James Wegner taught art at the Austin Community College for 28 years and for 10 years in the Jr. and Se. High Schools in Austin, MN.

Wegner has a Master’s Degree from the University of Minnesota with an emphasis in Painting and Art History. He has done additional graduate work at the University of Colorado, Mankato, and St. Cloud State Universities. He has studied with noted artists Max Weber, Millard Sheets, Dong Kingman, Carl Morris, Richard Diebenkorn, Ralston Crawford and Cheng Kee Chee.

Awards have been received for his work in oil, acrylic, watercolor, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture and fiber.

Wegner’s work is in a number of private collections on the East and West Coasts, in the Midwest, Canada and Europe. He has exhibited at Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Art Institute, Tweed Gallery in Duluth, Mason City McNider Museum and Rochester Art Center as well as in Austin Area Art Center, Albert Lea Art Center and Naeve Hospital.

"Simple forms derived from nature become my primary concern. I like to work directly with my material, allowing the forms to emerge as natural and uncomplicated as possible. The things an artist makes become the best testament to what he feels and believes."

The gallery opening is open to the public and attendance is free of charge.

This gallery show will run through October 1.