Northside Farmers' Market Art Presence

Here's a retrospective report from NSAG artist and booth participant Kristi Hall:

My first experience as a vendor at the Northside Farmers Market came on October 21st of this year. It was the last outdoor market of the season but you wouldn't have known it looking around. The sun was shining, warm on our backs, as we talked with our neighboring vendors. Patrons mingled about catching up on the week’s events. And a table full of kids were busy decorating bags for Meals on Wheels with Forrest Espinoza and her son, Sage, for the activity at our Northside Artists Group booth. That is where I spent my Sunday morning; at the Northside Artists Group, or NSAG, booth. It was our organization's first year at the Market but hopefully not the last.

The NSAG booth served two purposes for our members this year. It gave us a fairly regular venue to showcase our artwork and sell some if we were so inclined. But it was also there to educate the community about NSAG. With such a wonderful crowd at the Market that day there were plenty of chances for me to tell people about how NSAG is comprised of artists who live or work on the Northside. I was able to explain that the group promotes the many talents of those Northside artists, creates opportunities for them to exhibit their work and encourages members to network with other artists. For many of the members just being able to share their work with others and having a place to do that is very gratifying.

For me, NSAG has done all of those things and more. In the two years that I have been a member I've showed my photography in exhibits, worked on community projects and joined other photography organizations. The people I talked to at the Market, those who admitted to having no artistic talents as well as fellow artists, were excited to hear about NSAG and thought it was great that we had a group like NSAG right here on the Northside. I hope I was able to recruit more members because of the exposure at the Market. But even if I didn't, I know the Market is a great Sunday morning opportunity for our current members that is sure to continue and grow.

Overture Reception Date Set

We've set the date for the reception for the Overture show. It's January 27 from noon-2 p.m. at Gallery Three of the O.C. Stay tuned for further details.

If you want an application for the Overture Show...

Just e-mail us through this website (northsideart[at symbol]gmail.com) and we will e-mail you the e-application, or provide your snail address and we will send you the paper application in the mail.

Overture App. Deadline Change: Dec. 3.

If you were reading this blog previously and saw the deadline to apply for the Overture Show, know that it has been changed to December 3rd. (It was originally a week later.) For details on the Overture Show, see the previous post (where the text has been changed to reflect the correct deadline.)

More about Overture show

The Northside Artists Group has been accepted to exhibit at the Overture Center for the Arts. The show will be on exhibit in Gallery III from January 10 through March 23, 2008.
Exhibit Theme
Our theme for the show is "Reflections of the Northside". The goal of the exhibit is to enable the greater community to explore and learn about Madison’s Northside through visual art. Your artwork should portray some element of the Northside within your preferred artistic medium.
Application and Artwork Submission
Applications for the submitting artwork for the show will be mailed / emailed on Friday, November 9th. The application deadline is Monday December 3rd.
You may submit one piece to exhibit. The gallery can accommodate wall-mounted artwork only. If your piece is 3-demensional, you may provide a shelf for display. No artwork or shelving may project more than 12 inches from the wall. Please prepare your artwork with wire and/or appropriate hardware.
Sales
You may offer your artwork for sale during the exhibit. The Overture Center and NSAG do not receive any money from sales of artwork. Artwork must remain hung until the end of the show. You will receive more information about artwork sales with the application.
Liability and Insurance Information
The Overture Center and Northside Artists Group cannot offer any insurance for your artwork. We will handle your pieces as carefully as possible. In addition, the Overture Center galleries are equipped with security cameras.
Volunteer to help
We are looking for volunteers to help out with the show. There are countless ways to get involved. Contact Dana if you are interested. Contact us at northsideart[at]gmail.com.


Important dates to remember
Applications mailed to artists Friday November 9, 2007
Application deadline Monday December 3, 2007
Exhibit installation January 8 – 9, 2008
Show opening January 10, 2008
Opening reception tbd
Show closing March 23, 2008
Exhibit deinstallation March 24 – 25, 2008

NSAG at the Overture

Exciting News! NSAG has been selected to exhibit at the Oveture in 2008. Our exhibit will hang January-March 2008 in Gallery III.

Details right now are a bit vague. The Oveture will host a meeting in August to provide more information, and NSAG will hold a meeting in early September.

January is closer than you think, so you can begin creating now!

Our theme for the exhibit is "Reflections of the Northside". In brief, your artwork should portray some element of you define the Northside or what you find valuable about the Northside within your preferred artistic medium.

I proposed the exhibit as follows in our application:
"The exhibit will enable the greater community to explore and to learn about Madison’s Northside through visual art. The Northside is an extremely environmentally, culturally and socioeconomically diverse community. It is home to Cherokee Marsh, Warner Park, the Governor’s Mansion, Mallards baseball, Troy Gardens, Dane County Regional Airport, the Vera Court, Kennedy Heights, Northport and Packers community centers and more. Artists have endless opportunities to create art based on their neighborhood while challenging their own artistic explorations."

At this point, every artist will be able to exhibit one piece within a limited size range. There will be a fee of some sort (roughly $30) to partake in this show to cover exhibit costs. If the fee is a challenge for you, please talk to me (Dana) or another NSAG coordinator.

Of course, we will need help coordinating the show. There are countless ways to get involved. If you have an interest in mind, please let me know. Sign up sheets will also be available at the September meeting.

If you have any questions, please ask.

NSAG coordinators,
Kristi, Dee, Linda, Macia and Dana

Northside Farmers Market Update

August 5
painter Susan Hoffman will be showing her work.

August 19
photographer Jo Severt will show and sell her work. There will also be an all ages art activity of drawing postcards with Susan Hoffman showing people her techniques.

September 2
printer Dick Walker and potter Margy Walker will show and sell their work

September 16
Jo Severt will show and sell her photography. The art activity will be decorating Meals-On-Wheels bags.

October 7
photographer Steve Salt will show and sell his work

October 21
Forrrest Espinoza will share her Arttogo kits and an all ages mixed media art boards activity too. Photographer Kristi Hall will show and sell her work