Northfield Arts Guild « Locally Grown Northfield

Danse Macabre and Area 51 at the NAG Theater on Friday

By Griff Wigley, on October 10, 2011, 8:31 am

Ann Etter and Mary Lundergan Hahn stopped by my corner office at GBM last week to let me know about Danse Macabre, which Mary says is a:

a one night only, terrifically fun, fundraiser at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater on Friday October 14, with Area 51 playing live.

Rumor has it that the emcee for the event is someone who has a thing for Jesse James:

Photo album – Northfield Ties: A Photography Invitational

By Griff Wigley, on October 1, 2011, 9:19 pm

Last night the NAG hosted the opening reception for Northfield Ties: A Photography Invitational.

This exhibit, curated by Patsy Dew and Meg Ojala, features the work of 13 photographers who have ties to Northfield. Digital, black and white, color, and panorama shots show the diverse range of photography being done in and around Northfield.

Artists exhibiting are Patsy Dew, Scott Forsgren, Doug Foxgrover, Beret Griffith, Dennis McClintock, Meg Ojala, David Perez, Craig Perman, Stephanie L. Rogers, Linda Rossi, Leslie Schultz, Katie Shorey, and Cate Vermeland.

See my album of 28 photos, view the large slideshow (recommended), or SLOW CLICK this small slideshow:

Jim Bohnhoff’s hanging dub dub dub promotes the WWW exhibit at the NAG

By Griff Wigley, on July 7, 2011, 10:52 am

This morning, Jim Bohnhoff pointed me to his latest creation, a hanging dub dub dub that promotes the WWW Exhibit at the Northfield Arts Guild. Right photo: psychologist Elaine Nesbit struts her stuff while under the influence of art.

According to the blurb on the NAG home page:

This innovative show explores how communications technology has influenced contemporary life, revolutionizing how we interact and process time and experience. Features a ten-minute mediated tour of the show running continuously at the NAG, the Northfield Public Library, and on U-Tube.

25 local and regional artists exhibit in this intriguing and very diverse show. The opening reception is this Friday evening, July 8, 6 – 9 pm, and is part of the Northfield Gallery Crawl. Stop in to meet artists and enjoy this thought provoking work.

Northfield Area United Way allocation panels: a very cool community engagement process

By Griff Wigley, on May 4, 2011, 6:27 am

My wife Robbie and I were invited to be on one of the Northfield Area United Way (NAUW) allocation panels last week. In her email, NAUW Executive Director Betsy Spethmann wrote:

As a Grant Allocation Panelist, you will help decide how the funds raised during the recent United Way campaign will be invested back into services that benefit people in our community… agencies present their proposals and field questions from panelists; then the panel discusses how to allocate available funds and agrees on a recommendation to NAUW’s Board.

Volunteers find that this is an excellent way to learn more about our community and the network of human-service organizations serving the Northfield area.

Indeed, it was excellent. And the process was impressive. Our allocation panel got to hear from/ask questions of representatives from the Northfield Arts Guild, the Northfield Youth Choirs, and the Northfield Area Family YMCA.

Photos: Party and parade to celebrate Carnegie Library’s 100th; NAG’s 50th

By Griff Wigley, on April 27, 2010, 7:09 am

The Northfield Carnegie Library turned 100 on Sunday. Schemers decided to have a little party and parade and team up with the Northfield Arts Guild which is in the middle of celebrating their 50th. Alas, I missed it, but others delivered:

Eric Johnson sent me the above photos.
Librarian Kathy Ness has a 50/100 photo album in this post on the Northfield Public Library Centennial Celebration blog.
Suzy Rook has an album of 11 photos on the Northfield News website.

Guest photographer: Steve Engler’s Beaux Arts Ball photo album

By Griff Wigley, on December 22, 2009, 11:02 am

NAG Board member Steve Engler took dozens of photos at the Beaux Arts Ball on Saturday and gave me a disk of them yesterday. I put on my editor’s hat, tossed/cropped a few, and am now pleased to present them here.

Above: Locally Grown’s propriety guidelines prevent me from publishing the rest of the series of photos of Steve with his wife, Lynn.

See the album of 60 photos, the large slideshow, or this small slideshow:

Continue reading Guest photographer: Steve Engler’s Beaux Arts Ball photo album

Photo album, video: NAG’s Beaux Arts Ball

By Griff Wigley, on December 20, 2009, 8:18 am

Last night’s Beaux Arts Ball, part of Northfield Arts Guild’s 50th Anniversary season, was spectacular. I ratcheted back on the number of photos I took, once I saw that David Henke from the Northfield News and Steve Engler, NAG board member, were also taking lots of photos. I’ll link to their albums when they get them posted. If you were there and have photos, add a comment below with a link.

