Dan Mondloch – Expressions in Watercolor Workshop
2024-05-16 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Mississippi Mornings Art Studio, 40341 Lamoille Dr., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Mississippi Mornings Art Studio | 40341 Lamoille Dr.
A watercolor workshop with Dan Mondloch, brought to you by the La Crosse Society of Arts & Crafts, will take place May 14-16 at Mississippi Mornings Art Studio. Dan Mondloch is an award winning third-generation painter who received a BFA in painting and drawing from St. Cloud State University. Gain a foundation of the visual language of watercolor with an emphasis on simplifying subjects through large value shapes. Students will enjoy one full demo each day as well as paint one strategic follow-along activity designed to speed up your understanding and abilities. Contact Penny Stroening of the LCSAC to register; email: penelopestroening@gmail.com. Learn more.

Theatre du Mississippi Presents Baby I’ll Turn the Sky Green for You
2024-05-17 19:00, 2024-05-18 19:00, 2024-05-19 14:00 | Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, 1164 W 10th St., Winona, MN, United States
Valencia Arts Center | 1164 W Howard St.
theatredumiss.org
Theatre du Mississippi presents a production of the play Baby I’ll Turn the Sky Green for You by Taylor Sklenar, directed by Rae Peter.
Part One: In a ravaged 2051, a nurse tries desperately to keep her father on life support, despite her nihilistic sister’s desire to pull the plug. As the sisters quarrel, questions of their father’s past emerge, pushing their relationship to its breaking point.
Part Two: In 2019, the cast has transformed to play the older generation, and the decisions and secrets of the past come to life. An intriguing look at the responsibility that we have to other generations and the personal costs of action and inaction.
Tickets are $15 pre-sale or $20 at the door. Learn more.

Winona Community Chorale Concert “The Paths We Travel”
2024-05-17 19:00, 2024-05-18 14:00 | Central Lutheran Church, 259 W Wabasha St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Central Lutheran Church | 259 W Wabasha St.
facebook.com/WinonaCommunityChorale
The Winona Community Chorale presents a spring concert entitled “The Paths We Travel” on Friday, May 17 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, May 18 at 2:00 pm. Performances are at Central Lutheran Church, 259 W Wabasha St., Winona. Admission is by free-will offering.
The Winona Community Chorale is a mixed choral ensemble performing music from a wide variety of styles, genres and time periods. Now in its third concert season, the group is directed by Kurt Speltz. The original watercolor painting by Faye Schoen pictured above will be sold by silent auction during the concerts with proceeds going to support the choir and its vision. Learn more.

Somsen Hall Centenary Celebration Open House
2024-05-18 10:00 - 14:00 | Winona State University, 175 W Mark St, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Somsen Hall | Winona State University | 8th & Johnson Streets
The Winona Heritage Preservation Commission is partnering with Winona State University to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Somsen Hall with a free public open house on Saturday, May 18th, 2024, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Self-guided tours of the interior will be offered throughout the event. Guided tours of the exterior and grounds will take place at 10:30, 11:30, and 1:00. A noon program in the Harriet Johnson Auditorium will feature a talk by Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Scott Hannon on the history of the Winona Normal School, the first public teachers college west of the Mississippi River. Learn more.

May Jazz Jam Welcomes Winona Community Chorale
2024-05-19 14:30 - 17:30 | Two Fathoms Brewing, 65 E Front St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Two Fathoms Brewing | 65 E Front St.
H3OJazz.com
On the heels of their spring performances, the Winona Community Chorale will join H3O Jazz Trio as this month’s Jazz Jam fundraiser recipient. The monthly Jazz Jam takes place outside on the spacious patio at Two Fathoms Brewing Company or in the taproom if weather is bad on Sunday, May 19 from 2:30 – 5:30 pm.
H3O Jazz Trio and Two Fathoms Brewing (formerly Island City) have helped support local nonprofits with over $48,000 in total donations thanks to the generosity of Jazz Jam patrons! The April Jazz Jam contributed $1,400 in support of the Spanish Language Immersion Program Association. All Jazz Jam donations are matched by H3O and Two Fathoms. Learn more.

