Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees, Muscatine Art Center
January 14, 2009
Present:
Jan Henderson, Mark Huddleston, Eric Knoernschild, Mike Knott,
Caren Luke, Dave Meloy, Scott Natvig, Tom Spread, and Becky Wichers
Absent:
None
Staff:
Barb Christensen
Visitors Speak:
None
Minutes:
It was moved by Eric Knoernschild and seconded by Jan Henderson
that the minutes of the December 18, 2008 Board Meeting be approved. Motion
carried.
Bills:
It was moved by Tom Spread and seconded by Mike Knott to approve the
monthly bills totaling $2,305.80 for payment. Motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Collections:
The Marvin Cone oil painting purchased previously was available
for viewing at the meeting. It was noted that the painting had been
deaccessioned by the Cedar Rapids Art Center.
Barb purchased a wall sculpture,
Man with Cigar, 2002
by Marc Sijan for $900.
The sculpture was in the Art Center exhibition of the artist’s works. The price is
far below the artist normal retail price of $3,000. The MAC and our sculpture will
appear in a book Marc is preparing.
The Questors donated five (5) reference books on antique glassware to the
MAC. They plan to continue these donations to help build the MAC’s library of
glass reference books.
Building & Grounds:
The Jayne house was discussed. The B&G Committee will meet to formulate a
recommendation to the Board on the MAC’s plan for the property. The
recommendation will be presented at the February Board meeting.
It was moved by Marc Huddleston and seconded by Eric Knoernschild to remove
the forced-air furnace from the Jayne house and re-install it in the Art Center to
replace the antiquated unit currently being used to heat the Carriage House.
Motion carried.
Finance & Budget:
Tom Spread reviewed the Financial Reports.
Long-Range Planning:
No report. Barb continues her working relationship
with the library.
Personnel:
It is time for Barb’s annual review. Scott will work with the
Personnel Committee to begin this process. Review forms will be sent to the
trustees soon.
Program/Publicity
: The Kosovo show opens on January 17
th
.
The Children and Youth’s Choir will be performing this week.
An article on the Mosaic Program is appearing in the January 14
th
edition of the
Muscatine Journal.
The 1
st
edition of “Watermark” will be out by the end of January.
Education Coordinator’s Report:
Report was received for review.
Director’s Report:
Report was received for review.
Unfinished Business:
The “conversion” of the Sarah Eaker Hughes bedroom
was discussed. Display cases are needed.
New Business:
There will be a Budget Meeting with the Council on January
31
st
.
Adjourn:
A motion was made by Tom Spread and seconded by Dave Meloy to
adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael J. Knott , Secretary
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
For the month of January 2009
February 19, 2009
Total number of visitors for January 2009
741
Total number of visitors for January 2008
620
Total number of visitors Year-to-Date 2009
741
Total number of visitors Year-to-Date 2008
620
All figures include outreach program participants
EXHIBITIONS (in the month of January)
Through January 11, 2009
Fairy Tale Art: Illustrations from Children’s Books
Opened January 18, 2009
Kosovo Revisited
EXHIBITIONS (currently on view – February)
Through March 8, 2009
Kosovo Revisited
CLASSES
January 17
Fun With Clay:
–taught by Amy Kling
December 6
Family Workshop: Gingerbread Schoolhouse
–taught by Julie Lear
January 21
Art for Tots: Paper Capers
–taught by Julie Herold
Family Fun time: Paper Capers
–taught by Julie Herold
January 22
Winter Landscape
–taught by Vada Baker
January 23,30
Music for Tots
–two sessions taught by Julie Lear
January 24
Chinese New Year
–taught by Julie Lear
January 28
Art for Tots: Me & My Shadow
–taught by Julie Herold
Family Fun time: Me & My Shadow
–taught by Julie Herold
January 29
Forest Creatures
–taught by Vada Baker
January 31
Fun With Clay:
–taught by Amy Kling
TOURS
None
OTHER
January 4
Henderson Birthday Party
January 5, 8
Lear presented outreach programs at Y
January 8
Friends Board Meeting
January 11
Ball Birthday Party
January 13
Lear presented outreach program to Newcomers
January 15, 22
Homeschool Enrichment
January 18
Opening Reception for
Kosovo Revisited
January 24, 25
Eagles and Ivories
ACQUISITIONS
Display Bust
– Purchase of the Support Foundation
Man with Cigar
by Marc Sijan – Purchase of the Support Foundation
Study in Blue
by Marvin Cone – Purchase from General Trust and Brad Burns
Trust
From Emancipation to Equality
by Stephen J. Frese – gift of Kent Sissel
Eagles and Ivory Rag
, sheet music by Jeff Barnhart commissioned for the 15
th
Annual eagles and
Ivory Ragtime Festival – gift of Muscatine Arts Council
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara C. Christensen
Director
lb
KLZ INCORPORATED
1115 Sunrise Circle
Muscatine IA 52761
February 4, 2009
To:
Barb
From: Maria
Re:
Education Coordinator’s Report, January 2009
Despite the weather, our winter semester has begun! Enrollment is up from 2008 but
down compared with 2007, due to the discontinuation of two programs, “Cabin Fever”
and “Pet Rock Studio.” When you take our cancelled January classes into account, total
attendance is pretty consistent.
