Borderland Minutes – October 2019

Attendees: Sharon Antonissen, Monica Fohn, Jeff Gurchinoff, Dave Heritsch, Pam Heritsch, Kathy Kuczek, Jane Landwehr, Barb Marden, Cyndi Safstrom, Darlene Strand, Terry O’Connor.

Meeting called to order at 5:50 pm.

Jeff brought animal silhouette cut-outs and asked anyone who was interesting in painting them to take the silhouettes they would like to work on.

Set-up for the annual art show at the Jake Menghini Museum on Thursday, October 10 at 1:30 pm. Pieces will be available for pickup.

Darlene passed out the October calendar. This will be the last calendar Darlene and Terry will produce due to lower demand than in the past. Jeff thanked Darlene and Terry for all their years of work on our calendar and newsletter previously. Jeff wondered if we should consider posting more links on our website in the future and also encouraged members to use the galleries on the website to market their work.

Darlene shared a note from Melisse about artists participating in the Third Thursday event at the Braumart. It could be a demonstration or just talking to any visitors about Borderland Arts and showing them the mini-gallery at the Braumart. Barb said she will take next Thursday. Darlene will participate in November and Dave and Pam will handle December.

Since we will no longer have the calendars, Darlene passed out our flyer we could perhaps use in its place. She asked members to take a look at the flyer and advise her of any corrections at our next meeting.

We have not had a lot of sales at current mini-galleries. Jane has not yet been able to contact Liz at Savage Mane to find out if that relationship will continue. Dave should be able to stop in a see Liz. Coffee shops have shown mild enthusiasm, but have made no commitments. Dave also offered his studio as gallery space for anyone who is interested. He has a regular garden walk and has signs in Amberg and will have new ones in Pembine and Iron Mountain.

Darlene also asked if folks had heard about Mia Tavenotti’s recent accident. She sustained significant injuries from falling off a scaffolding.

Our next meeting is expected to be at Bay College, although there may be a possibility that Jeff can arrange for us to meet at the Children’s Museum. Check the website before the meeting for information regarding our meeting location for November.

Submitted by:

Barb Marden
Secretary

 

Borderland Minutes – September 2019

Attendees: Sharon Antonissen, Daniel Bal, Phyllis Carlson, Jeff Gurchinoff, Dave Heritsch, Pam Heritsch, Kathy Kuczek, Jane Landwehr, Barb Marden, Cyndi Safstrom, Darlene Strand, Terri Doepker.

Meeting at Bay College called to order at 6:08 pm.

Darlene passed out the September Calendar. She asked for ideas about what to publicize on the back of the calendar in October. It was decided that we will mention the Menghini show and perhaps the exhibit that is at the Braumart. Darlene and Terry picked up an unusually large amount (70) of unused August calendars. Usually they get zero back. They will decrease the amount they reproduce in October and are hoping that this was just a fluke; however, they have been doing the calendar for many years and are getting burned out. Jeff will bring this up with the community center volunteers to see if there is someone who is interested in taking this over.

Darlene shared a note from Melisse Carr about our collaboration with the Marquette Poetry Circle and specifically about the reception at the Peter White Library. The link to the collaboration website is on the Borderland Arts website in the related blog post.

Plans are being made to revisit the exhibit at Bay College next year and there will likely be an opportunity to add new work to the exhibit. Chris Granger has made arrangements with the college for this to take place and was looking at February for the reception; however, she will not be in town until February 9, which is after our February meeting. Jeff suggested the March meeting as reception date. Jeff will talk to Ryan about any conflicts with the student show. Between now and then, we would expect to begin another collaboration with the poets.

Darlene highlighted a couple events:

Christine Saari invited Borderlands members to see her show at the Bonifas, Telling Stories Through Words and Images. The exhibit started today and will run through October 22. A reception will take place on October 3.

Barb Marden plans to offer a journaling workshop at the Crystal Falls Contemporary Center; however, it is possible the workshop will change to incorporate some art journaling techniques as well.

Watch for an opportunity to submit work for an upcoming fiber arts show at the Bonifas called Fabrications. The application should be available in October.

Jeff gave us an update on the children’s museum. They are creating a small replica of Iron Mountain showing the different businesses and how they interact with each other. The museum is expecting to open on December 29. Various businesses are donating time and material for construction. Connor Sport Flooring is going to install the floor of the inspiration factory. They will have a hydroponic garden in the walkway with a farm model. That will generate produce for a farmer’s market. There will also be a Humane society where kids can adopt stuffed animals.

Another feature of the museum will be animal silhouettes that can be put various places for kids to find. Jeff asked if the Borderland Arts community was interested in painting the actual size silhouette shapes in a realistic fashion. Sharon said she has wood she would be able to donate. Dan offered to cut the silhouettes out and bring them to the next meeting. We’ll be able take them home to work with them.

