Celebrating 50 Years of the Northfield Arts Guild

For the past two months we’ve been featuring the ten portraits created by photographer Craig Perman for the Voices from the Northfield Arts Guild project. Each of the subjects was photographed in a setting appropriate to their artistic discipline and asked to answer the question: “How has the Northfield Arts Guild enriched your artistic life?”

“The Northfield Arts Guild has been a source of enrichment for me my whole life. As a young child I did kids art projects in Central Park during the art fair, took tap and ballet classes in elementary school, studied Chinese brush painting in high school, began volunteering as a young adult, and now have had a chance to exhibit in the gallery. The impact of a quality arts organization in a small town cannot be overestimated. To grow up in a community where there is value in volunteering for the arts, value in hearing and seeing the arts, and value in creating art is extremely fortunate. I will continue to learn and grow as an artist because of this organization. The NAG is a gem that makes all of Northfield shine, and with it, the talents of its many creative residents. I’m grateful to be one of them.”
- Jill Enestvedt

{Voices from the Northfield Arts Guild}

I know you’ve heard everything there is to be said about the Beaux Arts Ball by now, right? I mean, it’s been on your radar for months already, you’ve heard about it on the radio, and you’ve read about it in the newspaper, on Facebook, on Twitter, and all the cool blogs in town.

What you may not know is that there are still some tickets available!

Tell your friends they really should be joining you THIS SATURDAY at Carleton College’s Great Hall and Great Space for the best party of 2009!

From now until next Saturday’s Beaux Arts Ball [Buy your tickets now!], we’re featuring the ten portraits created by photographer Craig Perman for the Voices from the Northfield Arts Guild project. Each of the subjects was photographed in a setting appropriate to their artistic discipline and asked to answer the question: “How has the Northfield Arts Guild enriched your artistic life?”

“Working with the Arts Guild as a volunteer exposed me to a variety of artists and craftsmen from the Northfield community as well as throughout the state. This experience enhanced my interest in the arts and influence my choice of studies at St. Olaf College.”
- Dorothy Palmquist

{Voices from the Northfield Arts Guild}

From now until the Beaux Arts Ball [December 19: buy your tickets now!], we’re featuring the ten portraits created by photographer Craig Perman for the Voices from the Northfield Arts Guild project. Each of the subjects was photographed in a setting appropriate to their artistic discipline and asked to answer the question: “How has the Northfield Arts Guild enriched your artistic life?”

“Explore! The Guild supports me in exploring and expanding on my passions in the performing arts – from H.M.S. Pinafore outdoors to off-the-wall British Pantomime – and then passing that knowledge and passion on to our next generation of artists and audience members.”
- Bob Gregory-Bjorklund

{Voices from the Northfield Arts Guild}

The Beaux Arts Ball is December 19! Do you have your clothes and accessories yet?

Shop locally for the best in your Beaux Arts Ball ensemble!

• A Bag Lady 330-0949
• Anna’s Closet 645-2539
• Fashion Fair 645-6967
• Fine Craft Collective
• Freeman’s Formal Wear (for men’s tuxedos) 650-4889
• Jenkins Jewelers 645-6502
• Oo La La 645-5275
• Rare Pair 645-4257
• The Shop at the Northifeld Arts Guild 645-8877
• Sisters Ugly 645-2376
• Women and Kids on Division 663-7993

From now until the Beaux Arts Ball [December 19: buy your tickets now!], we’re featuring the ten portraits created by photographer Craig Perman for the Voices from the Northfield Arts Guild project. Each of the subjects was photographed in a setting appropriate to their artistic discipline and asked to answer the question: “How has the Northfield Arts Guild enriched your artistic life?”

Featured artist Brian Sostek will be teaching a special dance lesson on Dec. 12 to help you get ready for the Ball

“Somewhere in the basement of the NAG theater, there once hung—and possibly still does—a photo that bears testament to the power of this community arts organization to bring people together for the sake of creating something together. The people, in this case, were my sister Hilary and me, who under normal circumstances wouldn’t usually elect to spend the bulk of our free waking hours in close proximity. This wasn’t a normal circumstance. We had both been cast in The Sound of Music by our father Ed, the director, and our mother Toni, the choreographer. We were kind of like the Four Cohans, but only for one show and with slightly more drama.

