Open Studio
2025-09-04 16:30 - 20:00, 2025-10-02 16:30 - 20:00, 2025-10-16 16:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Winona Arts Center, 228 East 5th Street, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Beginning October 2025 Open Studio will be held the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month from 4:30pm – 8:00pm!

The Open Studio is designed for those who are interested in printmaking and for those who need space to work on their own art projects. Your first visit is free of charge!

After Your First Visit:
o Drop-in Fee: $8 per visit
o Studio Pass: $35 for 5 visits
o No fee for participants who bring their own art supplies

Space will be limited to 12 people per Thursday so please make your reservation ahead of time.

For more information and to register please contact Jen at jsbenson@gmail.com

Rachael Kilgour
2025-09-07 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago)
Sunday / September 7 / 2:00pm
$10 (+processing fees) in Advance / $15 at the Door
Tickets will be available at Music Mart (formerly Hardt’s Music) until 4pm September 5th and on Eventbrite until 11am September 7. Note: Music Mart now accepts credit cards and checks made out to Music Mart.
Buy tickets now
Doors open at 1:30pm.
Performance at 2:00pm
Minnesota based Canadian-American songwriter Rachael Kilgour presents her heartfelt new release, My Father Loved Me, produced by JUNO-award winning and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Rose Cousins.
In the spare and often gutting language for which she is known, Kilgour poses questions about belonging, inheritance, and grief and triumphantly affirms the value of one ordinary working man’s life.
On stage Kilgour expertly balances her poignant, literate songs with a quick wit, landing somewhere between a comedy special and a funeral. Listeners can expect to laugh, weep, and reflect on their own complicated relationships with fatherhood

Oil Painting 101 with Casy Wicka
2025-09-09 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
Join artist Casey Wicka for a brand-new weekly series exploring oil painting techniques and materials. No experience necessary! Each Tuesday morning from 10:00am to 12:00pm, Casey will guide participants through a different oil painting theme.
September 2 – November 18, Every Tuesday. New themes each week!
10:00am – 12:00pm

All supplies provided
No paint thinners, turpentine, or mineral spirits used
Open to adults 18+
Cost: $25/class for members | $30/class for non-members

Reserve your spot by the Monday before each class by emailing Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com

Exploring Kitchen Lithography: Technique and Expression
2025-09-10 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
Preston Lawing, an award winning professor and collaborative printmaker, continues his Printmaking workshops at the Winona Arts with a workshop, Exploring Kitchen Lithography: Technique and Expression, on Wednesdays, September 10, 17, 24 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm.
This three week workshop will introduce participants to the exciting technique of lithographic printing, using household materials…and NO PRESS! Participants do not need to have strong drawing skills, but a willingness to explore different marking choices should provide lifelong joy of this simple, but elegant process.
The workshops are open to students over 18, and are suitable of students of any level.
Cost is $150.
Register today with Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com.
To ensure classes are affordable to all, scholarships are available. Please contact Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com for more information.

Open Studio
2025-09-11 16:30 - 20:00, 2025-09-18 16:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)

