SASKATCHEWAN CRAFT COUNCIL e-News
Vol. 1 No. 20 - Friday, Oct 5, 2007

What's black and white and red all over?



NEW DATES - November 2, 3 & 4, 2007 CONEXUS ARTS CENTRE, Regina
Please contact Chris Jones for information.

“Dimensions Growth” – in 2008
Dimensions  is one of the “flagship” activities of the Saskatchewan Craft Council. For over three decades, this annual show has helped define and promote Saskatchewan Fine Craft. The core features of an open, juried show of excellence provide a foundation for the show.

In the past few years, however, criticism that the exhibition is “too much the same” from year to year has begun to mount.  It has been growing more difficult to gain an enthusiastic reception for the show in galleries. Some craftspeople doing high quality work are not entering.

The SCC Board has been wrestling with how to reinvigorate Dimensions without losing the core strength of the show. They have decided that in 2008, Dimensions will have the theme of “Growth”.  This year, the jurors will be asked to judge entries according to the twin criteria of excellence and of the interpretation of this theme.

The SCC Board and Staff will be closely monitoring the effect of this change, and seeking input on other possibilities to change future shows.

Some of you will have the following questions:

“Does this mean that the criterion of excellence is being abandoned?”

  • Absolutely not. Excellence is the cornerstone of Dimensions. This will remain the major criteria for inclusion into the show – the jurors will be asked to also consider the criteria of treatment of the theme.

“What if my work doesn’t fit into a preconceived theme?”

  • We’ve chosen a very broad theme – “Growth” – that can lend itself to treatment in an almost infinite variety of ways. If you want to talk over ideas and possible approaches, please call Les or Judy at 653-3616 ext. 25.

“Will there be a themed show every year?”

  • Maybe. Maybe not. First, we’ll see how this one works. And – there are many other ideas to improve Dimensions. We’ll be outlining some of these in the weeks ahead and seeking everyone’s feedback. The goal is to have an exciting, excellent show now and into the future.

“How does this change the way I enter?”

  • Entry forms, processes and timelines will be very similar to the past except that there will be a request for a 20 to 30 word explanation of how the work deals with the theme of “Growth”. The application forms will be out early in the New Year – we just wanted to give as much lead time as possible for people’s planning and creation of work.

“Why are you doing this now?”

  • Dimensions has been, and continues to be, a huge success. We just want to have enough change to keep the show fresh and exciting.

“I don’t think this will work – won’t it change the nature of the show too much?”

  • Actually, this has been done before. The 10th Dimensions 1983 had the theme of “Ten”. This resulted in a very good and interesting Dimensions.

Wintergreen 2007
Onwards, upwards and better for this year’s Wintergreen! Booth rentals are up by 11 over last year. As a result, we have been able to further increase our advertising budget by making a radio buy on a second station. Keep your ears open. We’ve also heard reports that the big sign at Conexus is being noticed. All the other marketing initiatives outlined in past e-news are on track.

A reminder: The dollar off coupons work. Please use them. Last year, 13% of people attending Wintergreen were there because they had been given a dollar off coupon by one of you. Not only that, but when people get a coupon from you, they will search you out when they attend. Pass out coupons to friends, your hairdresser, neighbours and your children’s teachers. And don’t forget your mother.

Wintergreen 2007 Billets Wanted
If any Regina members or friends would be interested in opening their homes to billet out-of-town marketers during the Wintergreen weekend (Nov 2-4), please let Donna know at 653.3616 ext. 0 saskcraftcouncil@sasktel.net)

A Friendly Reminder
Our Email Addresses Have Changed
Board of Directors - scc.board@sasktel.net
Mark Stobbe - scc.director@sasktel.net (Executive Director)
Gale Hagblom Alaie - scc.editor@sasktel.net (Communications & Publications Coordinator)
Judy Haraldson & Leslie Potter - scc.exhibitions@sasktel.net ( Exhibitions & Education Coordinators)
Chris Jones - scc.memberservices@sasktel.net (Member Services Coordinator)
Sherry Luther - scc.accounting@sasktel.net (Financial Comptroller)
Donna Potter - saskcraftcouncil@sasktel.net (Administrative Assistant)

FINE CRAFT GUIDE
The Fine Craft Guide (FCG) is one of the jewels of the SCC website and we want you to know that we have taken steps to increase traffic to this listing.We want to thank each of the craft artists who participated in the FCG and invite all of our members to join in. Registration is simple and our Communication's staff is available to help you. Please contact Gale at scc.editor@sasktel.net or call 653.3616 ext. 23 with any inquiries you might have.

SCC Gallery Exhibitions
CURRENT EXHIBITION
"Transforming Light: The Power of Glass" Exhibition by the Saskatoon Glassworkers Guild
Show Extended to Sunday, Oct 21
Last chance to see the exceptional glass pieces and the many ways they transform light.

