The Mill City Times Interview: Dianne Walsh and Peter Zenner, Co-Chairs of the Bridgewater Neighbors and Friends of the Arts
Friday, January 8, 2021 at 8:02AMArticle by Becky Fillinger
What do condo associations do? Well, they collect monthly fees, sponsor events for residents and manage the ongoing maintenance of their buildings. Would you believe that a local one also puts together art exhibitions and purchases permanent art collections? Meet Peter Zenner and Dianne Walsh, Co-Chairs of the Bridgewater Neighbors and Friends of the Arts. Their story is innovative, inspiring and a masterclass for other associations to emulate.
Dianne WalshQ: What is the history of the Art @ The Bridgewater rotating art program?
Dianne: In 2014, a small group of Bridgewater residents started exploring the possibilities of rotating art throughout the building. We started by touring art programs at other condo buildings. Then in 2015, we officially formed the Bridgewater Neighbors and Friends of the Arts and hired Alison Price as the curator of our new Art @ The Bridgewater program. Alison is an artist at Northrup King Building and has an extensive network with the artist community in the Twin Cities.
Peter ZennerQ: Please tell us about the program’s development.
Peter: Our first exhibit was unveiled in July 2016, and since that time we have shown a total of 15 exhibitions spotlighting over 160 Twin Cities’ artists. Since the beginning, we have sold $217,000 of art benefiting over 75 artists. The program is completely self-sustainable and is at no cost to the HOA. Our expenses are paid through a 30% commission on all sales as well as donations and sponsorships. The Art @ The Bridgewater program has been very successful.
Q: How has the Bridgewater Lofts community responded?
Dianne: The Bridgewater Lofts community loves the program. We did a survey last year and 97% of respondents were in favor of the rotating art program and were willing to financially support the program by purchasing art and making donations. You hear from the community when the walls go bare between exhibits. Everyone looks forward to the next exhibit with anticipation!
Q: You’ve now started a Bridgewater Art Acquisition program. Please tell us about it.
Dianne: Because of the success of the rotating art program as described by Peter, in 2017 the Board determined that having art in the building was important to the Bridgewater and asked the Art Committee to start a permanent collection.
In 2018, the Art Acquisition Committee began the selection process. It prepared a list of artists in three categories - ceramics, painting and sculpture. At a community forum, the homeowners voted on their favorite artists after seeing multiple samples of their work. The art committee then chose works by the five selected artists and presented the artists and their pieces at a reception in 2019. Thus the Bridgewater Collection was formed! The collection is on display in the lobby alongside the rotating collection.
The Board then asked for additions to the collection in 2020, specifically selected for the recently remodeled Community Room. Because of the pandemic and the inability to meet as a community, the Committee selected the artists and pieces, but also because of the importance of homeowner input into the collection, the Art Community conducted a Zoom presentation to the community seeking approval. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and the Art Committee then submitted to the Board for approval which was granted. The Committee is now in the process of acquiring the selected works.
Past artists represented in the collection are Warren MacKenzie, Maren Kloppman, Leila Denecke, Michael Schmidt and Peter Vanni. New artists include Lisa Nankivil, Ellie Kingsbury, Randy Johnston, Jan McKeachie Johnston, Jodi Reeb, Bob Carls, Brendan Kramp and Denise Tennen. Bridgewater Lofts homeowners are proud of their collection. Each piece is separately marked as owned by the residents.
Sample pieces that have been displayed at the Bridgewater:
White Water Lily Beauty by Vicki Underland-Rosow
A Recipe for Poems by Wendy Shragg
Wet Evening on the Riverfront by Coreen Johnson
Untitled Land 19 by Kimberly Tschida Petters
Slice by Shannon Joy Potter
2 by 2 Olive & Black, Wipe off Citron, Remnants x1 by Beth DorseyDianne: With COVID-19, 2020 was a difficult year. Pre-COVID-19, we had receptions for each opening, serving wine and appetizers and introducing the artists to the Bridgewater community. We hope to return to this practice later in 2021. In 2020, those receptions have been conducted via the Zoom platform with artist presentations. We had also planned outreach to other buildings in 2020, but placed those plans on hold. We would be open to collaboration with other HOA groups.
Q: When is the next opening exhibition? How may we follow your program?
Peter: The next Art @ the Bridgewater exhibit will open on January 29, 2021, again by Zoom, and we will have a virtual art opening where residents and other Mill District neighbors can see the artwork and ask the artists questions. For more information or to participate, please email bnfacommittee@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook.
