What a Year It's Been! What a Year It Will Be!

Portrait by Annette Kerstin Patko of Bordeaux Studio

Hi Everyone,

This is the ONLY blog post I will publish in the month of December, which is totally illegal, I should never go radio silent for that long. BUT it's been a really busy year and I've got projects that have consumed me in fantastic ways.

As you know, I'm a gypsy by nature, lover of shiny keys and all things new, so I'm very aware of cities and what they offer - Evanston so far has offered me the moon and I'm so grateful.

When we moved here in 2011, I told my husband Dave Ford it would take us five years to rebuild our lives - financially, socially, etc. - after moving from El Paso, Texas. Summer of 2016 is our 5-year anniversary, stay tuned.

Here is what I managed to create in terms of "the life I wanted in Evanston" in 2015:

1. Evanston's annual Open Studio Artist Tour will celebrate its 3rd year anniversary and will get a new name so we can stop confusing the annual event with the non-profit Open Studio Project! Stay tuned.

2. My new role at Evanston Magazine as Editor-at-Large, requires great story ideas for each issue that help tell Evanston's unique story. Send ideas to lisa@jwcmedia.com

3. My new role as Engagement Director at Hackstudio, requires I help grow a successful new endeavor in this market and I'm so inspired to do so. Hackstudio's focus is to help people connect with who they are and connect who they are with the world! 

4. I'm proud to be the returning Evanston Arts Council Co-Chair with my colleague in the arts, Dino Robinson. Join us and get the arts funded and celebrated in Evanston!

Additionally, I will continue to work on raising smart and giving citizens of the world (Miles & Louie) and providing shelter for ONE angry bunny. 

Thank you for your continued support and love for all my endeavors. Let me know if we can work together in any of these buckets!

Happy New Year, y'all! 

Lisa 

***

My first blog post from Monday, June 27, 2011 - We Have Arrived!

A Bright Night for the Arts in Evanston

Come and celebrate Evanston's rich and diverse arts community with us! Tickets are $20. Featuring wine and tasty small bites. Mayor Tisdahl will present the Mayor's Awards for the Arts, and we will feature a few "Bright Spot" presentations on innovate and amazing projects taking place in the area.

Buy tickets at https://abrightnightforthearts2.splashthat.com

Oct. 1: Bike Light Giveaway

In a continued effort to promote bicycle safety in Evanston, on Thursday, October 1, the City of Evanston will hold its 2015 “Pedal Bright” Bike Light Giveaway and Installation event.

The exciting initiative will provide bicycle safety information and help cyclists increase the visibility of their bikes as the days get shorter during the fall and winter seasons. Teams of volunteers will install a limited number of free bicycle lights, distribute city bike maps, and provide a quick tutorial on the rules of the road for bicyclists.

Bicycle lights will be installed while supplies last on Thursday, October 1, from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., at two Evanston locations:

• Robert Crown Community Center, 1701 Main St.
• The Weber Arch at Northwestern University, Chicago Ave. and Sheridan Rd.

The morning and afternoon hours are often peak times for bicycle traffic on local roadways. Later sunrises and earlier sunsets make visibility especially important for both bicycle commuters and recreational cyclists. Bicyclists in need of lights are encouraged to have a light installed at one of the locations. Lights will only be installed on bicycles without lights; lights will not be handed out to individuals without bikes.

Illinois law requires that every bicycle when in use at nighttime be equipped with a front lamp capable of emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet, and a red reflector on the rear visible from 100 to 600 feet. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to a red reflector.

The City is proud to announce the event's sponsors and partners, including:

• Evanston Police Department
• Northwestern University
• Northwestern University Associated Student Government
• NorthShore Evanston Hospital
• Evanston Township High School
• Evanston Bike Club
• Downtown Evanston
• Wheel and Sprocket
• The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices

Additional sponsors will be announced. Those interested in being a sponsor should contact bikes@cityofevanston.org.

For more information, please call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents in Evanston may simply dial 3-1-1.

Swing Set Drum Kit at Lake Shore Arts Festival

This weekend see Swing Set Drum Kit by Dave Ford at the Lake Shore Arts Festival 

August 1-2, 2015

Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Dawes Park, Sheridan Rd. at Church St.
Free admission.

Since 1973, the City of Evanston has presented the annual Evanston Lakeshore Arts Festival. The festival takes place the first weekend in August on Evanston's stunning, historic lakefront.

