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St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts (FOTA) is about building community through the arts:
Arts for Life scholarships, Arts & Culture grants, and the summer Our Town program.
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We are seeking members from the community to serve on our Board of Directors. Directors serve 3-year terms and are expected to attend meetings and serve on committees or fulfill volunteer duties that total approximately 4 hours per month. The Board typically meets the last Thursday of the month at 7 pm at City Hall. New Board members will be inducted at the January meeting.
Specifically, we seek new members who live or work in Saint Louis Park with experience and interest in one of the following: marketing and communications, event planning and finance.
If you have additional questions, please contact us at 952-928-6422 or
info@slpfota.org.
Friends of the Arts (FOTA) is a nonprofit community organization dedicated to supporting, organizing, enhancing, and promoting all art forms in St. Louis Park. FOTA connects people and organizations around the arts, shares arts-related information and resources, and coordinates community arts programs. For more information about the group, please visit our website at:
www.SLPFOTA.org.
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Artists of St. Louis Park
Linda Trummer
Poet, Writer, Doodler
This month's Artists of St. Louis Park featured artist is truly exceptional. Linda Trummer has lived and worked in St Louis Park for over 40 years and has been involved in the community in numerous ways. One of the most impactful may be as the Outreach Coordinator of the Meadowbrook Collaborative for 23 years.
"Linda has been a faithful steward of The Meadowbrook Collaborative which has touched and transformed the lives of many young people from economically challenged families living at Meadowbrook Manor in St. Louis Park. She has worked with local artists to bring hope, inspiration, and creativity to a part of our community that would not have access to these ingredients for healthy living without her and the Collaborative," said a FOTA Board Member.
When asked what about her work with the Meadowbrook community has made her the most proud, without hesitation Linda said, "the kids." She has stayed connected with many people she has come to know. The impact Linda has had on people's lives keeps them drawn to her. "That's just my greatest joy, watching kids grow up and seeing them come back to visit."
Just over a year ago, Linda was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma, which demanded she suspend the work that has brought her so much joy. While on medical leave, Linda felt it was important to fill her time with something meaningful.
"I was thinking about all the times I used art with little kids over at Meadowbrook." Linda began sitting with people on the oncology floor at the hospital. She invites them to just doodle or color, and they begin talking. "People don't even know that talking to someone who has cancer or anyone else in general can really be healing." Linda's desire to have an impact on the care people receive at the hospital has led her to join the hospital's Patient Advisory Board. As Linda will attest, the staff at Methodist is amazing. However, it's hard to deny that spending time with Linda doodling and talking allows everyone to feel better than when they came in.
Linda's diagnosis has been life-changing. "An important part of that journey for me was to be able to share my experiences with others in a meaningful way, and for others to not fear sharing their own emotions in return." Linda has been writing a book about her experience. She also journals and shares some of what she writes with friends on Facebook. Her poem, "Leaving Behind," is one of many Linda posted as a way to " ...just write what is going through my heart." Linda's cousin, Randy Trummer, put those words to music. Randy returned Linda's words back to her with images and set to music he wrote and performed, giving Linda's experiences an even greater impact to those near her.
As a poet, song-writer, or fellow doodler, Linda has found a way to continue giving to others with her greatest lesson: "Spend more time appreciating all that surrounds us, write love letters and thank you notes. Say 'I love you,' and share hugs. Make every moment matter. Write a poem and make it a song, and sing it every day. Even if you can't sing. Then laugh out loud, and start all over!"
You can read Linda's poem and hear her cousin's musical setting in the Poetry Corner section below.
If you are (or know of) an artist who lives or works in St. Louis Park, we want to hear from you! Send us an email at
info@slpfota.org with subject "Artists of SLP" so we can interview you for a future newsletter!
Follow us on
Instagram and
Facebook
for more photos and responses, and see all featured artists on our
blog
.
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The people of Rainbow Valley: Elizabeth Chambers Brown, Mariah Johnson, Emma Joy Post, Abigail Oppegaard, Teagan Earley, Rosemary Cruey, Marcus Wellhoefer, Annabel Schoenberger, Will Faster, Erin Gassner, Robyn Cruey
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December 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10 @ 7pm
December 3, 10 @ 2pm
All performances at the Sabes JCC
This Broadway musical is filled with impish magic and joyful song, while addressing the serious social issues of our times with a wink and a nod, and the hope for a brighter day. Classics such as How Are Things in Glocca Morra?, Look to the Rainbow,and Old Devil Moon are brought to the stage by a brilliantly talented cast, chorus of singers, and dancers.
The cast and crew of The Park Theater Company's production of Finian's Rainbow includes 30
artists from age 7 to 70, over 60% of whom live, work, or go to school in St. Louis Park. This is The Park Theater
Company's most diverse, multi-generational, and multi-disciplinary performance troupe since
the Theater's inception in 2008. The range of experience ranges from
seasoned community theater performers to youth who are engaged in their first or second time on stage.
At a recent rehearsal, Teagan, age 7 and the youngest member of the cast, said to Jim, age 69 and the oldest member of the cast, "See this is just like a reverse jacquette!" Teagan then went on to demonstrate the ballet move. Jim stood there in awe of her poise and dancing ability, but had to ask her how to pronounce that dance move in French. Jim responded "Well its always possible for an old dog to learn new tricks."
Tickets to
Finian's Rainbow are available
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
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Come see the St. Louis Park Middle School production of The Seussification of a Midsummer Night's Dream! It's Shakespeare's original story turned upside down and twisted around with the addition of rhyming Seuss language. It's the play for the fall, it's going to be a ball, don't miss the call, and come see The Seussifcation of a Midsummer Night's Dream. All peformances are at SLP High School.
Tickets are available at the door: $4 for kids, $6 for adults.
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Poetry Corner
I was diagnosed with an incurable, rare form of lymphoma a year ago. It was a life-changing experience for me--one which sent me on a journey. If I may quote the lyrics to an old song by The Hollies, "
With many a winding turn that leads us to who knows where." I have grieved through every emotion, and landed in a peaceful place. An important part of that journey for me was to be able to share my experiences with others in a meaningful way, and for others to not fear sharing their own emotions in return. I know it sounds strange, but cancer has been a blessing. It's given me courage, not only to face every new day, but to have important conversations with those I love and to accept love for who I am. Writing helps me express my inner-most feelings, to journal the most incredible challenge of my life, and to remind others of the importance of living each day to its fullest. We do tend to take most things too seriously, especially our own mortality. Instead, spend more time appreciating all that surrounds us, write love letters and thank you notes. Say, "I love you," and share hugs. Make every moment matter. Write a poem and make it a song, and sing it every day. Even if you can't sing. Then laugh out loud, and start all over!
You can read more about Linda, her incredible journey, and the immeasurable impact she has made in our community in this month's Artists of SLP segment above.
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art Talk is a publication of St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts (FOTA)
Submit your event listings for free!
If you or your organization are planning a public arts-related event, we want to hear about it! Submit your event for the free community calendar
here. If you would like your event to be considered as a feature in this newsletter, please email
info@slpfota.org by the 15th of each month.
Keep up-to-date on arts happenings in St. Louis Park everyday.
Learn more about FOTA and the programs we support at
slpfota.org.
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