Arts Access Newsletter Winter 2002

This seminar will show how.

On March 25 and 26, VSA arts of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Arts Board will co-host “The Art of Employment: Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities.” Aimed at creating more opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities, the seminar will be held at the University of Minnesota in the McNamara Alumni Center. Who should attend? People with disabilities who are established or emerging in their arts careers, arts administrators who want to know more about hiring artists with disabilities, vocational rehabilitation professionals and funding agencies.

Featured presenters will include Jaehn Clare, playwright, actor and arts administrator; actor/writers Kevin Kling and Leslye Orr; Art of the Eye curator/sculptor Scott Nelson; arts advisor Chris Osgood and other artists and administrators. All participants will have the chance to share experiences, meet others with similar interests, learn new ideas for gaining access to more job opportunities in the arts.

The fee, $40 for individual artists with disabilities or $80 for organization representatives, includes all materials (including the new 400-page Putting Creativity to Work just published by VSA arts), several meals and entertainment. Scholarships are available. Registration brochures are being mailed by the State Arts Board and VSA arts of Minnesota. A limited number of rooms have been reserved at the Radisson Metrodome. A list of other nearby hotels is available.

“The Art of Employment” is the first of three regional projects funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, VSA arts, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the National Arts & Disability Center. New Mexico and Maryland’s programs later in 2002 will also serve as models for future projects in other states. A career in the arts? Come and see how you can make it happen!

VSA arts in Washington, D.C. has announced that Minneapolis will host the 2003 VSA arts Annual Meeting and Leadership Institute. Tentatively titled Linking Communities through the Arts, the national convention will be headquartered at the Holiday Inn Metrodome, June 17-22, 2003. VSA arts of Minnesota will work with the Management Assistance Project (MAP) to offer a Minnesota welcome to nearly 50 VSA arts affiliates from around the U.S.

Community education arts programs that serve adults with developmental or other disabilities are invited to attend a VSA arts-sponsored festival this spring: Saturday, April 13 at North Junior High in St. Cloud, hosted by St. Cloud Area Community Education, or Saturday, April 27 at North High School in Minneapolis, hosted by Minneapolis Community Education. Each festival will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 2 p.m. with individual and group performances in dance, music and theater by adults with disabilities.

Artists will lead hands-on activities in music, dance and visual arts. During lunch and social time participants, program directors and teachers can share how the arts can be used in community education programming and in the lives of adults with disabilities. Art from different community education programs will also be displayed.

Cost of only $5.00 per person includes lunch. Registration forms are due Wednesday, April 3. A map to the festival sites in Minneapolis and St. Cloud will be mailed or faxed upon receipt of the registration form. For more information, contact VSA arts of Minnesota.

Six Minnesota artists with disabilities were recognized in December for the excellence of their work with $1,000 grants from the VSA arts of Minnesota Artist Recognition Program. The sixth annual competitive grant, funded by the Jerome Foundation of St. Paul, attracted 44 applicants.

The grantees are:

• Robert K. Anderson, Minneapolis writer: creative nonfiction;
• Ruth Waukazo, Nay-tah-waush visual artist: beadwork, costumes;
• Theresa Wanta, St. Paul visual artist: oil still life works;
• Kathryn Bakke, Richfield pianist: new CD of Gershwin;
• Serik Kulmeshkenov, Rochester visual artist: drawings, cartoons;
• Gary Smolik, Eagan writer: essays.

The Recognition Grants were awarded following a jurying process conducted by individuals with extensive backgrounds in the written, visual and performing arts:

• Jack Becker, artistic director, FORECAST, Saint Paul;
• Stephen Danko, co-owner, Jean Stephen Gallery, Minneapolis;
• Karen Helland, executive director, Northfield Arts Guild;
• Bonnie Lauber-Westover, artist, instructor, Brooklyn Park;
• Nicole Roberts, writer, Minneapolis;
• Rosy Simas, dancer/choreographer Minneapolis;
• John Townsend, writer/performer/director, Minneapolis.

