| SASKATCHEWAN CRAFT COUNCIL NEWS Vol. 1 No. 11 Friday, May 25, 2007 |
ALERT READER OF THE WEEK Congratulations to Charley Farerro, 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 found in the "SCC ANNUAL MEETING," section. The typo was, "This is your oppertunity to elect new board members..." NEWS OF THE WEEK SCC ANNUAL MEETING: Be sure to attend this year's AGM, to be held on Sunday, May 27, from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm at the Craik Eco-Centre (the real half-way point between Saskatoon and Regina). A delicious lunch will be provided. Choose between two FREE Workshops that will benefit EVERYONE interested in marketing their products, will be held in the morning: a) What Your WEBSITE says about YOU
b) Using WORDS to promote your work
The business portion of the annual meeting will be in the afternoon. This is your opportunity to elect new board members, review the finances and activities of the SCC, learn about SaskCulture's funding review for provincial cultural organizations such as the SCC, and raise any issues that you feel are important. Please contact Donna if you want to get or give a ride. 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.com. OPENING DOORS - Marketing & Exporting Workshops: Have you ever considered marketing your work outside the province or country? If so, you will be interested in these workshops. The SCC is embarking on programs to assist members with the export of their work, particularly to the USA. To register, or for more information, please contact Les or Judy at the SCC. Ph: 653.3616, ext. 25, email: scc.exhibitions@shaw.ca. MORE BIG FUN UPDATE: More Big Fun was held at the University of Saskatchewan Sculpture Studio on the May long weekend. There’s only one way to describe it – it was More Big Fun. Mark Stobbe took his 11 year old son Nicholas to see the goings on – they spent an hour watching the frenetic activity. Upon leaving, Nicholas announced, “Dad – when I go to University, this is what I want to take and this is what I want to do.” Student participant Jordan Danchilla described the event as “tons of fun” and reports that the coffee table he worked on with Jamie Russell and another student was “the first thing I’ve ever built.” He is eagerly awaiting the next More Big Fun. MBF Catalyst, Jamie Russell, reports that one highlight of this year’s More Big Fun was the number of parent child teams: Mike & Laura Hosaluk , Len and Jacob Semko, Trent and Brad Watts, Anita and Nisha Rocamora and Dave and Joel Dunkley. “This really says something about the event and creativity in general bridging the generation gap,” says Russell. The auction of More Big Fun work was lively and entertaining. Vigorous bidding resulted in total sales of $7,900 – with two pieces selling for more than $1,000. MEMBER SUCCESS NEWS If you have news to pass on to the SCC, email our publications coordinator, Colin Wallace, at scc.editor@shaw.ca. A) M. Craig Campell exhibition, "RED HOT". The Rouge Gallery presents an exhibition of sculpture and furniture by hot metal artist M. Craig Campbell from June 11 to 23, 2007. Artist reception will be held on Thursday, June 14, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The Rouge Gallery is located at 208 - 3rd Ave. South, Saskatoon, ph: 306.955.8882, www.rougegallery.ca . B) Tobi Ann Baumgartner exhibition - "Through My Eyes". The Painted Frame and Photo-Matte Photography exhibition runs from May 18 to June 15, at the Wasagaming Community Arts Centre in Wasagaming (Clear Lake, Riding Mountain National Park, MB). The reception is 8:00 pm on Friday, May 18, at the centre. For more information, call Tobi at: 204.878.4539, or visit her website: www.expressiveframes.ca. C) 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. D) Wendy Parsons and the Rural Roundel - Organized by Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery, Curated by Heather Smith. Wendy Parson’s current body of work focuses on the dichotomy between the realities of contemporary farming and the nostalgic reminiscences of a rural based population. Through a series of large, high and low relief paper clay wall sculptures, she is examining our attachment to farm animals and the land. Reminiscent of the clay sculptures made during the funk movement by artists such as Robert Arneson, these narrative pieces are gently humorous. For more information, contact Aaron Clarke, Visual & Media Arts Coordinator, Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) - Ph: 306.586.1252, email: aaron@osac.sk.ca. OPPORTUNITIES 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 & Denise 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: 1. “Can I produce enough of my best work to meet a potential increase in demand?” 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 Selebrations. The event runs from 12:00 noon until approximately 10:30 pm when the fireworks begins. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - CURATORIAL & MARKETING ASSISTANT: The Saskatchewan Craft Council is looking for a Curatorial and Marketing Assistant for a 12 week term position. The position is funded by SaskCulture’s Summer Student program, and is therefore open only to students who plan on returning to full-time study in the fall of 2007. Based in Saskatoon. Requirements:
Job Duties:
To apply, submit resume to: Mark Stobbe Application Deadline : June 4, 2007 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. BOARD OPENINGS AT SCC: This is your opportunity to have a direct say in the future of the Saskatchewan Craft Council. Board positions will be filled at the May 27, Annual Meeting in Craik. If you are interested in being on the Board, or want more information, call SCC Board Chair, Ken Wilkinson at 306.244.2973. WINTERGREEN 2007 LAYOUT SURVEY: We asked for members’ comments on the layout of Wintergreen based on two options we presented with the application mail-out. In addition, we received a third suggestion which was to use only the Lower Level and put the Craft booths in the Convention Hall and the Schumiatcher Hall much as was done before the move to the Sportplex in 1995. Option 3: Use only lower level This arrangement would have the advantage of concentrating everything on one level. One downside would be the loss of use of the attractive lobby space. One challenge with this idea is that we have 10’ x 12’ booths now and we had 10’ x 10’ in the ‘90’s. With the current size of booth, the Convention Hall can hold 47 booths and the Schumiatcher Room can hold 11. The Quebec and Ontario rooms are not big enough to hold all the food, soap and candles. Soap and Candle members have expressed opposition to the idea of being placed in a separate location. This layout could potentially work if the number of booths remained at the low 2006 level. However, it would prevent any expansion to historic levels. Further, we would not have any space for information booths, media challenge, demonstrations or any public common area. Option 2: Move food to the Schumiatcher Room, Soap and Candles to the Quebec and Ontario rooms, and create activity space in the Convention Hall (along with Craft booths). Soap and Candle members express strong opposition to this idea. They would have to reduce the size of food booths to fit them all in the Schumiatcher room. Maintains multi-level layout. Option 1: Status Quo from last year Maintains multi-level layout; No multi public common area for things like the media challenge. Decision: None of the options presented by us or by member input were completely satisfactory – each has strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, we’ve decided to take elements from each proposal, and do the following: We’ll start by filling the Theatre Lobby, Convention Hall, and the Shumiatcher Room on the lower level. Depending on the number of booths, we may or may not utilize the stage. In any event, the poorly lit areas at the fringes of the stage will not be utilized. The Convention hall will contain a small public common area for the on-location radio promotion, media challenge and other promotional events. We are investigating the possibility of obtaining sponsorship support to provide a children’s craft area in the Quebec and/or Ontario Rooms. Food will be concentrated in one location. There will be a dramatic increase in the signage in an attempt to reduce confusion.
Have a productive and profitable week! SASKATCHEWAN CRAFT COUNCIL
813 Broadway Avenue Saskatoon, SK S7N 1B5 306.653.3616 SCC appreciates the support of its members, Saskatchewan Arts Board, SaskCulture Inc.,
Saskatchewan Lotteries, and Saskatchewan Department of Culture, Youth & Recreation. |