some craft work. 

“Mom is the true artist,” said Luchau. “I do more of the business side. Sometimes I will freehand paint (on) glassware or help with other things, though.”

 

 


Decorative glass globes featured in c.lizzy’s.


Downtown feels like home for mother and daughter

 

Being downtown feels like the natural place for their store. 

“There is a sense of community and family down here,” said Luchau. “We get a lot of the same customers, too, which adds to the feeling of community and family. It’s fun when we get to know them.”

People come from all over to shop the streets of downtown Fargo, they said, adding to c.lizzy’s clientele. 

“There is a lot of traffic from Canada, especially Winnipeg,” Walberg said. “People come from Bismarck and other places to stay downtown and shop downtown.”

Walberg and Luchau believe that downtown Fargo is overlooked by many of the locals. They also believe downtown has a lot to offer.

“There are a lot of hidden gems that people haven’t found yet,” Luchau said.

And, they understand the importance of growth.

“Downtown has a lot of opportunity for expansion, not only in retail but in events as well,” Walberg said. “People should grow as part of the community.”



Unique leaf sculptures made from read leaves.

 


Wine toppers on top of the bottle featured with hand-painted wine glasses.

 

c.lizzy’s website

FM Downtown

 

Teen Art Squad new opportunity for local high school students

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Plains Art Museum develops program bringing teens, art and community together

By Kelsie O’Keefe
MSUM Mass Comm Major

Plains Art Museum’s Teen Art Squad gets area high school students involved in art and the community, while helping them gain useful knowledge and experience to prepare them for college and beyond.

The Teen Art Squad is a group of regional teenagers who work with the museum education staff to develop and implement teen-focused art programs through the Plains Art Museum. The goal is to create a partnership between the museum and area teenagers which will strive to inspire and engage teens in hopes of promoting community, culture and the arts.



 
Area high school students have a chance to learn, make friends, and create a partnership with the community.
photo provided by Plains Art Museum
 

Art Squad not just for artists

The Teen Art Squad program is new this year, starting at the beginning of the 2010 school year.
It was researched and developed by Timothy Lillehaugen, an intern working at the museum in summer 2009, with the help of Andrew Maus, the museum’s previous director of education.

“We want (students) who have a pulse on culture, politics and society because that’s what artists, writers and thinkers are working with,” says Maus.

About 10 students are chosen for the squad based on applications.

“They need not be skilled artists,” says Maus. “We believe that art making and art looking is for everybody, no matter what your skill sets.”

Art teachers throughout the region are being contacted in hopes of having student representation from as many high schools as possible.

Students decide

The idea of the program is to have students decide what they want to do, how they want to do it and who they want to involve.

“The opportunity to impact and shape the program would give (students) a sense of ownership, which is extremely powerful in itself,” says Kristi Nigg, counselor at West Fargo High School.

Although Sandy BenHaim, the museum’s new director of education and Colleen Sheehy, museum director, oversee the group and provide basic ideas to get students thinking, the squad ultimately decides what projects it wants to take on for the year.

Possibilities include:

  • Weekly open art studio night: The squad organizes and hosts nights for high school students to use the museum’s art studios to create their own works. Demonstrations could be held, or local artists could be invited to guide students.


  • Teen art celebration: During Youth Art Month the squad hosts a celebration for students to have the museum to themselves for an entire night. They could set up group projects like a graffiti wall, host a dance, create cities out of boxes or have a space for individual creativity.


  • Publication: The squad will produce a web or print publication focused on teen art and culture in the community.


  • 60-second movie contest: The squad will create and host a yearly themed, any genre movie contest and get the word out to the demographic they’ve chosen to target.

Squad helps students prepare for life, college

Because students have to apply for the Teen Art Squad and the selection is on a competitive basis, the program can do more for students than learning community-based art program planning.

“The Teen Art Squad program could benefit students on various levels,” says Nigg. “A program like this could teach students lifelong skills, which could include leadership and time management tools, and the importance of open communication. In addition, students could have the chance to connect with other teens in the community who have similar interests and passions.”

The squad could potentially provide opportunities and resources for students needing college scholarships, extracurricular experience and resume and application builders, says Nigg.



The Teen Art Squad gives students an opportunity to teach and learn from each other.
photo provided by Plains Art Museum


Teens involved across the country

Getting teens involved in art and the community seems to be a growing trend across the country. Plains Art Museum looked at more than 30 museums with programs for teens as models and inspiration.

Palm Springs Museum in California has a long history of teen programming, including a Teen Art Group.