Minnesota Bach Festival Mobile Mini-Concerts
2024-05-23 16:00 - 19:00 | MN
Various Locations in Winona
bachsocietymn.org
The annual Minnesota Bach Festival, a month of musical events throughout the state, is bringing a series of Mobile Mini-Concerts to Winona on Thursday, May 23 from 4-7 pm. The concerts are in a pop-up format, featuring Bach Society of Minnesota musician Charles Asch performing a brief solo concert before moving on to the next location. Charles, a noted cellist, will perform at five locations in Winona. The Mobile Mini-Concerts are free and open to the public.
Performance Locations and Schedule:
4:00 pm Sugar Loaf Senior Living, 765 Menard Road
4:40 pm Benedictine Callista Court, 1455 W Broadway Street
5:10 pm St. Anne’s Extended Healthcare, 1347 W Broadway Street
6:00 pm St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, 253 Liberty Street
6:40 pm Central Lutheran Church, 259 W Wabasha Street
Learn more.

artsXchange with Emilio & Monica DeGrazia: Authenticity in the Age of AI
2024-05-30 18:30 - 20:00 | Minnesota Marine Art Museum, 800 Riverview Dr., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Minnesota Marine Art Museum | 800 Riverview Dr.
Register Here
The dawn of Artificial Intelligence poses a historically profound, alarming, and unprecedented problem for writers, musicians, and artists. AI’s generative powers, often controlled anonymously, are matching human creative ventures and promise to surpass them. What then is “authenticity” as an outcome of human creative processes? How can we establish criteria that will help us decide whether the art forms we are exposed to are “authentic” and worthy of our respect? The main focus of this presentation will be on literary works, with a few visual artworks on display at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum providing opportunities to consider analogies between literary and visual arts. In preparing a definitive book about many different versions of the “Princess Winona” legends, Monica DeGrazia has confronted questions about the legend’s credibility in direct and varying ways. The city of Winona’s identity and heritage are based in large part on suppositions that have no basis in authentic history. Emilio DeGrazia has a long history as author of fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction, and he also has worked as a literary editor and judge for several literary contests. He will discuss how he, as writer, has struggled to generate literary work worth calling “authentic,” and what standards he, as editor and literary judge, believes it is important to maintain.
This event is free to attend for members of RAA or MMAM, and included with museum admission for others. Registration is required, and space is limited to 25 attendees per program. Learn more.

RAA Art Schmooze at Acoustic Café
2024-05-31 17:00 - 19:00 | Acoustic Cafe, 77 Lafayette St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Acoustic Café | 77 Lafayette St.
You’re invited to a River Arts Alliance Art Schmooze on Friday evening, May 31, at the Acoustic Café in downtown Winona. Held periodically throughout the year, our Schmoozes are casual gatherings for artists of all disciplines and arts supporters, open to current RAA members and non-members alike. Join us for a fun opportunity to meet and socialize with others in our area’s arts community and to learn more about what RAA does and how you can be involved. The event is free and open to the public.
A brief program beginning at 6 pm will include announcements from RAA leaders and an opportunity for attendees to introduce themselves. Before and after the program will be informal social time. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Learn more.

Ben Cosgrove Concert at WAC
2024-05-31 19:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Winona Arts Center | 228 E 5th St.
winonaarts.org
Ben Cosgrove will perform a free concert at 7 pm on Friday, May 31 at the Winona Arts Center. Doors open at 6:30. The Winona Arts Center is a small venue, so please pick up your free ticket at Music Mart (formerly Hardt’s Music) or reserve a ticket on Eventbrite. If we are full to capacity and you do not have a ticket, you will not be able to attend this amazing concert.
Ben is currently Artist-in-Residence helping to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Ben’s music and storytelling will transport you throughout landscapes near and far in a way few performers can. Ben has travelled throughout the 261 miles of the Refuge along the Mississippi and will share his inspiration and reflections in this performance. Learn more.

