Column: Eye on the Arts, by Eileen Nelson Ness

June is bustin’ out all over!

Just like the abundance of spring flowers opening up, there are plenty of arts activities in Albert Lea to fill up your summer months. June is like a variety show with everything from magic to singing.

Starting off the month is the Harmony Junction concert “Applause!” There are two concerts on Saturday, at 3 p.m. and an evening show at 7 p.m. Both concerts are at Southwest School’s Little Theater. The guest quartet for this concert is St. Croix Crossing. Come and join the fun, hear a lot of favorite songs. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased from Harmony Junction members or at the door. If you have any questions or would like more information call 373-3855 or 373-1708.

If you go to the afternoon concert of Harmony Junction, you have the evening to enjoy the Dazzle magic and variety show at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. The show runs from 7:30 to 9 p.m. This is a dazzling performance of magic, comedy, illusion, singing, mind-reading and celebrity impressions. The show features Dave Holly and Zac Tenneboe, a second generation magician specializing in mentalist magic and hypnosis. The tickets are $13. So come and enjoy a spectacular evening of fun.

The annual Eddie Cochran Weekend is June 7 to 9. The weekend, is full of activities, is sure to have something for everyone. The wonderful exhibits of Eddie Cochran at the Freeborn County Historical Museum will open at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 7. The cruise-in social sponsored by Country Inn & Suites begins at 6 p.m. There will be trophies given along with live music.

June 8 will offer the 27th annual Eddie Cochran Car Show at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration for each car and driver is $10. There will also be swap meet vendors and cars for sale. This event is open to the public with a ticket price of $2. Music will be by Megaforce Sound & Light Show.

You won’t go hungry because there will be food concessions and adult beverages available throughout the day so you won’t miss out on anything. Come out and see which cars receive the top awards. This year the top five cars will be chosen by the spectators. The car cruise starting at 4:30 p.m. is presented by the Freeborn County Historical Society. For car show information, contact Jerry Monson at 507-473-0303 or Pat Mulso at 507-373-8003.

This Eddie Cochran Weekend is a fundraiser for the beautiful new addition to Freeborn County Historical Museum building.

The weekend keeps jivin’ Saturday night at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center with “The Music of Eddie Cochran and the ’50s” presented by the Ross Center and DC Music. Enjoy the top rock and roll hits by Eddie and others. It begins at 7:30 p.m.

On June 9, you can head out to the United Methodist Church for the annual rock ’n’ roll service. The service is at 10 a.m. with a lunch following.

The Albert Lea Art Center has numerous events scheduled for June. A Unique Junque Sale will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 8 at 1206 W. Richway Drive. I bet you will find your treasure there. Come and have some fun!

From June 13 to July 26 there will be an exhibit called “Celebrating the Lakes of Freeborn County” at the Art Center on Tuesdays through Saturdays.

From 5 to 7 p.m. June 13, Jerad Stricker, a field technician with the Shell Rock River Watershed District, will give a short presentation at 6 p.m. The gallery exhibit will include entries from local artists depicting present day and historical perspectives of our area lakes. The Art Center also continues with the Dorothy Godtland Lecture Series from 7 to 8 p.m. June 20 with Rachel Knutson presenting “Gentle Hands: the Art of Midwifery.”

On June 27 there will be Prismacolor Art Pencils by award-winning instructor Jared Paul Wilson.

The one-day seminar begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Wilson is a professional wildlife and Western artist and is a published children’s book author and illustrator. Registration is $85. Contact the Art Center to register and get supply information.

The annual Art and Garden Tour will take place June 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. and on June 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You will be able to visit beautiful area gardens featuring local artists and their artwork. The cost is $10 per person.

The Freeborn County Historical Museum will host what’s called the Vintage Style Show as a fundraiser for their building expansion. The show will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon June 22 in Bethany Hall at First Lutheran Church of Albert Lea. For tickets and more information call the museum at 373-8003.

So there you have it. Just like a beautiful variety of flowers in the garden, we have a great variety of activities for the month of June. There is something for everyone, so take some time out of your day or weekend to enjoy the variety of events happening our home town of Albert Lea.

 

Eileen Nelson Ness is organist at Salem Lutheran Church and is an active organ recitalist and musician.