"Darwin Day" at the Minot State University is a misnomer, because it not only takes place over a couple of days, it isn't restricted to MSU.
The 62 Doors Gallery is joining in with a juried art show of two-dimensional art (paintings, photos, drawings and prints) at the MSU Beaver Dam all day Friday.
"Although items are still trickling in, we expect to have about 55 pieces," said Dan Sharbono of the gallery. "A lot of the usual area artists have entered, but we have a lot more high-schoolers entering. We targeted teachers and sent out e-mail invitations, and having cash prizes was highly motivating."
The juror is Tom Fleming, who went to college with MSU faculty member Bill Harbort in Syracuse, N.Y., and is now a high-profile illustrator who has worked with comics and in the movies.
He will be explaining his selections at the public reception during the presenting of awards at 7 p.m. at 62 Doors. All admissions will be on display at the Beaver Dam from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., where there will be live music and art demos by Fleming throughout the day. The exhibit will be packed up and moved to 62 Doors that evening. All art is based on the theme "Evolve: What does evolution mean to you?"
"Everybody tackled it a different way," Sharbono said. "One of them is the evolution of the Mountain Dew bottle. (The topic) gives everyone a chance to personalize the idea. There is one that's skeletal drawings of different animals of cartoon-style characters. A lot of them centered on how the artist himself has evolved. We didn't want just science-y art, not all dinosaurs or monkeys, just related to the word 'evolve.' And we got it."
The reception is free and open to the public.
62 Doors is located at 11B South Main Street, and regular hours are Thursday through Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. or by appointment.