Seeking Artists for Art Sale

Union Congregational Church in Elk River seeks artists to participate in a fundraising art sale. Space is free and 20% of all sales will be collected to help fund youth service and fellowship activities (with the exception of South African bead art sales from ArtAidsArt)*
*This year, we are featuring Bead Art from ArtAidsArt; a non-profit group providing sustainable income to South African Artists. For more information visit http://www.artaidsart.org/

Art Sale Details
*When*: Saturday, December 6, 2008
*Where*: Union Congregational Church
1118 4th Street
Elk River, MN.
*Time*: 10 am to 3 pm

*To register and reserve display space contact*: Marcie Babcock @ 763-441-7220 or 612-202-1040, or email youse123@aol.com

Two Art Shows to Enjoy

Harvey Shroeder's Students Show is currently on display at the Sherburne County Government Center. It will Run until June 19th. There are 22 artists displaying 82 paintings. The following link will take you to a Star News Article about the show http://erstarnews.com/content/view/3258/64/. Bruce Strand's description of this painting: "I call it "Kitty's Pillow," because this cat, whom I had for 18 years (died 2 years ago)liked to nestle his noggin into the palm of my left hand whenever it was available." Harvey is a great teacher. Make sure to check out this show.

Spring Thaw is an Exhibit that is at the Arts Alliance Gallery 716 Main Street in Downtown Elk River. The opening reception will be held on Thursday, June 5 from 4 to 8PM. Spring Thaw is a show of watercolors and clay and will run through July 5th. The Show features Judith Meyeraan, Eleanor Johnson, Kimberly Pietzrak, Mae Spencer and Deb Vandereyk. For more information go to http://www.elkriverart.org/

Art Soup 2009. Are you interested in being on the planning committee for ArtSoup June 2009? We are going to be forming a committee soon. Email the arts alliance at info@eraaa.org and we will add your name to the list.

Old Minnesota Song of the North Comes to Elk River

Minnesota History will be brought to life at the Zabee Theater on Tuesday May 13th when the Arts Alliance Old Minnesota Song of the North will be performed by Warren Nelson and the Big Top Chautauqua Band. There will be a 55 minute performance at 10AM and 1PM for students (others will be admitted to these show also if tickets are still available call 441-4725) and the full performance will take place at 7:30PM. Buy tickets to the 7:30 show on-line at Elkriverart.org and at Coborns in Elk River, Ramsey and Albertville, Elk River Activity Center, Luna Blue in Rogers, Rise N Shine Deli in Zimmerman, Sherburne County History Center and Kemper Drug.

The Arts Alliance and the Star News are sponsoring a Minnesota Sesquicentennial Art and Writing Contest for Students, Grades 5 to 12. Participants can win tickets for themselves and their families to the evening performance of the Old Minnesota Performance. Students work will be exhibited in ERAAA Gallery in August. Entry Deadline is May 7, 2008. Entry forms and ideas to stimulate creativity are available at the Arts Alliance website http://www.elkriverart.org/

Stop into our new offices at 716 Main Street. Enjoy viewing the creativity of artists who live in our community. The gallery space is open from 12 to 6PM Thursday and Friday, and from 12 to 5 on Saturday.

Get Things You Need and Support the Arts Alliance

As you hopefully know by know the RSVP deadline for the Arts Alliance's "Heart of the Arts Gala" on April 24 at the Wellstead of Rogers is April 15. Remember to call the Arts Alliance at 763-441-4725 to RSVP. $45 of the ticket price is tax deductible and you receive the opportunity to bid on many great silent and live auction items. Lots of friends of the Arts Alliance have donated valuable items for us to auction off and for you to enjoy. Some of the items available at the silent auction will be: Twins Tickets, Saints Tickets, Guthrie Tickets, Lyric Arts Tickets, Wine Packages, Spice Baskets, Jewelry, Art Work, Lorie Line Tickets, Massages, Restaurant Gift Certificates, Italian Women's Belts, Coffee Baskets, Sunglasses, Burts Bees Products, Salon Services and more. The live auction will feature birthday parties with the police and fire departments, lunch and a studio tour with Bill Hudson from WCCO, A weekend vacation on Gull Lake, A guided fishing trip and much more.
Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy time with your friends while you support the Arts Alliance.

