e-News
Vol 2 No 15, July 18, 2008

Welcome New SCC Members
Congratulations and warm welcome to returning and new members;
Watier, RoseAnne & Marshall, Jude – Big River, SK

Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival Report
The Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival (SHF) was held at the Alex Dillabough Centre in Battleford, July 11-13. Attendance was on par with last year’s market, and reported sales were up substantially. Average reported sales this year were $3,612.47 - up from $2,600 in 2007. The majority of exhibitors reported increased sales. Denyse Klette won the secret shopper award for best marketer, and Don Pell’s Wingnut Enterprises won the marketer’s vote for having the best booth design.

One problem was the lack of a concession this year. This unfortunate situation arose when the caterer last year decided not to participate this year, and we were unable to secure a replacement on the notice given. There will be a concession again next year.

The SHF has changed in the last decade. It has gone from being a major, provincial event complete with the Dimensions Award Ceremony into being a smaller sale serving a regional market. The move in 2005 from the Arena to the Alex Dillabough Centre reflected the change – the new venue is more attractive, more comfortable, but smaller. It imposes a smaller “footprint” onto the market. Some patrons (and some exhibitors) are nostalgic about the larger events of the past (“it seems smaller this year” is a common response on the customer surveys – even though the size has been stable for the past four years).

There is one essential fact that should be noted about the current version of the SHF: It works. The strong local support makes it easy to stage, and it yields good sales to most participating marketers.

So here are some questions:
• Should we be doing more, smaller sales serving a regional market?
• Would you be interested in participating in some more SHF-scaled sales?
• Where do you think other potential locations in Saskatchewan might be?

Give Chris or Mark a call or e-mail us to tell us what you think. Chris: 653.3616 ext. 24 - scc.memberservices@sasktel.net. Mark: 653.3616 ext. 27 or scc.director@sasktel.net

Fine Craft Auction
We will be doing a Fine Craft Auction again this winter in Saskatoon. However, to get a better spacing between events (i.e. EXPO), we will be holding the Auction on Wednesday, October 15. Like last year, this will be an artist friendly auction held in partnership with the St. Paul’s Hospital Healing Arts Program. The detailed call for submissions will go out at the end of August, and ticket sales will be launched at the beginning of September. In the meantime, circle October 15 on your social calendar and begin to think about what piece of great Craft you would like to sell at this auction.

EMMA Collaboration
This week, Brad Hall of Nova Scotia was the first out-of-province EMMA participant to drop by the SCC. He is a blacksmith and sculptor from Annapolis Royal.

The EMMA auction will be held at the Western Development Museum on Monday, August 4. Viewing starts at noon, and bidding begins at 2pm. Circle this date on your calendar – as always, there will be some very beautiful, interesting and unique work produced.

If you wish to volunteer to help at the auction, please give Donna a call at 653.3616 ext. 0.

Wintergreen Publicity
Work is now underway on the tabloid newspaper to promote Wintergreen. Dorothy Fitzer will be selling ads for this publication. If you have any suggestions as to businesses that might like to purchase an ad, or if you want to purchase one yourself, give her a call at 586.5688 or email at dotto@accesscomm.ca.

Our summer employee, Jessica, will be working on artist profiles. We’ll be starting with people who are first time exhibitors – but will also be doing some articles on veterans who are doing work that is new and different. Drop Jessica a line if you will be at Wintergreen with something new. Her e-mail is scc.summer@sasktel.net.

EXPO 2009
EXPO 2009 has been scheduled for April 2009 in Saskatoon. In addition to the invitational-only evening event, the EXPO displays will be open to the public on a paid admission basis for a second day. This will allow people who did not get an invitation to the evening event to attend and view the Craft. It will also provide a second day of sales opportunity.

In accordance with the resolution passed at the Annual General Meeting, we will be developing and circulating the selection criteria and process over the summer. However, we would like to be in a position to select the participating artists by mid-September. Therefore, if you wish to be considered for EXPO 2009, please let Chris know at scc.memberservices@sasktel.net. We’ll be providing more information in the weeks ahead, but want you to start thinking about EXPO as soon as possible.

EMMA Auction
An AUCTION of the all the created works will be held at the Western Development Museum, 2610 Lorne Avenue South, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada on August 4, 2008 at 12pm for viewing and 2pm for the auction.

Online Auction - Requires your attention
The upcoming auction piece was crafted for the Little Bowl Show in 2000 by two of North America's most accomplished wood artists; Binh Pho and Frank Sudol. This extraordinary piece is up for auction this Monday, July 21 and will remain on auction until Friday, August 8. This auction will be ongoing and funds raised will go towards improvements of the SCC building facade -- matching a City of Saskatoon grant. You can view the auction piece on the SCC website home page www.saskcraftcouncil.org or upclose and personal in the SCC Gallery. If you have any inquiries or would be interested in donating your work, please contact Gale at 653.3616 ext. 23 or scc.editor@sasktel.net. The SCC would like to thank those of you who contacted the SCC with your generous donations. The response has been fantastic!

SCC GALLERY EXHIBITIONS
Last chance to see the work from Newfoundland and Labrador.
"CONTAINED"
An exhibition of textile, metal, wood and ceramic works which probe the meaning of the container in Newfoundland and Labrador. Curated by Gloria Hickey for the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador.
June 13 - August 3, 2008

"Kaija Sanelma Harris: Colour Maps"
An exhibition of new works by Saskatchewan's outstanding textile artist, representing the culmination of her remarkable career as one of Canada's finest textile artists. Curated by Cathryn Miller, Saskatchewan book artist and former weaver.
Reception: Friday, August 8, 7 - 9pm
August 8 - September 28, 2009

Announcing the theme for DIMENSIONS in 2009
Playing with Dimensions
Let’s see what you can do with “Playing”, “Playing with…”, “Dimensions”, “Playing with Dimensions”, “Playing with Dimensions”. Play around with ideas and stuff. Create and make things. Play around some more. Make more things. Play. Have fun. Make fun. Send us your best in early April 2009.

