Fargo Monthly September 2023

Vita Ghost & Tylar Frame

Courtney Donahue & Ives Hilgers

Amanda Frost & Laura Forgie

Ian Scheele, Amber Fletschock & Mark Elton

Eric A. Johnson

Emily Williams-Wheeler, Ross Hilgers & Anna Johnson

Chase Evert & Elizabeth Moore

Meghan Duda & Zhimin Guan

Kathy Freese & Jenna Pauline

Sponsored Content: SCHEELS Experts' Guide to Fall Fashion

Sponsored Content: Celebrate Oktoberfest with D-S Beverages

Sponsored Content: Churches United Here For Every Neighbor

An Archivable Experience

Think Global, Act Local: Jesus Iracheta

Meet The Maker: Turquoise Rising

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Fargo Funk - Live Music this Fall!

HOME & DESIGN

Fall 2023 Parade of Homes is Here!

FOOD & DRINK

Wine of the Month from Rookery Rock Winery

PARENTS & KIDS

The Power of Books

MIXOLOGIST OF THE MONTH: ANDRES OLIVARES

MEET THE TEAM.

MIKE DRAGOSAVICH

GRANT AYERS

TORI HELLAND

BEN BUCHANAN

MEGAN BERGESON

TOMMY UHLIR JOHN STUBER

MIRANDA KNUDSON

JESSICA MULLEN NICK SCHOMMER

KELLEN FEENEY

GARY USSERY

JENNY JOHNSON PAUL HOEFER

AL ANDERSON

KIM COWLES TY BETTS

GENEVA NODLAND

BRADY DRAKE

JOSIAH KOPP

Fargo

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DO IT. CALL YOURSELF AN

ARTIST

This month, we explored a crucial component of the community, one that thrives here and equally ignites the cities as well. Through universities, businesses, philanthropic efforts, personal endeavors, and more, artists of all ages and diversities have allowed Fargo-Moorhead to flourish with the arts. It's everywhere, from the iconic murals around the cities to the community gatherings at the various museums or related events to the robust markets that vary throughout the year, it's all around us; filling us, supporting us, inspiring us. And, while the metro ensures that there are many opportunities for those who create to showcase their talent and feed into this, we wanted to take our turn to give local artists a platform to display their work and have discussions. It would be ignorant to say

that this issue is a thorough representation of the talent and variety of the community, it's merely a taste of what's being created in the area—but I can say that in the few pages we do have, the show of ability, authenticity, creativity, and passion is awe-inspiring, to say the least.

Art is such a short, simple word that encompasses so much more. Some believe that art is, and has been, in everything. While art has been reimagined and redefined and rolled over so many times the word is constantly claiming new meaning—one thing remains, the artist. So long as someone is creating, art will remain. If you think that art isn't an integral part of a thriving community, take a look at ours. So, appreciate the art, support the art, take part in the art, and

remember that there's a little artist in everyone, some people are just bold enough to claim it.

I encourage you to do something creative today, it'll look different for everyone but everyone can. There are no limitations, rules, or etiquette; no one can tell you what is or isn't your art; and no one can tell you how to express (as long as you're being nice). Happy creating and, Happy Reading!

Geneva Nodland Editor

INSIDE THE COVER

with local maker Kim Cowles

Sometimes we create really cool covers (these are some of our faves, in our opinion), so why not talk about them? And, why not introduce you to the mastermind behind these covers, including this month's?

his issue is all about art, so we asked one of our in-house artists to work some magic. Meet Kim, the art director at Spotlight! Kim designs all of the magazine covers each month, and works with the rest of the design team to get the stories you read to look good too. Kim has been with Spotlight for four years, working with our editors to help translate the voices and narratives of our community.

But Kim has a few other creative outlets outside of her role here as well—she creates and animates digital art, has dabbled in clay earring making, as well as tufting

What is Tufting?

Tufting is a process using yarn to create rugs. The basic idea is that a needle with yarn on it punches through a backing material to create a loop, which can be different heights. You can then cut and shave down these loops to create a variety of textures and dimensions.

While maybe not as widely known as painting or ceramics, tufting is an art form that is growing in popularity, both in those who want to master the skill and those looking to purchase finished pieces. So, we thought (well, let's be honest, Kim thought), let's make this month's cover a rug!

First, Kim designed the rug digitally. Then she acquired the many, many rolls of yarn needed for this project. Once she had her materials, the first step of the process was to project the design onto her canvas that would serve as the back (or bottom) of the rug once it was finished.

After outlining and labeling, Kim started with filling in the base colors with the tufting gun. Once that was all filled in, she punchneedled the words to be more precise. Then the fun part came— shaving down the different colors to create a dimension and texture in the rug.

Next, she went back in with her tufting gun to add each color, one by one.

Finally, Kim layered glue on the back of the rug to secure all of her hard work, completing a rug dedicated to the magazine we love... and an incredibly cool cover!

Check out more of Kim's art on Instagram @arpechek!

Professional clothing has never been more stylish, comfortable and flattering.

We have many great options at SCHEELS like

7 Diamonds, Mizzen & Main, and others that feature a variety of styles of dress pants, shirts, and blazers. Fabrics have evolved so much and are now stretchy, breathable and lightweight.

SEAN'S LOOK

7 Diamonds

Peyton Shirt

7 Diamonds

Core Tee

7 Diamonds

Sutton Blazer

Mizzen & Main

Helmsman Chino Pant

Wolverine Belt

ECCO

ST1 Hybrid Shoe

SCHEELS carries amazing brands like Liverpool, Tribal, 7 Diamonds and more that offer a wide selection of comfortable clothing that will have you on trend and ready for the office.

Matching Blazers and Dress Pants•

It’s all about being confident in what you wear.

Career wear has never been more fashionable, while maintaining comfort.

Wear what you love, but take a chance.

I love to take my favorite denim jeans and style it with a nice shirt and jacket for a sharp look.

