HTA April 2006 Newsletter
The Handmade Tile Association members and the organization itself have had a multitude of projects and accomplishments it would like to report over the past couple of months. The HTA newsletter will try to keep up with all of the important news and try not to forget notes of interest.
Mass Mailing
First we need to start with volunteer recognition. In February the HTA did its annual mass mailing of the directory. Over 1200 were sent all across the country. This task took our five volunteers and six hours to complete. Thanks to Deb LeAir, Sharra Frank, Chris Kelly, Layl McDill and Josh Blanc for their work.
Home and Garden Show
The second big project that HTA members participated in was its first group Home and Garden show. Over 1200 directories were handed out in the 5 day event. Special thanks goes to Roger Mayland. He was the main force that brought this project together. Roger donated his trade show display, his truck, his employee and his own time for set up and take down. He also helped staff the booth. Josh Blanc helped organize the presentation, the time schedule for volunteers, and helped set up and take down the display. Thanks to all the members who volunteered to hand out directories and talk up the HTA including, Mercedes Mattila, Nancy Froseth, AJ Rand, LeAnn Johnson, Sharra Frank, Karin Kreamer, Norma Hanlon, and Kirsten Hanlon Walstead. We will discuss the success and issues of this event at the next HTA meeting.
Tile Heritage Visit
As we reported in the last HTA newsletter Joe Taylor came to MN and for a whirlwind tour of eight artist studios, two participating museums, historic sites, and conference planning businesses all packed in two and a quarter days. Josh Blanc was his host and they went strong from 7am till sometimes 11pm. Mr. Taylor said he had a great time and that he looks forward to working with everyone. Josh Blanc would like to thank all of you who were able to be flexible with your schedules to make time to visit. Also thanks to Joe Taylor and off site help from Shelia Meinies for visiting our MN tile world.
The Tiles of the Northern Plains Building on Tradition is really starting to take shape. This visit by the THF was very important to find out who are the interested parties in creating this event. The conference has started to solidify but is still in its flexible mode. So far the conference will open in Minneapolis with a series of workshops by twin cities artists. It will then have a component in Duluth MN and Superior WI including tours of great historic sites, gallery hopping and a dinner at the Glensheen mansion. From there it will move back to the Twin Cities for a gallery opening of the national juried tile show at Clay Squared to Infinity. Lectures and a day at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts will be the focus for Friday. More gallery hopping tours will also be in the works. Saturday the MN Tile Festival will be center stage. Sunday tours are starting to take shape. Those wanting to participate in the event must submit their proposals by the end of April so to be included in the promotional and registration form planning.
Batchelder Update
Update on the Batchelder salvage by Architectural Antiques. It was sold to a couple on the east coast and will be part of a new home construction in an Arts and Crafts designed home. The photos will stay on the website indefinitely as a historic note of our tile community. To view the salvage click here.
HTA Board info
As the HTA has grown and is taking on more programming and events the board has decided on a regular schedule for meeting through out the year. Each year the board will meet three times unless special meetings are needed, once in March, August, and November. These meetings are to help develop and guide programming that the HTA is intending to accomplish. The board welcomes individuals and interested groups to attend the meetings if they have official business with the HTA but you must be on the agenda to be a part of the meetings. Please contact Josh Blanc if you wish to be put on the agenda for the August meeting. The meeting times and sites will be posted on the HTA website by the end of May.
Tile Festival
The MN Tile Festival has over 20 spaces still available for artists to sell and showcase their work. You can download a form by going to events in the www.handmadetileassociation.org website or call and one will be sent to you.
Juried Show
One Square Foot presented by Clay Squared to Infinity is excepting entries for the show which will have one of its openings during the tile conference. Deadline is May 15th. Artists can submit up to three works. Each piece must be 12” x 12” x12 or smaller including framing if applicable. There must be a way to hang the piece it to be accepted. The application is online but hard copies of the entry forms are available. Please contact Clay Squared to Infinity to get more details. www.claysquared.com
Demo at FK art glass
Chris and Stacy Kelly gave us another spectacular demo on fused glass and glass casting. The HTA had a meeting at their studio over two years ago when they were in the beginning stages of building it. This time the studio was complete and they put on quite a show for the audience. It is a great studio to hang out in especially when it is cold outside. They are part of a glass tour every October and they have been a part of a developed glass studio tour. Please contact Chris or Stacy to get a brochure.
People in Attendance: 19 - Host Chris and Stacy Kelly
Mercedes Matilla, Chris Holland, Karin Kraemer, Wendy Penta Nelson, Joe Taylor, Jane Swan, Stephanie Kaczrowski, Merribeth O'Keefe, Brad Benn, Julie Hiebert, Norma Hanlon, Kristin Walstead, Leann E. Johnson, Laura McCaul, Pooka Ness, Roger Mayland, Fred Gridley and Josh Blanc.
MN Tile Festival commemorative tile
Kirsten Hanlon Walsted created four prototype commemorative tiles for the group to view and vote on during the meeting. The winner was selected and as a twist they will all be the same design but they will be in many different color combinations. The HTA will pay $300 to the artist plus supplies. There will be only 50 tiles made and will retail at $25 each. People can reserve their commemorative tile or purchase them at the MN Tile Festival.
Next Meeting Tuesday May 2nd 6:30pm
Where:
Northrup King Building
1500 Jackson St NE
Studio 403
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Next meeting will be at Sheryl Tuorila’s new studio in the Northrup King Building in the Arts District of NE Minneapolis. This is a very dynamic arts building housing over 100 artists. This is also the building the HTA had its first public outreach during the 2000 Art-A-Whirl event. Sheryl will give a demo of her mosaic technique and a tour of her studio/gallery. We encourage people to come early and visit studios and explore the complex. It is a pot luck.
This meeting will be at Sheryl Tuorila’s new studio in the Northrup King Building in the Arts District of NE Minneapolis. This is a very dynamic arts building housing over 100 artists. This is also the building the HTA had its first public outreach during the 2000 Art-A-Whirl event. Sheryl will give a demo of her mosaic technique and a tour of her studio/gallery. We encourage people to come early and visit studios and explore the complex. It is a pot luck.
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