New Artist Residency Program at Squirrel Haus

This is exciting! a studio space upstairs at Squirrel Haus. Michael and I wanted to open up the opportunity for an artist in Minneapolis or St. Paul who might need to concentrate on their art for 3 months at a time. It’s been a bad year for all of us. Maybe you lost studio spaces with your job. Maybe you are making art on your kitchen table and need some place to leave it all out! We want to provide just a little glimmer of hope at getting back to normal. So go to the link and apply. SQUIRREL HAUS ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM

George Floyd. No justice, No Peace

38th and Chicago

Hi nuts, it’s been a rough few weeks for all of us in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The murder of George Floyd has rocked us out of the complacency of systemic racism. I can now admit I am a racist because I was complicit in the sytem that does not support black and brown people. And I was admittedly asleep on this issue. I hope to learn and change this behavior and be part of a greater change in our 400 year old history that denies black and brown people the same advantages as this white woman.

Squirrel Haus was not burned. Nor were our immediate neighbors Alexanders Auto works and Capital Distribution. Michael continues to build furnature for friends and I am painting.

Squirrel Haus will continue to be a gathering place for the community. Maybe this Fall. But we want everyone to be safe. I love my town. We can get this right. Spidie

Covid-19

Squirrel Haus is shuttered except for individual meetings. Stay healthy Minneapolis

Bear thoughts 2020

Hi, Nuts! The big squirrel, Michael, here on hiatus with Spidie in Palm Springs California. The weather is fine, and the mountains and dessert beautiful providing the perfect backdrop for Squirrel Haus Arts 2020 planning.

2019 was a banner year with a total of 200 plus days (many with multiple events same day) booked at Squirrel Haus Arts. 

2020 is off to a good start with a market featuring products from the BIPOC (black, indigenous  people of color) community Saturday, Feb 8th with @supportlocalhustle Come enjoy in the comfort and warmth of our building. This will be followed by the annual League of Longfellow Artists Fine Arts show Feb 22nd-23rd and Feb 29th-30th. Watch for our first to be believed fashion show, with @fashion.shenanigans. And, we are working on idea of weekly Summer Sunday outdoor market. Plus, we will continue to develop our 100% compostable objective.

Yes, 2020 will be a great year and we don't want you to miss anything so please “Like” us on FB, join Mail Chimp on our web site or frequently visit our social media for events and happenings.

Thank you to all who have utilized our building and to those of you who have attended events. We are blessed by your talent, commitments and presence in the community.

Cheer!…..Michael “Bear” Meyer

Traveling across the west

Michael and I spend some time away from SHA to warm up in Palm Springs. This year I drove in order to reflect and see the country. On my stop off in Santa Fe I stayed at the LA FONDA one of the oldest on the plaza. It’s a fantastic place but better yet is what I have to share with you about their Green initiatives.

I wrote the general manager about the dumb little plastic bottle that hotels have in the bathroom and this was their response:

Hi Donna,

Thank you so much for the lovely note and compliments.  You made my day!

I’m happy to report that we are right now in the process of evaluating wall-mounted shampoo/conditioner dispensing units for all of our rooms.  I think we will have them in place by the end of the 1st Quarter.  I agree, single use bottles are a scourge to our planet.  We are also looking at providing refillable water bottles and installing more water dispensers around the hotel.  However, it’s hard to run new water pipes in a one hundred year old building!

Did you notice our Nespresso pods are being recycled?  Nespresso provides postage-paid bags for us to ship those pods back to them… bravo for their efforts!  

Thank you again, and I trust you will enjoy the remainder of your stay!

All my best,
Rik

This is what we love to hear from responsible companies that know their guests what a plastic free planet. Way to go La Fonda!

Plastic Free Squirrel Haus

Hiya Nuts, Spidie here, Squirrel Haus converted to compostable plates, cups and flatware in 2019 for events. We have managed to reduce our recycle and trash rate by about 80%

In 2020 we are encouraging our clients to offer only compostable service and reduce or eliminate their use of single use plastic.

This is a topic close to my heart. While climate change is inevitable (and is a huge and sad reality) Michael and I have made changes to reduce waste. Because that we can control. And so can all of us. Power to the nuts.