expressionsFall 2015 This issue of Expressions highlights the community leaders who provide and enrich the arts and culture in our area. Without passionate individuals to blaze the way, we would have so much less to experience, learn and enjoy. Shrek — Duluth Playhouse The Depot Foundation celebrates the achievements of up to six Arts and Culture Award recipients each year. Please mark your calendars for this wonderful annual event: The Sixteenth Annual Arts and Culture Awards ceremony will be held during the Circle of Friends Celebration at the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center (the Depot) on Wednesday, October 21st. Join in celebrating their well-deserved recognition at our community treasure, the Historic Union Depot. We extend an invitation to you and all community members who share our commitment to arts, culture and history. Call 279-9913 today to Ojibwe Gallery (Photo Credit Ivy Vainio) make your reservation ($30 person). St. Louis County Historical Society The Circle of Friends Celebration Art, history, culture, and the people who make it possible Recipients of the 2015 Arts and Culture Awards are: n Dennis Lamkin n William Payne Lifetime Achievement Award Initiative Award n Scott Murphy n Penny Clark Artist Award Historic Preservation and Interpretation Award n John Elliott 2015 Dance Day at the Depot Community Enrichment Award Minnesota Ballet Telephone: 218.279.9913 | Email: [email protected] | Website: www.depotfoundation.org A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD WHY the Depot Foundation Nearly 50 years ago, a small group of Duluthians DEPOT FOUNDATION had a dream. They worked for 13 years to make the BOARD MEMBERS Depot Duluth’s center for arts and culture. Once the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center Officers Jean B. Olson, was a reality, Elizabeth Adams stepped forward to Jean B. Olson, Chair Chair organize the Depot Foundation. She said, “Now that Robert Hofmann, Vice Chair we have the center, we need to have a foundation to Thomas Whittaker, Secretary protect it.” Melinda Machones, Treasurer Directors The $1 million she helped to raise has grown to Laura Budd over $6 million. The interest from the endowment Pat Cutshall continues to protect the Depot and help the Richard Fischer organizations who call the Depot “home.” Dexter Larsen Renee Mattson On October 21st we will celebrate our Circle of Jean R. Perrault Friends: donors like you who contribute to build Ivy Vainio our endowment. Please join us to see first hand the Pete Weidman exciting new developments at the Depot. We will Staff also be honoring five recipients of the 2015 Depot Marla Thibodeau Foundation Arts and Culture Awards. Accounting Kay Rave As you plan your giving, please think of the Depot and its organizations. We appreciate those who have worked so hard to preserve the historic Depot building and given our community healthy and progressive arts and cultural organizations. Now it’s our turn! Circle of Friends 2015 ARTS and CULTURE AWARDS CELEBRATION DEPOT FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS Officers St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center Jean B. Olson, Chair Robert Hofmann, Vice Chair October 21, 2015 – 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Thomas Whittaker, Secretary Melinda Machones, Treasurer Directors Laura Budd Pat Cutshall Arts and Culture Awards Committee Richard Fischer Robert Hofmann, Chair Dexter Larsen Renee Mattson Ken Bloom Jean R. Perrault Linda Boben Ivy Vainio Laura Budd Pete Weidman Dennis Lamkin Staff Marla Thibodeau Jean B. Olson, Ex-officio Accounting Kay Rave 2015 Arts and Culture 2015 Arts and Culture Lifetime Achievement Award Artist Award Dennis Lamkin Scott Murphy Dennis Lamkin has made significant contributions to Scott Murphy’s distinguished career has made significant benefit the arts and culture of our region. Generously contributions to the development of artists and the arts giving both his time and financial resources to the Duluth in our region. “The nice thing about painting is the community for the past 30 years, his goal has been clear: consistency. People change and jobs change, but painting “make Duluth a better place to live, further the arts, and is like a baseline in life.” enrich the culture.” Scott began his career painting pictorial billboards in Dennis is an avid volunteer, promoting Duluth’s historical Minnesota, after earning his BFA from the University of preservation and architecture. He has served on several Minnesota Duluth in 1975. Scott thrived in the industry’s local non-profit boards, including Glensheen Mansion, fast-paced and competitive environment. Over a Minnesota Historical Society, Duluth Preservation seventeen-year period, he painted about 2,000 billboards Alliance, Duluth Public Arts Commission, Great Lakes in total. Aquarium, City