2009 Annual Report
INTRODUCTION
A very long time ago, in a previous life (not quite as far back as Shirley MacLaine’s but a long time), the assignment to write the annual report was similar to NCC’s policy (old one) about cleaning the basement: it always went to the newest kid on the block. When you think about it, there are some similarities: both tasks require sorting through the detritus of history to see what should be kept and what is no longer important; doing it sometimes gets put off in the face of dealing with the more urgent issues of the now and the future; both offer the possibility for almost infinite distractions of the ADD variety: oooh, who did that pot? Or oooh, there’s a typo in that major document we missed before. |
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Our Web site also includes a copy of our 2009 audit, and the federal 990 tax return. Again, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
Emily Galusha
Director
EXHIBITIONS
- Ten exhibitions across two galleries
- 178 artists and potters (excluding duplicates and Holiday show; absolute total of artists whose work was installed equaled 253): three large group shows, excluding ‘tis a gift...
- two monograph catalogues: Contemporary Monsters and Six McKnight Artists
- nine slide and gallery talks and workshops
- expert curatorial direction, design and installation by Jamie Lang, assisted by Mike Helke (to September) and Matthew Krousey (after September)
- plans confirmed for 2010 and 2011, including re-constituting Exquisite Pots exhibition for touring
- major restricted grants to exhibitions provided by the Windgate Charitable Foundation, George and Frances Reid, Continental Clay Company, and The Jerome and McKnight Foundations
summary list
| J/M | Gallery M | Four Jerome Artists: Jan Bilek, Mike Helke, Jackie Rines, Jennifer Rogers Pots and sculpture by recipients of emerging artist project grants awarded in 2008 |
| Gallery A | Fogelberg Studio Fellowship and Red Wing Collectors Society Award Artists: Daniel Gardner, Martha Grover; Aaron Sober, Blair Clemo Annual exhibition of work by recipients of grants to underwrite short-term studio residencies at NCC, and the annual recipient of the endowed Red Wing Award. |
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| M/M | Gallery M | Contemporary Monsters Sculpture by seven artists: Wesley Anderegg, Tom Bartel, Cynthia Consentino, John de Fazio, Edith Garcia, Arthur Gonzáles, Michael Lucero, whose work is both fearsome and beautiful, and plays with ideas of normal. Three of the artists delivered lectures in conjunction with the exhibition, which was guest curated by artist Edith Garcia. NCC published a catalogue of the exhibition. |
| Gallery A | College Bowl I/2009: Two Generations of Minnesota Ceramicists Two exhibitions (second in the fall) of work by Minnesota college and university ceramics instructors and students selected by them. Guest-curated by Kelly Connole, ceramics professor at Carleton College. (Edition 1 was in 2004.) |
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| M/J | Galleries M & A | Six McKnight Artists: Leila Denecke, Marko Fields, Greg Crowe, Lee Love, Alyssa Wood, and Margaret O’Rorke Recipients of 2008 McKnight Fellowships, and 2007 and 2008 Residency Grants. NCC published a catalogue of the exhibition. |
| J/A | Galleries M & A | 2009 Artists of NCC Biennial exhibition of work by faculty and studio artists and students |
| S/N | Gallery M | 2008 and 2009 Regis Masters Exhibition Pots, sculpture, prints and drawings by Regis Masters Ron Meyers and Patti Warashina. Patti Warashina delivered the 2009 Regis Masters lecture; both participated in a gallery talk and conversation about work and life. |
| Gallery A | College Bowl II/2009: Two Generations of Minnesota Ceramicists The second of two exhibitions of work by Minnesota college and university ceramics instructors and students selected by them. Guest-curated by Kelly Connole, ceramics professor at Carleton College. (Edition 1 was in 2004.) |
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| N/D | Gallery M | 'tis a gift… 2009 Holiday Exhibition and Sale |