VSA arts of Minnesota also offers grants for Emerging Artists. The deadline for those applications is April 26. See related article in this issue for more information.

VSA arts of Minnesota presented its 2001 Arts Access Awards to two individuals and two organizations that "have made exemplary achievements in enabling people with disabilities to participate in the arts."

The Jaehny, honoring Jaehn Clare, an artist and cofounder of the organization, went to (see picture left-right): Helene Oppenheimer, whose DeafArt creations merge sculpture, pottery and ASL; Heidi Jasmin of Nancy Hauser Dance Co., which has involved deaf dancers in classes and performances; Deb Helmke-Wodtke, an artist who teaches other artists with disabilities at Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts; and Sherry Shadley of the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre, whose access programs have been recognized nationally. Pictured in back are (left-right) Jon Skaalen, coordinator of the Access to Theatre Project; Brently Michael Davis, award sculptor; and Steve Schmidt, VSA arts of Minnesota board chair whose own Rochester Civic Music received a Jaehny Award in 2000.

The awards were presented at an Arts Season Opener at the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis featuring performances by Heidi Jasmin, Green T Productions, Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir, Red Eye and Commonweal Theatre, with Audio Describers Mari Griffin and Ken Moses and American Sign Language interpreters Mary Holte and Anthony Verdeja.

Artists release new CDs:
Snoopi Botten has released his second CD, “JAM,” featuring four Twin Cities vocalists, Lori Dokken, Debbie Duncan, Judi Donaghy and Erin Schwab, jamming on inspirational tunes by W. Robinson, Curtis Mayfield and local composer Dan Adler. Botten’s first CD, “Words Of Love,” in March 2000 featured all original material. He has cerebral palsy and uses a communication device to speak. Combining that with DECTALK software, he takes every sound within each word and assigns it a pitch and time value. By stringing each sound together it sounds to the human ear like a voice. To order, send $18 to Snoopi Botten, 2100 Bloomington Ave., S., #111, Minneapolis, MN 55404, or go to Singing with Dectalk (http://hometown.aol.com/dectalk/myhomepage/index.html).

Kathryn Bakke, a concert pianist with a profound hearing loss, played her debut Gershwin CD release concert on October 14 at the Hotel Sofitel in Bloomington. Bakke performs Creative Concerts, teaches, judges exams and speaks on techniques for meeting the challenge of a disability. Her CD, “Fascinating Gershwin,” is available for $15 + tax. Call 612-866-2974 or e-mail kbakmushoh@aol.com.

Design finalist Anne Krocak, a previous VSA arts of Minnesota Recognition Grant recipient, is a finalist for the Clayton, Jackson, McGhie Memorial Project in Duluth. The project will create a memorial marker for three young African-American men who were lynched in Duluth in 1920. On Feb. 27, Anne will present her vision for the outdoor sculpture garden. She will meet with members of the Memorial Committee and the Duluth Public Arts Commission, who will decide among six finalists for the final design.

Kling recovering from accident:
Minneapolis actor/playwright Kevin Kling has been recovering from being injured in a motorcycle/car accident enroute to a show at the Minnesota Fringe Festival August 11. Since he still needs additional surgery, a Kevin Kling Fund has been set up at First National Bank of the Lakes, 3100 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55408; Acct.#: 033 7716 1; Routing #: 091014487. Frank Theatre, Illusion Theater and the Guthrie Theater have held benefit performances for Kevin. He performed in Open Eye Figure Theatre’s “Holiday Pageant” and is updating “Lloyd’s Prayer” for a Feb. 23 - March 16 run at Illusion Theater.

Children Beyond Borders finalist:
“I am a present to my family,” the artwork of Naa-Adjeley Mensah of Roseville, was selected to represent Minnesota in Children Beyond Borders, a worldwide exhibit at VSA arts of Utah’s Art Access Gallery to March 17. The exhibit is being held in conjunction with the 2002 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Young artists with disabilities from around the world were invited to express their own personal ideas, dreams, visions and unique situations by transforming white 4” x 4” x 4” boxes into original works of art. Students created statements about their lives and the places where they live. Their spectacular creations are being exhibited alongside the Women Beyond Borders project from which the concept was inspired. For more information visit Salt Lake City 2002 (www.saltlake2002.com).

