News: Fall 2001

Neighborhood Kids Re-Design the Arts District

Over the summer ARTSWorcester worked with neighborhood children in designing a new Streetscape for the Worcester Arts District. Under the guidance of Project Director Eileen Rodgers and Project Assistant Natalia Karoway-Waterhouse, participants from Centro Las Americas, the Ionic Ave. Boys and Girls Club, and the Central Branch of the YMCA were introduced to the wealth of architectural styles which exist in the Worcester Arts District. Elizabeth Bacon, Education Director of Preservation Worcester led the children on a walking tour of the Arts District, where with cameras in hand, they learned about the history of the buildings. Each child focused on one building, made a series of drawings and constructed a detailed kid-sized architectural model. Given the opportunity to think creatively in terms of improving the streetscape of the Arts District, the children also created green areas, signage, banners, trash receptacles and benches, and redesigned a vision for the future.

The project which began on July 9th and ran through August 17th was funded by Fleet and the Worcester Cultural Commission. Works created for the Streetscape Design Project can be seen during the months of October and November in the windows of Great Cuts at Main and Franklin Streets.

A Candidates' Forum on the Arts

Wednesday, October 24, 2001 7-9 p.m. * ARTSWorcester Gallery at the Aurora

It's getting to be that time again for Worcester's municipal elections and as we have in the past, ARTSWorcester will host a Candidates' Forum on the Arts at our Aurora Gallery on Wednesday, October 24 from 7-9 p.m. The Forum is being sponsored by Worcester's Cultural Coalition, the unified voice of Worcester's cultural community whose members are the leaders of the City's 40 arts and cultural organizations and institutions.

The Cultural Coalition's mission is to "draw on Worcester's rich and diverse cultural assets to foster economic revitalization and to create a strong cultural identity for the City of Worcester." The Cultural Coalition was formed two years ago in partnership with the City of Worcester, Worcester Cultural Commission, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Colleges of Worcester Consortium, and Worcester County Convention and Visitors Bureau, to ensure that arts and culture play a vital role in Worcester's planning and development efforts. Through this partnership and with financial support from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council Cultural Economic Development Program, City of Worcester, and Worcester's cultural organizations, the position of Cultural Development Officer for the City of Worcester was established.

It is a critical time in the development of art and culture in Worcester as relationships with the City have been established and projects supported. Will the City's elected officials continue in their leadership role in support of our art and culture agenda? Will elected officials support the development of a Master Plan for the Arts District, public art projects that are funded through the City's budget, continued redevelopment of buildings in the Arts District for the creation of live/work space for artists at affordable rates?

Joan Bagley will serve as moderator for this lively forum on the arts. Candidates from District 1 are Jerry R. Horton and Stephen T. Patton; District 2: Annunzia Ricciardi-Grilla and Philip P. Palmieri; District 3: Paul P. Clancy, Jr.; District 4 (includes the Arts District): Barbara G. Haller and Robert F. McCauley; District 5: Stephen G. Abraham and John P. Perry. At-Large Councillor Candidates include: William S. Coleman III, Christopher S. Condon, Juan A. Gomez, Dennis L. Irish, Konstantina B. Lukes, Timothy P. Murray, Mike C. Perotto, and Joseph M. Petty. Please join us for this informative and lively forum on the arts at ARTSWorcester's Aurora Gallery and don't forget to vote on Tuesday, November 6th.

Tattoo You

ARTSWorcester is hosting the opening Press Conference for the First Annual Massachusetts Tattoo Festival. The festival will be held at the Worcester Centrum Center October 5-7, 2001, and will feature major tattoo artists from all over the world, as well as Body Piercers, Musicians, alternative fashion and a sideshow of performers.

The Press Conference will take place at ARTSWorcester on Thursday October 4, 5-7 p.m. Many of the big name artists will be available to media representatives who will ask questions and bear witness to an Art Fusion Experiment. In this experiment world renowned Tattoo Artists begin a design on canvas. Every five minutes the artists rotate to work on another artist's design until they are completed. The process of Art Fusion evolves as it progresses into an intriguing sort of performance art never seen before.

