Musician Andra Suchy, who will be performing a concert at the Belle Mehus on May 23. Submitted photo

By Brian L. Gray

Mandan native Andra Suchy will be returning home for a CD release concert, which is set to take place at the Belle Mehus on Wednesday, May 23.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Opening music will be by Brianna Helbling. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 the day of the show.

You can get tickets at Eckroth Music, Nightlife Music and Limousine and URL Radio in Bismarck or at Unistop in Mandan or Bismarck. Tickets will be available at the Belle Mehus the day of show.

Suchy’s new CD is entitled “Little Heart,” which was released on March 27 through her label, Red House Records. The album is named after the Heart River, which runs near her birth home in Mandan, and it consists mainly of originals, with a mix of country, rock, folk and blues.

Along with her band, guitarist Andrew Pierzina, Dobro player Shane Akers, bassist Tom Peterson and keyboard player Peter J. Sands, Suchy is joined by several special guests on the album, including Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum, Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, mandolinist Peter Ostroushko, and her father, Chuck Suchy.

Raised on a beef and wheat farm in rural Mandan by folk musicians, Suchy began touring and performing at festivals at a young age. Classically trained and a veteran of musical theater, the guitar-playing singer moved to Minneapolis in 1996, where she has gone on to make a name for herself as one of the finest vocalists around.

Suchy is a regular performer on the national radio show, “A Prairie Home Companion,” and has performed around the world, singing with such artists as Brad Paisley, Mindy Smith, Emmylou Harris, Chris Thile and soprano Renee Fleming.

Suchy is also planning to return to the Mandan area later this summer, for the annual Suchy Concert, which takes place at Bohemian Hall. The concert is set for Saturday, Aug. 4.

For more information, visit andrasuchy.com.

A handcrafted wall hanging tile by artist Beverly Maitland, whose art is on display at the Mandan Art Association gallery through May 31. The MAA gallery is located at 411 W. Main St. Submitted artwork photo

The Mandan Art Association is currently hosting an exhibit of the work of Beverly Maitland, Bismarck artist, at its gallery located at 411 W. Main St. in Heritage Plaza.

The exhibit will be on display until Thursday, May 31. An open house reception will be held tonight from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Maitland specializes in hand designed and fired tile pieces such as wall hangings, boxes with tile inserts and serving trays. She attended the Santa Theresa Tileworks in Tucson, Ariz., for nearly six months to learn this specialized technique. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind item created using underglazes and a high-fired technique. The pieces can also be used for custom kitchen murals, fireplaces and surfaces for furniture. If you are looking for something unique and exciting these are the pieces for you.

For more information, contact Mandan Art Association at 751-4331 or email mandanartassociation@yahoo.com. Visit the website at mandanart.org for information on the future events scheduled for the gallery.

Several Mandan student artists were named winners of the Juror’s Choice Awards. The following three artists won for their titled artworks – Trey Opp, “Joker,” Allison Heidt, “Clasp of Time,” and Mikenzie Eckroth, “Puppy.”

Also awarded for honorable mention were MHS’s Abby Renken with “Escher’s Mandella,” and Glen Ullin High School’s Rebecca Opp, for “Gorgeous.”

This exhibit features student artists from Century, St. Mary’s Central, Mandan, Rural ITV, Shiloh Christian School and South Central High Schools. The exhibit will run through May 25.

The exhibit was juried by Brian Hushagen, associate professor of art at Bismarck State College. Awards were presented to selected winners in the art show during the opening reception held May 8 at Bismarck Art & Galleries Association.

Guided tours of the exhibit are available to all area schools. Teachers wishing to schedule a tour should call 223-5986 to set up a time. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 1 to 3 p.m.

Several awards were given, including cash prizes for the top three winners. Several Mandan High School students were named winners at the show. Genna Boehm placed first, Rachel Aldinger placed second and Karen Funk placed in third.

Two other MHS art students also won awards. Ali Kvidt received an honorable mention, while Kendra Pazdernik was named for the administrator’s choice award.

