Artists' Pipeline #30 - July 3, 2001

Five Minnesota artists have been selected to receive 2001-2002 Fellowships from the McKnight Foundation and Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD). The Fellowships, designed to identify and support outstanding Minnesota artists, provide artists with $25,000 stipends, public recognition, professional encouragement and a group exhibition in Spring 2002.

The 2001-2002 MCAD/McKnight Fellows are:

• Brian Frink, Mankato Painting
• Freddy Muñoz, Minneapolis Painting
• Kathryn Nobbe, St. Paul Mixed-media
• Anne Sugnet, Minneapolis Mixed-media
• Amy Toscani, Minneapolis Sculpture

The Fellows were chosen from a field of 187 applicants by a selection panel composed of: Martin DeWitt, Director, Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota, Duluth; Michelle Grabner, Artist and Critic, Chicago; and Susan Krane, Director, University of Colorado Art Galleries, Boulder.
Now in its twentieth year, the MCAD/McKnight Foundation Fellowship Program has influenced the careers of more than 120 artists. Their work, in turn, has contributed to the creative vitality of the region. The program is administered by the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. For further information, contact MCAD Career Services Director and Fellowship Coordinator, Christine Deger at 612-874-3796.

The Minnesota Legislature has FINALLY adjourned. The House had originally pushed for a $5 million cut for the arts. The Senate had recommended a $1.35 million increase. In the end, after a big fight led by Sen. Richard Cohen (D-Minneapolis), the arts cuts were defeated, resulting in stable arts funding for the next two years at the same level as the past four years. Language by Rep. Krinkie,s that would have prevented any organization from receiving more than $100,000 per year in grants was defeated. (information provided by Minnesota Citizens for the Arts).

Other Legislation Of Interest Proposals to tax non-profit organizations were defeated. To be eligible for the Non-profit Ticket Tax Exemption, arts non-profits must now have 3% of their budgets in contributions to use the exemption in 2002, 4% in 2003, and 5% in 2004.
Expansion of MN Charitable Giving Relief Act to 100% of contributions was not included in final tax bill.

U.S. Senate Panel Approves NEA Funding Increase: The Senate Interior Appropriations Committee met on June 28 and approved an increase of $10 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in its version of the FY2002 Interior Appropriations Bill. This is the same increased appropriations level for the NEA (totaling $115 million) as the U.S. House passed last week. The bill, expected to go to the Senate floor after the July 4th recess, includes an additional $5 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities -- $2 million above the level approved by the House -- and $2 million more for the Office of Museum Services, the same as in the House-passed bill.

As of July 27, 2001, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts will move to roomier offices at: 2233 University Avenue, #355, St. Paul, MN 55114. Email and web address will be the same. New phone numbers are not yet known.

The Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) is now accepting applications from Twin Cities artists for the 2001-2002 MCAD/Jerome Foundation Fellowships. Five $9,000 grants will be awarded to emerging artists in the early stages of their professional careers.
The Jerome Foundation, through MCAD, awards these fellowships annually to provide recognition, financial assistance and professional encouragement to visual artists working in painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, photography, mixed-media and multimedia. The application deadline is Thursday, August 9, at 4:30 pm. To be eligible, applicants must: 1. Be residents of Minnesota for one full year prior to the application deadline and reside in the state until the end of the grant period. 2. Reside in Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Washington, Scott, Carver or Dakota county.
3. Provide evidence that they are practicing artists. It is understood that artists will have received limited exhibition exposure locally and nationally, and few grants in direct support of their work. 4. Meet with three visiting critics during the fellowship period and accommodate their schedules to the critics' visits. 5. Participate in a fellowship exhibition and related events. 6. Not be enrolled in a degree program, either part-time or full-time, at an institution of higher learning.
7. Artists are eligible to receive this fellowship once every three years; however, second grants to previous recipients will be reviewed on a more competitive basis.
Since 1981, the MCAD/Jerome Foundation Fellowship program has awarded grants to 100 individuals. MCAD also administers the McKnight Fellowship Program for Minnesota's mid-career artists. For information about application procedures or to receive an application, contact Christine Deger or Megan Vossler at 612-874-3823.

