e-News
Vol 2 No 14, July 4, 2008

Welcome 2008-09 SCC Board Members
Congratulations and warm welcome to returning and new Board members; Ken Wilkinson, Karen Humble, Kim Laybourne, Louis J. Paquette, Dale Anne Potter, Mickey Woodard, Paula Cooley, Megan Hazel, Rusty Kurenda and Anna Hergert.

Message from Mark Stobbe
As most of you will have heard, I’ve been away for the past month on an unplanned involuntary holiday. I’m not in a position to talk a lot about the specifics of the charges against me, but I can say that I’m very much looking forward to the opportunity to clear my name at trial. Unfortunately, the legal process will likely drag on for about two years before resolution.

I’d like to thank the Saskatchewan Craft Council Board, the staff, and the members for the support and encouragement given to me over the past month. Your support made a huge difference, both in terms of being granted bail, and in my own ability to deal with the situation I found myself in. I’m honoured to be a part of the Saskatchewan Craft community, and will always be grateful for your kindness. Thank you.

I’m now back at work, and looking forward to talking with many of you in the days and weeks ahead. I’ve had a lot of time to think in the past month, and have lots of ideas on how to make the Craft Council serve you even better in the future.

Wintergreen Update
Planning is underway for Wintergreen coming up from November 14 to 16. In the past two years, we’ve increased attendance from 3,153 in 2005 to 5,035 last year. Our target is to exceed 5,500 in attendance this year. In order to achieve this, we have started to implement some of the marketing strategies we began last year, including:
• Distribution of promotional shopping bags in advance of the Wintergreen,
• Publishing a tabloid newspaper promoting Wintergreen and participating marketers,
• Enhanced radio and billboard campaigns, and
• A special event to generate media coverage.
In addition to working to increase attendance, we are looking at ways to increase the average sales per visitor. In a nutshell, this approach involves making it easier for people to stay longer, have more fun, and purchase more great Craft. Our thinking is at the formative stages on this, so if you have any ideas, please give Chris (653-3615 ext. 24) or Mark (653-3616 ext. 27) a call.
Amongst the ideas we are looking at:
• Having a deluxe shopper’s lounge featuring refreshments, music, comfortable seating, and car carry-out service. Tickets would be marketed to special patrons,
• Providing coat check and car service for visitors, and
• Providing water cooler stations for shoppers.
Please let us know if you have any ideas to improve people’s Wintergreen experience.

Opportunity
The SCC is looking for an enthusiastic advertising sales person in Regina to sell ads for our Wintergreen tabloid newspaper. The sales period would be during August and September. We anticipate that about 40 hours of work would be required. Payment will be on a commission basis. If interested, contact Gale at 653-3616 ext. 23 or scc.editor@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.

Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival next weekend!
Friday, July 11, 1 - 8pm; Saturday, July 12, 10am - 6pm; Sunday, July 13, 10am - 4pm. Alex Dillabough Centre, Battleford, SK.

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
Celine Schmidt has generously donated a stool made from walnut, with Coopworth wool felted in 3D around the base, for the SCC online auction. 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. The auction will close on Friday, July 18th at 5pm. 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. Please note: You have until 5pm today to bid on Harvey Welch's carved Western Grebe.

Waterfront 2008 - Saturday, June 21
Changes made to Waterfront 2008 resulted in major improvements for this summer market. 60 artists participated this year, which was an increase over previous years. We were fortunate that the weather gods smiled on June 21. Everyone enjoyed a beautiful, sunny day. River Landing proved popular with participants and the public. This spectacular and central location brought at least 25% of the total visitors. With the Farmer’s Market west of us and National Aboriginal Day celebrations and the Jazz Festival to the east, we attracted many visitors who were just out to enjoy the day.

Preliminary results from the Marketers Survey (49 of 60 surveys) indicate average total sales and orders were $1,134 which is higher than in the last few years.

Good News Story from Waterfront
A Hitachi representative contacted Ba-Hung Tran after seeing his orgami work at Waterfront. They purchased his work and presented it as an anniversary gift to representatives visiting from Japan.

Upstairs Gallery: In September, the SCC will receive a new neighbour. The Broadway Business Improvement District has leased the third floor of the SCC Building. So... if you want to hold your own exhibition in the Upstairs Gallery, move quickly. There’s only two months left.

SCC GALLERY EXHIBITIONS
"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

"Saskatchewan Flame"
Contemporary wood fired ceramics demonstrating the use of wood for kilns and the effects that flame and ash leave on pots. Curated by Charley Farrero, ceramic artist and educator.
October 3 - November 23, 2008
Reception: Friday, October 3, 7 - 9pm

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
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
Reception: Sunday, July 6: 2-5pm
Check the web site for details: www.handwave.ca or call owner June Jacobs for information at 306.376.2221.

Grand Opening - HARVEST MOON
Saturday, July 12, Sunday July 13, 2008
Take a look at the Brochure in 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

Melody Armstrong is having a Solo Show "Adorn" at Mysteria Gallery and will feature her Paintings influenced by her Jewellery Designs accompanied by her Jewellery pieces. Opening reception is July 16, 2008. Melody is also one of the Jewellery Instructors at the Neil Balkwill Centre in Regina.
You can visit www.melodyarmstrong.com or www.flickr.com/photos/melodyarmstrong to see more of her work.

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

The City of Saskatoon is seeking from artists "Expressions of Interest" to design, fabricate, and install a site specific public art installation at the Shaw Centre. For more information contact the Integrated Site Project Manager for the City of Saskatoon by phone at (306) 975.3291, by email sandi.schultz@saskatoon.ca or visit www.saskatoon.ca. Deadline for submission is July 15, 2008.

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