ArtMatters Newsletter January 2022
ArtMatters Newsletter January 2022
Year-End Update from our Executive Director
As we look forward to 2022, we look forward with anticipation and optimism. I am so excited for the future of the Arts Consortium of Carver County! This past year our community of artists has done some really amazing things; from exhibits, concerts, literary events, festivals, and much more. We have had the opportunity to foster meaningful art in our community and help support local artists.
This past year the store saw record-breaking sales, putting us over 42% higher than last year’s numbers. This meant that we were able to financially support our artists greater than we ever have. This is in a big part thanks to the volunteers who helped support and sustain the ACCC gift shop. If you helped us by fulfilling shifts in the gift shop this year, we are so grateful and thankful for you! As an organization, we project higher sales next year and will continue to pursue successful strategies to foster growth and attain our goals.
2021 has not been without its challenges, and in spite of COVID-19 and many non-profits being forced to shut down, we hold steadfast in our mission and will continue to serve the arts in Carver County. “The Arts Consortium of Carver County strengthens our community through the arts – and cultivates the arts through the community.” Thank you all for helping support the ACCC through these turbulent times and for your continued contributions!
A few highlights from this past year include signing a three-year lease for our gift shop at the Chaska Community Center, bringing on a new Executive Director, creating an educational partnership with the Integrated Arts Academy, appointing Amy Stocking as our new accountant, hiring Scott Werner as our new website manager, and welcoming many new members to our board. This year we have focused on strengthening our leadership and diversifying our Board of Directors, including Katie Trent accepting the nomination to serve as Board Treasurer, Hannah Johnson accepting the nomination to serve as Board Secretary, Nicole John and Abigail Davisson running our new social media initiative, and Cindy Anderson serving as our interim president.
We have some wonderful things in store for you this year including a whole line-up of concerts, literary events, classes, and gallery exhibits. Please make sure to follow us on our website and social media to keep up to date with upcoming events. The best way you can support the Arts Consortium moving into next year would be to renew your memberships, submit art for the exhibits, and to show up to these spectacular events that we have planned for you!
I want to specifically thank Katie Trent for making these wonderful newsletters! She does a fabulous job on these every month and she volunteers a lot of time to be able to keep us all updated. If you see her, please make sure to thank her!
Finally, I want to thank the Arts Consortium for hiring me as the Executive Director this year. Thank you for the support from the Board of Directors, members, volunteers, and Cindy Anderson. I sincerely look forward to 2022, and I hope to continue to make meaningful changes to better serve the organization for years to come.
Zachary Hedner
Executive Director
Visual Art News
4th Annual
The Gallery Show we have prepared to open the New Year is Call & Response, scheduled for Jan. 5 – Feb. 4., 2022. We are looking forward to seeing paintings, sculptures, pottery, jewelry, photography, and other art forms created in response to or inspired by a poem, song, lyrics, speech, or any other form of art. We look forward to seeing how the works of other artists impact and inspire our local artists.
Want to include your art in this exhibit? Submissions are due by January 2nd, 2022.
We invite everyone to attend our Artists’ Reception to meet the visual artists, writers’ and musician members and converse with them and each other, and learn more about the genesis of the presented works. Enjoy live music, wine, and light appetizers served throughout the evening. Invite your friends and neighbors to join in the fun of the evening.
Show Dates: January 5 – February 4, 2022, Artists’ Reception: Thursday, Jan. 20th from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Arts Center.
Youth Art Show: Feb. 9 – Mar. 2, 2022
Reception: Feb. 17, 2022
Whispers to the Past: Mar. 9 – Mar. 30, 2022
Reception: Mar. 16, 2022
Green Card Voices: Apr. 1 – Apr. 30, 2022
Reception: Apr. 14, 2022
Music News
City of Chaska MLK Celebration
The City of Chaska Martin Luther King celebration will be held on January 17th at 8:00 am at the Fireman’s Park Event Center and will be featuring Art’s Consortium artists Tanecsha Jones and Steve Kelzer.
New Song Collective
The next New Song Collective will be held:
February 9, 2022. Details to follow.
We encourage you to take advantage of this small venue event to get an up-close concert of some of the latest work created by our talented local songwriters and musicians.
Literary News
Inspired by Winter: An evening of music and literature
An Evening of Music & Literature
You are cordially invited to attend “Inspired by Winter: An Evening of Music and Literature” sponsored by the Arts Consortium of Carver County on January 27 at 7 pm in the Chaska Community Center Theater. Warm yourself with the music of songwriters and composers. Dream along as you listen to poems and stories inspired by winter’s starry nights, memories of loved ones, and other themes of the season. Mark your calendars now for a unique evening with musicians and writers. It is free and open to the public. Donations suggested: $5. If you have questions about the event, please contact ACCC (952-443-3200).
Last Call
Last Call for Writers and Musicians to join the Jan. 27 event at the Chaska Community Center, “Inspired by Winter: An Evening of Music and Literature
To participate, please choose one of the following prompts and create a literary piece (prose or poetry) or musical composition (instrumental or lyrical) on that theme: Starry Nights, or Winter Sundays, or Home Blue, or Missing You. Your piece should be no longer than five minutes. In order to arrange the order of the program ahead of time, please notify us of your wish to participate no later than January 20. In your email, please include the title of your piece and the prompt to which you responded. Writers should notify Susan Coultrap-McQuin, literary@artsofcarvercounty.org and musicians should notify Steve Kelzer, music@artsofcarvercounty.org
Finally, please arrive at the event by 6:30 pm on January 27, so that we can explain the order of the program and how we will transition between the musical compositions and the literary pieces before the program begins at 7 pm. We hope you will join us in this unique collaboration.
