Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees, Muscatine Art Center
May 21, 2009
Present:
Jan Henderson, Mike Knott, Caren Luke, Dave Meloy, Scott Natvig,
Tom Spread, and Becky Wichers
Absent:
Mark Huddleston, and Eric Knoernschild,
Staff:
Barb Christensen
Visitors Speak:
Dan Clark & Mike Maharry.
Dan & Mike asked if we had considered the options of moving the Jayne house
to the back of the MAC’s new lot or out closer to Cedar Street on the lot the MAC
purchased several years ago. The Board explained that the Building & Grounds
Committee met, walked the properties and had a lengthy discussion covering the
two options. It was decided that neither option was in the best interest of the
MAC and saw no reason to revise the current plan.
Scott Natvig explained some of the concerns the Committee had for the two
options.
Knott asked Dan & Mike how the process would play out if the house were
moved to Cedar Street. Dan explained that the house would be privately owned
but that the MAC could impose maintenance/appearance requirements on the
owners.
Dan briefly discussed the connection between the Jayne family and Alexander
Clark but indicated that Kent Sissel had been planning to attend the Board
meeting to present this information. Dan was not suggesting that the MAC Board
reconsider their position because of the Clark connection.
Mike left a copy of a “save the house” petition signed by 105 individuals.
Minutes:
It was moved by Tom Spread and seconded by Jan Henderson that the
minutes of the April 16, 2009 Board Meeting be approved. Motion carried.
Bills:
It was moved by Dave Meloy and seconded by Becky Wichers to approve
the monthly bills totaling $3,105.26 for payment. Motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Collections:
No report, except that an exhibit of
Recent Acquisitions from the
Permanent Collection
will be on view in the Stanley Gallery November 8 –
January 31, 2010
Building & Grounds:
Water damage was discovered in the porte-cochere. We
are still waiting for the insurance adjuster’s estimate of damage. A preliminary
estimate for replacing the carpet is $2,500.
Through a program called “Iowa at Work”, 2 young people from Muscatine
County will be working full time this summer on the MAC grounds.
Finance & Budget:
No Financial Reports were available for review. Barb is
relatively certain that the MAC will be receiving $14,000 from the Iowa
Department of Cultural Affairs but has not heard from them recently.
The last time we received reports from the City was in March.
Long-Range Planning:
No report.
Personnel:
The Art Center was notified that we will be the recipient of a grant
from the Holthues Trust for $25,000 to be used exclusively for supplementing
staff hours lost due to the City’s shortfall in supporting the MAC. A copy of the
letter from the Trust is attached to these minutes.
Scott gave A.J. Johnson a copy of Barb’s completed personnel report.
Program/Publicity
: An exhibition on the History of Mexican art –
Las Artes de
Mexico
will be showing in the Stanley Gallery through June 21
st
.
The MAC is hosting an exhibit by Iowa City artist Nancy Purington June 28 –
August 23, 2009.
The May issue of
Watermark
has been mailed.
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.
Barb checked with the City’s IT Guru, John Kreuzenstein, about refilling ink jet
cartridges and was told not to because it will significantly shorten the life of the
printer.
New Business:
The names of two new Board members (Jeffrey Stone and
Jennifer Conard) will be sent to the mayor for approval.
Barb will be trying to book an exhibit by Steve Gerberich called
Springs,
Sprockets & Pulleys
for next year. For those wishing to view Steve’s work, his
website is www.gerbomatic.com – click on “Springs, Sprockets and Pulleys”.