The first classes in our winter tots and music programs were cancelled due to the extreme
cold. They will be made up at the end of the winter semester. Our adult Red Barn Studio
was also postponed that week. Enrollment continues to be slightly down in the tots music
classes, and also down by quite a bit in our tots art classes. We are hopeful that offering
tots art classes with a more relaxed enrollment policy will lead to more families
participating. However it is challenging to compete with the free library story times and
the increased availability of preschool classes.
We held two Saturday Kids’ Workshops in January. On Jan. 17 and 31 Amy Kling taught
an innovative clay class in which the students learned about African clay air drums. She
brought in drums that she had created and went on line to show the kids some African
artists and how they created their drums. Everyone had a great time, none of the drums
exploded when we fired them, and the finished work was impressive. On Jan. 24 Julie
Lear presented our annual Chinese New Year workshop and tea. This year, the year of
the Ox, the students created reverse-glass paintings of Chinese ox images. Then they
took part in a traditional Chinese tea and learned about how the animals were selected for
the Chinese Zodiac and what the symbolism of the various foods at the tea was all about.
Our off-again, on-again Red Barn Studio adult workshops are doing very well this winter.
Vada Baker is teaching three workshops featuring the one-stroke painting technique. On
Jan. 22 students created a winter landscape and on Jan. 29 they tried their hand at rock
painting.
There were a number of outreach programs in January. On Jan. 5 and again on Jan. 8
Julie offered “snowflake” workshops to the Y Variety Arts kids and the Y Teen Leaders.
The snowflakes they made are now on display in the Y lobby and look great! The Art
Center is hosting the Homeschool Enrichment program on Thursday afternoons again this
winter. Their first class, appropriately enough, was on Antarctica!
There was one formal tour conducted by Don Lewis for some of the Eagles & Ivories
audience in January.
There were two birthday parties held in January.
Our spring brochure is at the printers and will be distributed next week. In addition to
supporting and promoting our winter and spring programs I have begun work on our
summer brochure.
Let me know if you have anything else to add to the list.
Muscatine Art Center Education Department
2009 Winter Attendance Report
January 2009
Date
Event
Students enrolled Attendance
Thurs. Jan.1 Art Center Closed
Fri. Jan. 2
Sat. Jan. 3
Sun. Jan. 4
Birthday Party: Henderson
--
15
Totals for week:
--
15
Mon. Jan. 5
Outreach: Variety Arts: Snowflakes
--
13
Tues. Jan. 6 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
Wed. Jan. 7
Thurs. Jan. 8 Outreach: Y Teen Leaders: Snowflakes
--
14
Fri. Jan. 9
Sat. Jan. 10
Sun. Jan. 11 Birthday Party: Ball
--
18
Totals for week:
--
32
Mon. Jan. 12
Tues. Jan. 13 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
Wed. Jan. 14 Art for Tots: Let It Snow ID 5155
cancelled -
weather
Family Fun Time Let It Snow ID 5162
cancelled –
low enrollment
Thurs. Jan. 15 Red Barn Studio: Winter Landscape ID 5178
cancelled –
weather
Outreach: Homeschool Enrichment (Antarctica)
--
35
Fri. Jan. 16
Music for Tots ID 5169 & 5170
cancelled -
weather
Sat. Jan. 17
Kids Workshop: Fun with Clay: Udu Clay Drums ID 5171 8
9
Sun. Jan. 18
Totals for week:
8
44
Mon. Jan. 19 School’s Out Special: Scorch Art
6
6
Tues. Jan. 20 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
2
Wed. Jan. 21 Art for Tots: Paper Capers ID 5156
5
10
Family Fun Time Paper Capers ID 5163
4
7
Thurs. Jan. 22 Red Barn Studio: Winter Landscape
10
10
Outreach: Homeschool Enrichment
--
47
Fri. Jan. 23
Music for Tots ID 5169 & 5170
29
50
Sat. Jan. 24
Kids Workshop: Chinese New Year ID 5172
10
11
Sun. Jan. 25 Tour: Mansion (Don Lewis)
--
10
Totals for week:
64
153
Mon. Jan. 26
Tues. Jan. 27 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
--
Wed. Jan. 28 Art for Tots: Me & My Shadow ID 5157
4
7
Family Fun Time: Me & My Shadow ID 5164
6
12
Thurs. Jan. 29 Red Barn Studio: Forest Creatures ID 5179
10
10
Outreach: Homeschool Enrichment
--
38
Fri. Jan. 30
Music for Tots ID 5169 & 5170
30
49
Sat. Jan. 31
Kids Workshop: Fun with Clay: Udu Clay Drums ID 5171 10
10
Totals for week (Jan):
60
126
Totals for January 2009
132
370
Totals for Jan. 2008
122
400
Totals for Jan. 2007
191
379