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Celebrated artist, author, and woodblock printmaker Betsy Bowen will be the recipient of the 2026 Kerlan Award.This hybrid event is free and open to all. Registration is required to attend in person or online.
PROGRAM
5:30 p.m. – Doors open
6 p.m. – Program begins
7 p.m. – Reception and book signing, with book sales provided by Red Balloon Bookshop
The Kerlan Award, given annually in recognition of singular attainments in the creation of children’s literature and in appreciation for the generous donation of unique resources to the UMN’s Kerlan Collection, celebrates Bowen’s lasting impact on the cultural fabric of Minnesota.
About Betsy Bowen
Based in Grand Marais, Minnesota, Betsy Bowen is renowned for her profound connection to the North Shore and the Boundary Waters. Through her distinctive woodblock printing—a meticulous technique of carving images into wooden blocks and hand-pressing them onto paper—Bowen has spent decades documenting the seasonal rhythms and rugged beauty of the northern Minnesota landscape. Her work, characterized by bold lines and deep textures, celebrates local flora, fauna, and traditional woodcraft.
In addition to her fine art, Bowen is a cherished figure in children’s literature. She has authored and illustrated numerous award-winning books, including Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet Year, Twelve Owls, and Big Belching Bog. Her evocative illustrations have become a vital part of regional environmental education, bridging the gap between wilderness and the page for readers of all ages.
About the Kerlan Collection
The Children’s Literature Research Collections, home of the Kerlan Collection, holds books, manuscripts, illustrations, comic books, story papers, and other materials related to the creation of historical and modern children’s literature. It remains at the forefront of children’s literature archives worldwide.
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Event venue
Elmer L. Andersen Library, 222 21st Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
Tickets
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