Art Center's Great Fall Get Together

The Starfire Event Center saw a veritable who's who of Waseca County walk in the door on Saturday, Oct. 25 for the Waseca Art Center's Great Fall Get Together, and this year's celebration, which took place from 6 – 9 p.m., was a truly gala event, as the Waseca Art Center began celebrating 50 years (1976 - 2026) of bringing art to the community.

 

Crista Bohlmann and Jerimy Bohlmann-Little provided live entertainment, playing classical music on violin and cello, respectively. The Starfire Event Center entertained with an array of eatables that looked as though it could have collapsed a less robust buffet, and, after picking up their auction numbers and drink tickets at the door, many guests lined up for the delectables with enthusiasm, while others mingled at the tables until the line decreased.

 

While some got drinks at the bar, others perused the tables of silent auction offerings, which included quite a number of gift baskets, paintings by local artists, and even a baseball, signed by Rod Carew, who played for the Minnesota Twins from 1967 - 1978.

Still others tried their luck at any of several games. Purchasing a $15 playing card from Brad Donner or Ann Johannsen earned the purchaser a chance to win a SOLO Stove smokeless fire pit. With only 52 chances to win, people bought quite a number of cards. A Pyramid of Wine contained bottles of choice wines donated by members of the Waseca Art Center board and others. Jeanne Sexton, ever ready to volunteer, happily sold $20 corks to interested persons. Each numbered cork earned the purchaser a designated bottle of wine, all of which quickly sold out. Missy Donner took up her usual role in helping with the games, selling for $10 each the contents of ritzy champagne glasses: gift certificates hidden in elegant dinner napkins. The popular Key to My Art also quickly sold out. Charlie Priebe, Waseca County Republican Party treasurer, and Brad Milbrath, Waseca County commissioner, sold keys for $30 each. All 35 keys were sold, and ladies lined up in the hope of unlocking a treasure chest. To her evident astonishment, the prize of a $1,600 pair of earrings, donated by Williams Diamond Center, went to Sue Harguth, as her key opened the chest.

 

Following the games, retired auctioneer Larry Born volunteered his time to sell off a dozen more items in a live auction. Tara Bjerke announced each item, and Monica Priebe helped to display them. Items up for bid were a homemade wine rack with capacity for 100 bottles of wine, two vintage handmade Ravca dolls, attributed to Italian doll maker Yvonne Spaggiari, a custom watercolor painting by Grace Galvin, a bourbon lover's basket, a Bradley Donner original painting of a warbler bird, a PIT BOSS 4 Burner Deluxe Portable Gas Griddle, two batches of homemade caramels, two separate offerings of classes in clay modeling for up to six people, one by Jenny Butler and the other by Missy Donner, and a Kate Spade Weekender Package, including a weekend tote bag with four tickets to the Minnesota zoo and four tickets to a Stages Theater performance.

 

Of the 150 attendees, a number of newcomers enjoyed the evening's events at the Great Fall Get Together this year, including Erica Forsythe, who works at the Waseca Le Sueur Library, and came accompanied by her mother Diane Forsythe. Mike and Jennifer Bartelt came sporting stylish cowboy hats that they had just made on a trip to South Dakota.

Abigail Schumacher and Kyle Manderschied received a pair of tickets from Schumacher's employer, who couldn't attend. Ben and Elizabeth (“Biz”) Janike have been new faces in the Waseca community since 2021, when they moved from Mankato to Waseca to raise their family and continue Ben's online fitness business, Crossroads Training, Inc. Julie and Jon Froke, Waseca city planner, also graced the occasion with their presence. They moved from Phoenix, AZ to Waseca 16 months ago to be closer to their sons and their families, and are finding the Waseca community to be a pleasant fit.

 

Regular attendees at Waseca Art Center events included Robin and Jay Dulas, Waseca County Sheriff; and Deanna Bendex, local artist and author, who came with her two grandsons. “They brought me,” said Bendex, clearing up any misconception that it was the other way around. Carol Wobschall, too, another local artist, was seen bidding on items at the silent auction. Pete Madel and Liz O'brien were also there. Although O'brien has taken a step back after four years on the Waseca Art Center board, she still enjoys attending the events.

 

After the auction concluded, Mikhail Rostislavovich, Waseca Art Center president, expressed his appreciation for the Waseca Art Center's 50 years of providing the wider Waseca County area with a locus of activity for local artists and art lovers, for the members of the Waseca Art Center board and volunteers for their hard work in making it all possible, and to all the people who contribute to the continued success of the Waseca Art Center, not least of which are those who generously support it with their donations. “Tonight’s generosity ensures that art will continue to inspire the next generation,” he said.

 

Tara Bjerke rounded out the evening with her own speech in appreciation for the Waseca Art Center's 50 years, and encouraged attendees that, if they hadn't won anything, they had yet another opportunity to contribute for the many supplies that the Waseca Art Center needs in order to continue offering art classes to the community at a reasonable cost. She sold the star balloons that decorated the stage, beginning with the gold starts for $25, and continuing with silver and black balloons, all of which had served as a backdrop to the evening's theme of black and gold.

 

If you would like to know more about the Waseca Art Center, including their class offerings, visit their website: www.wasecaartcenter.org or better yet, stop in to see the exhibits. Their hours are Tues – Sat from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.