Your Favorite Local Billboard

Esteemed and Artsy Neighbors,

Please see the two attached low-res photos of your favorite local billboard. (High-res available upon request.)



You will see that the two photos have very different for-art-grounds. Some elements of the scene include:

1) the sign face
2) the vertical boards below the sign
3) the grass between the sign and the sidewalk
4) the sidewalk
5) the Brewery and its fence
6) the advertising bench
7) the non-advertising bench
8) the Employment Guide box
9) the waste unit
10) the bus stop shelter
11) the bottle

So... what was the question?

AMH

Oct. 27, 2007: Mila Vocal Ensemble CD Release Party at Hamm Building

Mila Vocal Ensemble CD Release Party on Saturday, October 27, at SPCO Center in the Hamm Building in downtown St. Paul!
To celebrate the release of Leb is Sol (With Bread and Salt), a collection of songs celebrating the feast of life. The title derives from the Eastern European tradition of offering bread and salt to guests at your home. Implicit in the presentation is a blessing: may you never go hungry, may your life never be bland!

Doors open at 7:30 and there will be a short concert starting at 8. Come early and have a glass of wine; stay late for more wine, noshing and village style dancing with amazing Bulgarian band, the Niks.

Call 651-295-3277 to get advance tickets at a discounted rate of $20 ($25 at the door).


(Thanks for the tip, Andrew!)

Oct. 27, 2007: Mike Norman Pottery 28th Annual Fall Sale

Mike Norman Pottery 28th Annual Fall Sale
Saturday (One Day Only), October 27, 2007
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

501 Drake St. between Juno and Randolph
651-292-0467

Mike Norman-Clay
Jan Davies-Painting, Jewelry
Willem Gebben-Clay
Hjordis Olson-Painting
Cave Paper-Bridgette O'Malley, Amanda Degener
Betsy Bowen-Prints
Shane Upthegrove-Clay
Virginia McBride-Drawing
Monica Rudquist-Clay
St. Paul Honey-Kevin Williams

November 7, 2007 Meeting Announcement

When: First Wednesday of November, November 7, at 7 p.m.
Where: Sokol Hall (above Glockenspiel Restaurant), 383 Michigan St. at West 7th, 2nd floor.

Agenda from Joe:
We’ll discuss grants, projects, and future means of communications. I am still waiting on whether we will have more information from Dominium Development and Acquisition on the proposed artists’ lofts development at the brewery. If not this meeting, then next!

The West End Garden Tour has been tentatively set for Saturday, June 21 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. One idea presented was that we announce each location with more “artistic” signage which could be a function of this group. A tie-in to the business community was also discussed, as we did in our first arts meeting. I have noticed that there are several commercial buildings for sale along West 7th, and perhaps this could be another strategy towards revitalization?

The Community Reporter is seeking an editor. While the focus has been on “news” in the neighborhood, we might consider if there is a role for the “arts” in its publication?

All are welcome: Bring a friend!

I hope to see you then. joe

October 3, 2007 Meeting Minutes

West End Arts

First meeting, first wednesday; nineteenth hour, tenth month, third day, 2007 CE. CSPS Hall

Present: Elizabeth Ellis, Lia Rivamonte, Tonya Nicholie, John Davidson, Halle O'Falvey, Nance Derby, Andrew Hine, Rachel Gorski, Christine Francis, Edie Meissner, Marcus Young, Jason Gorski, Joe Spencer, Erik Hare, Kent Aldrich, Virginia McBride, Rachel Robinson, Steve Shimer, Darcy Rivers, Charles Marabella, Chloe Derby, Sheila Dickinson, Paulette Myers Rich, Joe Landsberger (minutes)

Absent, indicating interest: Dan Bruggeman, Mike Norman, Kent Patterson, Mary Wingerd, Jeff Martinka, Doreen McKenney, Dave Wickiser

The following is a non-sequential minuted discussion. Please enhance! Add! Correct! Contribute!

Joe chaired and began the meeting with introductions, reviewing that this initiative began with a resolution of support at the West 7th/Fort Road Federation annual convention in March 2007. Support includes staff time and resources as approved by its Board of Directors with the group operating under its aegis as a task force similar to that of the North High bridge Task Force. The Board of Directors of Sokol Minnesota also supports the initiative, hosting the first meeting.

Joe referenced a book by Richard Florida and his wiki is recommended. "Prof. Florida's theory asserts that metropolitan regions with high concentrations of high-tech workers, artists, musicians, gay men, and a group he describes as "high bohemians", correlate with a higher level of economic development. Florida posits the theory that the creative class fosters an open, dynamic, personal and professional environment. This environment, in turn, attracts more creative people, as well as businesses and capital. He suggests that attracting and retaining high-quality talent, versus a singular focus on infrastructure projects such as sports stadiums, iconic buildings, and shopping centers, would be a better primary use of a city's regeneration resources for long-term prosperity." The theory is not without its criticism also referenced in the wiki.

Agenda generally addressed several issues:

What role can the arts play in our community (development)?

What do West End artists need?

What educational values do the arts bring?

