Public art--what's that?

Have you ever noticed the terrazzo floor inside the entrance at the Bemidji high school? The design was installed as part of the public art that was included in the publicly financed building. The Bemidji Regional Event Center will have a public art component too.

A committee of artists has been working with the City's consultant, Forecast Public Art to define where the art can be incorporated into the building and what the process will be to select the artists. The committee has chosen two areas for art that will give the most impact--the terrazzo floor and a suspended art piece--maybe a light--at the entrance. The Request for Qualifications will be sent to a selected list of artists (developed by Forecast). The committee has also added names of area artists to the list.

Interested artists will have until Sept. 8 to respond to the request and then the committee will narrow the list to six artists--three in each category. Selected artists will receive a $1,000 stipend to sketch or create a model of their idea, which will be presented to the committee for the final artist selections.

Who's Got Time to Blog!?

So-- there are so many other things to do in summer than work at the computer. Besides the usual summer fun, here's a pictorial of some of the things that are keeping me from blogging.

A wedding to plan!


Moving my son's family into a new house

Keeping track of my soon-to-be 85 year-old Dad

Twins game

First grandbaby--a beautiful teeny tiny girl!


Small town celebrations--Big Falls 4th of July

Bobby Vee

Vegetable garden


Flower garden


Dragon boats


Fair flowers--five firsts, three seconds and one grand champion!


Friday nights at the Paul Bunyan Playhouse


Daughter's new house (a foreclosure bargain that needs TLC)


A baby shower


Invitations for a bridal shower


And of course, trying to stay employed

Weekly Bits from the City Newsletter 7-31-09

Learn about activities in the City parks, a request for development proposals for the South Shore and former MnDOT sites and upgrades underway at the Waste Water Treatment Facility in this week's newsletter.

The newsletter is a mix of news and information from department heads who contribute updates, a list of upcoming meetings and various correspondence and sundry announcements.