Great River Arts Association presents an exhibition of new acrylic paintings by Staples' painter David Rickert called "Land & Sea: Landscapes & Waterscapes". This show will

hang in the Great River Arts Center Gallery April 6 - May 29, 2009, located at 122

SE 1st Street in downtown Little Falls.

On Saturday, April 11 at 1 p.m. Rickert will also conduct a guided gallery tour of his show. This will be an opportunity for you to meet the artist and discuss his work. He will offer insight to how he works, the process of choosing the scenes he painted and what it means to be an artist. This guided tour is free and opened to the public.

Rickert will also teach a "basic acrylic painting" class. This is an introduction to the most versatile of all mediums. Used with water, acrylic can be used transparently on paper with the look of watercolor or it can be used opaquely on canvas with the look of oils. Yet acrylic is easier to use than both watercolor and oil with proper instruction. Principles of design and composition will also be covered. The class includes demos and handson instruction. Acrylic is David Rickert's primary medium and he has been teaching it for 20 years. He is a signature member of the National Oil and acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS) and has won numerous awards in their national shows.

This class is open to students of all levels. Details and registration are available at Great River Arts Center, 320-632-0960. Hours are Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.