Sharon recently spoke to Rachel Eggleseer, who is interested in establishing an art gallery into the building that houses ReMax in Florence. ReMax employees would collect money and take a commission.   There was some concern about managing a gallery in Florence, so we will want to consider further. However, if an individual or combination of members wants to jump on it, they are welcome to go ahead. We will advertise to the Borderland e-mail list. Sharon will write something up and send to Darlene to distribution.

Jinx wants to have a reception for artists at the Braumart. Jeff would also like to get a couple other venues up and running so people could also walk to the other galleries. We are not sure if Savage Mane still has an interest in maintaining a gallery. Contrast Coffee and Organic Grounds are still both a possibility, but we don’t yet have any firm arrangements. We should ultimately have some space at the Children’s Museum for a small gallery. There is also a new store moving in on Hughitt. There is a possibility that he might want art, but no one has met the owner yet.

Barb agreed to handle coordinating the Menghini show again this year.

Our next meeting on October 3rd will be at Dave and Pam Heritsch’s studio in Dunbar. It takes about 40 minutes to get there from Iron Mountain. We’ll have the opportunity to create our own metal flower sculpture which they will help us put together. Jeff thought we might want to start earlier than our normal meeting since it is getting darker and it might be harder to find in the dark. We will send out an e-mail to members informing them about the alternate location and asking for an RSVP to Barb. Dave will send Barb a map.

Jeff encouraged members to mention Borderland Arts to those who they think would be interested.

Following the business portion of the meeting, members shared their artwork related to our Summer theme: Wildlife.

Submitted by:

Barbara Marden
Secretary

Borderland Minutes – May 2019

Attendees: 10 members present

Meeting at Bay College called to order at 6:20 pm.

Kathy Kuczek read the financial report.

Members introduced themselves to a new a new member: Ed Wills of Milwaukee.

Members agreed to recess for the “summer”, until September 5.

Jane Landwehr agreed to represent artists exhibiting at Savage Mane and Greenway Books. Melisse Carr agreed to represent artists exhibiting at the Braumart. Email will be used to announce dates/times for changing artwork. Kathy Kuczek will make the address list available for Jane and Melisse to contact via email.

Kathy Kuczek’s work will be showcased at the Bonifas Fine Arts Center, Escanaba, June 25 – July 23.

Joe Santi asked if everyone can encourage others to show at Art for All. Note to Barb…how can we best do this?

Kathy Kuczek enjoyed the collaboration project and wants to encourage another group-style project. Kathy challenged everyone to a drawing, painting, sculpture, etc that follows the theme of wildlife…bring what you produce to the next regular meeting, Sept. 5.

Show and tell followed. Artwork for the collaboration was collected by Melisse. A group photo was taken for the newspaper to announce the collaboration.

Submitted by:

Melisse Carr

Borderland Minutes – April 2019

Attendees: Sharon Antonissen, Daniel Bal, Kathy Bal, Phyllis Carlson, Melisse Carr, Terri Doepker, Jeff Gurchinoff, Kathy Kuczek, Jane Landwehr, Barb Marden, Terry O’Connor, Cyndi Safstrom, Sharon Schmeltzer, Audrey Smith

Meeting at Bay College called to order at 6:20 pm.

Jeff welcomed the group. We went around the room to introduce ourselves for the new members who were in attendance.

Old business:

Another mini-gallery has been installed at the Braumart Theater to join our galleries at the Savage Mane and Greenway Books. There was some talk about Greenway Books closing; however they have come up with alternative plan. Jane’s daughter, who owns the building, is partnering with another woman who will be operating an “Emporium”-type store on the main floor, where we will keep the art. The books will be moved downstairs. We would plan to install another rack system if we vote to do so, which would cost about another $240.

Jeff provided an update on the new Children’s Museum/Community Center. The committee is now partnering rooms and exhibits with local businesses as sponsors. The three subject areas for exhibites will be Environmental, Industry, and Health. The walkway between the center and the school will ultimately be a hydroponic garden.

Jeff is working with Mia Tavenotti on some more murals for the summer. Proposed locations are Rhinelander, Gladstone and Manistique.

Melisse updated the group on the collaboration with the Marquette Poet’s Circle. Melisse passed out a sheet of information related to the collaboration. The website where the pieces are being shared is in the process of being finalized. The physical display of artwork, Words and Music, will take place at the Peter White Library in Marquette in the Huron Mountain Gallery. On Thursday, May 30, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Melisse needs three volunteers to help hang artwork. The show will run through July 12. The artwork will be taken down and brought home by 7/19.

