North Mankato — Ever wondered how a print is made? Wanted to try leather stamping? Curious about watercolor painting, music, sculpture or collaborative public art?

Twin Rivers Council for the Arts invites the community to discover the answers during Learn Art, the third event in the CityArt in the Alley summer series, taking place Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the alley behind NaKato Bar & Grill.

Presented by Gene Biewen and Noel Van Tol, Learn Art offers visitors the opportunity to meet local artists, discover new creative techniques and experience the artistic process firsthand through interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities designed for all ages.

Created in response to the Belgrade Avenue reconstruction project, CityArt in the Alley has transformed an unexpected alleyway into a vibrant community gathering space filled with public art, creativity and connection throughout the summer.

“One of the best ways to appreciate art is to experience how it’s made,” said Kaaren Grabianowski, Twin Rivers Executive Director. “Learn Art gives people the opportunity to meet working artists, ask questions, try new techniques and discover that creativity is something everyone can enjoy.”

Visitors can participate in a variety of free artist-led activities throughout the morning, including:

• Jam Session with Liz Draper Bring your favorite instrument and join accomplished musician Liz Draper for an informal community jam session. Musicians of all experience levels are invited to play together and celebrate the joy of making music as a community.
• Antique Printing Press Demonstrations and Make + Take Craig Kotasek of Tin Can Valley Printing Co. will demonstrate an authentic antique letterpress printing press while sharing how books, posters and artwork were produced before the digital era. Visitors will also create their own letterpress print to take home.
• Live Painting by Noel Van Tol Watch watercolor artist Noel Van Tol create a painting while demonstrating her creative process, then try watercolor painting yourself with Noel’s guidance at her interactive art station. Noel and her husband, Gene Biewen, are the presenting sponsors of the CityArt in the Alley series, helping make these free community art experiences possible.
• Leather Art by Pegeen Rozeske Learn the traditional art of leather stamping while creating a handcrafted leather keepsake you can take home.
• Mural Along with Addison Maxfield Join local youth artist Addison Maxfield in painting a collaborative mini mural. Participants of all ages are invited to pick up a brush and become part of a shared work of art.
• Build, Bend and Sculpt Station led by Justin Ek Experiment with shape, balance and form by creating your own miniature sculpture using everyday materials like aluminum foil, craft sticks, clay and more.
• Record Cover Mosaic Mural with Jean Mannion Help artist Jean Mannion transform recycled record album covers into a collaborative mosaic mural. Once completed, the artwork will be auctioned during Art in the Garden on August 2 to benefit Twin Rivers and its community programming.

Admission is free, and all ages are welcome.

Learn Art is the third of four CityArt in the Alley events presented throughout the summer. The series was created to support Lower North Mankato businesses during construction while continuing CityArt’s mission of bringing accessible public art experiences to the community.

More information and the full summer schedule can be found at https://cityartmankato.com/cityart-in-the-alley-2026/.

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About Twin Rivers Council for the Arts

Twin Rivers is a regional nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting artists, enriching communities, and expanding access to the arts through exhibitions, public art initiatives, education, and creative partnerships across southern Minnesota. www.twinriversarts.org

About CityArt Mankato

Established in 2011, CityArt works to enhance the quantity, quality and prominence of public art in the Mankato and North Mankato. CityArt is a program of Twin Rivers Council for the Arts and is dedicated to bringing public art to the community, contributing greatly to the vibrancy of our communities. CityArt initiatives include the CityArt Walking Sculpture Tour, CityArt On the Go, the City Center Public Art Tour and the Silo Art. www.cityartmankato.com