The festival showcases fine art by over 100 artists in 11 categories. While browsing and buying the artwork, you can listen to live jazz, blues, folk, bluegrass, rock, baroque and indie pop music. Be sure to make a bid or two at the Silent Art Auction, and bring your children or grandchidren to the popular Children's Craft Tent. The festival hosts eleven restauranteurs serving a variety of culinary delights. Admission is free.

For more information, please call 847-448-8264.

Beach Tokens are on Sale!

From Evanston Patch:

Season beach tokens in Evanston will be available for purchase at a few locations beginning on April 1.

In addition to the Morton Civic Center at 2100 Ridge Ave., tokens will be available atRobert Crown, Chandler-Newberger, Fleetwood-Jourdain, Levy Senior Center andEvanston Ecology Center. Tokens may be purchased on weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Morton Civic Center and during office hours at the community centers.

Evanston’s five public swimming beaches open for the season on May 23.

A beach token, also known as a season pass, is valid from the time of purchase through Labor Day 2015. Tokens will be sold at a discounted rate of $26 for Evanston and Skokie residents and $42 for nonresidents until Friday, June 5. On Saturday, June 6, the price for a beach token will increase to $34 for Evanston or Skokie residents and $58 for nonresidents.

Community members interested in a daily pass can purchase at a beach entrance. A daily pass is $6 for children age 1-11 years and $8 for those 12 years and older. Admission for children under age 1 is free.

Evanston residents that meet the income requirement are eligible to participate in beach token fee assistance and the free beach token program. To learn more about the fee assistance program, visit cityofevanston.org/recreationscholarship.

The City of Evanston and the Skokie Park District have a reciprocal arrangement that allows Skokie residents to buy season beach tokens at Evanston resident rates and allows Evanston residents to buy Skokie season pool passes at Skokie resident rates.

For more information about Evanston beaches, please visit cityofevasnton.org/beachesor call/text847-448-4311. For convenience, residents can simply dial 3-1-1 while in Evanston.

City to Host Fountain Square Renovation Project Open House March 10

The City of Evanston will host an open house public meeting on Tuesday, March 10 to present initial concept designs for planned improvements at Fountain Square.

The meeting will take place at the Shops at Sherman Plaza, located at 1614 Sherman Ave., and will include an open house/concept viewing from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., followed by a presentation and community discussion from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Representatives from Teska Associates and City staff will present information on:

• Public outreach efforts and community feedback
• Initial concept designs, including a personal preference exercise
• Next steps in the design process

The goal of the meeting is to gather community input regarding initial concept designs for the renovation project and establish overall design preferences.

For information and project updates, please visit cityofevanston.org/myfountainsquare or call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 3-1-1 in Evanston.

The City is planning to renovate and improve Fountain Square Plaza. This area includes Sherman Plaza; Sherman Avenue, between Church and Davis Streets; and adjacent landscape areas. While certain plaza functions will remain, such as the Veterans Memorial and a fountain, the City has been gathering your thoughts on what additional amenities and activities you would like to see accommodated in the area.

March 7 is We Love Evanston Day!

There are citywide sales and promotions but we have a special place in our heart for the arts so we included this fun event from Bottle & Bottega.

Celebrate your love of Evanston by making some art at Bottle & Bottega on Davis Street!  

We Love Evanston Day! Date/Time: Sat, 3/7/2015, 2:00 - 5:00 PM Location: Evanston Studio - 1016 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201 Price Per Seat: $35.00
Today is We Love Evanston Day! Show your love by painting the 3rd coast Ticket price includes paint supplies, instruction, aprons and a 16x20 take-home canvas. BYOB reception begins at 2:00 p.m. Painting takes place from 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. Cancellations made within 48 hours are subject only to a studio credit. We are sorry but there will be no refunds on no-shows. Because alcohol is present during our events, we restrict attendance to adults 18 and over. Alcohol consumption is permitted only for adults over 21. Please have an ID available. Click here to register!  Bottle & Bottega are proud participants in Open Studios Evanston on June 6, 2015, but you don't have to wait to see what they are all about!

I am Worthy of a City Like Evanston!

This summer, June 2015, will mark our family's four year anniversary moving to Evanston and what a wonderful four years it has been. (I know it's early to write about summer, but a girl has to dream!) That's our Penske rental truck in the photo above filled with everything we owned upon arrival!

Moving to a new city without jobs and only one friend is a huge risk for any individual, let alone a family to take, but we had a hunch our new city would reward our courage. What we didn't realize is just how big of a reward Evanston would provide each of us.

