Avis Veikley's "Of This Place"

Avis Veikley’s “Of This Place”

Avis writes, “This collection of paintings is about the quiet “empty” spaces of North Dakota—-the land and sky—-and indirectly, it’s people. There are no humans in these images, but we see them in the working of the land, the occasional building, the rowed trees, a fence line. They, too, have been slow, patient shapers of the landscape, like the glaciers, the wind, the rain, and the frost cycles.”

“For a few years I have been toying with the idea of painting a scene from each of North Dakota’s 53 counties, as a way of expressing my “sense of place.” It’s a bigger project than I expected, and I have only just begun. In preparing this body of work, I began a wandering of the back roads of the state, and shooting reference photos and gradually expanding my “country list.” I can’t even say at this point what my county score is—I keep getting lost.”

BIO:

Avis Veikley served as Director of the Northwest Art Center at Minot State University from 2006 until 2018. She is an adjunct instructor in the MSU Music Division, teaching percussion and assisting with the MSU Marching Band, and choir director at the Minot Congregational United Church of Christ.

Veikley received her BS degree in Music and Art from Minot State University, and Master of Music from Northern Illinois University at DeKalb. She worked as a graphic designer with Lowe’s Printing in Minot for over 20 years. Veikley has studied painting and drawing at the Woodstock School of Art in Woodstock, NY, Art Students League of New York, Art Students League of Denver, and in numerous workshops. She grew up on her grandfather’s homestead near Glenburn, ND, and continues to be a partner in the family farm with her three nephews.

Avis Veikley’s “Of This Place” will be on display in Gallery I at the James Memorial Art Center until August 28th. The James is hosting an Artist Reception on Friday, August 7th from 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm. Come chat with Avis and other art enthusiasts. Free and open to the public.

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.