CONGRATULATIONS TO MEMBER ARTISTS:
Avis Davis, Anita (Katie) Plucker, and Sharon Sadusky were among the 27 artists that had their works selected for the Wanda J Skogerboe Juried Exhibition at the Pearson Lakes Art Center.  That exhibition will be on display from November 14 through December 31, 2008.
 
TRAFFIC AND SALES REPORT
Total customer count this month through November 18 has been 357 or an average of 25.5 per day.  Those numbers include 213 customers that came through the doors as part of the Olde Town Spirit Lake Open House.  A special thanks to Katie Plucker and Dan Ruf who showed up to help on Sunday.  We had 167 customers that day.
 
THE APOW ART SUPPLY ALCOVE - NOW OPEN!
We now have a limited inventory of art supplies available for sale.  We know that we cannot possibly carry enough inventory to meet everyones needs, but it is a start.  If you have suggestions of "must have" items that we need to stock - please let us know.
 
MARKETING - MARKETING - MARKETING
In addition to traditional marketing efforts like news releases, paid ads, First Friday Events, and Holiday Open Houses, we have recently commited to advertising in a new Money Saver Coupon Magazine and hundreds of 30 second spots on Lakes TV Channel 37.
 
AVIS DAVIS TO TEACH WATER COLOR CLASSES.
Avis will be offering a Beginner's Workshop in Watercolor at A Piece of Work, Inc.  The classes will start January 6, 2009.  Class will meet from 1:00 - 3:00 pm on Tuesdays for four weeks.  The cost of the program will be $95.00 and will include a $40.00 complete paint set containing watercolor paints, brushes and holders.  In February 2009, she will offer a follow up four week class called "Fun Effects with Watercolor" which builds on the foundation of the Beginner's Class.
 

THE FIRST ANNUAL TAX STRATEGIES FOR ARTIST WORKSHOP - WAS A SUCCESS:
If you didn't attend, you may end up paying more income tax than for which you are legally liable.
 
MARK THIS DATE!!!!!!!!
We will be hosting a Business After Five Event at the Emporium on Tuesday December 16, 2008.  This popular event usually draws from 75 - 100 area business owners and Chamber members.  The BAF will run from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.  There will not be an admission fee for Member Artists.  This would be a great opportunity to be near your alcove to answer specific questions about your art.

 
WELCOME NEW ARTISTS:
We are proud to introduce Ruth Beardsley (Lakefield, MN) a china painter, and Gary Hastings (Big Fork, MT) a potter to our member artists roster.
 
FREE TO MEMBER ARTISTS:
Please stop by to pick up your official 2009 A Piece of Work, Inc. Planner - you will love it.  Remember your magnetic nametags are on the board near the office.
 
TAX STRATEGIES FOR ARTISTS SEMINAR:
We will be hosting this tax savings learning session on Saturday Novmber 15 from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon.  If you don't save at least 4 times the enrollment cost in taxes from this special event... then you did not actually attend!  For more information and a registration form please call 712-336-2355.  Member Artist cost $25.00.  Non Member Artist cost $45.00.
 
REAL IMPORTANT!!!
As we head into the busy holiday season, we will be expanding our hours and making a concentrated advertising effort.  For example, we will be joining with other downtown Spirit Lake merchants for the Holiday Open House on Saturday and Sunday November 15 and 16.
 
If you would be interested in making any holiday pricing adjustments in any or all of your works during the period between November 15 and December 24, please stop by the Emporium, call or e-mail Chad to let him know.

A Piece of Work, Inc. is proud to announce that Clarissa Thiessen, Edward Linhardt, Jr., Lynn Hunter Swan, Jill Winders, Avis Davis, and Jolene Nichols have become member artists at the Emporium of Original Art located at 1619 Hill Avenue in Olde Town Spirit Lake.

Clarissa Thiessen (Everly, IA) is currently studing Art History at Lake Forest College (Chicago, IL.). Beginning her art career at Clay Central/Everly high school, her pieces have received numerous awards at regional art shows.  After school, Clarissa plans to study abroad in Florence, Italy in the Spring of 2009.  Thiessen's preferred mediums are oil paints and charcoal, but she enjoys experimenting with other mediums as well.

Edward Linhardt, Jr. (Spirit Lake, IA) creates art works of steel, wood, bone, and other natural materials.  Growing up in southern Nebraska, Linhardt learned to use a coal forge from his father and grandfather.  After attending Creighton University, Ed received his first coal forge as a gift from his father.  Linhardt and a friend started a blacksmith shop in Spirit Lake in the 1980's.  He has run the blacksmith shop at the Threshing Bee in Albert City for 28 years.  He has taught many bladesmithing courses at the Nebraska/Minnesota Guilds of Metalsmithing.  In 2000, Ed expanded his craft by taking up the art of metal engraving.

