Traveling Literary Displays: easel (Experience Art in Southeastern Libraries)
SELCO and Southeastern Minnesota Visual Artists (SEMVA) will join together to provide libraries with a unique exhibit and programming opportunity entitled “easel: Experience Art in Southeastern Libraries”. easel will showcase artistic works by artists residing in the southeastern counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, or Winona and display these pieces in southeastern Minnesota libraries.
Each piece in this traveling display will reflect the artist's interpretation of a book, letter, or letters, authors, reading, or the library and must be suitable for viewing by the general public. All 3-D artwork may only be a maximum of 12 x 12 x 12 inches, and at least one of those dimensions must be 12 inches. All 2-D artwork must be 12 x 12 inches, including frame. The small and consistent size will enable all libraries to consider displaying the artwork, even those with limited space. This exhibit is modeled after “Foot-in-the-Door”, hosted every decade by the Minneapolis Institute of Art. (http://www.artsmia.org/foot-in-the-door-4/)
Program Activities during FY 2010
SELCO and SEMVA representatives began meeting in February 2010 to determine exhibit specifications, identify tasks, and frame assignments. A copy of the identified task list and projected time line is attached outlining the responsibilities of each organization.
After soliciting interest from those SELCO and SELS libraries willing to host the exhibit, 17 locations were identified. (Copy of email attached.) SELCO and SEMVA representatives visited the locations, met with staff and assess potential display space and options for hanging the exhibit. A list of dates and locations is included below. Photographs from each site are available in SELCO’s Flickr set, Preparing for easel, http://www.flickr.com/photos/selco/sets/72157623972635713/with/48564771….
SELCO contracted with em en graphic design to create an easily identifiable exhibit title and logo which was selected in June 2010 and incorporated into the Call for Artists. (Copies attached.) During this same time period, SELCO staff and SEMVA artists solicited mailing lists from other regional arts organizations. A direct mailing was distributed to 588 individuals and copies of the Call were also made available at libraries and art galleries. Press releases were sent to media outlets announcing the Call and the PostBulletin provided thorough coverage. (Press release prepared by SELCO staff and newspaper article attached.)
In an effort to facilitate communication with artists unfamiliar with the regional library, SELCO created a new website for sharing easel details. The easel website is accessible through SELCO’s general website but also as a separate web address: http://easel.selco.info/. SELCO also share information about the Call for Artist in its bimonthly newsletter to library patrons, local officials, and media outlets. (Copy of the July-August 2010 newsletter attached.)
Ongoing Program Activities for FY 2011-12
SELCO and SEMVA will continue their partnership into FY 2011 and complete preparations to open the easel traveling exhibit in October 2010. Major activities that will be accomplished in the first quarter of FY 2011 include:
• SELCO will accept art pieces submitted by regional artists in July 2010.
• SEMVA will jury the selections in August 2010.
• SELCO will notify artists and collect artists’ statement and biographical information for exhibit catalog.
• SELCO will finalize the easel traveling schedule. (A list of locations is included.)
• SELCO will contract with em en design for exhibit promotional materials and catalog.
• SEMVA will identify appropriate exhibit display supplies and transportation containers.
• SELCO will distribute promotional materials in September 2010.
• SELCO and SEMVA will install exhibit at the 2010 Minnesota Library Association annual conference, October 6-8.
• SEMVA will install easel at the first exhibit location, Caledonia Public Library, and handle installation details at all locations between October 2010 and December 2011.
Event Dates and Locations:
Traveling Art Exhibit Initial Site Visits
May 19: Spring Grove, Harmony and Spring Valley Public Libraries
May 21: Zumbrota, Lake City and Plainview Public Libraries, Goodhue County Historical Society and Wabasha Kellogg Schools
May 25: St. Charles, Winona, Caledonia and Houston Public Libraries
May 26: Lyle Schools and Austin and Kasson Public Libraries
Partner Organization(s): Southeastern Minnesota Visual Artists (SEMVA) http://www.semva.org
em en design, www.emendesign.com, a local graphic arts firm in Rochester, MN
Partner Organization(s) Contribution/Role in the Program:
To date, SEMVA has:
- Participated in planning discussions and solicited input from the members of the artists’ cooperative.
- Assessed display space at participating libraries.
- Drafted the Call for Artists.
- Assisted with the selection of the thematic design and logo.
SEMVA will continue to be actively involved and will:
- Jury artwork submitted by artists residing in the 11-counties of southeastern Minnesota in August 2010.
- Identify appropriate packaging materials.
- Identify and assist SELCO in acquiring appropriate gallery hanging and display materials, such as but not limited to: easels, pedestals, cables, clamps, gallery rods, etc.
- Transport traveling exhibit from SELCO to participating libraries and return.
- Work with local library staff to install traveling art exhibit on location.
- Prepare and delivery gallery talks at libraries in conjunction with opening exhibit or other Arts and Cultural Heritage activities negotiated to supplement the community experience of the traveling art exhibit.
The graphic arts firm, em en design, designed the Call to Artists during FY 2010. They will continue working and will produce the promotional materials for the traveling art exhibit, as well as the exhibit catalog during FY 2011.
Program Outputs: Outputs are things you can count such as attendance, number of new participants, and the number of attendees who had never been at a similar event, and so on.
SELCO will report the number of gallery exhibits, the number and range gallery talks at opening or other presentations, as well as attendance at the gallery openings. Local library staff will be asked to monitor traffic and, if possible, provide accurate and/or estimated visitor counts.
SELCO will create an episode of SELCOtv highlighting the easel exhibit and will report the number of viewings and other web statistics.
Measurable Outcomes may be collected by survey, anecdotal responses, post-test; End user change in Behavior, Attitude, Skills, Knowledge, Condition and/or Status
- SELCO will offer a diverse spectrum of high quality arts and cultural heritage activities to supplement local library and community programming and each will include appropriate outcome measurements.
- SELCO will survey visitors using a variety of methods, such as comment book, online survey, personal interviews, and focus groups, about their impressions of the exhibit.