Painters and artists with disabilities working in related media are encouraged to submit slides of artwork appropriate for the winter holidays for the annual holiday card project of VSA arts. CHILDREN'S ART IS MOST WELCOME! Artists will receive $300 for each image selected, as well as several copies of their card. Send slides by July 31 to: Holiday Card Project/ VSA arts, 1300 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036.

VSA arts of Florida Gallery, located in an upscale performing arts center in West Palm Beach, is interested in exhibiting artists with disabilities from around the country who work in the following media: sculpture, jewelry, ceramic, woodcarving, metalwork, and fine crafts. Ongoing submissions are accepted. Contact Gilbert Finesilver, Gallery Manager, at 561-659-3431 or P.O. Box 882, Hobe Sound, FL 33475 or e-mail gfine01@cs.com.

The Mike Steele Fellowship for Innovations in Performing Arts Criticism has been established by the Minnesota Journalism Center and the Department of Dance and Theatre Arts at the University of Minnesota. Two fellowships to be awarded each year will offer $6000 stipends and an opportunity to spend a three-month sabbatical in the Twin Cities, audit classes at the University of Minnesota, observe and/or participate in activities of an arts organization or media. Applicants must be residents of Minnesota or an adjacent state for at least a year (not students) and must submit a proposal for an individually designed program of professional development designed to expand their critical vision and/or the possibilities of criticism in the performing arts. October 1 deadline. For more information and application forms, go to
School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota (www.sjmc.umn.edu), Minnesota Journalism Center, 111 Murphy Hall, 206 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455; 952-920-7153, simolion@uswest.net.

Poets and baseball fans are invited to compose haikus saluting the American pastime. The best baseball haikus will be printed in upcoming issues of A View from the Loft, and three winners will each receive a pair of Twins tickets for a September game. Send by August 1 to The Loft, Suite 200, Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415; 612-215-2575; Fax 612-215-2576; Loft Literary Center (www.loft.org).

The Loft's Minnesota Literature Live program offers grants of up to $800 to groups outside the seven-county metro area who wish to present events which promote literature by a Minnesota author. Events must occur between July 1, 2001 and June 30, 2002. Contact The Loft, Suite 200, Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415; 612-215-2575; Fax 612-215-2576; Loft Literary Center (www.loft.org).

WARM (Women's Art Registry of Minnesota) and the Fresh Art Program will host an exhibition about shoes and the Cinderella story in October at the Paul Whitney Larson Gallery in St. Paul. All work about shoes will be accepted, pending space limitations. WARM membership and a $12 entry fee are required. Submit your intent to participate and a general proposal of what you will submit with your name, address, phone, email, by July 31 to Laurie at 4057 Tenth Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55407; bill@alexxsys.com, 651-292-1188. Follow-up correspondence will begin in August.

Celebrating Your Community Through Music offers an opportunity for performing ensembles to apply with a partner organization from their community to host a composer for up to a six-week residency. Application Deadline is August 1. For more info, contact Continental Harmony, c/o American Composers Forum, 332 Minnesota St., E-145, Saint Paul, MN 551-1-1300; 651-228-1407; ch@composersforum, American Composers Forum (www.composersforum.org).

Residents of greater Minnesota may enter mobile sculptures comprised of at least 90% salvaged materials, which may include metals, wood, and plastic, and may be constructed with any combination of welding and mechanical fasteners. Movement must engender at least one secondary motion within the sculpture itself. Entries are due August 8 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be displayed at the Kandiyohi County Fair in Willmar. For complete rules contact Mobile Kinetic Sculpture Contest, 3851 30th Ave. NE, Willmar, MN 56201; or call 320-235-2189.

Joan of Art has opened a gallery at 3020 E. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis.
The summer show features sculptures by Kimber, Karen Searle and works by Angela Goley and Mark Mitchell. A section of the gallery is devoted to special gift items by local artists. In the fall classes will be offered in woodworking and sculpture, and a series of Friday evening Salons will be held on art-related topics. Hours are 11 to 7 Thurs.-Fri., noon to 5 Sat.-Sun., or by appointment. 612-338-2511, Joan of Art (www.joanofart.com).

