AG #8 Recap: Kiln & Letterpress Win Big!

3 proposals, 52 patron votes, $520 in proceeds, 3 styles of home brew from the Dubuque Society of Brewers, Soup & Bread from L May Eatery sent potter Ken Bichell ($370) and letterpress apprentice Rachel Yoder ($132) each home with seed money for their projects. The June funding cycle was open to individual artists or creatives.

AG June Crowd at St. Mark Community Center.

Potter Ken Bichell swayed the audience with his proposal to build  a new wood-fired kiln on the property of Four Mounds in Dubuque. The wood fired kiln is a 2000 year age old process that produces unique surfaces which result from temperatures of 2300F, melting fly ash, and flame impingement. The resulting organic colors and textures are unique to the process. "In Northeast Iowa there were no opportunities for regional artists to fire with wood until in 2000 a group of potters built a kiln in Menominee, Illinois, Ken said "The kiln became a focal point for a growing community of dedicated potters and students. Hundreds of firings and thousands of pots later the kiln is reaching the end of its useful life leaving an uncertain future for those that have come to depend on producing work in this unique way."

Building a new kiln at Four Mounds provides an opportunity for the existing community of artists and students to maintain contiguous use of a wood kiln, but it also offers an opportunity for further outreach to youth programs in conjunction with existing programs at Four Mounds. 

Potter Ken Bichell awarded $370 for his wood fired kiln. Pictured with host Connie Twining & DubuqueFest's Aaron Hefel.

Rachel Yoder, letterpress apprentice at SlowPrint Studio won second place to help fund her idea to create a series of a letterpress postcards using the collection of historic letterpresses at SlowPrint. The content of the postcards will come from collaborations with local artists, designers, poets, and writers.

"The postcards will be composed on any of four presses:  a 1960’s Original Heidelberg “Windmill”, a 1940’s Vandercook 219 flat-bed proof press, 1930’s Miehle Vertical Cylinder Press or the 1900’s Chandler & Price Gordon Old-Style press," Rachel said. "We would first curate the compositions to be published through an editorial submission process and work with collaborators to best display their work, whether visual art or literacy." The postcards will be distributed for free in local cafes and galleries and also by subscription for people who want to be sure to receive the whole series as produced.

Rachel Yoder, letterpress apprentice at SlowPrint Studio.

The night also included a proposal by Roger Richard to create a free alternative newspaper written by the community contributors.

Final report by March winners DubuqueFest Fine Arts Festival for their Community Mural Project with Keith Huie. They showed a documentary video of the project by local film maker Kylie Clark. The Murals are currently on exhibit at Roshek Building, 500 Locust Street in Dubuque through October 1. Click here to watch video.

DubuqueFest Art Fair Director Paula Neuhaus & the Community Murals

We are nothing with YOU and our SPONSORS. A big thanks!

• L May Eatery
• Northeast Iowa Community College
• DigitalDubuque.com
• Dubuque Society of Brewers
• Loras College Food Service Dept.
• St. Mark Community Center 

A special thanks to guest host Connie Twining of Outside the Lines Art Gallery. ;)

The ever-inspiring Connie Twining!

Mark your calendars for September 20, 2012, 6-8 p.m. at Voices Warehouse Gallery, 10th & Jackson Streets in Dubuque.

FYI: Since our launch in September 2010 AG has funded 12 projects raising a total of $6,170 for Dubuque art projects! 

AG #8 And The Rule of Three

AG #8 And The Rule of Three

Join us this week for AG #8! Review or download proposals below:
JUNE PROPOSALS

When & Where?
Thursday | June 21| 6-8 p.m.
St. Mark Community Center, 1201 Locust St.
$10 (goes to the winning art projects)

Soup Du Jour?

• Soup & Bread by L May Eatery!
  
• Craft Brew Tasting by Dubuque Society of Brewers!
• Project Shocase by Fun-A-Day Dubuque!

Creative Proposals By Individuals:

• Rachel Yoder
  “Creative Dubuque” Letterpress Print Series
• Roger Richard
  Alternative Newspaper
• Ken Bichell
  Wood fired Kiln

Creative Juice:

• AG December winners Dubuque County Fine Arts Society will give an update on their project, "Collaborative Community Painting with artist Keith Huie”
• Your hosts: Connie Twining and Stormy Mochal

What's New?

• Proceeds are awarded in a 70/30 ratio. 70% to the project with the most votes. 30% to the runner up.

FYI: Since our launch in September 2010 AG has funded 8 projects raising a total of $5,650 for Dubuque art projects!  (Visit the AG Blog for all the news.)

See you this Thursday, June 21!

