January 2, 2008 Meeting Minutes

From Joe.

Minutes of the fourth meeting, first wednesday; nineteenth hour, first month, fifth day, 2008 CE. CSPS Hall Theatre (Note change of day, time, location for next meeting.)

first agenda item
was a discussion of a project we could be working on. Discussion quickly evolved to a proposed gallery show this summer and what it would look like. Issues included location, whether or not we would jury entries, wording of the call, whether or not to charge, how the selection committee would be formed. A summary paragraph/framework is being developed by Sheila Dickinson, Mary Esch, and Paulette Myers Rich.

second agenda item
Rachel Robinson is transposing the visual arts asset survey of the West End into a graphic.

third agenda item
was a discussion of where and when to hold the next meeting. It was decided to hold it on (this) Monday, February 4 at 7 p.m. at Paulette and David Myers-Rich’ studio, 436 Smith, 1.5 blocks from the High Bridge.

Announcements/new business:
The West End Neighbors Garden Tour will be held Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. There are about 20 entries to date. Pertinent agenda items queried whether our arts group would contribute creativity to a distinctive sign (format undetermined) to mark the residences on the day of the tour, whether there would be an art sale at the same time to coincide with the plant sale at the Federation parking lot on W 7th street, whether artists would like to showcase a piece in selected gardens, whether music to accompany garden visitors would be appropriate, Kent Petterson (Terrace Books on 503 St. Clair) of is the contact/organizer: terrace@winternet.com

Call for Artists: COMPAS writers and artists in the schools program (WAITS)
work in schools with students in Minnesota. 651 292 3249 This is COMPAS longest running program.

Vaclav Havel’s Memorandum produced by Lex-Ham Community Theater has been extended to two weekends at the CSPS Hall 383 Michigan: Feb 29, March 1-2; March 7-9. Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. and Sundays 2 p.m. It is a great comedy! Full of governmental bureaucratic nonsense similar to what we are experiencing today. (Ooops—shouldn’t editorialize)

February 4, 2008 Meeting Announcement

When: Monday, February 4 at 7 p.m.
Where: Paulette and David Myers-Rich’s studio, 436 Smith, 1.5 blocks from the High Bridge.

Temporarily Sustainable Holes?

Passed by a brand new "hole" in the neighborhood. What do we have to do to make good use of these new vacant lots? I assume they are owned by the city and are for sale. In the meantime what if we put some good soil and seeds down and provide the neighborhood with healthy, free greens? Prettify the ravaged block with flowers? Provide a little gardening training to kids next door and let them be responsible for maintaining the plots and then reap the benefits?

Building Blocks

Okay, I'm back. Not that I've been anywhere but here and still thinking about this potentially great little neighborhood. And how art can make it better. There's a new grant initiative at the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. It's called Creative Intersections. It's about developing real partnerships: art organizations, businesses and municipal or other government agencies to collaborate on an art-related project that will have a life beyond the project somehow. It's a challenging proposition that demands thinking a little deeper and having a broader vision about the kinds of projects that such a cross-sector collaboration can engender. I'd like to suggest that those of us interested in using the arts as building blocks to construct a richer, homier, livelier and culturally vital community begin by thinking about projects that deepen the sense of place and history of the West End area. It's not so much about applying for a grant as it is about beginning to consider what kinds of programs, events or activities we could work together on that would have a long-lasting impact; that might serve as a beginning rather than an end.

West End Arts-Like Initiative in Minneapolis

I heard this report on the KFAI Evening News and it all sounded eerily familiar! Click the link to access the audio file.

Art's Forum in 8th Ward
On Wednesday, January 16, the 8th Ward City Council Office of Minneapolis hosted an Arts Forum at the Pillsbury House Theater. KFAI's Erin Vassilopoulos reports.