Here is the complete text of ArtOrg’s submission to the Northfield News Progress Edition on July 25, 2009.

ArtOrg would like to thank the Northfield News for the opportunity to talk about progress, and as in previous years, we will follow a simple formula. We like to talk about action and results.

First, ArtOrg completed its project called the 2008 Thousand Print Summer by travelling to ten regional venues and using a small steamroller to print for kids. Our final total was 1180 prints. When ArtOrg opened its doors five years ago, one of our goals was to have an active educational program that reaches 1000 people. Most of the venues from last year are enthusiastically hosting the event again this year, so our initial goal of 1000 students has been met and is sustainable for the future.

Second, we are working to reprint each of these 1180 prints into a huge collaborative print. Each of the kids left our events with a wonderful paper print that they were very proud of (we have over 1000 photos of the kids holding their prints online!). We retained the printing block the kids made, and will print them again in our studio on canvas. Our collaborative print from ten venues, from over 1000 artists, may measure about 80 feet wide by 50 feet tall. Look for this later this year.

Third, we are partnering with the Plains Art Museum in Fargo, North Dakota for a large Day of the Dead celebration. We are bringing our small steamroller printing event to at least one elementary school there, and will work with groups to facilitate the traditions of that important holiday to that Latino community. A significant segment of this project is the printing and accessioning to the Museum of a set of large Day-of-the-Dead-themed prints. Artists participating are Alexa Horochowski, Cristina Maria Tavera, Douglas Padilla, Gustavo Lira, Luis Fitch, Xavier Tavera, and local Northfield artists Steven Nunez and Pepe Kryzda.

Next, we were able to attract negotiations with one of the most important traditional fine-art printmaking shops in history. Our local art economy and reputation would have benefited greatly from the relocation of this business to our city. We genuinely feel humbled and consider ourselves lucky to have been considered. Our exhibit from this business saw works from Red Grooms, Adja Yunkers, Sam Gilliam, Robert Moskowitz, Malcolm Morley, and the Carleton alumni Donna Dennis hanging in our gallery.

Next, our collaborative print project called the “Twenty Views of Dundas” was completed and is building critical acclaim. Several of the twenty-one individual artists in the set have been noted recently: Fred Somers received the Grand Prize from an international pastel association, Carolyn Swiszcz received the coveted McKnight Artist Fellowship, principal printer Nuno Nunez is going to the masters program at Tulane, and Scott West’s career with the band Cloud Cult is growing with performances such as the Coachella music festival. The project is now at the restaurant Fermentations in Dundas, and boxed sets of prints are available at an absurdly low price.

In conclusion, we look to a very active year ahead—and expect a few artistic surprises from ArtOrg!