THE ARTS CENTER
THE ARTS CENTER NEWSLETTER Issue 151: November – December, 2020
A Word From Our Director
Courtesy of:
Upcoming Classes
New Exhibit
Arts After School Remembrance of Phyllis Ibes Perfectly Paired Wine Event Upcoming Events Special Thanks
Mindi Schmitz Executive Director
First off, thank you so much for your extreme generosity in giving during our Fall Appeal. We appreciate your support of The Arts Center’s many programs. The success of the appeal tells us that we are offering and providing programs you appreciate. This is encouraging! But always remember, we welcome your suggestions and ideas for future activities. As we navigate through this pandemic, we are committed to sustaining quality arts offerings for all ages. Evidence shows that the arts, culture and design can help: • Bring new attention to and elevate key community issues, voices of residents, local history, or cultural infrastructure. • Inject new or additional energy, resources, activity, people, or enthusiasm into a place, community issue, or local economy. • Envision new possibilities for a community or place—a new future, a new way of overcoming a challenge and problem-solving. • Connect communities, people, places, and economic opportunity via physical spaces or new relationships. Please stop by and see the exhibit, take a class or just to say “Hi.” We wear our masks and practice social distancing. I hope to see you at The Arts Center! Sincerely,
The pandemic has given us the opportunity to creatively change some of our signature Arts Center programs to safely enjoy all that culture and the arts have to offer. Over the next five months, in association with the opening of each new exhibition we will be offering an “exclusive” wine and cheese tasting for up to 25 participants aptly named Perfectly Paired, because what’s better than curated wine and cheese parings coupled with art. Sommelier Karla Sandness will be choosing each exhibition’s pairings which may be inspired by the art or other common theme. To be sure, the wine and cheeses will delight your palate. This program is first-come-first-served. To sign up for participation give the office a call at 701-251-2496. PERFECTLY PAIRED: January 28, March 11 and April 22 at 7:00 pm in The Arts Center gallery. Call soon to reserve your spot as we are limiting attendance to 25 guests. Tickets are $25. One must call in advance to reserve a seat.
take note IN REMEMBERANCE
We will dearly miss our long time member and friend Phyllis Ibes 7/18/32 – 10/06/20 Our very beloved artist in residence Mr. Billy has has provided this tribute: “So sad to have lost Phyllis Ibes yesterday. After taking some of my adult art classes at the Jamestown Art Center she offered to house me when the artist in residence apartment was under renovation. After my first stay, I opted 4 different times to stay with Phyllis, sometimes for almost 6 month spans. She was a wonderful roommate and a great friend. Phyllis once cooked the perfect batch of chocolate mint cookies and I ate 38 cookies in one sitting. Phyllis taught me how to play competitive Pinochle, and I taught her how to do the cryptoquip. Phyllis was often surrounded by sunflowers and loved to tend her garden. Phyllis was a photographer and had a great eye for beauty. Phyllis was excited that I was approximately the same size as her late husband, and she insisted on gifting me his wedding suit, and other wardrobe items. Many of which I still have today, and they do fit quite nicely. I loved how Phyllis pet her cat backwards and had the cutest way of saying “meow”. I think what I will remember most about Phyllis is how much she loved her friends, like Bonnie & David Tressler and Dina Laskowski, among many others. She considered them and their family as her own. She loved their quirks, humor and adventures. I remember David carrying Phyllis up the steps due to her bad hip, and us having a giant pizza party. Phyllis could always make me laugh and I would often call her when I was on my art adventures, because her laugh and attitude always cheered me up and she was always so happy to hear from me. I loved how whenever she heard my voice she would say, “Mr. Billy!” I will miss you Phyllis, thank you for all the great times.” ~William Hessian, lifetime artist and dear friend.
upcoming classes providing opportunities for artistic development and exploration
CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS & TEENS Pre-registration required. Details and registration online at: www.jamestownarts.com
FAMILY POTTERY with Bill Nybo
Saturdays: November 14 & 21 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Join us for a family class where you work side by side with your child, you will be introduced to the basic pinch, coil, and slab hand-building techniques. Projects are designed to stimulate creativity in a playful way, a great way to share time with your child! Be sure to wear clothes you’re not afraid to get dirty. Includes all materials and kiln firing. Attendance at both sessions is necessary for a glazed finished piece.
