Breath, Body, & Bowls with Joan Filla
2025-04-05 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Winona Arts Center, 228 East 5th Street, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
This is a free will donation event and limited to 35 people. You need to register for the event by emailing Debi at debiniebuhr@gmail.com. We will be laying on the floor so bring a yoga mat or blanket & pillow.
Join us for the opportunity to integrate conscious breath work, restorative movements, and the soothing sounds and vibrations of Tibetan singing bowls. The body is a vessel of all life experiences and personal stories. Movement therapy deepens a person’s quality relationship with their own physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
Yoga is the union of mind, body and soul by way of the breath. Starting from a place of intention, connecting to breath, followed by aligning the body into each asana (pose). Yoga calms the nervous system, strengthens and lengthens the body, and restores mind, body and spirit. Adding the sound of Tibetan singing bowls brings vibrational harmony to promote deep relaxation and mind-body connection. We invite you to bring your mat, blanket, or other items to create your nest for relaxing practice.
About the Instructors
Joan Filla experienced the power of Tibetan singing bowls in 2012 when facing the difficulty of healing past trauma. Singing bowls and meditation became integral parts of her healing journey and she hopes to share these powerful tools with others.
Angeline Finch is 200 RYT (-certified yoga teacher) who is dedicated to the principles of mindfulness, breath, and asana practices which restore the mind, body and soul. Angeline’s teaching philosophy is to gently offer suggestions for breath, mindfulness and movement which lead the participant to discover self and embrace the wholeness within.

Art Gallery Open
2025-04-05 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-06 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-24 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-25 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)

Drum Circle
2025-04-07 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-04-14 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-04-21 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-04-28 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-05 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-19 18:00 - 20:00 UTC

Multi-Color Reduction Linoleum Printing (Without a Press!) with Preston Lawing
2025-04-09 17:30 - 19:30, 2025-04-16 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
The excitement continues with another three-week workshop by Preston Lawing, an award-winning professor and collaborative printmaker who has worked and exhibited with numerous artists and printers for over forty years. Preston Lawing taught for 24 years at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, retiring in 2021 as Professor Emeritus in the department of Art and Design.
His recent Dry Point Etching, and Chine Collé workshop at the Winona Arts Center continue to be well received by a capacity group of energetic, creative students.
This workshop will introduce beginners and intermediate participants to the technique of Multiple Color Reduction Linoleum block printing, allowing the printing of additional colors while learning advanced registration skills to create sharp, crisp images.
The course will cover both the practical aspects of creating prints and the historical context of the medium, from traditional Japanese woodblocks to modern print forms.
Participants will learn how to prepare and carve linoleum blocks, the importance of layering, color choices, and working safely in a printmaking studio.
Participants do not need to have strong drawing skills, but a willingness to explore different marking choices which should provide lifelong joy of this simple, but elegant process.
Due to the technical information and processes covered, this course is suited for artists 18 and up. This is a class for adults.
Workshop Fee: $150. All materials are included.

The Pleasure of Pastel Painting with Betsy Midthun
2025-04-12 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
Winona Arts Center welcomes Betsy Midthun on Saturday April 12 10am to 3pm for the Pleasure of Pastel Painting.
Creating and studying art has been a life long passion for Betsy Midthun. Graduating from college with a double major of art education and art history, Betsy started her career as an elementary art instructor and has served on local, regional and state art
boards.
In her class participants will paint two small paintings. Paintings will focus on values, shapes, layout and design, the importance of lights and darks…and of course, color! Pastel is an immensely satisfying medium and is ideal for beginners. Beginner to Adult painters are welcome – no experience needed.
All materials provided. Register today to reserve your spot with Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com
Cost is $40 for members and $45 for non-members.

John Smith & Dan Sebranek
2025-04-12 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
Saturday / April 12 / 7:00pm
$15 (+processing fees) in Advance / $20 at the Door
Tickets are available at Music Mart (formerly Hardt’s Music) and Eventbrite until April 12 at 4:00pm. Note: Music Mart now accepts credit cards and checks made out to Music Mart.
Buy tickets on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/johnsmith-dan-sebranek-tickets-1259117136249?aff=oddtdtcreator
Coffeehouse & gallery open at 6:00pm. Cash bar for wine & beer.
Performance at 7:00pm
John Smith, a local favorite, has been sharing his music across America and abroad for forty plus years. He has released nine solo CD’s, leads music tours to Ireland, rafting trips in Idaho and teaches songwriting and has been a songwriter in Nashville. He seems to have an immediate connection with his audience with his infectious smile. https://johnsmithmusic.com/home
Rounding out the duo is Dan Sebranek, also a renowned singer, songwriter and musician with roots in bluegrass & rock & roll. He has graced the stage with Hans Meyer, Bill Miller, John Prince and Pure Prairie League. He performs with the bluegrass band, String Ties, and has won the Telluride Bluegrass Festival award. He also performs solo acoustic guitar around there world & performs yearly in Ireland. He has 5 successful recordings and these two long time pals and accomplished musicians delight audiences with their stories and song.
https://www.dansebranek.com/music

Drawing Circle
2025-04-22 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-04-29 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-06 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-13 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-20 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-27 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)

Oil Painting Class with Barb Halvorson
2025-04-26 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
Winona Arts Center welcomes Barb Halvorson for an Oil Painting Class on Saturday April 26, 2025 from 10am to 3pm.
We will learn to paint a beautiful landscape featuring a barn with the woods and colorful sky as the backdrop. Beginners to experienced painters are welcome! All supplies are furnished.
Register today to reserve your spot with Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com .
Cost is $35 for members and $40 for non-members.