| Gallery A | Margaret O’Rorke: New Work Featured lights made of translucent porcelain, by English artist Margaret O’Rorke. Ms. O’Rorke, who received a McKnight Residency grant in 2008, was in residence at NCC early in 2009, and also during November, during which time she created work and conducted a workshop. |
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EDUCATION
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- over-all small increase in total programs and activities (429 to 443), but with 2% decrease in total participants
- first year of new Wallace Foundation initiative aimed at individuals 55 and over
- knowledgeable and strategic program direction by Sarah Millfelt, with assistance from Joel Froehle (to August), followed by Aimee Munson (beginning in September)
- major restricted funding provided by the Greystone Foundation, the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, Travelers Diversity Committee, RBC Foundation, COMPAS School Arts Fund, Minnesota State Arts Board
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—Children's and Adult Classes, Workshops and Lectures
- 86 artists and potters taught at NCC, to ages ranging from 6 to 92
- experienced lowest enrollment in regular adult and children’s classes in nine years, while workshop enrollment increased 12%
- highlights:
- lectures and workshops by Cynthia Consantino, Edith Garcia, and Arthur González in conjunction with the Contemporary Monsters exhibition;
- Ann Agee filmed demo, with Walker Art Center’s Dirt on Delight exhibition;
- Patti Warashina Masters lecture and gallery talk with Ron Meyers;
- wood-firing workshop with Sam Johnson and JD Jorgenson;
- Walter Ostrom closing lecture at the American Pottery Festival
—Outreach Programs
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- 10% increase in total outreach programs, including new Wallace activities, with almost as many (5,835) participants as in peak year, 2008 (5,980)
- highlights:
- repeat school and community partners were able to pay for at least half of programs’ costs, enabling NCC to stretch subsidies further; 35 of 85 different organizations were repeat partners
- Wallace activities—both research and program delivery took off: consultants contracted; key partners, gatekeepers, and advisers identified; 28 programs, ranging from short workshops to 10-week classes, provided to 535 people, for roughly 2300 total contact hours
- completed early work on systems to evaluate impact of Wallace (and other) education activities
The following individuals taught classes as adjunct instructors at Northern Clay Center, conducted artist residencies or taught short-term events:
| Amanda Aamodt Ann Agee Mary Aguilar Kate Bauman Dominique Bereiter Megan Bergstrom John Bogovich Margaret Bohls Wayne Branum Kasey Bullerman Kevin Caufield Sam Chung Eileen Cohen Steven Colby Elizabeth Coleman Cynthia Consentino Theresa Crosby Mark Davison Leila Denecke Paul Eshelman Clara Emma Sara Eno |
Ann Fendorf Marko Fields Joel Froehle Edith Garcia Katharine Gotham Mike Helke Lauren Herzak Bauman Lisa Himmelstrup Kristine Hites Karin Holen Franny Hyde Matt Krousey Jennica Kruse Rinu Kumar Art Gannett Daniel Gardner Nick Giles Lauer Arthur Gonzalez Roxanne Jackson Peter Jadoonath Sam Johnson Randy Johnston |
JD Jorgenson Andy Juelich Forrest Lesch-Middelton Larissa Loden Lee Love Peter Lupori Angie Renee Tyler MacNeal Roberta Massuch Tippy Maurant Kate Maury Anna Metcalfe Ron Meyers Sequoia Miller Paul Moeller Nick Moen Susan Obermeyer Claire O'Connor Kip O'Krongly Caleb Olson Margaret O'Rorke Walter Ostrom |
Mary Otremba Olson Dawn Perault Rachael Peterson Robyn Peterson Joe Pintz Davie Reneau Erik Riese Jen Rogers S.C. Rolf Suzanna Schlesinger Yoko Sekino-Bove Larissa Sheldon Ginny Simms Andrea Sisel Elisabeth Skibba Aaron Sober David Swenson Patti Warashina Betsy Williams Lucy Yogerst |
ARTISTS SERVICES
—Studio Program
- 51 artists worked in the studios for from 3 months to a year, including 4 McKnight residents, 4 Fogelberg studio artists, and 6 staff members
- SPOTnite monthly gatherings of studio artists included visits to museums, and such topics as photographing work and writing artist’s statements (led by visiting McKnight resident Cary Esser), as well as special welcomes to new and visiting artists
