Gallery 4 Turns 50: A Collective Celebration

Written by TRACY NICHOLSON

Photos by STUDIO FRESHLY + DENNIS KRULL, 5FOOT20 DESIGN LOUNGE

At 50 years young, Gallery 4 is in its prime — shining even brighter than the day it was born in 1975. As Fargo’s oldest art co-op gallery—and the nation’s oldest consecutively-running artist cooperative— this crafty collective has mastered the art of community impact and creative evolution. To mark the milestone, we toured the gallery, browsed the Made in Fargo shop, and met the makers themselves— from one of the founding visionaries to beloved veterans and emerging artists— those coloring the next 50 years of art, community, and connection.

ART & IMPACT

Half a century is a long time to do anything, but for downtown Fargo’s Gallery 4, time flies when you’re having fun building a community of creative minds. Gallery 4 is a local cooperative owned and operated by its member artists, all sharing diverse experiences, backgrounds, and mediums. Here, Premier artist members do more than create; they also help manage the co-op’s success by taking turns working in the gallery, welcoming patrons, mentoring Supporting members, and inviting budding artists into a growing community.

While the co-op may have started with 12, the gallery now boasts the work of over 50 artists. The gallery’s 17 Premier artists include Dennis Krull, Kathy Luther, Anna Frissell, Connie Riedman, William Damon, Marcy Dronen, Judi Koehmstedt, Dionna Martel, Mark Holter, Carol Rogne, Terry Chavez, Scott Seiler, Anna Johnson, Laura Youngbird, Ken Omundson, Crystal Thorson, and Nancy Baier. Go ahead and spread the word, “One of the F-M’s best well-kept secrets” is officially out, just in time to celebrate the gallery’s golden era.

FOUNDING A CREATIVE COLLECTIVE

In 1975, Gallery 4 opened its doors on the fourth floor of DeLendrecie’s department store on Main Avenue in Fargo, now known as Block Six; a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Throughout the years, the cooperative relocated several more times before settling into its Roberts Street storefront six years ago, marking 15 years in downtown.

Today, the co-op gallery is guided by a well- established artist-led team, including president Scott Seiler, vice president Dennis Krull, secretary Nancy Baier, and accountant Carol Rogne.

Gathering to celebrate the gallery, we had the honor of meeting one of its founding members, Jackie (Jacqueline) J. Anderson, who spent 18 years helping build the co-op from a blank canvas into a vibrant masterpiece. Jackie was asked to join the co-op’s first meeting after another artist noticed her senior show at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM). At that time, she was the youngest of 12 artists in the living room meeting, including artists Dean Bowman, Lula Brown, Kay Cann, Betty Corwin, Bea Cummings, Joyce Eidbo, Lois Emerson, John Holland, Dennis Holm, Kitten O’Day, and Robert Walton.

Jackie’s artistic ambitions began in childhood, and by 19, she had a successful career with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a lead artist for the Yellow Pages’ advertisements. After transitioning to an advertising agency, her ultimate passion to learn and teach prevailed. Then, a married mom of two, Jackie followed her dreams to Moorhead State to become an art teacher. Along with her founding role in the gallery, Jackie would go on to devote 27 years to her students as an art teacher at Ben Franklin Middle School and North Fargo High School.

Although she is no longer an official gallery member, Jackie is forever a beloved mentor and artist, greatly contributing to a legacy of art education, inspiration, and collaboration. Jackie credits the depth of her education to her childhood art classes at Moorhead Public Schools and Moorhead State University (MSUM), where she honed her skills in nearly every medium, from welding and pottery to printmaking, painting, watercolor, and drawing.

Recently, she gathered her works from various locations and her own archives to unveil a special showcase in Gallery 4, a “Through the Years” timeline of sculptures and dry and wet 2D media, including pencil, pastel, acrylic, and watercolor. “I haven’t quit being an artist,” added Anderson. “It took me until I was 70 years old to decide I could call myself an artist.”

Tour Gallery 4

DOWNTOWN VISITOR CENTER

Today, Gallery 4 is far more than a home for art — now a destination at the heart of downtown, where local enthusiasts, shoppers, artists, and downtown tourists gather, create, and connect. In fact, the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau has made Gallery 4 its exclusive Downtown Visitor Center. Within the gallery is a generous station of information and maps that guide guests to local art, dining, hospitality, and entertainment.

MADE IN FARGO

Beyond the Downtown Visitor Center is Gallery 4’s Made in Fargo gift shop. This small but mighty storefront includes a wealth of one-of- a-kind art gifts and souvenirs created by local artists from Fargo-Moorhead, as well as across North Dakota and Minnesota.

From pocket-sized Bison art to historical postcard prints, handcrafted jewelry, ceramic magnets, Fargo totes, graphic clothing, and greeting cards, this maker’s shop has original ideas made for everyone. Some of the more popular items in the gallery’s gift shop are the locally-made postcards, pottery, and smaller original prints and encaustic works.

THE GALLERY

Just inside the entrance of Gallery 4 are several collections on display from the co-op’s Premier artists. Further inside, the gallery is sectioned into designated areas for both Supporting artists and pop-up installations.

Kathy Luther, a clay tile mosaic and ceramic artist, joined the cooperative in 1988, making her the longest-running member. Similar to Jackie, Kathy is an MSUM alum and spent 25 years as an art teacher at Catholic Schools. “To me, this has been perfect,” said Luther. “Unlike most galleries, you can do what you want, create what you want, and have your own space. You get your own customers, and you’re not at the whim of a curator’s taste. I love this gallery because there is so much variety, which is what makes it really special. Also, every month we have a different theme now, so it encourages us to do something new and see how everyone else interprets the theme.” Surprisingly, in her 37-year membership, Kathy has never seen anyone copy another artist’s work.