Lynn Hunter Swan (Dickens, IA) was born in Lowell, Indiana but came to Iowa to attend Drake University.  She met her husband Bob there and moved to a farm in Dickens, Iowa.  She earned a degree in Music Education with a minor in Art from Buena Vista University.  Her formal art education and a life-long love of textiles and sewing led to her unique art medium.  Lynn owned and operated Lynn Hunter Swan Interiors in Spencer.  After semi-retiring from a 28-year career as an interior designer, she now dreates collages of paper, fabrics, etc.  and also Crazy patch quilting.

Jill Winders was born in the Iowa Great Lakes area.  She currently lives in southeastern Iowa with her husband and three children.  In addition to being a mother and full-time social worker, Winders creates one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.  The colors of the earth set the tone for her creations.  Jill says "There is something mystical about taking fine silver and fusing/hammering it into a new entity. Creating acid-etched designs into copper, brass and nickel gives it a new existence of life".

Avis Davis was born and raised in Sioux Rapids, Iowa.  She is an RN and worked as a nurse and nursing administrator from 1973 until retiring in 2004.  In the early 1970's Davis studied oil painting with Alton Larson in Blair, NE for 4 years.  Avis is a member, painter and co-chairman of the 2008 Artisan Road Trip.  Davis has had the honor of having her works shown at the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames, Iowa.  She was also chosen to participate in the 2007 Wanda Skogerboe "Juried Exhibition" at the Pearson Lakes Art Center.  Avis' medium is abstract and impressionistic styles in acrylic, watercolor and ink.

Jolene Nichols was born and raised in Keokuk, Iowa.  She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a BA degree in Art Education.  She met her husband Mike at UNI.  After he secured a job as a Spanish instructor at ILCC, they moved to Estherville where they currently reside with their two children.  Jolene taught art at the Spirit Lake Middle School and also the Preschool Art Program at thePearson Lakes Art Center.  Nichols' main emphasis at UNI was in drawing and painting, but after taking clases from Katie Plucker and Hank Hall, pottery has become her medium of choice.  For the past 10 years she has been creating hand-thrown stoneware in her home studio. Jolene says "I get my inspiration from the tones and textures of the earth".  She also likes to experiment with mixing bright colors with the earth tones.

Please stop by to view many of Clarissa's (Wall Space), Edward's (Display Case #2), Lynn's (Alcove #23), Jill's (Display Case #2), Avis' (Alcove #9), and Jolene's (Alcove #22) works of art at A Piece of Work, Inc.  The Emporium is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturdays.

Hi Everyone:
 
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBER ARTISTS - AVIS DAVIS & JOLENE NICHOLS:
Avis (Spirit Lake) is a member, painter and Co-Chairman of the 2008 Artisan Road Trip.  She has had the honor of having her works shown at the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames, Iowa.  She was also chosen to participate in the 2007 Wanda Skogerbee "Juried Exhibition" at the Pearson Lakes Arts Center.  Avis' medium is abstract and impressionistic styles in acrylic, watercolor and ink.  (Her work can be viewed in Alcove #9).
 
Jolene (Estherville) graduated from UNI with a BA degree in Art Education.  She has taught art at the Spirit Lake Middle School and also at the Preschool Art program located in Pearson Lakes Art Center.  Her main emphasis at UNI was drawing and painting, but after taking classes from Katie Plucker and Hank Hall, pottery has become her medium of choice.  She creates hand thrown stoneware and likes to experiment mixing bright colors with the earth tones.  (Her work can be viewed in Alcove #22).
 
TRAFFIC AND SALES REPORT:
We have had a total of 386 customers walk through the doors so far in September or an averate of 21.4 per day.  The average daily sales were $123.41 per day.
 
FIRST FRIDAY EVENT OCTOBER 3:
In conjunction with Art on 16th, our monthly First Friday Art walk will be on 10/3/08 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.  Complete with food, drink and fun at both locations.
 
Please try to attend if you can!
 
ARTISANS ROAD TRIP OCTOBER 4 & 5:
Attention A.R.T. Participants: we will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday October 4 and from 12:00 to 5:00 pm on Sunday October 5.  Please encourage your visitors to veiw more of your works at A Piece of Work, Inc.
 
Since we expect good traffic on those two days, I would invite those of you that are not participating in A.R.T. 2008 to plan on spending some time here.  If you would like to create some works at APOW, Inc. on those two days - please let us know - we will include that in our advertising.
 
FREE MAGNETIC NAME TAGS CREATED FOR YOU!!!
Just in time for Artoberfest and Artisans Road Trip, we have ordered nice magnetic name tags for each Member Artist.  They are yours to wear at any art event or exhibition that you are involved with.
 