If you have any questions about upcoming Literary Events, please contact any member of the Literary Committee of the ACCC at literary@artsofcarvercounty.org or the ACCC office/Gift Shop at 952-443-3200.
Artist Spotlight – Ann Aas
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Volunteer of the Year – Elizabeth Brommelsiek
Elizabeth Brommelsiek goes above and beyond when it comes to volunteering for the Arts Consortium! We are so excited to give her recognition as our Volunteer of the Year! We are so thankful for Elizabeth’s time, positive attitude, and willingness to help out in any way that she can. We get at least one note a week from customers who rave about the quality of service that Elizabeth has provided them. On behalf of the Arts Consortium of Carver County thank you, Elizabeth for your service, support, and artwork!
Arts Center Gift Shop
Thank you for choosing to SHOP at the ACCC Arts Center Gift Shop and Gallery. We appreciate your support and we look forward to seeing you soon! We are resuming our normal hours now that the holidays of over. We will be re-organizing our displays and will still have PLENTY of beautiful pieces of art for sale.
- Wednesday – Friday: 11-6
- Saturday: 9-4
We invite you to consider volunteering at the Arts Center. It’s a great way to learn more about the ACCC and see what’s for sale as our inventory is constantly being updated. We offer complete training; no retail sales experience is necessary. Simply complete the Volunteer Form on our website and we will get you in touch with a trainer.
Any ACCC Member with artwork in our Gift Shop or in an Exhibit who works 6+ hours in the Arts Center Gift Shop in a given month will earn an extra 10% commission on the sale of their work for that month. See our How to Submit Art page for our Gift Shop or the Exhibitions at the Arts Center page for future shows.
Volunteer Opportunities |
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Visit our Calendar for Classes, Workshops, Meetings, Readings, Concerts, Artists’ Receptions, Exhibits, and More!
Our very popular Members’ Show opened on Sept. 22 and will continue through December. We celebrate our local artists and their amazing talents in all areas of art. Carver County is home to a great number of creative and inspiring photographers, painters, writers, poets, sculptors, potters, jewelers, and glass artists… it’s hard to name them all. Come and appreciate their work throughout the fall and winter holidays.
Hannah is currently the President of the Board for the Chaska Valley Family Theater and has also served that organization as the Executive Director. Hannah brings a proven ability to help build consensus and involve all team members in an effort to achieve goals. She is a leader in the Arts field, with a focus on inclusion, welcoming everyone to enjoy, participate and interact with the theater. She is committed to the goal of expanding arts access in Carver County and looks forward to building collaboration between CVFT and the ACCC.
Abigail joined the Arts Consortium of Carver County this summer when she discovered it through ArtStock Art, Wine & Music. She started volunteering for the ACCC and shortly thereafter was recruited to join the board because of her energy and enthusiasm about the arts and the ACCC. She is interested in helping bring artists together and making art accessible to the community. Some of her work is currently on display in the Member Show at the ACCC Gallery.
Mark your calendar for the 2021 Edge of the Big Woods Art Wander in Carver County – September 24, 25, and 26th! 36 artists will be showing and selling their art at 15 studios located throughout Carver County. We are looking forward to our 9th year of this amazing display of the talents of local and regional artists.
After publishing the Art Wander information through our social media channels, a private tour group, with guests from across the state, requested to include a number of studio stops as part of their overall tour on Saturday, September 25th. We look forward to offering continued tourism, exposure, and visibility to all artists within Carver County!
We are saddened to announce the resignation of Barb Hone from the ACCC Board of Directors, most recently serving as Member at Large. Barb may be best known as the founder/organizer of ArtStock Art, Wine & Music Festival and the creator of the highly successful Purple Reigns event held last month. Over the years Barb has served on many committees and volunteered at the Arts Center. She always greets every ACCC project as an opportunity to engage with the community. Her smile and abundant amount of energy will be hard to replicate. The ACCC board and members are grateful for all Barb has contributed over the last 11 years. She has been a faithful advocate for the ACCC and we will miss her! Be sure to stop by the Barn Quilt booth at ArtStock to see her!
We All Belong Outdoor Photography Show
Our latest exhibit, 
Anne Krocak will be offering an in-person watercolor class for those 18+. The joy of painting for all. Come share laughter and community while learning painting and drawing techniques. Each class will include supplies, new techniques, fun conversation and a time to celebrate and grow as an artist and art class community member.
7:00-9:30PM
July 10-11, we celebrate our 10th Anniversary. Mark your calendars. A Monroe Crossing Concert headlines the evening of Saturday, July 10th at 7:00 pm. Tickets are required $35 for VIP seating, $20 for General Admission. ACCC Members will receive early ticketing and a 10% discount.
The 2nd Annual Springfest Artisan Fair, hosted by the City of Norwood Young America (NYA), the NYA Economic Development Commission and the NYA Area Chamber of Commerce will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2021. This event will unite local painters, designers, authors, potters, quilters, craft brewers, locals farmers, musicians, etc., to display their talents and wares in our charming Historic Downtown Norwood.
April is National Poetry Month
There still is time to 
We welcome Norma Marien to the Arts Consortium as a new member and as the new Membership Coordinator. Norma is currently the President of the Friends of Excelsior Library, where she has managed membership and book sales. She also volunteers at the MN Landscape Arboretum helping with their newsletter and other Marketing Assistant work. Norma is a member of the Chaska Area Quilt Club and part of the “Comfort Quilt Committee”, which sews quilts for charitable organizations. In addition, she is a member of the MN Valley and Eden Prairie Community Bands. Norma has a degree in Journalism and has experience in communications, creating newsletters for a number of organizations professionally and as a volunteer. We are thrilled to have Norma join our team and working with our members!
