Watermark Art Center
About
Watermark Art Center is a place where you can visit four galleries and view contemporary and Indigenous artwork made by regional and national artists. The Center provides gallery space for rotating exhibitions, concerts, author readings, receptions, and workshops. Sign up for art classes or stop in for fun. Visit our Shop 505 for high quality, fine art items made by local and regional artists.
- The Marley & Sandy Kaul Gallery is Watermark’s largest gallery. Named after award-winning Bemidji painter Marley Kaul, a prominent arts leader in the region, and is wife Sandy. The gallery boasts nearly 2,000 square feet. Floor-to-ceiling windows on three exterior walls allow visitors a magnificent view of Lake Bemidji while providing nearby traffic a wide view inside the gallery, as well. The space is perfect for both 2-D and 3-D exhibits, often hosting a combination of multiple exhibits and/or mediums.
- Watermark’s Miikanan Gallery (Many Paths) is a permanent space to promote Indigenous art. It exhibits a variety of traditional and contemporary artwork created by Native American artists.
- Bemidji State University showcases prints and ceramics from their teaching collections in the BSU Harlow | Kleven Gallery named after alumna who began the collection in the 1970s.
- The Lakeview Gallery, named in honor of William & Patricia Kelly, is the initial space guests see upon entering Watermark. The long, high-ceiling space creates a gateway leading to Watermark’s other galleries, culminating in a majestic view of Lake Bemidji, which can be seen from anywhere in the gallery.
Creativity and community-building move beyond the walls of Watermark in the surrounding pollinator gardens, teeming with beauty and biodiversity. The landscaping is designed to beautify downtown Bemidji, support native pollinators and urban wildlife and serve as a demonstration area for visitors to learn about gardening with Minnesota’s rich variety of native plants, with the added bonus of acting as a retention pond for stormwater runoff.
Every summer, Watermark hosts the "Watermark Art Festival" on the third weekend in July. Previously known as “Art in the Park” this juried fine art and craft fair has been a summer highlight for Northern Minnesotan residents and tourists since 1967.
Vendors sell a wide variety of items including hand-crafted wood items, ceramics, apparel, jewelry, photography, metalworking, greeting cards, homemade preserves, soaps, stained glass, original paintings, garden art and more! An activity area provides fun for visitors of all ages. Food and two live music stages make the event a true festival. The two-day festival draws thousands of visitors to Downtown Bemidji. The festival area has been expanded to include the Watermark Art Center grounds as well as the historic ree-lined Library Park across the street.
Watermark Art Center is a non-profit, member-supported organization dedicated to encouraging the growth and development of art in Northern Minnesota. There is no charge to view the gardens, visit the festival, view exhibits or shop retail items. Watermark Art Center is accessible, non-profit, member-supported organization.
Dates
Winter hours (January - March) 10am - 5pm Tuesday through Saturday
Regular hours (April - December) 10am - 5pm Monday through Saturday
Rates
Watermark is accessible and there is no fee to view exhibits or to visit the retail gallery. Get more event, class, and exhibit information at watermarkartcenter.org. Located at 505 Bemidji Avenue N. in Bemidji, MN. 218-444-7570.
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