Please let us know if:
A.  You want us to mail your name tag to you.
B.  You will pick up your name tag @ APOW,Inc.
C.  You want us to just keep your name tab here for you - for special event use.
 
SLIDE PRESENTATION ABOUT THE EMPORIUM OF ORIGINAL ART & THE BUILDING HISTORY AND RESTORATION NOW AVAILABLE:
Diane and I had the opportunity to be the Special Feature recently for a group of approximately 60 women.  It was a great opportunity for us to promote your art and the concept of A Piece of Work, Inc.
 
Chad put the wonderful slide presentation together.  Let us know if you can think of an organization that would like to have us come and tell our story.

Ken And Diane

Hi Everyone:
 
MIDWEST LIVING:
Sept/Oct 2008 - What a great article about Artists in Northwest Iowa and the Artisans Road Trip scheduled for october 4 & 5.  Congratulations to all - you can not buy that kind of exposure.
 
WALL SPACE AND SUBDIVISION MINI-ALCOVE SPACE NOW AVAILABLE FOR RENT:
For artists that have smaller inventories of work or those that would like to "test the waters" at A Piece of Wrok, Inc. we are proud to announce that we are now renting wall space 8' x8' = 64 sq. ft.
There are 5 available for $60.00/month.
 
We have also subdivided Alcove #20 into mini - wall/floor spaces ranging from 51 sq. ft. to 102 sq. ft.  There are 5 available ranging from $60.00 to $125.00/month.
 
All of the above are six month leases with a 15% transaction fee.
 
WELCOME TO MEMBER ARTIST CLARISSA THIESSEN from Everly Iowa.  Her work is multi-disciplined visual art.  It can be viewed @ wall space #3.
 
TRAFFIC AND SALES REPORT:
We have had a total of 1,014 walk through the doors in August or an average of 39 customers per day.  The average daily sales for July were $94.73 per day. The average daily sales for August were $139.54 per day.
 
GEARING UP FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON:
As we head into the holiday season, you might think about the mix of work that you will want to display.  Perhaps seasonal scenes and colors.  We believe that pieces selling in the $15.00 to $200.00 range will turn the fastest during this period.
 
FIRST FRIDAY EVENT September 5:
In conjunction with Art on 16th, we will be having our monthly First Friday Art Walk on 9/5/08 (this Friday) from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.  Complete with food, drink and fun at both locations.
 
Please try to attend if you can.  The Pizza will be HOT @ 5:15 PM.
 
NEW HOURS EFFECTIVE 9/1/08:
Monday - Friday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday - closed

During the GRAND OPENING on July 26 we held an art contest. The First Annual 2" x 3" Mini Masterpieces Art Competetion turned out to be a lot of fun... over 40 original art pieces were created... prizes were awarded and everyone had a good time.

To see all of the winning Masterpieces click here

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION AT A PIECE OF WORK, inc. - SATURDAY, JULY 26

A number of activities will highlight the Grand Opening of A Piece of Work, Inc. which will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 26. The Emporium of Original Art opened for business on May 1, 2008 in the historic Walker Motor building at 1619 Hill Ave. in downtown Spirit Lake. We have been slowly adding to our cadre of artists but still have room for more.

A Piece of Work, Inc. is an open gallery for all art media: ceramics, drawings/pastels, fiber, basket, leather, glass, metal, jewelry, oil/acrylic, pottery, photography, print making/graphics, sculpture, watercolor and wood. Many of the award­winning member artists exhibit their works throughout the country in galleries and at art festivals.

The Grand Opening will be a great opportunity to view the original art works of the following member artists: Bogenreif Studios, Irene McCoy, Judy Hemphill, Holly Kellogg, Robert Ten Cate, Sharon Sadusky, Tony Curiel, Lauren Chapman, Dan Ruf, Don Bade, Marcia Elsbecker, Anita (Katie) Plucker, Cathy Veiseth and Sue Biederman. Many of the artists will be at the Emporium for you to meet during the day.

WATCH THE ARTISTS AT WORK:

Don Bade will have his potter's wheel set up in front of the Emporium from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Cathy Veiseth will be painting in or near her alcove from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Marsha Eisbecker will be working on graphite portraits in or near her alcove from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.

Irene McCoy will be sketching with pastels throughout the day.

Simeon Lisk from Bogenrief Studios will be creating some glass pendants with Flame Torch Work from 3:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m.

FIRST ANNUAL 2" X 3" MINIATURE ART CONTEST:

Each prospective artist will be given a 2" x 3" faux canvas to create a mini-masterpiece using crayons, colored pencils markers or pen. Artists young and not so young can work on their original pieces in the Emporium from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The art works will be judged on creative design, content, color and originality. Top 3 awards will be given in the following age groups: 6 years and under, 7-12 years, 13-18 years, and 19-107 years.