At SCHEELS, we have a lot of great brands that offer a variety of textures and patterns. Adding accessories like simple jewelry or a belt, will really help elevate your look.

SEAN'S

Scheels

LOOK

Cross Necklace and Bracelet

Fundamental

Coast Henley

Vissla

Cronkite Jacket

Liverpool

Regent Relaxed

Straight Leg Denim

Travis Mathew

Shoes

THREE TRENDS TO TRY:

•Sorel Boots

•Slim Fit Jeans

•Button-down Jackets

I’m loving the oversized sweater trend with a plaid skirt and boots. It’s fun to mix and match pieces by wearing the same sweater with a pair of denim (or leggings!), or swapping the sweater for a graphic tee and blazer, so you can take a few staple clothing pieces and create many different looks.

Accessories are a fun way to add your personality to your look. A great bag is a must-have!

SARAH'S LOOK

By Together

Oversized Sweater

Free People

Soho Backpack

Steve Madden

Plaid Skirt

Sorel Emelie lll Chelsea Boot

THREE TRENDS TO TRY:

Ankle Boots• Blazers with Dresses• Western Wear•

Getting ready for a night out has never been easier with so many versatile looks.

A great casual look is all about comfort, layers and denim!

My go-to casual look is a short-sleeve shirt or hooded sweatshirt, paired with a flannel or jacket. Personally, my favorite denim jeans are SCHEELS Seeded and Sewn. They are super comfortable, fit great and wash well!

With fall

comes new fabrics and new fits.

I love the different styles that fall fashion brings!

At SCHEELS, we have great selections from favorite brands like Kut, 7 Diamonds, KÜHL, Good American, and so much more. My go-to look at the moment is my favorite denim with a high quality basic top like this quarter zip and a vest, but I also like a graphic tee and shacket with an ankle flare leg denim.

SEAN'S LOOK

7 Diamonds

Rev Hoodie

7 Diamonds Generation

Flannel Shirt

Liverpool Liverpool Regent Colored Denim New Balance Shoes

THREE TRENDS TO TRY:

•7 Diamonds Generation Flannel

•Liverpool Colored Denim

•Birddogs pants (new at SCHEELS)

SARAH'S LOOK

7 Diamonds Andes Vest

7 Diamonds Model Quarter Zip

Kut Denim Reese Ankle Straight Leg

Nike Air Force 1 Shoes

THREE TRENDS TO TRY:

KUT or Good American Denim• Graphic Tees• Shackets (plaid or solid)•

SCHEELS has a huge selection of Bison apparel and accessories.

I love a classic, neutral take on team colors like the NDSU Nike Rattan Hoodie. And you can’t go wrong pairing with Vuori joggers and a must-have white shoe. This look is comfortable, stylish, and most importantly, shows I’m game day ready!

SPONSORED CONTENT

SEAN'S LOOK

NDSU Nike

Rattan Hoodie

Vuori

Sunday Performance

Jogger

ON Running CloudNova

THREE TRENDS TO TRY:

•Rattan Neutral Team Hoodie

•All-White Shoe

•UNRL Collegiate Collection (Coming Soon)

I love pairing a jacket like the Mono B Quilted Jacket with a Team Hoodie. Crop hoodies, vests and jackets are really in and that works great on someone like me with a shorter frame. I love it with my favorite denim jeans and iconic white sneakers. Regardless of your style, SCHEELS has an awesome selection of game-day apparel and accessories to help you rock team spirit in style.

SARAH'S LOOK

Mono B Quilted Jacket

Colosseum NDSU Perfect Crop Hoodie

Kut Catherine Ankle Straight Leg Denim ON Running Cloud 5

THREE TRENDS TO TRY:

Oversized Jean Jackets• Hoodies Under Jackets• All-White Shoes•

A classic neutral look is a trending way to show your team spirit.

Your game day look doesn’t have to be loud and proud; it can be simple, stylish and still full of team spirit.

Athleisure is not just for the gym!

It’s been taking over the fashion world by storm and it’s no secret why. Today’s athleisure meets style and comfort without losing its quality and performance.

I love athleisure clothing and wear it whenever possible; you’ll rarely see me in anything other than joggers or shorts. A few favorite brands include Vuori and UNRL, which is a brand that’s based out of St. Paul, MN.

SEAN'S LOOK

With so much versatility to style, expanding your wardrobe and meeting all apparel functions.

Wear athleisure to the gym, or take that same athletic top and pair with jeans for a day out. You can even pair your leggings with a sweater and boots, for a night out. I especially love matching sets like joggers and a sweatshirt or leggings and a crop top.

Athleisure is one of the most popular looks this fall.

Oktoberfest Celebrate

with D-S Beverages

Spaten

Oktoberfest | GermanyMärzen / Oktoberfest

Created in 1872, this is the world's first Oktoberfest beer, brewed for the greatest folk festival in the world. Its impeccable taste balances roasted malt flavor with the perfect amount of hops and an underlying sweetness, true to tradition.

Lupulin

Oktoberfest

Märzen or Märzenbier is a lager that originated in Bavaria and is the beer style that was traditionally served at Oktoberfest in Germany. Kilned malts and specialty malts produce a rich, toasty aroma, with a sweet flavor, while the traditional lager fermentation produces a clean yeast profile.

baked rye bread. This light-bodied German lager is clean and crisp with a fine noble hop character and mild earthy bitterness that is the hallmark of Hallertau hops. Raise a few steins of Goose Oktoberfest this fall and celebrate this time-honored tradition!

Indeed Oktoberfest

A bier for festing is a beer we can all get behind! This version of a classic German-style Oktoberfest pays homage to its roots with smooth German malts and zesty, noble German hops. Light copper in color with a medium-bodied dry finish, this Oktoberfest is tailor-made to toss back, Munich-style.

