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Issue #11 |
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Isn't this the season of giving?
In this issue: The Evolving Art of Craft
—Featuring perspectives on the present and future of the Minnesota crafts from Dave Glenn of the Minnesota Craft Council, voices from the growing DIY craft scene and the Saint Paul Craft Mafia, and the people behind thriving new indie craft fairs like The No-Coast Craft-O-Rama and Craftstravaganza
For this issue of a+E, we're hoping to inspire you to go beyond big-box retailers for your holiday shopping this year. It's the big ole glossy, extended version of a+E totally devoted to homegrown crafts, just in time for the season of giving. We'll give you the lowdown on the latest trends in the craft scene, from a revival of interest in DIY crafting to the emergence of popular indie fairs. In fact, if you think you crafts are just for your golden years, you'll want to go straight to this issue's Exchange, where you'll get the surprising lowdown on the latest trends in the scene. Whether you’re looking for a whimsical gift for your favorite kid, or a little something ironic for those expectant parents in your life we’ve got some fantastic handmade options for you. Want to find some fabulously bold jewelry for your best girl? How about an utterly unique little wonder from a fine artisan? No matter whether your taste is retro or old fashioned, whether your budget is lean or flush—we’ve got you covered. With the whole vibrant world of hand-made-in-Minnesota crafts open to you, why buy any of your gifts from Target?
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Zoom In: Netsuke Carver Janel Jacobson |
Janel Jacobson is soft-spoken  woman, serious about her chosen craft. She’s made a successful career for herself in a difficult climate for full-time artisans, cultivating a dedicated group of clients who zealously collect her unusual work: delicate, painstakingly detailed, delightfully tiny carvings. She’s best known for rendering the overlooked denizens of the natural landscape—tree frogs, salamanders, dragonflies—into tiny, intricately carved marvels. These aren’t frivolous or cutesy by any stretch, but rather tricky little netsuke carvings, sculptures evocative of the Zen traditions and Japanese artistic heritage that inspire them.
Each little piece surprises the eye and delights the hand with texture and hidden detail. At first glance from one direction you see merely a pea pod. Look more closely, and a wee frog is hidden among the peas. These little “twists” as she calls them are part and parcel of the netsuke tradition she’s drawing from. When asked about it, Jacobson asks, “Well, isn’t that the way nature works? Hiding something in there is just a reflection of the way things are. I like to have a little surprise hidden in the carving, it adds a little more depth to the piece.”
Netsuke, originally a Japanese tradition, began as a way to create tiny carvings to serve as anchors securing the cord of a pouch to clothing. These pieces were intended to be compact and rounded so they could be slid underneath the obi (a cummerbund in traditional Japanese attire). The netsuke would then stick out the top, and the pouch would hang below. This kind of ornamentation was something anyone could wear, which made the little carvings artistically significant given that for much of Japanese history decorative fashion was restricted to only the higher classes but for these little ornaments. There’s a rich artisanal tradition in both Japan and the West dedicated to continuing this obscure branch of carving, they’ve in turn cultivated a specialized breed of collector.
Jacobson is a quiet soul, drawn to the woods around her rural Minnesota home for the contemplative stillness they offer. She explains lightly, “I like to do ‘hands and knees’ research. I go out at night with a flashlight, and if I hear a noise, I’ll go out on my hands and knees and try to find it. Once, I was picking raspberries and heard a tree frog. I looked over my shoulder and there, at eye-level, I saw a tree frog sitting on a raspberry leaf… How can you not wonder how it got there, over all those brambles, to sit there? Why did it bother? I’ve had tree frogs around my home for years, and I see them daily. But if you trouble to really look at them, they’re wonderful, wonderful creatures. They sit on each other, loop themselves over the branches. They’re so expressive—almost human, in a way—and there’s so much variety. And they’re truly remarkable forms to carve in a convincing way.”
Ultimately, Jacobson’s carvings reflect her enchantment with the humbler denizens of the natural world—the frogs and bugs and little mammals that make their homes in the woods. She pays homage to these creatures usually dismissed as common and shows them to us once again, through her hands’ painstakingly detailed rendering, as magical. In the process, she offers up a meditation on all things deemed too insignificant for notice. “The young tree frogs look different from the older ones, you know. They’re all individual. And if you take the time to look closely at them—their eyes have gold flecks—they’re just magical creatures really. And the loveliness of katydids making their nighttime music… it’s better than television (laughs). It moves me, and I just want to share that with people.”
Janel Jacobson is an acclaimed Netsuke carver who draws inspiration from the natural landscape surrounding her rural home in Chisago county, Minnesota.
