Jazz Notes Mar 2016

Jazz Notes
Urban Arts Academy - March 2016
News for the Members of Dick's Jazz Club
In This Issue
Announcing Gala 2016
Donor Highlight
Staff Highlight
Tamar's Corner & Program
Update
Thank You to all of
our Donors!
Dick's Jazz Club Members
Contributions received from
Mar 1, 2015 through Feb
29, 2016
Clarinetist
$2,500 or more
-Anonymous
-Box Financial, Phillip Box
-Central Minneapolis
Chapter of Thrivent
Financial
-Jim and Julia Helgesen
-Josh and Joani Moberg
-Deb Paulsrud
-Karen and David Pressley,
-Quantum Digital
-Peggy Soden
-Sundance Holdings Group
-Terrie and Janet
Thompson
-Tom and Becky von
Fischer
Tap Dancer
At 15 years, Urban Arts is grateful
and growing!
Annual Gala is just around the corner
Saturday, April 16th
Fifteen years ago a fledgling Board of Directors
launched a non-profit organization with a bold vision: to
bring the wonderful diversity of our neighborhood
together by providing creative experiences for children
and their families.
Urban Arts is now a teenager! At 15 years old, we are
grateful to have survived the early years and we've
been growing stronger ever since!
Thirteen years ago we stumbled through our first Gala.
We've learned a few things about hosting a party since
then and we're grateful to all of you for your support as
we continue to help our students grow and thrive.
$1,000 - $2,499
-Judith Anderson and Steven
Glass
-Mark and Susan Besser
-Brian Smith and Dixie
Boschee
-Cheryl Contant and Karen
Mumford
-Judy Engel
-Ken and Linda Holmen
-Randy and Kari Hurley
-Ricardo and Jessica Khan
-Marcus Lendway Memorial
-Rick Rouse and Beth Lewis
-Judi Linder
-Jeri Schultz and Gary Nelson
-Steven and Kay Paulsrud
-Robert and Lisa Spencer
-Robert and Barb Thomasson
Saxophonist
$500 - $999
-Tony Anderson and Terry
Pressley
-Steven and Kristi AndersonHermann
-Steven and Gwenn Branstad
-Melissa Brooks and Shari
Seifert
-Kevin Dalager and Erin
Ceynar
-Eunice Jernell Memorial
-Mary Jane Konnad
-Sunny Nelson
-Mark and Jennifer Ohm
-Gary Pressley
-Faye Puelston
-Donald and Karen Rudrud
-Jan Sheedy
-Gregory and Shelly Siems
Vocalist
$100 - $499
-Ramona Advani
-David Allgeyer and Melinda
Look
-Anonymous
-Robert Austin
-Roberto and Andrea Barcenas
-Richard Baugh and Elizabeth
George
-Jeffrey Benson and Tina
Meckel
-Glenn and Karen BergMoberg
-Shayna Berkowitz and Phyllis
Wiener
-Craig and Kathy Binger
Plans for this year's Gala are falling into place nicely
and we're looking forward to welcoming you to a festive
evening with fellow supporters of Urban Arts.
We're returning to the lovely, spacious venue at St.
Mary's Event Center, overlooking Lake Calhoun. When
we open the doors at 5:45, here's what we'll have
waiting for you:
* When you arrive, grab your glass of wine and
appetizers and engage with staff and interns, who look
forward to sharing some of the remarkable artistic
creations of their students.
* Our favorite Chef, Kim Zeigler, is back, featuring some
of his signature dishes from Fireside Restaurant.
* There will be plenty of room to roam the silent auction
tables and preview some new and exciting live auction
items.
* A program featuring stories about what your donations
make possible at Urban Arts.
* Our auctioneer will wrap up the evening with the
Fund-a-Need - your opportunity to support this amazing
work.
REGISTER NOW ONLINE to let us know you're coming
and choose your entree.