VSA arts of Minnesota will celebrate Deaf Awareness Month (March 15-April 15) with Deaf Art exhibits at three public libraries in the Twin Cities:

• Minneapolis Public Library, 300 Nicollet Avenue, 2nd floor;
• Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Ave., SaintPaul;
• Dakota County Library, 1340 Wescott Road, Eagan.

The displays are being curated and installed by Paul Puerzer, a new member of the VSA arts of Minnesota Board of Directors. They will feature work by professional Deaf artists and students from the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault.

Art by eight visual artists with disabilities is on display through February at Vision Loss Resources, 1936 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis. Featured are Mary Degen, Mari Newman, Eric Sherarts, John Boler, Minneapolis; Julie Kidder Klindworth, Dana Dijon Simpson, George Wolf, St. Paul; and Kay Cooley, Burnsville. Artists receive an exhibit stipend and the opportunity to have their work seen and possibly sold. VSA arts of Minnesota is looking for other artists with disabilities whose art work may be available for four-month exhibits at Vision Loss Resources (starting as soon as March 1) or other locations. If you have two, three or more art works that are ready to hang, send your name and contact info along with the works’ titles, dimensions, media and slides/photos if possible to VSA arts of Minnesota, or call for more details. Or, if you are interested in hosting or sponsoring an exhibit of artwork by children or adults with disabilities in your community, contact VSA arts of Minnesota.

Minnesotans with disabilities who are developing skills in an art form are invited to apply for Emerging Artist Grants sponsored by VSA arts of Minnesota. These $200 grants will help 10 individuals age 13 or older to further develop their artistic abilities by such activities as:

• taking a class to improve their artistic and/or technical skills in an arts discipline;
• attending a workshop on business or marketing skills to make their efforts more profitable;
• buying materials to allow them to continue their efforts in the arts.

Previous winners are ineligible. Selection is made randomly from qualifying applications that are postmarked or delivered no later than Friday, April 26, 2002. For an application, contact VSA arts of Minnesota, 612-332-3888 or 1-800-801-3883 (both voice/TTY); jon@vsaartsmn.org.

For an alternative format, specify audiotape, Braille, large print, email, or PC diskette. After business hours Deaf callers can leave a message using the Minnesota Relay Service.

A national training institute in February will bring together leaders in arts education to discuss the most effective methods of engaging students in learning via the arts. This VSA arts Artist-in-Residence Training Institute will take place Feb. 19-22 at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Eric Booth, one of the premier art educators in the field, is a key contributor to the mission and design of the institute. He describes the four-day training as “a tremendous infusion of new thinking, new challenges and new excitement into the work VSA arts already does.” VSA arts of Minnesota will bring a team of artists and administrators with the goal of designing and implementing a statewide training institute in June for Minnesota teaching artists. Perrin Boyd, Duane Barnhardt and Leslye Orr are experienced and talented teaching artists who will be flying to Georgia along with arts administrators Denese Sanders, Arts in Education Program Officer at the State Arts Board; and VSA arts of Minnesota staff: Craig Dunn, executive director, and Kristi Gaudette, education coordinator.

VSA arts of Minnesota has six $500 mini-grants for professionals working with students in special education. The grants can be used to host artists in classrooms, must be matched by local sources and a majority of the students must be on IEP or 504 plans. Applications are accepted throughout the year and available from Kristi Gaudette, Education Coordinator. Funding for these programs is made available by generous grants from the Jade Foundation, the Anne Jack Memorial Fund and VSA arts. Fall 2001 Mini-grant Recipients:

• Deaf and Hard of Hearing Programs, Grades 2-3, 5-6, Como Park Elementary School, Saint Paul;
• Osseo and Hosterman STRIVE Program, Osseo;
• Battle Creek Learning Center, Saint Paul;
• Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis;
• Washburn Resource Adaptive Program (WRAP), Washburn High School, Minneapolis.

