Artists' Pipeline #35 - July 2002

Springboard for the Arts, which serves artists and arts organizations, unveiled a new sculpture on May 20. Springboard, which recently changed its name from Resources and Counseling for the Arts, commissioned the sculpture (called SERVE) from the DeafArt Club. Springboard is located at 308 Prince Street, Suite 270, in the Northern Warehouse Building of downtown St. Paul. It houses a library of resources for artists and arts administrators, a Job Book, classrooms and offices for consultations. FMI: 651-292-4381 or 800-546-2891, e-mail info@springboardforthearts.org or go to Springboard for the Arts (www.springboardforthearts.org).

Four VSA arts Young Soloists Award recipients received standing ovations before a full house at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Terrace Theater on March 20. Pianist, composer, and music commentator Robert Kapilow served as guest host for this event, sponsored by Panasonic and The Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund of the Kennedy Center. This year's Panasonic Young Soloists Award recipients are Anthony Hearn, a vocalist from Eden, North Carolina, and Missa Haas, a pianist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Rosemary Kennedy International Young Soloists Award recipients are Adrian Anantawan, a violinist from Mississaugua, Ontario, and Catriona Hetherington, a cellist from Dunfermline, Scotland.

The National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, and U.S. Department of Labor signed an interagency agreement on March 20 to support and assist activities that advance careers in the arts for individuals with disabilities. VSA arts and the Kennedy Center were invited to join as partners. The agencies plan to make funds available to implement plans that came from a National Forum held in 1998 and five subsequent meetings of artists, arts administrators, rehabilitation professionals, and agency staff. Those meetings identified barriers and solutions and made recommendations on how best to advance arts careers for people with disabilities. Priorities for funding are:
1. programs and activities with arts organizations to enhance job skills, artistry, and opportunity;
2. projects that foster universal design;
3. educating service groups and organizations on making workplaces inclusive and accessible;
4. projects that are designed to educate on careers in the arts.
For more information, visit the NEA website at National Endowment for the Arts (www.arts.endow.gov).

Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, has received the 2002 Chronicles of Courage Award for his outstanding contribution to improving the lives of people with disabilities. Author of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Harkin was nominated by VSA arts. He accepted the award May 16 at this year's VSA arts International Night Gala at the Embassy of Japan.

Governor Jesse Ventura used his veto pen to delete arts projects from the bonding bill passed in late May by the Minnesota Legislature. The Governor asserted that the bonding bill should include only projects with "statewide" significance. Among the bonding requests not funded this year were the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul ($70 million), Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis ($35 million), Children's Theatre, Minneapolis ($12 million), Shubert Theater, Minneapolis (Artspace, $10 million), Trollwood, Moorhead ($5.5 million), Murphy's Landing, Shakopee ($3 million), Rochester Art Center ($2.3 million), Bloomington Art Center ($1 million), Pipestone County Museum ($125,000).
Ventura announced on June 17 that he would not be seeking reelection.

The Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis has appointed Kristen Gandrow as its new Director of Playwright Services, succeeding Megan Monaghan. Kristen has been working as a freelance dramaturg and has developed an impressive resume as a program administrator. Contact her at the Center, 2301 Franklin Ave. E., Minneapolis, MN 55406, kristeng@pwcenter.org, 612-332-7481, ext. 21; or Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis (www.pwcenter.org).

Snoopi Botten, a 36-year-old Minneapolis man with cerebral palsy, is a singer, performer, artist, writer, reporter, poet, and corporate consultant. His first CD, "Words Of Love," came out in March of 2000 with all original material. His new CD includes four Twin Cities' vocalists, Lori Dokken, Debbie Duncan, Judi Donaghy and Erin Schwab, in a jam session of inspirational tunes such as W. Robinson's "Harriet Tubman," Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready," six original songs by local composer Dan Adler and more. Botten uses a communication device and the software, DECTALK, to assist him not only in speech but in singing. He programs it to take every sound within each word and assigns it a pitch and time value. When each sound is strung together, it sounds like a voice that can sing in French, scat a Frank Sinatra tune, etc. "JAM" was recorded, engineered and mixed by Lori Dokken at Swedish Girl Music Company. To order, send $18 to Snoopi Botten, 2100 Bloomington Ave., S., #111, Minneapolis, MN 55404, e-mail dectalk@aol.com, or go to Singing with Dectalk (http://hometown.aol.com/dectalk/myhomepage/index.html).