Bemidji Brewing

Celebrate the changing seasons with this Oktoberfest! Brewed with traditional German malts, hops, and yeast this beer is burnt-orange in color and full of toasty malt goodness. Vienna and Munich malts lend a rich, bread-like character while Hallertau hops bring a bit of herbal

Outstate Oktoberfest

A true traditional Märzen-style lager, this amber-colored, malty beer is smooth and complex, with subtle sweetness and low bitterness. Flavors including bread, caramel, and freshly baked cookies delight the senses and warm the soul when the temperatures outside start to drop.

Mankato

Oktoberfest

Festbier is the beer served at Munich’s Oktoberfest. It is a pale lager with a clear Pilsner malt for a light biscuit sweetness and a golden hue. If you're out to celebrate Oktoberfest, you'll enjoy this beer brewed during the dog days of summer!

Celebrate Oktoberfest out west!

Head to the Essentia Health Plaza at The Lights in West Fargo on September 23 to welcome in the fall festivities. Enjoy bier, brats, live music, and activities like stein hoisting, keg races relay, hammerschlagen, keg carry, and more! Mark your calendars!

Churches United

Here For Every Neighbor

By Myranda Elwood

How Churches United is helping guests, families, and the community obtain resources to provide safe shelter, stable housing, nutritious food, and a path towards healing.

The Churches United Leadership Team

Founded in 1987 by 11 local faith groups out of the old Bethesda Lutheran Church, Churches United is the only low-barrier homeless shelter and facility that can service families in the Fargo-MoorheadWest Fargo area. They provide an array of resources throughout the community to combat homelessness and food insecurity while encouraging a path toward healing. They are also an organization that aids in harm reduction and medical advocacy with their on-site nurses.

Churches United’s facilities meet people wherever they are in their crisis, whether facing homelessness, substance abuse, or other circumstances.

Pastor Sue Koesterman, the CEO of Churches United, emphasized that it’s not just about the resources Churches United provides. “We meet everyone that comes through our doors with compassion and dignity," she said. "It’s not just about housing or food, it’s about being here for

every neighbor."

Micah’s Mission and the Dorothy Day House serve multiple demographics, ranging from maleheaded households, families, women, and vulnerable men in the community. Permanent supportive housing is the long-term goal, and Bright Sky Apartments makes that possible. All locations work closely with on-site case managers to help each guest connect with state and community resources to work towards securing permanent housing and stability. Case managers are essential as they address a guest’s individual needs, whether it be emotional, substance abuse, behavioral, or cognitive. Case managers work closely with partner companies that can better assist with guests' needs on a long-term basis, such as counseling services and more.

To date, Churches United has supported 248 households, with the community dropin total at 1,407.

Pastor Sue Koesterman, CEO of Churches United

You're Invited!

Rendering of Churches United's permanent supportive housing units that will be breaking ground this fall

10.17.23

Save the Date

Churches United

15th Annual Gourmet Soup Kitchen

October 17, 2023

5P.M. to 8:30P.M. Holiday Inn Fargo

3803 13th Ave S Fargo, ND 58103

If you wish to be a sponsor, donate to our live auction, or buy tickets, please contact Katie at katie@churchesunited.org

The Dorothy Day Food Pantries, located in Moorhead and West Fargo, are consumer-choice, low-barrier-modeled pantries open to the community where everyone is free to shop in person for items that reflect their households’ needs.

Churches United recognizes the importance of community and encourages volunteering opportunities throughout. In return, many local businesses and individuals generously offer their time, abilities, and expertise whether working at the food pantries or assisting with other task items at Churches’ other locations.

To operate the numerous locations, Churches United must outsource monetary funds through the use of donations and grants during the course of the year. Pastor Sue Koesterman knows how crucial donations are for the organization's continued success. “We need help from the community, especially with monetary support," she said. "Support for non-profits is down, but the demand for non-profits assistance is up, and we provide lifesaving resources.”

To spread the mission and knowledge of Churches United, and build funds to support their cause, multiple locations,

and reoccurring guest needs, Churches United will be hosting their largest fundraiser event of the year, the 15th Annual Gourmet Soup Kitchen on the October 17th, 2023.

The Gourmet Soup Kitchen will host “celebrity chefs” that are well-known individuals throughout the FargoMoorhead and West Fargo community who will be serving their signature soup for all attendees. The objective of the event is to show solidarity between Churches United and the community.

This event is open to the community. Anyone wishing to attend is encouraged to purchase a ticket or table, sponsor, or donate items for the live auction. Those that are interested in attending the Gourmet Soup Kitchen fundraiser are encouraged to reach out to the Chief Development Director, Katie Fredericksen at katief@churchesunited.org

Ives Hilgers' work can often be found at the Rourke Art Museum & Cyrus Running Gallery, Concordia College, and other exhibitions.

"The Nomads"

"I create out of necessity.... it is my peace, a place of endless possibilities and wholeness. Creating art unearths a deeper understanding and is where the inner comes to the surface."

"On A Hot Summer Night" 2021, Mixed Media Papercutting on Hot Press Watercolor paper/ PVA/ Nori Paste 16×20

"On A Hot Summer Night is from a series of work exploring identity, nostalgia, memory and place. The use of collage is an analog approach to convey sentimentality for a bygone era. A tactile preservation amidst an instantaneously recycled culture. The fluidity of the piece illustrates a fleeting moment."

How do you Know when A piece is finished?

"I work primarily within the printmaking medium. I use a variation of the relief technique that uses a PVC plastic called Sintra mounted to plywood as a matrix. To produce my color relief prints I use a reduction or reductive process which uses one block for all the colors in the print, whereas the traditional way would use a separate block for each color. In the reduction process, a color is printed, then the areas in which that color is to stay are carved away on the block, so the block is being reduced after printing. Since my block is being 'reduced' as I work, knowing when to stop is somewhat a matter of running out of material to print from. Usually, my blocks are nearly cut away totally after a print is complete. To answer the question though, I know something is finished when I am satisfied with the image."