- applications for grant programs totaled almost 130 artists
- a total of $411,300 was paid to artists in individual grants, commissions for the sale of work, and teaching contracts. An additional $9,000 was provided in the form of studio subsidies. NCC has paid a total of $4,772,000 to individual artists (not including staff) for grants, commissions and teaching fees since 1995
- expert management of the facility and studio program by Pete Scherzer, who with Irene Saito fire thousands of pots and other ceramic work each year, and keep equipment and building in good condition. They were assisted by Ginny Sims (until August) and then Kip O’Krongly on materials maintenance, and Matt Krousey (until he moved to the exhibitions program) and then David Swenson on keeping the building as close to dust-free as possible
2009 Studio Artists
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| Marion Angelica Sue Bergan Kasey Bullerman Phil Burke Malcolm Burleigh Tom Carli Richard Cary Krissy Catt Rebecca Chappell Alex Chinn Elizabeth Coleman Ray Dabasi Grace Davitt Heather Delisle Kathleen Fitzgerald Joel Froehle |
Daniel Gardner Katharine Gotham Lois Ann Helgeson Mike Helke Bob Hemming Annina Huovinen Shirley Johnson Andy Juelich Julie Kinney Matt Krousey Jim Kultala Cynthia Levine Lee Love Robert Lucas Roberta Massuch Marta Matray |
Kate Maury Anna Metcalfe Claire O'Connor Susan Obermeyer Kip O'Krongly Priscilla Petralie Angie Renee Jack Rumpel Suzanna Schlesinger Ginny Simms Aaron Sober David Swenson Julia Timm Holly Williams Tamra Wilson |
Ilena Finocchi
Margaret O'Rorke
Yoko Sekino-Bove'
Elizabeth Smith
—Sales Gallery
- sixty-three potters and other ceramic artists represented in the Sales Gallery for all or part of the year: total sales were down by about 4%, on balance a respectable result for a recessionary economy
- special events designed to celebrate several Artists of the Month openings, such as the first annual chili cook-off, a sushi-sake night, an iron florist competition (using NCC potters’ vases), and “pots on a stick” in honor of the Minnesota State Fair (odd but tasty foods, not pots, were stick-stuck)
- the biennial review of sales gallery artists, and review of new applicants: 35 applied to be in the sales gallery, of which 6 were accepted; 12 artists were rotated out of the gallery or added to the holiday show
- managed by Molly Miller (to July 2010), with the assistance of Mike Helke, Holly Williams, Kasey Bullerman, Lauren Herzak Bauman, Aimee Munson (who replaced Joel Froehle), and dedicated volunteer Dominique Bereiter
—American Pottery Festival
- 22 potters from across the country who are at the top of their craft participated in the weekend’s events, from the benefit sale to workshops, demonstrations, and hands-on activities
- brilliant and moving closing lecture by Walter Ostrom, prefessor emeritus at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
- proceeds benefit NCC exhibition, education, and artist service programs (and eliminate the need for usual benefit auction, simultaneously supporting artists and NCC, providing unique educational opportunities and a good time for all.
| Chuck Aydlett Wayne Branum Sam Chung Naomi Cleary Steven Colby Josh DeWeese Paul Eshelman Marty Fielding |
Marlene Jack Julie Johnson Gail Kendall Forrest Lesch-Middelton Warren MacKenzie Matthew Metz Sequoia Miller Walter Ostrom |
Joseph Pintz Kari Radasch Davie Reneau Steve Rolf Hide Sadohara Albion Stafford Shoko Teruyama Betsy Williams |
ADMINISTRATION and FINANCIAL REPORT
- managed in the present while planning for the future: Wallace Excellence Award planning, and planning for 20th anniversary programming
- participated in planning and hosting national conference of American Craft Council
- received major nine-year grant from the Bush Foundation (subsequently reduced to six years as the foundation changed its program guidelines)
- finished the fiscal year with a modest surplus, after adding to reserves as projected under Bush grant
- Emily Galusha continued as director, ably abetted in staff functions by Jennifer Tatsuda, business manager, and Jessie Fan, bookkeeper; and Christian Novak, information and development coordinator (“if you think it might be part of his job, it probably is.”)
