Local Artists Display Artwork | Video

Michelle San Miguel | 4/7/2012

This month, local artists are featuring their artwork in Mandan. The Mandan Art Association held an open house on Saturday for its 54th annual spring art show.

The show featured just about every kind of artwork, from hand crocheted necklaces and pottery pieces to tile murals and pencil portraits. Featured artists say shows like these help them attract business.

"It gets my name out there because not a lot of people know I do art even. They know me as a biologist out at the refuge so when I come to one of these shows and put my art in, they really like that," said artist Char Binstock.

Beverly Maitland was another artist featured at the show. She enjoys more of the decorative art pieces, working with tiles and acrylics, but she admits it`s not easy for artists to get their work noticed.

"To get your name out as an artist you really have to either submit through galleries or through craft shows and I found that craft shows, while they are good for bringing in crowds, I don`t think they get the type of crowds that appreciate some of the art that you see in the galleries."

The gallery, located off of Mandan`s Main Street, has been around since 2008, but gallery director Rose Heiser says there are still a lot of people who don`t even know it`s there.

"We see a lot of people that come in and express surprise that they see the work from the local artists that`s so good and I think they don`t realize how talented their next door neighbor is."

Heiser hopes the show helps spread more awareness of Bismarck and Mandan`s growing art scene.

The spring art show will be open until April 30. Admission is free.

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