Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees, Muscatine Art Center
February 19, 2009
Present:
Jan Henderson, Mark Huddleston, Mike Knott, Caren Luke, Dave
Meloy, Scott Natvig, and Becky Wichers
Absent:
Eric Knoernschild, and Tom Spread
Staff:
Barb Christensen
Visitors Speak:
Dan Clark summarized some of the Historical Preservation
member’s reactions to the Building & Ground Committee’s recommendations for
the Jayne house. There was apparently some disappointment that there was no
mention of an option to sub-divide the lot and leave the house on its own lot.
Minutes:
It was moved by Jan Henderson and seconded by Mark Huddleston
that the minutes of the January 14, 2009 Board Meeting be approved. Motion
carried.
Bills:
It was moved by Mark Huddleston and seconded by Becky Wichers to
approve the monthly bills totaling $1,994.98 for payment. Motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Collections:
The Support Foundation investments have taken a “hit” because of
the market. Consequently the budgeted funds for the MAC have been reduced
and no funds for acquisition are included in the budget for this year.
Building & Grounds:
The Jayne house was discussed. The B&G Committee
presented its recommendations to the Board on the MAC’s plan for the property.
A lengthy discussion ensued and ultimately a motion was made by Mark
Huddleston and seconded by Dave Meloy to approve the recommendation.
Motion carried.
It was agreed that the list of recommended options would need to be reviewed by
the City Attorney and appropriate insurance coverage would have to be in place
before any of the options were initiated.
Theoretically the 180 days to accept the offer and raise funds to move the house
begins as of the date of this meeting (February 19, 2009).
Finance & Budget:
The Board reviewed the Financial Reports.
The Board discussed the City’s decision to reduce the MAC’s budget by $25,000.
Barb is working on alternative plans for absorbing this loss.
Six Trustees attended the January 31
st
Council budget hearing. Several
Trustees offered arguments to the Council on why any reduction in the MAC’s
budget would be very detrimental to the facility. The Trustees were interviewed
as a group by the Muscatine Journal after the MAC’s portion of the hearing.
Long-Range Planning:
No report. Barb continues her working relationship
with the library.
Personnel:
It is time for Barb’s annual review. Scott has received review forms
from the Trustees but a review of the results was deferred until the March
meeting.
Program/Publicity
: The Kosovo show opened on January 17
th
.
The Mayor has declared this week to be Alexander Clark week.
The 1
st
edition of “Watermark” was mailed out the end of January.
Education Coordinator’s Report:
Report was received for review.
Director’s Report:
Report was received for review.
Unfinished Business:
Discussion on the “conversion” of the Sarah Eaker
Hughes bedroom was deferred. Display cases are needed.
New Business:
None
Adjourn:
The meeting was adjourned by acclamation.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael J. Knott , Secretary
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
For the month of February 2009
March 19, 2009
Total number of visitors for February 2009
1378
Total number of visitors for February 2008
1305
Total number of visitors Year-to-Date 2009
2119
Total number of visitors Year-to-Date 2008
1925
All figures include outreach program participants
EXHIBITIONS (in the month of February)
Opened January 18, 2009
Kosovo Revisited
EXHIBITIONS (currently on view – March)
Through March 8, 2009
Kosovo Revisited
March 15 Through April 19, 2009
Muscatine Elementary School show as part of the Muscatine Mosaic
Project
Muscatine Mosaic Project
CLASSES
February 4
Art for Tots: Glorious Glue
–taught by Julie Herold
February 4
Family Fun Time: Glorious Glue
–taught by Julie Herold
February 6, 13, 20
Music for Tots
–two sessions taught by Julie Lear
February 7
Kid’s Workshop: Oil Painting
–taught by Vada Baker
February 11
Art for Tots: Love Bugs
–taught by Julie Herold
February 11
Family Fun Time: Love Bugs
–taught by Julie Herold
February 12
Red Barn Studio: Tea Party Still Life
–taught by Vada Baker
February 14
Kid’s Workshop: Hanging Hearts Frame
–taught by Julie Lear
February 18
Art for Tots: Red, White and Blue
–taught by Julie Herold
February 18
Family Fun Time: Red, White and Blue
–taught by Julie Herold
February 21
Kid’s Workshop: Sketchbook Club
–taught by Christine Kuster
February 25
Art for Tots: Puppet Pals
–taught by Julie Herold
February 25
Family Fun Time Puppet Pals
–taught by Julie Herold
February 28
Kid’s Workshop: The Art of Aaron Douglas
–taught by Vada Baker
TOURS
February 24
Crossroads: Two Tours
OTHER
February 2, 5
Lear presented outreach programs at Y
February 5, 12
Homeschool Enrichment
February 23
Lear presented outreach programs to Hodgepodge folks
February 12
Friends Board Meeting
February 22
Alexander Clark reception
ACQUISITIONS
Five Glass Books
– Gift of Questors
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara C. Christensen
Director
lb
KLZ INCORPORATED
1115 Sunrise Circle
Muscatine IA 52761
March 10, 2009
To:
Barb
From: Maria
Re:
Education Coordinator’s Report, February 2009
Our winter semester is over, and by and large classes have done well. In particular, our
Kids’ Saturday Workshops and Red Barn Studio increased in enrollment. Overall,
enrollment is consistent with last year. The increase in the 2007 numbers is accounted
for by the fact that there were two winter programs held in 2007 which have been
discontinued in 2008 & 2009, and that there were tours and other events surrounding the
Eisele Hill Archeological exhibit in winter of 2007.
