SASKATCHEWAN CRAFT COUNCIL News

Vol. 1 No. 12 - Friday, June 8, 2007

ALERT READER OF THE WEEK

Congratulations AGAIN to Charley Farrero, the winner of this week's "Alert Reader of the Week" award. Each edition of the Saskatchewan Craft Council News will contain one strategically placed typo - see if you can spot this week's. If you see what you consider to be a typo, send it to Colin Wallace, Publications Coordinator.

Last edition's typo was in the first sentence (unintentional - an actual typo), "Congratulations to Charley Farerro," it obviously should have read, "Congratulations to Charley Farrero." The real, intended typo was, "Selebration," instead of "Celebration." Honourable mention goes to Deb Vereschagin for finding an additional type, "Schumiater," it should have been "Shumiatcher."

WELCOME NEW SCC MEMBERS

We are delighted to introduce you to our newest members, and where appropriate, we will share some new member profiles to help you to get acquainted. This week, we are pleased to welcome the following new members of the SCC:

Richard Lamartine
Sandra Ledingham
Sherry Luther
Urbain Morelli
Beverley Rowse
Mark Stobbe
Colin Wallace

Richard Lamartine is a raku ceramic artist, painter and photographer who recently purchased a home and studio building in Meacham. He is relocating from Canmore, Alberta and reports that Meacham has the idyllic qualities that Canmore had thirty years ago (except the mountains). He was guided to Meacham by his cat and an old Globe and Mail article.

His photos of the L'Agamine wood firing can be seen on the SCC website, and photos of his work can be seen at www.richardlamartine.com.

NEWS OF THE WEEK

NEW HIRE - SUMMER STUDENT
We are pleased to welcome Amanda Bosiak to the SCC Staff for the summer. Amanda is a Fine Arts student who has worked in both television and the arts world. She is also a Board member of the AKA Gallery. This summer, she will be

Helping Chris with the Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival and Living Artfully,
Giving Les and Judy a hand with Dimensions and the exhibition changeovers at the Gallery, and
Doing a number of writing projects to publicize the work of SCC members.

SaskCRAFTchewan WEBPAGE
The first edition of the much-anticipated full colour News Web page, SaskCRAFTchewan, has been emailed today. This issue will feature "MORE BIG FUN," and the "Meacham Wood Kiln" event. If you have not yet signed up for this graphic-intensive web page newsletter, request your copy today.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REVIEW
The 2007 Annual Meeting of the Saskatchewan Craft Council was held in Craik on May 27. Highlights of the meeting included:

A hotly contested election for Board positions with five candidates running for three vacancies. Wendy Weseen was re-elected, and was joined by Mickey Woodard and Dale Anne Potter.
Educational workshops on using words to describe Craft and principles for creating good web-sites, and
Presentation of the annual report and financial statements. The SCC is on the road to a return to financial stability with a deficit of $8,356 for the 2006-2007 fiscal year – down from $48,826 a year earlier.

DIMENSIONS 2007 - OPENING
Its time to unveil the exceptional Fine Craft offerings for the DIMENSIONS 2007 touring exhibition. The Awards Ceremony will take place at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina on Friday, June 15th, beginning at 7:00 pm.

BAZAART
The MacKenzie Art Gallery is pleased to present the 34th Annual Bazaart on Saturday, June 16th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on the grounds in front of the Gallery. Bazaart is one of Saskatchewan's biggist and best outdoor art and craft sales. There is something for every taste with over 100 booths of unique items, plenty of food, entertainment and activities for the whole family. Admission is $4.00, and children under 12 are free.

KYLA @ Elk Ridge Art Show & Sale
Rod & Denyse Simair will be participating in the KYLA @ Elk Ridge Art Show & Sale, this Saturday, June 9 from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. At the show will be watercolours to suit all tastes, contemporary acrylics, pastels, vibrant oils, coloured pencils, unique frescos, internationally acclaimed crystalline porcelain, 3-dimensional cast paper art, fine wood turning, wonderful weavings, original stone sculpture, & wood carving.

PARKLAND ARTISAN TOUR
Shellbrook and area artists open their studios June 23 and 24 for demonstrations, display and sale. Included are glassblowing, printmaking, pottery, woodworking, painting, bronze casting, copper metalsmith, rosemaling, stained glass, stone carving, jewellery, and journal making. The tour kicks off Friday at 8:00 pm. with the Prince Albert Pipe Band evoking the flames from the pottery pit fire. Studios are open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Pamphlets may be obtained by phoning: 306.747.3330 or e-mail: riverview_arts@yahoo.ca.

