The Back Track to Art

At the Northfield Guild, we struggle with modern economic realities, just like most modern families do. This past month, for instance, while we finally received a generous donation of desperately needed new(ish) computers, of course the cost to have the hardware put in place and the software installed still came to over $1000–a bill we can scarcely afford, especially considering how tight has been charitable giving this past year…

But this is not to complain. Instead, it’s to indicate we Guilders fully understand how hard it can be to make ends meet these days. And this, of course, can be especially true of hard-working artists, struggling to sell their work to a stressed out public and to find resources to keep their practices alive.

This awareness of modern economic realities is why we are proud to announce the launch, at long last, of the Artists Resource Center at the Guild. This is thanks to several recent donations of materials, as well as the hard organizational work of our able intern, Caleb Hendrickson. The Center includes resources, information, and other services that are intended to help artists help themselves. In a week or 10 days, I will post a full list of the current resources available (or soon to be available) at the Guild’s Resource Center, and I will issue a challenge to artists to continue to pool their resources for the good of each other. If you would like to know in advance of that posting, feel free to come by or email me at michael(at)northfieldartsguild(dot)org.

Be well, and don’t be distant.

… since I last posted on “Back Track to Art.” Why so long? Well, there are lots of reasons, but mostly it’s because things have been crazy-busy here. There’s simply lots going on in Northfield in the Arts–and in the dead of winter, too.

Just to list a few things upcoming:

The play “The Lady’s Not for Burning“  by Christopher Fry runs February 15, 16, 17, and 22, 23 and 24. To buy tix, you can go here.

The Northfield All Schools art exhibition has been launched, and it runs now through March 8, culminating in the raucous, daylong Imagination Celebration on February 23.

And the Guild’s Annual Auction for the Arts is looming, on March 14, with multiple new features, a new venue, and lots of prizes and surprizes. Stay tuned to learn more!

The State Arts Board is seeking an Office Manager.

According to the announcement: “This position, and the two program associate positions that we posted earlier, are part of an internal restructuring that is underway.  In an effort to give more attention to programs and services, some routine administrative functions will be outsourced and more staff time will be dedicated to grant programs and program support. The goal of this reorganization is to improve the service we are able to provide to constituents.“ 

Office Coordinator

The Arts Board is seeking qualified candidates for the position of office coordinator. This person will serve as executive assistant to executive director, and will oversee the administrative support functions of the agency. The position requires a person who is highly organized, and skilled in time and workflow management.

More information is available on the employment page of the State Arts Board’s website:  http://www.arts.state.mn.us/about/employment.htm

David Kjerland, age 65 of Northfield, stained glass artist and owner of the Kjerland Studio, passed away Monday, October 15, 2007 at his home. The staff at the Arts Guild will miss his quiet, artistic spirit and his positive demeanor; he was often seen at Guild events, where he was known for his encouraging smile.

His family invites friends and neighbors to join in mourning his death and celebrating his life on Saturday, October 20 at First United Church of Christ (Congregational), 300 Union Street, Northfield, Minnesota. To read more of his obituary, go to Northfield.org.

Bonita Parker was a longtime supporters of the Northfield Arts Guild, proprietor of Three Acres Antiques in Northfield, and staff member at St. Olaf College. She served for many years as a devoted theater committee volunteer and box office attendant. Her late-husband, Donovan, was known for his tireless contributions to the theater as a musical and comedic performer, a set worker and stage hand, and an enthusiastic conversationalist.

The Northfield Arts Guild, its staff and members, extends its condolences and best wishes at this time to Bonita’s family and loved ones.

From northfield.org:

Bonita passed away Friday evening, October 12, 2007 at United Hospital in St. Paul at the age of 73.

Services will be 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield with Revs. Steve Swanson & John Qaum officiating. Music will be provided by the trio of Myrna Johnson, Ruth Legvold and Leslie Lykens. Organist will be Donna Paulsen. Honorary casket bearers will be Bruce Moe, Wil Brosz, Noel Stratmoen, Lois Stratmoen, Don Sahling, Jim Enestvedt, Hal Gargrave and Nathan Knutson. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be next to Donovan, his parents and grandparents, in the Parker family plot at Westbrook Cemetery in Westbrook, Minnesota.