See the album of 3 dozen photos, the large slideshow, or this small slideshow:

Continue reading Photo album, video: NAG’s Beaux Arts Ball

Photo redux: Sesquicentennial Governors Ball. Shades of next week’s Beaux Arts Ball

By Griff Wigley, on December 11, 2009, 8:40 am

Northfield’s last big ball was the 2005 Sesquicentennial Governors Ball. Next week will rival it: NAG’s Beaux Arts Ball, part of Northfield Arts Guild’s 50th Anniversary season. I’ll be there with my sweetie, hopefully 1) not stepping on her dancing shoes; and 2) taking better photos than this one.

You can purchase tickets online here.

See the album of 147 Governors Ball photos, the large slideshow, or this small slideshow:

Continue reading Photo redux: Sesquicentennial Governors Ball. Shades of next week’s Beaux Arts Ball

Photo album: Ramping up for the NAG’s Beaux Arts Ball

By Griff Wigley, on October 22, 2009, 8:02 am

BAMG/NEG head honcho Rob Shanilec invited me to a party at Jennifer and Chris Sawyer’s house on Monday to kick off the promo blitz for the big event of the Northfield Arts Guild’s 50th Anniversary season, the Beaux Arts Ball, coming up on Dec. 19 at Carleton College’s Great Hall.

Rob is co-chair of the event, as he was for the last big ball, the 2005 Sesquicentennial Governors Ball (photo album here, 2007 blog post summary here)

The event will feature music by the Bend in the River Big Band and information about ballroom dancing lessons will soon be leaking out.

Dan Freeman was at the party with his undertaker face and tuxedo on. It’s not too early to contact Dan about a tuxedo for the event.

And you can now purchase tickets online for the Beaux Arts Ball. Don’t wait too long, tho. Only 500 will be sold.

See the album of 21 photos, the large slideshow, or this small slideshow:

Paul is in love with Carmen

By Griff Wigley, on October 22, 2009, 7:10 am

Paul Niemistö, conductor of the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra (CVRO), among other roles, stopped by my corner office at the GBM on Tuesday to give me the promo pitch for the Nov. 1 performance of "an abridged concert version" of Carmen – which means that a cast of singers will be on stage with the orchestral musicians.

For details, see Paul’s Carmen post on the CVRO news blog (subscribe to the CVRO RSS feed), and see the Northfield Arts Guild’s blurb on Carmen. Tickets can be purchased from NAG (online or their store) or at The Rare Pair.

NAG 50th joins the blogosphere and the twittersphere

By Griff Wigley, on August 31, 2009, 7:51 am

Northfield area organizations are increasingly seeing the advantages of setting up blog sites (a website with regular pages but built with a blog platform) for special events (eg, ArtSwirl, JuneBug).

The latest is the NAG 50th Blog, "Celebrating 50 Years of the Northfield Arts Guild." Of course, they’ve also joined the twittersphere (twitter.com/nag50).

Photo redux: NAG’s Auction for the Arts

By Griff Wigley, on March 14, 2009, 4:40 am

The Northfield Arts Guild’s annual Auction for the Arts is tonight, 7 pm at the NAG’s Division Street headquarters. It’s a 1970′s theme with Mr. Ed Kuhlman doing the live auction Travolta style. “Learn to throw a pot and undulate your middle in a belly dance; try out some theater costumes or makeup while listening to strolling performers; play an ongoing ‘70’s trivia game while taking part in our silent and live auctions…”

See these NAG Auction photo albums from 2008 and 2004.

asdf

Make time for Sex with Seven Men this weekend

By Griff Wigley, on January 16, 2009, 10:53 am

Ever since Brendon Etter finishing having Sex with Seven Women at the NAG last year, he’s been working on having Sex with Seven Men at the NAG this year.

I tried to get some some rehearsal photos this week but alas, I failed.

For more info, see his Northfield.org calendar entry, the NAG play description A Fundraiser with a Racy Title, and the Nfld News article A racy-titled sequel.

