www.artworksinbigrapids.com 231-796-2420
We have Wow! and double Wow!! What a wonderful Grand ReOpening. What an amazing evening, what a great thing for the town of Big Rapids. It was bursting at the seams all evening. Ron Little was there and took over 30 pictures of the occasion.
We wish to say many, many thanks for your ALL your help, time and preparation that made the evening special. Yes, Artworks is a step above the top.
If by chance you were not in town like myself, and did not have the opportunity to be involved that evening, take some time to visit Artworks. Take a stroll in the gallery, notice the exhibits connected with the Festival of Arts…. And the multifaceted upper and lower levels…. Plus, bring a friend with you.
Please look at the next three dates listed and circle the ones on your calendar that pertain to you.
A. Gallery Leadership Team meeting, Thursday March 4 at 1:00 bring your lunch if you wish. We will probably meet in the dressing room on the lower level. Please send your concerns or encouragement to pheeter@charter.net.
B. Artists Spring Meeting, Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 6:00 - dessert will be served with coffee and tea. Upper level community room-Michigan Avenue end. Tour the galleries and classrooms etc. if you have not seen the renovated facility.
C. Gala Event, May 21st at the Holiday Inn Please open 2nd attachment and be prepared to support the Gala with the Theme: “Hats Off to Big Rapids”
Do you need hours? Good way to get a bunch with one event.
1. RIVERDAYS: Labor Day Weekend-Something of Value Sale. The Value sale is held on Labor Day in the alley behind Artworks. All donations should have prices marked on them by the person making the donation with the understanding we do sometimes change the prices during the day. We have a team leader – Cheryl Gould (thank you) to stage the event but we will need assistants for the cash sales and clearing the sale items from the alley at the end of the day. Contact Pat Heeter if willing to assist.
2. April 8 Beer Tasting: This was great fun last year. Several Artists helped at the event. Are you willing to join the crowd as a volunteer that evening? Jeanette is out of town for several weeks. Please sign up in the Gallery and Gift Shop…Sign up sheet will be on the Credenza in the Office/Artists Lounge.
3. Happy Valentines! The Chamber of Commerce will be participating in “Rise and Shine” at Artworks from 7:30-8:30 A.M. on Thursday February 25th. It would be helpful if there was another artist to assist Julie Tilmann and Pat Heeter with the mini reception and perhaps share about their particular art. Call Pat Heeter to help.
4. We would be happy to have more artists sign up for Gallery Design Team. The committee could use additional help with artistic ideas and helping hands.
The Credenza is the Artists Info center now:- Inventory books and price tags are in the left hand section. Marlie’s mail box is on top of the mail box stack. Extra inventory sheets, time and task sheets are in each notebook.
Other mailboxes are labeled Administration (Jeanette, Diane and all bookkeeping personnel); Gallery Leadership Team (Pat Heeter, Julie Martin, Doris Konrad, Sylvia Palmer, Pat Little, Marlies Manning, and Board members Steve Ross and Cheryl Gould); and Education (Ruth Vermeer and teachers).
Please let us know what else would be helpful to you in or on the credenza.
The next gallery reorganization of displays will take place the end of the first week in March through March 13th. You are encouraged to come early for the meeting if you would like to change the artwork we have available to display. Thank you. We will be thinking Spring! Optimistic, I know!!! If we need to remove work it will be stored in the locked storage area on the upper floor in alphabetical order. As you know we have stored quite a number of pieces during the Festival exhibits.
Please welcome our new Education /Program Director, Ruth Vermeer. Ruth has put a plan together for our popular summer camp and has jumped right into the organizing of the education component of Artworks. Lori O’Neil is our new Public Relations coordinator. Welcome both of these energetic ladies when you see them.
Biographical info is missing on many of you. Our patrons and customers often ask about our artists as they purchase pieces. Pat would like to be able to provide information about your art, motivation and artistic experience when asked. We can do a calling team to catch up with you or you may email Pat at pheeter@charter.net. Thanks.
Chairs: In the community room area of the upper level we have 20 adjustable chairs at our reconfigurable rectangular tables. There are 17 chairs paid for by our board members and others as specific donations. The cost of the chairs is $75.00 each. There are 3 chairs left which can be paid for as a specific donation if you would like to support Artworks in this way. Our board and artists have been very supportive of the Gallery and Gift shop renovations as well as the other building changes. Pat thanks you all for your support.
There are adult enrichment and professional development classes in the creative arts at Interlochen. Check the web: www.college.interlochen.org
One incubator studios are rented. If a fledgling artist is interested in space, rent is being determined on an individual basis and policies are being determined.
New Volunteers: Since the Opening, we welcome new Volunteers Barbara Willey, Zonna Heck, Penny Cushway and Marian Sakalauskas. Returning artist volunteers Mary Waldron and Margo Berke are also welcomed.
We welcome Docent Volunteers Jim and Karen Shane and Michelle Kristner.
New artists this year include Brian Willis. Five more may be juried in during the next two months.
If you haven’t happened to check out the Gallery restroom at Artworks, please do. It has been artistically designed and decorated by artist Bryan Ridenour who has donated all his time to do this for us.
Again, with great emphasis, Check out the wonderful array of artwork by our Artworks artists in the front section of the gallery and gift shop. And thanks Marlies for following through on the front foyer signage. We hope to have signage similar to that in the rear entry as funds permit.
As a resident of the Artworks area, I wish I could list every person that has and is contributing to the beauty and recognition that Artworks brings to Big Rapids. (It would take too much space) I am so proud to tell others of the wonderful town that shares and encourages individuals to bring gifts of wonder and amazement to so many through Artworks.
PAL