Alice Blessing
"Finger Painted"
Acrylic paintings
January 24 through February 17, 2012

"The Way We Were"
Annual Art Auction Gala
Thursday, January 19, 2012

See 2012 auction pictures HERE

Alice Blessing Alice Blessing, from Bemidji, Minnesota, paints portraits using only her fingers. She strives to represent peoples' personalities through her work. And, while she has a passion for painting faces of all types, her recent work focuses on contemporary North American media’s representation of females. In her artist statement Alice explains, “The old rules of femininity state that a woman should be soft-spoken, cheerful, shy, yielding, pure, and quiet. However, the characteristics of a healthy person in this society (self-sufficient, assertive, independent and ambitious) are not those traditionally considered feminine. They are traditionally considered masculine. Therefore, a female who triumphs in the old rules of femininity has succeeded in stripping herself of many healthy human qualities, and has made herself less than she could have been. I’m trying to raise a healthy person, so I need to encourage my daughter to be assertive and self-sufficient. That means she needs to express her feelings in a clear way, and to disregard other peoples’ rules of femininity. She also needs to know that it’s ok to be silly, angry, joyous or any other way she wants to be. By definition, femininity is anything and everything that females do. The New Rules of Femininity remind us that we define feminine; it does not define us.” Alice describes the females portrayed in the Northern Lights Art Gallery as “honest portrayals of women”, and feels it is her duty as a mother to combat the media images that her daughter is exposed to and uses the exhibition opportunity to do that. “Although I made this show for my daughter, I have since realized that it is also for sons.” While Alice is consistently hired for custom portraits, she also displays series of paintings in gallery shows that include animals, especially cats and dogs, and birds. As part of the gala festivities for the annual art auction, the Northern Lights Art Gallery is holding a raffle for a personal portrait by Alice Blessing. The winner of the raffle will be able to submit a photograph of up to three individuals for the painting. And because Alice paints her portraits from photographs, the winner will not need to travel for a sitting. “The raffle is a great way for patrons of the arts, including those who are unable to attend the art auction, to make a contribution that will support the gallery, the exhibits and Mayville State University.” Raffle tickets are available at Hardware Hank in Mayville, Farmers Union Oil in Portland, and from the art gallery board members. Tickets are limited so they may not be available at the gala. Alice will be demonstrating her painting technique at an open house reception in the gallery. However, as of this posting, a date for the reception with the artist has not been set.