Rainy River Arts Collective

Minutes for Meeting held Wed Nov 16 at 7 p.m. Fort Frances Museum Present: Vi Plumridge, Connie Cuthbertson, Ben Morelli, Carson Webber, Jocelyn Matheson, Lindsay Joy Hamilton, Daniel Young, Cait Morrison, Jean Richards, Peggy Revell, Sherry George Lindsay welcomed newcomers to the meeting and had each introduce himself. Ben Morelli will be opening a caf (Old Pizza Connection), planned start-up in May, and will feature work from arts collective. Also suggested we rotate meetings through the caf and Art Gallery. This would support him, the gallery and artists. Daniel Young, artist, social worker, dabbles in a variety of art forms. Cait Morrison, a 3-year graphic artist, has met many challenges attempting to find work in her field in small communities. She plans to pursue another career (nursing) to support her art. Vi Plumridge, local artist who renders history in her art pieces. Part of Fine Line Art Gallery. Old Business Logo design: Cait (& anyone else) will send ideas for logo design to be included in newsletter next week. Designs will be posted on our website/blog so individuals can cast a vote. Snow-sculpting project: The Town has issued a list of requirements that must be met before project can be approved. The project was discussed at length. As one of the issues could be allowing melt to drain into the river, the group is considering sites in the downtown core: old Robin Donuts corner, mill green spaces along Central Ave, old MacKenzie school property. These sites may generate more viewers and community response. A proposal will be drafted for town council. Lindsay reminded everyone of an earlier proposal that members of the collective take a turn at providing material for the Arts Column in the Times. Lindsay is currently working on a submission. Selections need not take the form of an article, but could be a poem, etc. RRAC blog and newsletter anyone who has material that may be of interest to the arts community, should post it on the blog site. This could be what they are currently working on, an upcoming exhibit, or a link to another blog or website. Also remember to send items for inclusion in the newsletter. Submission deadline for upcoming newsletter is Wed Nov 23rd. The newsletter will go out Fri Nov 25. New Business Library will allow the Collective some space for self promotion in January. The Wilderness Arts Council (out of Red Lake) is calling for submissions to one of their projects. Details will be posted in the newsletter. The Fine Line Art Gallery is hosting an Art Extravaganza on Nov 24, 4-9 p.m. Further details will be posted in newsletter. Lindsay attended symposium in Sault Ste Marie, where they discussed some of the realities that northern artists face. She brought back a number of brochures. Carson just returned from a tour. Details once again will be posted in next Fridays newsletter. At the Museum: This Place Where We Live featuring work by Connie Cuthbertson & Wayne Yerxa. Cait will be putting together a flyer to outline what the Collective is all about, who we are and what we hope to accomplish. Meeting adjourned: 8:10 p.m. Next meeting: Mon Dec 5, 7 p.m. at the Fine Line Art Gallery