MMAC: Mississippi Mills Arts Council

 

MMAC Newsletter - May 2007

Hi all,

It’s coming soon! Our spring Arty Party, Wednesday, May 30^th at The Ironworks (5:30pm to 7:30pm) will feature new MMAC member and accomplished sculptor Russell Baron. Please take a break & join us!! (There will be a $5 cover charge to help cover costs and munchies, plus a cash bar.)

Members of the Almonte & Area Artists' Association invite you the 17th Annual Art in the Attic Show and Sale at the Almonte Old Town Hall, 14 Bridge Street, on Saturday, May 26 from 10-5pm and Sunday from 10-4pm. A variety of wall art, fused glass, ceramics, miniature quilts, artistic pieces for both visual and functional are examples of what over 30 members will be presenting at this popular art sale. For further information please visit www.4artists.ca or call 613-256-7910.

MMAC’s Annual General Meeting will begin at 7:00pm at Pinehurst, the home of Keith and Penny Blades, (39 Carss) Wednesday, June 13^th. The recent membership survey will be highlighted. This is also your chance to join the MMAC board - fun & short meetings guaranteed! To come on board please notify Vera-Lee Nelson vljnelson@xplornet.com .

A mighty effort like The Puppet Festival ( August 11/12^th) needs lots of volunteers. Please help make the third festival the best yet! Contact Mary Lou Souter jrsouter@rogers.com .

Artists! The opportunity to show your work in Mississippi Mills is getting better & better! A large display space in the municipal building will soon be available, the Almonte Library is another terrific venue, and now the new Fairview Manor is looking for work by local artists to enhance its pristine walls. Contact Susan Kilburn grank@sympatico.ca and Barbara Cotterill barcott@magma.ca for details.

APRIL NEWSLETTER

Hey! A hint of sunshine and higher temperatures. Dare we hang up our shovels and pack away the winter coats?
Congratulations to board member Rob Riendeau for organizing MMAC’s first and very successful workshop Being a Better Exhibitionist. Many thanks too, to speakers Peter Harbic of Signature Shows Ltd., Jordan Smith, The Small Table Co., and Andrea Fabricius of Fabulous.

The other half of the busy Humm couple, Kris Riendeau, ably filled the House Guest role on CBC Radio One’s All In A Day on April 10^th. Kris cleverly charmed the crew by delivering cookies from Baker Bob’s and went on to brilliantly paint a portrait of the vibrant and varied art scene in our area. Well done Kris!

Party, party, party at the next Arty Party, Wednesday May 30^th at the Ironworks (5:30 - 7:30 pm). Those who haven’t met new MMAC member, Russell Baron, will be introduced to the man and his sculpture, a blend of traditional, contemporary, pagan, mythological, and ecclesiastical with a top dressing of prairie!

Check out the newest of Almonte’s “windows” at the Almonte Post Office honouring veteran, author, and former postmaster, Hal Kirkland. Plans are already underway for the next window to be installed in Pakenham.

Of interest to all non-profit groups who rent space in the Almonte Old Town Hall is a recently approved reduction to the Improvement Fee. Town Council Motion No. 129-07 resolved March 13, 2007:

Be it Resolved that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Mississippi Mills approves that the Improvement Fee for non-ticketed events that are sponsored by local non-profit groups and organizations be 50 percent of the rental rate to a maximum of $100.

Jim Riva has applied this new policy and adjusted contracts accordingly. Any questions about this change can be directed to Jim at 613-256-1077, ext 10.

Finally a re-reminder of three up-coming events:

Saturday, May 12^th/‘07 on your calendar should be marked for Rosewood Studio’s celebration of 5 years of fine woodworking plus an art exhibit featuring the work of several MMAC members. (11am to 5 pm at the North Lanark Agricultural Hall in Almonte) info@rosewoodstudio.com

If you have pamphlets or handouts you’d like featured in the MMAC booth please contact Ingrid Hamster Harris at 256-5577 . Don’t miss out on having your work included in the digital slide show! All the details are in Rona’s email sent April 17^th. Deadline for your submissions is April 25^th.

Finally, please don’t forget MVFN’s Gala Fundraiser with gardening expert Ed Lawrence, (a great way to ring in Earth Day, welcome spring, and support environmental education!) 6:30 pm April 21, 2007 at the Carleton Place Town Hall. www.mvfn.ca for details.

The second of Perth’s Empty Bowls events April 28^th/’07 will help fill the cupboards of several local and international organizations . For information check www.emptybowls.ca

March Newsletter

We’d like to remind you of two up coming events:

The 3rd Annual Mill of Kintail Birdhouse Auction requires the help of the local creative community to build and donate signature birdhouses (functional or artistic) as well as related garden and household objects having a bird, garden, deck or spring theme. Prizes totalling $2000 will be awarded in the following categories:

Functional birdhouse

Most decorative/artistic birdhouse

Children’s category (kids 12 and under)

Well Crafted

Garden ornaments

A tax receipt for the auctioned price of the donation will be issued to the artist. For further information on this event, prize categories, or making a donation contact Mississippi Valley Conservation Tel: (613)-259-2421 email:info@mvc.on.ca

 

…and exhibitionists, don’t forget MMAC’s workshop on getting the most out of your participation in a craft or trade show. On March 28^th at 7 pm three presenters will share their expertise:

- Peter Harbic, Signature Shows Ltd., relating stories of success (and failure) from Canada's largest and most experienced producer of fine craft shows;

- Jordan Smith, The Small Table Co., speaking on shipping, lighting, packaging, credit card setup, printed materials, etc; and

- Andrea Fabricius, Fabulous, speaking on adding flare to your exhibit space.

