By Melissa Slachetka
Northeast Beat Contributor

Spring is officially here, and that means puddles, green buds, longer days, and Art-A-Whirl.

The annual Northeast arts celebration is two months away, but artists are already working hard to prepare for the anticipated event.

For four friends and studio-mates, there’s overflowing excitement about their first Art-A-Whirl in the Northrup King Building, a former seed company space that’s now home to well over 100 artists.

Emmy White, Calvin deRuyter, Marie Hammond and Erica Eberspacher moved into a third-floor studio there in January. With over 2000 square feet, it is not so much a studio, as an amazingly huge showcase with high ceilings and windows that look out at Northrup’s symbolic water tower.

“I’ve loved art since the 1st grade,” Eberspacher said.

The self-proclaimed ‘newbies’ of Art-A-Whirl talked about how events like Art-A-Whirl make it more acceptable to be an artist. Artists here used to be isolated, but now they are grouping together in buildings like the Northrup King, the Waterbury, the California, and the new Casket building.

“It’s a fantastic building with such talent. It humbles you,” said painter Jan Hammerstrom, another artist with a studio in the Northrup King Building.

Other artists in the building are also looking forward to the exposure Art-A-Whirl brings to their community.

One of the building’s lofts holds Susan Fryer Voigt: an enthusiastic woman with bright red hair and paint smudging her fingers. Voigt teaches Perpetual Art Class out of her studio. Experimenting with new processes in art and technology, Voigt mixes pastels with varnish, prints on fabric scrolls and does a power point presentation in all her classes.

“Susan used to go into her parent’s garage [when she was younger] and mix things together," said Eberspacher, a former student. Transferring technology into art is what she calls “the great experiment.”  Voigt is working to have interactive art classes broadcast on the Internet from her studio.

In another studio, the Art-A-Whirl preparations include sketching, painting and furniture building.

“Engraved memories” inspired Blanca Martinez. Colombian-born, Martinez came to the United States without any knowledge of the language. Despite living in this country for over twenty years, her voice is soft and exotically accented; her smile generous. Some of her most compelling works are cave-dwelling paintings inspired by the caves in France.

Martinez shares a studio with Hammerstrom. “I’ve been working with art since I could hold a pencil,” Hammerstrom said. Her paintings and sketches run the gamut from human forms and faces, African inspired, mixed media, and nature. The third woman in the studio is Barb Nygaard who labors intensely on tiny hand built furniture.

One growing challenge for artists as more attention is paid to its art scene: standing out in the crowd. “This can be a two-edged sword,” deRuyter said, adding that marketing is a good thing, but with so many artists in the same place, sometimes if you do not have a ‘wow’ factor you can be overlooked.

Art-A-Whirl certainly draws a crowd. “I was too busy to look outside,” commented Voight on last year’s event. “The hallways were packed like sardines,” duRyter said.

There is a lot to see and do at Art-A-Whirl. One new building has been added to the event this year: the Casket Building. Formerly the Northwestern Casket Company, it produced caskets until 2005. Originally built in 1887, it is one of the oldest buildings in the Twin Cities. This new entry to Art-A-Whirl has plenty of artist lofts, as well as a common space for exhibitors.

Art-A-Whirl takes place the third weekend in May. Nancy Sartor is in charge of promotions and marketing for this year’s Art-A-Whirl. Sartor stated that on Thursday May 18 there will be a preview party and silent auction. An opening party will be held Friday, May 19 with beverages, food and music.

Art-A-Whirl continues through the weekend. The new Arts District will be declared on banners during the event and bike maps will be available as an eco-friendly way to experience Art-A-Whirl.

A great way to be involved in Art-A-Whirl is volunteering. According to Katie Sherman, volunteer coordinator, 75 to 100 volunteers are needed for the event. All volunteers will receive an Art-A-Whirl T-shirt, and shifts are usually only two hours long. Volunteers can help out at outdoor kiosks, at the silent auction in the Northrup King building, or as runners throughout the event. “It’s a fun way to meet people, explore artist’s spaces, and get some great experience,” Sherman said.

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Filed under: Art, Bottineau, Logan Park, To-Do