The VSA arts home office in Washington, DC, is collecting book titles, CDs, videos and DVDs in the subject areas of the arts, education and disabilities for the use of visitors, educators and families. It has established a relationship with www.Amazon.com so that purchases of these items through VSA's Web site (www.vsarts.org) will result in funds raised for the organization and its activities. In the short term, the public can use a list of customized searches on Amazon.com to select books and other materials independently. In the long term, VSA arts would recommend a customized, handpicked list of books and other media will be useful to the public and affiliate organizations in practicing and promoting their programs. Go to the main "Resources" page at: VSA arts/Resources (www.vsarts.org/resources/index.html). The customized Amazon searches are located at: VSA arts/Resources/Amazon (www.vsarts.org/resources/amazon/index.html) and the form for suggestions is at: VSA arts/Resources/Resources Submissions Form (www.vsarts.org/resources/resourcesform.html).

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division (DHHSD) of the Minnesota Department of Human Services is seeking input on what needs to be done to improve, expand or change interpreter services in Minnesota and what they should do to make sure there are enough skilled interpreters in all parts of the state. To provide your feedback, fill out a survey at: Interpreter Referral Survey (http://www.interpreterreferral.org/survey/index.html).

Gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender identified writers/performers with disabilities are invited to participate in a reading series in Minneapolis being curated by Laurie McKiernan. She is looking for writers (poets, playwrights, fiction and non-fiction), performance poets, storytellers or artists in other mediums like puppetry, songwriting, video and performance art that utilize original narrative. The free readings are held monthly at Patrick's Cabaret, 3010 Minnehaha Avenue S., Minneapolis. The space is wheelchair accessible, there's a no-scent policy, and ASL interpretation is available with two weeks' prior notice. Co-sponsors are SASE: The Write Place, Patrick's Cabaret, and The Schochett Center for GLBT Studies at the U of M. For more information, or to sign up for a future show, contact McKiernan at lala@waste.org.

People Inc. will present the 8th annual Artability at Apollo Oct. 3-5. The exhibit by Minnesota artists experiencing mental illness will focus on empowerment and include photography, watercolor, charcoal, pen & ink, collage, acrylic, pastel, oil, etc. All Minnesota artists with a mental illness are invited to participate in free workshops and submit artwork for the show by 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12. Workshops are held at Apollo Resource Center, l25 N. Dale Street, St. Paul:
July 9: Beginning Watercolor, 5:30-7:30
July 16: Beginning Photography 3:30-5:00 (bring a camera if you have one)
July 25: Drawing 3:00-5:00
August 6: Pricing and Presenting your Art (Bring your art!) 5:30-7:30
August 12 & 19: Matting and Framing your Art (Bring your art!) 6:30-8:00
For more information or to register for workshops, contact Karen Kasel, Jessica Reynolds Cook or Hal Genther at 651-227-6321.

The Minnesota Spoken Word Association has a new hotline with information about spoken word events and open mics in the Twin Cities area. A three-minute message will be updated weekly at 612-789-INFO. MNSWA has also been working with KMOJ Radio (89.9 FM) to develop a weekly spoken word community calendar with information about spoken word events and open mics in the Twin Cities.
To have information included in these media, send to: ebailey@bitstream.net.
Tehuti: The Art of Spoken Word radio program debuted in February and is being broadcast on KFAI-FM every Sunday from 11 pm to midnight. It showcases spoken word and related recordings throughout history, including Twin Cities area guest artists and poets. KFAI Fresh Air Radio is found at 90.3 FM Minneapolis, 106.7 FM in St. Paul, or online at KFAI Fresh Air Radio (www.kfai.org). Hosts are e.g.bailey and Shá Cage. Send materials and recordings to: Attn e.g. bailey, Box 125, KFAI Fresh Air Radio, 1808 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55454.
VERBOSE is a monthly venue exploring the world of Spoken Word. Hosted by Kay Kirscht and other spoken word artists, the events are Tuesdays at 7:30 at the accessible, smoke-free Acadia Cabaret Café, 1931 Nicollet Ave. S. (at Franklin) in Minneapolis. Suggested donation is $3. For more information, call 612-874-8702.

