Arts Access Newsletter September 2007

VSA arts of Minnesota will host its Autumn Auction & Cabaret on Sunday, September 23, from 2:00 to 5:00 at Macy’s 12th floor Skyroom in downtown Minneapolis.

The affair is a great opportunity to support the organization’s work for artists with disabilities - and at the same time to see and bid on about 200 items, from dinners and tickets at arts events to gift items, arts classes and supplies, costumes, original art, services and more - all while enjoying delectable desserts, luscious libations and tantalizing treats.

The annual Arts Access Awards will be presented to individuals and organizations that have led the way in making the arts accessible to people with disabilities. Samples of past Jaehny awards will be displayed, and co-founder of VSA arts of Minnesota, Jaehn Clare, now of VSA arts of Georgia, will be among the attendees and award presenters.

Tickets are $30 ($35 after Sept. 18) and can be ordered on page 7, or by going to Autumn Auction and Cabaret, the VSA arts of Minnesota website. ASL interpreters and Audio Describers are volunteering their service, and captioning will be available on request.

The event is at 700 Nicollet Mall and is wheelchair-accessible and fragrance-free. Thanks to all for your support of this event and of VSA arts of Minnesota and the artists we serve!

VSA arts of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Arts Board have again received a grant from the National Arts and Disability Center and the Social Security Administration to continue work begun this past year developing artist networks in locations throughout the state.

This year’s grant will provide pools of money to assist emerging artists with disabilities in convening meetings, mounting exhibits, hosting workshops, or presenting performances. Small amounts of funds may also be available for member artists to offset fees of arts class or other career-oriented activities, depending on the choices made by each local group. Networks of artists with disabilities have been established in Bemidji, Duluth, Fergus Falls, Mankato, Mora/Hinckley, St. Cloud and the Twin Cities.

To learn more about opportunities and participate in activities in these seven area communities, contact VSA arts of Minnesota and ask to be added to the contact list.

News Council upholds two complaints by Minneapolis artist

On August 16 the Minnesota News Council upheld two of three complaints that the Minnesota Daily was unfair in how it characterized Mari Newman, a Minneapolis artist with a disability.

The News Council, a nonprofit body that promotes fair, vigorous and trusted journalism, voted 10-4 that the way in which writer Sara Nicole Miller introduced Newman into her May 3 review of a Theatre in the Round production of "The Mad Woman of Chaillot" was unfair. The News Council also voted 11-3 that the review was unfair in how it described Newman’s character and activities. (She had no connection to the production whatsoever.)

Her third complaint -- that the review’s use of her first and last name as well as the location of her residence was unnecessary -- was denied by a 10-3 vote, with one abstention.

Council members -- both journalists and laypeople -- agreed that Newman, whose colorful South Minneapolis home and art has been featured in past news coverage, is a public figure. Daily Editor-in-Chief Emily Banks commented, "Newman’s history of being in the media spotlight made her a public figure subject to public critique." Banks defended the article’s use of words like “crazy” and real people’s names by saying that the words "were subjective and intended to communicate nonconformity, or extreme eccentricity."

However, Newman, supported in her complaint by VSA arts of Minnesota, said that her inclusion in the article was "politically incorrect," "cheap" and "offensive." Kerri Miller, a media member of the News Council, agreed that "There’s an underlying negative tone to this review; it goes beyond colorful creativity." Media member Steve Schild said, "I always tell my journalism students, ‘Never forget that you’re writing about real people.’ I don’t think the Daily did that here."

Al Zdon, a public member who voted to deny all three complaints, did not think the review was unfair. "I don’t see a problem with what the Daily wrote," said Zdon. "Perhaps it was not well-written, but that’s fairly common in journalism." However, most Council members believed that the inclusion of Newman in the theater review was unnecessary.

Newman, a past winner of the VSA arts of Minnesota Artist Recognition Grant, commented, "I hope my complaint brought a dose of reality to the Minnesota Daily and the campus. It was a victory for disabled people."

Created in 1970, the Minnesota News Council’s hearing process is voluntary; its determinations are advisory and carry no sanctions.

Joybubbles

The man who renamed himself Joybubbles in 1991, at the age of 42 in order to become what he called an “eternal child,” and who saw himself sending joy to friends and strangers alike, died August 8 in Minneapolis.

The blind storyteller (born Josef Engressia Jr. in Richmond, VA) was a "phone phreak" and "Mister Rogers" fanatic who shared stories, advice and solace with children and adults callers from all over the world. A number of his stories appeared in the daily "Bulletin Board" published by the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and a few were reprised in the August 20 edition.

Joybubbles told his stories for two years at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, and he attended as many child-centered theatre productions as he could afford. He will be missed.