Artists Along the Trail
2024-06-01 07:00 - 13:00 | Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, W28488 Refuge Road, Trempealeau, WI, 54661
Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge | W28488 Refuge Road | Trempealeau, WI
All are invited to meet and watch area artists create at a multi-day plein air painting event in the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge and at Elmaro Vineyard and Winery this coming June. On Saturday, June 1 from 7:30-11 am, artists will be painting along the trails in the Refuge. A luncheon and opportunity to meet the artists will take place from 11:30 am-1 pm at the Outdoor Wonders Learning Center. Related events will take place at Elmaro throughout the month of June.
Among the 16 participating artists, seven are members of River Arts Alliance: Linda Klabo, Linda Arnesen, Colleen Shore, Betsy Midthun, Faye Schoen, Jean Mueller and Jamie Schwaba. This event is sponsored by the Friends of Trempealeau Refuge and made possible through donations from the Michael Owecke Memorial Fund. Learn more.

Free Audition Workshop
2024-06-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Cornerstone Community Church, 1001 44th Ave., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Cornerstone Community Church | 1001 44th Ave. | Goodview
linktr.ee/sugarloaftheatre
Sugarloaf Theatre is thrilled to announce that Seamus Schwaba, Executive Director for Sugarloaf Theatre and our Director for our summer musical Through the Looking Glass, will be hosting a free, one hour long audition workshop on June 3 from 6-7 pm at Cornerstone Community Church [please note change of location]. All adults and children ages 12+ are invited to attend this workshop. Auditions can be such a nerve wracking and stressful experience. During this hour long session participants will learn techniques on how to overcome nerves and present themselves well at a theatrical audition of any kind. All that you have to do take advantage of this exciting opportunity is follow this link, fill out the short RSVP form, and show up! Learn more.

Laureate Series Wide Open Mic Night
2024-06-04 19:00 | Blue Heron Coffeehouse, 162 W 2nd St, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Blue Heron Coffeehouse | 162 W 2nd St.
The First Tuesday Laureate Writers Series event at the Blue Heron Coffeehouse on Tuesday, June 4 at 7:00 pm will be a Wide Open Mic Night. Come one, come all! This month, we won’t have a featured writer — all of you will be featured!
Bring a story, a tall tale, a poem or set of poems to share — keep it to ten minutes max.
We’d prefer that it be your own work but if you have something by a favorite writer, that would be okay. Learn more.

River City Dancers’ Swinging in the Street
2024-06-07 18:00 - 22:00 | MN
Corner of Third & Center Streets
rivercitydancers.org
Get your dancing shoes ready: Winona’s Downtown will be swinging and swaying to the sounds of live music and dancing at the 5TH ANNUAL “Swinging In The Street” outdoor street dance! On Friday, June 7 from 6-9 pm, the community is invited to a free Dance Party thrown by the River City Ballroom Dancers. Dance lessons led by Stan and Molly Breitlow will be from 6-7 pm and non-stop live music from Greg Balfany and members of the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra will run from 7-9 pm. Dancing in the street will continue on until 10 pm! The event will be on Third Street at the corner of Center Street (in front of Blooming Grounds) and is part of the Winona Main Street and Chamber of Commerce’s “Winona in the Street” summer series. Learn more.

Patina at Elmaro
2024-06-09 13:00 - 16:00 | Elmaro Vineyard, N14756 Delaney Rd., Trempealeau, WI, 54661, United States
Elmaro Vineyard | N14756 Delaney Rd. | Trempealeau, WI
patinatheband.com
Patina is a Celtic inspired fiddle, whistle, flute, bodhrán, banjo, accordion and guitar band that plays mixed Celtic, folk and original music. Patina will be at Elmaro Vineyard on Sunday, June 9th from 1:00 to 4:00. We LOVE to bring our lively music to anyone who enjoys the fun sounds of traditional Celtic, folk and Patina originals. Our loyal fans tell us that Patina is a fun band to listen to and watch perform. Learn more.

