WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCAL ARTISTS AND ART ORGANIZATIONS
Welcome to our local artists and organizations directory. Williston has such a dedicated and diverse arts community! We have so many individuals with a variety of talents! Your support is much appreciated. This directory is the hub for you to find your one-of-a-kind pieces or participate and join in the fun.
Artists- Want to be featured in this Directory? Click the Button Below to input your Information Below!
WILLISTON HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMING MUSIC SCHEDULE 2023
Monday, February 27, 2023
7:00pm - Choir - Phil Jackson Field House - Choir Extravaganza
Monday, March 6, 2023
7:00pm - Band - Phil Jackson Field House - Band O’Rama
7:00pm- Jazz Band - WHS Theater - Jazz Concert
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
7:00pm - Orchestra - Phil Jackson Field House - Orchestra Concert
March 23-25, 2023
Thursday - Saturday - Bismarck - All-State Music Festival
Monday, April 24, 2023
7:00pm - Jazz - WHS Theater - WHS Jazz Concert
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Music - Fine Arts Awards Presentation & Tri-M Recital
2023 Governor’s Awards for the Arts
RECAP BY JOHN K. GEYERMAN
I attended my first Governor’s Awards for the Arts, February 1st, 2023. The Social Hour started at 5 pm in the Atrium at the North Dakota Heritage center in Bismarck, with the Ceremony following in the Auditorium.
Dr. Shawn Oban was the emcee for the night and Governor Burgum presented the awards to each recipient. Throughout the night Governor Burgum expressed his strong support for the Arts in North Dakota.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. Sometimes, awards ceremonies struggle to make everyone feel included because they can be geared towards a niche audience.
The ceremony took care to be inclusive - taking a moment of silence for a land acknowledgment to the five native tribes of ND.
The stunning award is designed by Nelda Shrupp from the White Bear First Nations Indian Reservation in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. In 1990, Nelda graduated from UND with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts. In 1993 she went on to get her Master’s of Fine Arts in metalsmithing and sculpture-making. She currently resides in Lakota.
“All elements of her art pieces have meaning and special significance as it relates to Native culture. Nelda’s noisemaker/necklace was first selected in 2001 as the award given to the recipients of the biennial ND Governor’s Awards for the Arts.”
During a recent interview with Nelda, she explained that the metal piece symbolizes a cloud (or umbrella in modern terms), with the four points coming down signifying the four directions (NESW). The four beads represent all nations, and the colors of white, black, yellow, and red carry meaning as well: peace/happiness, death, power, and life/earth (respectively). Finally, the black horsehair was incorporated because horses are considered sacred in Native culture. Given by Mother Earth, horses provide speed and mobility for hunting, warfare, and travel to other campsites.
Click HERE
to read more about Nelda Schrupp and her amazing career.
Dr. Oban and Governor Burgum were both sincere and humorous with their narratives about each award recipient. Gov. Burgum gave brief informative introductions for each recipient, highlighted by well produced and inspiring videos. Dr. Oban then listed the other accolades of each recipient. Gov. Burgum continued to voice his support for the Arts in ND as he presented each award and encouraged each to take center stage to give their acceptance speech.
Video of the Ceremony can be found HERE.
Timestamp for your convenience:
00:07 – WELCOME – DR. SHAWN OBAN
00:35 – TRIBAL LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
1:06 – NDCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF ACKNOWLEDGMENT
1:40 – GOVERNMENT ATTENDEES ACKNOWLEDGMENT
2:25 – PAST GOVERNOR’S AWARD RECIPIENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT
2:42 – KIM KONIKOW – WELCOME SPEECH
5:00 – KIM AND SHAWN FUNNY TRANSITION
5:30 – AWARD DESIGN, CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, AND HISTORY
7:28 - GOV. BURGUM REMARKS
13:45 – DONALD LAREW – INTRO ARTS IN EDUCATION – GOV. BURGUM
15:15 – VIDEO DONALD LAREW
19:25 – AWARD PRESENATION - ARTS IN EDUCATION
20:06 – ACCEPTANCE SPEECH - DONALD LAREW
22:18 – EMPIRE ARTS CENTER – INTO ARTS ORGANIZATION – GOV BURGUM.
23:35 – VIDEO EMPIRE ARTS CENTER
26:15 – AWARD PRESENATION - ARTS ORGANIZATION
28:23 – ACCEPTANCE SPEECH EMPIRE ARTS CENTER
30:40 – BILL LOWMAN – INTRO CULTURAL HERITAGE - GOV. BURGUM
31:38 – VIDEO BILL LOWMAN
34:05 – AWARD PRESENTATION - CULTURAL HERITAGE
37:13 - ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BILL LOWMAN
38:45 – MAKOCHE STUDIOS – INTRO BUSINESS – GOV. BURGUM
40:21 – VIDEO MAKOCHE STUDIOS
43:10 – AWARD PRESENTATION - BUSINESS
45:50 – ACCEPTANCE SPEECH MAKOCHE STUDIOS
49:35 - PIEPER FLECK BLOOMQUIST – INTRO INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT – GOV BURGUM
50:46 – VIDEO PIEPER FLECK BLOOMQUIST
53:32 - AWARD PRESENTATION - INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT
56:12 - ACCEPTANCE SPEECH PIEPER FLECK BLOOMQUIST
1:00:18 - JOAN HECKAMAN - INTRO CHAMPION OF THE ARTS– GOV. BURGUM
1:02:21 – VIDEO JOAN HECKAMAN
1:04:17 - AWARD PRESENTATION – CHAMPION OF THE ARTS
1:06:36 - ACCEPTANCE SPEECH JOAN HECKAMAN
1:10:50 - CLOSING REMARKS – GOV. BURGUM
1:13:36 - CLOSING REMARKS – DR. SHAWN OBAN
(Top - Left to Right / Bottom - Right to Left)
Bill Lowman (Cultural Hertiage), Empire Arts Center (Arts Organization), Donald E. Larew (Arts in Education)
Pieper Fleck Bloomquist (Individual Achievement), Makoche Recording Studios (Business), Former Senator Joan Heckaman (Champion of the Arts)
“[This year’s recipients and recipients in the past] “demonstrated selfless dedication and a powerful commitment to bringing excellence to the arts across our state.””
“RECIPIENTS ARE SELECTED FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO EXPAND ART OPPORTUNITIES TO A NEW AUDIENCE, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ART EXPERIENCES, CREATE AN APPRECIATION FOR NORTH DAKOTA’S CULTURE HERITAGE, MAKE THE ARTS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND OUR LIVES, AND FOR THEIR LENGTH OF SERVICE.”
- Dr. Shawn Oban
“[EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT] WE ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON, WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTS, WE ALL KNOW HOW IT TOUCHES THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN OUR STATE, AND HOW IT CAN SHAPE YOUNG LIVES, HOW IT CAN FORGE NEW FUTURES FOR COMMUNITIES.”
- Governor Burgum
“I’M REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE AT THE COUNCIL HAVE DONE TO SHIFT OUR ROLE A BIT… FROM JUST BEING A GRANT MAKER TO BEING A PARTNER IN THE COMMUNITY, AND TO REALLY WORKING HARD TO REACH RURAL AUDIENCES ACROSS THE STATE.”
- Kim Konikow (Executive Director NDCA)
“She’s the Champion of the Arts [Joan Heckaman] and now she’s asking you to join her as a Champion. Let’s do it and make sure Kim’s [North Dakota Council on the Arts] budget gets fully funded.”
- Governor Burgum
“They are a small but mighty crew that gets great work done…”
- Governor Burgum (referring to NDCA staff)