-Sherman Bishop and Deb
Yandala
-David Blankers
-Aimee Boone
-Felecia Boone
-Emilie Bouvier
-The Bulldog Restaurant
-Lisa Butman
-Chaturapat Chaowalit
-Donald and Rachel
Christensen
-Nick and Janna Conant
-Creative Color Solutions
-Ryan and Tara Davenport
-Anders Davidson and Teresa
Schweizer
-Judy A Dick
-David and Margaret Duxbury
-Paul Egeland
-Scott and Angie Endo
-Ethan and Peggy Erenberg
-Leonard Erickson
-Rose Ernst
-Paul and Stephanie Evenson
-DeAnna Evjen
-Virginia Fish
-Fladeboe Auctions
-Carolyn Folke
-James and Yvonne Forsythe
-Constance Fourre
-Brad Froslee and Bill
O'Connor
-Fundraising and Development
Inc.
-Dan Garnaas and Mary
Halvorson
-Tamar Ghidalia
-Pat Gleason
-Erin Glynn
-Marilyn Gooley
-David Tynes and Alexis
Greeves
-Heather Halen
-Alfred and Vicky Hannemann
-Jason Nicholoff and Vannessa
Harper-White
-Carter and Florence B Hedeen
-Lowell and Anne Helgason
-Russell and Lorraine
Helgesen
-Alex and Sveta Henin, Renex
LLC
-Daniel and Laura Huff
-Matthew M Hunt
-Innovate Dance Event
-Lyle Jaeger
-Nickia Jensen and Erika
Linder
-David and Sharron Johnson
A Conversation with
Dick's Jazz Club Members
Tom and Becky Von Fischer
Jazz Notes had a recent conversation with Becky and
Tom von Fischer, whom some long-time members of
Dick's Jazz Club call "the founders of Urban Arts".
They served as co-pastors of our host, Calvary
Lutheran Church, from 1995 until their retirement in
2008. Although they continue to be a bit uncomfortable
with being called "founders", the reality is that without
their vision and persistent, strong leadership during
the formative years, Urban Arts would never have seen
the light of day or survived.
That strength and persistence continues unabated in
their retirement. Becky and Tom serve in various key
roles on the Gala Committee, which Tom chairs. He
also chairs the Development Team and has provided
leadership for much of the financial development work
since Urban Arts was launched in 2001.
We sat down with them recently to inquire about their
passion for and commitment to Urban Arts. We invite
you to enjoy a few snippets from that conversation.
From your perspective, what is the most important
aspect of the work that Urban Arts does with children
and families?
"Although there are a host of important facets to what
Urban Arts does, we usually settle on the critical role of
community as being central to our mission. We
embrace the African proverb about the role of the
village in raising children. In a host of ways, Urban Arts
creates and fosters community, which is what we all
need - especially children - in order to reach our
potential and thrive."
Tell us about the legacy of Dick Pendleton in
relationship to Urban Arts.
"In a nutshell, Dick was a premier Twin Cities' jazz
clarinetist for many years and a life-long member of
Calvary who lived in our neighborhood. When he died
in 1999, he left the bulk of his estate to the church as an
undesignated gift. After months of engaging the
congregation and neighborhood to discern how best to
honor Dick's memory and artistic gifts, Calvary
launched the Urban Arts Academy as a non-faith-
-Nicole Johnson
-Mark and Julie Karels
-Andrea Kircher
-Ken Klein and Teresa Quinn
-Eric Klimpke and Siri
Thompson
-Leo Richard and Mary Beth
Lake
-Douglas and Anna Mae
Lambert
-Mark and Mary Lamey
-Jean Langehough and Alanna
Walen
-Paul and Lois Larsen
-Andrew and Angie Larson
-Anne and Gary LeDuc
-Michael Wolesky and Susan
Lindoo
-Elayne Lipp
-Brenda Lockwood
-Jeannie Loh
-Luminous Yoga
-Lisa Lundmark
-Don Luther
-Gary and Susan Martland
-Tim and Monica Marx
-Stanley Maxeiner
-Steve and Jennifer McCarthy
-Marion McNurlen
-Jon and Jenny Mcaab
-David and Jenifer Moberg
-Pat Morreim
-Dana Lynn Mortenson
-Marie Mosman
-Cory Muir and Anna
Richardson
-Karen and Mary Nelson
-Nancy Lee Nelson
-James and Donna Neubauer
-Patricia Olson
-Dennis and Turid Ormseth
-Larry and Kristine Paulsen
-David and Joan Paulsrud
-Priority One Tech
-Pryes Brewery
-Jeffrey and Lisa Quist
-Elwood N and LaVon Rieke
-William Rottschaefer
-Robyn Salter
-Peter and Debra Samuelson
-Heidi Santiago-Deford
-Tom and Elizabeth Sather
-Mark and Rosario Schindele
-Sandra Schrick
-Terry Sheetz
-Joanne Shepherd
-John and Karen Somers
-Breck and Laurie Spinner
-State Farm Insurance, James
based, non-profit organization. The values and
commitments that the church brought to the table were
primarily to communicate: 'you all are welcome here',
especially to the growing number of recent immigrants
bringing various religious traditions."
