Norma C. Wilson, President, Vermillion Area Arts Council
During the month of June, Washington Street Arts Center will be filled with a wide variety of activities, including the on-going preservation and renovation of our historic building, visual and musical arts events, an arts community rummage sale and our annual Messy Hands Art Camp.
From June 17-19, the Arts Center will host "The 48 Hour Music Project." Musicians are invited. to a potluck on the June 17 at 7 p.m. They will form bands that evening. During the next 48 hours, each band will create two songs. On Sunday, June 19, starting slightly after 7 p.m., the project will culminate with a free battle-of-the-bands concert for listeners of all ages.
Plans for the art community rummage sale are underway. Scheduled for Saturday, June 25, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. as part of the city-wide rummage sale, our Bizarre Bazaar will raise money for those contributing items and for Vermillion Area Arts Council as well. Unsold items will be donated to the Civic Council or the Arts Council. If you have items for the sale, please bring them to the Arts Center on Friday, June 24 between 4 and 6 p.m. You will need to mark the prices on the items to be sold and indicate what percentage of the proceeds from sales you wish to receive. Those who would like to help prepare the items for sale and sign up for a time to work at the sale should bring a dish to share for a potluck to be held at the Arts center on Friday evening, June 24 at 6 p.m.
The Messy Hands Summer Art Camp is scheduled for June 27-July 1 and from July 4-8, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Now in its fourth year, the day camp provides children from ages 3-14 with an immersion in the visual arts. There are four enrollment options: half-days for one week or two, or full-days for one week or two. Participants have the opportunity to learn about and practice a wide variety of media: painting, drawing & collage, basic printmaking & bookmaking, and sculptural techniques. All materials and healthy snacks and drinks throughout the day are provided by the camp. The curriculum encourages exploration and creative expression in a nurturing environment. Through funds provided by the City of Vermillion, the Vermillion Civic Council, the South Dakota Arts Council, and private donors, l scholarships are available to children who need them. The VAAC is committed to sponsoring this educational experience for children in the community, regardless of background. To enroll your child, contact Susan Heggestad, sheggest@yahoo.com, 605-624-4766.
Preservation work utilizing funds from the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation and the Deadwood Fund is near completion. During the month of May, Rick Johns rebuilt the wooden structure for the bell tower roof; and Steve Krowley placed insulation and membrane roofs on two levels of the bell tower to prevent water damage. Volunteers Susan Heggestad, Clarence Pederson, Sandy Pederson, Vikki Fix, Johnne Law McMahan, Zach DeBoer, Dennis Johnson, Jaymee Henry, Janet Beeman Norma Wilson, Jerry Wilson, Geoffrey Gray-Lobe, Karl Hermanson, Taylor Barstow and Rick Johns performed the following essential work: re-attached an outer door frame, repaired plaster damage in a stairwell, scraped, caulked and primed window frames, and removed plaster and efflorescence. Thanks to these volunteers we will be able to access matching funds to be used for future building needs.