What’s up with the Northfield Fire Department? (63)
- kiffi summa: Grff: your third paragraph above does not make a succinct argument, MO, in that Kris Vohs was expressing such feelings of being at odds with his council/city role (except for the fine work of the HRA), that he ultimately resigned,...
- kiffi summa: Griff: I was dong the LWV observing at the Council meeting you reference above; I do not recall hearing , or seeing in the packet materials, this vote by the firefighters that you reference. I, of course, could be wrong and/or just...
- kiffi summa: Griff: regardless of Mr. Madigan’s explanation, the ISO rating is awarded by the insurance company, and yes… it takes into account several factors i.e. response time etc.; however the ISO rating NF residents enjoy does not...
- Griff Wigley: Kathie, What are the FFs’ issues that have not been heard? They all had a chance to talk individually to Soldo and long before that, several spoke against the reorganization plan to the Council. They’ve been listened to,...
- Griff Wigley: In comment #26 above, Jane Moline wrote: Our fire deparment does not deserve the these attacks that appeart to be motivated by an administration that is empire-building to go along with a Taj-Mahal safety center. Jane, I’ve...
To India and Back: Tickets on sale now for Rotary’s Youth Exchange fundraiser (2)
- Vicki Dilley: How many lives can we even begin to count that have touched by the Youth Exchange program? Northfield has been involved in Youth Exchange since 1969 when we hosted our first student…since then 100′s of High School...
- Tom Durkin: This event supports one of the crown jewels of the Northfield Rotary Club – the Youth Exchange Program. Northfield can be proud that we send out more than fifteen students annually for year abroad study programs. We also host several...
Shannon Hyland-Tassava reading Feb. 15 at Monkey See Monkey Read (1)
- Griff Wigley: Shannon has a blog titled Mama in Wonderland: notes on the chaos and delight of mothering two small girls.
Northfield needs more beaches (5)
- john george: Kathie- I knew I was sticking my neck out on that one!
- Kathie Galotti: Geez John. Don’t get Griff restarted on the geese!
- john george: Yes, more beaches would certainly accomodate more geese. We have to remember to be waterfowl friendly.
- Susan Hvistendahl: I totally agree with you re the need for more beaches in Northfield, having just returned from a week in Puerto Vallarta. Could have had rum punches there but….well, after we visited a local tequila distillery and got to...
- Bright Spencer: Oh, you both look so happy! Thanks for sharing. More pics please!
CRWP photo contest results (10)
- kiffi summa: Griff: whither goest thy right arm if it starts to “whither” (sic) ? sorry; couldn’t resist… stuck at home with a bad knee provides way too much time on computer!
- Bright Spencer: i’ve been looking thru a site, crazyguyonabike.com that has lots of journals and photos from around the world.
- jane fenton: Congrats, Griff! That’s my son Cliff in the orange hat. He’s revamped the recycling bin prototype. You should see it!
- Griff Wigley: Don, I’ll keep ping pong in mind. I’d hate to have my right arm start to whither from a lack of racquetball. In the meantime, I’m trying to excite as many Northfielders as I can about mountain biking. I’ll...
- john george: Griff- Iris will have to work real hard to keep you in focus on everything else. I shutter to think where this could go.
Something cool is coming soon to the old Digs space on Division (5)
- Griff Wigley: Name: The Local Joint Description: A handmade and vintage collective in Northfield, MN. COLLECTING.CREATING.COLLABORAT ING. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheLoc alJoint Nfld News: Store to open in former ‘digs’ space
- David Beimers: Hmmm… fans? air conditioners? ice cream?
- Jessica Paxton: I know. But I don’t wanna spill the (cool) beans!
- jane fenton: a kite store?
- Myrna Mibus: I know! At least I’m pretty sure I know. But I’ll wait to see if someone else has a guess before saying more.
Author Ed Conlon helps the Wigleys survive a power outage on Vieques (1)
- Bright Spencer: nice waterscape shot!
Northfield coworking gathering is Tuesday, Jan. 31 (2)
- Megan Tsui: Edward, Sorry you weren’t able to attend. We’ll be posting notes from the meeting on the NEC website and if you send me your email, I’ll make sure you get a copy! If you (or anyone else!) would like to chat about it...
- Edward Smith: I wanted to attend this, but was unable. Does anyone know if there will be a summary posted anywhere?
Are Northfield schools helping to make students climate literate? (1)
- Kathie Galotti: My kid had a pretty decent AP Environmental Science class 2 years ago….he’s not a great math/science student, but this one got him interested in at least knowing enough science to create good policies. I remember...
Even if you exercise, it may not matter if you sit too much (4)
- Paul Zorn: A few years ago one of my daughters spent a year working in Copenhagen, largely in an office setting. All desks in her office could be raised or lowered to permit either standing or sitting positions. I have no idea whether such...