The Minnesota Center for Book Arts features art by Jess Larson, one of five winners of the Jerome VII Book Arts Fellowship, through August 31. Larson,s work explores the socio-sexual subtext of earth 20th-century souvenir postcards. MCBA is at 1011 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis. 612-215-2520.

Women Create! a new artist collective in the Twin Cities, exhibits work by more than 20 women in a variety of media in its first show at Ar Trujillo Studio and Gallery through July. Open noon to 8 daily at 301 E. Lake St., lower level, Mpls. 612-821-9067 or 612-722-5052.

Students of Mary Degen Heffelfinger will display Landscapes, Horses and Aviation Paintings August 5-31 at Robbin Gallery, 4915 42nd Ave. N., Robbinsdale. An opening day reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. The gallery will be open Tues. & Thurs. 7 to 9 pm, Wed., Fri. & Sat. noon to 4. Take Highway 100 to Co. Rd 9 (42nd Ave. N.), go east 3 blocks to the old library. 763-537-5906 or 651-484-9146, or mdegen@qwest.net.

Saint John's University near Collegeville hosts the following exhibits at the Saint John's Art Center. Summer hours are Mon.-Fri. 9-5, Sat.-Sun. 10-5. Academic year hours (starting Aug. 27) are Mon.-Sun. 10-4, Thurs. 10-9. Closed holidays & vacations:

• Tom McKibben: "Abstracts in Acrylic at the Alice R. Rogers Gallery thru July 29.
• Mary Lingen: "Minnesota Color, oil paintings at the Target Gallery thru July 29.
• Bela Petheo: "Works between 1985-2000, oils, acrylics, prints, drawings and watercolors by Saint John's Professor Emeritus and St. Cloud artist, at Alice R. Rogers and Target Galleries, August 19 Oct. 4.

Combining Monotype and Relief Printmaking to Create a Concertina Artist's Book will be offered July 30 to Aug. 3 at the Duluth Art Institute (Lincoln Bldg., 2229 W. 2nd St.) by Marilyn Summers Cool and Jodi Reeb-Myers. $75 (or two credits at Hamline for $260) includes materials. To register, call WARM, 651-292-1188, or Duluth Art Institute, 218-733-7560; Duluth info: 800-438-5884 or Visit Duluth, Minnesota (www.visitduluth.com).

Art Workshops at Driftwood Resort include Watercolors with Rose Edin and Photography with Stan Edin, Aug. 27-31; and Watercolors with Barbara Thelen, Sept. 8-12. For info, call 1-800-950-3540 or 218-568-4221, or write 6020 Driftwood Lane, Pine River, MN 56474.

Creating the Link is a new publication taking an in-depth look at artists and teachers working together to embed the creative process in the classroom. A joint project of COMPAS, the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education, Creating the Link was designed to connect new artist residency models with education standards. The publication is available for $12 plus $3 postage ($10 for orders of 10 or more, plus postage) from COMPAS, 304 Landmark Center, 75 W. 5th St., St. Paul, MN 55102; waits@compas.org; Phone: 651-292-3254.

Volunteers for box office, front of house staff or other positions at the Minnesota Fringe Theatre & Performance Festival, August 3-12, will enjoy free passes to plays - and more - in exchange for their time. Many volunteers are needed for House Manager, Box Officer, Usher and many other roles, depending on time and interest. To volunteer, contact Joshua Thorson, Box Office Manager, joshuathorson@hotmail.com, 612-872-1212, ext. 7, or Joe Holladay, Managing Director, volunteer@fringefestival.org, 612-872-1212, ext. 3, or go to www.fringefestival.org.