Paul Booth, the mastermind behind the festival and one of tattooing's biggest names, visited ARTSWorcester along with fellow festival coordinator Scott Alderman. They were delighted by the warm reception they have received from the City of Worcester, and have already reserved the Centrum Center for the 2nd Annual Massachusetts Tattoo Festival next October.

ARTSWorcester is pleased to open its doors to one of the largest gatherings of body artists ever in New England.

Thank You to Our Donors!

Thank you to the following Foundations, State Agency, and Corporations who have contributed funds to ARTSWorcester over the past quarter:

The Fletcher Foundation for awarding ARTSWorcester a grant in the amount of $7500 to underwrite the costs of developing business partnerships, new membership services, and brochures.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency with a 2001 budget of $18.5 million appropriated by the Governor and Legislature, for completing its award of our Year 2 Operating Grant in the amount of $7,130.

The Greater Worcester Community Foundation for their donation of $1,000 to ARTSWorcester and the Arts District Task Force through their Neighborhood Mini-Grants Program to offset the costs of the Trashcan Public Art Project in the Arts District.

Stephen T. Patton and Network Health for their donation of $500 to underwrite the cost of Viva el Arte', our Hispanic art collaborative exhibit with Centro Las Americas to open September 28th at the Aurora Gallery.

The Christos and Mary T. Cocaine Charitable Trust for their unrestricted donation of $250 which was applied to operating expenses.

Jack and Cindy Monahan of Monahan and Associates for their generous donation of a Sustaining Corporate Membership in the amount of $250.

MJ Pearle and Allmerica Financial for their donation of $250 to underwrite the costs of Viva el Arte', our collaborative exhibit with Centro Las Americas, featuring local Hispanic artists.

Bay State Savings Bank for their Corporate Membership in the amount of $100.

Alpha Travel Agency for their donation of $50 in support of Viva el Arte.

From the Director's Corner, Ruth Ann Penka

Recently, a representative from a local Foundation asked me an interesting question: "What keeps the Executive Director awake at night?" in obvious reference to what I worry about the most in my role as Director of ARTSWorcester. The answer is simple, yet very complicated: MONEY. Over the past two years, ARTSWorcester's budget has grown at a rapid rate; however, it has become a daily challenge to balance the income with the expenses. I find myself in a challenging dilemma: How do I narrow the gap between expenses and income? Fundraising is the obvious answer as I have spent most of my time over the summer months writing grants that could be used toward our gallery expenses at the Aurora. But, grant proposals are never a guaranteed source of income. As a result, we've enclosed a donor envelope in this issue of ARTCetera and ask that you consider a donation to ARTSWorcester as we kick off our Fall season to help narrow the gap between income and expenses.

I do firmly believe that ARTSWorcester needs to become more self-sustaining in its programming and services that it offers to artists. But, how do you place a price on advocacy for artists and our leadership role in the development of an arts district? Over the Fall months, the Board of ARTSWorcester will meet with the staff for a one-day retreat to answer some hard questions as to the direction the organization is going and how we are going to support that journey. It has been five years since our last Strategic Plan was developed in 1996/1997 and as Kallin Johnson, our President reported in June's newsletter, we have achieved many of the goals that were set for the organization at that time. It is now time to begin the process of developing a new five-year strategic plan and stop-gap financial measures that can be used to balance our fast-growing budget. We are currently working with Gail Randall of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation's Non-Profit Support Center in pursuit of an organizational assistance grant by which ARTSWorcester would hire a consultant to assist the Board and staff in the development of a forward-thinking Strategic Plan that would lead to future financial solvency.

We have a very interesting and provocative Fall Season scheduled for ARTSWorcester's Galleries at both the Aurora and Quinsigamond Community College; along with the opening press conference for the first annual Massachusetts Tattoo Festival and Candidates Forum on the Arts in October. All events are listed in our calendar in this newsletter. I promise you won't be bored by this wonderful gallery schedule developed by Ann McTigue, our Program Director, along with our Gallery Committee. Please join us for an opening or two and enjoy the beautiful Fall weather before the snow flies again!

