In the Gallery
December 7 – 31, 2022
Reception Fri, Dec 16 @ 4-6PM
Window to the World Exhibit
The Cultural Center in New York Mills’ current gallery show features photos from Finland as seen through the eyes of local travelers. “Photos from Finland” is on display December 7 – 31, 2022.
A reception celebrating the show, the Finland travelers, and the holiday season will be held on Friday, December 16, 2022, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served, there is no cost to attend, and all are welcome!
“Window to the World” is a travel experience program offered by the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center that encourages people to learn and explore the art and culture of other countries through travel and/or learning experiences right here at home.
The Cultural Center’s “Window to the World” program began as an idea to embrace a portion of our vision statement, which states that our work “celebrates the local and provides a window to the world.” That work happens all year long right here in New York Mills and the surrounding region through our wide variety of programs.
However, one day, board and staff members started to dream… What if we provided a hands-on way to view the world through a travel experience? And, in addition to the trip itself, we could provide learning opportunities for ALL (whether you actually took the trip or not) to learn about the culture we planned to travel to! Thus, our “Window to the World” program was born.
In July 2019, a group of 18 traveled to Italy. Our next destination was announced shortly after: Finland 2021! However, due to COVID travel restrictions, the trip was delayed a year. During the summer months of 2022, several workshops were held at the Cultural Center to learn more about the Finnish language, food, and culture.
Then, in September 2022, 11 travelers spent 12 days in Finland learning about the people, food, architecture and design, culture, and life in Finland. The group started their trip in Helsinki, where they visited the Temppeliaukio Church which is carved into a rocky hillside, Sibelius Memorial Park, enjoyed a gourmet cooking class, and visited Suomenlinna Sea Fortress.
The group then traveled to Turku, with a stop in the artisan town of Teijo, a visit to Finland’s smallest church, and a stop in the ironworks village of Mathidedel. In Turku, sightseeing included Turku Castle, Turku Cathedral, and time to enjoy the Market Square. Next, the group stopped in Noormarku where they enjoyed visiting Villa Mairea, an amazing example of Finnish architecture by Aino and Alto Alvar. En route to Pori, they enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Bothnian Sea National Park and a walk along Vyteri beach.
The adventurers then traveled east to the Finnish Lakeland area, stopping at the Iittala Village along the way and getting a tour of the Iittala factory and witnessing the creation of the world-famous glassware. Time at the Sahanlahti Resort on Lake Saimma allowed the group time to bike, hike, sauna, and visit the towns of Puumala and the Unesco-listed historic mill town of Verla.
The photographs taken by the Window to the World travelers give visitors a glimpse of this wonderful trip and the connection they made to Finland. Photographs show the beauty of the land, sea, lakes, and historic sites along the way. Included in the show are some treasures some of the travelers acquired along their journey through Finland.
Everyone is invited to the reception on Friday, December 16 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. to view the photos, visit with the photographers, hear stories from the trip, celebrate the holiday season, and visit with friends and neighbors while enjoying light refreshments.
The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center Gallery is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am-7pm, Fridays 10am-5pm and Saturdays 10am-3pm. Private viewings can be arranged anytime by calling Cheryl Bannes at 218-385-3339 or emailing cheryl@kulcher.org.
Visit kulcher.org or call the Cultural Center at 218-385-3339 with any questions.
