Winona State University will partner with several local organizations to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of artist Rockwell Kent’s stay in Winona. The week-long festival will take place Feb. 6-10 and feature exhibits of his works and other activities that illustrate his importance as an international artist.
WSU and the WSU Art Department will host “Rockwell Kent Prints: Selections from the Ralf Nemec Collection,” Feb. 6-27, in Watkins Gallery.
The exhibit includes many of Kent’s best-known fine art prints, including wood engravings, etchings and lithographs. Kent’s often symbolic use of the figure is highlighted. The selection of prints in the WSU exhibit is complemented by the concurrent Saint Mary’s University exhibition, also drawn from the Nemec Collection. Between the two university gallery exhibitions, a large number of Kent’s prints will be on view for visitors, including examples from most of his major bodies of work. Prints are on loan from the private collection of New York collector Ralf Nemec.
The opening reception will be from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, and is part of the Progressive Reception and Opening Ceremony of the Rockwell Kent Festival. The reception and exhibition are free and open to the public.
Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9.
For more information on the exhibit, contact Anne Plummer.
The movie “Rockwell Kent” by filmmaker Frederick Lewis will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, and at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, in Science Laboratory Center, room 120. Lewis will be in attendance to introduce the film at both screenings and to lead discussions.
As part of the “Celebration of the Book” series, WSU will host a symposium featuring four Rockwell Kent experts from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9. Speakers will include Beth Christensen, Emilio DeGrazia, Richard West and Henry Adams. Festival Coordinator Taff Roberts will serve as moderator. Refreshments will be available throughout the symposium during scheduled breaks.
The festival is sponsored by the City of Winona, the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Winona County Historical Society, WSU, Saint Mary’s University and Theatre du Mississippi.
For more information on the festival and events, email info@rockwellkentwinona.org.