“The Sun’s Going to Shine in my Back Door Someday” 23.75” x 12.25” Reduction Relief Print, 2020

"This image I just started drawing intuitively one day working at Dakota Fine Art, and I think I was thinking about our old house. At the time it had a leaky roof among many other issues that we were slowly fixing. There’s a lot going on besides that, some random Pac-Man ghosts, flowers, a giant bird, and an owl on the chimney. The title is from a line in a jazz tune, “Scenes in the City” by Charles Mingus."

“Return” 23.75” x 18” Reduction Relief Print, 2019

"This one was just a lot of fun to make! I hadn’t done any cityscapes after someone commented that 'They all look the same.' So, I waited like 10 years until I felt like I had a few sketches that looked fresh. Also, a lot of things happen in ten years’ time, so I think I was able to bring some new ways of approaching the subject."

Ross Hilgers participates yearly in Rourke Art Museum exhibitions.

WhAt inspiRes yoU?

"The second image is from the series travel along the Mississippi River with the Trailer Obscura, a 5 ft x 8 ft enclosed trailer that has been converted into a mobile pinhole camera. With this tool I travel the landscape making long exposures while driving. This journey took me from Minnesota Bluff Country to the headwaters at Lake Itasca. The photographs are composites of 24 sheets of 8”x10” photographic paper, arranged in a grid. The final image is a negative, and it is the unique print that was made while traveling. It is a direct, unfiltered recording of the light that passed by the camera while I was

"I strive to have an equal balance of traditional and experimental, figurative and abstract in my art. Inspired by local snowscapes and views of national parks, I create with large gestural marks, creating harmonious landscapes through form, color, and shape. My process also allows for chance happenings as the runny materials and gesture marks transform each other into a spiritually and physically integrated autonomy. In 2019-2022, I have embraced the American landscape and the spirit it embodies as my major subject matter. The magnificent mountains and rivers exude a mysterious and unfathomable passion, and the majestic plains and forests are full of hidden treasures."

How do yoU commUnicAte with ARt?

BY GENEVA NODLAND

On the third and top floor of the historic Dakota Business College building, with three sets of double floor-to-ceiling windows along the east wall, is a studio. After entering the front door on 8th Street South, you make your way around tiled floor corners and up worn wooden stairs. By the college's closing in 1978, nearly 30,000 students studied penmanship, accounting, bookkeeping, shorthand, typing, and stenography at the college—and while you may have never entered the building during that time, you can feel the memories sealed into the building.

he bottom floor now houses storefronts including an art gallery. Inside the building, scattered throughout the first and second floors are one-off rooms rented by local artists, and the third floor, accessed by one final steep staircase, is the home base and studio for Old School Collodion.

Kary Janousek runs the wet plate studio in Fargo offering tintype and ambrotype portraits, she also takes her portable dark room on the road and attends a variety of different events and pop-ups. Kary is one of four in the state and the sole woman who does this type of photography.

In her studio on the top floor of the Dakota Business College, you'll find a large, wide-open space illuminated by natural light—something that is crucial to her process and style. The many window sills are lined with sheets of glass and tin portraying anything from a young person's portrait to an experimental piece with double exposure. As you admire each one, it's hard to remember that these photos are from the current day; some with blurred edges, the contrasting UV black and white

color, or even the lack of smiles—this all give Kary's work such a nostalgic feel. It's not until you notice something from the present day, like a modern camera, style of clothing, or even spotting someone you know, that you might be thrown back into the present, creating an alluring cognitive dissonance.

But, of course, this makes sense—Kary has always had an interest in vintage. For many years, she ran a successful business, finding, restoring, and selling vintage and antique hats. She had loyal customers and a community who all shared a love for the past. Years into her business, in which she often worked with models and modeled herself, she came across a photo scan of a friend online. The photo was a wet plate image done by a photographer in Bismarck, ND, Shane Balkowitsch—someone who would introduce her to another appreciation of the past.

"It was more than just him teaching [me], that's why it was a special friendship. Because, the arts, as you probably know, have a lot to do with your selfesteem. You need more of a mentor than a teacher because you need somebody with an ego that tells you that you're going to kick butt, and it builds you up. He was excellent at that, and I wouldn't have had anyone else assist me," Kary said. "I'm a pretty bold person, but it helps tremendously to get you past any fear you have."

After connecting, the two worked on a collodion project where Kary modeled her vintage clothing. Throughout the process, she felt a pull toward the art of wet-plate photography.

"We go in there and he doesn't explain, but I see him do the whole process. I was looking for something creative, and it just clicked [I thought], 'This is what I'm doing.' It was immediate," Kary said. "It's cheesy, but it was like an 'aha moment,' and those come very few. In my opinion, everybody can do what they want, but you should take heed of that, there's some reason for it."

And the rest is history... literally. Kary left her photoshoot and bought three collodion manuals in hopes to learn all she could and invested in a variety of old equipment, even if she wasn't quite sure how to use it. After spending quite a bit of money on a camera that ended up needing a lot of repairs, Kary felt intimated and frustrated. After an encouraging talk with her husband, she decided to call Shane and ask him for some guidance. That curiositydriven phone call sparked an immersive experience as Kary would end up spending lots of time under Shane's mentorship in Bismarck during the pandemic.

"[Shane] was so gracious. He was, first of all, thrilled that somebody wanted to learn. Then he was just shocked because I don't think he thought that anything even crossed my mind in that direction. So, he immediately [said], 'Oh, I'll give you your first camera, come out here, I'll teach you, we'll get this sorted out for you,' "Kary said. "I don't think it was initially going to be a long-term mentorship, but because of the pandemic, it just worked out and we became good friends. He ended up mentoring me elbow to elbow for

CHASE EVERT

almost two years. A lot of that was [over] Zoom, but I went out there a lot, it was a combination; I'm always grateful for that."

Now, just a few years into Kary starting to learn wet plate photography, she operates a commission, walk-in, and event-based collodion photography experience for the FM community.

Kary preps the plate (either glass or metal) and coats it in collodion. She then dips that in a solution to make it sensitive to light, which must be done in the dark with only a safe red light to guide her, then she inserts it in a holder to bring to the camera.