Elizabeth Rockstad, a glass mosaic artist from Ada, MN, joined the cooperative as a Supporting artist in 2023. Supporting artists are given a space to show their work, yet they are not required to take a turn working at the gallery. Another teacher of K-12 art for 16 years, she has since opened her own art studio, Studio 4:13, where she conducts school residencies, community projects, and teaches mosaic workshops. Now a member of Gallery 4, Elizabeth said, “I’ve been very happy here. They are wonderful about including me in all the events and things they do. I’ve felt very welcome, and it’s been great exposure.”

Throughout the gallery and gift shop, you’ll also find the 30-year photography, encaustic art, jewelry, and alphabetory collection of Moorhead’s Dennis Krull of 5foot20 Design Studio — another MSUM alum. Dennis joined the co-op as a photographer 15 years ago and has continually expanded his field of knowledge. Today, he is the vice president of Gallery 4, contributing an eclectic collection that unites his talents in graphic design, photography, and encaustic.

Embracing one of the oldest Greek techniques, Dennis embarks on a process of melting and fusing layers of beeswax and varnish. He uses only natural beeswax and dammar resin (crystallized tree sap), sometimes incorporating pigments or left alone for transparency and adhesive qualities. “I was just looking for a way to enhance my photography and get a different feel, so I took a class in the cities and started experimenting,” explained Krull. “I do both 2D and 3D; it’s a lot of taking away and adding. I want my work to provoke a feeling; it should inspire or trigger something deep within the observer.”

Donna Chalimonczyk, a retired physician and politician, was a frequent visitor to the gallery for several years before joining the cooperative three years ago. She hadn’t truly delved into art until she retired to the lake, where she was invited to join an art club and learn watercolor from a visiting artist. Today, she shares her passion for paint, watercolor, acrylic, and pen & ink cards on the walls of Gallery 4. “It’s a really good networking place to meet other people who are enjoying and doing the same thing, but in all different styles,” said Chalimonczyk. “I love coming here and having that encouragement from other artists.”

Interested in the gallery’s extraordinary jewelry? Check out the work of Barnesville, MN’s Crystal Thorson, a retired K-12 art teacher and Moorhead State alum. Her artisan jewelry and wearable art integrate both found and repurposed materials, reimagining the role of vintage beads and charms, clock faces, porcelain, Sculpey, feathers, leather, trinkets, and resin. Crystal’s more recent line of jewelry is bold, beautiful, and heavy metal, including pewter casting, copper enameling, and a variety of other metals.

Gracing the gallery, you’ll also find the work of Anna Frissell, a Fargo native and UND School of Law alum. She’s one of the gallery’s newest Premier members, contributing a stunning photography collection that captures the wild side of the Midwest, from Western North Dakota’s feral horses and bison to native birds and prairie botanicals.

Shopping for the holidays? For smaller items, the gallery’s Made in Fargo gift shop, jewelry displays, and backroom galleries are an excellent choice for original, handmade, and affordable pieces. For larger gifts of art, the gallery recommends gift cards, offering a more personalized experience that allows the recipient to browse, meet the artists, and choose what speaks to them.

JOIN GALLERY 4

If you’re interested in becoming a member or just joining the fun, head to the Gallery 4 website and start your online application. Here, artists can choose from participation in a monthly pop-up gallery, artist-in-residence, or three levels of membership. All new members are admitted through a juried process led by Gallery 4’s appointed leadership, considering both quality of work and media, ensuring a diverse collection of talent.

Premier memberships are $100 per month and include dedicated exhibit space in the main gallery, space on the gallery’s website, and social media posts to share your talent with a larger audience. Supporting artist memberships have two tiers, ranging from $120 per year to $240 per year, including space in the co-op’s Matilda Roberts Gallery, which is a dedicated gallery for new, emerging, and professional artists. Here, supporting artists can display 10 to 15 small artworks and sell them via the gallery’s consignment program. This membership additionally offers support from seasoned art professionals and no-fee invitations to special exhibits.

Although the co-op is continually evolving, members have always had both individual and shared spaces throughout the gallery, with opportunities to do group and personal shows. Sometimes the show goes on the road, setting up art exhibits in local health centers like Sanford and Essentia. Additionally, once a year, the gallery travels even further to do an art swap with another co-op in Bismarck.

Opening the doors to encourage new perspectives are Gallery 4’s pop-up shops and artist-in-residence program, offering emerging talent a chance to create and exhibit without the full membership commitment. For $150 rental fee, guest artists can reserve a 28-day pop-up gallery. Artist-in-residence programs typically run one or three months.

“Come in and check out Gallery 4. We’d love to get new people in the door,” added Krull. “We’ve had people from all over the world stop in, and they’re always surprised — they just don’t expect that caliber of art to be made in the Midwest. Also, over the last few years, we’ve been really trying to reach people who have lived in the area their whole lives but have never heard of Gallery 4.”

“Whenever anyone mentions Gallery 4, I am so proud to say I’m one of the original founders, and proud that it has kept going like it has — with all the hard work, wonderful artists, and solidness of the organization,” said Anderson. “This is an organization that won’t fall apart.”\

“Just come in and see the eye candy,” added Anderson. She assured us this gallery won’t push anyone to buy; guests are always welcome to wander, enjoy the view, and find inspiration that speaks to the soul. As Gallery 4 members say, “Admission is free,” because art is for everyone.