The following slate of new officers will be voted on at the June Board meeting:
•
President – Tom Spread
•
Vice-President – Dave Meloy
•
Treasurer – Caren Luke
•
Secretary – Jan Henderson
Adjourn:
The meeting was adjourned by acclamation
Respectfully submitted,
Michael J. Knott , Secretary
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
For the month of May 2009
June 18, 2009
Total number of visitors for May 2009
3436
Total number of visitors for May 2008
4161
Total number of visitors Year-to-Date 2009
9754
Total number of visitors Year-to-Date 2008
10292
All figures include outreach program participants
EXHIBITIONS (in the month of May)
April 26 Through June 21, 2009
Las Artes de Mexico
EXHIBITIONS (currently on view – June)
April 26 Through June 21, 2009
Las Artes de Mexico
CLASSES
May 1, 8, 15, 22
Music for Tots
–two sessions taught by Julie Lear
May 2
Kid’s Workshop: Printmaking
– taught by Gina Gerot
May 6
Art for Tots: Mommy and Me
–taught by Julie Herold
May 9
Kid’s Workshop: Metal-Clay Necklace
– taught by Vada Baker
May 13
Art for Tots: Playful Puppets
–taught by Julie Herold
May 28
Red Barn Studio: Mixed Emulsion Techniques
– taught by Vada Baker
TOURS
May 5
Tour Muscatine High School
May 8
Tour Central ESL
Tour Church Group
May 12
West Middle School
May 13
West Middle School
May 14
Tour Central ESL
Tour Grant School
May 16
Tour Family
May 28
Muscatine High School
May 29
Jefferson Fourth Grade Half
Jefferson Fourth Grade Half
OTHER
May 5
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre at the Art Center
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre at Jefferson School
Outreach: Adventures in Art
May 7
Outreach: Y teen leaders Celtic Illumination - taught by Julie Lear
May 8
Outreach: Homeschool assistance art taught by Julie Lear
May 9
Wedding Japanese Garden
May 11
Outreach: Y Variety Arts - taught by Julie Lear
May 14
Friends of the Muscatine Art Center Board Meeting
May 16
Wedding Japanese Garden
May 19
Outreach: Adventures in Art
May 21
Outreach: Homeschool Assistance Enrichment: Reception
Art Center Board of Trustees Meeting
Huddelston Recital
May 26
Outreach: DSCI Art Class
May 31
Butler Recital and Reception
ACQUISITIONS
None
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara C. Christensen
Director
lb
KLZ INCORPORATED
1115 Sunrise Circle
Muscatine IA 52761
May 30, 2009
To:
Barb
From: Maria
Re:
Education Coordinator’s Report, May 2009
The spring semester is over. As you can see from the attendance report, enrollment in
classes is down from last year, reflecting the unsettled economy. I have heard from a
number of our Moms, regretfully explaining that they can’t afford to sign their kids up for
classes at this time. Our outreach is also down from last year, but that is an unfair
comparison as last year at this time Project InSECT was at the Art Center and there were
many more school tours to see that exhibit than booked to see The Art of Mexico.
Compared to 2006, our outreach continues to trend up. Again, I think parents are looking
for events which either charge a very low fee or are free to the public.
What with the increase in preschool programs in the community, our Art for Tots classes
continue to experience low enrollment. We have changed the format to allow for the
presence of siblings and will only be offering one Art for Tots class per week in the fall.
Family Fun Days, requested by parents of multiples, has not proven to be successful and
will be discontinued in the fall semester. Music for Tots enrollment is also down for the
late spring program. I plan to send Julie to the library for Baby Lap Sit at the beginning
of each session of Music for Tots to promote her program and try to increase enrollment.
We held two Saturday Kids’ Workshops in May. On May 2 Gina Gerot conducted a
printmaking class on Edgar Degas’s monoprints, and at our final workshop for the
semester on May 9 Vada Baker taught students how to create a metal-clay necklace as a
Mother’s Day project.
There was one Red Barn Studio class in May. “Mixed Emulsions: Photographic
Imagery,” which had been scheduled for March, was held on May 28. The “New Mexico
Luminary” class scheduled for May 14 did not meet its minimum enrollment and was
cancelled. Red Barn Studio, our adult & mature teen program, continues to be a
challenge. I will work on finding new ways to promote these programs for the summer
and fall semesters.
Members of the Senior Program of the Diversity Service Center of Iowa came to the Art
Center for a “Retablo” workshop based on a work in “Las Artes de Mexico.” Julie Lear
taught this workshop, which was enjoyed by all. Generously funded by a grant from the
Community Foundation, students will become familiar with the Art Center’s collection
through a series of tours and create fun art projects taught by Vada Baker and Julie Lear.