SOURDOUGH BREAD BAKING with Sue Balcom
Saturday: December 12 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Learn how to make yummy homemade bread with Sue! At the end of this four-hour class you will take home a freshly baked loaf of sourdough bread, a sourdough starter, and a recipe to create your own bread at home! Registrants need to bring hot pads, a 1.5 qt. covered Pyrex or cast iron Dutch oven, and a mixing bowl to mix the bread. Masks are required for this class.
JFAA 56th Annual Art Show There were fifty-five artists represented from three states. The largest medium category was painting which included, oil, acrylic, mixed and watercolor. There was also quite a few unusual pieces, including large mosaics, several aluminart pieces (a medium name coined by artist Elizabeth Schwankl) and a Firecracker Quilt created by nine elders in the Art for Life Program. There is such diversity that it’s hard to pick a favorite. However; the vote is tallied in favor of Joleen Reiland-Lorenz painting “Horsing Around” as this year’s Peoples’ Choice Award winner! Congratualtions, Joleen.
ARTS AFTER SCHOOL
The Arts Center is proud that during the upcoming 2020-21 school year our popular Arts After School program will reach its twenty second year of providing innovative, arts based youth development activities for elementary aged children in our community. This year will look a little different given the current pandemic. Students will be asked to wash their hands, wear masks and remain within their plexiglass partition during class. Surfaces will be regularly sanitized. The Arts Center will do its very best to conduct Arts After School in the safest way possible. As a reminder, our schedule follows the JPS schudule. Should the JPS cancel school or close early Arts After School will follow suit. Arts After School Program • Designed for students in grades 3, 4, 5, and 6 • School days from 3:30 – 5:00 pm • After school snack included • Scholarships available • Bus transportation provided (in town only) • Pre-registration required at www.jamesownarts.com Autumnal Tree Art with Tori Goodale • November 9 -13 Join UJ Art student, Tori, as she leads the class in creating beautiful pieces of art focused around trees and the lovely colors of autumn. These color creations would be perfect to hang around the house to add a splash of warmth as the days get colder. (No class on the 11th due to Veterans Day) Paper Mache with Bill Nybo • November 16 – 25 Create your own Paper Mache sculpture! These two weeks, Mr. Bill will lead the students in creating fish sculptures! After the Mache dries, the students will add exciting colors with tempura paint! Don’t miss out on this fun after school class! Who Speaks for the Trees? with Mindi and Madison • November 30 – December 11 Explore the wonderful world of the Once-ler and Truffula trees as we dive into Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax”! During this two-week session, students will create whimsical art pieces while also learning about conservation and recycling. Don’t skip out on this class because “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Pet Portraits with Linda Roesch • December 14 – 18 Linda is back with another exciting class! She will teach the students how to let loose and add exciting colors to make your wonderful pets pop out of the canvas! These portraits would be perfect as holiday gifts so don’t miss out on this fun class!
HERE NOW: Artworks by Linda Roesch
November 19, 2020 – January 23, 2021
For the last three years, I have had the honor of working through The Arts Center as Artist in Residence with the Jamestown elementary schools. I’ve gotten to know the students on personal level, and I’ve been able to watch them grow and improve their skills year after year. Living and working in Jamestown has allowed me to pursue my own artistic projects; from starting a YouTube channel to painting murals across the state. The Arts Center has held true to it’s mission of serving the youth in our community while providing an environment for artists like me to thrive. I first came here from South Dakota on a two month residency in February of 2017; I wound up finishing out the spring semester and coming back for most of fall semester as well. I then signed a contract to return for the 2018 – 2019 school year, then agreed to return for one more year, and then one more year again. Though I still have ambitions of leaving the midwest one day, I’m happy to be here, and Jamestown is starting to feel like home. During my time here, I’ve been fortunate to travel around North Dakota and beyond during summer breaks from school. One sketchbook, completed in fall of 2020, chronicles my life in Jamestown during the span of just over one year. Perhaps you’ve seen me sketching around town; at Jonny B’s or open mic night; in the park or at the fair; on a street corner or from inside my van to mitigate North Dakota wind and snow. My Jamestown sketchbook is a treasure that I will carry with me forever, and each page sparks a memory of a time and a place, or a moment, that may have little to do with the sketch itself. Though the sketchbooks are personal, the sketches are meant to be shared. With this in mind, I wanted to recreate some of my sketches as larger works for this show. Most recreations are done with mixed media techniques, combining watercolor, gouache, acrylic paint and oil pastel. Some of the canvases that you’ll see are taken directly from my sketchbook, enlarged, and printed on canvas. The original sketches themselves will remain bound in my sketchbooks for all of time. During my time in Jamestown I’ve also completed several commissioned paintings of everything from pet portraits to childhood homes. In summer of 2020, I was commissioned to paint a large mural on The Full Monte Salon. Word of this project that quickly spread throughout the state, and from the positive publicity generated I was able to secure more large scale projects in Jamestown and throughout North Dakota. Watch for more murals popping up in your city next year!