AG #8 Art Gumbo Call for June Submissions: Individual Artists & Creatives

Art Gumbo is now accepting applications from individual artists/creatives for the Summer funding cycle. Applications are available now through Thursday, June 14, 2012. 7 eligible applications received by 11:59 p.m. on June 14 will qualify to compete for funding.

EVENT: The next Art Gumbo Dinner is scheduled for Thursday, June 21, 6-8 p.m. at St. Mark Community Center, 1201 Locust St., Dubuque, IA.

ELIGIBILTY: Individual Artists & Creatives with creative ideas whose project will impact the Dubuque community.

HOW IT WORKS: Arts groups/orgs or group Creatives submit a brief proposal of their project. Submitted projects will be combined into a packet. The public attends the Art Gumbo Soup Dinner, they pay $10 to get in, and this money goes into the Art Gumbo Fund for the night. The attendees enjoy the soup, review the packet of proposals, and vote for their favorite. The proposal(s) with the most votes will be awarded the Art Gumbo Fund proceeds for that night. First place & second place will split the proceeds 70/30.

FINAL REPORT: The winner(s) will be invited to the next Art Gumbo Soup Dinner to present a progress (or final) report. Volunteer support is expected by the winner(s) at the subsequent event.

HOW TO APPLY: Download application below & follow directions to submit.
Art Gumbo June 2012 Application


FYI: Since our launch in September 2010, ART GUMBO has funded 10 proposals raising a total of $5,650 for Dubuque art projects.  

AG #7 Let it Rain!

3 proposals, 440 patron votes, $440 in proceeds, 3 styles of home brew, Hungarian Mushroom Soup & Corn Chowder from the Bank Bar & Grille sent DubuqueFest Fine Arts Festival ($308) and Loras College Creatives ($132) each home with a cash stack to launch their projects. The March funding cycle was open to arts orgs or group creatives.

Put your money where your heart is!

Robert Dunn, Loras College Creatives, took the audience on a sweeping visual journey of landscape & song with his proposal “The Driftless Land Project” a collaborative video piece featuring the non-fiction work of Kevin Koch, original score by Dunn, & video production by Craig Schaefer.

Robert Dunn, Loras College Creatives, "The Driftless Land Project"

"When combined, the literary works form a rich statement of not only place, but also humanity as it relates to and is transformed by place. The “Driftless Land” media project incorporates excerpts from these two volumes with stunning visual images of the Upper Mississippi Valley and an original musical score, composed by local musician Robert Dunn, to create a piece of art that encompasses literature, music and film. The completed film, with its emphasis on land and history, strengthens the communities of the Driftless Land." 

Paula Neuhaus, DubuqueFest Fine Arts Festival, won the audience's favor with their project "Collaborative Community Painting with artist Keith Huie”. The project took home $308. "DubuqueFest has commissioned painter Keith Huie to lead a community collaborative painting that will be created on-site during the festival, May 18-20, 2012, in the Washington Park area in conjunction with the Art Fair on Saturday & Sunday. The community/festival-goers will have the opportunity to stop by and paint with Keith throughout the weekend. Anyone can participate and there is no pre-registration needed. It is collaborative art in motion. Keith will lead/guide the collaborative painting so the result is a cohesive piece suitable for exhibition."

"Childhood Detail" by Keith Huie

 "This community collaboration serves as a model for the role that the arts play in helping to develop the broader cultural landscape of the Dubuque community. This sense of ownership and collective results in a cultural vibrancy that aids in the retention of young people in our city, initiates a sense of commitment to meeting our neighbors, serves as ongoing testimony to the power of collaboration, stimulates creative thought, and raises the awareness that fine arts exploration can be accessible to everyone." The finished work will be donated to a community organization for permanent exhibition.

AG Co-Founder Megan Starr awards cash & December Winner Artist Gail Chavenelle awards an original sculpture to Paula Neuhaus on behalf of DubuqueFest Fine Arts Festival.

The night also included a proposal by Suzie Wright, Colts Drum & Bugle Corps Supporters, for a video production entitled "Capturing the Colts".

Suzie Wright with Team "Capture the Colts"

AG is never complete without a progress report by the last cycle's winner. Gail Chavenelle and her student co-creators Holly Brimeyer & Brianna Manning won $750 in December to create the a public sculpture. The group displayed the prototypes (maquettes) of their 5-foot public sculpture project that will be installed at Hempstead HS in May 2012.

Holly Brimeyer with a maquette of her collaborative piece created with Brianna Manning & Gail Chavenelle

Maquette of the soon-to-be-named courtyard sculpture.

Always a big thanks to our sponsors...

Mark your calendars for the June 21 Art Gumbo Soup Dinner at our new permanent home St. Mark Community Center! June funding cycle is open to Individual Artists or Creatives.

