The Jaques Art Center in Aitkin, Minnesota, is marking its 30th anniversary with a special exhibition featuring 30 artists and the debut of a newly acquired painting by renowned wildlife artist Francis Lee Jaques. The milestone celebration includes the opening of the "30 in 30" exhibition on September 12 and a Harvest Dinner scheduled for September 28.

Pamela Andell, executive director of the Jaques Art Center, stands in admiration before one of her favorite works – "Wolves in Winter Moonlight," painted by Francis Lee Jaques likely in the 1940s. "There's something so incredibly mesmerizing about them, about the stillness and the shadows coming in, going into maybe night, or maybe there was a full moon," Andell describes while gazing at the painting of two moonlit wolves ascending a snowy hill.

The art center has been housed in the former Carnegie Library since 1995, when it was purchased for one dollar by local citizens who wanted to create "a home for the preservation and exhibition of the work of Aitkin County artist, Francis Lee Jaques," according to a plaque at the entrance. "We were lucky enough to have some art-minded people that decided they were going to get together and have something art dedicated to Francis Lee Jaques," Andell explains. "Now for 30 years, we've been able to not only show off a wonderful exhibit that is stationary of Francis Lee Jaques, but invite artists from the community, from the county, from the region and also from other states, to exhibit here."

The anniversary exhibition showcases works by 30 artists from around the region and country who have displayed their art at the center over the past three decades. Featured artists include Minnesota painters Mary Pettis, whose work "Quiet Visitor" is currently on display, and Don Walvatne. The exhibition represents the diverse range of talent that has graced the center's walls since its founding.

A highlight of the anniversary celebration will be the debut of "Sea Birds," a newly acquired painting by Francis Lee Jaques that was gifted by a collector from Virginia. "It looks like it was just painted," Andell says of the pristine artwork. "It's just fresh and beautiful and captures that scene so well." This acquisition adds to the center's impressive collection of Jaques' work, including several duoramas on loan from the Bell Museum.

Francis Lee Jaques (pronounced "jay-kweez," rhyming with "sneeze") was a nationally acclaimed wildlife artist who died in 1969. His remarkable journey began when he was 16 years old and walked with his family from Kansas to Aitkin, where they established a farm. Shortly after arriving, young Jaques purchased and operated a taxidermy shop, which proved pivotal for his later career as a wildlife artist. "He was a master of knowing all animals and their structure and their bones and everything about animals," Andell notes.

Despite being self-taught, Jaques became renowned for his work at prestigious institutions. He painted dozens of dioramas and habitat backdrops for the Bell Museum of Natural History in Minneapolis and the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Beyond his museum work, Jaques created easel paintings like "Wolves in Winter Moonlight" and "The Cloud," the latter being part of the Bell Museum's collection, with a large print displayed at the Jaques Art Center.

The artist's talents extended to book illustration as well. He illustrated countless volumes, including many written by his wife, author Florence Page Jaques. Their collaborative works included "Canoe Country" and "Snow Shoe Country," both inspired by their experiences in the Boundary Waters region. These books captured the natural beauty and wilderness spirit that characterized much of Jaques' artistic vision.

Visitors to the center can view an extensive collection of Jaques' paintings and prints, including unique duoramas borrowed from the Bell Museum. These special displays feature two parallel planes – a partially painted glass pane positioned about a foot in front of a fully painted backdrop, creating a three-dimensional effect that brings wildlife scenes to life. The center also displays historical artifacts, including a taxidermy of an unborn bear cub that Jaques preserved after its mother was killed by a train in Aitkin between 1906 and 1915.

While the center's official birthday falls on December 8, the September celebrations will launch "a whole full year of promoting Francis Lee Jaques and art in our community," according to Andell. The anniversary events represent not only a celebration of the center's three decades of operation but also a tribute to the vision of those early supporters who recognized the importance of preserving and sharing Jaques' artistic legacy.

The Jaques Art Center will host a free artist reception from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 13, providing visitors with an opportunity to view the anniversary exhibition and learn more about the center's mission to promote both historical and contemporary art in the region.