Dear Friend of the Arts,
You are invited to the Elk River Area Arts Alliance Third Annual Heart of the Arts Gala on Thursday, April 24th at the Wellstead of Rogers. We hope that you will be able to join us for a very entertaining evening! The theme is April in Paris and it is going to really feel like Paris! We have lot's of great auction items coming in, and a lovely menu planned. You can enjoy visiting with your friends and experiencing ART in its many forms from 6 PM to 7:30 PM followed by a French inspired dinner. Information about the Gala is on our website www.elkriverart.org and we will be adding to it regularly. Tickets are $75 each. ($40 of that is a tax deductible contribution!) We are looking for table hosts who would like to decorate their table in the theme of a French Artist. Table sponsorships are still available at $1000.

Arts are essential to the health of our Community. This is the Arts Alliances primary fundraiser so come join the fun while you help support the Arts!
RSVP to the Arts Alliance 763-441-4725 by April 15, 2008.

Looking for Artists & Musicians

The opening night reception for the Grand Opening Member show was a great success! Good food - Thanks to Chipolte and Diamond City Bread. Good music- Thanks to Manny and Deb and The White Elks Jazz Group. The food and music are gone, but the ART is still there for you to see. Much of it is for sale. The Gallery space is open from 12 to 6PM Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Heart of the Arts Gala is fast approaching on April 24th at the Wellstead of Rogers. This is a great time to mingle, be entertained, check out lots of cool silent and live auction items and support the Arts Alliance. This is our major fundraiser for the year and helps us to continue offering quality Arts Experiences close to home and at affordable prices. Also, if you are an artist and would like to display your art for sale at the Gala, you must bring it or pictures of it to 716 Main Street by March 31st to be juried.

Rockwoods Grill in Otsego is starting an open mic night and is looking for musicians interested in performing there. Give them a call if you are interested!

Have you ever wanted to teach a class or are you currently offering classes. We are starting a list of Arts Alliance members who are interested in teaching classes - whether you are a visual artist, a musician, a singer, a poet, a playwright or a novelist we want you! Please call 763-441-4725 or send an email to elkriverart@sherbtel.net

Join us for the fun March 8th!

A huge evening to celebrate the arts is being planned for March 8, beginning from 5 to 7 PM. This event will be the debut of our new storefront facility at 716 Main St, downtown Elk River and we are very excited about our new, roomy location! We intend to liven up the "art scene" in Elk River and we need your
participation.

Arts Alliance members will be having a show of their original art on March 8 which will be a feast for the eyes. In addition, on the menu will be burritos from Chipotle, delicious breads from Diamond City, and coffees from Caribou among other treats. Visitors can also enter drawings for prizes and will also be treated to live music by Manny & Debbie as well as ER High School student, Tyler Babneau and his small jazz/alternative group.

Come and meet your local artists and view our new location; we will be an active participant in the downtown excitement and YOU need to see firsthand what's going on here! We want you to know all about us; we want to meet you and hope you will plan on visiting often to be aware of what's new at 716 Main: rotating art displays, artists' gatherings and talks, musical ensembles, workshops, writers' groups...what would YOU like to see and hear? Give us your requests; your participation and suggestions are a very important part of this happening! We thrive with our memberships and volunteers so YOUR in put is very valuable.

After the visual arts festivities, we hope that you'll join us for the sensational Japanese Drumming Ensemble, MU DAIKO, at the 780 seat Zabee Theater, Elk River High School at 7:30 PM. This will be a fabulous evening for the arts and it's only the beginning! Come and help make it a success!

Finally, the Arts Alliance wishes everyone to know that we are greatly indebted to our community partners and, in particular, to the City of Elk River for their outstanding support of these efforts. Without all of you, none of this would be possible, and art experiences are more important now than ever in these months of cloudy national forecasts and the never-ending cold of the Minnesota winter!