Making sure the lens cap is on, she puts the holder (which keeps the collodioncovered plate in the dark, or unexposed) in the camera.

When a client comes in for their appointment, they're greeted by a beautiful building, a warm sunlit room, a variety of props and backdrop options, and, most importantly, an abundance of ideas.

Wet plate photography starts with setting up the subject. Guided by Kary, clients start to envision what the setup will look like. She tosses out ideas and thinks out loud to see what sticks and what makes you excited. Once in place, she makes her way to the darkroom.

The exposure time varies, but most of the time, since Kary works in bright natural light, you will have to sit still anywhere from 4-11 seconds, using head support if needed. Kary removes the lens cap and exposes the plate for the determined time. Then, she disappears into the small rooms at the top of the staircase to work the magic.

"You have to go through experience and instinct, and it's not always right—and that's the beauty of it! It's a handmade product and so sometimes there are dust speckles. As long as it isn't across the face or so distracting that you can't pay attention to what the image is," Kary said.

While inside her dark room, lit only by a red light, Kary goes through the steps of developing the plate. One of the last steps washes away the nonexposed parts of the plate, bringing the image to life.

Afterward, the plate does need to be washed and eventually varnished as it can scratch, but that more or less is the process of collodion photography—this almost makes it sound too simple. This process requires detailed care and an understanding of light. When Kary exposes the plates to capture the image, she has to think about how much light exists in the room, how that light will affect the

shadows and highlights, and how she wants the light to show up, among many other things. And then, there's the chemical process, but Kary doesn't mind the many steps or working her now muscle memorytrained way through a dark room, she's grateful to share the experience with others.

"Just like when I take your photo today," she said, "you're trusting me to portray you somehow. I can't be in complete control of this process, I do my best, but there's a vulnerability there. We have to allow ourselves to be vulnerable from time to time. And at times, it works out and at times it doesn't, but I love it."

Part of what makes Kary's process so special is sharing it. You'll often see Kary bringing Old School Collodion into the field through a variety of partnerships. This year, to celebrate TEDxFargo, she brought her portable dark room and camera to The 716 Space building for walk-in photos, but Kary's talents aren't just limited to the FM community.

This summer, Kary was invited to Medora, ND to bring her wet plate experience out west. In a partnership with The Great American Folk Show and the Medora Foundation, Kary was able to capture portraits of the reenactors at the historical Von

Hoffman House in downtown Medora, as well as ambrotypes of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Experiences like that, the events she holds in partnership with Bonanzaville, and more, continue to expose Kary to new environments as well as the community to this slice of the past.

In addition to her fieldwork and events, Kary also has submitted her work in multiple exhibits. She recently had a collection in the Rourke Art Gallery + Museum and was awarded the Gretchen Kottke Gallerist’s Award as one of the artists in this year’s annual, 64th Midwestern Preview.

This process may seem cumbersome compared to today's easy access to image taking, all we have to do is pull a phone out of our pocket; but just as with other forms of art, it's that detailed process and labor that makes it so special.

Visit Kary in her studio this fall, check out her website to book a time, or watch Old School Collodion's socials to see when she's open for walk-ins.

| karyjanousek.zenfoliosite.com

The journey of Jesus Iracheta

Happy Fall!

As our community welcomes back all the college students, I wanted to check in with a student in their senior year awaiting a May 2024 graduation! I connected with a college student during the Intern Experience's closing ceremony where everyone shared their impressions of the program and how their perspectives on what the FM area has to offer for young professionals changed drastically.Here is how he introduced himself:

"My name is Jesus Iracheta.I am 21 years old and I go to Concordia College and am currently a senior with a major in Business Marketing.I'm a really big advocate for supporting small businesses and artists as well.I am a big go-getter and I honestly feel like nothing can stop me.I am bilingual and currently learning a third language.I love to repurpose old clothing into new one-of-a-kind pieces.I like to cook,read,and walk outside whenever possible.Lastly,I live life to the fullest,accepting whatever comes my way! "

The Red RiverValley is fortunate to have Jesus Iracheta call here his home away from home!

Next time you run into him,ask him about Fargo Fashion Week...

Until we meet again:

Stay Inspired!

Cyusa

Where do you call home?

There are a couple of places that I would consider home. The first place I would consider home is Matamoros, Mexico/Brownsville, TX. This is where I spent a good chunk of my life growing up. As a kid, I didn’t really focus much on life around me and just focused on being a kid. In retrospect, there were so many experiences that flew over my little head. My family grew up poor with no set house of ours and so my siblings and I lived with my grandmother throughout our time in TX. My parents were always working to provide us with the best they could, and we would only really see them later in the day. I remember the constant back and forth between the states and Mexico, mainly for visiting family and seeing the doctors. At that time, I had no idea how fortunate I was to be a US citizen. The main experiences I remember as a kid in this area were going to these grand quinceañeras and having these big get-togethers with all my family. A fond memory I have from this time is always being

outside with my grandparents. As I said earlier, we didn’t have money, so they improvised to cool us off in the heat. I remember my pool being a 5-gallon bucket and I would always be in there. I grew and so the bucket changed into a storage tub and eventually getting older there were no more pools. They did what they had to do to provide us with some fun as kids—otherwise I wouldn’t say I enjoyed being a kid. The next place I called home was Brooten, MN. This is where I spent the other chunk of my life before moving to Fargo. My parents worked hard to provide for us and care for us as children. Part of this meant that they would travel for work. My parents were migrant workers going back and forth between Brownsville and Brooten for a few years until, eventually, both my parents were offered full-time jobs and that gave us a reason to stay and find a home in Minnesota. Before that, we would rent in a little community off to the side of the city that was out of view, and it consisted of other migrant workers and their families. The city of Brooten has a population of around 700 people.

