MontiArts August Newsletter
Aug - Summer’s Home Stretch
Hey everyone.
Can you believe we only have 1 month left of summer? What happened to all the days I was going to spend floating on lakes and paddling on rivers? My goodness; I better get busy! I hope you have all been having a great summer. Scroll down to find out about a cool new class at the end of the month, big plans for next month, and some great artist opportunities… including a brainstorming meeting about local theater.
Stay Curious, Creative, and COOL this month. - Sue Seeger
Block Printing Class 8/24 & 25
New (to us) instructor, Megan Larson, will teach how to carve your very own block print design, and at the end, you’ll get to print it on a provided tea towel, tote, tee or similar item. You can bring your own item from home, too. People have done onesies, for example.
Space is limited, so reserve your spot today by emailing sue.montiarts@gmail.com ! Please title your email “Block Printing.”
$100 Or Less Show
Ok Artists— are you preparing for this? Sue would love a heads-up if you are planning to participate in this show. We know selling work isn’t everyone’s goal, but we try to provide a few opportunities like this for those who are interested in making a little money and in showing their work to the public.
This show is designed to supplement the activity downtown during Chalkfest this year, which will be happening on the West side of the Community Center Aug 9th & 10th. During this weekend, we’ll be at the fest directing people to take part in a self guided arts tour down Walnut which will lead them right to MontiArts.
The show will run from 10 to 5 both Sat 9/9 and Sun 9/10
All work needs to be priced $100 or less. Your price needs to include sales tax which you will be responsible for reporting. If you plan to have multiple items in the show, you should plan to be around as much as possible. We will have staff on hand, but more to give people info about MontiArts and to help direct people than to be salespeople for your art.
People love to meet artists and have some interaction when they’re picking up a new treasure, so please plan to be available part of the time, if at all possible. It should be a fun weekend in Monticello!
August Open Mic at MA
MontiArts Open Mic at MA
August 12th. 7pm. @ the MA Studio building (213 W Broadway) Stop by to listen or to share a song, poem, story, etc. Reach out to ben@montiarts@gmail.com for info.
Riverfest Interns and Volunteers!!!!
A huuuuuge THANK YOU to all the volunteers and interns who helped at the many Riverfest activities last month!!! We couldn’t do this work without you! You put the party in the Party In The Park. You put the art car in the Car Show. You put the aide in the Parade.
Chalk Fest
Last year, we held our first-ever chalk fest called Monticello, Let’s chalk! It was an amazing fun-filled weekend of local amateur and professional chalk artists from all over the country filling the streets downtown with colorful chalk masterpieces, some even in 3D!
This year we’re again hosting Internationally known chalk artist Shawn McCann and his troupe of professionals from all over the world. Local artists are once again invited to participate too.
The fest takes place at the Monticello Community Center this year, due to extensive downtown road work & detours on local streets. All the fun will be on the west side of the center, where the Riverfest Street Dance takes place in July.
If you are an artist who’d like to reserve a 4’ x 4’ space, please email sue.montiarts@gmail.com and title the email “chalkfest.” All participants will recieve a set of professional quality artist chalks. Space is limited, so reserve today!
Mark the weekend of Sept 9th & 10th on your calendars and plan to join in the fun, food and arts activities in Monticello that weekend!
What Could Community Theater Look Like Here?
If you have any interest in theater at all, from a writing or performing perspective, or perhaps you think building sets and props could be cool, or maybe you are interested in film. Maybe you have ideas for classes— we want to hear from you!
Monticello actually has a community theater group, but they’ve been on hiatus for a while now, and their membership has dwindled. They’ve decided it’s time for a fresh start with some new blood! We think there are opportunities for some cool partnerships with other community entities to help reinvigorate this art form and Montiarts wants to help!
Come to the brainstorming session Monday night 8/21 from 6 to 8pm to discuss possibilities and ideas.
Now Taking Applications For This Residency Space
If you are an artist who is involved with MontiArts already, have done residencies in the past, or are known to us through Open Studio, volunteering etc, please submit your application by emailing sue.montiarts@gmail.com with the title “Residency".
The application will be assessed based on the needs of the artist… so in your email please explain how you’d plan to use your time at Montiarts, how it would help you and your art, and why you need the space. Tell us a little about how you currently work on your art, and how having use of this space for a few months would make a difference to you and your work. Include any info you feel helps explain what you do, what you want to work on, and your work. Jpegs are helpful. We look forward to hearing from you!!