Read much more about Janel Jacobson’s tricky, marvelous little creations and get her take on the business side of her craft and browse through a sampling of her work on mnartists.org.
Photo by Janel Jacobson. |
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Exchange: The State of the Craft in Minnesota |
An overview of the Minnesota craft scene with perspectives from the "crafter" community, indie and DIY fairs, and notes from the trenches of the Minnesota Craft Council by a+E
editor Susannah Schouweiler
YOU MUST HAVE NOTICED THE ABUNDANCE OF CRAFT FAIRS WE HAVE AROUND HERE. You’ve got art crawls in the fall, street fairs all summer long, and that’s saying nothing of the many craft shows in the offing throughout the year running the gamut from high-end artisan specialty exhibitions—like the fine crafts wares of the Minnesota Craft Council’s annual show—to the new proliferation of small, independent fairs with a distinctly DIY flair.  Whether you’re inclined toward the traditional workmanship of turned wood carving and fine pottery or looking for just the right ironic baby shower gift, amidst all these wildly varied craft festivals, there’s sure to be something geared for just your taste. a+E tracked down some of the movers and shakers in the Minnesota craft scene today to get their perspectives on how the scene is evolving. We chatted with Dave Glenn, former Executive Director of the Minnesota Craft Council, Crafters Local 612 (the organizers of the indie No Coast Craft-O-Rama), and Andy and Jenna Krueger, the married twentysomethings behind the popular new St. Paul fair, Craftstravaganza. We talked about the difference between art and craft, where the new trends in the Minnesota craft scene are headed, and how to best ensure that support for artisans and craftspeople can continue to thrive and grow.
That last is an important question because in spite of what is, to all appearances, is a vibrant and varied craft scene, a number of the region’s long-running institutions and guilds devoted to fine crafts are seeing hard  times. The Minnesota Craft Council seems to be in for a particularly tough ride. According to Dave Glenn, the Council was founded in 1972 as an open, artist-membership network committed to increasing the visibility of fine crafts in an art community that was, at the time, inhospitable to craft. Artisans had a hard time getting exposure or recognition for artistic achievement, and there really weren’t networks in place to help them with marketing and showing their crafts. Over the past three decades, though, the Minnesota Craft Council has largely accomplished its original mission to elevate the standing of artisans: now, museums and galleries are happy to exhibit traditional handiwork as art. What’s more, more narrowly targeted craft organizations—like the Textile Center, the Center for Book Arts, Highpoint Center for Printmaking, and the Northern Clay Center—have cropped in recent years, beneficiaries of the groundbreaking work done years before by the Minnesota Craft Council.
But in spite of the Craft Council’s troubles, in Minnesota it doesn’t seem like craft itself is struggling at all. Not only is there a wide array of specialty organizations and nonprofit craft centers, the landscape is also teeming with bold little craft fairs like the new Craftstravaganza in St. Paul and the No-Coast Craft-O-Rama in Minneapolis. Virtually every Twin Cities neighborhood offers its own version.
 What’s new about these indie festivals is their DIY, grassroots flavor, and a business savvy for exploiting the advantages of sales and marketing (especially online) that would have been distasteful to the 1970s arts crowd. What these newly emerging artisans also share a penchant for clever innovation and ironic, whimsical interpretations of traditional craft forms. These individuals think of themselves as businesspeople or “crafters”, but if you ask them about their work as art, there’s some definite discomfort with the label “artist.” Tracy Parker, a member of Crafters Local 612 (the group organizing the No Coast Craft-O-Rama) explains, “I guess I’d feel like a pretentious dork if I went around calling myself an ‘artiste’. I hate to say it, but if you hadn’t asked, I don’t know that I’d have thought to put my work up on something like mnartists.org, you know? I just make cards. I don’t’ think of it as artwork. And I have to admit that I love it that the vendors (of No Coast) don’t take themselves so seriously. If you see someone do something totally [laughing]… I don’t know, totally wacky… it’s liberating. So many shows are really only receptive to ‘artistic’ craft. But I think there’s no reason craft shouldn’t be really fun, too. People should feel free to try something new with these traditional crafting methods.”
Andy Krueger, one of the duo behind the Craftstravaganza fair in St. Paul echoes that sentiment. “When I went to most craft shows, I kept thinking ‘None of this is for me.’ The guiding principle for us has been mostly: would we want to buy it? And I’m a young guy—I want to make sure there are things for men too.”