I was very fortunate to be integrated into this community as a child, but I wish I could say the same for my parents and my older sister. This is a very rural community and so there are people within that community that are not too fond of people of different ethnic backgrounds. We were not treated the best to begin with. As I said earlier, I was fortunate to be integrated at a young age as this meant the local kids didn’t see me as an outsider having grown up with them all the way to high school graduation.

My extended family stayed in Mexico/Texas. My immediate family is still in Brooten today. We don’t get treated poorly anymore simply because we’ve been in the community for a while and my parents earned many locals’ respects for being such hard workers. We do still get a stare or a remark here and there but that doesn’t stop us, we can’t let it.

Lastly, what I currently call home is Fargo! I moved here to pursue my higher education in 2020. This was bad timing because of COVID and so I didn’t have the chance to integrate into the city until now!

How did you learn about the Intern Experience (iExp)?

Coming to Fargo I didn’t know anybody here except my hometown friends that also moved here for college. I wasn’t super involved, and I didn’t try to be. I wanted to get my degree and get out of here—but, that mindset has drastically changed since. One thing I enjoyed about the area was the community events that were put on downtown. You could always find me at the Red River Market wandering around. This eventually led me to learn who Folkways was and what their mission in the community was. This is where my perspective started to shift about Fargo. I felt welcome here without really having to introduce myself. I felt at home almost. This led me down the path of wanting to work for Folkways as their mission had

By Alexandre Cyusa

Photo By Gary Ussery

impacted me drastically. I did feel like I belonged here, and I wanted to give that same feeling to people who are just like me.

I learned about their social media internships and CampusFM online and as well at their events. Sure enough, I applied, not having any connections to anyone at this point and I got into their creator-ship program which is CampusFM. I then learned about the Internship Experience through my creatorship. We didn’t have a choice of participation in the Internship Experience as this was another program run by Folkways but I'm very glad I didn’t have a choice. The Internship Experience has led me to so many doors that I didn’t know were even there, all I have to do now is open them.

Why should other young professionals come to work in the Fargo community?

I think the main reason other young professionals should come to Fargo for an internship is because of the community. You really can’t beat how this city will make you feel. One big tip however is to look for that community, because it is here. You just ought to look for it because it won’t look for you. When you do find it though, it is life changing. The people here want to see us young professionals succeed and so asking and looking for those internships is very important. On top of that, there are many other reasons. The people here are very friendly and are always willing to help a young professional trying to get ahead. Fargo is a growing city that is only getting bigger and being here for that growth allows you to grow with it. Lastly, there are so many things to do. Events are going on every week throughout the city and it’s a nice way to meet new people and network yourself as well as enjoy your time here.

Meet The MAKER MAKER

Natalee of Turquoise Rising

By Ashley Morken, Unglued

Morken

From a hobby to Etsy to a full-blown website and lots of markets, Natalee of Turquoise Rising has grown her handcrafted business here in Fargo! Turquoise Rising is gorgeous jewelry filled with meaning and inspiration. Learn more about the maker behind the business with us!

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I grew up in a suburb of the Twin Cities and moved up to Fargo to attend NDSU. I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Advertising and worked in marketing and advertising for 10 years. After that, I left to pursue my jewelrymaking and freelance marketing businesses. I have two kids and an incredibly supportive husband. In our “free time,” we love to work on house projects, garden, and just enjoy quality family time!

Describe what type of products you make under Turquoise Rising.

I make handmade crystal jewelry! I make a variety of stretch and wrap bracelets, hoop, and drop earrings, as well as necklaces. I also love to put together gift boxes and mystery boxes! My latest offering at events has been a Build Your Own Necklace Bar where you can choose a chain, pendant, and/ or charms to create a one-of-akind piece that you love! All of my pieces are made using high-quality genuine gemstone crystals and hypoallergenic stainless steel. I absolutely love working with people on custom orders as well!

Photos provided by Ashley

Tell us how you got started with your business.

It started with an obsession with crystals and wearing crystal jewelry and, eventually, I realized I could make my own! I’ve always been a creative person, but never found my “thing.” I started making my own crystal jewelry at night after my daughter went to bed as a creative outlet and quickly knew I wanted to do more with it. I started making jewelry for friends and family and a few months later launched my Etsy site. I spent a year selling my jewelry on Etsy before I launched my website and started doing some local markets. I’ve since moved away from Etsy and now have my jewelry available on my website as well as multiple markets and events in the Fargo area throughout the year.

Where does your business name come from?

Turquoise is my favorite stone as well as my birthstone. In astrology, you have a zodiac sign for all of the planets (not just your Sun sign) and you also have your Rising Sign. It is the zodiac sign that was ascending the horizon at the time of your birth and it signifies your outer personality, first impression, and often your physical appearance. So, Turquoise Rising represents the creative side of myself that I’m putting out into the world!

Where do you get your inspiration for what you create?

My inspiration comes from the crystals themselves as well as astrology. The crystals are so beautiful that I really try to just highlight their natural beauty with simple designs. I also draw a lot of inspiration from astrology. Each crystal has a unique energy that aligns with the energies of the planets and celestial bodies in our solar system. We can work with crystals during each astrological season, through the moon phases, and planetary transits. Each person has their own unique astrological chart, which we can use to select crystals that will align with their personality, emotional needs, or communication style, for example. I LOVE creating custom crystal selections for a person based on their own natal astrology!

What is your personal favorite item or piece you've created so far?

I really love making earrings. I’ve always been an earring person and I love how

versatile they are! Earrings can be big or small, fancy or simple, you can dress them up or down, you can use them to express your personality, the possibilities are endless!

What is one of the things you've enjoyed the most about doing this handcrafted business?

I have really enjoyed doing markets and events. I love interacting with customers and getting to know other vendors. The energy of these events is what keeps me going and gets me inspired to create new things. Now that I’ve been doing these events for a while, I’ve started to recognize customers and build relationships with them, which is SO much fun! It truly warms my heart to see people come up to my booth wearing a piece they bought from me previously and excited to see what new things I have.

What is the most challenging thing?