Our Art for Tots and Music for Tots classes were well-attended. Family Fun Time was
something of a disappointment – apparently we have not found our audience for that time
slot as yet. We will continue the program this spring and see if it gains enough in
popularity to continue in the fall. We have relaxed the rules for Julie Herold’s Art for
Tots to include siblings and allow a class size of 15 or under. This should help with
enrollment in those classes.
We held four Saturday Kids’ Workshops in February. Vada Baker offered an oil painting
class in which students used palette knives and created a winter mountain landscape.
These classes are always well attended as oil painting is something that is not offered in
the schools. On Feb. 14 Julie Lear showed students how to create a Victorian frame with
hanging hearts for Valentine’s Day. Christine Kuster offered another of her drawing
workshops on Feb. 21 in which students learned how to draw various animals. Vada
Baker celebrated African-American Awareness Month with a workshop on artist Aaron
Douglas on Feb. 28.
Red Barn Studio wrapped up the semester with a “Tea Party Still Life” using the one-
stroke painting technique on Feb. 12.
Winter was the theme in our February outreach programs. Julie Lear taught a Reverse
Glass Painting workshop to Y Variety Arts on Feb. 2. and a workshop creating light bulb
snowmen to the Y Teen Leaders on Feb. 5. On Feb. 23 she showed the Hodgepodge kids
how to create gourd snowmen.
I conducted two tours for our friends at Crossroads on Feb. 24.
There were no birthday parties scheduled for February.
Our spring brochure is out and we are taking enrollments for the spring classes. In
addition to supporting the spring program I am working on our summer and fall class
schedules.
Let me know if you have anything else to add to the list.
Muscatine Art Center Education Department
2009 Winter Attendance Report
February 2009
Date
Event
Students enrolled
Attendance
Sun. Feb. 1
Totals for week (Feb)
--
--
Mon. Feb. 2 Outreach: Y Variety Arts: Reverse Glass Painting --
10
Tues. Feb. 3 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
--
Wed. Feb. 4 Art for Tots: Glorious Glue ID 5158
8
11
Family Fun Time: Glorious Glue ID 5165
5
9
Thurs. Feb. 5 Outreach: Homeschool Assistance – Enrichment
--
42
Outreach: Y Teen Leaders
--
10
Fri. Feb. 6
Music for Tots ID 5169 & 5170
31
56
Sat. Feb. 7
Kids Workshop: Oil Painting for Kids ID 5173
cancelled – instructor
ill
Sun. Feb. 8
Totals for week:
44
138
Mon. Feb. 9
Tues. Feb. 10 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
--
Wed. Feb. 11 Art for Tots: Love Bugs ID 5159
11
17
Family Fun Time: Love Bugs ID 5166
4
10
Thurs. Feb. 12 Red Barn Studio: Tea Party Still Life ID 5180
10
9
Outreach: Homeschool Assistance – Enrichment
--
54
Fri. Feb. 13
Music for Tots ID 5169 & 5170
33
56
Sat. Feb. 14 Kids Workshop: Hanging Hearts Frame ID 5174
6
6
Sun. Feb. 15
Totals for week:
64
152
Mon. Feb. 16
Tues. Feb. 17 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
--
Wed. Feb. 18 Art for Tots: Red, White & Blue ID 5160
7
12
Family Fun Time: Red, White & Blue ID 5167
cancelled –
low enrollment
Thurs. Feb. 19
Fri. Feb. 20
Music for Tots ID 5169 & 5170 (make-up class)
33
50
Sat Feb. 21
Kids Workshop: Sketchbook Club ID 5175
7
7
Sun. Feb. 22
Totals for week:
47
69
Mon. Feb. 23 Outreach: Hodgepodge
--
35
Tues. Feb. 24 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
--
Tour: Crossroads (mansion)
--
42
Wed. Feb. 25 Art for Tots: Puppet Pals ID 5161
9
16
Family Fun Time: Puppet Pals ID 5168
cancelled –
low enrollment
Thurs. Feb. 26
Fri. Feb. 27
Sat. Feb. 28 Kids Workshop: The Art of Aaron Douglas ID 5176 6
4
Totals for week (Feb.)
15
97
Totals for February 2009:
170
456
Totals for February 2008
199
413
Totals for February 2007
234
500
Totals for Winter 2009 Semester:
300
824
Totals for Winter 208 Semester:
321
813
Totals for Winter 2007 Semester:
425
879