The Craft Council’s membership has a very different point of view on craft than this younger generation of artisans. Its artists identify themselves as such gladly and readily make use of nonprofit arts support and grants that the “crafters” wouldn’t dream of applying for. When I asked the Craft Council’s Dave Glenn, a potter himself, to articulate a definition of a “fine crafts” (as opposed to mere “crafting”), he explained it this way: “Fine craft, and the artists that the craft council works with, consider themselves artists first, who happen to work in a medium of craft (wood, glass, fiber, metal, clay, and mixed media). There are a few younger members doing craft coming in and doing good work. That said, it’s true that there is a graying in the industry, because a lot of people don’t realize they can make a living doing this.” And that fear isn’t altogether unfounded. Even Glenn notes that it can be tough going for the professional artisan earning all their income from their craft. “People who have money still have money, but the people in the middle who might buy the mid-range stuff are being squeezed. So sales are down overall, but at the high end seems to be doing fairly well.”
So what should the new mission and driving principle for large nonprofit craft organizations like the Minnesota Craft Council should be in this transformed marketplace? Are those central aims of artistic recognition and support still relevant to the next generation of artisans?
Get the inside scoop on what Minnesota crafters and artisans have to say about art vs. craft, along with their reflections on the future of the craft scene by reading the full article on mnartists.org.
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| Mashup: No Coast Craft-O-Rama collection |
The No-Coast Craft-O-Rama, now in its second year, started as a way to keep one of the founders’ moms busy in retirement. Tracy Parker explains: “My mom retired last year and she was worried, ‘What am I going to do with myself?’ I promised her I would organize a craft sale, and then she could just knit her heart out for the year. I knew Trish Hoskins (owner of Crafty Planet) through my husband, and of course the store (Crafty Planet) was the meeting ground.” Trish pipes up, “This is something Tracy and I have been talking about doing since the store opened (in 2003). It was just a matter of getting the timing right for both of us.” As it  happens, not all members of this organizing group even knew each other before last year’s show. Most of them were just regulars at Crafty Planet who volunteered to help get things ready. Chrissy Barr and Kristen Himsl-Hunter were a couple of those customers who just dived right in and now are central members of the No Coast show’s organizing group of around eight individuals, who now go by the name Crafters Local 612.
They beat the pavement, put out fliers by the thousands, posted info online, and sent out press releases last year—and their efforts paid off hugely. The show’s crafters experienced great sales—many of them sold every last item on their tables to avid shoppers by the end of the one-day sale. In fact, the No Coast show was such a success, they haven’t had to do much to get the word out this year. They found themselves swamped with hundreds of vendor applicants from which to choose the show’s 80 or so vendors.
 No Coast’s charm is driven in part by the unusual, well-made handcrafts to be sure—but also by the whimsy of the vendors’ offerings. Nothing about the show is stodgy or uptight—the vibe is accessible, the price points are reasonable, and everyone is excited to be there. One of the organizers, Willa Martinez, speaks for the group in describing the mission, “We wanted to create a venue where local crafters can sell great things to the people who want to buy them. There are so many fantastic things that people are making—you don’t have to go to Target or Bibelot or Patina to find great gifts for the holidays. They’re right here. That’s really what we wanted to do—bring the audience to the crafters.”
Everywhere you look someone has taken a traditional craft and turned it on its ear, offering a brand new (often fanciful) take on it. Trish specializes in little stuffed toys made to look like meat, “Steakie” and “Hammy.” Crafty Planet regular and No-Coast vendor Rebecca Yaker creates elaborate sock-monkey dresses. There’s a DIY vibe to this kind of crafting that separates its devotees from their fine crafts kin. And that’s just fine with Crafters Local 612. “I don’t want to undervalue our (No-Coast’s) vendors,” Trish Hoskins says. “Some of them may well be ‘fine craftsmen.’ But I think regardless of how they categorize themselves, there’s a definite edginess to the work in this show. You just wouldn’t see these kinds of pieces in another arena. The audience for No-Coast is broad, but it does seem to tend toward the younger folks (twenties to early forties). But that said, there are grandmas who come to the show looking for gifts and buying things, too, so it wouldn’t be right to generalize too much. We like to think there’s something here for just about everyone.”
The No Coast Craft-O-Rama
Where: Midtown Global Market, Minneapolis
When: December 2, 9 am-7 pm
Tickets: FREE and open to the public
Get a sneak peek at the innovative, whimsical wares being offered by No Coast’s vendors on mnartists.org.
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DANCE
Choreographers' Evening: Curated by Sandy Agustin
Choreographer's Evening dancers, photo courtesy the Walker Art Center |
Now in its 34th year, this annual gathering of the Twin Cities dance community invites audiences to celebrate the richness and variety of Minnesota dance. From established choreographers trying out new ideas to the freshest new talents, this evening of short works curated by choreographer and performer Sandy Agustin (also formerly the artistic director of Intermedia Arts) shows where dance is heading and honors key contributors to the Minnesota dance landscape. This year’s showcase includes contemporary ballet, Bharatanatyam, aerial work, Flamenco, modern, African/hip-hop, Tango/ballroom, and other styles.