Letter from the President, Kallin Johnson

It seems that in the life of every organization there are events that shape its future. These events are crossroads at which the organization may have had the opportunity to go one way, but go another because of circumstances, economic demands, and/or the cast of players, choose another way. At ARTSWorcester we have had a few of those crossroads over the past five years. One event was the choice to create a position for a full-time director which was filled by Ruth Penka in December of 1999; the other was to create a full-time program director position currently filled by Ann McTigue.

Another major event for ARTSWorcester has been our leadership role in the development of the Arts District. We have acted as a catalyst for this project because of our mission to explore, facilitate and advocate for programs and services that are of mutual benefit to the cultural, business and municipal sectors of the City. We have pushed our resources to the limit by moving into the Aurora Gallery in the Arts District and we are very proud of our success. Since our move to the Arts District, we have hosted over 3,000 visitors and worked with the Community Builders in the development of the first artist live/work project, the Odd Fellows building which is now 100% funded. Our advocacy for artists and an arts district has met with limited success, but our biggest challenge remains our ability to convince funders that advocacy for artists is worthy of their support.

That brings us to the financial predicament we find our organization in. ARTSWorcester's financial base has never been stable and over the past three years, has grown to six figures. If we are going to support a six-figure budget and continue on the course we have set, we are going to need to infuse more capital into our organization. ARTSWorcester needs to build programs and services that benefit both artists and the organization. We need to become more self-sustaining up to 50% of our operating budget. We will need to seek increased giving on the part of our members and develop a new Strategic Plan for the next five years which will steer a course toward financial self sufficiency.

Please consider a gift in the enclosed donor envelope as ARTSWorcester begins its journey to financial stability.

Thank You

Opportunities for Artists

Call for Entries
The University of Massachusetts Medical School. Artists interested in exhibiting in any of their four galleries should contact Jan McClish, Gallery Coordinator at 508-885-6048 or e-mail: jan@mcclish.com.

The Fletcher/Priest Gallery. Massachusetts Artists for an exhibition, Re-Interpreting the Masters, November 16-December 28, 2001. Original work inspired by any artwork that is in the permanent collection of and on view at the Worcester Art Museum will be juried by Roger T. Dunn, Professor of Art, Bridgewater State College in 2 stages. 1. Selection by slides: Deadline November 1; 2. Selection of actual work: Deadline November 8. Dimensions: No larger than 30" including frame. Paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, collages, assemblages and wall-hung 3-D works will be considered. Registration forms are available at ARTSWorcester. For more information call 508-791-5929 or email: priest@ma.ultranet.com.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Worcester County, Inc. Artists interested in donating a work of art for a fundraising auction on January 20, 2002. Contributed items and contributors will be recognized in the auction listings. This is a charitable event and you will receive an acknowledgment of your gift for tax purposes. Contact Ben Ticho, Executive Director at 508-752-7868 for more information.

Call for Trashcan Artists. The ArtsDistrict Task Force invites artists to submit designs for receptacles to be installed along Main Street in the Arts District. Deadline for Submission: September 28, 2001. For more information or a prospectus call ARTSWorcester at 508-755-5142.

Job Listing
The Worcester Center for Crafts is looking for creative, dynamic teachers for part time positions in its fast-growing Youth and Outreach Programs. Please call 508-753-8183 x3020 or fax resume to 508-797-5626.

Grant Opportunities
Applications are available for the Local Cultural Council (LCC) 2002 Grant Program. Applications are accepted from individuals, arts, humanities, and scientific organizations, and nonprofit community organizations. Applications are available from the Worcester Cultural Commission at the City Manager's Office of Neighborhood Services, 418 Main St., Worcester. Call 508-799-1400 for more information. Deadline: Monday October 15, 2001 no later than 5 pm.