Charter Commission, Duluth Superior Now applying his brush to the public sphere in another Symphony Orchestra, Depot Citizens Advisory Board, distinctive way, Scott leaves an impressionable mark in and the Minnesota Ballet. the community painting murals. His artistry is displayed His generosity has not only inspired creativity. His at the Duluth Public Library, Duluth Depot, Baudette approach to giving has also taken an artistic twist. As a Depot, and St. Paul’s University Avenue. senior executive and vice president at U.S. Bank (recently Scott continues to make a living pursuing his passion, as retired), Dennis was instrumental in arranging U.S. Bank’s he meets the artistic painting requests of businesses and agreement to provide free office space for the Duluth individuals in the area. He also enjoys passing his insight Superior Symphony Orchestra and a significantly reduced onto the next generation of local artists. rent fee for the Depot Foundation’s office space. — Arts and Culture Award Recipients — — Arts and Culture Award Recipients — 2015 Arts and Culture 2015 Arts and Culture Community Enrichment Award Initiative Award John Elliott William Payne John Elliott has taken bold steps to strengthen the arts William Payne has shown exemplary initiative in creating and culture of our region. “In every arts program, there opportunities and expanding access to the arts and culture are a lot of things that go unseen. I am a good backstage of our region. manager. I like to see it all run smoothly with the vision. As dean of the University of Minnesota Duluth School This is what I do, and it is my passion.” of Fine Arts (SFA), William is a committed advocate for What began as a volunteer position for the DSSO bus students and community members pursuing the arts. “I service program, John now serves as an administrative take initiative to create connection between the campus and assistant to the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra’s community. Creativity is important to foster.” executive director. Responsible for ensuring a well-run A vanguard for promoting the arts, he played a key role operation, he makes an important difference for the local in spearheading the Creative Communities Leadership music community. Institute. This partnership between UMD SFA and John finds great fulfillment coordinating the bus service, Intermedia Arts aims to build a strong community of artists which provides transportation for those who may not across various sectors. He also helped initiate Arts Align, otherwise be able to attend symphony performances. His a networking opportunity that connects artists throughout dedicated work has helped expand the system to serve 150 the Twin Ports region. people each concert. William currently serves as chair of the board of trustees for Before working at the DSSO, John devoted his time the Zeitgeist Center for Arts & Community, a locally-based volunteering at Essentia Health. He also financially foundation that enriches the community through creative supports the Minnesota Ballet in Duluth each year and is initiatives supporting the arts, the Healthy Duluth initiative, certain to never miss a Nutcracker performance. and sustainable community development. He also recently finished serving on the Minnesota Theater Alliance board, a state-wide regional network for the theater arts. — Arts and Culture Award Recipients — — Arts and Culture Award Recipients — Jesus Christ Super Star — Duluth Playhouse 2015 Arts and Culture Historic Preservation and Interpretation Award Penny Clark Penny Clark has made a substantial impact on the historical preservation of our region. “I am passionate about the history of Duluth and work as hard as I can to preserve it.” Falling in love with the Twin Ports region when earning her master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, Penny’s initial thought of staying two years increased to Plein Air Duluth: Paint du Nord — Duluth Art Institiute thirty five. Penny volunteered to represent the arts community on the Duluth Comprehensive Planning Commission in 2006. Devoting countless hours at weekly meetings for a year and a half, she and other leaders from a variety of industries drafted a comprehensive plan for the city of Duluth. Penny has also worked hard to ensure that local historic buildings and homes remain intact, serving as a board member for the Duluth Preservation Alliance and also as president and board member for the Heritage Preservation Commission. A potter by trade and Gallery Director of Lizards Art Gallery in Duluth, Penny enjoys sharing her vision and excitement for the arts and Duluth’s unique heritage with others. Immigrant exhibit - Uncle Eli’s Farm — Arts and Culture Award Recipients — St. Louis County Historical Society Annual Giving Thank you, Donors! The Depot Foundation appreciates every gift,