THICKWOOD HILLS STUDIO TRAIL
On August 11 and 12, 2007, the award-winning Thickwood Hills Studio Trail invites the public to follow the blue moon signs to visit the unique studios and scenery of the Shell Lake area. Demonstrations, display and sales of a wide variety of media are offered in the artists' peaceful rural homes/studios. Brochures are available at tourism and arts centres, by phoning: 306.468.2853 or online at www.studiotrail.co.

MEMBER SUCCESS NEWS

If you have news to pass on to the SCC, email our publications coordinator, Colin Wallace.

A) Cathryn Miller announces two upcoming Shows, Artfully Artificial (Welcome to the Dollhouse), invitational, Bay View Book Arts Gallery, Milwaukee, WI, June 10 – July 29, 2007; and Sense and Sensuality: A Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Artist Books, 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland, OR, June 27 – August 4, 2007.

B) There will be a stage re-opening ceremony with student performances as well, to "unveil" Karen Bereza's new slate carvings being installed on the outdoor mini-stage at 5-corners in front of Victoria School, on June 22nd. The stage marks the original location of the Little Stone School House now on the University campus.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCC MEMBERS

SASKATCHEWAN INDEMAND 2007 – Sept 14 to Sept 16
Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation is presenting this unique trade show to provide Saskatchewan entrepreneurs with opportunities to showcase and promote their “Saskatchewan Made” products and services. Applications and Information available at www.saskatoonex.com. (Deadline extended for SCC members).

PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES
The American market for Fine Craft is huge, and can be extremely lucrative. It also can be risky, time-consuming and expensive to crack this market. For the bold, the SCC will be offering a unique promotional opportunity targeted at American commercial gallery owners and collectors.

Here’s the story: The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show is one of the United States largest Fine Craft shows attracting 24,000 visitors (many of them commercial gallery owners and collectors) and generating direct sales of almost $4 million. For more information about the show click here...

This year, Canada is the “guest country”, and will have 25 Craftspeople (selected in a jurying process run by the Canadian Craft Federation) in attendance. Three Canadian exhibitors are from Saskatchewan (Mel Malkin, Megan Broner, and Rod & Denyse Simair).

These SCC members have agreed to help publicize the work of other Saskatchewan craftspeople while participating in this show. With the support of the Trade Routes Program of Canadian Heritage, the SCC will be producing a catalogue and promotional material to be distributed to commercial gallery owners and collectors at the Philadelphia Show. We will be featuring the work of a maximum of 20 Saskatchewan Craftspeople.

In the next month, we will be communicating the details on how to participate in this venture. No action is required until this occurs. However, we’d urge you to consider whether you want to use this opportunity to expand or make an initial foray into the American market. Questions you should ask yourself are:

“Can I produce enough of my best work to meet a potential increase in demand?”
“Am I willing to endure the red tape and expense of marketing in the United States?”
“Can I afford to assume the risks that come with moving into a new foreign market?”

If you want a better understanding of what’s entailed in marketing in the United States, the Opening Doors workshops being led by the Simair’s is a good place to start. For more information, click here...

CANADA DAY CELEBRATION, JULY 1, 2007 - APPLICATION FOR CRAFT SALE SPACE
Applications are now being accepted for vendors and crafts-people to participate in the Regina Canada Day celebrations. The event runs from 12:00 noon until approximately 10:30 pm when the fireworks begin. Download PDF application form here...

GOBLET SALES
Saskatoon's Broadway district is planning a fundraiser for July 12th. Several Broadway Food Merchants will be getting together to provide taste samples (like Taste of SK), and possibly some wine tasting. After the event a food movie will be shown.

Phyllis Cameron, Theatre Manager for the Broadway Theatre (715 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon) would like to know if any Craftspeople might want to use the opportunity to sell their wine goblets at the event. The goblet could be purchased and then used for the tasting. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Phyllis directly by phone: 306.652.6556, or by email: film@broadwaytheatre.ca.

SUMMER MARKETS
The Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival (Battleford, SK), and Living Artfully (Saskatoon) summer market entry deadlines have just passed, but there is still time to sneak a few more members into both events. If you misplaced your application form or calendar just phone Chris Jones toll free at 866.653.3616, ext.24 or email: scc.memberservices@shaw.ca, to make last minute arrangements.

Have a productive and profitable week!

SASKATCHEWAN CRAFT COUNCIL
813 Broadway Avenue
Saskatoon, SK S7N 1B5
306.653.3616
www.saskcraftcouncil.org