“The museum is a place for teens to be creative, but with a safety net,” says Emily Spallina, education programs manager at the museum, who works almost exclusively with the teens. “There are no grades, no teachers, no judgment. By the end of the year, they feel a sense of ownership in the institution.”

In 2009 Palm Spring’s Teen Art Group planned a party at the museum. That night, the group hosted 340 kids.

“As kids start getting more excited about the projects, they start coming into the museum earlier and earlier,” says Spallina. “That’s my measure of success.”

Counselor recommends squad

Nigg says she will recommend the Teen Art Squad program to West Fargo High School students.

“Meaningful programs like this give students a chance to explore their creative potential, which builds confidence and motivates students to make positive and responsible decisions after high school,” says Nigg.

Parents are also urged to encourage their teens to join.

Connect, gain knowledge, have fun

The Teen Art Squad is open to all regional high school students entering grades 9-12 in the fall. Eight monthly meetings are held during the school year in the Presentation Center on the first floor of Plains Art Museum. Students are required to attend at least six of these meetings.

For applications call or email Sheehy at 701-232-3821 ex. 123 or csheehy@plainsart.org. Applications for the fall 2010 squad are due April 30.

The squad is an opportunity for students to connect with other teens, the community and themselves, gain knowledge for the future that they can’t get in class and above all, have fun.

 

Eye on the artist: Nathan Cote

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By Erica Anderson
MSUM print journalism major

Photos courtesy of Nathan Cote

Artist Nathan Cote self portrait.

Nathan Cote works for his dad as a mechanic parts salesman while he lives in Dickinson, N.D. Driving more than 300 miles a day, he has worn out all of his favorite music and listened to hundreds of podcasts. But unlike others who may drive countless hours for their job, Cote uses his “salesman” title as a front for his real life’s career: photography.

Along the long stretch of western North Dakota that he covers every day, Cote pulls the vehicle over occasionally, but not to photograph beautiful sunsets or vast prairies – he pulls over to photograph road kill.

Roadkill photos, mainly of deer, are an ongoing project that Cote is working on.

‘It’s an opportunity to contemplate’
“They all look kind of innocent and dead as people are driving by,” Cote said. “(The photographs) are kind of about how we leave things in our lives as we go on.”

Road kill photos are a project Cote has been working on for some time now. Some of the photos are of birds or rabbits but most consist of deer. Eventually Cote plans to have a display of five different large doe prints in a gallery. The photos would be transformed from color to black and white for an “opportunity to contemplate them a little more.”

Cote takes photos of North Dakota. Here, a photograph of three horses is hung in ecce art gallery in downtown Fargo.

Origin of the originality
Growing up as what he calls a regular Dickinson school kid, Cote said of his childhood and high school years, “I was kind of an art nerd. I hung out making ceramics after school.”

In an art program in high school, Cote was able to go to a Chicago art museum where he saw a Jackson Pollock piece for the first time.

“You see it in real life and you say ‘I can’t do that,’” Cote said.

After graduating from Dickinson, Cote came to MSUM where he graduated with a B.A. with an emphasis in photography.

Cote also works with munipulating and layering photos. Above, different times of the day are portrayed in the single photo.

Lana Leishman, a professor in the photography department, had Cote as a student while at MSUM. She explained that while in college, Cote worked on photographing in older abandoned towns and homes using “bright lights and long shutter speeds to create a glow, almost like flames that would illuminate a room, or part of the house.”

“As a student, Nathan always had good ideas and dreamed big,” Leishman said. “He was a bit unorganized at times, but seemed to pull it off OK in the end.”

Cote does a few weddings a year. His fashion and wedding albums can be seen at www.nathancotephotography.com.

Art around town
Cote has had his photography and other art displayed throughout Fargo in places like Ristreto’s, Atomic Coffee, the Plains Art Museum and ecce.

Presently, Cote has one photo in ecce along with another piece: an upside down flag draped over an Ak 47. The American flag is covered in resin, allowing the stiff the illusion of it flowing. The title of the piece is “Section 8a.”

“It came about by some books I’ve been reading lately and by watching the news,” Cote said. “With the gun coming through and the flag wrapping itself around the gun; to some degree America’s started to embrace violence.”

Getting the idea of the flag displayed upside down from the federal code of Section 8a on how to hang the flag. The code says “don’t hang a flag upside down unless you or a country is in distress or in trouble,” explained Cote.

"Section 8a" is an art piece of Cote’s that can be seen at ecce’s art gallery.

