Archive of June, 2005

From the inception of ArtOrg, providing facilities to artists has been an important goal. Specialized art studios with dedicated equipment allow artists to create specialized works and also hold specialized classes. We call this idea “Equipment-Intensive-Studios” or EIS.

We want to create studios where artists pay a monthly fee to use the studios, create works for the studio to support ongoing costs, give their own specialized classes and seminars for both beginning and established artists, and also allow public schools to have access to equipment and usetechniques that are not supported in today’s shrinking education budgets. Graduate artists from our two colleges could stay here in Northfield and continue their work on equipment very similar to the colleges’ resources. Printmaking, Ceramics, Glass Blowing, Jewelry, Photography, Metalsmithing, and a host of other disciplines cannot be done without dedicated spaces and great equipment. Here are some examples of of what these studios look like.

The EIS idea was first put down in writing when ArtOrg presented its business plan to ArtSpace and The McKnight Foundation on June 7 of 2004. The plan was warmly received by both entities, but alas, ArtSpace defered to Carleton’s acquisition of the old Northfield Middle School. The old Middle School would have been the ideal location in which to locate many community arts groups.

However, the EIS concept is still strong, and ArtOrg and others are actively working with Mendota Homes to show that EIS can be an economically viable model. To house EIS and artist housing together would have strong synergy. In fact, John Mathern of Mendota Homes may be able to build an arts building off with artist housing and a strong group of Equipment-Intensive Studios. We are very excited and supportive of Northfield’s effort to help Mendota Homes realize that goal.

ArtOrg has taken this lead in EIS development, and wants to demonstrate feasibility and viability of the concept to the community by “just doing it”. Our Printmaking Department has organized several tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, and completed a very successful “The First Edition” print project. We have the equipment, we have the artists and printmakers, and the only thing we need now is a facility. We are working on finding a home for the printmakers now, and this home that would be temporary, but allow us to prove the financial and human concepts of the EIS model.

Thanks to all involved in making these Equipment Intensive Studios a reality.

In the life cycle of any organization, things must change to fit the opportunities that are out there. ArtOrg has changed its small Board of Directors to a larger, more diverse group of excited individuals. ArtOrg’s new Board of Directors has the following members:

Anne Marie Boyle, owner of The Art Store
Anne Vogelwede, Carleton Associate Director of the Alumni Annual Fund
Catherine McBride, Investment Centers of America, a founder of Northfield’s WINGS
Cora Scholz, founder and former artistic director of the Northfield Youth Choirs
Elizabeth See, graduate of Chicago Institute of Art, former manager of art foundry in England
James Schlichting, Northfield attorney
Kory Kohrs, CPA, former CFO of Northfield Equipment
Rick Swearer, Artist (Printmaking, Glassblowing, Ceramics)
Mark Fries, VP Best Buy, board Illusion Theater Minneapolis (joins Board in October)

This group has diverse skills and will help ArtOrg continue to succeed. Dave Machacek has also been named Executive Director of ArtOrg. Dave was one of the founders of ArtOrg about one year ago in the spring of 2004.

ArtOrg is holding six weeks of special kids arts programming starting July 16. There are two three-week sessions which run from 8:30 to 12 noon Monday through Thursday. The first session starts Monday, July 11 and runs to Thursday, July 28. The second session starts on Monday, August 1, and runs to Thursday, August 18. The costs is $130 per session plus a $15 material fee. A number of scholarships are available. Participants of either session will be invited to a special class with Harry Potter Illustrator Mary Grandpre to be held at the end of July. One instructor and two assistants are scheduled to run the classes.

This kids program is supported through grants from the Grace Whittier Fund and the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC). Sign up today for this special opportunity! Registrations are being taken by ArtOrg business partner The Art Store in downtown Northfield.

Harry Potter Illustrator Mary Grandpre gallery show opens at 7 pm the evening of July 15. At midnight, the newest book in the Harry Potter series will be released! Look for our upcoming notice of the hours of the show. An entire evening of kids activities are planned: from Mary’s art at ArtOrg, to a Potter trivia contest at the Contented Cow, to activities at The Art Store, and finally finishing at River City Books with the actual release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!

Many of Mary’s original pastels from various children’s book will be for sale during the show.

Mary Grandpre is also teaching a pastel class for kids as a part of the ASAP kids program which atarts July 11.

Special thanks to current sponsors First National Bank of Northfield and Investment Centers of America.

Just a reminder: our open studio for life drawing has been held nearly every Tuesday night since October! Please join us Tuesday nights from 7 to 9 pm.