Our two children (often referred to as roommates who don't pay rent) made wonderful friends both at school and in the neighborhood. Some friends are still around after four years but thanks to the ebb and flow of new citizens, they've both made plenty of new friends every year. That is a huge gift. They enrolled in amazing schools that offered extra curricular activities to support their sports and creative needs and in those schools they are supported by teachers and staff who welcomed them openly regardless of their newness. 

My husband and I have made friends, not as quickly as neither of us play organized sports or joined knitting clubs, who will be friends for life and we continue to make new friends both at work and in our neighborhood. After pretty significant searches we are both able to find means of income in our city, not having to commute more than 15 minutes on a bike. 

The list of benefits could go on but the truest benefits have been the friendship and connections that have come so easy in Evanston because the people living here are warm and open and excited to engage in the community they live in. 

This past year I've started many blog posts in an attempt to recognize this milestone and to thank the people of Evanston who have made us feel welcome. Tonight after watching a TED Talk, it's finally evident what my deepest feelings are about our move and that is "My family is worthy of living in a city like Evanston." Not my family "deserves" or my family is "owed" but my family is worthy and by that I mean the following; we are worthy of friendly neighbors willing to get to know the new people on the block regardless of how we look or how big or small our house is, we are worthy of a walkable city that provides resources like a robust public library and public transportation supported by the tax dollars of a giving community, we are worthy of an engaged City Government that polls citizens and answers emails and phone calls, we are worthy of a beautiful lakefront that is public and manicured and shared with everyone, we are worthy of a diverse community that supports artists and teachers and entrepreneurs alike and we are worthy of a community who opens its doors and hearts to newbies when they have lived here since 1904.

I am grateful for the City of Evanston and filled with joy that my family chose to live here. Watch this TED Talk featuring the great work of Brené Brown and hopefully you will feel the same way about where you are living now or where you choose to live next.

Open Studios Evanston Makes Evanston 100 List

Touted as a "game changer" for the local arts scene in Evanston, Open Studios Evanston made the Evanston 100 List created by the Evanston Chamber of Commerce.

We are thrilled to be in such amazing company and plan on having a fantastic event on June 6, 2015, featuring a bike route for those who don't want to drive to 100 art studios.
Open Studios Evanston is a citywide tour of Evanston art studios and galleries

Interested in participating in this year’s Open Studios Evanston, June 6, 2015, 12 - 6 p.m.?

Here’s what you’ll need to participate:

• Studio/gallery/space address in Evanston
• Digital image of your work (2 is fine)
• Artist bio/statement
• Website/Online portfolio
• Access to your studio space for the general public day of event
• One piece of art to hang in a group show at Noyes Cultural Center (Event partner Alley Gallery will provide framing equipment at discounted prices. That's them in the photo with the parrot.)

Once we have all your information we’ll share it on the event website here.

The City of Evanston and the Evanston Arts Council are providing marketing and event support to help drive traffic to artist studios. As we get closer to the event date we’ll ask you to help promote and share the event news with your friends, collectors, neighbors, alderman, etc.

Below is our Mission Statement and other event information;

Mission Statement

Open Studios Evanston is an initiative that engages the arts community of Evanston and the public through free events showcasing Evanston artists creating work in the City of Evanston.

Goals

• Increase the visibility of visual arts as another component of Evanston’s diverse cultural and economic activity
• Create a sense of community and belonging for Evanston artists
• Support emerging artists by producing events that create exposure and sales of their work

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions and thank you so much for making Evanston a more beautiful place.

Lisa Degliantoni

Open Studios Evanston, Producer

Evanston Arts Council, Co-Chair

openstudiosevanston@gmail.com

Vote for Evanston in the World Wildlife Fund's "We Love Cities" Campaign, Voting Begins Jan. 26

The City of Evanston is proud to announce that it has been selected as a finalist to represent the United States in the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Earth Hour City Challenge, along with Cleveland and Seattle. This year’s challenge encompasses over 40 local governments from countries across the globe, including France, Singapore, South Africa, and Brazil, and focuses on the promotion of renewable energy.

As the international panel of experts in climate policy and sustainable development decide who will move forward in the competition, the WWF has launched an eight-week “We Love Cities” campaign, beginning today, January 26 through Friday, March 27, encouraging community members from each contending location to get involved in the voting process and show the world how much they love their city and why.

To help Evanston’s bid to win, community members are asked to:

• Visit WeLoveEvanston.org to vote and provide feedback on ways Evanston can become more sustainable;
• Follow and tweet @GreenEvanston using the hashtag #WeLoveEvanston;
• Follow and tag @CityofEvanston on Instagram to share photos of your favorite Evanston places, “green ideas,” and more using the hashtag #WeLoveEvanston.

