Anderson Center holds 10th holiday celebration

The work of more than 45 local, regional, national and international artists, writers and musicians will be featured at the 10th annual Holiday Celebration of the Arts from noon to 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Anderson Center at Tower View.

A family event — and an opportunity to shop for creative gifts — the celebration will include items made by sculptors, painters, potters, fabric artists, stained glass artists, photographers, printmakers, glass blowers, poets and musicians.

ArtAndes will be back with hand-crafted Peruvian textiles. Local artists showing their work will include members of the Red Wing Arts Association and the Red Wing Photography Club. Signed books and CDs will be available.

Demonstrations will be under way at various studios. While touring the grounds, visitors can watch printmaking, glassblowing, painting and woodblock printing, and see Anderson Center potters “throwing” pots.

Scott King of Red Dragonfly Press will host poetry readings in the historic granary with Minnesota poet Joyce Sutphen and award-winning children’s author John Coy. Also featured there will be printmaker Richard Stephens.

Live musical entertainment again will present Ovation, Red Wing High School’s elite choral group, under the direction of Mikkel Gardner, along with pianist Luke Kays, guitarist Sam Brady and violinist Chad Larkin. They will perform in the galleries throughout the day.

While at Tower View, people can check ou ancient local artifacts on display in the Red Wing Archaeology Field Station on the lower level of the education building. The entire historic estate will be open for self-guided tours and visitors will be able to climb the landmark water tower to check out the panoramic views of the Cannon River Valley.

The Anderson Center’s permanent gallery, one of rural Minnesota’s finest collections with works by Picasso, Dali, Warhol and others, will be open throughout the afternoon.

A small admission fee will be charged at the door. Food and a cash bar will be available in the cafe.

The event has support from the Jones Family Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Minnesota State Arts Board, National Endowment for the Arts, Target Foundation, and Xcel Energy Foundation. The center is at Highways 61 and 19 in west Red Wing; call (651) 388-2009.

Tags: arts and entertainment, anderson center, red wing, lifestyle, arts, entertainment