Opposable Thumbs
2025-09-12 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
Friday / September 12 / 7:00pm
$15 (+processing fees) in Advance / $20 at the Door
Tickets will be available at Music Mart (formerly Hardt’s Music) and Eventbrite until September 12 at 4:00pm. Note: Music Mart now accepts credit cards and checks made out to Music Mart.
Coffeehouse & gallery open at 6:00pm. Cash bar for wine & beer.
Performance at 7:00pm
Opposable Thumbs is a four-piece string band that performs originals and progressive string band music. This band first performed in the 90’s. After about 20 years, they started meeting weekly, reviving past repertoire, and adding some new material. With original members Wayne Beezley; mandolin and octave mandolin, Rick Sampson; banjo, guitar and mandolin, Betsy Neil; fiddle, they added a new bass player, Larry Dalton, and continued honing their skills.
Wayne Beezley, landed in Winona after performing with the notable Bluegrass band, Monroe Doctrine, which was based in Colorado. Wayne’s time with Monroe Doctrine took him to major festivals, college campuses, and other popular venues across the country. This band was cutting edge Progressive Bluegrass and influenced many young musicians, bringing this style of bluegrass music to the Midwest in the ‘70’s. He currently performs locally with The Bus Boys and String Ties.
Since 1977, Rick Sampson has been delighting audiences with his innovative banjo playing with a variety of bands including The Riverbenders, Traveling Kind, and Suite Grass. He has worked with a variety of bands including a Scottish Rock group, Peter Ostroushko, Kate Mackenzie, Chris Silver, Brian Wicklund, and jazz violinist Randy Sabien, to name a few. He placed second at the Telluride festival in the banjo competition two years in a row. Also, after attending the Red Wing Technical College, he started making banjo bridges that are sold internationally and used by prominent musicians worldwide. He has crafted and sold wooden flutes and flat picks as well.
Betsy Neil began learning music on violin and piano as a child. As a young adult she continued to perform in symphonies, string quartets and theater pits, but soon became interested in swinging her bow in a different direction. In the mid-seventies she developed a strong interest in fiddling and studied a variety of styles including Bluegrass, Appalachian old time, Swing, Celtic, and Cajun. She has performed in numerous string bands, the most notable being, The Buffalo Gals. Currently she performs with the Twin Cities based Cajun band, Roux La La and Winona Symphony, as well as anything else that calls for a violin or fiddle.
Rich Casey, first performed with Opposable Thumbs about 20 years ago. Rich is a musical man about town who, in addition to providing a solid musical foundation to the High 48s’ hard‐driving bluegrass sound, keeps a busy performance schedule lending his doghouse skills to a wide range of musical situations.
This performance is made possible in part thanks to the generous support of Merchants Bank, Dahl Auto, and Affinity Plus.

Oil Painting 101 with Casey Wicka
2025-09-16 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-23 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-07 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)

Drawing Workshop with Michelle Cochran
2025-09-16 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
Join us at the Winona Arts center for a Drawing Workshop with Michelle Cochran on September 16 from 5:30 to 7:30pm. We will work on drawing 3-dimensional shapes from life using graphite pencils and erasers.
Cost is $25*.
No experience necessary!
*If you attended one of the other classes bring your supplies. To register and to purchase supplies, contact Jen jsbenson50@gmail.com.

Exploring Kitchen Lithography: Technique and Expression
2025-09-17 17:30 - 19:30, 2025-09-24 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
Preston Lawing, an award winning professor and collaborative printmaker, continues his Printmaking workshops at the Winona Arts with a workshop, Exploring Kitchen Lithography: Technique and Expression, on Wednesdays, September 10, 17, 24 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm.
This three week workshop will introduce participants to the exciting technique of lithographic printing, using household materials…and NO PRESS! Participants do not need to have strong drawing skills, but a willingness to explore different marking choices should provide lifelong joy of this simple, but elegant process.
The workshops are open to students over 18, and are suitable of students of any level.
Cost is $150.
Register today with Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com.

ALAM – A Film by Firas Khoury
2025-09-19 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
A film from France, Tunisia,Palestine, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, weaves together a tale of love, friendship, and freedom under the iconography of the flag.

Tamer, a Palestinian teenager in Israel, leads a typical high school student’s life until the arrival of Maysaa. Drawn to her and her activism, he decides to join an operation to covertly raise the Palestinian flag and disrupt the celebrations planned for Israel’s Independence Day, a time for mourning for Palestinians.

Directed by Firas KhouryArabic and Hebrew with English subtitlesRelease Date: August 30, 2023Runtime: 100 minutes
Cost: $5

Introduction to Cellphone Photography with Peter Mutschler
2025-09-20 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
Winona Arts Center welcomes Peter Mutschler for an introduction to Cellphone Photography! Class will be held Saturday, September 20 from 10am to 12pm. Cost is $25. Students will learn the basic skills needed to improve their photographs using cell phone cameras. Instead of requiring the participants to bring a traditional camera we will be using the camera that comes with your phone. Pete Mutschler is a Certified Professional Photographer based in Winona, MN.
To register contact Jen jsbenson50@gmail.com.
Max class size is 15