Actual financial results in 2009 continued the Clay Center's track record of strong financial performance, even in the face of a worsening economy. Total income (adjusting out the effects of FASB rules 116 and 117, to show current operating (not capital funds) and special project income) was $1,444,874, a small decrease of about 3.6% from actual income in 2008. Earned income totaled $832,254, which comprised 58% of total operating income for the year. Major institutional funders and individual donors and members continued their very helpful support of the Center, providing a total of $612,620 in operating and program grants, memberships and support of special events. (This includes new grants as well as “net assets released from restrictions,” i.e., previously received funds restricted by either time or purpose. It does not include capital grants or grants approved for future payment.) Individual contributions, through memberships, donations, and special events, provided $65,942 of income.
Operating expenses totaled $1,432,952, including building depreciation and an allocation of $80,000 to reserves. Of this reserve allocation, $60,000 was from a grant from the Bush Foundation for this purpose. Net income was $11,922. The decrease in operating expenses from 2008 was fairly evenly divided between programs and administration: program expenses declined as a result of lower enrollment and decreased sales; administrative expenses declined as a result of the completion of a special planning project which took place during 2008. (NOTE: This accounting differs somewhat from the results shown in the NCC’s audit, because it factors out the effects of certain FASB rules, to show contributed income in the year and for the purpose for which it was granted, and also includes the reserve allocations as part of unrestricted operations.)
Following this report are pdfs of the critical sections of the NCC audit and our federal 990 tax return. Full copies are available for inspection at NCC’s offices.
OTHER PEOPLE WHO MADE ALL OF THE ABOVE POSSIBLE
Northern Clay Center staff accomplish a lot—more than almost any other similarly sized arts organization. But we do it with the participation and help of an enormous number of people: board members, faculty, volunteers, and members and donors. The following lists name those people, but do not give any indication of the volume, energy, and intelligence of their service or the extent of our appreciation.Of special importance is the Northern Clay Center Board of Directors. They manage a difficult straddle with grace, energy, and enthusiasm. On one side they are the ultimate arbiters of NCC policies, plans and financial operations. On the other, they don’t hesitate to do what needs to be done, whether it is asking friends (or strangers) for money, wrapping pots, or making cakes. They are invaluable.
2009 Board of Directors
| Bob Walsh, Chair Lynne Alpert Dan Avchen Phil Burke Sheldon Chester Linda Coffey Debra Cohen |
Paul Daggett Noriko Gamblin Nancy Hanily-Dolan Sally Wheaton Hushcha Patricia Jacobsen Peter Kirihara Rebecca Lawrence |
Mark Lellman Bruce Lilly Alan Naylor Mark Pharis Rick Scott T. Cody Turnquist Ellen Watters |
The following individuals helped NCC accomplish all the terrific programs in 2009, by leading tours, demonstrating throwing on the wheel, wrangling food at multiple events, hosting, cooking, serving, fundraising, sweeping, cataloguing, packing and unpacking, moving stuff, and so much more and on and on. We thank you each and all.