The Arts Center has served as a source of inspiration for my work, with each new gallery exhibit becoming my favorite. But probably the greatest unexpected joy that I’ve experienced during my time here, has been the happenin’ music scene in Jamestown! I’ve always dreamed of playing good music with a talented band, but until I moved to Jamestown there was no path to realize that dream. The public open mic nights that happen weekly at Babb’s and The Vets Club, along with the monthly jams at The Arts Center were my favorite local sketching spots. But I didn’t stay in the audience for long… within a few months I’d picked up my bass guitar for the first time in years! Soon I started playing with and learning from other local musicians, and now I spend most of every open mic on stage. I was asked to join a punk band in February, and my bandmates have become some of my best friends in the world. I’ve spent a good portion of my life wishing I were somewhere else… loving and caring for family kept me in my hometown in South Dakota for around 20 years longer than I’d planned. Coming to live and work in Jamestown presented the perfect opportunity to remain close enough to “home” in case I needed to go there, but far enough away that I could finally feel like I’d advanced next level adulthood. I’ve been happy here, content, and even though there are times when I’ve wished I were with my friends in California; even though I’ve longed to see the ocean during the cold winter months… I’ve learned to be more present during my time here, and I’ve been so thankful that I could be here, now. The artwork that you will see in the exhibit reflects the progress that I’ve made, the personal growth that I’ve experienced, and even the trials that I’ve overcome during my time here. All works on display were created during the past three years, and all have a Jamestown influence. The subjects and styles are wide ranging, but at the core of each piece lies a great appreciation for an experience and community that I’ve come to love being a part of. I am grateful for my time here.
Above: Train Train, 2019, Linda Roesch From the cover: Upstairs Dowtown, 2019, Linda Roesch
Buffalo City Photo Club The local band of photo enthusiasts will be meeting the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm in the Hansen Arts Studio. Topics are focused primarily for DSLR camera users. Free and open to anyone. We will be meeting in the Hansen Arts Park until further notice. Join the Buffalo City Photography Club Facebook Group page for continuous updates. November 17 and December 15 starts at 6:30 pm
Save the Date for our Mask-a-raid! Annual Gala Pending: February 20th We are looking at options to go ahead with our annual gala. Save the date: February 20th! If still necessary we will find a way to hold the function virtually. If possible we would love to get together and celebrate and support all the wonders The Arts Center brings to Jamestown.
Open Mic Night December 17 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm Poets, writers, musicians, comedians, solos, duos, and any and all performers are welcome to share your talent with the community at our monthly open mic night. There will be a sign up sheet at the door. Please limit your piece to 10 minutes. A P.A. system, bass amp, guitar amp and music stands will be provided and facil itated by local musician Steve Kuykendall. *There will not be an open mic night in November due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Although we are beginning to hold some events again, we ask that you please respect social distancing guidelines and wear your mask for everyone’s safety and enjoyment. We reserve the right to cancel or postpone any event if we deem it necessary for the safety of our guests and staff.
arts center fans! The Arts Center depends on the generosity of many people and businesses to bring you great programs year round. Gifts can be large or small. You can make a simple online contribution at: www.jamestownarts.com—OR consider becoming an Arts Center Member. Member dollars provide a dependable, on-going revenue stream for general operation and creative programming. Members get some great perks too… like discounted tickets!
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In addition to supporting our community programs, members receive discounted tickets to concerts, performances, theater shows, special events and reduced tuition for art classes. Members also receive an $15 Arts Center gift card each year. THANK YOU! Please return your completed form to The Arts Center.
special thanks to: Nadine Kainz, Judy Faulkner and Maris Thompson for helping with our latest mailing. The University of Jamestown for donating Art Supplies. Mark Strand for his generous donation of Bonnie Tressler’s “A Pear of Pairs” mosaic piece. Perfectly Paired sponsors; Tessa Gould, Brian & Barbara Lunde, Sarah Schatz & Thomas McGale, Karla & Scott Sandness, and Cork & Barrel. Sharon Vixo, Aloha Kercher and Judy Faulkner for helping in the office.
in memorial: Steve and Carolyn Cichos and Deloris Christy for Phyllis Ibes.
THE ARTS CENTER