Five Miscellaneous Arts Related Items of Note

One of Kyle V's images at Benchmark Tattoo

Today is Friday. Hope you had a good week. It is the first day of August with numerous historical events taking place on this transition to late summer. WWI erupted today in 1914. And in 2007, the first ATM Drive Thru opened in China, a couple months after the initiation of Ennyman's Terirtory.

1. Word on the street is that there is an opening for an Operations and Grants Coordinator at the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC). There's a salary (27-33K) and benefits, and a great opportunity to be in the center of a lot that is happening with relation to the arts in our region. If you're not familiar with ARAC, here's a brief excerpt from their self-description:

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council serves the seven county area in northeastern Minnesota that includes Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis Counties. ARAC administers eight grant programs for non-profit arts organizations and individual artists and presents the annual Arrowhead Arts Awards which recognize the important contributions of individuals to the arts in the Arrowhead Region.

The primary duties of the position begin like this:

The Operations and Grants Coordinator position will be the first contact to the organization. This position provides general office and administrative duties as well as administering the process of grant applications and the related data management.

This person will be reporting to the Executive Director and will be in the center of everything. You can read the job details here. To me, it sounds like a great experience for a young person who has a little professional experience and good communication skills.

2. There's a new venue for art in town, Benchmark Tattoo. According to my source (EP), "This place just opened in June. It is a similar venue for hanging art as Zeitgeist, advertising and reception given, 40% commission taken. They are booked through January, but seeking artists for after the 1st of the year." This month they are featuring work by Kyle Voightlander. Benchmark is located a block away from Chester Creek Cafe up on Skyline Drive.

Illustration by Ian Welshons

3.  My illustrator Ian Welshons has completed all the illustrations for my ARAC-sponsored picture book A Remarkable Tale from the Land of Podd. This has been a very exciting project for me, two years in the making. Next step is to get the book laid out so we can get it published. Goal will be to have an art show/book launch opening in late October or late November. Special thanks to the PROVE Gallery for their support. Here's a link to the images on his website.

4. Hey, guess what? I finally caved in and joined Pinterest last week. I vaguely recall something about girls at college being excited because they got pinned. Do they still do that? Here's my Faces In Ink page...  or the start of it anyways.

5. I finally found out who lives in that house with those sculptures of a sailor on a bench and a man in a bathtub out in front of the house. She's an artist (of course) whom I encountered at some event last year and again two weeks ago at the Lake Superior Day event. She makes the coolest pictures with broken watch parts, as well as interesting puppets beginning with gourds. I can't wait to share some of her work here soon.

And what are you up to these days? Hopefully finding the creative outlets that keep you sane in these whirlwind crazy times.

Quick reminders: Brent Kusterman at Washington Gallery tonight, Fractals at Clyde, Red Herring a-happening, Duluth Photography Institute opening tomorrow, Tweevenings, Tuesday, and a couple Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan concerts down in the Twin Cities. Those will be great shows and if you can make it, you won't be sorry you went.

Life is for learning. Try something new this weekend and see what happens.