“The Art Show judges all commented on the tremendous talent that was represented in the show. It was wonderful to have so many students and residents share their talent with us,” said Lynn Boehm, art show director.

An example of a watercolor painting, which will be taught in workshops to those who attend during the Mandan Art Association's Mother's Day Tea and Cookies event on May 5.

The Mandan Art Association will be hosting its annual Mother’s Day Tea and Cookies Event on Saturday, May 5, at their gallery at 411 W. Main St. in Heritage Plaza.  The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is open to the public with no admission fee.

Local artists Mary Quintus and Charlene Jones will be teaching free mini watercolor lessons at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Space is limited so you must preregister for this lesson.

You’re also invited to create a pair of earrings at a free basic jewelry lesson throughout the day.

All materials will be supplies by the art association at no cost.

Bring you mother, grandmother, daughter or a friend and join the MAA for a fun day.

For more information contact MAA at mandanartassociation@yahoo.com or call 751-4331.

The classes will be taught by Jescia Hoffman Hopper, award-winning local artist and instructor. Space is limited so you must preregister for each class.

Here is the schedule of upcoming classes:

Monday through Thursday, April 30 to May 10 – Expressive self portraits, 6 to 7:30 p.m. each night. Demonstrations will be given on anatomy and proportions as well as exercises to foster self-discovery. Class fee $65 per person.

Monday through Thursday, May 14 to 24 – Art Journals: Book Making, 6 to 7:30 p.m. each night. Explore the world of book making and art journaling by creating and binding your own journal. Class fee is $65 per person.

For a list of supplies and to register, contact Jescia Hopper at 400-1060 or email jescia.hoffman@gmail.com.

Eleven Class A Schools brought performances to the festival. In addition to the group performances, students had the opportunity to participate in individual events.

Quintus’ works are on display in the Governor’s ground floor and first floor offices, the First Lady’s fourth floor office, and the Attorney General’s first floor office.

Quintus has been involved in the local area art field for many years. She is a self-taught artist, and has also worked under a number of artists in workshops including Bruce Haughey, Rose Marie Landsberger, Art Kerner and Greg Wilhelmi. Each of these teachers has helped her along in reaching where she is at today in her work. She has also given several workshops in the basics of watercolor. Both transparent watercolor and acrylics continue to be her primary medium, although Quintus is starting to develop more paintings using oils. Her paintings tend to be a reflection of her rural background, having lived on the prairie most of her life.

Through the years, Quintus has received various awards including people’s choice at Washburn and Miles City, Mont., and the best of show at BAA. She has exhibited in various shows through the years including several juried art shows at Miles City.

This is part of an ongoing program between the NDCA and the offices of the Governor and First Lady. Artists are selected for quarterly display.

(left) The drawing "Superstition Mountain" by Bobbie Lee, which has been chosen for the Best of Show award at the 54th annual Mandan Art Association Spring Art Show, and (right) "Purple Orchid" by artist Flo Doll Bjorke, which was named for the Gallery Award. Submitted artwork photos

The Mandan Art Association is currently hosting its 54th annual Spring Art Show at its gallery and gift shop, located at 411 W. Main St. in Heritage Plaza.

The show is on display now through Monday, April 30. An open house reception will be held on Saturday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Refreshments will be served and you may register for door prizes.

The show and reception are open to the public. There is no admission fee.

Artists have been selected for the following show awards: Best of Show Award -Superstition Mountain by Bobbie Lee; Gallery Award – Purple Orchid by Flo Doll Bjorke; Creativity Award – Red Tulips by Corry Feist.

A People’s Choice Award will be given to the artwork selected by popular vote of the people attending the show and reception.

The gallery also has many new and unique items on display.

For more information visit the website mandanart.org or find them on Facebook.

Some of the 2012 East Coast tour stops include: Wilmington, Dela.; Ocean City, Md.; Auburn, Maine; New Brunswick, Canada; and Quebec City, Canada.