Darlene Luther, State Representative and former VSA arts of Minnesota Board of Directors President, died January 30 after a battle with stomach cancer. She had been a dedicated supporter of the organization since 1987 when she first joined the board. The VSA arts of Minnesota family extends its condolences to her children Alex and Alicia and to her husband, U.S. Representative Bill Luther. She will be greatly missed.

VSA arts invites student playwrights in grades 6-12 with and without disabilities to enter original one-act plays exploring perspectives on living with a disability for consideration in the 2002 VSA arts Playwright Discovery Award. Winners will receive national recognition, a cash award and a trip to Washington, D.C., to see the winning script professionally premiered at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Deadline for submissions is April 15, 2002. For more information:, contact: VSA arts at 1-800-933-8721, Email: playwright@vsarts.org or visit: VSA arts (www.vsarts.org).

By Mike Ervin:
Laughter and unconventional characters come tumbling out of the disability closet in this accessible-to-all dark comedy. When a 32-year-old quadriplegic gathers the courage to return to college, he finds love in, of all places, PE class. The affair becomes a hilarious romantic triangle with the addition of the frosh's seductive roommate, who is deaf and blind – and a cad and a con!
"A rich new comedy…" – Chicago Reader,
February 13 – March 10,
Audio Described date: Feb. 22, 8:00 PM,
ASL date: March 1, 8:00 PM,
Call (612) 338-6131.

“Spanning the Ages” was a ten-week collaborative project between residents of The Heathers Manor, an assisted living facility in Crystal, and students from nearby Neill Elementary School. Melina Weir and Aura Walker, co-founders and directors of Expressive Arts Services, Limited, were the artists-in-residence who facilitated weekly art making workshops. VSA arts of Minnesota sponsored the project, thanks to a generous grant from the Thorpe Foundation.

Young and old participants shared experiences of elementary school students in 2001 with those of students in the 1920s. They discussed the generational and cultural similarities in music, politics, fashion, entertainment, transportation, advertising, etc. They also shared favorite music and dance moves. The art-making projects evolved into a group exhibit featuring mandala drawings, wishing sticks and advertisement collages to illustrate the magic that occurs when different generations communicate and engage in the creative process with one another. The project resulted in a renewed sense of self-discovery and intergenerational understanding and appreciation.

Reflections Magazine will publish its second edition of writing by Minnesota students with disabilities in grades 6-12. This year’s theme is relationships. What kind of relationships would you like to have in your life (marriage, children, work)? What does it mean to have a friend? To be a friend? Does a disability play a part in having or not having relationships? Submit essays, poems, short stories, artwork, and a short biography by March 8. Mentioning disability is optional. Entries must include a parent permission slip to publish. Send to Linda J. H. Larson, Reflections Magazine Editor, 1214 44th Ave. NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421; lindjhl@aol.com. Its publication in May will again be funded by VSA arts of Minnesota.

Actors with and without disabilities will perform a musical talent show called “Totally Talents and Tunes” on Saturday, March 9 at 3:00 and 7:00 at Richfield High School Auditorium, 7001 Harriet Ave. S. Produced by the Adaptive Recreation and Learning Exchange and directed by Janet Beard, the entertaining musical is adapted from Barbara Redlin’s “Talents and Tunes Together,” and includes a surprise ending! Both performances will be interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL). Tickets at $5 and $3 will be available at the door or in advance at Richfield Community Center or Edina City Hall. Groups of 10 or more should call 952-975-6951. For more information, call 612-861-9361.

Administrator serves, is served by, VSA arts:
If a job description for a board member at VSA arts of Minnesota were to profile a perfect “must-have” candidate, that person would likely be Anna M. Thompson of St. Cloud. Anna works, volunteers and lives in the arts in Central Minnesota. She has been an artist. She develops arts education programs. Her job and her board role allow her to fulfill her desire to make the arts accessible to diverse audiences. She serves as a presenter of artists with disabilities (visual and performing arts). In addition, both Anna and her son have “invisible” disabilities, and advocate for issues that are not always apparent when people think of access to the arts and arts education.