Taking a step forward
While working in Dickinson to help pay off his college bills, Cote is also applying for graduate school. He has been accepted into University of Nevada Las Vegas but is still in the process of deciding which school is best for him. While at graduate school, Cote plans to be able to teach and work on photography projects.

“I’d like to teach anyway to bring in money,” Cote said. “The rest of the time I’d like to work on my photos and bring in shows.”

As for the rest of his life, Cote said he would like to be a photographer and working artist.

Cote enjoys photographing the escense of North Dakota as he sees it. Here, Cote shot photos at a rodeo in Dickinson, N.D.

Works in progress
Cote is working on doing a series of flags and shooting and editing other photo projects. He plans to go to New York City this summer to take his portfolio and artist statement and “just start handing them out.”

Besides his own photo projects and art, Cote also photographs three or four weddings a year, fashion shoots for places like M.J. Capelli and commercial photography for restaurant menus and advertising for eateries like Wasabi and Lela Thai.

Cote shoots commercial photos along with fashion, editorial and landscape. Here, he photographed Sunny Black, a hip hop artist from Fargo.

 

Visit Nathan Cote on Facebook :
fan page
personal page
Check out his Website:
Nathan Cote Photography

Live jazz at Studio 222

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Story and photos by Keiko Kimoto
MSUM mass communications major

The Simon Rowe Organ Trio, featuring trumpeter Tom Strait, plays at Studio 222 earlier this spring.


 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every Friday night The Simon Rowe Trio or The Simon Rowe Organ Trio brings live jazz to downtown Fargo. The show starts with an introduction of the members by Simon Rowe, who plays the piano and organ. Starting at 8 p.m., they bring the audience at Studio 222 two hours of live jazz.

Located at 222 Broadway in Fargo, Studio 222 is managed by the Spider and Company and can hold a maximum of 75 people comfortably seated at tables. It is located next to Atomic Coffee, which provides drinks at a bar in the back corner inside of the studio during the show.

The show costs $10 for adults and $5 for students. People who have dinner at The HoDo Restaurant, at 101 Broadway in Fargo, with a glass of wine or beer can get into the studio at half the price.

Studio 222 is at 222 Broadway in Fargo, next to Atomic Coffee.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Simon Rowe Trio and The Simon Rowe Organ Trio

At the moment, The Simon Rowe Trio consists of four members: Allen Carter (drums), Bill Law (bass), Nick Fryer (guitar) and Simon Rowe (piano and organ). They play as The Simon Rowe Trio — bass, drums and piano — and as The Simon Rowe Organ Trio — guitar, drums and organ. Each member is on the faculty at Minnesota State University Moorhead or North Dakota State University.

Simon Rowe, founder of the trios, has rich experiences in the music field. He is originally from Sydney, Australia, where he became involved with music.

“From the first moment I heard jazz, I was electrified,” Rowe said. “I felt ‘this is for me.’ I had no choice. I thought, ‘That’s what I’m doing.’ ”

Simon Rowe plays the organ in The Simon Rowe Organ Trio.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 16, Rowe had a chance to study trumpet, which is his first instrument, at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Huston, Texas. After high school, he went to Northwestern University in Chicago for a year and then returned to Australia and continued his education and playing trumpet professionally.

In his mid-20s, Rowe was back in the United States. He began studying trumpet with a well-known trumpet teacher. At the same time he started to play the piano. Eastern Illinois University offered him a scholarship to study piano, he took it and received an undergraduate degree there. He then moved to St. Louis and attained a master’s degree at Southern Illinois University.

“The real training at St. Louis was playing with a great saxophonist by the name of Willie Akins,” Rowe said.

After playing as one of the members of Akins’s group, Rowe founded his record label Catalyst Production. Although his label had five national releases starting with Akins’s record by the end of ’90s, it folded because the music industry was struggling at the time.

The Simon Rowe Organ Trio: Simon Rowe (organ), Allen Carter (drums) and Nick Fryer (guitar).


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rowe took a teaching job at EIU, and while there he formed The Simon Rowe Trio and played mainly in Indianapolis. In 2004 he took the position of assistant professor of music at MSUM and moved to Fargo. One year later, he started up the trio again and started playing downtown Fargo. They have played at The Hotel Donaldson for three years and moved their venue to Studio 222 in 2008. Now Rowe plays in two groups: The Simon Rowe Trio and The Simon Rowe Organ Trio.

Joseph Wallevand, one of the audience members, has been to the show many times. He said he loves the trios, especially when they feature local musicians of saxophone or trumpet.

“They are very plain musicians,” Wallevand said. “As far as the music is concerned, whatever they want to play I am going to enjoy it.”