Dimensions is our annual juried craft exhibition open to all Saskatchewan residents. This is the first notice of the theme for 2009 – to SCC members. Please pass this information along to your friends who aren’t lucky enough to belong to the SCC. The more entries we get for jurying, the better we like it. Details for entering work to “Playing with Dimensions” will be available in December 2008. Questions: contact Les or Judy at 866.653.3616 ext. 25 or scc.exhibitions@saskatel.net

Three-Dimensional Fibre Exhibition at the SCC Gallery, May 1 – 31, 2009
The Saskatoon Quilters’ Guild will be hosting a Canadian quilting conference, May 27 – 30, 2009. And the SCC Gallery wants to showcase Saskatchewan talent for this national gathering of fibre enthusiasts.

This is an advance notice to SCC fibre artists (and all their fibre friends). While you have some summer leisure, let your mind wander to ideas of what you can create in fibre and in three dimensions. Wall hangings, quilted works, clothing, fibre sculpture – as long as it’s fibre and more than 2-dimensional. Parts of Saskatchewan might be flat, but our fibre art is not!

The exhibition will be curated from actual works, not images. Selections will be made by members of the SCC staff and the Curatorial Committee. Details will be out in Fall 2008 – entry forms and requirements, deadlines, curator(s) names, exhibition title, etc.
Questions? Suggestions for a show title? Contact Judy Haraldson at 866.653.3616 ext. 25 or scc.exhibitions@sasktel.net.

OTHER NEWS
Going Global - An Introduction to International Trade
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at the Radisson Hotel Saskatoon. See PDF for details.

House and pottery studio for rent in Ruddell starting October or November. For more information call Teresa at 389.2040 or tgagne@sasktel.net.

CALL TO ARTISTS * ANIMAL SERVICES BUILDING
The Edmonton Arts Council, on behalf of the City of Edmonton, invites all Canadian and international artists to submit proposals for a public artwork at the Animal Services Building. The artwork proposal should reflect relevance to contemporary art practices.

Budget: $51,200 CAD (maximum, all inclusive)
Deadline for Submissions: 4:30pm Friday, August 29, 2008. Installation: March 2010

CALL TO ARTISTS * SOUTH TRANSIT GARAGE
The Edmonton Arts Council, on behalf of the City of Edmonton, invites all Canadian and international artists to submit proposals for a public artwork at the South Transit Garage.

Budget: $80,000 CAD (maximum, all inclusive)
Deadline for Submissions: 4:30pm Friday, August 29, 2008. Installation: Fall 2009

CALL TO ARTISTS - CENTENNIAL WINDOW
The Edmonton Arts Council, on behalf of the City of Edmonton, invites artists to submit qualifications for the production of the Centennial Window, a stained glass window gift from the City of Edmonton to the Government of Alberta, to be located in the Alberta Legislature Public Gallery Chamber.

Budget: $50,000 CAD (maximum, all inclusive)
Deadline for Submissions: 4:30pm Friday, August 29, 2008. Installation: Spring 2009

An information package for the above competitions can be downloaded on our website: www.edmontonarts.ab.ca/publicart/publicartcalls.html. For more information, contact the Edmonton Arts Council, 808, 10310 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5J 2W4
www.edmontonarts.ab.ca/publicart or phone:1.780.424.2787 x 222

Snelgrove Art Gallery Opening
You are cordially invited to this interesting eco art show at the Snelgrove Art Gallery, U of S organized by local artists and the Sierra Club from July 14 - 25th. The closing reception is July 25th, 7 -10pm.

THE HAND WAVE GALLERY presents RETURN TO EARTH an exhibition of Mixed Media Sculpture by PAUL LAPOINTE of Batoche, SK.
July 4 - Aug 15, 2008
Check the web site for details: www.handwave.ca or call owner June Jacobs for information at 306.376.2221.

Call for Proposal
Ceramic Artists: Saskatoon retail store "Country Connection" is looking for western-themed or equine themed pieces for their regular customers. It's possible that there could be a market in the "horsey-set".
Contact Pearl Brown on any Tuesday or Wednesday at 978.3092.

Saskatchewan Arts Board
Upcoming arts events in the province. See attached PDF.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: RBC Award for Glass
The RBC Award for Glass is a national award for glass artists. The award is presented to a practicing artist working between 5 to 10 years consecutively from the date of the annual application date.
DEADLINE: August 15, 2008 by 5pm
SENT TO: Robert Achtemichuk, Director; RBC Award for Glass; Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery
25 Caroline Street North, Waterloo, ON N2L 2Y5
519.746.1882, ext. 231

AWARD GALA: September 25, 2008

The American Craft Council is excited to open its applications for The 2009 American Craft Show season to Canadian artists for the first time. Our application deadline to apply is July 31. www.craftcouncil.org/apply

The Encampment 2008
The attached is a call for proposals for artists from Saskatchewan to participate in a large scale art installation in Ottawa. See PDF for details

WORKSHOPS
CARFAC Workshops 2008 - http://www.carfac.sk.ca/ or 522.9788 (R), 933.3206 (S)

SASKATCHEWAN CRAFT COUNCIL
813 Broadway Avenue
Saskatoon, SK S7N 1B5
306.653.3616 • f/244.2711
Donna Potter - Admin Assistant
Sherry Luther - Interim Executive Director
www.saskcraftcouncil.org