A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Anna has 20 years of experience in the arts ranging from teaching and research to performance and administration.

As Executive Director of Fine Arts Programming for the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (CSB/SJU), she administers programming at the Benedicta Arts Center at CSB and the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater at SJU as well as the SJU Art Center and the CSB Galleries. Prior to moving to Minnesota in early 1998 she served as Director of Education at Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University (IN) and Performing Arts Coordinator for the Indianapolis Museum of Art. There she became involved in co-presenting artists and exhibits with VSA arts of Indiana. “I wanted to continue my work with VSA upon moving to Minnesota.” That she did quickly by hosting the Art of the Eye II at SJU in the spring of 2000.

Thompson has served as a grant review panelist for state arts boards in Indiana and Minnesota; serves on the board of Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota and Albion College Alumni in addition to VSA; is a frequent speaker on the arts at regional and national levels; and has publications in the field including “The Power of Transformational Theater” in the March/April 2001 Inside Art issue for the Assn. of Performing Presenters. She chaired a committee for the Arts Midwest 2001 conference in St. Paul, and is an active member of the Minnesota Presenters Network. Her family includes husband Doug, daughter Jessica and son Karl A former band director, she is a strong believer in arts education for all. Partial to jazz and instrumental music, she also has a deep love of dance. Favorite artists, musicians, performers, arts groups? “I love them all,” she says.

As vice president of the VSA arts of Minnesota board and chair of the marketing committee, Anna says VSA serves a crucial role in community education, promotion of artists and access for all to the arts. It is her dream that “we continue to be a leader in the country for VSA arts nationally through innovative programming.”

VSA arts of Minnesota is happy to welcome three newcomers to the Board of Directors.

Wendy Harbour is a writer, musician and sometime pastry chef who comes to VSA arts following a stint at the University of Minnesota Disability Services office. Wendy is a strong activist and advocate within the Deaf community and looks forward to assisting the organization with its outreach to people who are Deaf through our Access to Theatre and Artist-in-Residence programs.

Bruce Erickson also comes to the Board from the University of Minnesota where he is a Professor of Management and Economics. His professional expertise lies in the areas of antitrust economics and venture capital, but he brings a strong interest in the visual arts and an understanding and personal experience with disability issues.

Paul Puerzer is Chief Financial Officer of Space Center, Inc. in St. Paul. Early in the 1990s, Paul worked for D.E.A.F. and became interested in advocating for opportunities for people with various disabilities. While there, he coordinated numerous visual arts, theater and fund-raising initiatives. Paul looks forward to having a new organization with which he can share his artistic, philanthropic and volunteer energies and resources.

As Wendy, Bruce and Paul joined VSA arts of Minnesota, Stephanie Cunningham and Taras Dykstra both said goodbye. Taras had served the organization for six years and Stephanie for three. We wish them both well in their new endeavors and thank them for their time and support. Interested in board/committee involvement? Contact the office!

Memorials:
In memory of Corrine Kadlec, Jeff Shellito & Dena Koch – three fine singers - by Craig Dunn;
In memory of Colleen Brekke by Mavis Dunn;
In memory of Mary Dronko by Art & Lorraine Koszalinski.