Why do you support Urban Arts with your generous
gifts?
"A friend of ours talks about three 'kicks' to money: (1)
making it; (2) accumulating it; (3) giving it away. After a
lifetime of plugging away at the first two, we're having
the time of our lives with number three. To watch the
program grow ... to see the children thrive ... to listen to
parents praise the staff for their partnership in raising
their kids ... why wouldn't we want to offer our best gifts
to help make all that - and more - happen?! The impact
of Urban Arts goes beyond words. What we have seen
transpire over the past 16 years reaches deep into our
souls. We are amazed and grateful, which makes our
giving pure joy!"
Speaking of joy, what gives you the most joy in your
involvement with and contributions to Urban Arts?
"Nothing makes us happier than seeing kids and
families thrive. We've seen the debilitating impact of
poverty and lack of options that often accompanies
scarcity. Urban Arts provides a joy-filled and energetic
setting of abundance for students, staff, parents and
volunteers, which is critical to help each person reach
for her or his potential."
When you see Becky and/or Tom, be sure to engage
them in conversation and thank them for all they have
done - and continue to do - to help the work of Urban
Arts thrive.
What's your story?
We'd love to engage you in conversation ...
and share it with fellow members of Dick's Jazz Club.
Phillips
-Janet and Jim Strandlie
-Judy Stuthman
-Chris Sur and Teddie Gaitas
-Nathan and Suchi Thompson
-Paul and Ruth Tillquist
-Joni Timm
-Jean Tjoflat
-Peter and Traci Torseth
-U + B Architecture & Design
-Benjamin von Fischer and
Norah Guequierre
-Walker Art Center
-David Ward
-Michael J Weber
-Kristine Wehrkamp
-Barbra Wiener
-Robert and Sara-Jane Wilson
-Allen and Phyllis Zumach
Our sincere thanks to the
above individuals for
making our arts programming
possible. Your donations, time
and effort are integral to the
quality and growth of the Urban
Arts Academy.
Staff Highlight:
Maria Davison
Early Childhood Specialist
Maria Davison is a graduate of the
University of Minnesota- Twin Cities
with a Bachelors degree in
Communication Studies. In her last
semester of her college career she began interning with
Urban Arts in the preschool department, and is excited
to have the opportunity to work more closely with the
staff and students of these wonderful programs. Her
free time is filled with playing music, exploring
photography, reading, enjoying the outdoors, and
learning from the people around her. Maria believes
that teaching is a great opportunity to learn from and
with others and is thankful to do so in the Urban Arts
community.
Tamar's Corner & Program Update
We apologize if your name
is listed incorrectly.
Please let us know at:
[email protected]
Hello Everyone!
We have so much wonderful news for you!
Programming
Preschool:
After conducting a survey with families at UAA and in
the community, we decided to turn our preschool into a
year-round preschool from June 1st to May 31st.
Many families have already registered for next year!
Summer: Families will have the option to pick and
choose different summer camp options or attend the 9
weeks of KidPower, a fantastic program we are
expanding for our neighborhood students.
This summer we will offer 36 fun filled art camps over a
9 week time period from June 13th to August 11th,
2016.
High School:
The pilot program for high school students started and
our youth group is designing a program with three
components: Art, Leadership, and Social
Entrepreneurship. They are very excited to be able to
drive that process!
Thanks to the Minnesota State Arts Board and
Compas, we had wonderful residencies this
semester:
* Talking Suitcases with Susan Armington
* South American residency with Leo Lara
Making Musical Instruments with Leo Lara
Making Talking Suitcases with Susan Armington
Middle School:
Our Middle School students are also continuing to study
with artist Stefon Taylor and Project Footsteps.
