The Herd About the Prairie is here and it appears residents and visitors to Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo are amazed at what they see. I have seen children, teens, and adults gaze in delight and touch with affection the bison they discover here and there throughout these communities. They seem to be dazzled by the colors and designs, amazed at the artists' skill and imagination, respectful of the works of art before them.
From now until Sept. 9, when 28 full size and 10 tabletop bison will be sold at auction, we will be able to enjoy this very accessible form of public art. Because visual artists, business owners and individual arts supporters have seen the vision of what an arts event of this type can do for a community, the Lake Agassiz Arts Council has received the resources necessary to bring the Herd to this part of the prairie.
The Herd will make life in Moorhead, West Fargo and Fargo this summer unique, maybe even unforgettable. It certainly will for those students who created Herd bison in their schools and now see their work on public display.
The arts make a difference to our communities in areas of entertainment, education, quality of life, and economic impact. I say with all confidence, Herd About the Prairie is a clear demonstration of that fact.
Because the arts make a difference, the Lake Agassiz Arts Council believes it is important for those running for political office in any race, not just the one coming up in June, to speak to issues related to the arts. That's why the Arts Council is hosting what we call a "Conversation with the Candidates" Tuesday at the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre.
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A "Conversation with the Candidates" is intended to be a candidates' forum for mayor and city commission, but we want it to be more of a dialogue between candidates and voters than the usual candidate Q and A.
Yes, we want to ascertain each candidate's stand on various topics related to the arts, but more importantly, we want candidates to walk away with more knowledge about what matters to voters who are also arts supporters. And we want arts supporters and artists to leave with a clear understanding of how decisions related to arts support are, or will be, determined.
We want to emphasize this is going to be a "conversation" with the candidates, a dialogue. We fully expect candidates to ask questions of the voters as well as the other way around.
The Lake Agassiz Arts Council has 52 members. Representatives from LAAC membership will attend. But this is not a closed meeting. It is open to the public.
We invite arts providers of all types, owners of arts-related businesses, arts patrons who care about a serious commitment to the arts from elected officials, arts educators and residents who are interested in understanding the relationship between the arts and city government.
Herd About the Prairie is a new arts event, but month after month, year after year, local arts providers bring not only an abundance of arts experiences but experiences of a quality unexpected in an area with a modest population and seemingly out of the way. Consistent and continual arts funding makes this our reality.
The Lake Agassiz Arts Council believes it is necessary to give candidates for elected office an opportunity to address their arts constituency directly.
The "Conversation with the Candidates" will start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, at the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre.
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If time permits topics of interest other than the arts will be discussed.
Keeler Olsen is executive director of the Lake Agassiz Arts Council. E-mail martha@fm-arts.com