UPCOMING EXHIBITION
“60 Years of MAGC and The Year of Craft” Oct 26 to Dec 9, 2007
Opening Reception - Friday, Oct 26, 7 to 9 pm

To commemorate 60 years of the Metal Arts Guild and to celebrate The Year of Craft, the Metal Arts Guild presents a juried travelling exhibition. The show expresses “a clear and focused illustration of contemporary Canadian Metal work in our time.” Regina artist, Melody Armstrong, represents Saskatchewan with “Amasia” from her Erosion Series.

Opportunities, News & Notices
CRAFTSPEOPLE NEEDED FOR ARTSSMARTS PROJECT
We’re putting together an application to the ArtsSmarts program for a project involving mask-making with Grade 7 or 8 students. To plan the project and application we need expressions of interest from craftspeople who would like to work (for pay) on making masks with kids. There is no guarantee we’ll get the grant, but with a well done proposal we have a good chance. Send us your one-page resume and a short description of your mask making technique and ideas for a two day workshop. Contact Judy Haraldson at 866.653.3616 ext. 25 or scc.exhibitions@sasktel.net or 813 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 1B5.

Major Change in Funding:
On Thursday, Premier Calvert announced a $4.5 million increase in Arts and Culture funding. Details of the announcement can be found at www.gov.sk.ca/news and at www.artsboard.sk.ca.
The announcement should be good for the SCC and its members. The items that directly affect us are:

  • Along with four other “cultural industries” groups, our core PCO grant (which comes from SaskLotteries money administered by SaskCulture) is moved over to the Saskatchewan Arts Board for administration and becomes financed by tax dollars rather than lottery profits. The amount available to the five groups is increased by $350,000. This means that the SCC will likely get a funding increase.
  • The mandate for this funding will have a clear cut commercial purpose. With additional funding, we will be mandated to do even more to increase the commercial and market opportunities for Craft producers.
  • The Saskatchewan Cultural Industries Development Fund is being eliminated and replaced with a larger fund to assist with marketing. In the past, the SCC has been receiving $33,000 per year from this fund to do things like supplement Wintergreen and SHF advertising. New initiatives such as the Fishing Lodge Catalogue were paid for from this Fund. In the future, we will be able to apply for assistance on a wider range of activity. In addition, individual craftspeople will be able to apply for money to assist with marketing and business planning.
  • The Saskatchewan Arts Board will be receiving a $2.5 million general increase.  Amongst other things, this will substantially increase the number of individual artist grants that it can award.

There are many details to be worked out in the weeks ahead, Oct 4 was a “good day” for Craftspeople – along with visual artists, musicians, writers, and many others in the cultural sector.

Job Posting
The Canada Council for the Arts is seeking a Director, Arts Disciplines.  This is a new position resulting from an organizational design review that recommended restructuring the existing Arts Division into two separate divisions, Arts Disciplines and Arts Development. The current Director of the Arts Division, André Courchesne, will serve as Director, Arts Development. For more information, please contact Manon Dugal, Director, Human Resources at 1.800.263.5588 extension 5123 or 613.566.4414 extension 5123 or by e-mail to manon.dugal@canadacouncil.ca. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Canada Council plan sets directions for the future
Montreal, October 2, 2007 – The Canada Council for the Arts, Canada’s national arts funding agency, has released its new strategic plan, a statement of values and directions which will guide the Council’s activities over the next three to five years.

The plan follows more than six months of consultations with over 1,700 artists, arts organizations, other funders and members of the general public across Canada. It will form the basis of a more detailed action plan to be released by the Canada Council early in 2008. The strategic plan is posted on the Canada Council’s web site .

Canada Council announces winners of the Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Awards
Ottawa, October 3, 2007 – Interdisciplinary artist Daniel Barrow, author Jocelyn Boisvert, celtic and jazz singer Teresa Doyle, media artist Zoe Leigh Hopkins, director and poet/performer Ahdri Zhina Mandiela, dancer Chanti Wadge and BGL, composed of sculptors Jasmin Bilodeau, Sébastien Giguère, Nicolas Laverdière, are the winners of the Canada Council for the Arts Victor Martyn Lynch­Staunton Awards.

The annual awards, worth $15,000 each, recognize outstanding mid-career artists in the seven disciplines funded by the Canada Council: music, theatre, dance, visual arts, media arts, writing and publishing and interdisciplinary arts. The Prizes were created using funds from a generous bequest made by the late Victor Martyn Lynch­Staunton to the Canada Council. Visit the Canada Council image gallery at: www.canadacouncil.ca/news/imagegallery .

Provincial Profiles of Cultural and Heritage Activities
Provincial Profiles of the Cultural and Heritage Activities in 2005, a new report in the Statistical Insights on the Arts series from Hill Strategies Research, provides insights into the number and percentage of provincial residents 15 or older who: Attended live performances; Visited art galleries and other museums; Visited historic sites and other heritage organizations; Read a newspaper, magazine or book; Watched movies or videos; or Listened to recorded music. The full report is available at http://www.hillstrategies.com/resources_details.php?resUID=1000237.

