60 Artists on 50th began in 1983 when Nedra Nicholls opened her home to a small group of artists for a show she called 16 on the River.
From the beginning, Nedra created something a little different from a traditional juried art show. The show has always been invitation only. Rather than artists submitting a specific body of work to a jury, Nedra, and later Kim and Margaret, personally seek out talented artists throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin whose work they believe will bring something special to the show.
Nedra also established an important tradition of giving artists creative freedom. At many juried shows, artists are limited to displaying only the type of work that was originally submitted and accepted by the jury. Nedra wanted artists to have room to grow, experiment and introduce new ideas. An invitation to the show is an invitation to the artist, not simply to a particular group of pieces. That philosophy continues today, allowing artists to bring new work, explore different directions and share what they are currently excited about creating.
.jpg)
In 2002, the show outgrew Nedra’s home and moved to Washburn School, where it became 50 Artists on 50th. The show later moved to Burroughs Community School. When the school cafeteria became available and provided space for additional artists, the show grew once again and became 60 Artists on 50th.