The Silver Lake Film Festival, taking place Sept. 20-23 in Los Angeles, and embracing non-mainstream and experimental film and video, seeks features, shorts, screenplays and festival trailers. The SilverScreen screenplay competition encourages submissions by July 15 from writers who have not yet sold or optioned a feature script. Entry fee is $30. For full details and deadlines, go to Silver Lake Film Festival (www.silverlakefilmfestival.com) or contact Silver Lake Film Festival, 2658 Griffith Park Blvd #389, Los Angeles, CA 90039; 323-221-1763; Vangie Griego, Festival Co-Director; Email: vangie@silverlakefilmfestival.com.

This contest collects scripts and fees, has a jury read scripts, and awards winners up to $2,500 in cash. Be sure to read the rules and contract carefully as you may have to agree to terms if your script wins. Entry fee is $45, and scripts are due July 31. For more information: National Screenwriting Competition (www.nationalscreenwriting.com), e-mail director@skyweb.net, or contact National Screenwriting Competition, 145 Broad Street, Matawan, NJ 07747; (732) 566-1800; Fax (732) 566-7336.

Art by 14 visual artists with disabilities is on display during July at the Hennepin Gallery in the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis.
The exhibit is "The Tip of the Iceberg," indicating that much of the art being created by Minnesota artists with disabilities is hidden below the surface of what is visible in most galleries. Coordinated by VSA arts of Minnesota, the exhibit includes works in watercolor, pastel, acrylic, paper mache, sculpture, color pencil, oil, silkscreen, charcoal and mixed media.
Artists from the Twin Cities are Brently Michael Davis, D. Costandine, Jane Gerus and Theresa Wanta of St. Paul; Howard Carson, Tara Arlene Innmon, Anne Krocak and Mari Newman of Minneapolis; Dennis Behr of St. Louis Park; and Jon Leverentz, Roseville.
Artists from rural Minnesota are Rita A. Soeffner of Clearwater; Danny Gayder, Floodwood; Jennifer Hanson, Hibbing; and John Hummingbird, Park Rapids.
The exhibit is on the lower level of the government center, 300 South 6th Street, near the waterfall. For more information, contact VSA arts of Minnesota, 612-332-3888 voice/tty, info@vsaartsmn.org.

Art by six visual artists with disabilities is on display through October at the Vision Loss Resources Lobby Gallery in Minneapolis.
Coordinated by VSA arts of Minnesota, the exhibit includes watercolors by Jean Watson of Duluth, Rita A. Soeffner of Clearwater, and Paul Hanson of Mankato; works in brush marker by Char Coal of Minneapolis; and tactile mixed media by Carol O'Connor of Apple Valley and Suzyn Lundgren, Minneapolis.
Vision Loss Resources is located at 1936 Lyndale Ave. S. (at Franklin). Most of the artworks are available for sale. The exhibit will be up through October 31. For more information, contact VSA arts of Minnesota, 612-332-3888 voice/tty, jon@vsaartsmn.org; or for directions call Vision Loss Resources, 612-871-2222.

An art show by artists from Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts is up through August 3 at the Bloomington Art Center. The gallery is open Monday - Friday from 9:00-5:00 and Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. It is at 10206 Penn Ave. S. near Old Shakopee Road. For more information: Bloomington Art Center (www.bloomingtonartcenter.com) or Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts (www.InteractCenter.com) or call 612-339-5145.

Forty-four artists who work in the Northern Clay Center studios in Minneapolis will present their functional and sculptural work in a show from June 28 through July 27. Guest-curated by Robert Briscoe, ceramic artist and 2001 McKnight Artist Fellowship recipient, the gallery will feature an opening night reception from 6:00 to 8:00. The Center is located at 2424 Franklin Ave. E. and the gallery is open 10:00 to 5:00 Monday thru Saturday, until 7:00 on Thursdays. FMI: 612-339-8007 or Northern Clay Center (www.northernclaycenter.org).

Springboard for the Arts offers classes for individual artists and for arts organizations. Check the complete listing in their newsletter or at Springboard for the Arts (www.springboardforthearts.org). Most workshops are at their office in downtown Saint Paul, 308 Prince St., #270. FMI: contact RCA at 651-292-4381 or info@springboardforthearts.org.

What's going on with arts in schools? Just go to the Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education website (www.allarts4allkids.org) and click on "Jump to the Arts Education Calendar" to see. (The Perpich Center for Arts Education provided all the teaching artists opportunities.)
To have a listing included, send calendar submissions regarding events, professional development, advocacy or funding opportunities with statewide or regional significance to Holly Wright at holly@allarts4allkids.org. Include (1) Date, (2) Very short description of item, and (3) Web address (URL) for more information or phone number and contact name.