Save the Date for ArtSoup June 20th, 2009

ArtSoup is coming to Downtown Elk River Saturday June 20th. This is the 6th time that the Arts Alliance has entertained the residents of Elk River and the surrounding areas with a full day of Art. This years event will be held for one day and promises to be bigger and better!

Visit the ArtSoup page on the website to see all the fun things there will be to see and do. You can even volunteer to help if you would like!

One View Three Artists & Stained Glass Too

In the Arts Alliance Gallery until June 13th:

The artist team of Cheryl LeClair- Sommer, Lisa Stauffer and Michelle Wegler paint together to capture their differing responses to the same landscape. During expeditions outdoors, the painters create realistic works of art highlighting each artistís personal interpretation of the subject. They find that working in nature enlivens the senses and calms the spirit. The paintings record the immediate response and approach of each artist to the mood of the scene, revealing three unique perspectives.

Also Featured in the Gallery until June 13th: Stained Glass by Mary Olson. Enjoy the sunlight reflecting through her beautiful Eagles, Horses, Fish, Flowers and Lamps.

Something to Ponder

I am reading Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill. I fined the book interesting because it deals with issues that artists deal with on every painting. But Think and Grow Rich is a book about money, you say. Yes, but the process to make money is the same as making good art. Or at least art that pleases you.

Without doing a book review and discussing in detail, I will layout some of the steps.

1) You must have a plan. Every good work of art starts with a plan. Every successful businessperson has a plan for wealth and success. I guaranty you the Henry Ford always had a plan. I guaranty you Donald Trump has a plan. I guaranty you David Leffel has a plan, or “Concept” as he calls it. All great business people do, all great artists do.

2) You must have faith. You need faith in yourself and faith in God, or as the book puts it the Universal Intelligence. You do get what you think about and desire most. Good or Bad. If you think your art is poor it always will be. If your think your art is great it will get better. There is no end to the possibilities of art nor the possibilities of making money, but you have to work at it and have faith.

3) Use the principle of autosuggestion. In otherworld, tell yourself you can produce a great painting. Recently I have started every painting with this thought in mind, "I am going to paint a great painting". As always, at some point I lose my focus. My plan is falling apart. I simply say to myself ” I am going to paint a great painting” and I say that over and over until I get back on track. By doing this it allows my subconscious or creative side to regain control. Be aware there are some limitations to this. You are limited by your education or training, your desire, and your persistence. As in business, if you constantly think your business is failing, it will! If you say I'm going to succeed over and over, the opportunities for success will appear.

I am not going to layout all the steps, I suggest you buy the book and read it yourself. See if you can find the correlation between the art of making money and the art of make art. Maybe you will learn to make good art and good money along the way.

Something to ponder…!

Mark Haglund

Musik Garten for Preschoolers and Their Parents

Introduce your children to music through the internationally recognized curriculum, Musik Garten at the Elk River Arts Alliance this summer. Children are naturally drawn to music, and your time with them in class provides family fun while stimulating your child’s brain pathways to develop memory, math skills, and powers of abstract and creative thinking.

Come join our Musik Garten licensed teacher Kathy Kapsner this summer for Musik Garten's "Nature's Music". We will learn about the natural world through singing, dancing, listening, and playing simple instruments. Early childhood is the optimal time to develop listening skills, to play with rhythms, and to establish the foundation for singing and musical thought. For parents and their children from newborn through 5 years. Classes are held in the Senior Center at Guardian Angels Apartments at 300 Evans in Elk River. Please park on street.

Session I: Tuesdays June 23, 30, July 7, 14, 21 from 10 to 11 AM
Session II: Tuesdays July 28 August 4, 11, 18, and 25 from 10 to 10:45 AM
Class fee: Parent and one child: $42 (members $38). Each additional child $25 (members $23)
Materials fee: $23 (This fee purchases a kit that can be used for more than one class. Fee will be paid to the instructor, not at time of registration.)
Instructor: Kathy Kapsner
Call the arts alliance for Registration 763-441-4725 or register on line at elkriverart.org

Art is the Emotion that Drives the Community

“Art is the emotion that drives the community”. Mark Haglund

This is why. Life is like art and art is like life, right? We have all heard that.

So, what is a community but a bunch of lives thrown together. Art is emotional. So if there is no art in people’s lives, the community is missing that emotion.

On a business level a community is made up of a bunch of businesses. We have hardware stores, convenience stores, plumbers, lawyers, doctors, gas stations, lumber stores, contractors, carpenters, handymen, restaurant, gift stores, fine dining, well you get the idea. All of these establishments or occupations are important in a community.

Each one of the business owners can be passionate about their business or profession, but let’s face it every community has it’s own business and fabulous business owners.

What defines your community? What sets it apart from other places? Why would anyone outside of your community want to drive to yours to spend their money?

Well let’s look at some examples. Broadway defines New York. Chicago is defined by it’s great Blues clubs and art galleries. LA is defined by Hollywood. Get the drift? These are all big art meccas. People can get emotional about going there. Some plan their vacations around going to these places. Ever heard of Branson, Missouri before? Not until they decided to brand their town as a venue for Country Music.

I will finish by saying this. A strong art community is a stronger financial community. The emotion that is stirred in the lives of people is the same emotion that spurs the growth in the community.

So support your local art community and all of it’s artists.

Mark Haglund

Fine Art Artist

Arts Alliance Member