Current exhibition
The Crossing Arts Alliance proudly presents the 2026 Member Salon, a vibrant celebration of the creativity, skill, and imagination of our member artists. Inspired by the historic tradition of salon‑style exhibitions, this annual showcase transforms our gallery into a rich tapestry of color, texture, and perspective. Artworks are displayed side by side in an immersive, floor‑to‑ceiling arrangement that invites visitors to explore, discover, and experience the collective energy of our creative community.
Featuring an eclectic mix of mediums, styles, and subjects, the Member Salon highlights the depth and diversity of artistic expression within our region. This exhibition not only honors the work of individual artists but also fosters connection - between creators, viewers, and the shared stories that art makes possible.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the artists whose work fills this year’s gallery.
Participating Artists: Sally Aadland, Carla Benjamin, Kelly Bonde, Darcy Brambrink, Katherine Davich, Karen DeVries, Nick DeVries, Ann Dunham, Heather Duininck, Arsen Eris, Bridget Ertelt, Cathie Greene, Jody Hagenson, Brenda Hrtanek, Lonnie Knutson, Kathleen Krueger, Molly Mae Krautkremer, Phillip Kvamme, Carol Lang, Dan MacLaughlin, Amber Maki, Cat Mayr, Stephanie Mirocha, Donna Morris, Karin Nelson, Juno Paine, Tony Powers, Diane Runberg, Meggan Shepard, Maria Thompson‑Seep, Eric Twait, Michael Vogt, Kristi Whitman, Justin Wilson, Katy Yenter
upcoming 2026 exhibitions
The Crossing Arts Alliance is honored to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the renowned Cherrywood Challenge with this year’s evocative theme, Abyss: Creatures of the Deep. In partnership with Cherrywood, we are proud to present The Squid Collection, a mesmerizing selection of quilts inspired by the mysterious life forms that inhabit the ocean’s darkest depths.
The abyss is home to some of the most extraordinary and otherworldly creatures on the planet - beings shaped by extreme pressure, frigid temperatures, and near-total darkness. Just as these creatures have adapted to an environment with limited light, participating artists were challenged to create within a limited color palette, pushing their creativity to new depths. The result is a stunning display of texture, imagination, and artistry.
Abyss will be on view May 26–30, 2026, with a public reception on Friday, May 29, from 5–7 p.m. All are warmly invited to experience this remarkable collection while it’s here. Dive in and discover the beauty that thrives in the deep.
Sorrow and Sinew traces the fragile tension of being held together in moments of grief, moving through themes of breath, loss, community, home, and decay. Local artist Molly Mae offers a series of works that sit in the quiet space between unraveling and endurance, inviting viewers to consider what binds us - gently or unwillingly - through sorrow.
This exhibition runs June 2 – July 4, offering a month-long immersion into Molly Mae’s textured, corporeal visual language. Please join us for an artist talk and reception on Friday, June 5 from 5–7pm. This will be an opportunity to hear directly from the artist about the stories, materials, and emotional landscapes that shape the work.
Learn more about the artist, Molly Mae, on her website.
This exhibition celebrates the enduring spirit and artistic legacy of Evelyn Matthies, a vibrant force in the Brainerd Lakes Area whose influence shaped generations of artists, students, and community members. Known for her warmth, wit, and unwavering belief that art belongs to everyone, Evelyn approached creativity not as a luxury but as a shared human experience.
Arriving in Brainerd in 1959 with her husband Bill, Evelyn transitioned from elementary education to the arts, eventually becoming a cornerstone of Central Lakes College, where she led the art department for more than three decades. She was also a founding member and former president of The Crossing Arts, helping build the region’s artistic identity with her trademark enthusiasm.
Evelyn worked across many mediums, yet watercolor remained her truest home. She cherished its sense of freedom, its movement, and its ability to surprise - qualities that echo through her light, whimsical compositions. Her pieces radiate the same joyful curiosity she brought to her teaching and her life.
