Pottery and Pollinators at ACC Library Salon Series

The fall Library Salon Series starts Sept. 14 at the American Craft Council Library, 1224 Marshall Street NE, Suite 200. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event begins at 7 p.m. Free, but space is limited. For info and to register: 612-206-3100 or library@craftcouncil.org.

Wednesday, Sept. 14 is Pottery, Pollinators, and Public Engagement. Ceramist Anna Metcalfe works at the junction of craft and public art. For her latest project, Pollinator Picnics, she invites the public to experience the tangible connections between bees and the food we eat. Join Metcalfe and Kristy Lynn Allen, founder of The Beez Kneez, LLC, a local organization dedicated to reviving and supporting honeybee habitats in the Twin Cities, for a conversation about community and environmental sustainability.

Sunday, Sept. 25 the theme continues with an ACC Member Potluck Pollinator Picnic, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Boom Island Park, 724 Sibley St. NE, Shelter A. From the ACC: “In connection with our September salon, we’re hosting our own member pop-up picnic. Join us at Boom Island Park as we share a meal on handmade ceramic picnic plates, bowls, and cups made by Anna Metcalfe in collaboration with several local artists and designers. All of the utensils will arrive at the picnic in wooden crates that have been designed for transport and on a custom-made cargo tricycle. The event will combine honeybee science, hands-on bee-related craft projects for all ages, and a chance to bring your favorite dish to share.” To register for this free event, visit bit.ly/accbees.

Looking ahead, on Wednesday, Nov. 9 the Library Salon Series will feature The Art of Participation: A Conversation with Peter Haakon Thompson and Sam Gould at the library.

Artists are connecting with individuals, neighborhoods, nonprofits, and local businesses in new and creative ways thanks to projects like Springboard for the Arts’ Ready Go and Sam Gould’s Beyond Repair. Offering the public a chance to participate in the act of making, Ready Go and Beyond Repair provide exciting tools to help local artistic and literary communities engage with new audiences. Join Springboard’s community development coordinator, Peter Haakon Thompson, and Beyond Repair’s Sam Gould as they discuss their respective programs and the many ways artists are interacting with their neighbors in the Twin Cities.

ACC Library Open House + Craft Sale will happen Saturday, December 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join us in the ACC Library for a festive holiday celebration featuring exhibits, programs, interactive activities, and works for sale by several of our favorite local makers. Visit the website or follow the American Craft Council on social media for more details this fall.