After being judged, the works will be displayed in a special mini-art gallery for the public to view from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. These original works will be offered for sale to the general public for $0.28 each starting at 5:30 p.m. Imagine owning an original piece of art for $0.28

FREE HOT DOGS, POTATO CHIPS, AND BEVERAGE SERVED FREE TO THE PUBLIC FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M.

Please plan to drop by for lunch, watch the artists at work, view the works of the member artists, create a 2" x 3" masterpiece, and view the mini-art gallery.

The Emporium of Original Art is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; and 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. on Sundays. Visit www.apieceofworkinc.com or call 712-336-1077 for more information.

Sharon Sadusky from Jackson MN has finished creating her display in Alcove #15. Sharon has over 200 items for puchase in her alcove. Stop by and view her abstract acrylics, landscape works and Lakes themed acrylic prints.  She has everything from Large Originals to simple notecards to enjoy and add to you collection.

SPECIAL CHARTER MEMBER ARTIST

LIMITED TIME PROMOTION

This promotion is intended to encourage more artists to test the business concept and give the artis a chance to enjoy the benefits of membership first hand. After the promotion, the alcove rental rates and transaction fees will need to return to the current published rates.

The more artists that we have under one roof creates a higher traffic count which will result in more of your pieces being sold.

For new artists that successfully complete the membership application process prior to June 15, 2008 and sign the required six month lease:

The alcove monthly rental rate will be 1/2 of the published rate. i.e. $250.00 per month will be $125.00 per month .

The transaction fee will be increased from 15% to 30% of net sales.

All other provision of the Member Artist Alcove Lease Agreement and Merchandise Sales & Transaction Agreement will remain unchanged. The refundable security deposit is $250.00

Award winning Watercolorist Anita (Katie) Baedke-Plucker has recently moved in to Alcove #1. She has hung some of her Original Watercolors including the renown “Early Morning – Arnolds Park” and “East-West Bridge – Okoboji”. Anita (Katie) is the Art Instructor at Spencer Middle School in Spencer Iowa. She’s a member of the Iowa Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society; and the Colored Pencil Society of America.

Stop in a view these fantastic watercolors and browse the prints and giclees of other works from her collection.  

Sioux Falls wildlife watercolorist and bronze sculpture Robert Ten Cate has joined A Piece of Work, inc. His freshly installed Alcove #4 has three Original Watercolors and three Limited Addition Bronze Sculptures, as well as, some signed and numbered prints. Stop in and view these One of a Kind works, browse the print collection, and maybe add a little something to your collection.

We have had a great response the first fifteen days of being open. Thank you for that everyone. The question everyone is asking is WHAT ARE GOING TO DO WITH THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING? If you haven't been by or don't know the Spirit Lake area the front of this building is a GLAZED BRICK (photo). It's pretty awesome. The building was built in the 1910’s and this brick isn’t made anymore.  AND... the wood you see attached to the front is connected with concrete bolts and glue. While this may be good for attaching wood to brick it is VERY BAD for detaching wood from brick. The bolts tend to rip apart the brick from the inside and the glue rips off the glaze.

So we are still trying to figure out the best way to keep as much of the original brick front as possible. We’re still talking about it with some engineers about how to best accomplish this. It will be a while before the front changes significantly but we will try and do a little here and there… maybe cut away the wood that’s not a threat to the brick. So just be patient and it will look fantastic.

AND … if you or anyone you know is a MASTER BRICK LAYER and can tell us how to UNGLUE wood from glazed brick please call me.

Peace

Chad

Gallery Director

We are now open... so stop in and look around. We have had a couple of artists commit to some alcoves and we always welcome more. Come in for a tour and sign up to receive an invitation to the GRAND opening.

Email me with any questions info@apieceofworkinc.com

Photographer Dan Ruf has put the finishing touches on his Alcove today. Dan has created a warm little studio to show off his images. Stop by in May and see the beautiful photos that makes Dan premiere regional photographer.

Irene McCoy has finished hanging her original art in Alcove #2. The incredible pastels and watercolors are fantastic and add a splash of color to our establishment. Stop by and enjoy these fine works of art.

Here is a sneak peek of one of the hallways and some of the alcoves. There is brown craft paper on the floor to protect it from paint splatter. Shhh... don't tell anyone you've seen this.

We started painting the alcoves today and they look great. Middle Grays, Lite Grays and Sage Green.

Award winning Glassblower Jesse Bogenrief has leased Alcove #12 at A Piece of Work inc.
He will offer one of a kind hand blown glass items ranging in price from $10 to $4500.
Be sure and stop by Alcove #12 in May to see all of the amazing handcrafted glass by the artists at Bogenrief Studios.