McKnight Fellowship Info Session
2024-06-11 18:30 | Engage Winona, 119 E 3rd St., Winona, MN, 55987
Engage Winona | 119 E 3rd St.
The McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowship Program will hold an information session for all interested Minnesota-based applicants on Tuesday, June 11 at 6:30 pm at Engage Winona. This session, led by Program Directors Tracy Krumm (Fiber Artists), Mike Hoyt (Community-Engaged Practice) and Dana Kassel (Dancers and Choreographers) will speak to the full Artist and Culture Bearers Fellowship program which supports 15 artistic disciplines, and more specifically to the three Fellowship Programs. We’ll allow plenty of time for specific questions. See a flyer with more information here. Please let us know if you plan to join us so we can plan accordingly. RSVP with your name and artistic medium, along with any specific questions to mckfell@thecowlescenter.org.

Guided Nature Walk with Meryl Zaytoun Murman
2024-06-12 18:00 | Prairie Island Nature Trail, 890 Prairie Island Rd., Winona, MN, 55987
Prairie Island Nature Trail | 890 Prairie Island Rd.
Register Here
McKnight International Choreographer Residency guest artist Meryl Zaytoun Murman will be facilitating a somatic informed nature walk on Wednesday, June 12th at 6 pm, as part of an ongoing offering at Prairie Island Park, Forest Bathing along Crooked Slough, organized by Prairie Island Campground Director Anne Conway. Shifting between inner and outer sensing to connect and attune with the process of the natural world and our inner nature, she will guide participants through simple, mindful, embodied practices. Meryl Zaytoun Murman is a Lebanese American choreographer, filmmaker, and multi-disciplinary artist based in Thessaloniki, Greece. This free event is capped at 15 participants and is geared towards adults. Please register ahead of time: https://strolling-with-the-seasons-along-crooked-slough.cheddarup.com. Learn more.

June Jazz Jam Supports Farmers Market
2024-06-16 14:30 - 17:30 | Two Fathoms Brewing, 65 E Front St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Two Fathoms Brewing | 65 E Front St.
H3OJazz.com
As the Steamboat Days parade wraps up, why not stroll down to Two Fathoms Brewing Company for the monthly Jazz Jam! Join H3O Jazz Trio outside on the spacious patio (or in the taproom if weather is bad) on June 16 from 2:30–5:30 pm. This month’s Jazz Jam fundraiser recipient is the Winona Farmers Market. Established in 1973, the Winona Farmers Market is the place to go for fresh and local food. All of the vendors at the market are required to live within 75 miles of Winona. A majority of the vendors are food producers and there are also artisans; bakers; and ready to eat vendors. From May through October, the market is held every Saturday morning from 7:30 until noon at Levee Park in downtown Winona.
H3O Jazz Trio and Two Fathoms Brewing (formerly Island City) have helped support local nonprofits with over $49,000 in total donations thanks to the generosity of Jazz Jam patrons! The May Jazz Jam contributed nearly $1,100 to the Winona Community Chorale. All Jazz Jam donations are matched by H3O and Two Fathoms. Learn more.

Wayfinding: A Creative Conversation and Dance Film Sharing
2024-06-18 19:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Winona Arts Center | 228 E 5th St.
Register Here
McKnight International Choreographer Meryl Zaytoun Murman will be part of Wayfinding: A Creative Conversation and Dance Film Sharing on Tuesday, June 18th @ 7 pm, joined by Winona artist Sharon Mansur, and Minneapolis dance artist Leila Awadallah. The films will explore their shared Arab/SWANA (Southeast Asian and North African) heritage, gender and sexuality, and diasporic bodies, and a guided discussion with Winona State University professor Mary Jo Klinker will center these themes.
This free event is co-sponsored by Art of the Rural and will take place at the Winona Arts Center, at 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN 55987. Registrations are strongly encouraged via a form on this page: www.mcknightdancechoreo.org/international-artist. Learn more.

