Aug 2 WEA Meeting/Salon Notes & Photos

First and foremost a huge THANK YOU to outgoing WEA Coordinator, Mary (the industrious, the talented, the fun and fascinating...) Esch. She will turn the reigns over to Nance Derby in September. She will still be working fast and furious on our behalf and on behalf of various other concerns. She will be taking on the role of curator for exhibits and other opportunities for West End Arts. psssst... thanks again Mary E.

Marty Hicks opened his studio and backyard last night for a pleasant gathering of artists. For several of us it was a bit of a reunion after several months of distractions that kept us apart. The weather was lovely, the company engaging, the discussion informative and even inspiring at points. Photo here shows Marty explaining some of his metal work processes.

Now for the Minutes: I didn't get the entire list of names of attendees but it goes something like this:
Nance Derby, John Davidson, Haley, Mary Esch, Marty Hicks, Jason and Rachel, Kent Peterson, Paulette Meyers-Rich, Deborah Padgett (anyone I’m forgetting?)

Meeting began with Mary Esch showing the Aug issue of Community Reporter and the profile on Rachel “Ratchet” Johnson, better known as Barista Girl. Take a look. Also, www.baristagirl.com

First order of business, Bike decorating contest update from Paulette. Paulette made a certificate of participation for those who decorate their bikes. Mary Essch and Deb Fisher will be at the community center at 4 PM. Bikes will be exhibited and awarded between 7:20 and 7:30 PM… Decorating is expected to go on throughout the day. Nance and Paulette have some items kids can use to decorate and they will drop them off at the community center.

Next: Iron Pour. We will do it again in the fall. Dave will get $ for workshops and advertising. Nance wondered if Dusty Thune could be enticed to offer advance workshops for WEA to prepare us to participate in the actual Pour day. Marty Hicks will lead the effort in regard to Iron Pour. Mary, nance and Jason will prep marty with anything that will help him pull this off. Nance said she’s 100% behind it if WEA makes molds and is/are taught a couple of weeks ahead of time through quality workshops for artists. Timing? October-ish. Jason will update IP poster… Probably Schmidt Berwery again for location. Marty will putll his group together. Larger group will review.

Dicussion then turned to and opportunity for art show at the new Mississippi Market. Mary E. made contact with Darcy there. Halley said she talked with Steve Murray about how well his photos might display there. She will follow up. Maybe a revolving art show, group show could take place (Paulette’s comment). Nance reminded us Shhalom wants a show: lobbies, hallways, seating areas. Mary Esch will make the contact and follow up.

No real update on art car parade. Read last months minutes. We had a visitor (Janet) from Intermedia arts wanting us to be aware of them and them to be aware of us. IT WAS DECIDED WE’L ENCOURAGE SOME discussion and thinking among ourselves about possible participation in Art Car and Bike Decorating in conjunction with next year’s National Night Out.
Jason raised the possibility of the 2nd Annual Pilney Art Show. Ran into Chris Boone who said he’d like to see it happen. Chris is the Pilney contact who can make it happen (as I understand it).

Nancy Derby was unanimously voted in as WEA Coordinator. She accepted the post for one year allowing for the possibility of extenuating circumstances. Deborah Padgett will stay on for at least the next three months to transition from assistant coordinator into the new year. All toasted and cheered and applauded. Then we all made a big deal out of Mary Esch… who, frankly deserved it. She did a great job and I, Deb P., loved co-coordinating with her.

Marty Hicks talked about the Amercian Craft Council’s Annual Conference to be held in Minneapolis at the Radisson October 15-17. Check it out online for more information. Sounds like an interesting agenda. Our own Paulette was quoted in regard to an article on Twin Cities artists/crafts people in American Craft Magazine.

We decided to talk about Art/Craft as lifestyle vs. livelihood at an upcoming meeting and discuss new and emerging business models for same.

Deb Padgett will look into existing drawing co-op in St. Paul and let the gang know what she finds out.

Art share was interesting with Marty showing us his work space, his process and talking about his affiliations and intentions.

The meeting closed around 9 PM (at least for me ‘cause I had to get home before dark so I wouldn’t turn into a princess… Don’t you hate it when that happens?