With Musician and Producer Stefon Taylor
Curriculum
Our Artists of the month this year so far have been:
Preschool:
Gee's Bend Quiltmakers
The quilts of Gee's Bend are created by a group of
women and their ancestors who live or have lived in the
isolated African-American settlement of Gee's Bend,
Alabama along the Alabama River. The quilts of Gee's
Bend are considered to be one of the most important
African-American visual and cultural contributions to the
history of art within the United States.
Judi Garland
(June 10, 1922 - June 22, 1969), born Frances Ethel
Gumm, was an American singer, actress, and
vaudevillian. She was renowned for her contralto vocals
and attained international stardom which continued
throughout a career that spanned more than 40 years
as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a
recording artist, and on concert stages. Respected for
her versatility, she received a Juvenile Academy Award
and won a Golden Globe Award as well as a Special
Tony Award. She was the first woman to win a Grammy
for Album of the Year.
After-school:
Kara Walker
Kara Walker is from Southern California. Her most
famous artwork uses cut black paper on white walls in
the shapes of peoples' shadows, similar to traditional
Victorian silhouette artwork. Her artwork is largely about
race, stereotypes, and the history of slavery in the
South.
David Carter
David Carter is from Utah. He uses cut paper to make
pop-up books. He has made over 50 books for
elementary-age children.
Tou Saiko Lee
Tou Saiko Lee is a Hmong-American rapper, poet, and
activist who lives in the Twin Cities. Lee was born in a
refugee camp in Thailand, and has lived in Minnesota
since 1991. In much of Lee's music and poetry, he talks
about struggles Hmong Americans face in the Twin
Cities. At some of his shows, both young Hmong
rappers and Hmong elders perform, and at one event
Lee rapped while his grandmother performed
the ancient Hmong art of poetry chanting. He also
works in schools in Minneapolis, teaching workshops
about hip-hop, rap, spoken-word poetry, and Hmong
culture. Tou says that as a child, he was shy and hiphop helped him have a voice, and he is grateful that
now he is able to teach this to other children.
Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock is a pianist, keyboardist, composer,
and actor. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. As a child,
Hancock was a piano prodigy and played with the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra when he was only 11
years old. Later in his life, Hancock played with the
Miles Davis Quintet. His music has elements of many
genres, including jazz, funk, and soul.
UAA Board of Directors:
UAA Board of Directors has 4 new board members and
had a retreat in January to do an orientation for new
members and to design a UAA Strategic Planning
process for the next 3 years. Board and staff are
working together to develop the vision and the
resources needed to make it a reality.
Interns and volunteers:
We have 18 interns and volunteers this semester: 11
college students; 1 from Achieve Minneapolis; 1 from a
partnership with Migizi Communications, a Bush partner
who serves the American Indian Community; and an
intern from Nigeria, Ezenwa Okoro. We are blessed to
have 2 grandmas volunteering in the preschool as well.
Additionally, we welcome back After-school voluneers
Lowell Helgason, who helped with homework and Mark
Lamey, our resident guitar teacher.
A special thank you goes out to our team of clay studio
volunteers! Bill O'Connor, Chris Malec, Niky Duxbury,
and Lowell Helgason have worked together to design
and build the infrastructure to make our studio more
functional. We now have three usable wheels, a hand
building/wedging table, and adequate storage!
Partnerships:
•
•
•
•
The Bush Initiative is progressing very well and
everyone is passionate about the work. The
youth are really making progress and leading us
in the process.
Our partnership with Joyce Preschool is
expanding.
We started a very promising partnership with the
Russian Art Museum
We are also starting a partnership with MPS
Arts Program
Please visit our program pages for more information on
registering for preschool and summer:
http://urbanartsacademy.org/programs/preschool/
http://urbanartsacademy.org/programs/summer-arts/
http://urbanartsacademy.org/programs/summerarts/kidpower-program/
For addition information, you can email us at
[email protected], call us at 612-827-1641
or visit our website www.urbanartsacademy.org
See you all at the Gala!
http://urbanartsacademy.org/creatingsupport/urban-arts-gala/
DREAM BIG, TAKE RISKS, AND MAKE IT
HAPPEN!