A retrospective exhibition of the artwork of Jon M. Leverentz will be featured at Carleton Artist Lofts in St. Paul on Sunday, September 30. An open house beginning at noon will include a reception from 4:00 to 6:00 at 2285 University Avenue W (entrance on north side of building between Hampden and Carleton).

Disabled since a car accident at age 18, he has painted primarily in oils and acrylics. He studied art at Augsburg College, participated in a number of traveling exhibitions including Art of the Eye I and II, Art and Soul, and the National Exhibition of Blind Artists. One of his largest paintings was featured at the first VSA arts of Minnesota fund-raiser.

Since he has double vision and shaking in both eyes and virtually no depth perception, Jon says he "must make intuitive judgments regarding what I perceive as close and what seems far away.... Although I work with friends, it is important for me to have control over my own work."

Jon’s art reveals his love of vivid colors, textured surfaces and wit. His variation of images depicts his versatility -- going from realistic to abstract to completely non-objective.

VSA arts of Minnesota will award six $1,000 grants to Minnesota artists with disabilities through its Artist Recognition Grant Program, funded by the Jerome Foundation. The program aims to recognize excellence in arts produced by persons with disabilities who are dedicated to making arts production and/or presentation a central part of their lives.

The program is open to individuals in all art disciplines: visual, performing, written, media, etc. Ineligible are people who have won two grants, were grant recipients in 2005-06, or prepared artwork for educational credit. Applications are due (postmark) by Nov. 8, 2007.

Applications will be mailed or emailed by mid-September to people who have applied or expressed an interest previously. To be sure you receive an application, call or email Jon at VSA arts of Minnesota. Alternative formats to print are available.

The Vision Loss Resources gallery in Minneapolis will display work by six artists through December. Coordinated by VSA arts of Minnesota, the artists include Hadley Rosenberg, Stephanie Jones and Peder Hagen from Interact Center for Visual & Performing Arts; Debbie Peil and Chris Farnham from Anodyne Artists Company in St. Paul; and Minneapolis artist Barry Segal. The exhibit is in the lobby gallery at 1936 Lyndale Ave. S. (at Franklin) during business hours through December.

Barbara Harman, visual artist and 2006 Artist Recognition Grant recipient, will exhibit a sampling of her work through October 31 at Park State Bank, 430 First Avenue N., Suite 104, Minneapolis.

Joseph Baird performed at the Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul while children engaged in arts activities connected to the touring “Discover What Art Is…” Access/ABILITY exhibit. Joseph received an artwork of himself from a fan. Performing other weekends were Michael Deutsch and Ted Brown with Craig Dunn.

Saint Paul’s Rice Park was a thriving center of art, music and parades June 2-3 during the Flint Hills International Children’s Festival, when VSA arts of Minnesota and ArtiCulture brought in volunteer artists to help in the fun of making art.

Thanks to nine wonderful schools who brought 92 students with disabilities and their peers to "Feet in the Sand, Heart in the Music," the 2007 Metro Arts Festival held in April at Augsburg College. The students' arts exploration activities included sensory, visual arts, drumming, and music from the Caribbean -- sparked by Cyril Paul and the Calypso Monarchs (pictured). VSA arts of Minnesota coordinated the day with students and staff from the Augsburg Music Therapy Department. Thanks to all for your talent and hard work!

"Destination Anywhere," a VSA arts national touring exhibition, will be on display at the Hillstrom Museum of Art at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter this November, December and January.

VSA arts of Minnesota has partnered with the Hillstrom Museum of Art to provide local schools an opportunity to visit the exhibition and receive a presentation from VSA arts of Minnesota to discuss the abilities of people with disabilities in the arts. Through a grant from the Prairie Lakes Arts Council, schools will be eligible to receive support in coordinating and funding transportation to and from the museum in order to make this exhibition more accessible to students and community members.

Contact VSA arts of Minnesota to learn more about this opportunity and how your school can participate!

Once again Buffalo High School students raised funds for VSA arts of Minnesota at their spring sale of pottery. Thank you for your excellent artwork, motives and $280!

A Music Specialists Workshop at the Perpich Center for Arts Education on August 2 brought music specialists and teaching artists together to learn best practices for engaging and empowering students of various abilities in the world of music. Iris Shiraishi from Mu Performing Arts taught taiko drumming techniques to the class.

VSA arts of Minnesota’s Arts Ambassador Program is designed to bring professional artists with disabilities into classrooms to engage students in presentations that discuss the Ambassador’s art form, disability and work as a professional artist.

Musician Alec Sweazy, an Arts Ambassador this year, says, "I believe it is our responsibility to find our hidden potential and pursue those talents with passion, practice and perseverance. Everyone has abilities, but some may be hidden and need discovery."

Through this program, students and staff are able to gain experience, knowledge and understanding about:

(a) various art forms including visual arts, music, dance/movement,
(b) the importance of and need for inclusion of people with disabilities in the arts,
(c) disability culture, (d) similarities that connect the human spirit of us all.

