The Rochester Area Foundation will host the first showing of the second biennial easel exhibit tour.  SEMVA artists installed the exhibit on Monday, January 23 and the Foundation offices will participate in Rochester’s quarterly ArtWalk on January 26.

A number of easel artists, will be featured with short video clips on SELCOtv through YouTube.  Check out the first of these episodes with Susan Crane describing Powerful Pastimes.

Viewers of the easel show will be able to view the artists’ video interviews after scanning one of five specially prepared gallery name tags by using a cell phone with a QR Code app.   The easel promotional posters and bookmarks also sport QR Codes which, when scanned, direct the viewer to the general exhibit information on this website.

For an entertaining evening of art and community, enjoy Rochester’s ARTWALK.
The Rochester Downtown Alliance along with downtown merchants and local artists will present an evening ARTWALK on January 26, 2012.  ARTWALK visitors can enjoy the fresh air while experiencing all that downtown Rochester has to offer and, this time around, the city’s artistic tour will include easel.

SEMVA artists will install the second biennial touring art exhibit at the Rochester Area Foundation for a limited showing, January 23 – 27.  The easel exhibit will also be available during the upcoming reception honoring Steve Thornton, the Foundation’s outgoing Executive Director.

For those planning on a brisk winter foray of art and other treats, pick up your passport at the Rochester Art Center or the information kiosk on the Peace Plaza to begin your ARTWALK route.  Visit each participating venue and register for a chance to win a fabulous downtown prize package.

Nearly 50 artists submitted their interpretation of books, letter, authors, reading, or the library for judging and possible inclusion in the second easel traveling art exhibit.  The artwork was juried Monday, December 12 and 33 pieces were selected from artists residing in each of SELCO’s eleven counties.

As SELCO’s first traveling art exhibit, easel, draws to a close, the Kasson Public Library sponsored a Gallery Talk highlighting easel artwork on Monday, December 12, 2011.  MariClaire Flemming, an Olmsted County artist, and Richard Hutton, artist and Past SEMVA President, were featured speakers.  Hutton provided general background information from initial planning to installation of art on location, as well as details on the artists’ interpretation of books, letters, reading, authors, or the library theme.  Flemming shared details about her specific entry in the show, Your Love.

Left to right:  Ann Hutton, SELCO Executive Director, Mariclaire Fleming, Artist, and Richard Hutton, Artist and SEMVA Past President

SELCO’s Flickr collection includes more photos of easel in Kasson.

Just a few hours left for area artists to submit artwork for the next easel tour!

SELCO staff will accept pieces depicting the artist’s interpretation of books, letters, reading, authors, or the library until the end of the business day on Friday, December 9 or by special arrangement of Saturday, December 10.

Judging will take place Monday, December 12 by three independent artists.  The photo below offers a preview of pieces being considered.

Area artists and SELCO staff visited Goodhue Public School, Red Wing Public Library, and Crossroads College, all future easel – Experience Art in Southeastern Libraries, exhibit locations.  The visitors made notes and took measurements, as well as photographed possible display space for later refernece when installing the exhibit. For a complete look at photos from these three locations, check SELCO’s Flickr collection.

Photo credit, left to right:

1. Mari Flemming, Artist; Richard Hutton, Artist and SEMVA Past President; Corrie Westphall, School Library Media Specialist, Goodhue Public School; and Anne Kamin, Artist, while in the Goodhue Public School library
2. Shelving area at the Red Wing Public Library
3. Ann Hutton, SELCO Executive Director; Mike Kilgallen, President of Crossroads College, and Jim Godsey, Library Director at Crossroads College during a visit to the campus

Beginning in October 2010 SELCO’s first ever traveling art exhibit, easel Experience Art in Southeastern Libraries has toured the region.  The Kasson Public Library will host the last of the public displays of this select collection depicting the artist’s interpretation of books, letters, reading, authors, or the library.  The easel exhibit will be available in Kasson for viewing from November 27 through December 22.

Select pieces are still available for sale and holiday giving. Check your holiday giving list and give a unique gift.  For more information on prices and how to purchase, contact the SELCO office.

For more photos of easel at the Kasson Public Library, check SELCO’s Flickr collection.

Planning continues as SELCO and SEMVA prepare for our second easel exhibit.  Another round of site visits occurred on November 22 to the public libraries in LaCrescent, Hokah, and Preston.  For a complete look at on location photos, check SELCO’s Flick collection.

Artists interested in having a piece considered for the second traveling art exhibit should check the Call to Artist details and submit work to the SELCO office between December 5-9.

Photo credits left to right:

1. Richard Hutton, SEMVA Past President, taking notes on the space available in the children’s area of the LaCrescent Public Library
2. Mari Flemming, Artist, and Barb Bissen, Library Director, discussing space for easel at the Hokah Public Library
3. Richard Hutton, SEMVA Past President, measuring wall space available at the Preston Public Library

With the Call to Artists out for original pieces of art, SELCO and SEMVA are exploring spaces for the second easel traveling art exhibit.  Armed with tape measure, clipboard, and camera, SEMVA artists, Richard Hutton and Betty Devine visited four of the 13 tour locations.  The group traveled to the Blooming Prairie Public Library, the Owatonna Arts Center, the Buckham Memorial Library in Faribault, and ended the day at the Kasson Mantorville High School on Wednesday, November 16.  This work is in preparation for the second easel exhibit that will kick-off in Rochester in late January 2012 and continue traveling through the region until the end of June 2013.  For more pix from the day, check SELCO’s Flickr collection.

The artwork submitted for the upcoming easel exhibit must depict the artist’s interpretation of books, letters, reading, authors, or the library.