Here is the complete text of ArtOrg’s submission to the Northfield News Progress Edition on July 26, 2008. Because of length limitations, the text in the paper was cut to make 800 words; this original version was over 1000 words.

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We wish to thank the Northfield News for our third opportunity to submit to the annual Progress Edition. As in previous years, we wish to get to the heart of what is important to us: our action and results. Support us if you like what we are doing.

First, ArtOrg has established several events that have turned into annual celebrations. This past year has seen the fourth year of our Japanese Animation Festival held in conjunction with the Carleton College Cinema and Media Studies Department, the second year of a Dia De Los Muertos Celebration held in conjunction with the local Latino community, and the first year of what we hope will become an annual Winter Concert Series.

The 2008 Winter Concert Series in particular organized 12 Friday nights starting in January in a unique collaboration between J. Grundy’s Rueb ‘n’ Stein and The Contented Cow. We played organized sets of music at the Upstairs of Grundy’s until 11pm, and then moved down to the Cow at 11pm for a more informal set. Over 500 people got out on some very cold nights to watch an eclectic group of musicians over the twelve-week series. I am also proud to report that over $5000 was paid out directly to the musicians for this series–ArtOrg believes as a general rule that we should pay artists for their hard work. Bands included Peter Lang, Pert Near Sandstone, Cajun Hot Soles, Dreamland Faces, The Wapsipinicon, Pianoman Tom Franek, Sizzling Eggheads, Multe, Foote-Notes, Ted King, Medusahead Cabaret, Mr. Sticky, Toaster Fork, The Rice County All-Stars, Meredith Fierke, Billy Thommes, Howard “Guitar” Luedtke, and The Todd Thompson Trio.

The “Northfield Day of the Dead Steamroller Prints” also continued to be a source of activity this year, for an entire set of the 13 prints was accessioned into the permanent collection of the Fredrick R. Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota. A reception at the Weisman was held in early January to celebrate this fine result. ArtOrg is very proud of the participating artists: Claudia Billy Baca, Kendall Bohn, Paloma Barhaugh-Bordas, Anselmo Cornejo, Betto Limón, Gustavo Lira, Steven Nuno Nuñez, Maria Cristina O’Brien, Douglas Padilla, Juan Jose Palacios, Cristina Perez, Richard Swearer, Kari Alberg, and Xavier Tavera. Artist Xavier Tavera in his remarks this evening said it best: this is something much more than an accomplishment to put on each artists’ resume, but an example of how people can come together and accomplish a goal together: “It would have been impossible to do this project alone!”

ArtOrg’s gallery exhibits have continued throughout the year. “Czech Printmaking 2008” had six printmakers from the Czech Republic exhibit to an opening crowd of 200 art-lovers. The printmaking club from the University of Minnesota called “The Bohemian Press” was also present at this show and each artist of that club also exhibited one work–that added about twenty more works for a total over 100 works exhibited. Two artists Jan Vicar and Kristyna Pojerova, traveled over 4500 miles from the Czech Republic for that show. Another exhibit highlight was a show of twenty-four working illustrators from Minnesota, and that show was kicked off at St. Olaf College as ArtOrg arranged a talk by the famous illustrator Mark English. Mark English is one of about 140 illustrators in the Society of Illustrator’s Hall of Fame.

ArtOrg is also finishing up “The Twenty Views of Dundas”. This major collaborative print project will honor the history of the small town of Dundas, Minnesota, which celebrated its 150 year anniversary in 2007. Twenty artists are each interpreting one aspect of the City’s history in a work of art, and working together with an art printer to create hand-pulled sets of prints in a very limited edition size. In this way, important aspects of Dundas will be memorialized in art, and accessible to many to contemplate and enjoy for years to come. The full set of these works will be exhibited soon. Artists contributing to this set are Carolyn Swiszcz, David Burt, Diane Schrader, Fred Hagstrom, Alexander Hage, Fred Somers, Gaylord Schanilec, Hope Cook, James Boyd Brent, John Sauer, Kari Alberg, Lilla Johnson, Mac Gimse, Marty Harris, Meg Ojala, Ray Jacobson, Scott King, Scott West, Sharol Nau and Pat Lampe, and Xavier Tavera. Principal Printmaker for the set is Nuno Nunez, to whom we would like to give a special round of thanks for his continued hard work. John Lund is a former St. Olaf student and now printmaker for Jasper Johns–and ArtOrg facilitated his return trip to Northfield to look over the Dundas project and give a lecture at St. Olaf. Thanks also to the Northfield News for serializing the twenty artists statements for the set–the statements filled five full pages of information! These Northfield News statements will be important documentation for the set and may even serve as the gallery tags when the show is premiered soon.

Other activities must only be listed be listed because of space limitations: a poetry reading by former Strib editor James Lenfesty, a short exhibit of ArtOrg projects held at Dean Kjerland’s Art on Water gallery, the painting of a 100-foot-long skyway in Rochester, Minnesota for the Rochester Downtown Alliance, the continued figure drawing class held every week, and many others. Last but not least: the continuing saga in the summer of 2008 to print for 1000 kids with a steamroller at over one-dozen local and regional art fairs and festivals. “The 1000 Print Summer” has scheduled stops at the Walker Art Center, Rochester Art Center, Owatonna Art Festival, The Anderson Center in Red Wing, and many more. A huge capstone event will occur when the project nears completion in the fall–but more on that later!

In summary, ArtOrg is all about the things we do. We measure our collaborations by the end results–and try to push those results down to the artists themselves. This can be seen in this Northfield News Progress Edition report by looking at all of the artists and people we collaborate with. Please support us if you value action and something new! Thank you!