There were eight tours conducted in May. On May 5 Lisa Kroll’s advanced Spanish
classes from the high school came to view “Las Artes de Mexico.” Lisa provided
worksheets in Spanish and the students had lots of fun finding artifacts and answering the
questions. Lisa generously allowed me to use a modified version of her Spanish
worksheets for several ESL tours during May. On May 8 I conducted a mansion tour for
Jan Henderson’s church ladies. On May 12 and 13 Linda Kelty’s kids from West Middle
School came for their annual sculpture tour. On May 28 Rita Glau’s high school art club
viewed “Las Artes de Mexico.”
There were no birthday parties scheduled in May.
The summer brochure has been distributed and we are taking enrollments. The scavenger
hunt activity in the mansion, which introduces kids and their parents to the artifacts on
display there, continues to be a popular activity both with the kids and the parents. There
is a new list of words each month for this activity.
Let me know if you have anything else to add to the list.
Muscatine Art Center Education Department
2009 Spring Attendance Report
May 2009
Date
Event
Students enrolled Attendance
Fri. May 1
Music for Tots: Late Spring ID 5201 & 5202
20
36
Outreach: Homeschool Assistance Art
--
55
Sat. May 2
Printmaking for Kids: Degas ID 5210
Sun. May 3
Totals for week (May):
20
91
Mon. May 4
Tues. May 5 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
2
Tour: Art of Mexico – MHS (Lisa Kroll)
--
54
Wed. May 6 Art for Tots: Mommy & Me ID 5188
11
22
Family Fun Time: Just for Mom ID 5197
cancelled – low
enrollment
Thurs. May 7 Outreach: Y Teen Leaders
--
4
Fri. May 8
Music for Tots: Late Spring ID 5201 & 5202
22
35
Outreach: Homeschool Assistance Art
--
26
Tour: Central ESL (Calderone)
--
3
Tour: Church group
--
14
Sat. May 9
Kids Workshop: Metal-clay Necklace ID 5211
15
13
Sun. May 10
Totals for week:
46
173
Mon. May 11 Outreach: Y Variety Arts
--
14
Tues. May 12 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
--
Tour: West Middle School (sculpture)
--
51
Wed. May 13 Art for Tots: Playful Puppets ID 5189
8
Family Fun Time: Puppet Pals ID 5198
cancelled – low
enrollment
Tour: West Middle School (sculpture)
--
51
Thurs. May 14 Red Barn Studio: New Mexico Luminary ID 5216
cancelled –
low enrollment
Tour: Central Middle School ESL (Mexico)
--
--
Tour: Grant 5
th
(mansion)
--
46
Fri. May 15
Music for Tots: Late Spring ID 5201 & 5202
22
37
Sat. May 16 Tour: Family Tour
--
5
Sun. May 17
Totals for week:
30
204
Mon. May 18
Tues. May 19 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
2
Wed. May 20
Thurs. May 21 Outreach: Homeschool Assistance Art Exhibit – reception --
90
Fri. May 22
Music for Tots: Late Spring ID 5201 & 5202
22
39
Sat. May 23
Sun. May 24
Totals for week:
22
131
Mon. May 25
Tues. May 26 Outreach: DSCI Art Class
--
15
Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
--
Wed. May 27
Thurs. May 28 RBS: Mixed Emulsion Techniques ID 5213 (make-up class) 7
6
Tour: Art of Mexico – Rita Glau
--
15
Fri. May 29
Tour: Mansion & Art of Mexico – Jefferson 4
th
grade(am) --
32
Tour: Mansion & Art of Mexico – Jefferson 4
th
grade (pm) --
30
Sat. May 30
Sun.May 31
Totals for week:
7
98
Totals for May 2009:
125
697
Totals for May 2008:
184
1377
Totals for May 2007:
152
564
Totals for Spring 2009 Semester:
431
2486
Totals for Spring 2008 Semester:
579
2751
Totals for Spring 2007 Semester:
710
2697