Prairie Skyline Foundation

Here it is, the condensed 2 page version of the "Young at HArt Center."  I know people are busier today than ever, so here is your shortcut to something new and exciting for Crookston, MN! Young at HArt center exec summary.doc View more documents from Prairie Skyline Foundation, Inc. web counter

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A person walks pass some of the murals painted at a closed building along Dexter Avenue in downtown Montgomery, Ala., on Friday, Oct. 1, 2010. (Montgomery Advertiser, Lloyd Gallman) Downtown revitalization must include historic preservation, expert says By Jill Nolin • October 11, 2010 age Downtown revitalization was once talked about because it wasn't happen­ing. Now, it's being talked about because it's actually taking hold in Montgomery. Montgomery's success, to date, in re­vitalizing its downtown is a major focus of the annual Alabama Preservation Conference that started Thursday and ended Saturday. Some of the sessions have offered analysis and commentary on what steps led up to the rebirth that sparked on the riverfront and is starting to push into the rest of the downtown area. "I tell you, you are doing the right things in Montgomery, Alabama. It's not there yet, but it's never there," said Don­ovan Rypkema, who is an inte...

Response to august 26 city letter View more documents from CrookstonKate . free hit counters  

Here is the letter we wrote to the City Council regarding saving the Wayne Letter to board members and city council members letter View more documents from CrookstonKate . free hit counters

Don't forget to show up!  Tonight, August 23, 2010 at 7 pm in City Hall is our last chance to save the Wayne/Palace Hotel.  We will be presenting three new ideas for the historic landmark plus the stabilization costs and a new downtown task force that will cross the arts with the politicians!  Be There!  The alley in winter without the Wayne Hotel, everyone traveling US 2 and US75 will see this!

. Watch for the Artspace Report on www.prairieskyline.com!  Here is an excerpt: "...the citizens of Crookston should make it clear to their elected leaders that they want the building (Palace/Wayne) preserved. While we are sympathetic to the County Commissioners who see the building chiefly as drain on scarce resources, we cannot state too strongly our view that tearing it down would be akin to burning a Rembrandt because you can’t afford to have it cleaned. Every effort should be made to find the money needed to stabilize the building until a suitable reuse can be found. Once gone, it can never be replaced.

Rev. Dan Wolpert has suggested once again that we consider a "planned ruin" similar to the St. Boniface ruin in Winnipeg.  Despite our open grant for a feasibility study for an arts center, I believe this option should be considered carefully.  The difference between St. Boniface and the former Cathedral is that St. Boniface had a fire that destroyed most all of its interior and some of its exterior, whereas the Cathedral doesn't have that reason.  Still there is some sad and wistful beauty in the idea of a planned ruin as opposed to waiting for volunteers, and contributors to come forth on the idea of a Centre for the Arts in NW Minnesota or demolition by the County. Please do comment.

Imagine if the former Wayne/Palace Hotel was filled with 24 artists attracted to Crookston because of the affordable lifestyle and charming spaces to live.  As you walk by the windows you will join with tourists to watch artists at work at welding, construction, forming and firing clay, painting, photographing, and creating all kinds of one of kind pieces.  Bicycles will be parked in the rear of the building; artists will bicycle up to "A" Street and over to the former Cathedral on Ash to display and sell their works, where musicians and play practices are going on.  Down in the park, you'll see artists at work as well, inspired by the river and the great spaces of the great plains.  An "Arts and Learn" opens up in the former Eagle Drug location and other arts related spin-offs fill downtown retail spaces. UMC expands its visual arts classes and purchases the Fournet Block to house arts students. A "white tablecloth" restaurant opens up in th...