Supporters:
Robyn Alexander, Mary Altman, Robert Anderson, John Armour, David Bach, Diane Baldwin, Jack Becker, Ken & Dell Berkowitz, Woody & Joy Bridges, Pete Dross, Robert Dykstra, Taras Dykstra, Milt Evenson, Michael Burgraff, Thomas & Patricia Fetsch, Mike & Billie Fienhage, James & Irene Fischer, Marvel & Dewey Gaudette, Robert (Chip) Halbach, Hilree Hamilton, Del & Rhoda Hansen, Pete & Miriam Hansen, Sara Haugen, IBM Foundation, Yvonne Klocek, David Kortz, Paula Krippner, Leonard Lang, Randy Latimer, Ann Lohn, Beverly Lutz, Rose McKee, Jim Mikos, Linda Mindel, Gretchen Musicant, Thomas Niemiec, Donna Norberg, Denise Nordling Cronin, Lee Ohnesorge, Chris Osgood & Adrianne Lebow, Eric Peterson, Bela Petheo, Tim & Kathy Ray, Ann Reckert, Ray & Ruth Reister, Mary Jo Savage, Dale Schatzlein, Stephanie Schwartz, Susan Searle, Marti Starr, Michael & Jennifer Sutton, SW Minnesota Prairie Arts Initiative (Kathy Craun), Steven Tompkins, Thomas Triplett, Gordon Tvedt, Adrianne Vanderborght, Pamela Veeder, Ann Wasserman, Tom & Kathy Weber, Janet & Gerrhart Weiss, A.N. (Red) Wells, Brenda & Mark Wiger, Brian & Sue Williams.

Sponsors:
Arts Midwest, Mary Anne Bennett, Diane Blake, Perrin Boyd, Bob & Kay Burland, CaptionMax, Inc, Cindy Carlson, Stephanie Cunningham, Barbara Davis, Jerry Dubin, Dave Dunn, Carol Earle, Jeff & Karen Elkin, Richard Erickson, Larry & Joyce Corless, Doug Friauf, Sherri & Wayne Fuller, Michael Garry, Jim Hanson, Julie & Anders Himmelstrup, IceBox Gallery (Howard Christopherson), Larry Jabell, Sue Lasoff, Phil Losacker, Darlene & Bill Luther, Charles & Hertha Lutz, David Marty, Scott Nelson, Elin Ohlsson, Richard & Rachel Quenemoen, Steven Schmidt, Soho Artists & Cora Culbert, Gerald & Jane Skluzacek, Dorothy Timm Meili, Pam Truesdell, Steven Turbenson, Urban Wildlife Bar & Grill (Mike McCarthy).

Advocates:
Jaime Becker, Stephen & Jean Danko, Laura Davis, Craig Dunn & Candy Hart, Clete Fleming, Pierre Girard, Guthrie Theater, Martha Hage, Pam & Jim Hall, Dolores & Merle Hart, Kelly Hart, Mary Holte, Dodie Kostishack, Museum Services (Russell Belk), Paul & Suzanne Puerzer, Larry Redmond, Nancy & Larry Robbert, Kit Schmoker, Mary Schoessler, Jon Skaalen, Anna Thompson, Wuollet Bakery.

Benefactors:
Kay & Richard Chase, Minneapolis Public Schools, The St. Paul Companies, Lisa Skluzacek, Thorpe Family Foundation.

Major Benefactors:
Artspace Projects, FOX-29, Horncrest Foundation, Jerome Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Minnesota Department of Children, Families & Learning, Minnesota State Arts Board (through funding provided by the Minnesota legislature), Perpich Center for Arts Education, United Arts, VSA arts (through funding provided by the U.S. Department of Education).

Exemplars of Excellence Exhibit Opening & Reception Thursday, March 7, 2002 5:00 until 8:00 p.m.
Jean Stephen Galleries 917 Nicollet Mall (Across from Target Store) Minneapolis, Minnesota. Phone: 612-338-4333.

See an exciting exhibit of work by recipients of VSA arts of Minnesota’s Artist Recognition Grants in 1999 and 2000. This grant program is made possible through funding by the Jerome Foundation.

VSA arts of Minnesota makes the arts available and accessible to Minnesotans with all types of disabilities. Jean Stephen Galleries is one of the premier Twin Cities art locations representing contemporary national and international artists in a relaxed and inviting downtown setting.

Featured artists include:
Dennis Behr;
Brently Michael Davis;
Mary Degen;
Jane Gerus;
Anne Krocak;
Jean Watson;
Mary Carol Peterson;
Deborah (Sunny) Steinmetz.

The exhibit will be on display through March 23, 2002.