The Landscape of Guitar: Paintings by Bruce Hecksel
2025-09-21 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
The Landscape of Guitar: Paintings by Bruce Hecksel
Opening Reception
Sunday / September 21 / 1:00PM – 4:00PM
Exhibit Dates: September 21 – October 18, 2025
Terra Guitarra® (Landscape of Guitar) is the original painting style of Bruce Hecksel. Bruce’s stained-glass like vibrant, highly textured style is acrylic paint on canvas & board using a combination of dry brushing, stippling, impasto, smudging among other techniques.
“Composing paintings with guitar trees, mountains, rivers, lakes, clouds, birds, I’m suggesting that all of our reality has a voice. The whole world is literally singing. Once we realize this we then choose to sing in harmony with it or make up our own song.”
Bruce Hecksel was a professional guitarist that performed over 5,000 concerts in his duo Patchouli & Terra Guitarra. Bruce passed away peacefully July 28, 2025 from stroke complications after a 3 year battle with cancer. He was always generous with his joy and light and you can see and feel that in each of these featured Landscape of Guitar paintings in this special posthumous exhibit.
In place of an artist’s talk, Bruce’s beloved partner Julie Patchouli will share a few words in his memory and present the animation of The Landscape of Guitar.

Suminagashi “Floating Ink” Workshop with Dawn Tevis
2025-09-23 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Suminagashi “Floating Ink” Workshop with Dawn TevisTuesday, September 23 | 5:30–8:00 PM

Join us in welcoming Dawn Tevis for a Sumingashi “Floating Ink” workshop on Tuesday, September 23 from 5:30 to 8:00pm! We will practice the meditative process of suminagashi and learn the process of floating ink in dynamic patterns on water and printing the images on paper.

Each guest will leave with a set of five handmade notecards and envelopes featuring their own suminagashi prints.
Cost: $45 for members / $50 for non-members Register: Contact Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com Class size is limited to 15 participants — register early!

Dawn is a librarian and paper marbler who has enjoyed suminasashi as book art and contemplative practice for more than 10 years.

Drawing Circle
2025-09-23 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-07 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-14 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)

Open Studio is cancelled due to a class
2025-09-25 16:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)

Spotlight with Terri Lieder: Gelli Prints – CLASS FULL
2025-09-25 16:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
This event is full.

The Art of French Straw Marquetry with Megan McCarthy
2025-09-27 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
Join Emerging Artist SEMAC Grant recipient Megan McCarthy at the Winona Arts Center for a free workshop exploring the enchanting 300-year-old art of French Straw Marquetry. Discover this timeless decorative technique, rich in history and expression. You will learn the basics and design your own one-of-a-kind keepsake. Create a unique piece that highlights your creativity!
The class is from 10:00am to 12:00pm on Saturday September 27, 2025.
Class size is limited so register today with Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com.

Oil Painting with Casey Wicka
2025-09-30 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-14 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)

Drawing Circle – Cancelled for Carpet Cleaning
2025-09-30 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)

Fall Free Ink Day: Two Sessions Offered!
2025-10-04 10:00 - 16:00 UTC
FALL FREE INK: TWO SESSIONS!
Family and Friends: 10am–1pm
Adults (18 and older): 1:30pm–4pm
Join us and create your own, one-of-a-kind, fall and spooky Halloween monoprints to keep or share with family and friends! All tools and materials will be provided and we will be using the Etching Press for this event. No experience necessary! Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Free Ink events are made possible through a grant from the Elizabeth Callender King Foundation.

Cancelled–Painting River Rock Mandalas with Cheri Bunker
2025-10-18 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
This workshops has been cancelled. Thank you for your understanding.
Saturday / October 18 / 1:00PM – 3:00PM
$25 for Members /
$30 for Non-Members
Join us for a meditative and creative experience painting river rock mandalas with Cheri Bunker! Learn simple dotting techniques to create beautiful, symmetrical mandala designs on natural river rocks. Perfect for all skill levels! All materials provided. No experience necessary.
*Mandala painting kits (includes tools and three bottles of paint) will be available after class for purchase for $10 so you can continue your creative journey with future projects.
