Arts Guild Reflections

Feeling quite reflective lately. I have a recent personal blog entry reminiscing
what it was like to go back and see a favorite sculpture, on a college campus
that I hadn't seen in over 20 years. To say the least, it was moving. That
sculpture marked a time when I began seriously making art and appreciating
it, a time in my life that helped steer my path. A lot has happened since I stood
in front of that sculpture in 1989. (For the full blog entry, use link below.)
http://tbesonen.blogspot.com/2011/09/vision-that-was-planted-in-1989.html

“The Arvegods” (1979) by Ray Jacobson, represents a pair of early Norwegian pioneers.

Concordia College, Moorhead campus.

I am also looking back to two short years ago, when the Menahga Arts

Guild was forming, and I was meeting some of the other artists in our
community for the first time. I had my doubts that I could steer the ship
as the president, but I learned that teamwork keeps an organization
like this going. As artists we work well alone, but we have proven that
we can accomplish a lot when combining our talents and strengths.
And currently, I believe we are on the tip of realizing just how much
more we can accomplish individually with encouragement from each
other!

Two years of MAG, in estimated numbers:
$7100--how much we have received in grant funds from
             The 5 Wings Arts Council
91--how many students attended our Youth Arts Camp
       over two summers 
30--local artists who have somehow benefited from the MAG
$2500--how much our April Scholarship fundraiser earned in 2011
250--how many people were served yummy bbq ribs during our
         April 2011 fundraiser
100--how many silent auction items were donated for our fundraiser
4--how many arts guild members recently applied for individual artist
     grants
15--how many gallery exhibits arts guild members have been in over
       the last two years
25--how many art & craft festivals/sales members have participated
       in over two years
350--how many people walk through our Mid-Summer craft festival
         each summer
25--how many craft vendors had booths at our 2011 craft festival
$1000--the amount of our MAG Art Scholarship, for a graduating
             Menahga High School senior going into an art-related field in
             college, will be announced in April 2012
70--artworks by youth art camp participants on display at the Cottage
       House Cafe during August 2011

July 2011 youth art camp paintings drying

July 2011 youth art camp handmade paper/paint quilts

July 2011 youth art camp, watercolor still life painting