Memorials are suggested to Waldorf, St. John’s, St. Olaf, Mount of Olives Lutheran Church in Phoenix or Northfield Arts Guild.

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.

Springboard for the Arts has requested that we inform our artist membership of the upcoming Health Fair for Artists.

Please join us at Springboard for the Arts’ Health Fair for Artists, a day devoted to connecting all artists, arts administrators, and their families to healthcare resources.

The Health Fair is on Saturday, November 3rd from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Carleton Artist Lofts in St. Paul (2285 University Ave).

The event is FREE; pre-register online at www.springboardforthearts.org or by phone at 651-292-4381. Please see below for event features, including free screenings and a list of Table Sponsors.

The Minnesota State Arts Board has asked for help in finding the right person for an important new position.

The State Arts Board is seeking an arts program associate whose principal responsibilities will be to identify, recruit, and coordinate the work of the  Board’s volunteer grant review and program advisory committee members.  The program associate also will assist with other program responsibilities.

This is a full-time position, open immediately.

Interested individuals are encouraged to apply online through the Minnesota Department of Employee Relations.

We’ve posted a link to the full position description and to the online application site in the Employment section of our Web site: http://www.arts.state.mn.us/about/employment.htm

Do you love art and appreciate the idea of spending your days surrounded by it?

The 48-year-old Northfield Arts Guild is seeking a part-time shop manager and gallery coordinator at our downtown location. The optimal candidate will have good sales skills and wholesale purchasing experience, and be people-oriented and creative. Experience working in a gallery setting or with artists and volunteers is a plus.

Please send a resume and cover letter to:
Northfield Arts Guild
304 Division Street
Northfield, MN 55105

Please reply by September 7, 2007

This blog is just finding its web-feet, so it has yet to be linked anywhere–neither to the Northfield Arts Guild’s own website nor to either of the local community discourse clearing houses. But this will happen. Soon. Mark my word…

Meanwhile, as a preview, here are a few things you can look forward to reading about in coming weeks on The Back Track to Art:

• A new NAG web-feature: Artist Links. A page of web-links from artists around the Northfield community.
• A new NAG artist program: ARC. The Artist Resource Center, an effort by the Guild to get crucial services and information to artists who need it.
• A new NAG initiative: The Generation Next Initiative. An effort to engage and involve college students in community arts programming, which will have–if all goes well–two complete programs in place by this fall.
• A new community initiative: Arts and Culture Collaborative. An effort by organizations to join together to share resources and work together for the greater good of the community.

Of course, these programs are in addition to all the great ongoing programs, classes, projects and shows you’ve all come to expect from your fabulous Arts Guild!

Welcome to the blog of the executive director of the Northfield Arts Guild in Northfield, Minnesota.

You’re probably wondering why I’ve decided to call this blog The Back Track to Art. Good question!

I was thinking first and foremost that, with the so-called blogosphere growing ever more subdivided and crowded, I should give my blog a name that’s at least somewhat catchy. This is in the hopes that some of you might remember to check back every now and then to see what’s going on.

But even more than this, the name is inspired by an interview with the new Minnesota State Arts Board director, Thomas Proehl that I published while wearing my arts writer hat on mnartists.org this week.

I was asking Mr. Proehl about how his career developed after graduating from Moorhead State with a degree in theater, and he said:

I ultimately moved to New York hoping to be an actor and realized that I didn’t have the … personality, maybe, to continually be rejected. So I thought there’s gotta be a way for me to be in the arts, because that’s all I wanted to do. I found that there’s the back track, which is the administrative track to support what’s on the stage and what’s being presented. So that’s the route I took. [Emphasis added.]

I simply liked Proehl’s turn of phrase–the back track–for the administrative end of the arts. And since this blog will at least somewhat focus on my adventures in arts administration, I figure what better name is there for it?

I hope you enjoy The Back Track to Art!