The workshop is taking place at the Ironworks Restaurant and is free for MMAC members, $5 for non-members.

For more information call 256-5081 or email rob@thehumm.com.

 

During the school break, one of our members, accompanied by a grown up husband and a five year old grandson, ventured into the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau to take in a performance by our local professional storyteller, Tante Caroline. Everyone was thoroughly well entertained by the vivacious bilingual Caroline, who wore a wonderful pantaloon costume designed and made by Almonte’s Ingrid Hamster Harris. Caroline will be appearing in Carleton Place at Ecole J-L Couroux, 10 Findlay Place, from 7-10 pm on March 30, 2007 for an evening of wine and cheese (Contes et Fromage) to accompany her storytelling. It promises to be an delightful evening. For more information on Tante Caroline visit www.tantecaroline.com

 

Have you visited the Mill Street Gallery in its new location, the Victorian Woollen Mill?

 

We invite you to attend the unveiling of the newest of Almonte’s “windows” at 5:00 pm April 18^th at the Almonte Post Office. The mural honours Hal Kirkland after whom the park behind the post office is named. The portrait artist is Karen Phillips Curran of Rideau Ferry. Karen is head scenic painter in the set design department of the National Arts Centre.

MMAC Newsletter

February 2007

Dear MMAC Member,

Best wishes for an auspicious Year of the Pig! This is reputed to be a year of fertility so your board is hard at work on several creative initiatives which we hope will enhance the cultural life of Mississippi Mills.

MMAC is working on plans to present a workshop on preparing for and participating in a craft show with the intent of maximizing your return on investment. The format of the workshop will be three presenters sharing the time, each giving a prepared talk of about 20 minutes on different aspects of presenting at an art or craft show and then a Q&A session at the end.

Several members of MMAC will be joining the artisans displaying their woodwork at the  Rosewood’s international exhibition and sale on May 12, 2007. They are  Deborah Arnold, Stephen Brathwaite, Craig Angus, Dale Dunning, Jordan Smith, Elizabeth Sampson, Doris Wionzek and Rosemary Leach.  MMAC has purchased a booth and is planning how best to feature our work and encourage new membership. The event will be held at the North Lanark Agricultural Hall and begins at 10 am.

Those of you who have toured the new Fairview Manor may have noticed great expanses of pristine wall space. MMAC member Susan Kilburn is working to set up a committee which will encourage local artists of all ages to participate in creating an atmosphere which is both stimulating and comfortable for patients and staff in the Manor’s common areas.

The Mississippi Mills School of the Arts will be on sabbatical in 2007.

MMAC NEWSLETTER - January 2007

A sizable chunk has already been taken out of 2007, but belated New Year’s greetings! By now you should all know that the first Arty Party of the New Year featuring guest speaker, CBC producer Jill LaForty, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, January 24^th. Same venue: the Ironworks and same time: between 5:30 and 7:30 pm, and the same $5 cover charge.

MMAC members are slowly contributing material to our blog. If tech support is holding you back from submitting your contribution, board member Jordan Smith has generously offered to reformat photos, slides, etc. for our members. Contact Jordan at jordan.smith@sympatico.ca . We ask that you include a photo of yourself, up to 5 photos of your work, plus a short artist’s statement (approx. 100 words) and send the finished product to ronafraser@sympatico.ca 

The fabulous folks of Focus remind you that “national treasure” Ian Tamblyn comes to the Almonte Old Town Hall with opener Josh Morin - January 27th - 8pm - tickets $22 in advance at The Miller’s Tale or $25 at the door.

In our on-going efforts to benefit our members, a new committee will be brain-storming for fresh ideas. If you have any suggestions, please contact Rob Riendeau at rob@thehumm.com 

Speaking of the humm, be sure to check out Euphemia and Eulalie’s Arts Council À La Carte in the February issue. Eulalie Lark-Spur has exciting news “connecting artists and learning”.

 

Standing Room Only, Almonte’s Swingin' Big Band, invites you to “come on out and DANCE !!” at a series of Sunday afternoon swing dances, beginning this Sunday January 21st in the Almonte Old Town Hall from 12:30 until 4:30 pm. Three Sunday “tea” dances are planned so far, for January 21st, March 4th and April 29th. Light refreshments will be available, provided by TYPS. Tickets are $10 per person, $8 for seniors & students and will be available at the door or in advance from The Miller’s Tale, Almonte. For more information please call Catherine at 613 256 9266.

In case we haven’t mentioned the humm yet in this newsletter, the humm has generously stepped forward to sponsor a MMAC membership for TYPS. Many thanks Chris and Rob!

 

Almonte in Concert’s Music Club will present the Ottawa Youth Orchestra in a concert of classical music on Sunday January 28^th, 2007 at 2:30 pm. The concert will take place in Almonte at R. Tait McKenzie School, 175 Paterson St. Almonte in Concert’s Music Club provides a unique opportunity for music students of all ages and abilities to develop their performing skills in the musical style of their choice, in a fun, supportive and non-competitive environment. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students and free for children under the age of five and are available at The Miller’s Tale, 52 Mill St., Almonte 613-256-9090 or at the door. For further information: http://www.almonteinconcert.ca/oyo.htm

 

IPO Gallery for Emerging Artists 110 O’Connor St. in Ottawa is a charitable gallery located in Ottawa’s business district. Part of their mandate is to “Provide scholarships to support individual visual artists and performing artists in the furthering of their arts education” and to “Raise funds for Ottawa-based arts education organizations.” For more information check them out at ipogallery.ca