| Mary Aguilar Lynne Albee Straus Lynne Alpert Kristen Andersen Marie Anderson Marion Angelica Dan Avchen Dominique Bereiter Lois Berman Barry Braun Kate Brayman Marshall Browne Cindy Browne Phil Burke Malcolm Burleigh Kevin Caufield Lili Chester Sheldon Chester Linda Coffey Debra Cohen Eileen Cohen Sara Coomes Kelly Connole Alex Coppock Paul Daggett Kate Daley Mark Davison Ken Darling Heather Delisle Leila Denecke Jim Dolan |
Sean Dolan Beth Dooley Lois Duffy Joe Duffy Ann Fendorf Britta Fithium-Zurn Kathleen Fitzgerald Joel Froehle Sarah Frosberg Noriko Gamblin Hilary Gebauer Gretchen Gildner Katharine Gotham Nancy Hanily Dolan Bette Harte Alfreida Hintze Kristine Hites Jim Holan Karin Holen Franny Hyde Pat Jacobsen Peter Jadoonath David Johnson Peter Kirihara Jim Kultula Larry Lamb Rebecca Lawrence Ann Leitel Lindback Mark Lellman Cynthia Levine Danielle Louden |
Marian Lucas Tyler MacNeil Roberta Massuch Martra Matray Ashley Mattson Kate Maury Emily Merhar Katie Miller Mary Miller Don McNeil Scott Minugh Pauline Mitchell Paul Moeller Emily Mohrbacher Lynsey Moseman Jim Mulfinger Al Naylor Mel North Amanda Novak Claire O'Connor Kip O'Krongly Mary Otremba-Olson Robyn Peterson Mark Pharis DeeDee Phillips Bill Puig Jennifer Rogers Maya Rose Jack Rumpel John Schmid Jr. Sue Schweitzer |
Rick Scott Stephanie Sequin Yoko Sekino-Bove' Herb Sewell Katie Sherman Amy Simons Phil Smith Kate Smith Liz Smith Sara Smoot John Sokalski Lynne Straus Albee Will Swanson David Swenson Julia Timm Lindsey Torkelson Julie Turnbull T Cody Turnquist Penelope Van Grinsven Bob Walsh Janna Watke Ellen Watters Suzanne Weinstein Sally Wheaton Hushcha Colleen Wier Raina Wirta Lucy Yogerst Judy Yourman Jessica Zottola |
Plus some 35 entering freshmen at Augsburg College who helped clean up NCC and the grounds before the American Pottery Festival.
CONCLUSION
The three-legged stool provides a metaphor for the programs that serve our mission to advance the ceramic arts. Our goals are to promote excellence in the work of clay artists, to provide educational opportunities for artists and the community, and to encourage and expand the public's appreciation and understanding of all forms of the ceramic arts. The legs of the stool are the programs that support those goals. The programs and services in turn are both inward-looking to the art form and its makers and outward-looking to the larger culture. In this, we affirm both the primacy of the art and the critical need to engage with the larger community.For 19 years the board and staff of Northern Clay Center have affirmed this mission and these goals. We re-affirm them for the next ten years, within the context of a rapidly changing world. Implementation of programs designed to achieve the goals will be informed by our vision for the future of the organization and the values that guide our operations.
Our vision is that Northern Clay Center
- enables the creation and communication of culture – which requires supporting and involving top artists and then presenting their work and ideas to the public in an accessible way
- provides different entry portals to the medium of clay for different levels of interest and capacity, and for different constituents. Studio and equipment access serve professional and serious amateur clay artists. Classes and workshops introduce kids to the delights of clay, and at the same time, provide meaningful ways for adults to continue to learn and grow creatively. Exhibitions extend the boundaries for viewers’ expectations of what can be done with clay, exposing them to some of the best work created in the medium.
- engages and involves staff, board, artists, teachers, students, collectors and casual visitors in enlarging, even joyful experiences that are intimate and personal, and potentially transformative.
Our values are an unbending commitment to quality; responsiveness to constituents; willingness to accept risk and tolerate failure.
We hold important change, growth, and the constant quest for excellence. We believe that the ultimate value of the arts is as a reminder of possibilities. If we do our jobs right, artists (and arts organizations) can show the community that anything is possible.
Please join us in 2010 and 2011 for a year to celebrate the people, objects and programs of the past two decades and to launch the next decade in high style and great spirits.
Links to digital copies of NCC's annual reporting documents:
2009 990 and 990t tax documents