Cullen Park

Neighbors have already met to address issues of its development, and it presents one opportunity for "public art." Development could follow that of the North High Bridge Park model of fundraising and community organizing. Cullen Park is located Tuscarora and Bay along the railroad tracks, a block or off Fort Road. Contact: Andrew Hine

Brew-town sign at Jefferson and Fort Road

Brainstorming on possibilities for its retention and transformation

The nature of public art was brought up with a broader interpretation

to include not only static installations of sculpture, but also more dynamic interpretations to include relational/performance/multi-modal and -media pieces.

Survey of West End art, galleries, locations, etc. posted on the website

A potential project of the group. Jason Gorski has agreed to help maintain the website

Enthusiasm expressed for juried/curated installations of West End art in storefronts and businesses, and building mutually beneficial collaborations with institutions along the avenue

Directory of West End artists posted on the website.

Aside from text, these could also be posted images such as "business cards" or cartes de visite

Message board, listserv, wiki, group mail for discussions within the group

Toward this goal, a group email list has been established for sending messages to the above listed, present and absent, with two exceptions (no email address listed).

Caution is requested in sharing this email address in the interest of avoiding spam. If forwarding content, please delete the email address and mention that individuals can request being added through Joe as list administrator. [Post a comment to this blog entry if you're interested.]

Discussion on stakeholders of West End arts

Schools, businesses, non-profits, children, young and not-so-young artists of all persuasions.

Fall Art Sale: 501 Drake

Mike Norman, Jan Davies, Willem Gebben, Bridgette O'Malley & Amanda Degener, Betsy Bowen, Shane Upthegrove, Virginia McBride, Kevin Williams.

Next meeting:

First Wednesday, November 7. Location to be announced.

Andrew's Ideas

Opportunities (preceded by footnotation for more information)

1) Cullen Park
2) Schmidt Happens
3) SuperAmerica
4) Jefferson Parkway
5) dance
6) poetry
7) flash gallery
8) smokestack
9) neon
10) metals
11) jewelry

AMH

1) Cullen Park
The canvas that is Cullen Park needs to be stretched. Shovels and barrows and biceps are what's needed to expose the curbstone, the central and defining element of the site. Once The Cullen Streetscape is resurrected, the locations of new features will become more evident. (Was that at all artsy-sounding?!)

2) Schmidt
We already have our foot in the door - or should I say sandal in the gate? - at the Schmidt Brewery, so I think it would be cool to somehow get the W 7th/Oneida gate opened and have a Save The Brewery Fundraiser behind The Bottle. Perhaps in conjunction with the new "Welcome to the West End" billboard. Even if we only raise $17, we'd be several steps closer in gaining a permanent physical presence there.

3) SuperAmerica
We're pretty tired of looking at the blank back wall of SA that seems to attracts drug-dealers. I recall using the "grid" method of enlarging cartoons, and wonder how easy it would be to use that elementary school technique using rectangles ("concrete blocks"). I also wonder if a particular style would be less likely to get tagged. (Cool grafitti? Would that backfire?) Tangent: We might want to prepare the community for the potential loss of the mural on the Keg House.

4) Jefferson Parkway
Erik With A K has a great vision for Jefferson Parkway, from Lex to the Brewery. Imagine a median of sculpture... and less bituminous...

5) dancing
One of the most fun I've had at the CSPS Hall was the Irish Dancing night (St. Pat's?). I'd like to see other types of trippy dancing on the stage.

6) poetry, man
Our neighbor Dudley Vogt is involved with young adults and poetry slamming. The Black Box at Central HS seems to be a hotbed of energetic poets. Maybe we have some in our midst, too. A show on the CSPS stage might be fun for local youngsters, and even oldsters.

7) flash gallery
Carol Carey and others at Historic Saint Paul have been discussing "Flash Stores" or something like that. The concept is to set up a temporary shop for a week or so, and just see what happens. Maybe we could put a gallery-ish twist on that.

8) Smokestack
I've always said we should ask Christo to put a pink condom on the Xcel smokestack for an AIDS reawareness event. Do you have his number, Paulette? I am FOR saving the chimney, but fear I am in the minority. I'd like to take a poll at the next meeting.

9) Neon
It would be fun to attract a neon signmaker to the neighborhood. Have you seen the Danny Boy's "Cheeseburger" sign in Shamrock's? I hate bad signs, and was even born under one, but I love good ones.

10) Metals
John Yust wants to learn how to shoe a horse. Surprise, surprise. A Metals Fair would be cool. "Free Horseshoeing For All Saint Paul Residents!" "Get the dents out of your pewter tankards here!" "Platinum Nose Rings R Us"

11) Jewelry
I'm not really into jewelry.

Minnesota Women Artists at MMAA in Downtown St. Paul

The current exhibition at the Minnesota Museum of American Art, In Her Own Right: Minnesota's First Generation of Women Artists, is closing soon. If you haven't seen it yet, time is running out!

There's a free closing reception on Friday, October 26, at 8pm, with performances by singer/songwriter JoAnna James, contemporary dance ensemble SHE Collective, storyteller Amy Salloway, and spoken word artist and musician Madame Mimi.

Talk about fancy landscaping!

I'll be visiting Cornerstone Festival of Gardens in early November. How cool would these designs look in Cullen Park?! We can leave room for a sundial.

Welcome to West End Arts!

West End Arts is an initiative dedicated to fostering and promoting the arts in St. Paul's West End neighborhoods.
You can find out more about West End Arts at the Fort Road Federation Web site.