The JUSTICE ornament

If you read the Twice the Gift invitation I posted on this blog a few weeks ago, you might have wondered, "hmmm...what does an art center that isn't quite up and running yet produce to sell at a holiday store?" Well, I'm glad you asked. We made what we affectionately call
"The JUSTICE ornament".

The letters of the JUSTICE ornament were designed by five teenagers serving in the Hennepin County Home School. The design was created for the 2008 SPEAK Project, where it was part of a large metal sculpture installation in North Minneapolis Cottage Park. The SPEAK Project is a program sponsored by the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center that engages urban youth in a constructive dialogue with their communities, providing an opportunity for self-expression through the creation of public art.

The letters stand for seven words they chose to signify their struggle to reintegrate into their communities.

Just United Struggle Transition Integrity Collaborate Escalate

I've been teaching the metal sculpture element of the SPEAK Project for three years now. I've worked with a lot of amazing young people in that time. Some of them young enough to take in the welding lab with wide curious eyes without so much as a thought or care about what anyone would think if they whooped and hollered when it was their turn to make some sparks. Most of them, however were deeply enmeshed in the guarded teenage microcosm that can scar and twist the creative individuality right out of a kid. I remember it. It was so tough. These kids were dealing with that multiplied by I can't imagine how much more. Fortunately, my fiery medium has a way of drawing kids out. Exciting them to speak...in their own words...in their own way.

These were their words. This was their process. I learned a lot from them.

jus⋅tice

[juhs-tis] –noun

1. the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness

We were thrilled by the opportunity to participate in Twice the Gift as the proceeds from the sale of the items created by the non-profit participants go back to the non-profits. CAFAC decided to share the proceeds with the youth participants who inspired it by creating a scholarship for them at Hennepin County Home School.

Thank Gawd the supermodel Lucky Scheff-Knoke a.k.a. "The Luckstresse" was available to model it for us.

It's good to Google yourself

You never know when someone out there has written something quite nice about you, such as this post from Michael Fallon on The Rake's blog, The Thousandth Word. The title of his post, "Art from the Ashes," is particularly appropriate for us, seeing as we're all about fire, and we appreciate being seen as a glimmer of hope in otherwise dreary times (not to mention a crap-sandwich alternative).

But Mr. Fallon's post did remind me that our little website is pretty meager, and woefully out-of-date, which is why we're trying to blog until such time as a fantastic new website comes our way. I've written previously about when we plan to open our doors, but our fundraising goals have grown (surprise) as we've moved into this next phase of our development. Currently, we're working on raising $80,000 for equipment and other start-up costs, and another $35,000 for operating costs in 2009. We've got a few irons in the fire (ha! there's really no end to fire-related metaphors), including our participation in the Twice the Gift store this holiday season and a plan for a fundraising event late this year. But as always, if you would like to help us ignite the flame (there's another!), do check our website for info on our donations program.

So, when are we going to open?

We've gotten a few questions to this effect lately and realize that people might start to wonder, now that the building has been vacant for a couple of months... But while the timeframe's going to be a bit farther out than we originally hoped (I guess it always is), the good news is that everything is falling into place and we are on track for opening in Summer 2009. Last week, our future landlord (Artspace Projects) received approval from the City Council's Community Development Committee to receive funding through its bank-qualified loan program. Whew! With the current state of affairs in the financial markets we were more than a bit concerned, so to have the financing in place is very good news.

So, we're now looking at Artspace acquiring the building by the end of the year, and renovations beginning as soon as possible thereafter. We're planning on six months for renovations, making July our grand opening. There are still many more hurdles to jump before the doors open and lots of work to do... but the dream's becoming a reality.

Oak Street Marquee

Victoria got a random call one morning from someone she knows at the City of Minneapolis. Evidently, the OAK STREET THEATER IS COMING DOWN! There is a new development happening over there. I don't know about all of you, but that's very sad. I went to school in this town and that place is prior context. For years it was one of my favorites and it'll soon be gone. So we ache for a bit... and then they ask her if CAFAC wants the marquee!!! In the words of our board president, Maren, "Ummmm...yes please! When can we pick it up?" We're meeting on Friday to talk about exactly what that will entail. There are original architects drawings of the Marquee (that's enough fun in and of itself) and I imagine, if we can work out a way to get it over here and up, it's ours. A piece of history, not just of the old building, but our own past. We're thrilled to give it a new home, now we just need to figure out how to manage it...

Twice The Gift

Twice the Gift offers unique option for holiday gift givers…
Buy a meaningful gift and support The Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center!

Twice the Gift is a unique downtown Minneapolis shop that showcases the products and services provided by more than 50 Twin Cities nonprofit organizations, including the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center (CAFAC), this holiday season.

At Twice the Gift, shoppers can select a meaningful gift for loved ones and/or business associates that will benefit others in the community. The Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center will sell ornaments based on its 2008 SPEAK Project at the shop.

Other Twin Cities nonprofits from Open Arms Minnesota to Partnership Resources will offer a variety of gifts for all ages. Additionally, “Giftcards” will be available exclusively at Twice the Gift. A Giftcard honors the recipient by supporting specific services or items needed by Twin Cities nonprofits. Giftcards will underwrite everything from artists-in-residence at public schools to providing a week of emergency shelter for a family. CAFAC’s Giftcards will support its youth scholarship fund.

Twice the Gift will be open November 21 through December 31. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The store is located in Gaviidae II – 2nd floor/Skyway Level, 555 Nicollet Mall, Suite 295, Minneapolis.

Twice the Gift is being underwritten for Twin Cities nonprofits by the Pohlad Family Foundation with 100% of the proceeds benefiting participating nonprofit organizations. Please put Twice the Gift at the top of your holiday shopping list this year!