Joe Watson

I’d like to focus on the art scene in Benson, for this issue. We need to form a “Benson artist’s guild.” This would include patrons of the arts as well. It’s time to focus on the future of the arts in Benson. If you walk around Benson, stroll down Maple on a Saturday afternoon, stop in the restaurants, window shop, pick up that sandpaper at the True Value, or at night visit the clubs, a music scene is building. You will see artists- everywhere. We need to develop this part of our community. My band has played at the Summer Arts Festival downtown, and at Dundee days. (Saturday night at 10 there were 1600 people dancing in Dundee) We could put together something like this, Benson. We have better parking, more room. Let’s work together and make it happen, shall we?

We have artists with storefronts on Maple, Blue Pomegranate, 6570 Maple, Ann and Sondra make their space shine. Every work is hand crafted on site- I have several of their pieces at home. Christy Pederson at Adventures in Art, 6001 Maple Street has art on consignment, a wide variety of classes, from stained glass to acrylics, and has a performance space. There is a private gallery on the north side of Maple. There is Mojo’s studio on Military. Artist’s like Lori Livingston-Hubbell whose work is showing at Mick’s right now, and Wayne Brekke, with his traveling shows, in the coffee houses, music clubs, libraries, wherever they can. Stop at Mark Goodall’s office and visit with Robo and Reba Doe. Mark is the guy who got the ball rolling for Benson. If you have seen a change in the Benson scene these last few years, this is the guy who got things started.

We have potters, Tom Hubbell and Dirk Gillespie, who have their studios at home and take their wares on tour. Photographers like Jack Hubbell, cartoonists and sign painters, performance artists and luthiers. Oh, and those musicians. Vince Egan, Beth McBride, John Hargiss, to name a few, we have plenty of those, too. We have poets, like those that meet on Thursday at 7:30 at Micks for the crossroads Poetry Slam. Nat Derickson, Andy Neely, Matt Mason- if they are not from here at least they come to Benson- it’s a part of the mix, it’s making things happen.

We need the patrons of the arts to step up, the supporters, those who see the potential. It is coming. We can do it, Benson. It takes a team effort. If you would like to participate in this movement, e-mail me, gitrjoe@msn.co Perhaps we should start with a directory. We could have a monthly meeting- at the Oddfellows hall, perhaps? Seems somehow appropriate.