Janeen needed to sign an agreement with the library and Melisse provided a copy of the agreement to Barb for our files. Between now and May 15, participants should get artwork to Melisse that they want included in the show. Include an adhesive label on the back and include an inventory of the pieces that have been provided. Members can also bring pieces to the next meeting.

Janeen will send an e-mail with label information, which we should return to her and will be the final commitment about artwork to be included in the show.

The website already being advertised on Facebook. Poet’s circle is providing everything for the reception. Melisse demonstrated how the website works.

Melisse also shared some information about a currently running show called “Words” by the Marquette Artists’ Collective at The Gallery in the downtown Marquette Masonic Square. The show will run until April 30.

As a final note, the group was informed that Genean Granger has passed away.

Upon completion of business, moved on to sharing artwork that we brought.

The next meeting will be February 6 at Bay College.

Submitted by:

Barbara Marden
Secretary

Borderland Minutes – January 2019

Attendees: Hannah Antonissen, Sharon Antonissen, Jeff Gurchinoff, Kathy Kuczek, Bob DeDecker, Jane Landwehr, Barb Marden, Terry O’Connor, Cyndi Safstrom, Audrey Smith, Darlene Strand

This meeting at Maple Creek Restaurant was a belated holiday gathering. We had a brief meeting following dinner.

New business:

Jeff advised that the new Children’s Museum/Community Center would like some input from Borderland Arts members on the arrangement and design of the proposed space. Jeff suggested that members meet at the center on January 8th at 5:00 pm for a tour of the space.

Old business:

Jeff has measured the space available for our proposed gallery at the Braumart. He will go ahead and order the hanging system and submit a receipt to Kathy for reimbursement.

We need to develop an ongoing plan to rotate work in our galleries and wants to get more of our artists involved in displaying work.

As far as the proposed student gallery at Greenway, Jeff would like students to be involved in organizing and managing. Jeff asked if Hannah would be willing to help engage ASA members. Sharon Antonissen offered to work with students in matting their artwork.

Sharon also mentioned that she was offering 10% off framing for the month of January. She will write a post for the Facebook group.

The next meeting will be February 6 at Bay College.

Borderland Minutes – December 2018

Attendees: Christine Burns, Melisse Carr, Miriam Edwards (guest), Gail Galotta (guest), Jeff Gurchinoff, Stella Hanson, Christine Kionka, Kathy Kuczek, Jane Landwehr, Barb Marden, Terry O’Connor, Cyndi Safstrom, Sharon Schmeltzer, Audrey Smith, Darlene Strand

Meeting at Bay College was called to order at 6:00

Currently treasury balance: $2,378.00

New business:

Melisse explained how the poetry exchange program works. We will now get some specific poems by the Marquette poets to react to visually.

Gail Galotta read her poem, Symphony in Reverie.

Proposing March meeting to reconvene and share the work that we have done between now and then reacting to the poem we have selected.

We put out the music themed work members created to share with the group.

Christine Burns kindly took photographs of each piece and will send the photographs directly to Janeen Rastall with a copy to the artists.

Old business:

Audrey mentioned the Nutcracker Ballet taking place at the Braumart over the upcoming weekend. Elizabeth’s daughter is Snow Queen. Miriam’s granddaughter is Clara. The Christmas Letters program (written by Gail Galotta) will take place at the Braumart a week from Sunday.

Jeff will talk with Organic Grounds coffee about development of our gallery in January. Once that is established, the work currently at Greenway is expected to move there.

Greenway books will become a student gallery. Community center meeting will be the 14th of December. Jeff intends to ask student empowerment teams to reach out to student artists.

Greenway’s furnace has been fixed; however, she could use some help covering some previous bills involved in temporary heating while the furnace was inoperable. Jeff asked the group if we would consider a donation for Greenway because of their efforts on behalf of the community. Melisse made a motion for a $100 donation. Barb seconded. Borderland Arts will donate $100 to Greenway.

We will also go forward with a small gallery space at the Braumart. Group agreed to paying full 30% commission at Braumart to help contribute to funding the theater. Darlene made a motion to spend up to $250 on a rack system for this gallery space and possibly some of our other galleries. Kathy seconded. We would like to get some new art to put in this space.

Jeff said if anyone wants to participate in the Christmas walk, contact Liz Douglas.

Darlene mentioned that Genean Granger hasn’t been well. Her book of poetry has been published. A book signing is planned at the library a week from Saturday. Books are $15.00. She is at home in hospice.

Darlene reminded members that dues are often up in January. Kathy reminds people when their dues are up.

Terry called dibs on the poem entitled Playlist.

The next meeting will take place on January 3, 2019 and will be held at Maple Creek.

Barbara Marden
Secretary