Heritage Arts Gallery and Gifts had its grand opening the last weekend of October in 1999. It was started by Amy Jo and David Paukert as an artists’ cooperative located along US Highway 2 in Michigan, North Dakota. The gallery offers its visitors a slice of the cultural spectrum of North Dakota through fine art as well as heritage arts and crafts. Over 60 North Dakota artists from throughout the state are members of the co-op. Their work includes fine art in a variety of two- and three-dimensional forms. It also features heritage arts and crafts that reflect the unique cultural heritage of our state. Their fine craftsmanship and artistry is demonstrated through Norwegian rosmaling and wood carving, Native American basketry, Polish paper cutting, Scandinavian needlework, tin smithing, Ukranian Pysanky eggs, candle making, wheat weaving, china painting, stained glass, pottery, jewelry making and fabric art to name a few examples. It also showcases books written by North Dakotan Poets and writers, as well as works by vocal and instrumental artists.
This fall the Gallery will be celebrating its fourth anniversary. During the past four years, we have had the pleasure of seeing membership in the cooperative grow from twenty-four members to over sixty members. The Gallery continues to see growth in the number of customers, as well. Many return and tell family and friends about this gem on the prairie. They marvel at the fine workmanship and quality of the items represented by the artists. The goal of the Gallery is to provide customers with a place to purchase quality fine art and heritage crafts that reflect the “legendary” cultural skills and talents that have been passed on throughout our history as a territory and state. Since none of the items are mass-produced, it gives customers a truly non-mall shopping experience. It makes them aware that art is flourishing on the prairie.
Although the gallery is located in Michigan, its contributing artists are from across the state. The gallery provides an outlet so that rural artists and heritage craftsmen can exhibit and sell their work. It also helps to sustain these “Legendary” crafts and keep them a vital part of our heritage and culture.
The gallery periodically features member artists and their work through a special exhibition. Past featured artists include: David Paukert – ND Landscape Photography, Julie Neidlinger – Mixed media paintings and drawings, Sandra Miles – Watercolors, Jeff Hoff – acrylic songbirds and waterfowl.
The gallery feels a strong connection between the visual and performing arts. Therefore we have started an Annual Spring Concert featuring musicians, vocalists, theatrical performers and poets/authors from throughout the region. This year the concert was done in conjunction with a silent auction of works donated by gallery members. Refreshments were served following the performance.
The management of the gallery is accomplished through volunteer services provided by our members. Artists share the responsibilities of working in the gallery which allows it to be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00AM to 5:00 PM, and Sundays, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Memorial Day through Labor Day. The members also help in maintaining inventory, sales promotions and doing the bookkeeping.
The response to the gallery has been very positive and exciting. Numerous publications have done articles about the gallery. It was chosen to be included in the 2003 publication of “Renewing the Countryside”, a book published by The Northwest Area Foundation that features innovative businesses in rural North Dakota. Thanks to the help of Julie Neidlinger, and the Denise and Diane Schill family, highway signs went up July of 2003. The Gallery also was awarded a 2004 matching grant from the ND Department of Tourism to create this web-site and promotional literature.
When you visit Heritage Arts Gallery, you will find a unique selection of Fine Arts and hand-made traditional and heritage craft
items, all carefully designed by North Dakota artisans. They include:
