MontiArts July Newsletter
Peak Summer Vibes
I don’t know about each of you, but I will be trying to spend as much time as possible in and on the water over the next couple of months. Like many of you, however, I need to get my creative groove on in between. Lucky for all of us, MontiArts has tons of great things going on in July in the AC… so we can keep cool while being cool. (See what I did there?) We also have, for the first time ever, some pop-up Arts In The Parks Events. So you can do art while getting your nature break in. Scroll on down and mark your calendars. Don’t miss another local artist interview near the end.
Stay Curious & Creative. - Sue Seeger
Website Updates- Hola!
Our Assistant Director Ben Lundquist has been a very busy guy since the school year ended. He is the Behavior Specialist at Monticello High School in addition to helping make MontiArts as awesome as possible. You may have noticed a lot of video shorts released online recently; all the magic of Ben, our videomeister. He’s also our web guru, and has made a few really cool tweaks to our site lately, so do go check them out.
TWEAK #1— Our entire site now converts to Spanish with the click of a button (as shown above). Look for the little white box at the bottom of each page that says English. One click changes everything, including our newsletters to spanish! The only gap is the text on the graphics/fliers. We hope our Spanish speaking friends feel more welcome with this improvement.
TWEAK #2—- At the top of our homepage you’ll see a Video Stories tab which takes you to all the videos you’re seeing on social media covering our special projects. So if you’re not on Facebook or might have missed something cool, you can go here and enjoy all the cool video content Ben has been creating for us.
Brian Larson: Color & Flow Opening Reception Fri 7/12 From 7 to 9
Last month we brought you a really great interview with Brian. If you missed it go to the NEWS tab and check out last month’s edition or click here. Brian’s show is going to be a mutli media event showcasing Brian’s paintings, music, and digital/video work. Be sure to stop in and meet Brian, one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, and take in the amazing array of talents he will be sharing with us. The show will be up through Sept.
There Are STILL Open Spots!!
This event has been featured in our newsletter the last two months, and I just wanted to let any artists out there who sort of wanted to throw their hat in the ring, but got intimidated by “experienced only” know we do have some spots still available if you understand this will be a challenging project and are willing to learn.
A lot of times when we post projects, we get a lot of people who have never tried art before and want to bring their whole family out for a fun art day. That is awsome, but this isn’t that kind of project. So I did want to convey that, but don’t want to discourage those out there who are serious about gaining this skill and committing to the project. If you are on the fence just reach out to me and I’ll fill you in. You can always try it for a session and see if you like it. Also artists are likely to rotate through all the sessions as their time allows, so the structure of the project will be looser than first described.
Questions? Shoot ‘em my way— sue.montiarts@gmail.com
Get These ‘Art In The Park’ Dates On Your Calendars
If you are looking for some casual outdoors art fun for the whole familiy this summer— these events are for YOU! We will be featuring some beginner photography instruction at each one which you can use your phone for, or you can borrow and extremely basic level camera from us at the event. We only have 8 so people might need to take turns if there is a hig demand.
Thanks to a grant from the CMAB making this entire project possible, we will have a Spanish translator at each event too. In addition to the photography segment, we will be doing one or two other small fun make and take art projects. You don’t need to bring anything, just understand art can be messy, so wear your art duds and come have art-fun with Erica, Sadie and Yasmin in our great Monticello Parks.
Sign-Up For A Local Artist Spot!
We have had a few sign-ups already but there are more spaces available. Be sure to get on this list if you’d like to participate in this amazing event featuring the work of over 20 professional chalk artists from all over the country. Each participating artist will receive a professional set of artist chalks and get to work right alongside the pros.
Sign-up by emailing sue.montiarts@gmail.com. Title your email “Chalkfest.”
Would you Like To Become A Teaching Artist? The CMAB Has Got You Covered!
The Central MN Arts Board’s Teaching Artist Roster Program or TARP is such a great resource for both artists in our area, and those wanting to partner with artists to teach through their public programs. We love the way the program gives artists a pathway to become instructors through their TARP training program. There are many talented artists out there, but teaching is another skill, which can be learned. Once through the training, qualified artists are added to the roster where school districts, local governments, senior centers and others can find artists to come teach classes at their facilities. The CMAB even provides teaching grants to artists making sure they can get the needed materials and supplies, and helping classes to be offered affordably to the public.
Here’s what Leslie Hanlon, the CMAB’s Assistant Director says about the program:
The Central MN Arts Board will be accepting applications for the Teaching Arts Roster Program beginning in late July. This unique program is a seven-session training designed to help artists in all disciplines learn how to build curriculum and feel more confident leading artist residencies in a variety of settings, including schools and community organizations. A small cohort of artists are selected to participate in this training, which takes place every other year. The deadline to apply is January 28, 2025 and I’d welcome any and all questions from people interested in participating.
We strongly recommend this program to anyone considering this path as a working artist. Here is Leslie’s contact info:
320-968-4290 ext. 2
leslie.hanlon@centralmnartsboard.org
If you have been through the TARP program and are on the roster, consider coming up with a proposal and applying for a grant to work with MontiArts as your public partner. Here’s a link to the grant app page.
Artist Spotlight: Tara Storts
Tara has been adding her sunshine to Montiart’s Open Studios for some time now. We love her creativity and her genuine friendliness and curiosity. We were so happy she was willing to be interviewed for this new Artist Spotlight feature. Here’s Tara, her artistic journey, and what she’s up to now as a local artist in Monticello.
Sue: Have you always done art? Were you an "art kid?" If so, what were your favorite things to make/fav materials when you were young?
Tara: I have not always done art and I was not an art kid. I doodled. All the time. Everywhere I went, I was doodling. I never thought of it as art, but now I do. I'm rediscovering and realizing I want to be an “art kid” so I am now!
I have always loved collaboration and teamwork so I was drawn and guided to sports. I didn't really start connecting to my own art and creativity until Monti Arts a couple of years ago. I felt an enormous amount of words inside of me but they were blocked and didn't flow. I had too many fears. I started going to the Monti Arts writing group so I could be around the energy of creative humans and possibly catch the vibes and waves of their creativity. The words refused to come out of me, but I decided to keep going, doodling and listening to other peoples stories, poems and writing.
That writing group led to me joining the Monti Arts class, “It's Never Too Late To Begin Again.” It was a 12 week, small group class where we followed a book that reinvigorated a sense of wonder, adventure and purpose and provided basic tools each week to unleash more of who you are. It was not easy for me, but the group allowed and encouraged me to stay open, vulnerable and be uncomfortable. Every week, it was like another layer of myself was able to emerge by letting go of the stories, limiting beliefs and my conditioning. I knew I was “blocking” my own flow of creativity but I didn't know how to connect to it. It took A LOT of patience and grace with myself and a whole lot of convincing that I didn't have to be perfect. Art was a way to express myself and the whole point wasn't to be perfect. It was to connect to myself.
Sue: Have you consistently worked on your art, or have you set it aside at times; sort of dipped in and out of it as life allowed?
Tara: I would like to be consistent and devoted to my art, but I am not there yet. It comes out of me when it wants and I try not to control the flow anymore of when, where and why it wants to come out of me. I just allow it and sometimes it doesn't make any sense but sometimes it flows and connects.
Sue: What types of art do you love doing most now?
Tara: I realized through my Monti Arts journey that I have always loved earrings and shoes so I thought maybe since I already love them, I could co-create with them. So that's how I decided to start painting shoes. Because I love them! And now I am starting to create epoxy resin earrings, gifts, memorials, etc and my current project is a crystal geode epoxy resin mirror with my dad's ashes. I wanted a symbolic way to remember him and all of the lessons so I'm creating it and having fun with him and them.
I also love graphic design! I used to teach high school students and I enjoyed making presentations and flyers but I never had time for it. I've been playing with Canva since it came out and I've been guiding startup companies and nonprofits with logos, flyers, business cards, websites, etc and all the design process of business. It's so much fun for me!
Sue: When you work on your art at home, do you have any ritual associated with how you like to get in the creative flow-- like do you play music? Do you have to do anything to get yourself in the mood?
Tara: I don't have any rituals, but I would like some sort of devotion process to myself and art but I'm not quite there yet. When I'm painting shoes and making earrings, I really enjoy when my friends come over and DJ Caribbean vibes or Hip Hop. If I don't have a personal live DJ, I'm drawn to music without lyrics, like LoFi Beats, Melodic EDM or high frequency music such as Bryan's (Mettaverse Music) or my friend Warren's music (Out of Time, Ascending Series).
Sue: How long have you been painting on shoes? What inspired you to start doing shoes?
Tara: I started painting shoes about 6 months ago. I realized that all my doodling could go on a variety of different canvases. So I went to some donation stores, garage sales and 5 below and got some inexpensive or free white shoes so I could practice putting my doodling to a different type of canvas.
Sue: Do you take commissions?
Tara: I have never received money for my shoes yet but I would love to! I have made pairs as gifts for family members while I've been practicing, but I would love to receive commissions or exchange my skills and talents with someone else's. I would love to customize shoes with individuals, small workshops or parties, etc. What I miss about teaching is the kids so I would enjoy being with kids again but in a different capacity.
Sue: How can people see your art online? (And purchase)
Tara: I set up an Instagram and Etsy shop called, “Serendipity Sneaks”. I know it will continue to evolve because every day I feel another piece of the real me emerges but I need to start somewhere.
Tara: Reflections on being an artist:
If I can be considered an artist, so can you. I realized for me, it was my stress and barriers that were limiting me to connecting to myself through art and creativity. Just being at the open art studio or joining Monti Arts classes has been such a welcoming and fun atmosphere. People are so accepting and supportive and everyone realizes that we all have our own unique story. If it wasn't for Monti Arts and the people in those walls dedicating their time and energy to being a community of artists, I would not be in this spot and definitely not doing this interview. I'm SO grateful for them because without them I wouldn’t have connected to the real me. And I definitely would never ever be able to consider myself an artist and truly believe it. Thank you Monti Arts and Monticello for holding space for people like me to remember they are also an artist! I just forgot.
