Monday, October 21, 2013

A Balanced Community: Business and Artistic Ventures Are Key

I think my lack of artistic ability was apparent at a pretty young age. I recall being around 5 or 6, when a simple first grade art project of painting a tree on a piece of legal size paper ended with me being put in a separate corner of the classroom with drop cloths all around. Sigh.
But it was two years later when an art teacher taught me, art can take many forms, and as long as it is done from the heart is always beautiful to someone. There is no right or wrong,she said,and unlike the grammar lessons I loved so much (seriously, I loved them, weird I know) art had no “rules.”
To be honest, though, that really never stuck and I ended up never understanding or even attempting many artistic ventures since then. But the older I get, and as I watch my children try different creative pursuits from music to sculpting, I am thinking, “why not pursue those things now if I want?” I'll tell you why not. It's still intimidating.
I would walk into an art studio and not be able to tell a pastel from an acrylic (I'm hoping those are actual art terms, I recall my 10-year-old telling me about them.) But, I should have known this community I love so much would come through for me. You see, we hear all about how our region is growing; manufacturing, professional business, population. Well, the arts community is growing right along with it.
And mixed in with the restaurants, bars, and office buildings downtown is a little place called the 410 Project. It is a non-profit, completely volunteer-run art gallery and "experimental station." (I’m told it’s the only one of its kind in Southern Minnesota.) I had the pleasure of meeting the volunteer director, Dana Sikkila, last week. She and her troop of dedicated volunteers open the space on weeknights and weekends, after working their full-time paying jobs. They give “amateur” artists a place to display their work and they offer classes. They have such a heart for it because they know for a community to truly thrive, you need to have a way for people to express and explore.
It was clear this is a place where even I, who can’t tell my Picasso’s from an 8-year-old’s painting (true story), could go to try something new. It’s totally open to everyone no matter age or ability. And the vision Dana has for it is incredible, she truly has a passion for bringing this community into full balance between artistic ventures and business ones.
The 410 Project, its volunteers and the community members who help support it are all part of what makes this “The Good Life.”

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

How Was Your Weekend?

“How was your weekend?” may be the most used phrase at the start of each workweek. A look back at this past weekend in the greater Mankato area is a good indication of what makes living here, well, great! The weekend kicked off Friday night with a sold out country concert. Florida-Georgia Line filled the Verizon Wireless Center with folks of all ages. And contributed to the thousands that flooded downtown Mankato restaurants and bars. Ah, camaraderie and country music. Saturday, I’ve heard from many of you, was time spent with family and friends. Many taking advantage of the waning summer days to have get-togethers with neighbors. Personally, I took part in a “Best Burger Cook off” hosted by Jason and Julia Pohlman. This was not just your regular, friendly cook off. It was highly competitive I found out, after I arrived. My simple bacon and cheddar burger (and by mine, I really mean Hy Vee’s…as many of you know I can’t cook), was not even close to being enough to top a fried egg burger on croissant, a tomato basil burger and a super yummy fried onion patty that was to die for. I didn’t walk away with a prize, but I did walk away with a few extra pounds! Not to worry though, I could work them all off Sunday morning on the Mankato River Ramble. I predict this to be an autumn destination for Minnesotans all across the state in a year or two. It features bike rides of various lengths along the beautiful river. It’s more than just a ride though. There’s plenty of scenery, entertainment and refreshment along the way…oh yeah, and more that community camaraderie I keep talking about! The weekend culminated with Division 1 hockey baby! The Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks held an exhibition game Sunday evening, again at the Verizon Wireless Center (think that thing gets used much? J) There’s already an air of excitement this year surrounding the Mavs, and they intensified that Sunday with a 7 – 1 victory over Lethbridge. So many of us hit Monday tired from the weekend. But it was a good weekend, part of what makes this The Good Life.