Ryan Picone Quartet
2025-04-26 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
Saturday / April 26 / 7:00pm
$20 (+processing fees) in Advance / $25 at the Door
Tickets are available at Music Mart (formerly Hardt’s Music) and Eventbrite until April 26 at 4:00pm. Note: Music Mart now accepts credit cards and checks made out to Music Mart.
Buy tickets on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ryan-picone-quartet-tickets-1259124849319?aff=oddtdtcreator
Coffeehouse & gallery open at 6:00pm. Cash bar for wine & beer.
Performance at 7:00pm
Ryan Picone Quartet is a group that was put together to showcase the original compositions of Ryan Picone. The music has been written throughout different time periods in his life, and represents his connection to the music of Django Reinhardt. The band consists of Ryan Picone from The Red Hot Django Peppers, Ian Stenlund from The Mississippi Hot Club, Tessa Nichols Meade from the Cold City Heat, and Matt Blake from the Gentleman’s Anti Temperance League. This group is an all star group that brings together a new transfiguration of Jazz.
In 2023 the Ryan Picone Quartet released their debut album titled – I Awake dedicated to the legendary Django Reinhardt. The album has received great praise from the Django community including author Michael Dregni. In 2024 RPQ played their first Django Festival along side with musicians like Joscho Stephan and Sam Farthing.
Review by author; Michael Dregni. “Swinging, sensual, moody, rousing — Ryan Picone Quartet’s music follows the trail of Django Reinhardt’s Gypsy jazz. Listening to these tracks, you can almost smell the campfire smoke and see the nighttime lights of Paris burning on the horizon. Bon voyage!”

Exhibit Opening: An Artist’s Watercolor Journey featuring Linda Arnesen
2025-04-27 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Exhibit Opening: Sunday / April 27 / 1:00-4:00pm
On Display April 27, 2025 – June 8, 2025
An exhibit showcasing Linda Arnesen’s watercolor journey. Living in Winona, the driftless region of the state, she finds endless subjects in landscapes along with a variety of other subjects from floral, portraits, birds, architecture, etc.. But nature is her favorite subject.
Linda finds watercolor a challenge since one does not know exactly how the water and paint will blend until it is dry. Watercolor has a transparency and fluidity that portrays light like no other medium. Her goal is to depict an impression of the subject, capturing the contrast developed by light and shadow, while working with the paint that seems to have a mind of its own.
Linda has studied under numerous instructors and artists via classes and workshops. She recently has started plein air painting which has its own challenges. Her goal is to keep the journey going in creating artistic impressions that delight the eyes of the viewer.

Mother's Day Free Ink Event for Families & Children: Two Sessions Offered
2025-05-03 10:00 - 16:00 UTC
Come out and welcome Spring with our May Free Ink at the Winona Arts Center. Two print sessions are offered on this day.Family & Friends: 10am-1pmAdults Only: 1:30-4pm

Family and friends are welcome to the all ages session from 10am-1:00pm. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an Adult. An adult only session is from 1:30pm-4:00pm for those 18 and older.
Drop in at one of our 2 Free Ink Sessions for a hands on printing experience! You will create your very own, one of a kind monoprints using our etching press. Share your prints with Mom for Mother’s Day and with family and friends. Volunteers will be on hand to guide you. All tools and materials will be provided to make your spring and Mother’s day prints. No Experience Necessary!