Each time a person votes, tweets, Instagrams and/or shares their suggestions, Evanston becomes one step closer to becoming the world’s most loved city.

Voting on the website is limited to once per person, per day, per city. However, community members are allowed to share multiple suggestions per day on WeLoveEvanston.org, along with #WeLoveEvanston submissions via Twitter and Instagram. Please note that all Twitter and Instagram profiles must be public in order for votes to count.

For more information about the “We Love Cities” campaign, please visit WeLoveEvanston.org or call Sustainability Manager Catherine Hurley at 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents in Evanston can simply dial 3-1-1.

Cultural Fund Grant applications are due January 30th!

#1 hopefully you have an art project that needs funding 

#2 please send this email to artists in Evanston who might be interested

Evanston Cultural Fund Grant applications are due January 30th

http://www.cityofevanston.org/arts-culture/cultural-fund-grant-program/

All grant submissions are due by 5:00 PM on January 30th.  Applications must be submitted online.  The Cultural Fund now features three grant categories: Grants to Organizations, Special Projects and Programs, and Individual Artist Projects.

There are lots of positive changes including online applications, higher grant award limits, changes to eligibility and more. 

To read more about our Cultural Grant Program or to apply for a grant, click here.

PURPOSE AND FUNDING SOURCES

The Evanston Arts Council was established by mandate of the Evanston City Council in 1975 to provide leadership and advocacy for the promotion, development and accessibility of the arts and to create opportunities for artistic excellence in our community. The goal of the Cultural Fund Grant Program is to sustain and advance our community’s arts industry. Evanston’s vision for its Cultural Fund Program is to activate the extraordinary assets of the community to develop Evanston as an arts hub and destination.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. By providing financial assistance to not-for-profit arts organizations, the Cultural Fund supports artistic excellence throughout the community. The Arts Council strongly encourages the development of broader participation by Evanston’s diverse cultural community through collaborative efforts among artists, arts organizations, and the greater community.

** Note: All grant applications must be submitted online.  Paper copies will no longer be accepted.

ELIGIBILITY FOR FUNDING

There are three granting categories in the Cultural Arts Program. Applicants may only apply for one grant and must specify the category. Please be sure that you are filling out the correct application.

The categories and eligibility are as follows:

Grants to Organizations – Funding is awarded to Evanston nonprofit arts organizations for operating support or capacity-building efforts. The maximum grant request is $4000.00, although the actual grant award may be less than that.

Special Programs and Projects – Funding is awarded to nonprofit arts organizations for projects or programs that serve residents in the City of Evanston. The organization may be located outside Evanston, but the organization must clearly demonstrate that the program or project service area is within Evanston’s borders. The maximum grant request is $4000.00, although the actual grant award may be less than that.

Individual Artist Projects – To an Evanston artist for a specific public fine or performing art project. The artist must be a resident of Evanston to be eligible, and the project must occur within Evanston. The maximum grant request is $2000.00, although the actual grant award may be less than that.

If you would like further information on the narrative and fiscal information required for Grants to Organizations and Grants to Special Programs and Projects before starting an application, please review these Grants to Special Programs/Projects and Grants to Organizations Application Outlines. These outlines are meant help organizations decide which one of these two grants is more appropriate for their particular needs. 

Further descriptions and explanations are contained within the applications.  For all other questions and inquiries, please contact Cultural Arts Coordinator Jennifer Lasik at 847-859-7835.

To read more or apply for a Cultural Fund Grant, please click on the appropriate link:

Organizations
Special Programs & Projects
Indvidual Artists
 

Take the Divvy Survey

Tell Divvy planners what you think of proposed Divvy locations

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/divvylocations


Community members are invited to learn and share input on the City’s coming Divvy Bike Share program at a community meeting on Tues., Jan. 13, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the Morton Civic Center Council Chambers.

The City of Evanston is partnering with the City of Chicago to expand Divvy Bike Share to Evanston in 2015 thanks to a $3 million state investment in the program, which will add 700 new bikes and 70 docking stations in Evanston, Oak Park and Chicago.

At the meeting, City of Evanston staff and Divvy representatives will provide an overview of bike sharing, review the process for station recommendations, and outline program goals and next steps. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and vote on their preferences for the eight initial Evanston station locations.

Meeting presentations and the survey will be made available online following the meeting. For more information, visit cityofevanston.org/divvybike or call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents can also dial 3-1-1 in Evanston.