The Simon Rowe Organ Trio plays on April 2 with Tom Strait (trumpet) and Russ Peterson (saxophone).




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


What’s the pull to downtown?

“I love to play,” Rowe said with a smile. “It’s a great fun. You can probably see that (when you come to the show.)”

He also said it’s vital for him as a musician to practice playing; that practicing keeps him growing and tests him to push himself to play better.

When Rowe came to Fargo, he could see the city was growing and thought growth would be a good opportunity to create and do what he does because it is a very receptive environment. Rowe believes live jazz is great for high school or college students because there aren’t many places younger people can come to hear live music.

“We try to involve students as much as we can,” Rowe said. “What we’re trying to do is create a little … jazz scene and do that by having people all ages and all different instruments.”

Simon Rowe introduces each song the trio plays.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With his jazz expertise, Rowe hopes he can provide people in the Fargo-Moorhead area a chance to listen to the kind of jazz that’s usually played in bigger cities.

“I want (live jazz) to help to make the activity in downtown Fargo really sophisticated and worthwhile,” Rowe said. “I want to help bring it here because it’s special. It would be special in Minneapolis, New York or Chicago, too, but it’s more special here because it’s the only venue. I feel very responsible for bringing that.”


Visit Studio 222 for more information.

Powerhouse providers

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By Ben Karkela
Photos by Amita Manandhar

The Fargo-Moorhead area produces hockey players in great numbers. Hockey thrives along the Red River where long, cold winters dominate the climate.

The Hockey Zone in Moorhead offers the expertise and equipment that hockey players demand. People come from throughout the greater Fargo-Moorhead region to find their hockey needs. The location at 415 Main Ave. makes the store accessible and easy to find.

Co-owner Rory Sandvig, a former hockey coach, now provides players with the necessary equipment.

Former coach keeps players sharp
Rory Sandvig opened The Hockey Zone five years ago. At the time, he coached the Moorhead Spuds, a powerhouse hockey team in hockey-mad Minnesota. He stepped down as head coach after the 2007-2008 season to give his full attention to the store. He currently operates the store with co-owner Chip Ammerman.

Sandvig still regularly attends Moorhead home games and remains good friends with Moorhead head coach Dave Morinville. Most players on Morinville’s team shop and get their skates sharpened at The Hockey Zone.

"We guarantee the best skate sharpening," Sandvig says.

If a player is not satisfied with the way his or her skates have been sharpened, Sandvig says The Hockey Zone will sharpen the skates again for free.


Sandvig sharpens a pair of skates (top) and inspects the edges (bottom). If the blades are not the correct dimension, he sharpens them again.

Caring for the customer
Customer service takes priority at The Hockey Zone. When a customer talks to a salesperson, the customer can expect to be guided to quality equipment at the best possible price. That’s because employees don’t work on commission. That means employees will not try to sell a customer the most expensive equipment if the customer doesn’t need it.

"We try to put people in the correct product," store manager Jesse Gordon said.

People can buy their equipment anywhere, but Sandvig believes the personal care employees give customers is what separates The Hockey Zone from other hockey retailers.

The Hockey Zone also offers a skate lease program. The program allows parents to lease skates each season so they don’t have to buy an expensive new pair of skates for their growing child or children each year.

A wide variety of skates wait to be leased.

A vast selection of equipment
Hockey is a complex sport. Even the equipment can be complex, not to mention expensive. A player first needs the basics: skates, a stick and a puck. What else might a player need? A helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, hockey pants, shin pads, mouth guard, tape, a uniform and skate guards are all needed for most hockey players.

The Hockey Zone carries everything hockey players could need, from low-end to high-end products. Brands such as CCM, Easton and Sher-Wood line the shelves. The most popular brand is Bauer.

All employees know the products they sell very well — usually because they’ve used the products on the ice. The Hockey Zone takes pride in having a knowledgeable staff that can give customer answers they want. 

"We try to hire hockey guys and turn them into salesmen," Sandvig said.


The Hockey Zone sells everything from stick blades (top) to shoulder pads (bottom).

Former players return
Over the years, Moorhead produced multiple top hockey players, many of them coached by Sandvig. In the summer, former players who come back to town make sure to stop by the Hockey Zone to get their skates sharpened. National Hockey League players such as Matt Cullen and Brian Lee stop by as well as a number of Division I players such as Chris VandeVelde and Jordy Christian.

Many of the players skate and train all summer, so keeping their skates sharp is essential to keeping their game even sharper.

Sandvig surveys the store while manning the register.

 

Other links
Hockey World
Clafton Skate
Westwood Sports