CLICK HERE to view all the fun photo booth pics by Luxe Photography!

FYI: Since our launch in September 2010 ART GUMBO has funded 10 projects raising a total of $5,650 for Dubuque art projects.  

AG #7 And Then There Were Three...

Join us this week for AG #7! Review or download proposals below.

When & Where?
Thursday | March 22| 6-8 p.m.
St. Mark Community Center, 1201 Locust St.
$10 (goes to the winning art projects)

Soup Du Jour?

• Soup & Bread by The (NEW!) Bank Bar & Grille
  
• Sweet Treats by Carla Heathcoate
• Craft Brew Tasting by Dubuque Society of Brewers

Creative Proposals By Groups or Organizations:

• Robert Dunn, Loras College Creatives, "The Driftless Land Project"
• Grant Grudzina, Colts Drum & Bugle Corps Supporters, "Capture the Colts"
  
• Paula Neuhaus, DubuqueFest Fine Arts Festival, "Collaborative Community Painting with artist Keith Huie"

Creative Juice:

• AG December winner Gail Chavenelle will give an update on her "Courtyard Sculpture Project"
• Luxe Photography will host a glamorous photo booth, so look your best!
  
• Your host: Megan Starr

What's New?

• Proceeds are awarded in a 70/30 ratio. 70% to the project with the most votes. 30% to the runner up.

FYI: Since our launch in September 2010 AG has funded 8 projects raising a total of $5,100 for Dubuque art projects!  (Visit the AG Blog for all the news.)

See you this Thursday, March 22!


Ag March Packet 2012

AG #7 Call For Submissions: Arts Orgs or Creative Groups

Art Gumbo is now accepting applications from arts groups/orgs or creative groups for the Spring funding cycle. Applications are available now through Thursday, March 15, 2012. 7 eligible applications received by 11:59 p.m. on March 15 will qualify to compete for funding.

The next Art Gumbo Dinner is scheduled for Thursday, March 22, 6-8 p.m. at St. Mark Community Center, 1201 Locust St., Dubuque, IA.

ELIGIBILTY: Arts groups/orgs or groups with creative ideas whose project will impact the Dubuque community.

HOW IT WORKS: Arts groups/orgs or group Creatives submit a brief proposal of their project. Submitted projects will be combined into a packet. The public attends the Art Gumbo Soup Dinner, they pay $10 to get in, and this money goes into the Art Gumbo Fund for the night. The attendees enjoy the soup, review the packet of proposals, and vote for their favorite. The proposal(s) with the most votes will be awarded the Art Gumbo Fund proceeds for that night. First place & second place will split the proceeds 70/30.

FINAL REPORT: The winner(s) will be invited to the next Art Gumbo Soup Dinner to present a progress (or final) report. Volunteer support is expected by the winner(s) at the subsequent event.

 
HOW TO APPLY: Download application below & follow directions to submit.

FYI: Since our launch in September 2010, ART GUMBO has funded 8 proposals raising a total of $5,100 for Dubuque art projects.    Art Gumbo March 2012 Application

AG #6 Courtyard Sculpture, Film Festival Run & A New Rule

72 patron votes totaling $760 sent metal artist Gail Chavenelle home with $750 to work with two high school students, Brianna Manning and Holly Brimeyer, to create an outdoor sculpture for the courtyard of Hempstead HS. Gail will lead the team in sculpture design, conversion to computer Cad-Cam, collaboration with local metal fabricator to laser-cut, work with breaks, rollers and other state of the art fabrication tools and techniques to produce a metal public sculpture that reflects peace, unity, and community.

Metal artist Gail Chavenelle wins $750 presented by former winner Brad Manternach

Filmmaker Tim Connery was awarded $10 for second place to help support his efforts to submit his feature film "Easton's Article" to film festivals across the country.

Filmmaker Tim Connery livin' the dream.

Tim winning a mere $10 (AG rules state that the project with the most votes wins a max of $750 and anything collected over $750 goes to second place winner) elicited considerable feedback so the AG committee is considering moving to a 70/30 split of the proceeds so two projects receive ample funding. Stay tuned.

Tools for expression. Pottery by Eric Mathis.

Wanna see more great photos from the December AG? Check out Luxe Photography's blog!

Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 22, 6-8 p.m. as ART GUMBO welcomes Spring & proposals by organizations or groups. Our host is St Mark Community Center and the evening will feature Soup & Bread by TBA, craft brews by the Dubuque Area Society of Brewers, glamorous photo ops by Luxe Photography, an update by December winner Gail Chavenelle, and the next innovative projects from organizations or groups.

FYI: Since our launch in September 2010, ART GUMBO has funded 8 proposals raising a total of $5,100 for Dubuque art projects.