MontiArts October Newsletter
If you are into pumpkin spice…
This is your month.
Welcome to October everyone. Every day brings a new construction challenge to our downtown right now, but we are still here, arting away. Join us on Tuesday mornings from 10 to noon or Wednesdays from 6 to 9p.m. for Open Studio. Scroll for other fun creative opportunities and news.
Stay Curious, Creative, and COOL this month. - Sue Seeger
It’ll be worth it in the end
At times, it’s been pretty frustrating for everyone trying to get around, but we’re looking at this as a temporary situation that will leave us with much improved public spaces when it’s all done. We’re already planning ways for us to layer our communities very own personal touches of art to these spaces next spring. We are planning some fun activites to get everyone together and show off some new creations. Hang in there folks. We’re still attempting to add positivity and creativity to our town, even in the midst of the construction. Think how cool it will be, eventually. Ahhhhhhhh….
Our team has grown a bit
Erica and Sadie have joined the team this year through a grant contract from the Mn State Arts Board. It’s great to have such a creative crew helping to enliven Monticello now. You’ll be seeing both of them at classes that pop up. Also, Erica facilitates Open Studio for us every Tuesday morning. Sue and Ben are still officially on staff, serving up creative fun every month as well.
MontiArts Open Mic at MA
Saturday, October 14th @ 7p.m.
Stop by to listen or to share a song, poem, story, etc. Reach out to ben@montiarts@gmail.com for info.
@ MA Studio Building (213 W Broadway)
New Sculpture At East Bridge
There’s something new and beautiful to see at East Bridge Park! Parker McDonald returned to Monticello to install a gorgeous dragonfly and ladybug. Did you know Arne Myrabo’s dragonfly research conducted at East and West Bridge Parks helped us all have a better understanding of this important aquatic insect in our ecosystem? The East Bridge Gardeners group is responsible for how beautiful all the plantings at this park are. Their work is so important— a big thank you to them for contributing to the beauty of our community. You can chip in and help them any Monday morning at East Bridge Park.
Bertram Mural Collaboration
We were thrilled to facilitate a mural project out at the Bertram Chain of Lakes Park Chalet last month. It took place in an unfinished basement room currently used for the Monticello School District’s nature based program for kindergarten students. Wright County Parks, the Friends of Bertram, a local business, and Monticello Schools pitched in funding for supplies and for lead artist, Brian Larson, to bring the mural to fruition… with lots of help from the MontiArts high school interns and community members (above). We, at MontiArts, are proud to be the conduit to bring such a wonderful project to life. Special thanks to all involved!
Brian Larson in front of the Bertram Mural
A New Public Art Project Is About To Launch
You can help! The old zoo building near 25 & Broadway is about to get a colorful makeover. Local artist Brian Larson (as seen in the Bertram Mural above) will be working with MontiArts on 2 projects over the next year thanks to a grant from the CMAB. The first project will be revamping the brick Zoo.
This time of year is very tricky for painting outside. The temp needs to be just right. We will be having a public painting session where anyone can come help paint a brick or two, but there will probably be very little notice. If you’d like to be contacted via group text when this is about to go down, email Sue at sue.montiarts@gmail.com and give us your #. We will also post it on Facebook, but it will probably be a last minute thing due to weather.
Community Theater Group Meeting
Come join the fun as the Monticello Community Theater group meets at MontiArts the third Mon of this month, Oct. 16th to go over scripts & discuss ideas. Last month they reviewed an original script by one of the new members. They welcome new people to this experimental creative group. If you’re interested in taking part in developing fresh takes on theater in Monticello, please consider checking this group out. For now this is a group for adults and older teens.
The next meeting will take place on Monday, 10/16 at 6 pm @ 213 W Broadway!
Ali Yager is Back!
We’re so excited to welcome Ali to the fold again as a studio artist. She has been part of the MontiArts family for a long time. She actually had a residency space before in the old What The Art Building (RIP). Many of you know her work already. She is the artist responsible for the Cow Tag Project on Walnut which she created with some help from community artist-volunteers. (This installation is part of the Self-guided Art Tour mentioned above.)
Ali is a multi-disciplinary artist full of creative energy. She’s currently also an adjunct arts professor at St. Cloud State and a fresh MCAD Grad. We’re excited to see more of her and her work around MontiArts in the next few months.
