Sandpoint City Elections

Nov 6, 2007 Sandpoint residents will vote for mayor and city council members. At first it looked like no-one was going to run now there are a wide assortment of candidates to choose from. All of them seem to support the same things so in my mind I'm curious to know their position on the arts and what local government can do to improve and enhance it within our community. If you run across anyone running for office ask them what they will do to ensure we continue to grow and support our artistic roots. Issues like affordable housing, the byway, regional sewer and water are all important but let's not forget Sandpoint is known as an art destination and if we don't pay attention to it, it will be lost over time.

On another subject I think Catherine Earle and Stephanie Bozich are two of the best emerging artists we have in Sandpoint currently. I highly encourage you to take a look at their works.

Preview of Miniature Show / framing options

Artist Aaron Cordell Johnson stopped by today and dropped off some pieces for the miniature show on November 9. Its shaping up to be a great event and I'm looking forward to seeing all the art work that represents North Idaho, Sandpoint and Lake Pend Oreille. We should have over 70 pieces on display. Aaron and I also talked about frames and how much they can add to a painting. I've seen a lot of art poorly framed and wish artists would spend more time thinking about what type of frame they choose for their pieces. Aaron had a painting of a huge motorboat and he wanted a big strong frame to go with it because it tied in with his vision of why he painted this large strong motorboat. It was the focal point. The boat towered over the others as should the frame.

Art:21

Jackie and Dan Earle hosted a great evening of fun and art the other day. Art:21 is an emmy nominated award winning series on PBS. We got to hear from Ben Mitchell, Art Curator for the Northwest Musuem Arts and Culture in Spokane, Washington - it goes by the name MAC also. Ben talked about the museum and a show they will be introducing shortly. The show will focus on the earth and the globally issues facing us all with our environment. Than we watched a short video by Lida Saskova on artist Marilyn Lysohir who has sculptured busts of all of her high school class mates. Jackie and Dan's house is an art gallery unto itself and they are great hosts who cherish the arts. To learn more about Art:21 you can visit www.art21.org

The whole evening got me thinking about exposing more people to the arts and how we can help and assist creative individuals with their passion. I realize financial issues tie us all down but the arts are truly a benefit to everyone and help keep us alive. To be creative is not just about painting or making a sculpture. Business and community leaders are creative individuals also.

Thoughts of the Day

I had a great conversation with an artist out of Jackson Hole, WY yesterday and it got me thinking about surviving and growing in the art world. I think its important artists and galleries market themselves to the best of their financial ability. They should always be putting money aside to use for marketing. There are some great publications like South West Art Magazine and Art of the West that give good exposure even though they can be costly. Pick your spots and move slowly.

Establishing a database of customers and potential customers is also very important. Its very labor intensive but if done correctly you can develop long term sales and not be so tied into traffic off the street. Artists and galleries should also have a web site. Its a great way to show your depth and technology will only continue to be a bigger and bigger part of our world.

For artists getting works juried at key events is important to help build your resume and build relationships with other artists. There is a constant educational process that must occur also not only for artists but gallery owners.

The concept of marketing is not new and it is not cheap in most cases but I saw a book the other day about a gallery owner called A Girl and her Gallery. Its about Edith Gregor Halpert who helped establish modern art in this country. She was loved and hated at the same time because she was tough and spoke her mind which was rare in the early 19th century. From the few pages I have read on Amazon she was a pit bull and I think to some degree you have to be in this world. You don't have to be mean or anything but if art is your thing you must live and breathe it 24/7 or at least the days you are not playing golf.

Have to run. More some other day.