Where: Walker Art Center, McGuire Theater, Minneapolis
When: Saturday, November 25, 7:00 pm
Tickets: $16 ($13 Walker members) |
FILM
FEARLESS FILMMAKERS FIRST BIRTHDAY!
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Fearless Filmmakers, the highly anticipated monthly film event/fundraiser is celebrating the final screening of the season with line-up of 10 short films by award winning local directors. The always memorable after-party will take place once again at the Hexagon Bar, with free food and drink specials for all screening attendees. This event is expected to sell out, so early arrival is recommended. It’s a great way to support this highly creative media arts organization in their fundraising efforts while you get the lowdown on the doings of emerging lights in the local film scene.
Where: Riverview Theater, Minneapolis
When: Wednesday, December 6. Films begin at 7 pm and a Q & A with the filmmakers follows the screening.
Tickets: $9 ($7 with a student ID) |
Green Green Water film screening
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An average American consumer, filmmaker Dawn Mikkelson embarks on a journey to investigate where the "green energy" she is purchasing through Xcel Energy comes from. Her trip takes her to northern Manitoba, where hydroelectric dams have left massive environmental devastation in their wake and deep divisions in the communities about further development in the area. It’s an especially timely subject now, on the heels of an announcement by Xcel Energy that they’d like to turn to hydroelectric power from Manitoba Hydro to make up for a future shortfall in power supply. Stick around after the film for a post-screening reception and panel discussion with Senator Scott Dibble (DFL), Ken Bradley of Fresh Energy, Dawn Mikkelson (Director of Green Green Water), and Jamie A. Lee (Co-Director/Editor of Green Green Water).
Where: Bell Museum of Natural History, Minneapolis
When: November 30, 7 pm
Tickets: $10 suggested donation (proceeds go toward supporting the film’s crew and to support its larger distribution) |
HOLIDAY FESTIVALS AND SALES
Fine Art Sale & Winter Open Studio
Ceramics by Kathy Wismar, photo courtesy the artist |
Painter and printmaker Jodi Reeb-Myers joins forces with ceramicist Kathy Wismar for a peek into their studios and pick up some lovely pieces from these Twin Cities artists while you're at it.
Where: Traffic Zone Center for Visual Arts, Minneapolis
When: December 8 from 5-10 pm, December 9, 11-5 pm
Tickets: FREE and open to the public |
Purple Door Potters Annual Thanksgiving Sale
Whimsical Ewers by Berne Thury |
Twelve Minneapolis-based potters with twelve distinct styles will be holding their annual holiday sale and show. See a collection of work from the potters on mnartists.org and get a jump on some one-of-a-kind, handmade presents for the holidays.
Where: St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church, Minneapolis
When: November 24-26 (Friday from 12-5, Saturday from 9-5, and Sunday from 12-3)
Tickets: FREE and open to the public |
Winter Market at the Belfry Center
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Come browse local crafts, pick up some new tricks at the DIY workshops, and get the little ones involved in the kids’ activities. When you're done with that, stick around for the music, coffee, and snacks and take care of somebody on your holiday gift list. It's the second annual community art market at the Belfry Center, and a fantastic venue to find work from emerging artisans and crafters.
Where: The Belfry Center, Minneapolis
When: December 9-10, from 12-6 pm
Tickets: FREE |
MCAD Annual Art Sale 2006
Red Swim Cap by
Samantha French |
Art just flies off the walls at this annual art sale at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. And no wonder—fantastic art at affordable prices moves fast. It's your one chance a year to buy fresh paintings, prints and photos by talented MCAD students and recent grads. You'll find sculpture and furniture, too, as well as accessories. Prices start at only a few dollars, and nothing is more than $1,000.
Where: Minneapolis College of Art and Design
When: Friday, December 1, 6-9 pm; Saturday, December 2,
9 am-5 pm.
Tickets: $25 in advance, $35 at the door for Friday night. (You can buy advance tickets online, by phone or in person.) Admission is FREE all day on Saturday (with a free Studio Kids workshop from 10 am to 3 pm). |
LITERARY EVENTS
Emergence: Intimate Evenings of Poetry and Prose
Joel Turnipseed, author of Baghdad Express
Sun Yung Shin, poet and author of Skirt Full of Black
Lyda Morehouse, novelist and author of Archangel Protocol
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Join writers Sun Yung Shin, Joel Turnipseed, and Lyda Morehouse for two spectacular evenings of poetry and prose, featuring fifteen of the twin cities’ most talented emerging writers. Emergence: Intimate Evenings of Poetry and Prose celebrates the passion and dedication of new and emerging writers, and brings to a close our fall semester of Writer-to-Writer, the adult mentorship program in which intimate relationships are created and nurtured between artists, mentors, and the written word.