Respectfully submitted, Deborah Padgett

JULY 2 MINUTES

WEST END ARTS monthly meeting
Thursday July 2, 2009
7PM
Gerry Heroff's backyard 392 So.Oseola Ave.
Present: Sam, Mr and Mrs. Herroff, Debra Fisher, Shelaugh C.,Gayle Cole,David Rich
Paulette Myers-Rich, Janet, Mary Ellen,Mary Esch, Marty Hicks
1.)2009 Nat Night Out Bike Decorating Contest/Parade update
Deb Fisher is Project Leader. Jeff Martinka Director of ComCenter wants to help us with this. He will send announcement for Com Reporter. He'll arrange for prizes like school supplies or gift certificate at Dairy Queen. Deb is creating a poster for event. A certificate of participation will be created for all.
2.)Art Car Parade proposal: Paulette invited an art car artist to the meeting, Janet___?___. to talk about past ArtCar Events events and how they run smoothly. Her suggestions are as follows:
Start Small, have a day workshop with a donated car. Hire a ArtCar Artist to lead a How-to Workshop. She suggested $250 for Mina Lear Wood, Cat Corrigan, Duane(formerly of HOTB, does whirli-gig art cars) List of Supplies: one clean car to paint, 1-Shot Lead paint,big tarp,brushes,gloves, smocks,participants,workshop leader. Do a simple impromptu “drive-by-parade” that requires no permit or police people. Do this as opposed to an official parade which involves getting permits and police involved to do set up street blockades. Try to get Business Sponsorship: area businesses, bars, and schools sponsor “snoopy statue-art” perhaps they would sponsor an art-car. Usually word gets out that an Art Car Event is taking place, drawing art car people to the event creating a bigger drive-by spectacle.
Jan Elftmann Leader of the Mpls. Art Car Parade and organizer for several years running, starts in May for a July parade event. She has a lot of infrastructure is already in place.
There is a trashy looking van at Community Center which may be usable as art car? Janet said she'd talk to Jeff Martinka about that. Get neighborhood Kids involved.
Ask Carl Benson a.k.a. Mr.Positive to be ArtCar/Bike Parade Leader
Leonardo's Basement does an adults only workshop 43/Nic. Mpls. Idea for us as a group for fun activity and for our own community in future.
3.)Community Reporter WEA Coverage: Keep sending your profiles to Jerry Rothstein. He has a bunch to work with for a few issues. Does not mind them trickling in.
4.) Visions for Future Projects:
Napkin Art Show at a bar, another Show at Pilney, Day by Day? Cherokee Banks?Create a list of art exhibition locations in area and contact info and limitations, State Fair Exhibit as a group? Idea: select one work by each member an exhibit at area business. Iron Pour #2-Marty Hicks said he'd look into the options for doing this again this year.
5.)Art Share: Gerry Herroff opened his painting studio to show us several oil paintings, GardenHose Night Mare was one such title and we toured his art collection in his home. Maryellen brought her found object Memory Boxes,Gayle Cole brought two richly patterned non-representational ptgs., Deb Fisher brought photographs of her miniature hand-constructed interiors with furniture.

Minutes
WEST END ARTS monthly meeting
Monday June 1 2009
Dunn Bros. Coffee House on West 7th St.

Present: Jessie Zubiran, Sarah Prentice,Paulette Myers-Rich, David Rich, Deb Fisher, Kent Petterson, Joe Landsberger, Mary Ellen,Mary Esch, Stuart Loughridge, Roxi Swanson, Halle.
1.)Garden Tour- share hand outs and information for June 6 event.
Communty Reporter: Call for artist profiles Deadline: June 30. Call for Artist Studio Hours June 14
2.)National Night Out- Jeff Martinka of Com Center wants to partner with us. Deb Fisher and Paulette will follow up on this
3.)Form a General Review Committee? Voted to table this until we get guideline together.
4.)Visions for Future Events:
Literary/Spoken Word Event-multi-generational outreach, Digital White Board, Shrink Wrap Old Bill Board with Artist Design, Murals on Wheels, Sandwhich Board Parade, Studio Crawl,Film Projections and Music , photo opportunity with big Green Chair, Invite Spring Board for the Arts to talk to us,Web-site Forum,SPPL and Community Center, W7th Community Friends of the Library, Compus, Arts-For -All.
5.)Art Share:
Paulette Rich brought her hand made limited edition Accordian Book, Sarah Prentice shared her hand-made jewelry of recycled rubber and old necklaces , Virginia McBride brought 3 big charcoal drawings of Jason's Boston Terriers.

May 2009-WEA Spring Studio Party at Padgett's Studio

No Minutes for May 2009. Instead of regular monthly meeting we had WestEndArts first Spring Studio Party at the Padgett's on Goodrich. Approx 75 WEA members and friends attended. PotLuck of salads and decadant deserts and BYOB. Bon Fire. Smores. A multi-person action drawing was created. Wondering,wine glass in hand, through the studios of Deborah and Michael Padgett was a wonderful experience. They have been granted an award for designing a two story backyard stucture that both suits thier profesional needs but also is in keeping with the architecture of the neighborhood.