Worcester Cultural Commission Creative and Performing Artists Fellowship Program 2002. Funded and administered by the Commission, the program awards up to five $3,500 fellowships to creative and performing artists who have resided in the City for a minimum of two years. Fellowships support creative development in five areas: visual arts, literature, theater, dance and music. Interested applicants should contact Patty Clarkson, Worcester Cultural Commission at the City Manager's Office of Neighborhood Services, 418 Main St., Worcester. Call 508-799-1400 for more information. Deadline: Monday October 15, 2001 no later than 5 pm.

Worcester Cultural Commission After-school/ Young Audience Program 2002. The Commission will award a one time grant of $10,000 for the development and implementation of an after-school arts, humanities or interpretive science program for middle school students, which encourages their awareness as audience members and/or participants in the cultural community. Interested applicants should contact Patty Clarkson, Worcester Cultural Commission at the City Manager's Office of Neighborhood Services, 418 Main St., Worcester. Call 508-799-1400 for more information. Deadline: Monday October 15, 2001 no later than 5 pm.

Member News

Frances Kornbluth had a show at the Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich, CT. Collages & Constructions was on view June 17-July, 22, 2001.

Congratulations to the thirty-three members of ARTSWorcester who participated in the Fitchburg Art Museum's 66th Annual Regional Exhibition: Emily Boosahda, Susan Coles, Walter Daby, Linda Davis, John Delibero, Fabio DePonte, Sara DePonte, Mary Dewey, Sarah Dyer, Judith Ferrara, John Gaston, John Guamond, Stephen Greenberg, Susan Linnea Kallander, Patricia Kamlin, Jesse M. Knott II, George N. Kott, Iris Lanyon, Maxine McDonald, Carlotta Miller, Mary Picard, Stu Pomeroy, Robert Price, Fred Richmond, Murray Rubin, Susan Ryall, Carol Santora, Michael Selissen, Will Sherwood, Richard Shilale, Grace Van Tassel, Julia Vera, and Beatrice Wiener. The Exhibition ran June 24-September 9, 2001.

Mary Carolyn Webber's etching "The Road Less Traveled" appeared in The Salmagundi Club's 24th Annual Non-Member Art Exhibition. The Exhibit ran May 21-June 8, 2001 in New York City. Webber's monotype "Metamorphosis" was shown in the All New England Exhibition 2001 at the Cape Cod Art Association in Barnstable the month of July, and she received First Prize in Mixed Media at the Premiere Gallery's 11th Annual Open Art Exhibit and Competition last May.

Christine Murphy-Cross participated in Worcester Windows: A Community Gallery Frances Kornbluth had a show at the Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich, CT. Collages & Constructions was on view June 17-July 22, 2001.

Congratulations to the thirty-three members of ARTSWorcester who participated in the Fitchburg Art Museum's 66th Annual Regional Exhibition: Emily Boosahda, Susan Coles, Walter Daby, Linda Davis, John Delibero, Fabio DePonte, Sara DePonte, Mary Dewey, Sarah Dyer, Judith Ferrara, John Gaston, John Guamond, Stephen Greenberg, Susan Linnea Kallander, Patricia Kamlin, Jesse M. Knott II, George N. Kott, Iris Lanyon, Maxine McDonald, Carlotta Miller, Mary Picard, Stu Pomeroy, Robert Price, Fred Richmond, Murray Rubin, Susan Ryall, Carol Santora, Michael Selissen, Will Sherwood, Richard Shilale, Grace Van Tassel, Julia Vera, and Beatrice Wiener. The Exhibition ran June 24-September 9, 2001.

Mary Carolyn Webber's etching "The Road Less Traveled" appeared in The Salmagundi Club's 24th Annual Non-Member Art Exhibition. The Exhibit ran May 21-June 8, 2001 in New York City. Webber's monotype "Metamorphosis" was shown in the All New England Exhibition 2001 at the Cape Cod Art Association in Barnstable the month of July, and she received First Prize in Mixed Media at the Premiere Gallery's 11th Annual Open Art Exhibit and Competition last May.