Call for Expressions of Interest from Visual Artists* - The Saskatchewan Arts Board and Canadian Western Agribition need visual artists to work on an education project on the Agribition grounds in Regina Nov 19 to 23.  The contracted artist(s) will work with Gr. 4 to 8 students to create a sculpture or mural on-site using recyclable materials. Agribition will provide the required materials. ••By Oct 19 contact Dianne Warren, Arts and Learning Consultant, Saskatchewan Arts Board; Phone: 306.787.4659 (Regina); Toll-free: 800.667.7526 (SK only) Email: dianne@artsboard.sk.ca <mailto:dianne@artsboard.sk.ca>

The Metal Arts Guild of Canada - Deadline: Nov 30. The Guild, in partnership with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, invites members to submit up to two pieces for consideration in a juried exhibition surrounding the theme of WAIT/WEIGHT. The exhibition will be shown in the International Wing of Toronto’s Pearson Airport. This call is open to members of the Guild only, but artists may become members at the time of their submission. For more information and to fill out the online application, visit the Metal Arts Guild of Canada website here: www.metalarts.on.ca/callforentry.htm

The Hand Wave Gallery celebrates 25 years of promoting and selling the work of many of Saskatchewan's finest artists and craftspeople through feature exhibitions in the Gallery and the availability of fine craft in the retail shop. Join June Jacobs this Sunday between 2 and 5 pm at a opening reception of "25 and Holding ", a mixed media exhibition of the Gallery artists. Take a drive to Meacham and bring a friend to share the experience .. www.handwave.ca

Dale Anne Potter has a piece titled, "Coloured Trash" in Textile / Art- And Now For Something Completely Different Part II in It's Not a Deli Art Gallery, Toronto. Exhibition Show Preview: www.textileart_preview.cachelan.com

Cathryn Miller has had two works included in the upcoming Lark Books publication, "500 Handmade Books." The release date is early 2008.

Mel Bolen is having a solo exhibition of new work entitled "Summer Salt," Oct 19 - Nov 3, 2007 at the Lando Gallery, 11130 - 105 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB. The opening reception is Sat, Oct 20, 2 - 4 pm. View images at: www.landogallery.com

Ten Canadian ceramic artists have been invited to participate in Fuping Pottery Art Village, one hour from Xian. Canada will make up one-third of the North American Museum. Les Maning (International Ceramic Academy) was responsible to select the artists. Charley Farrero accepted the invitation to attend from Oct 1 - Nov 6, 2007. Visit www.flicam.com for details.

Ottawa, September 18, 2007 – The Canada Council for the Arts is pleased to announce the appointment of Pierre Arpin, currently director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, as the Canada Council’s new Head of Visual Arts, effective November 19, 2007.

Media Release: September 2007
Canada participates in the Cheongju International Craft Biennale, South KoreaThe Canadian Crafts Federation/Fédération canadienne des métiers d’art (CCF/FCMA) is proud to announce that Canada has been selected as the official guest country for the 2009 Cheongju International Craft Biennale (CICB).  This festival, held in Cheongju, South Korea, is an international event featuring more than 3000 artists from over 50 participating nations across the globe. Over half a million attendees are expected.

In preparation for our guest country status, the CCF/FCMA will present a ‘preview’ exhibition during the 2007 CICB this October.  A selection of work from the highly acclaimed “All About Alberta” exhibition (organized by the Alberta Craft Council) will be on display to give a taste of what Canada has to offer in 2009.  

The CCF/FCMA is currently celebrating our overwhelmingly successful Craft Year 2007 project. This festival of events features over 625 fine craft related activities of all shapes and sizes clear across the country. We are so pleased to be branching out internationally to promote Canadian craft in this special, celebratory year.

SaskCulture’s AGM and Member Consultation will take place October 20, 2007 in Regina at the Ramada Hotel.

International Conference on the Crafts and Modernity. Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University is pleased to be hosting the NeoCraft Conference, 23 - 25 November, 2007, as part of the Canadian Crafts Federation's Craft Year 2007/Annee des metiers d'art.

Over 60 Speakers including:

• Louise Lemieux Berube Founding Director of Montreal Centre for Contemporary Textiles
• Christopher Breward Deputy Head of Research, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
• Uma Chandru Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore
• Grace Cochrane Senior Curator, Australian decorative arts and design, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia
• Alan Elder Curator, Canadian crafts, decorative arts and design, Canadian Museum of Civilization

NeoCraft Information: www.neocraft.ca. Before October 6th, 2007 Conference Fee: Regular $150/Student Fee $75. After October 6th, 2007 Conference Fee: Regular $200/Student Fee $100 (includes all papers, keynote speakers, reception, two breakfasts, two lunches, and bus tours).

MacKenzie Art Gallery Appoints New Assistant Curator
Regina- The MacKenzie Art Gallery is pleased to announce the appointment of Michelle LaVallee as the new Assistant Curator, effective September 4, 2007.

... A sunburned penguin.

If you have news to pass on please email the Communications & Publications Coordinator.

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