Administrative Brief COMMISSION INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
VOL. 22, NO. 14 April 28, 2000
ADMINISTRATIVE BRIEF FROM MARTHA RHEA
Major areas of work at the Arts and Humanities Department offices these days are the
Smoky Hill River Festival; the Community Art and Design Initiative; and "The Dream
Factory," the Smoky Hill Museum's major exhibit for the year - among a number of other
projects and activities. Here are some highlights:
Smoky Hill River Festival, June 8 - 11: this year is the 24"' Festival, so plans have been
geared not only to 2000 but also to paving the way into the 25"~ celebration. All the stages
have been scheduled and the jury processes have taken place for the arts areas, the food,
and the artist in action projects. As you can tell from the attached stuffer, the graphics are
colorful and inviting, celebrating "a genuine festival of the arts." (FYI - this is a quote from
an artist who simply couldn't believe how the Festival really and truly happened! Hence
his quote.) Some things to look forward to:
· There are ninety-three artists from twenty-six states in the Fine Arts Area and fifty-three
exhibitors from nineteen states in the Four-Rivers Craft Market. Also about thirty
percent of the artists in both areas are new to the Festival.
· Three continuously active stages begin with the Festival Jam on Thursday evening and
end with a rhythm and blues band, Chump Change, on Sunday afternoon - with many
wonderfully varied groups in-between. In fact, Saturday evening the award winning
Imagination Workshop Radio Show (similar to a combination of Prairie Home
Companion and Saturday Night Live) dishes out its brew of topical satire and comedy
sketches as a new, unique venture in the Bicentennial Center. The radio show will be
taped live for broadcast throughout the country on National Public Radio stations. So
plan to be there - an audience is essential!
· Sunday Surprises, featuring Sunday-only entertainment, several new children's
activities, and specials in the food area, help Sunday to sparkle and close the Festival
with a bang!
· Artists in Action help to turn the park into an outdoor museum, with unique installations
that happen during the Festival weekend. Some you'll remember from years past- a
completely redone totem by Salinan Ann Arkebauer and several more mermaids join
the family of mermaids by the Kenwood Park bddge - and some you've not seen before
- an armature of a pteranodon, a fossilized bird native to Kansas, for kids to cover with
paper and recycled materials during the FestiVal and "Wild Flowers," dye painted silk
scarves, hung at various, changing places in the park.
· And performers you simply do not want to miss: as a way of truly highlighting the
Children's Stage, a quality treat for all Festival goers is John McCutcheon - without a
doubt the most influential hammer dulcimer player in America and noted for being at
the forefront of re-defining children's music. Then Saturday evening's Oakdale Stage
entertainment is Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band - recently honored by the
Smithsonian as Luminaries of Latin Music and highly recommended from a groundswell
of area musicians.
-OVER-
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Although it difficult to stop because there is so much more Festival news - I will! But watch
for the new Festival banners in the next couple of weeks. Be sure to get your Festival
buttons and t-shirts. Gather together your family and friends - and plan for a wonderfully
full weekend where each of us can be filled and Salina rises to its finest.
Community Art and Design Initiative: three major areas are currently in process -
· Animal Shelter: artist Connie Nutsch began carving the brick for her public art
installation at the new Animal Shelter the end of April at Endicott Brick Company in
Fairbury, NE. She plans to spend about three weeks carving and then will oversee
installation of the brick in early June. In fact, because of the timing, there will be an
Animal Shelter Public Art Project presence at the Festival, possibly even letting others
carve bdck and view photos for the process. As you may remember, Connie's work will
be installed on the pediment and columns framing the entrance to the Shelter. She has
titled her work "Under a Canopy of Hope," with the carved trees forming a kind of
canopy "protecting those who pass under it, just as the Salina Animal Shelter cares for
the animals that pass through its doors." '
· Community Art and Design Steering Committee - this group, made up of thirty Salinans
from across the community, has committed to learning about public art and spreading
the good word. To do its work, the steedng committee has split into three groups. The
policy group is researching and then writing a suggested policy for Salina, and then
plan to take it to the Arts and Humanities Commission and the City Commission. The
project group is learning about the general processes of doing public art, becoming
acquainted with projects that are happening and may happen in the near future, and
planning for a Festival presence in 2000 and 2001. The education group is looking at
ways to educate the entire community about community art and design through on-
going involvement.
· USD 305- the school board passed a Facilities Bond Projects Design Philosophy-
Statement of Intent (see attached) at its February 22 meeting, following initial talks and
planning with the administration and board. As a result this office is helping to provide
ideas and resources for the design phases of the renovation projects that have to do
with brick-and-mortar decisions. Also "adopt a school" projects are being developed
to bring artists together with school populations to positively address the issues of
transition and change inherent in the renovation projects.
Smoky Hill Museum: the Smoky Hill Museum is going strong, with several new staff
members bringing energy and innovative ideas. The past four months have been busy,
with staff developing and installing four new exhibits, organizing ten educational programs
for the public, giving school tours for pre-school through high school children, and
accessioning over 175 new artifacts. On exhibit now is A Century of Warfare: Uniforms
and Accessories of 20th Century Wars, which displays the memorabilia that people save
from wars, such as military uniforms, maps, and weapons.
However for the past eight months, the major project for the year 2000 has been the
development of a new exhibit, The Dream Factory. Working with school children from
twelve area schools through the School-to-Career Initiative, we asked students to write
letters or draw pictures telling us what they want to be when they grow up... "a firefighter,
football player, pilot, or dancer?" These letters were then used to form the basis for the
exhibit, and are on display throughout the gallery. In The Dream Factory, which opened
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mid-April to a Saturday full of career-inspired activities, children and adults can explore,
---- imagine, create, and discover the past and the future together. The Dream Factory is a
hands-on, interactive learning zone that focuses on eight career areas - yesterday, today,
and tomorrow -including: health and human services, animal care, service occupations,
culture and the arts, science and technology, public safety, sports and recreation, and
agriculture and the environment. The Dream Factory is on exhibit through November 15,
and features free, career-related programs each month for both children and adults. It's
also the exhibit that will greet many area children who take field trips to the Museum this
last month of school, as well as summer travelers who come to the Museum.
MONDAY'S MEETING
1. Enclosed are other items on the agenda. If any Commissioner has any questions or
cannot attend the meeting, please contact me.
2. Let's begin the study session at 2:30 p.m. An agenda is enclosed.
Dennis M. Kissinger
City Manager
'I'VE
festival of the arts
June 8, 9, 10, 11
Oakdale Park, Salina, Kansas
Gates open 10 a.m.; admission by Festival button, $5 in advance, $7 at the gate;
children 11 and younger FREE.
A ~ . ~t of the Salina Arts & Humanities Commission, a department of the City of Salina.
785-826-7410, fax 785-826-7444, e-mail sahc&nidusa.net Web Site: www. riverfestival.com
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