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts seeks a responsible person to assist the Executive Director in organizing statewide grassroots advocacy for the arts. Requires office experience, computer literacy, writing/communication skills, ability to work independently and handle a variety of people with tact and intelligence. Knowledge of state political system and grassroots organizing and/or arts administration a plus. 3/4 time for Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and 1/4 time for the Forum of Regional Arts Councils of MN. Salary mid to upper 20s based on experience. Send résumé and cover letter by Monday, July 9, to: MCA, 708 N. First St, # 235-D, Minneapolis 55401; Fax 612-338-2907.

The Perpich Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley seeks substitute teachers in all areas. Hours 8-12:10 or 12:45-4:15. License not required, graduate students preferred. Fax brief resume to Marla Riemer, 763-591-4646. FMI: 763-591-4737.

White Bear Center for the Arts is seeking Arts Instructors for September through November. $16-$25 per hour. Submit class proposals for adult and children,s classes in all art disciplines: drawing, watercolor, sculpture, ceramics, painting, textiles, mosaics, beading, performance and writing. Most classes held at the Center, but other sites possible. Include class title, age level, skill level, starting & end dates & times, maximum number of students per class, material fee, material supply list and brief description of the class or workshop. E-mail proposals by July 13 to Education Coordinator Sue Rutford at wbca@usfamily.net, or fax: 651-429-1569, or mail: 2228 4th St, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. FMI: 651-407-0597.

Art-Tech Productions, a creative sceneshop and production company in Minneapolis, needs qualified individuals with experience in theatre, cabinetry, metalwork fabrication for scenic & cabinetry carpenter position - open for full-time, summer and per project basis. Creative projects, good working conditions, competitive wages. 612-379-4840 or Fax 612-379-1447.

The Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis seeks an experienced Development professional to lead its corporate contributions programs. Duties include cultivation, securing corporate sponsorships, and making face to face solicitations, grantwriting, and reporting. Must have 3 to 5 years experience working in a development setting. Send cover letter and resume to Director of the Annual Fund, CTC, 2400 Third Ave S., Minneapolis 55404.

United Arts of Central Minnesota is seeking an Executive/Development Director to plan and execute the organization's fund-raising & day-to-day operations. Must have college degree and 3+ years fund raising success with businesses, corporations, foundations, and individual donors; excellent verbal and written skills and demonstrated ability to work with volunteers. Full-time with competitive salary. Send confidential resume and references to: Search Committee, United Arts of Central MN, PO Box 1212, St. Cloud, MN 56301-1212.

Resources and Counseling for the Arts in St. Paul seeks an Artists Services Program Assistant to start in July or August. 3/4-time (30 hours/week). Seek a practicing artist with knowledge of Twin Cities and/or Minnesota arts community. Applicants from all arts disciplines will be considered, but priority is for a visual artist who is a well-organized, reliable, focused self-starter with ability to multi-task, have strong people skills and function smoothly as part of a team. Also desire experience in teaching and public speaking, basic computer skills, flexible schedule, and desire to learn. Beginning salary of $12/hour and benefits. Contact Chris Osgood, RCA Director of Artists Services, 651-292-3206 or email chris@rc4arts.org with questions or to set up an interview. More job info at Springboard for the Arts (www.rc4arts.org).

The American Composers Forum seeks a Director of MN programs to do community building, interfaith and multicultural alliances, resource development. Job description and qualifications at American Composers Forum (www.composersforum.org). Send resume with cover letter to American Composers Forum, 332 Minnesota St., Suite E-145, Saint Paul, MN 55101.

The Schubert Club, whose mission is to promote the art of music, particularly recital music, through concert, museum, and education programs, is seeking a full-time Office Assistant to answer phones, assist with concert productions, support development efforts, coordinate piano rentals and moves, serve as liaison to a computer consultant, and other clerical duties as necessary. Seek a four-year degree, strong organizational skills, computer experience, previous office experience desirable and an interest in classical music. Salary is commensurate with experience and includes generous benefits package. Send letter of application and resume to: Executive Director, The Schubert Club, 302 Landmark Center, 75 West Fifth Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102; 651-292-3267; Fax 651-292-4317; bcarlson@schubert.org; The Schubert Club (www.schubert.org).