The annual gala invited community members and art supporters to a fundraiser benefiting Lanesboro Arts. Fellow arts supporters celebrated creativity & artistic innovation in Lanesboro with an eye to the future, while recognizing the artists & community members that made an impact in the previous year through gallery exhibitions, performances, place-based artist residencies & educational programs, and more.

Proceeds from the event benefit the year-round programming of Lanesboro Arts, serving as a regional catalyst for artistic excellence and educational development in providing meaningful and diverse art experiences for people of all ages. In the heart of historic downtown, Lanesboro Arts hosts literary, music, theater, and film events at the St. Mane Theatre, and houses two galleries featuring work by more than 90 regional artists. Lanesboro Arts programming also includes the annual Art in the Park fine art festival; the Lanesboro Emerging Artist Residency Program; classes and workshops, Surprise Sculpture, and Lanesboro Arts Campus Initiatives.

The 2019 Fall Gala was sponsored by F & M Community Bank, the Law Office of Thomas Manion, KTTC TV, Preble Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Co.,  Merchants Bank and POET biorefining.

Here is a detailed look back on the 2019 event:

FABULOUS AUCTIONS of fine art and one-of-a-kind experiences

The silent and sealed bid auction items are always a highlight. Last year featured a number of elegant and creative works of art, including steampunk-themed jewelry by Megan Funk; rustic carved tables by Jeff Richards; the dreamlike and emotional photography of Rhea Pappas; jewelry by Ann Madland, winner of the 2019 Award for Excellence at this year’s Art in the Park; sculptures by Linda Lewis and Leo Smith; a mosaic piece by Rebecca Campbell; wearable art by Joy Davis Ripley and Ian Baldry; wood block prints by Julia Crozier and Betsy Bowen; pastel pieces by Sara Lubinski and Michael Farrell; paintings by Mary Beth Magyar, Patricia Schu, and Joan Finnegan; and more.

In addition to these beautiful art pieces, the auctions always offer fun and unique experiences. In 2018, guests had the opportunity to bid on an exciting sailing lesson on Lake Minnetonka; scenic wine makers tour of the Four Daughters Vineyard; a hands-on private pottery lesson in the studio of Lanesboro artist Sue Pariseau; tickets to a St. Paul Saints home game; overnight stays at gorgeous lodging establishments like the Habberstad House and the Thompson House; and tickets to high-quality regional performing arts events like Great River Shakespeare Festival and Penumbra Theatre.

DELICIOUS DINNER BUFFET prepared by Estelle’s Eatery & Bar

Located on Main Street in downtown Harmony, Estelle’s Eatery & Bar is a local favorite, and a destination for foodies around the state! Their seasonally rotating menu features creative and versatile from-scratch recipes. Beloved chef Matt Brown focuses on local ingredients and quality cuisine, making Estelle’s a stand-out gem for our corner of Minnesota. We were thrilled to have them as our caterers last year!

Entree options at the event included Smoked Brisket finished in a Smoky Bourbon Glaze, Parmesan Chicken finished with an Herb Gremolata, or Smoked Gouda Penne Mac & Cheese.

The entree also included creamy garlic whipped mashed potatoes, sexy corn (sweet potato, corn, roasted red pepper, thyme and brown butter), a walnut cranberry salad and homemade dinner rolls.

Desserts were provided by The Bite of Lanesboro and appetizers by Catering by Design of Rochester.

HOT JAZZ & SWINGING RHYTHMS by The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League

We were excited to welcome our versatile and swingin’ musical guests, The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League! The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League is a swing band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their style is a melting pot of hot jazz, swing, and latin rhythms, brought to a boil by soaring vocals and endless energy. GATL’s second full-length album is a masterful mix of old-time hot jazz and Latin rhythms, held together by modern songwriting and layered stories.

Drawing their influence from almost a century of music, The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League combines elegant composition, raucous enthusiasm, and virtuosic playing to provide the perfect ambiance for any social event, from comfy dive bars and smoky jazz clubs to chic weddings.

CANVAS CLASH – Painting Competition

Canvas Clash live painting competition started at 7:00 p.m. Reprising a unique idea staged from 2019 at the Spring into Art Festival, Lanesboro Arts invited three visual artists to compete in a Canvas Clash live-speed painting competition during the dinner buffet. The artists were set up in a circle in the middle of the seating area and had just 30 minutes during dinner to create their masterpieces! The paintings created were then offered in a live auction prior to a brief ‘Reach for the Arts!’ presentation.

Stena Lieb is the full-time art teacher at Lanesboro Public Schools. A native of the Lanesboro area, Lieb graduated from LPS in 1997 and went on to major in K-12 Visual Arts at Winona State University, graduating with honors in 2002. A mother of five from a creative family, Lieb lives on a farm near Pilot Mound. She currently teaches classes in printmaking, journalism, fiber arts, elementary art, drawing & painting, and 7th & 8th grade art. She also helped organize an Empty Bowls event at LPS in February 2019.

Erik Pearson was born and raised in Superior, Wisconsin, by the shore of Lake Superior and currently lives in St. Paul, MN. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with emphasis in painting, from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. In 2001, he was awarded the first Artist in Residence at Lanesboro Arts, this experience has inspired him to quit his job and pursue art full-time. Erik Pearson shows his art through galleries, private shows and murals. He has also completed over a dozen public murals with the largest mural being a 2,500 square foot outdoor painting for the Bloomington Center for the Arts in Bloomington, Minnesota. erikpearsonart.com

Jessica Zottola is a Freelance muralist based in Minneapolis.  She has Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Luther College and studied Renaissance Life Drawing in Florence, Venice and Rome. Zottola’s work deals with process, motion and shape, mainly falling in the vein of abstraction. Heavy influence from the people and location she is around/in. She often creates one off compositions that deal specifically with an idea of the world around during a certain time and place. jessazottola.com

KTTC TELEVISION’S Jess Abrahamson & Tom Overlie

The event began at 6:00 p.m. with a cash bar, appetizers, live music, and the sealed bid and silent auctions. The sit-down dinner and Canvas Clash live painting competition followed around 7:00 p.m. and the ‘Reach for the Arts’ presentation began at 7:50 p.m., followed by desserts and dancing until the event wrapped up at 10:30 p.m.

Proceeds from the event benefit the year-round programming of Lanesboro Arts, serving as a regional catalyst for artistic excellence and educational development in providing meaningful and diverse art experiences for people of all ages. In the heart of historic downtown, Lanesboro Arts hosts literary, music, theater, and film events at the St. Mane Theatre, and houses two galleries featuring work by more than 90 regional artists. Lanesboro Arts programming also includes the annual Art in the Park fine art festival; the Lanesboro Emerging Artist Residency Program; classes and workshops, Surprise Sculpture, and Lanesboro Arts Campus Initiatives.

Call for Auction items: Do you have any original or unique art pieces that you are willing to donate to the 2021 Gala? Do you have any experiences you are willing to share (such as classes, adventure trips, dinner opportunities, concerts, tickets, etc.)? Contact Lanesboro Arts at 507-467-2446 or visit the Gallery.

The 2019 Fall Gala was sponsored by F & M Community Bank, the Law Office of Thomas Manion, KTTC TV, Preble Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Co.,  Merchants Bank and POET biorefining.

Photo Gallery Below: Snapshots from annual gala (2014 through 2019)