Hendrickson Organ Recital June 19 at Central
2024-06-19 12:00 - 13:00 | Central Lutheran Church, 259 W Wabasha St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Central Lutheran Church | 259 W Wabasha St.
sites.google.com/centrallutheranchurch.org/hendrickson-30th
Central Lutheran’s year-long celebration of their magnificent Hendrickson Pipe Organ will continue June 19 from noon to 1 pm with a performance by Houston, Minnesota native Noah Carlson. Works by J.S. Bach, Dietrich Buxtehude, Flor Peeters, Henri Mulet, and others will be featured. The recital is free and open to all. Donations collected from a freewill offering will support the instrument’s upcoming renovation. Learn more.

Juneteenth Community Celebration
2024-06-19 16:00 - 19:00 | Windom Park, 260 Harriet St., Winona, MN, 55987
Windom Park | 260 Harriet St.
A special celebration of Juneteenth will take place this Wednesday, June 19th, from 4 pm to 7 pm at Windom Park. This marks the 4th annual Juneteenth event organized and hosted by Our Voices in partnership with Theatre du Mississippi with support from ROAR. This event brings the community together to learn about Black and Brown heritage, history, and community; it is a community gathering and educational event with vendors, live music, games, and food. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. Learn more.

artsXchange with Jim Armstrong – Try Everything: A Multi-Media Approach to Creative Writing
2024-06-20 18:30 - 20:00 | Minnesota Marine Art Museum, 800 Riverview Dr., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Minnesota Marine Art Museum | 800 Riverview Dr.
Register Here
The next artsXchange event presented by River Arts Alliance (RAA) at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) will be led by RAA member Jim Armstrong and entitled Try Everything: A Multi-Media Approach to Creative Writing. Armstrong says, “A writer is not just someone who sits at a keyboard: the full use of the imagination requires multiple aesthetic adventures. Poetry especially exists at the intersection of the visual, the musical and the linguistic; it benefits from the immediate tactile experience provided by the fine arts and also the practical arts. As a poet I have learned traditional penmanship, pursued drawing in various media, engaged in a daily photographic practice, experimented with putting poems to music, and learned to design and hand-sew chapbooks. All these pursuits have helped enliven my arts practice and kept me from being ‘stuck.’ This program will follow several projects as they move from daily writing through to finished work and will show how journaling, sketching, photography, musical composition, and book making contributed to the final product. The working assumption is that a writer should not be afraid to try new media and that the adventure of acquiring a new artistic skill can keep one nimble and generative.”
This event is free to attend for members of RAA or MMAM, and included with museum admission for others. (Museum admission is free for students on Thursdays.) Registration is required, and space is limited to 25 attendees per program. Learn more.

Opening Reception - 2024 RAA Annual Members’ Exhibition & Showcase
2024-06-21 17:00 - 19:00 | Blue Heron Coffeehouse, 162 W 2nd St, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Blue Heron Coffeehouse | 162 W 2nd St.
The River Arts Alliance (RAA) 2024 Annual Members’ Exhibition and Showcase begins this week. The in-person exhibition opens on Friday, June 21 and will be on display through Sunday, August 18. It can be seen during the Blue Heron Coffeehouse’s regular hours, 7 am to 2 pm Wednesdays-Fridays and 8 am to 2 pm Saturdays-Sundays. The coffeehouse is located at 162 W Second Street in downtown Winona. Please join us for an opening reception at the Blue Heron from 5 to 7 pm on Friday, June 21. The reception is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be provided.
The online exhibition and showcase is published in a virtual flipbook format on RAA’s website at www.riverartsalliance.org/member-exhibit. Both the in-person and online exhibitions feature the work of local visual artists in a wide variety of media — including paintings, prints, photography, wood, ceramics, fiber, mixed media, and more — as well as written works. The online format also highlights additional literary and performing artists. The opportunity to participate in the Annual Members’ Exhibition and Showcase is open to members of River Arts Alliance as a benefit of membership.
Learn more.