Her philosophy was simple, generous, and famously displayed above her kitchen table: “You don’t have to understand it, you don’t have to like it, but you do have to experience it.” This exhibition invites visitors to do exactly that.
In the spirit of Evelyn’s belief that art should be accessible to all, the show features many affordable pieces, encouraging both seasoned collectors and first‑time buyers to bring a bit of her joy home.
To celebrate her life, legacy, and the community she helped build, please join us for a reception on Friday, July 10th from 5–7pm. All are welcome.
The Crossing Arts Alliance, in partnership with the Lakes Area Music Festival, invites artists to submit original works for a special exhibition celebrating LAMF's 2026 season theme: Passion
The Crossing Arts Alliance invites artists to submit original, tasteful, and family‑friendly artwork for Passion, a special exhibition celebrating the depth and intensity of human emotion.
Just as music encourages us to lean in, listen closely, and feel more deeply, we seek artwork that carries that same emotional resonance - whether through sweeping movement, the pull of desire, the spark of energy, or a quiet moment of transformation.
We welcome pieces that explore passion in all its forms, from bold and expressive to subtle and contemplative. Inspired by the drama of tango, the elegance of ballet, and the romance of opera, this exhibition highlights works that embody emotion, storytelling, and creative expression. Artists are encouraged to draw from cultural influences - local or global - and to interpret the theme through their own unique artistic lens.
Eligible media include 2D and 3D works, fiber arts, multimedia pieces, and sculpture. Because this exhibition will be presented in a family‑friendly venue, all submissions must be appropriate for audiences of all ages.
Selected artworks will be displayed at the Gichi‑ziibi Center for the Arts from August 2nd –23rd, 2026, presented alongside the Lakes Area Music Festival’s world‑class musical performances.
Submission Deadline: July 1, 2026
Submit your artwork here
In “Reflections of Reality”, created by Minnesotan artist, Roger Dullinger, viewers are invited to experience the natural world through a lens of meticulous realism and heartfelt observation. This collection of original oil paintings captures landscapes, rural settings, birds, animals, and botanicals with a striking clarity that honors both the grandeur and intimacy of nature.
Rooted in Minnesota’s diverse scenery - its lakes, forests, and farmlands - the works are inspired by reference photographs taken during the artist’s explorations close to home. Complementing these are pieces born from travels out west, where vast horizons and rugged terrain provide a dramatic counterpoint to the quiet beauty of the Midwest.
“Reflections of Reality” is more than a showcase of technique - it is a meditation on presence, place, and the enduring beauty found in everyday encounters with nature.
Please join us for an artist talk and reception, Friday, August 14th from 5-7pm.
Learn more about the artist, Roger Dullinger, and see more of his work on his website.
Cup North is an invitational exhibition celebrating the artistry and imagination of potters from across the Midwest. Now in its fourth year, Cup North IV will showcase an eclectic mix of cups and mugs - playful, refined, bold, and beautifully unexpected. Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift or looking to expand your own collection, this exhibition offers one‑of‑a‑kind pieces that highlight the vibrant talent of our regional ceramic community. Cup North will feature 36 potters from the region.
Artist Talk and Reception will take place September 18th, 2026, at 5-7 pm
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟴𝘅𝟴 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲’𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, and we’re so grateful to every artist who contributes and every bidder who helps make this event a success.
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 - 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮:
After school classes for high school and middle school students.
After school and summer camps for elementary students.
Free classes at local libraries to share the joy of creation with more and more people in our area.
Workshops with local and visiting artists.
Gallery exhibitions, artist talks, a gift shop full of handmade and other unique gifts, and so much more.
Auction Opens Sunday October 18th 10 AM and will close Sunday October 25th at 5 pm. Canvases need to be picked up between October 27th-November 7th.
past exhibitions
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
Transcripts of our exhibition video interviews can be found here
VIDEOS
