COMMUNITY SUPPORTED ART

This Fall 2010 we participated in the Community Supported Art Program. Being unable to join in the Community Supported Agriculture Program due to frequent travel in the Summer months, I thought this would be a rewarding experience (for all parties) in supporting a local project. It was a little bit like Christmas, looking forward to each gathering where we collected our box full of art. The evenings were fun; at different restaurants, with live music and some of the artists speaking. They made themselves available to chat and everyone seemed to enjoy mingling. One of the sponsored artists asked me if I thought the cost was worth it. I responded that we entered with the idea of supporting local artists and that the items we received were just a bonus. Each time we had a choice between Box A or Box B so they really were like surprise gifts. Fun too, to see what was contained in the other box. Below is a more detailed explanation, taken from the Springboard for the Arts website.
The item pictured is by Michon Weeks. She begins each drawing of ordinary objects with a wavy grid of lines. Then her subject is drawn within the grid, "creating a distorted and peculiar sense of space." This one is a sign on a rural road near her home.

Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy seasonal food directly from local farms. With the same buy-direct, buy-local spirit in mind, mnartists.org and Springboard for the Arts created a similar endeavor to support local art, artists and collectors: Community Supported Art supports artists in the creation of new work, to establish relationships with local collectors and patrons, and to participate in the launch of an exciting new model of art support and distribution.
How It Works
The selected artists receive a commission to create 50 "shares" for the program. Interested consumers/collectors will purchase a share from Springboard for the Arts and in return receive "farm boxes" of locally produced artwork at intervals during the season. Featured works could include items such as: an edition of vinyl 7", a run of screen-prints, series of small tea cups, run of photographs, tickets to an upcoming performance or event, letterpress editions of a poem or short story, or even 50 small original paintings. Each member share includes one piece from each of the 9 CSA featured artist works over the season and also includes "bumper crop" of additional artwork and arts opportunities. The pick-up evenings are at local art sites and will be events in themselves.

Artists
The fall CSA artists were selected by representatives from Springboard and mnartists.org, as well as two artists with family ties to farming. Karl Unnasch, a featured visual artist from the summer CSA program, works from a studio on his parent’s farm near Chatfield, MN. Dessa Darling, spoken word poet and hip-hop artist, has recently been working on writings inspired by her mother’s foray into farming in western Wisconsin. CSA reviewed over 100 projects and selected 18 Featured CSA Artists/Collaborations:

Richard Barlow, visual artist
www.rbarlow.net

Gene Pittman, photographer & Rebecca Yaker, designer/fiber artist
www.genepittman.com / www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=123770

Jim Proctor, sculptor
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7438

Kimberly Richardson & Sara Richardson, performing artists
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=97914

Aaron Dysart, sculptor
www.aarondysart.com

Edie Overturf, visual artist
www.labkids.com/overturf

Michon Weeks, visual artist
www.michonweeks.com

Ellie Kingsbury, photographer
www.elliekingsbury.com

Tom Wik, photographer
www.tinylenses.com

Alex Kuno, visual artist/illustrator
alexkuno.blogspot.com

Kao Lee Thao, visual artist
www.innerswirl.com

John Jodzio, writer & Laura Andrews, visual artist
www.johnjodzio.net / www.laurandrews.com

Craig Campbell, glass artist
www.campbellartglass.com

Michele Heidel, fiber artist
www.fennelstudio.com

Jeffrey Morrison, installation artist
www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=5160

Greg Brosofske, performing artist
www.gregbrosofske.com

Kimberlee Roth, ceramicist
www.mnartists.org/kimberlee_roth

Maren Kloppmann, ceramicist
www.marenkloppmann.com
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