Postponed - 2024 RAA Musicians’ Showcase
2024-06-22 18:00 - 21:30 | Peter’s Biergarten, 54 E 3rd St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Peter’s Biergarten | 54 E 3rd St.
UPDATE 4:30 pm 6/22/24: This event has been postponed due to rain. Peter’s Biergarten will be closed tonight. Our Musicians’ Showcase will be rescheduled — watch for information about the new date.
New this year, in conjunction with RAA’s Annual Members’ Exhibition & Showcase, join us for an evening of live music celebrating musician members of River Arts Alliance! Free and open to the public at Peter’s Biergarten in downtown Winona.
Featuring:
H3O Jazz Trio
Eric Heukeshoven, piano; Hans Heuekeshoven, drums; Max Heukeshoven, guitar
Amanda Blue, soprano, and Nancy Bachler, piano
Heidi Bryant, flute, and Meredith Mihm, piano
Bob Stuber, guitar/mandolin/vocals, and Jim Reineke, mandolin/vocals
Each act will perform for up to 45 minutes.
Learn more.

Unwind Friday with H3O Jazz Trio at Peter’s Biergarten
2024-06-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Peter’s Biergarten, 54 E 3rd St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Peter’s Biergarten | 54 E 3rd St.
H3OJazz.com
Unwind Friday with H3O Jazz Trio is heading outside for the summer! Join the trio on Friday, June 28 from 7 – 9 pm in Peter’s Biergarten (54 East 3rd St., Winona). Unwind Friday offers mellow jazz to end the week, meet with friends, and enjoy a relaxing summer evening under the stars. Delicious food and desserts are available from Blooming Grounds and the biergarten has a wide variety of beers … all with no cover charge! Learn more.

Patina at Peter’s Biergarten
2024-06-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Peter’s Biergarten, 54 E 3rd St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Peter’s Biergarten | 54 E 3rd St.
patinatheband.com
Come out to Peter’s Biergarten, next to Blooming Grounds on East 3rd Street in Winona, on Saturday, June 29th at 6:00 pm to hear the band Patina. We play a mix of traditional and contemporary Celtic, folk, and original instrumentals and vocals. Patina is a three member Celtic band. Kara Mae plays fiddle and sings vocals, Sue Lee plays guitar, banjo, and sings vocals. Greg plays bodhran, whistles, accordion and guitar to round out the band. Learn more.

Meryl Zaytoun Murman McKnight Residency Gathering
2024-06-29 19:00 - 21:00 | Engage Winona, 119 E 3rd St., Winona, MN, 55987
Engage Winona | 119 E 3rd St.
Join Meryl Zaytoun Murman, residency partner Sharon Mansur / The Cedar Tree Project, and the performers to reflect on our creative process and share what we learned with the community! This is an informal residency gathering with free admission, taking place on Saturday, June 29 from 7-9 pm at Engage Winona. RSVP’s are encouraged by email to cedartreeproject1@gmail.com. Learn more.

Closing Reception: Artists Along the Trail - Artwork at Elmaro
2024-06-30 13:00 - 16:00 | Elmaro Vineyard, N14756 Delaney Rd., Trempealeau, WI, 54661, United States
Elmaro Vineyard | N14756 Delaney Rd. | Trempealeau, WI
From June 1 through June 30, many artists from the Artists Along the Trail event at the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge on June 1 will be displaying their artwork in the Crush Pad at Elmaro Vineyard and Winery. Every Sunday in June, participating artists will be setting up their easels to paint during Elmaro’s Sunday Street Market. On Sunday, June 30, a closing reception with the artists will be held from 1 to 4 pm at Elmaro. Among the 16 participating artists, seven are members of River Arts Alliance: Linda Klabo, Linda Arnesen, Colleen Shore, Betsy Midthun, Faye Schoen, Jean Mueller and Jamie Schwaba. Learn more.
