Historical Society to display works of Jack Burk
This year’s Lake Benton Area Historical Society Annual Meeting will feature the works of long-time Lake Benton resident and artist Jack Burk in a display entitled “50 Years from Lake Benton to France: The Artistic Works of Jack Burk.” Pictured above are more works ready to be displayed on the piano made to look exactly like Abraham Lincoln’s coffin, which was donated to the Historical Society by Burk. The event will be held Jan. 22 at the Heritage Center.
By Dan Kuss
lbnews@itctel.com
The Lake Benton Area Historical Society (LBAHS) will display the works of Jack Burk at the annual meeting to be held on Sunday, Jan 22 at 2 p.m. at theHeritageCenter.
A portion of the Heritage Center will be transformed into an art gallery with a display entitled “50 Years from Lake Benton to France: The Artistic Works of Jack Burk.”
“It’s cool to see a lot of Jack’s earlier works that we’ve never seen before,” said Executive Director Heather Ulrich-Glynn. “Many of these works were from the 1950s and 1960s and were found while they were cleaning out his attic.”
The public is invited to come out to peruse the display, attend the brief annual business meeting, enjoy coffee and bars and discuss accomplishments and activities of the LBAHS.
Members of the public are also invited to join the LBAHS for a nominal fee in one of three categories—Student (under 18), Adult and Donor.
The Lake Benton Area Historical Society has been a membership organization since its beginning in 1999 and its goal is to keep working to preserve, protect and educate about the proud history in the area.
“The purpose of the LBAHS is to collect, preserve and disseminate knowledge about the history of the Lake Benton area and to relate that history to the State ofMinnesota,” said Ulrich-Glynn. “We feel that this is an important endeavor for future generations.”
“Our small town, located in beautiful surroundings, is rich in history and memories and those things need to be talked about and shared.”
Over half of LBAHS funding comes directly from the public through fundraising, donations and memberships. Members receive reduced rates on microfilm usage for research and copying costs.
“More importantly, people will have an active role in preserving the history of Lake Benton and the satisfaction of supporting a good cause,” said Ulrich-Glynn. “It is not what the organization does for you, but what your membership does for the organization.”
Jack Burk graduated fromLakeBentonHigh Schoolin 1951 and received his Masters Degree in Art fromMankatoStateUniversity.
Burk had been an art teacher in the Mankato Public School System after beginning his teaching career in theLincolnCountyrural schools.
In 1961 Burk had the opportunity to become the art supervisor for the U.S. Army in Orleans,France and for two years he traveled throughout Europe and studied the Impressionist School of art while in France.
Upon his return he became the art supervisor for the Wayzata Elementary School system for eight years.
“Every effort will be made to arrange the many works on display in a chronological setting starting with art projects required by Mankato State University in 1956 and concluding with Jack’s final painting in January 2010,” said Carl Burk. “Other projects were developed and demonstrated while teaching students how to work with different media and elements used to create art projects at both the middle and elementary school levels.”
Many techniques will be on display including chalk, watercolor, knife painting and various brush strokes.
Burk moved back to Lake Benton in 1976 with his mother Alvina and began his long career in establishing Burk Antiques, Christmas in the Valley, John C. Fremont Emporium, which later became the High Valley Art Gallery, and managing the Midwest Antique Guild.
“As an Impressionist painter, Jack’s style changed over the many years, but the recurring theme for his painting wasLakeBenton,” said Burk. “His painting of summer in his neighbor’s backyard filled with summer flowers won for him the People’s Choice Award at Brookings Art in the Park.
“Nothing would change about Jack until his passing on Feb. 24, 2010. Jack’s art will live on in the hundreds of paintings that have found homes throughout the country and the world.”
The display is in the process of being set up by Carl Burk, Heather Ulrich-Glynn and Gary Gussler using protective sleeves to protect the works.
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