Like a wheel rolling downhill, Minot State University's live arts and music festival, NOTSTOCK, continues to gain momentum. What started five years ago with one artist at one table for one day, has grown into an annual event that features multimedia artists communing with hundreds of new and returning visitors.
NOTSTOCK 2011 runs Oct. 6-8. This year's event celebrates the relationship between words and pictures in comics, poster art, books, zines and any medium where words and pictures collide to create meaning in culture.
This year's family-friendly event includes rock poster and comic artists, a bookseller, publisher, writer, local musicians, a self-publishing educator and an artist who brings to life children's drawings of monsters.
"It's a hands-on, participatory event, all the way through," said Bill Harbort, MSU professor of art and NOTSTOCK co-organizer.
"The event offers something for everyone, from elementary students to college students to community members," said Laurie Geller, MSU associate professor of math and NOTSTOCK co-organizer. "It brings together award-winning professionals who share their expertise, experiences, and talents with the area community in an up-close and personal manner. Guests become participants in the arts, not simply observers."
'Fantastic'
"Fantastic," a traveling exhibit from the North Dakota Museum of Art, brings together the work of a dozen artists from the United States, Canada, England, Iceland and Argentina. Many works echo earlier paintings of DaVinci, Edward Hopper, Franz Kline and others. Joyful and colorful, the exhibition poses as a collection of old masterpieces and a rollicking excursion of fun. "Fantastic" is open to the public Oct. 6-8 and Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Conference Center.
Chloe Eudaly, publisher, writer, self-publishing educator and owner of Portland's legendary bookstore, Reading Frenzy, will lead zine workshops Oct. 6-7 at 11 a.m. A self-described "print devotee," she will also speak about "Print(ed) Matters" Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Conference Center. An installation of zines, fliers and photographs will be on display and available for purchase.
A tandem reception for Eudaly and the "Fantastic" exhibit will follow Eudaly's 7 p.m. presentation on the third floor of the Student Center.
Minneapolis duo, Landland, will screen print live in the Beaver Dam, second floor of the Student Center. Returning guest, DWITT, whose art is featured in the hit video game "Guitar Hero II," will also screen print, draw comics and give a presentation of his work Oct. 7 at 9 a.m. and Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. in Aleshire Theater. The work of Landland and DWITT will be for sale at the event and displayed at the Northwest Arts Center and at 62 Doors Gallery & Studios, downtown.
Illustrator, painter, comic artist, educator and author Dave DeVries will bring to life children's drawings of a "Monster Beaver" and a "beaver rebuilding Minot." DeVries will paint the "Monster Beaver" during the event.
The painting will be included in his work, "The Monster Engine" and sold at auction with proceeds to support a family affected by the flood. DeVries will turn the "beaver rebuilding Minot" into a line drawing that can be screen printed onto T-shirts for a freewill offering. DeVries will give a presentation, including his work for Marvel and DC Comics, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. and Oct. 8 at 9 a.m. in Aleshire Theater.
POTSTOCK opens its second year with guest ceramicist Ned Krouse of Haslet, Mich., who specializes in colorful raku pottery. Krouse, MSU faculty and students will give ceramics demonstrations and raku firings daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the north entrance to the Student Center.
A favorite NOTSTOCK activity will continue again this year. Every day from Oct. 6-8, do-it-yourself screen printing will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Beaver Dam, allowing visitors to choose a NOTSTOCK design and "pull" their own screen print. Participants are encouraged to bring their own T-shirt, hoodie, tote bag or other item to be printed.
Area bands will play on-campus daily in the Beaver Dam from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at the Barley Pop Bar 9 p.m. Oct. 7, and at the NOTSTOCK closing reception at 62 Doors Gallery & Studios Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.
All events and performances are free and open to the public. For a complete list of times and events, go to (www.msunotstock.org).