The value of giving to a worthy cause

Art-A-Whirl 2013 Silent Auction, photo courtesy Jeanne Oss

When should artists donate their work? Board President Carmen Gutierrez-Bolger weighs in on times she has donated her work, and the value of supporting non-profits such as NEMAA through donations: 

Ask any artist if they will donate a work of art for your non-profit’s silent or live auction and you will probably get a hesitant response. I have three email requests to donate my work right now. In fact, some very nice people knocked on my studio door last week and asked me to donate work. “You will have the opportunity to come to the event and be recognized as an artist/donor.” The work that this non-profit does is truly remarkable and I feel that they are worthy of a donation, but I have to decide which organizations I can afford to help. 

Public Art at the Northeast Library

Installing the frieze

Hennepin County Library recently commissioned a frieze to be installed at the Northeast library branch, 2200 Central Ave NE. On the library’s large south wall, the 40 x 4 foot horizontal frieze features the talents of artists who live and/or work in Northeast Minneapolis. To facilitate the development of this public art project, Hennepin County contracted Jack Becker of Forecast Public Art. A committee involving Hennepin County Library, the Friends of the Northeast library, and others, discussed numerous public art options. Rather than showcase the work of only a single artist, Jack Becker proposed a frieze that could approximate the breadth of work done in NE Minneapolis. This theme to highlight the art produced by multiple NE artists seemed to resonate most strongly, with panel members recognizing the impact of the arts in helping to shape the NE community's history.

Getting ready for Art-A-Whirl

NEMAA staff and volunteers beginning the proofing process