Christine Murphy-Cross participated in Worcester Windows: A Community Gallery Program. Her work was in the windows of Great Cuts at the Corner of Franklin and Main Sts., July 1-31, 2001.

Ann Rosebrooks presented her paintings featuring The Adventures of Ms. Melati in an exhibition; SATU BULAN, one month in Bali at the Booklovers' Gourmet in Webster, MA. The exhibit ran July 1-31, 2001. Ann's painting "Paranoia" was accepted as part of the permanent collection of the National Association of Women Artists at the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers University, New Brunswick NJ. Another painting has been included in a national juried show at the Jemison-Carnegie Heritage Hall Museum in Talladega, AL, August 28-October 7, 2001.

Ed Esleeck and Maxine McDonald exhibited along with Nancy Engberg in Remnants and Relics: photographs of abandoned places at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport, MA, July 27-August 27, 2001.

Frank Armstrong has been chosen by Waterous & Co. of Canada to publish his photographs in a book, Rock, River & Thorn: The Big Bend of the Rio Grande, due out in December 2001. Other photographs by Frank of the Big Bend National Park in Texas will appear in a group show at the Houston Center for Photography. Frank has also been picked up for representation by the Tom Blau Gallery in London.

Fred Richmond is exhibiting photographs at the Worcester Senior Center, 121 Providence St. through the end of September.

Gene Berg exhibited work in GROUNDZERO:01 at 129 Lafayette St., New York, NY. The opening reception took place on August 18, and the show ran through August 31, 2001.

Michele Boucher-Johnson displays Local Color, her latest oil paintings at the Clinic III Gallery at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Ave. No. in Worcester, September 5-November 2, 2001. Also on view at the UMMS Galleries, Blooms and Dunes, watercolor and oil paintings by Emily Boosahda in the Benedict Lobby Gallery.

Catherine Haynes exhibited her pastel landscapes of Provence & Cape Cod at the Upton Art Gallery, 9 Main St., Upton. There was an Open House September 15-16.

Nancy E. von Hone exhibited her pastel paintings in Sky Above, Earth Below: Perspectives in Landscape, September 22-November 16 at the Westboro Gallery, 8 West Main St., Westboro. Also exhibiting work at the Westboro Gallery are ARTSWorcester members Barbara Brosnihan, Mary Dewey, David Green, Barry Hanshaw, Sharon Marini, Pierre Theriault, Mary Carolyn Webber.

Lisa Barthelson exhibits artwork in A Painting Potpourri along with her mother Mary Barthelson at the Hoxie Gallery, Westerly Public Library in Westerly, RI. The Opening Reception took place September 5 and the show runs through September 28, 2001.

Kathleen Cammarata, Kirk Jalbert and Donna Hamil Talman along with poet David Williams were featured in Hit & Run, an exhibition presented by the Worcester Cultural Commission for last years' WCC Creative and Performing Artist Fellowship Winners. The exhibition took place at the Bijou Cinema September 14-16.

Mari Seder will be part of an exciting photography exhibition, Crossing Intellectual, Spiritual and Cultural Borders at the Winfisky Gallery, Salem State College. Five artists were chosen to submit five pieces each for the exhibit which opens October 30 and runs through November 2001.

Leon Nigrosh exhibits ceramic Judaica in Jeremiah 18:6, Clay in the Hand of the Potter at the Jewish Community Center, 633 Salisbury St. The exhibition is on view September 9-October 30 and there will be an Artist's Reception Sunday, October 14, at 3 pm.

Member Benefits

Come to ARTSWorcester

ARTSWorcester is happy to annouce that it now offers its members the opportunity to receive Health Insurance, Dental Coverage, Property and Casualty Products, Retirement Plans, and Life Insurance. Any members who are interested are advised to contact John Lamontagne of the Small Business Insurance Agency, Inc. at 800-558-7242.