Questions? Contact Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com

Swamp Poppas
2025-05-03 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
Saturday / May 3 / 7:00pm
$20 (+processing fees) in Advance / $25 at the Door
Tickets are available at Music Mart (formerly Hardt’s Music) and Eventbrite until April 26 at 4:00pm. Note: Music Mart now accepts credit cards and checks made out to Music Mart.
Buy tickets on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/swamp-poppas-tickets-1259129914469?aff=oddtdtcreator
Coffeehouse & gallery open at 6:00pm. Cash bar for wine & beer.
Performance at 7:00pm
Our final Spring concert will be a great evening of their blend of Cajun, Zydeco, blues, rock, country, and all around good time Louisiana Swamp Pop!
Swamp Pop is a mix of Louisiana Cajun, Zydeco, blues, rock, country; the influences over the years are many and the mix gives you a rockin good time. Check out the bios of these great musicians.
Jan Stroup is a guitarist and vocalist with 50 years of professional experience in the Midwest, playing rock, R&B, blues, jazz, and country. His notable bands include Fatt City and The Sevilles. “Dapper Jan” is also known for his dry wit and sartorial excellence.
Andy Vaaler plays piano, organ, accordion, and sings. His occasional raps have earned him the moniker “Plain White Rapper”. He has played with a wide variety of people in the Twin Cities area, with a musical background including blues, jazz standards, swing, rock, country and R&B. A protege of Dan Newton, Andy joined the Poppas in 2022 and has been delighting audiences ever since.
Max Ray plays saxophone and sings with the Poppas. Max is well known locally and nationally as a member of The Wallets, The Explodo Boys, The Suburbs, The New Standards, Willie Murphy and the Angel Headed Hipsters, Mister Rowles, The Fragrants, and Gondwana. He escaped Minneapolis, and resides on his farm near Shell Lake, Wisconsin, tending his menagerie of chickens, mules, horses, and dogs.
Joe Luoma on percussion, sound effects, and vocals, provides esoteric cultural observations about his native Iron Range. From his beginning with Wayne and the Avantis in 1965, he migrated to the Twin Cities and played with Cats Under the Stars (later the Paul Metsa Group), as well as the Jaguars, Tom’s Pirate Band, Dan Newton’s Jumbo Ya Ya, and Iron Range favorites Rangers on Mer Lot and “stupor group” the Evinrudes (which featured Joe on an outboard motor /smoke machine). Joe handles the fake band endorsements for “Simple Green” – (“It’s simple, it’s green”) and “Hamm’s” – (“From the land of sky-blue waters, Land of loped off pines and dead birch trees…”).
Tedd Halvorson on vocals and guitars is an original Swamp Poppa. Very original. And by guitars, we mean several, in different tunings for his signature slide guitar sounds. He’s known as a key player in Minnesota bands such as Lost Soul, the Sweaters, the Minneapolis Molines, and Molly and the Heymakers in the1980s; Fatt City, the Dearborns, and Busted Flat in the 1990s, and in Nazmo King, Hip Bone, and the Swamp Poppas since the early 2000s.
Lucinda Plaisance, vocals, grew up in a musical family in Winona, managing to thrive as a vocalist despite repeatedly skipping chorus class at Cotter HS. She sang in a couple rock and swing bands before going to “musical boot camp” as a member and soloist with Robert Robinson’s Twin Cities Gospel Choir for 16 years. Most recently, she sang harmonies with the Midnight Choir Social Club, and is a lead vocalist in the Americana/roots band The Lost Golden Toads. She’s loved singing the bluesy, Louisiana-influenced tunes of the Swamp Poppas since they began a decade ago.
Karl Smelker on bass and vocals, is the founder and cat-herder extraordinaire of the Swamp Poppas. He’s played professionally for over 50 years, logging 19 years with the Fabulous Minnesota Barking Ducks, before switching to Zydeco, Swamp Pop and Cajun with the Swamp Sextet, The Faux Playboys, Bone Tones, and New Riverside Ramblers.

THIS EVENT IS FULL! :: The Story of Fascism in Europe: A Rick Steves Film with Q&A Session
2025-05-09 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
All available tickets for this event have been reserved. Folks are welcome to check at the door for availability. Thank you for your interest!
Free Will Donation Event. Seating is limited. Registration Required.
Gallery opens at 6:00pm. Film at 7:00pm
Rick Steves produced thought-provoking trip that goes back a century to track the rise of fascism in Europe. We learn how fascism took root in the turbulent aftermath of World War I when frustrated masses rose up, their fears stoked by charismatic leaders who manipulated their anger. We see the totalitarian societies they promised built and the brutal measures used to enforce their ideology. In his special movie The Story of Fascism in Europe Rick Steves will share insights on how wannabe autocrats in fragile democracies across the West today seem to be reading from the same playbook that was so effective for Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco. (Run time: 56 min)
There will be a Q & A after the movie by WSU History Professor Dr. Matthew Lungerhausen and facilitated by the League of Women Voters.
About Matthew Lungerhausen
Matthew Lungerhausen is a Professor of History at Winona State University and serves as Chairperson of the History and Legal Studies Department. He earned his PhD in History at the University of Minnesota and has taught at WSU since 2004. Dr. Lungerhausen integrates the analysis of film, documentary photography, and other forms of visual culture into his teaching and research on the topics of nationalism, liberalism, fascism, and communism. He teaches classes on Western Civilization, upper the Habsburg Monarchy, Russia and the Soviet Union as well as twentieth century Europe. Dr. Lungerhausen has also developed topics classes on the history of documentary photography and the history of Eastern and Central Europe through film.

Relief Wood Carving with Kevin Ewing
2025-05-14 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Winona Arts Center presents
Kevin Ewing for Relief Wood Carving
Kevin will provide a description of the tools and materials used for relief wood carving. We are then onto carving our own designs out of a flat piece of basswood. Come to class with a design of your own or choose from one of the suggestions available. All materials provided.
Class size: 10 to 12.
Age: 16 and older
No experience necessary
Class Fee: $50 for members and $55 for non members
Reserve your spot and Register today! Contact Jen Benson at jsbenson50@gmail.com.

Needle Felting-Class is FULL
2025-05-24 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Class is full.
