{"id":10242,"date":"2025-04-08T14:52:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T14:52:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/?p=10242"},"modified":"2026-02-19T21:17:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T21:17:54","slug":"arts-for-vets-grand-forks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/stories\/arts-for-vets-grand-forks\/","title":{"rendered":"Art and Veterans: A Welcoming Community Combo in Grand Forks\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On a good-weather-day, skylight windows illuminate Albert: A large, metal albatross frozen in flight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though not a bald eagle, the seabird is the symbol of patriotism here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sculpture is on display in a two-story brick building in Grand Forks, North Dakota, nestled along the Red River across from Minnesota. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \"People\n\n
\n
\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Arts for Vets<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n Albert the albatross, a metal sculpture at the Arts for Vets space, by Randi Goodoien.\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n \n \n <\/figure>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

The artist: Randi Goodoien. He, like many others in the space, is a veteran. He joined the Navy out of high school, spending four years as an aircraft mechanic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along the way, he found art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI went into autobody work … and it really interested me how I was able to make the metal move and be creative,\u201d he says. \u201cThat’s when I realized I was an artist.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cue Arts for Vets, home to Albert\u2014and a cache of studio artists, neighbors, and visitors sharing the locale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was founded nearly a decade ago by artist Kimberly Forness Wilson, who comes from a family of veterans. It grew from four to over 100 people involved in one year and has had a brick-and-mortar spot for six years. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n\n
\n\n
\n
\n
\n \"Two\n
\n
\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Kimberly Forness Wilson Instagram<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n Woodworker and veteran Terry Lavallie (left) runs Diamond Willow Gallery in the Arts for Vets building.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
\n
\n \"A\n
\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n A piece by Senta Grzadzielewski, whose impressionist paintings focus on Midwest landscapes.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
\n
\n \"Person\n
\n
\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Arts for Vets<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n The gallery space at Diamond Willow Gallery, a partner with Arts for Vets, run by Terry Lavallie.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
\n
\n \"A\n
\n
\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Courtesy of the artist<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n Art from Terry Lavallie, who works with wood, from willows to cedar, adorning them with paint or feathers. He\u2019s one of many Native American military members\u2014more than any other ethnicity\u2014to serve in the forces. “I was always taught that Native Americans were warriors,\u201d he says. \u201cSo when I went into the military, I was a warrior of my tribe, but I also was a veteran for the United States government.” \n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
\n
\n \"Four\n
\n
\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Courtesy of the artist<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n Artist Terry Lavallie grew up drawing in high school and lost his art practice when he was sent to Korea in the 1970s. Arts for Vets has helped him find it again. \n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
\n
\n \"Three\n
\n
\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Randi Goodoien Instagram<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n Artist and veteran Randi Goodoien’s copper vases.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
\n
\n \"Light-skinned\n
\n
\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Randi Goodoien Instagram<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n Randi Goodoien next to his metal at an Arts for Vets exhibit at the University of North Dakota.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
\n
\n \"Two\n
\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n Arts for Vets musicians perform in the space, which is open to everyone (veterans or not, and artists or not).\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n