Where: Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis
When: Mondays December 11 and 18, 7 pm each night
Tickets: FREE and open to the public
Photos (left) appear courtesy Intermedia Arts and SASE |
Publication Party for Lake Superior Writers
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Lake Superior Writers’ members who have recently published a book will read from their works, and all members of LSW who have published books are invited to sign and display their publications in the Lake Superior Writers Meeting Room. Reading and signing books: Donna Schilling, Bruce Henricksen, Donald Dass, Connie Wanek, Mara Hart, Sharon Chmielarz, Deborah Cooper, and Bart Sutter.
Where: Lake Superior Writers Meeting Room, Duluth
When: Sunday December 3, 2-5 pm
Tickets: FREE and open to the public |
PERFORMANCE
Electric Arc Radio Season Finale
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Electric Arc Radio is a showcase of spoken word, comedy, and rock served up with enough winks to smooth out the show's literary sensibilities. It's a collaboration between The Lit 6 Project and Creative Electric Studios, and this performance will close its 2006 season of online broadcasts/live shows with musical guest The Owls. You’ve got to go, it's sure to be (I have to...) a hoot.
Where: Ritz Theater, Minneapolis
When: December 16, 2006, 4 pm
Tickets: $10 at the door, $6 online
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The Commonweal Theatre Company Presents Broadway on
Parkway! a Musical Theatre Revue and Benefit
Color rendering of the plans for the Commonweal's new theatre, courtesy Commonweal Theatre Company
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The second annual Broadway on Parkway! benefit promises a show perfect for the whole family, featuring Stela Burdt, Amanda Davis, Stef Dickens, Hal Cropp, David Hennessey, Adrienne Sweeney, Commonweal founder Eric Bunge, Luther
College student Anna Grace Bingham, and Eric Knutson. All proceeds will directly benefit the Capital Campaign for the construction of the Commonweal's new theatre. Each dollar raised will be matched by a generous 50-cent donation from local area chapters of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. You'll have a good time and your tickets will insure that this fantastic venue (and home of the Ibsen fest) continues
to thrive.
Where: St. Mane Theatre, Lanesboro
When: Sunday, December 10 at 7:00 pm
Tickets: $20 suggested donation, $10 for students.
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VISUAL ARTS
A Solo Exhibition by Ben Olson
Untitled 00001 by Ben Olson |
Ben Olson is among the most riveting artists in Minneapolis. Known for portrait and figurative paintings of himself and his wife Emma on plywood, Olson opens a door into the beautiful, the dramatic, and often the bizarre world of relationships. Olson has been published in New American Painting and his work featured in interior design shoots in multiple magazines including Vogue, Paris. This is Olson's first solo exhibit in Minneapolis.
Where: Rogue Buddha Gallery, Minneapolis
When: Exhibit runs from December 15-January 31, 2007. Opening reception is December 15, from 7-11 pm.
Tickets: FREE |
Arrowhead Biennial Exhibition at the Duluth Art Institute
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The Arrowhead Biennial Exhibition 2006 ushers in our Centennial Year at the Duluth Art Institute, and that makes this biennial, the Centennial Biennial, a significant one for the DAI. This year’s juror is Laurel Reuter, Director of the North Dakota Museum of Art. Reuter founded the Museum as a student gallery on the top floor of the Memorial Student Union on the UND campus in the early 1970s while studying as a graduate student in the English Department. According to Reuter, her goal was "to build the best small museum in America." As curator of this year's biennial, she has collected some truly stunning pieces from 44 artists throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada. The Arrowhead Biennial Exhibition is part of the cultural fabric of this neck of the woods and it's always a wonderful venue in which to see the best work our region has to offer.
Where: Duluth Art Institute, John Steffl Gallery, Duluth
When: Exhibit runs from November 10 to March 4, 2007.
Tickets: FREE |
For more up-to-the-minute events listings, check out mnartists.org
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mnAccess |
Free Crafty Planet fabric gift bag
with purchase of $25 or more
(available at Crafty Planet or
if you buy from us at No Coast Craft-O-Rama)
OR
25% discount on any supplies
if you sign up for a class
(the usual class discount for supplies is 15%)
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The mission of mnartists.org is to improve the lives of Minnesota artists and provide access to and engagement with Minnesota’s arts culture. |
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