“It was in that, and all subsequent productions in which I was involved at the Guild that I started to learn a philosophy, albeit unbeknownst to me at the time, that I have come to appreciate and apply more and more in my professional artistic career. It is one that promotes cooperation over competition in the interest of creating a good product. It is one that capitalizes on the strengths of a group of people and figures out creative ways around the weaknesses. It is one that demonstrates that a small group of dedicated people can indeed change the world. Or at least put on a hell of a show.

“Don’t get me wrong; it’s not like I was or am blissfully unaware of the tensions that arise among a bunch of artists, each of whom has their own opinion about how best to spend the limited time before opening night. But I have come to look at each production I get to do as a chance for a new, little community to put our collective skills together and come up with something uniquely possible, and sometimes, when we’re lucky, uniquely wonderful. Even if I do have to occasionally suppress my own idea about what’s best, and kiss my little sister on the cheek in public.”
- Brian Sostek

{Voices from the Northfield Arts Guild}

There’s something about dancing, isn’t there? Watching an elegant couple glide in synchronized moves across a dance floor that makes you say: “I wish I could do that!”

Well, you can! In preparation for the Beaux Arts Ball (just over a month away!), the NAG is offering ballroom dance classes to help get you in the mood and ready to dance to the classic sounds of the Bend in the River Big Band.

Classes are 1-3 pm on Saturday afternoons through December 5. Led by two terrific teachers from the St. Olaf Ballroom Performance Group, each lesson is $22.50 for NAG members / $25 for non-members. A final extra special dance class led by professional dancer and NAG alum Brian Sostek will be held on Dec. 12.

Dust off your dancing shoes and sign up now! Here are the upcoming sessions:

• Nov. 14 – Tango
• Nov. 21 – Foxtrot/Waltz
• Dec. 5 – Rhumba/Cha Cha
• Dec. 12 – Final Class w/Brian Sostek

From now until the Beaux Arts Ball [December 19: buy your tickets now!], we’re featuring the ten portraits created by photographer Craig Perman for the Voices from the Northfield Arts Guild project. Each of the subjects was photographed in a setting appropriate to their artistic discipline and asked to answer the question: “How has the Northfield Arts Guild enriched your artistic life?”

“It was exciting to have been part of the development of the gallery and shop at the Northfield Arts Guild downtown. Being a NAG member for 50 years has kept me in contact with and nurtured by all the visual artists in the area. And, what a gift to teach so many emerging artists and pass on my enthusiasm for visual expression of all kinds!”
- Jan Shoger

{Voices from the Northfield Arts Guild}

In celebration of the warmth and joy of the upcoming holiday season, the Northfield Arts Guild announces our production of Donata’s Gift, a musical written by local playwright Christine Kallman with music written by local composer Daniel Kallman.

Inspired by the Italian Christmas legend of Old Befana, Donata’s Gift is a story of giving and redemption. Donata is an embittered and eccentric old woman accused of a terrible crime. A young orphan helps to show her and the community that there is a fresh beginning in generosity, love, and acceptance. Filled with music and dancing and well seasoned with humor, this play is a perfect addition to the holiday season.

Performances are November 20-21, 27-28, December 4-5 at 7:30 pm and November 22, 29, & December 6 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are available at the Northfield Arts Guild’s Center for the Arts. Purchase your tickets online, in person at 304 Division St, or over the phone at 507-645-8877.

Danse Macabre is Tonight! Showtime is 7 pm at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater (413 3rd St. West). Tickets have been sold out for days, so get there early! If you don’t have tickets, please come to the doors before 6 pm and lurk—odds are that some people will turn them in. Don’t give up! This show is worth waiting in the lobby for!

Get spooked when belly dancing zombies take the stage, catch a reprise from the cast of the NAG’s Rocky Horror Picture Show, see jazz dancing pirates, and an example of American Bhuto, along with”Steam Heat” from Pajama Game, and plenty more wonderful performances from dancers and performers from the community. The show will close with an on-stage dance party, featuring a live set from local band Area 51. Costumes and audience participation strongly welcome and encouraged!

Read a 10/27 Northfield News article about the show.