- Griff Wigley: In today’s Strib: Office-dwellers stand up to ‘sitting disease’ Dr. James Levine has reviewed the statistics: One in three Minnesota adults is either diabetic or pre-diabetic, and one in four is obese. And he thinks...
Can hockey, the sport I used to love, be saved? (31)
- Bright Spencer: The All Pro Game last Sunday between the AFC and the NFC was so enjoyable. The stess, the anger, the anxiety all gone…well I didn’t watch all of it, as I rarely do watch an entire game, usually just the beginning and...
- Griff Wigley: Today’s Strib: Hockey safety goal expanded to youth In an unprecedented mid-year change, Minnesota Hockey is toughening the penalties for checking from behind and boarding. The change will affect 40,000 hockey players in the...
- Bright Spencer: I like hockey and all sports very much. I was a star basketball player in my day. I don’t remember anyone suffering any major injuries in all my hs and college days. I feel certain that coach’s know who does what and...
Public humiliation, put downs, harsh treatment: Mayor Rossing & Councilors Vohs, Pownell unhappy with their colleagues (70)
- john george: You are correct. That is why I didn’t allow my children to attack the character of their siblings just to support their position. There do need to be some kind of ground rules in any discussion so as to keep individual...
- kiffi summa: The issue could be considered to be: what is “conflict”, and what are two sides of a discussion… see #33 re: the Mayor’s admonition to Peter Dahlen at the joint Council/ChartComm meeting. I don’t see how...
- john george: Kiffi- This is a good article, and I agree with most of it. Just thinking about my kids in their youth, there was always some conflict between them, but our goal as parents wasn’t to force them into some weiner form but to help...
- kiffi summa: A very interesting article in the Jan.30th New Yorker magazine on the nature of the dynamics of creative discussion; it’s entitled “Groupthink; the brainstorming myth”. Based on studies done by a psych professor at...
- Griff Wigley: Kiffi/Kathie, I didn’t have that reaction. But I’ve put up a new blog post to discuss it and everything else related to the Fire Department so let’s shift the discussion there.
The pros and cons of having Council wards and deciding about it now (15)
- Kathie Galotti: I read Betsey’s blog and, like most of Betsey’s blog entries, found it well-written and making a very good point. Though I agree that geographic districts aren’t the only way to represent different constituencies,...
- john george: Griff- The NN editorial presents the difference between geographic representation and ideological representation. Right now, the wards establish geographic representation. With this approach, depending upon the voter turnout, a person...
- kiffi summa: I hope that people will use the link here on LG to read the current posting by Councilor Buckheit on her blog, re: wards versus all at-large, and take the opportunity to comment. Once again, the NFNews has not given a very well...
- Griff Wigley: Nfld News editorial: Keep the current ward system intact
- Sean Hayford Oleary: In any case, this issue doesn’t seem like it needs to be another opportunity to dis/agree with the current council. Regardless of how focused on the downtown (or not) they are, it’s clear this change would not...
Ice circles revisited and a software/app company discovered (1)
- Brenton Balvin: Those are pretty cool.
Art plus exercise: Gretchen Falck is having a Forza! open house on Nov. 8 (1)
- Griff Wigley: In today’s NY Times: Turning to Kettlebells to Ease Back Pain Kettlebells, cast-iron weights that have been used for centuries to train Russian soldiers and athletes, appear to be a promising therapy for back and neck pain, new...
Help me Rhonda, help me get you outta my heart (1)
- Sandy Vesledahl: UPDATE ON RHONDA: We are very happy to report that Rhonda was adopted over the weekend by a local family. Rhonda’s new mom is a Family Counselor and Rhonda will be going to her office with her and helping with her clients. So...
Aldsworth Building looks ideal as a coworking space. Are there others? (12)
- Megan Tsui: Griff, The NEC is moving forward with the idea of a non-profit Coworking Incubator/Accelerator space. Megan
- Megan Tsui: What do you think? Come to the Community Dialogue and tell us! January 31st from 2 to 4 pm at the Archer House lower level conference room. Share your ideas, thoughts, and dreams about a Coworking Incubator/Accelerator space in...
Downtown Northfield hit with another graffiti outbreak (10)
- kiffi summa: I would hope the City’s Historic Preservation Commission would explore this option, and the appropriateness/allowability for use on properties within the Historic District. Thanks, Jim.
- Jim Haas: I was reading a story by Porter Fox about his visit to Copenhagen. He mentioned in passing that the city is vigilant about removing graffiti using high-pressure washers with ice crystals as a mild abrasive. I did a little rudimentary...
Randy Jennings excoriates the City Council for its economic development practices (42)
- kiffi summa: The LWV observer reports are meant to be a summary of actions taken, not a ‘blow by blow’ transcript. This is the reason that anyone deeply interested should watch the meeting for themself, if they want a full...

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