Coming Soon

Traditions: Three Generations of Sweere Family Art
September 7-27
Opening reception: sunday, september 14, 1-5pm

The Owatonna Arts Center is proud to present an exhibition featuring the artwork of The Sweere Family.

In the early 1960’s, Joseph and Mary Sweere were married and moved to Owatonna, Minnesota, where they raised a family of six children.

They maintained a busy and creative home where all six children - Michael, Melissa, Steven, Craig, Jonathan and Ryan - were encouraged to explore and pursue the arts. Drawing and painting, as well as literature, music and theatre were a big part of growing up in the Sweere household.

For over sixty years and spanning three generations, the Sweere family continues to create.

The Owatonna Arts Center will be displaying an inspiring and diverse selection of their original works, including several pieces from the family’s private collection.

“A Song of Shadow and Light”
Scott Markell
October 5 – November 16.
Opening reception - November 12, from 1-4PM

About the artist:
Scott Markell has a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He has a master’s degree in Art from the University of Wisconsin – Superior. He also has a Master of Arts in Teaching (Art Education) from Minnesota State – Mankato. Scott has created art in a number of medias including painting (watercolor, acrylic, oil, airbrush), printmaking (intaglio, linoleum block, silkscreen), calligraphy, wheel-thrown pottery, hand-built ceramics, and sculpture.

Scott grew up in a family of artists in Owatonna, Minnesota. His mother, Mary, was an artist and also enjoyed a number of crafts. Scott’s brother, Nick, is a professional Liturgical Artist in Stillwater. Scott enjoyed art at an early age. In the first grade he entered a drawing in a Fire Prevention Poster contest and won 1st place in the State of Minnesota.

Scott taught dozens of Art classes at the Owatonna Arts Center. He taught children’s classes as well as adult courses in drawing, painting, and calligraphy.

Scott is married to Debra Markell and together they have six children: Jon, Tim, Emily, Cati, Alex, and Liz, as well as five grandchildren: Mason, Elijah, Cyrus, Nygel, and Peter.

In 2024, Scott retired from the South Central Human Relations Center (now renamed as Spero) after 40 years. Scott spent his entire career providing services to people living with serious and persistent mental illness. For the last 18 years, Scott was the Team Leader for the Assertive Community Treatment Team. Scott now works part-time providing ARMHS (Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services) to adults with serious mental illness through Nystrom and Associates in Mankato.

Scott started painting again about five years ago. Now that he is somewhat retired, he hopes to make Art a bigger part of his life again.

Gallery hours are 1-5 pm, Tuesday through Sunday.