Visit our website to learn more about our current Ambassadors (Alec Sweazy, Carei Thomas, Bob Saxon, Michael Deutsch, Alissa Hullett, Annie Hanauer and Bridget Riversmith) and to complete an application!

"Giving Hands" connects students with community

VSA arts of Minnesota and Carver-Scott Educational Cooperative have partnered for the 2007-08 school year to bring teaching artist Anne Krocak into various district programs to direct and implement the "Giving Hands" project. This public, community-based art project will provide an opportunity for positive interaction and collaboration through the arts and pull together district programs and communities to work toward one common goal.

WANTED: Mosaic Materials:

The project is looking for donated building material (including steel rebar and concrete) and mosaic material (scrap tiles, adhesive and grout). If you have supplies to donate, please contact Amie Pence.

The "Giving Hands" Artist-in-Residence program is made possible through a grant from COMPAS School Arts Fund and VSA arts of Minnesota, with support from the Carver-Scott Education Cooperative.

Poet works at Bethesda in new initiative in arts and healthcare

VSA arts of Minnesota has recently partnered with Bethesda Hospital Therapeutic Recreation Dept. to develop an Artist-in-Residence program with poet Jude Nutter to engage patients in creative writing and poetry.

This is a new arts and healthcare initiative by VSA arts of Minnesota as well as the first time a literary artist has worked with the Bethesda Therapeutic Recreation Dept. The goal of this initiative is to teach patients new skills in creativity, self-expression and communication that will improve their ability to cope and adjust to their illness.

Work created through the residency this summer will be part of a final writing exhibition this September. For more information, contact Anne Gibbons at 651-232-2166. This year Jude Nutter won two major poetry awards, the Minnesota Book award and the Ernest Sandeen prize. She has conducted numerous writing activities for survivors of traumatic brain injury, adolescents in treatment and many other groups around the country.

For the second summer in a row, VSA arts of Minnesota helped Courage Center pro-vide creative art activities for children. Thanks to Julie Frederick and Kelsey Feldman for their enthusiastic efforts!

By Craig Dunn, Executive Director, VSA arts of Minnesota.

How do you keep the work of a small nonprofit fresh year after year? As I enter my 16th year of leading VSA arts of Minnesota, I ask myself that almost daily. Some years, we take on a big challenge like co-hosting this year’s LEAD conference for the Kennedy Center or by bringing in all our national VSA arts colleagues for the 2003 annual conference. In other years we find a new programming initiative such as hosting Sidiki Conde in 2006 for two months of school and community residencies or convening Minnesota arts organizations in 1999 to talk about accessibility in the arts.

Sometimes, though, hosting a conference or taking on a new program isn’t quite enough of a boost; sometimes it takes a bit more to energize, rejuvenate and enliven me, our staff, board and our community.

Therefore, we are looking at some changes in the coming months. It will start with a new location for our annual fundraiser this month -- at the Sky Room. This bright, open space overlooking downtown Minneapolis from Macy’s 12th floor will provide a wonderful opportunity for hearing vocalist Stephanie Dawn, for announcing the recipients of this year’s Arts Access Awards and for raising some money for VSA arts of Minnesota through our silent auction.

The bigger change we are looking at as we enter 2008, however, is a change of location for our office. We have been housed in Hennepin Center for the Arts since October of 1989. While the space has served us well up until now we feel that we need a location with more visibility, more square footage and a place where we can conduct programs and services. We have yet to identify what or where that space will be but we do know that, because of transportation and accessibility needs, we will be in Minneapolis or St. Paul, we will be near bus and/or light rail lines, and it will be a location that is welcoming, unpretentious and user-friendly.

Clete Fleming, the principal I served under as a music educator/music therapist in Wisconsin in the early 80s (and now a regular donor to VSA arts of MN), constantly looked for ways to keep his staff "alive." Teaching students with cognitive disabilities is tough and occasionally draining, and he knew that the students in his building learned best when his teachers and paraprofessionals were alert, engaged and open to new ways of looking at things.

It is my hope that VSA arts of Minnesota will be better able to meet the needs of our various constituencies by finding a new location in our community. With that move, I hope to keep our programs fresh, our staff and board engaged, and furthermore, it will be a way to keep this still balding Executive Director "alive"!

Mari Newman of Minneapolis was one of many artists exhibited at the Sister Kenny International Art Show.

VSA board member Rick Vogt and his wife Denise were opening night customers.

The Leadership Exchange in Arts & Disability (LEAD) Conference, presented by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, came to Minneapolis in mid-August, co-hosted by the Guthrie Theater, VSA arts of Minnesota and State Arts Board. Nearly 200 people attended seminars and events at the Dowling Studio, Mill City Museum, McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Interact Center.