Group still hasn’t secured building, but is confident

AUSTIN — It wasn’t quite the announcement they were hoping to make, but it was a good announcement nonetheless.

The Austin Area Commission for the Arts has partnered with the Austin Area Art Center, a move to strengthen the art scene in Austin and bolster efforts to bring more art to Austin’s historic downtown bank building on Main Street and create what will be the ArtWorks Center and a home for the annual ArtWorks Festival.

“You can just see an art center happen here,” said Jennie Knoebel, executive director of the commission.

Knoebel made the announcement Friday night during a fundraiser and wine-tasting event in the building. She had hoped to mention the commission had purchased the downtown building for its headquarters, but those efforts are still in the works. Still, Knoebel is confident that will happen.

“We also had hoped to announce we secured the building,” she said in front of dozens of art and wine connoisseurs.

The Commission for the Arts received a donation of more than 150 original prints from the Cedar Gallery in Owatonna, which closed in November. According to Knoebel, Cindy Rossow, who closed that building, came through big-time.

“She donated over $61,000 of art,” Knoebel said.

The items were on sale Friday night and Saturday on both floors of the building, including paintings of old farmhouses, hunting dogs, horses, snowy historic scenes and much more. Proceeds will help the commission secure the bank building, where the Austin Area Art Center looks to move its items, as well.

Owners Lora Lee Bauer and Bonnie Lee decided to join the commission when they saw the opportunity to strengthen their own efforts.

“We are just hoping for bigger, better, more visibility, more exposure, more everything,” Lee said.

Knoebel was pleased with the number of guests and the atmosphere.

“The night has been great,” Knoebel said. “We’ve had a really great turnout.”

Among proceeds from the paintings, the new partnership hopes to secure funding from The Hormel Foundation and hopes to move into the building by late summer in time for the ArtWorks Festival on Aug. 23 and 24.