The most challenging thing for me right now is time. I have two small kids, who are home with me a lot of the time, so finding time to not only create jewelry but also work on the business side of it can be a challenge. I also have another business doing freelance marketing so I’ve got my hands full, to say the least! I’ve been able to find ways to be productive when I need to be and relax and be with my kids when I need to be so it’s definitely been a learning experience, but I wouldn’t change it for anything!

What's one of your favorite gemstones to either work with or wear?

I love all of them, but Turquoise is my favorite. I’ve loved it since I was a kid, before I knew anything about its properties or value. Unfortunately, I am not able to work with it very often and don’t typically carry a lot of Turquoise jewelry because it is becoming so rare and expensive. Of the crystals I do typically work with, my favorite has to be Aventurine! I almost always have some piece of Aventurine jewelry on me!

Where can people find your work? |

ESSENTIA HEALTH PLAZA, THE LIGHTS

300 32nd Ave W, West Fargo thelightswf.com

EVENTS:

38 Special & Elle King

Friday, September 15, 7-10 p.m.

SANCTUARY EVENTS CENTER

670 4th Ave N, Fargo sanctuaryevents.com

EVENTS:

Twitty and Lynn: A Salute to Conway and Loretta

Sunday, October 8, 3 p.m.

Fozzy with Guests Seventh Day Slumber, The Nocturnal Affair, and Magdaline Rose

Monday, October 30, 7 p.m.

90s/00s Rock Night

Saturday, December 2, 8 p.m.

FARGO BREWING COMPANY

610 University Dr N, Fargo fargobrewing.com

EVENTS: Rock The Rails 2023, We Want Your Misery Tour, ATREYU with Catch Your Breath

THE AQUARIUM

226 Broadway N, Fargo

(Above Dempsey's Public House)

EVENTS:

No Resolve + Halocene w/ The Haunt & Hooked Like Helen

Sunday, September 24, 6 p.m.

Phix with Bronxx & Super Set

Tuesday, September 26, 6:30 p.m.

The Dimension Jumpers & Hallows

Saturday, September 30, 11:30 p.m.

Icon for Hire

Sunday, October 1, 6 p.m.

TAK MUSIC VENUE

1710 Center Avenue, Dilworth takmusicvenue.com

EVENTS:

KAZHA

Wednesday, October 18, 6 p.m.

"A Night At The Filmore East" - A Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band

Friday, October 27, 8 p.m.

SIDESTREET GRILLE & PUB | THE FOUR & FOUR

404 4th Ave N, Fargo (The Four & Four 2nd Floor) fargopartyof3.com/sidestreet-grilleand-pub

EVENTS:

Chris Webby + Ekoh

Sunday, October 29, 7 p.m.

Rebel Queens (The Four & Four)

Saturday, October 21, 8 p.m.

dempseysfargo.com

EVENTS:

Shredzilla

Friday, October 6, 9 p.m.

Heart & Soul

Friday, October 13, 10 p.m.

Pat Lenertz Band

Friday, October 20, 10 p.m.

Poitin 9-12

Friday, October 27, 9 p.m.

FARGODOME

1800 N University Dr, Fargo fargodome.com

EVENTS:

Nickelback

Thursday, October 5, 6:30 p.m.

Shania Twain

Sunday, November 5, 7:30 p.m.

EVENTS: Unity Recital

Saturday, October 14, 7:30 p.m., Beckwith Recital Hall

Wind Symphony Concert

Sunday, October 15, 2 p.m., Festival Concert Hall

University Band Concert

Monday, October 16, 7:30 p.m., Festival Concert Hall

Jazz Concert

Tuesday, October 17, 7:30 p.m., Festival Concert Hall

University Symphony Orchestra

Thursday, October 19, 7:30 p.m., Festival Concert Hall

Brass Chamber Recital

Thursday, October 26, 7:30 p.m., Beckwith Recital Hall

Fall 2023 is Here!

Although summer is coming to a close, fall is kicking off with one of the most exciting Parade of Homes yet. This fall’s parade features 35 homes by 19 builders, offering you a variety of styles, personalities, and approaches to building. Although you can view all models on their website brochure, we wanted to highlight a few models, each with different styles, offerings, and price points.

Enjoy a relaxed lifestyle in this home. The open living room, dining area, sunroom, and kitchen make it perfect for entertaining. The master bedroom suite has natural light, a walk-in closet, and a large, easily accessible shower. There are two additional spacious bedrooms and a full bath. This home features wood flooring, quartz countertops, and cabinet lighting to enhance this home.

This one-bed, one-bath condo features Whirlpool appliances, an underground parking space, and a private balcony. The open kitchen has enough space to place a dining table, but you may opt to eat at the center island with a drop ceiling instead. Relax in your living room to watch the game or walk out onto your attached private balcony to see what's happening in the plaza. Your bedroom includes a walk-in closet that connects to your bathroom with double sinks.

This brand new, oneof-a-kind, modern, chic Ashmore plan is located in the peaceful Wilds community. Maximum liability is achieved in this 4,366-square-foot two-story home with a main-level primary suite complete with an attached laundry room. An additional 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and multiple flexible living spaces round out this stunning home. Entertaining is seamlessly translated through the sizable kitchen with an expansive island, a double-volume great room with a gas fireplace and brick details, and a stylish lower-level wet bar. De-stressing is a breeze when it comes to this home and its private primary suite and large covered patio. Who says you can’t have it all?

Wine of the Month.

Cherry Cocoa wine

ROOKERY ROCK, 2022

"[The Cherry Cocoa Wine] is a sweet fruit wine that pairs well with many chocolate desserts. Very much fruitforward with a hint of chocolate behind the cherry. This wine is made from Western Red Sandcherries, sourced from Lake Maud, MN, infused with cocoa powder. We wanted a chocolate fruit wine that featured the fruit with only enough chocolate to enhance but not overpower the fruit."

