A Meeting of Edina's Art, Culture Minds

A meeting of the minds occurred last week in Edina. Nothing earth shattering, but certainly inspiring. Nineteen residents chose to spend a couple of hours talking about a mutual interest, one near and dear to my own heart: art and culture in our fine city of Edina.

There was a notice in the Edina Sun-Current, it was noted on the City’s (soon-to-be updated) website and a ‘City Extra’ email was sent promoting the meeting.  And some people showed up via word of mouth, at times the best communication.

The idea for the meeting stemmed from Board meetings at which discussions have occurred about what’s going on with art and culture in Edina? What’s missing? What’s wanted and needed?  We want to find out.

At the public meeting held Mar. 8 at the in Grandview Square, which had been promoted as an "Art & Culture Working Group," we discussed different kinds of art including paintings, theater, dance, music, poetry reads, the performing arts, books/authors, photography, ceramics, jewelry making, youth and senior groups. By no means were all art forms discussed.

One agreement developed fairly early on in the discussion, brought up by working artists who were present. And that is the lack of needed, well-lit, studio space to not only work and create their art but also from which to sell what they produce.  Think Northrop King Building in north east Minneapolis, as an example.

Another topic, “What groups could we create a coalition with, that already exist?” That led to the idea to compile a list of Edina artists as well as residents and businesses interested, related, connected or dealing with art and culture. We also plan to create a calendar of art and culture related events. I offered to head a group of four volunteers to create such a list.

Where to start?! After a couple of days of thinking, I went through my own contact list on my trusty Apple laptop and created an Excel spreadsheet with more than 50 names. My goal is to expand that to at least 100 and present it to the group at next month’s meeting, Thursday, April 12, from 7 to 9 p.m. (same location mentioned above).

So I’ve been thinking of all things artistic and what I’d like to see in Edina.  I thought we might steal St. Paul’s idea and start having Edina poets' work imbedded in various pathways (, 50th & France, even inside ).

Having spent 20 years in Europe and now living within walking distance of Centennial Lakes, I am reminded every time I walk under the bridges at Centennial Lakes of the many (think two- to three-foot-tall chess pieces) chess games that go on in cities and villages in Europe. How about having artists showing their work at the during the summer?

What are your ideas? We want to know AND we’d love more people to attend these meetings, which we anticipate will be held monthly until the end of the year. At that time, the group will have specific ideas to present to the Edina City Council. No one can predict what will occur after that. However, this is an opportunity for anyone who IS interested in art and culture and expanding what we have to offer in Edina to be involved and be heard.

Please come to the next meeting. Or email me to add your name to the growing list of citizens and businesses supporting art in Edina. We’re creating a vision for what we want for Edina and we want to hear from Edina residents. barbara.lavalleur@gmail.com