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Art Gallery Exhibits

Gallery hours: 
Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Gannon Gallery

Gannon Gallery

Skogen Hall
2nd Floor
1400 Schafer St.

Dedicated in 1981 to the memory of Clell and Ruth Gannon, the Gannon Gallery is a light-filled space in BSC's Skogen Hall. Regional artists, student work and more rotate through this free public space throughout the year. 

About the Gannons

Clell Gannon was a naturalist, landscape painter, poet, editor-printer and historian. He was known for paintings of North Dakota scenes, including watercolor cover illustrations for Oscar Will Seed catalogs. He also wrote and illustrated the book, "How Christmas Came to North Dakota." Ruth was a long-time BSC Spanish and English teacher and poet. Both supported the arts and lived in a self-designed art house called "The Cairn."

2024-2025 Exhibition Schedule

Les Fleurs de Mon Coeur
Les Fleurs de Mon Coeur by Marilyn Niewoehner


Marilyn Niewoehner
Aug. 26 – Oct. 4
Reception: Wednesday, September 18th
4-6 pm

This project is supported in part by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Ornamental Abjects
Ornamental Abjects by Donovan Widmer


Donovan Widmer
Oct. 14 – Nov. 22
Reception: Wednesday, October 18th
4-6 pm

Donovan Widmer has served as an Associate Professor of Art at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota since 2004, where he teaches the Jewelry/Metalsmithing emphasis area. Mr. Widmer received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and his Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of Art at Illinois State University. Mr. Widmer has worked as a professional metalsmith for several years and is recognized as an emerging artist.

This series of artworks explores ornamentation as both the object and subject of the work. The artworks examine the role of body adornment as a form of personal enhancement—a way to transform the wearer into their idealized image of beauty. Body adornments make public statements about an individual’s authentic and created identity. Combining the subject matter with a jewelry object shifts the context and the interpretation of beauty by displaying something that is often viewed by society as ugly to something the wearer feels enhances their physical appearance. As a result, this series utilizes the decorative object as a means to critique aspects of our culture’s perspectives on beauty

This project is supported in part by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.


Polymer Skies by Debbie Kauffman
Polymer Skies

Debbie Kauffman
Jan. 13 – Feb. 14
Reception: Wednesday, November 6th
4-6 pm

North Dakota artist and award-winning quilter Debbie Kauffman tells her stories through drawing and sculpting with thread. Her textile art often begins with a photograph she has taken, trying to make sense of the world around her, through what she creates. Making use of her wide range of skills, she manipulates fibers and embellishes them with thread, yarn, paint, beads, or whatever material that will express the story. She strives to use her platform for the greater good, often including details that support social justice themes. Her current work is focused on using sustainable textiles or materials that are already on hand. Much of her life has been spent doing women’s work, so she continues to include elements to honor the women who came before her, especially those who passed their skills on to her.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Century High School Exhibit
CHS Student Artwork


Feb. 24 – Mar. 27
Reception: TBD

This exhibit will feature works from Century High School Students. 
 
Visual Art Student Exhibition
BSC Student Artwork


BSC Visual Art Students
Apr. 7 – May 9
Reception: Wednesday, April 30th
4-6 pm

The gallery will feature the Juried Visual Art Student Exhibition with pieces from BSC visual art students.

Elsa Forde Gallery

Elsa Forde Gallery in Schafer Hall was dedicated in 1958 to the memory of Elsa Forde, charter organizer and board member of the Bismarck-Mandan Art Association and chair of its annual art show. The art association helped establish both galleries at BSC.