- Mark Vining, Rookery Rock

mediumbodied wine with a touch of acidity and effervescence

lingering, chocolatey finish

Photos by Josiah Kopp

REVIEW BY ASHLEY SERBUS OF CELLAR 624

The Review

Whoa! This wine from Rookery Rock was not what I was expecting—but in a great way! This sweet red wine is exactly what it sounds like. On the nose, I experienced aromas of currant, cherry, cola, and earth, along with floral notes and hints of espresso. This is a nice medium-bodied wine with a touch of acidity and effervescence. There is some heat from the alcohol in this wine, which you don’t always experience in a sweeter varietal.

The layers of flavor vary from chocolate to cherry to red fruits and cola. Initially, I tasted notes of dark chocolate-covered cherries (my dad always had these around at Christmas!) and then as the finish lingered, I was reminded of one of my mom’s favorite candies, a tootsie roll or tootsie pop sucker!

This wine pairs with a variety of foods such as barbacoa, creamy cheeses (Havarti, blue, and brie), as well as complimenting a salty treat like potato chips. Personally, I would enjoy this wine on its own for dessert, or with a side of cheesecake. The Cherry Cocoa Wine from Rookery Rock is a must-try! A very unique blend and nostalgic flavor.

Cellar 624

| 624 Main Ave Ste 4B, Fargo

| cellar624.com

Rookery Rock Winery

| 3660 147th Ave SE Wheatland, ND 58079

| /rookeryrockwinery

| @rookeryrockwinery

"[THIS WINE] IS A MUSTTRY! A VERY BLENDUNIQUE AND NOSTALGIC FLAVOR. "

- ASHLEY SERBUS, CELLAR 624

ByGeneva

Nodland

Josie Danz, Nancy Carriveau, Zoë Absey, and Abby Swegarden are the minds behind the Power of Books Project, an organization with a mission to inspire, elevate, and transform lives through access to books. The local project just held its anticipated second event last month at Pride in the Park, part of the FM Pride celebrations.

The collaborative crew was inspired to bring a project like this to the community after learning about the Minneapolis-based nonprofit, "Women's Prison Book Project'' (WPBP)—which collects and redistributes books to incarcerated women and transgender persons to provide them with the resources they need in order to continue to evolve, learn, and change their lives.

Nancy Carriveau and Zoë Absey wanted to bring the same project to the area, but soon learned the WPBP Minnesota chapter covered North Dakota—so they looked at where and how they could fit that idea into the FM community.

The team began to assemble, consisting of a mix of local talent and minds. Zoë, who serves as the community initiatives manager with the Great Plains Food Bank and whose father owns Blackbird Pizza, co-worked the project's start along with Nancy, a local MBA graduate of clinical mental health counseling. The duo then

approached Josie Danz, general manager at Zandbroz Variety and daughter of the bookstore's co-founder Greg Danz, to ask if she and Zandbroz would be interested in getting involved. The team decided that in its efforts to collect books the end goal would be to get them into the hands of women and children who may be in transitional or disadvantaged situations.

To achieve their goal, the Power of Books Project has partnered with local organizations within the community that serve women and children. In their first event, they worked to give back to the YWCA, raising $1,715 or around 118 books for the YWCA shelter. Each time they host an event, they hope to bring in books or monetary donations to then give back to the organization they've partnered with. Each event is held with a different organization in partnership.

We've all experienced the power of words. Whether spoken, sung, or written, we know the impact and influence they have. There's a group of local women and leaders who know just how powerful they can be, and they're using that power for good.

The successful and heartwarming outcome of the first Power of Books event for the YWCA, which totaled 141 books for donation to the organization!

After hosting two events and working with two local organizations, the group, who also recently brought on Abby Swegarden, a former English teacher who now works remotely, to work with them, has decided to keep its working model but broaden its reach.

"We started out by identifying that we wanted to work with organizations that work with women and children in transition, but we've broadened that to be more inclusive of groups in our community that are marginalized or underserved," Josie explained. "The three areas that we've identified are women and children in transition; youth, specifically LGBTQ+ youth; and the BIPOC community. Our goal moving forward is to work with a variety of organizations that care for those communities."

Because the project operates event by event and organization by

organization, this broadened scope is an obtainable, fluid, an exciting one at that. Josie explained that the Power of Books Project will be ongoing in partnerships and looking to identify groups that they aim to serve.

If there are organizations that have identified a need for resources and books, and think they could benefit from some of the work that we're doing, we want to encourage them to reach out to us. If there are individuals that feel like they personally could benefit from resources, or there is, for example, an LGBTQ youth that's really struggling and could use resources or books or a place where they can find identity—we want to help those people too. This is something that we feel very strongly about. We don't only want to find the people in the community, we want them to be able to come to us."

- Josie Danz

BIPOC stands for "Black, Indigenous, and people of color."

Power of Books Project

Book Club Kick-Off!

First Meeting—Thursday, October 5, at 6 p.m., at Zandbroz

The book for September is "All Boys Aren’t Blue"—books are available at Zandbroz and anyone interested in the book club will receive a discount. Additionally, the Power of

Project is happy to make books available to anyone for whom cost is a barrier.

Details

Books

The Power of Books team at the Pride in the Park event last month, (left to right) Nancy, Abby, and Zoë (Josie not pictured).

1 p.m. Reading & Signing by Dave Eggers at Zandbroz

7 p.m. “To Be Destroyed” Premier at Fargo Theater + Power of Books panel on book banning

Mas Tequila

611 32nd Ave W, West Fargo, ND 58078

Andres Olivares

Highlands Old Fashioned Ingredients

• 2 Oz El Tesoro Reposado

• 3 Dashes Chocolate Bitters

• 2 Dashes Orange Bitters

•.25 Oz Agave Syrup

• Garnish with Orange Peel and Luxardo Cherry

Directions

• In a mixing glass, muddle a Luxardo cherry and orange peel

• Add ice

• Combine all the ingredients

• Stir until chilled

• Strain into a rocks glass over a fresh ice sphere and garnish with an orange twist and a cherry

• Smoke using a smoke topper

Geneva Nodland