It’s hard to believe I’ve been with Yankton Area Arts for a full year this February. It has truly been a wonderful 12 months and I am looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of my second year.

Perhaps the greatest challenge I face is time; as the first month of 2010 has flown by and the days seem to pass ever more quickly. Of course this realization couldn’t have come at a better time of year! Truth be told — if I had access to a time machine, the next few paragraphs would describe how I’m planning to jump a few months ahead while cheering, “Look out, summer, here I come!”

Indeed, with all the snow on the ground — and that mean old groundhog pulling the stunt he did this week — it’s hard to believe that summer will be here anytime soon. But here in the Yankton Area Arts office, we remain hopefully optimistic that a magical warm weather time machine will somehow materialize; because with summer comes some of our most anticipated events. In fact, we are actually already hard at work on the 2010 Riverboat Days/Summer Arts Festival.

Although the festival won’t arrive until the weekend of Aug. 20 -22, art vendor applications have already started coming into our office. I’m enjoying the arrival of each and every one as they remind me of the warm summer fun ahead! If you are interested in being a vendor you can find the application form on our Web site at www.YanktonAreaArts.org or you can get more information by contacting the office at 605-665-9754. The application deadline this year is March 1, 2010.

Despite the recent weather, there have still been lots of great things happening down at the G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery in recent weeks. This past weekend we had the pleasure of hosting a reception for artists Cory Knedler and Shannon Sargent. The gallery talk was wonderful and we have had a great response from the community about the reception. A big thank you goes out to Cory and Shannon for spending their Saturday at the gallery. If you have not had the chance to stop in and see their work in our current exhibition “Collaborationism”, please stop into the gallery before Feb. 16.

While you are visiting the gallery, please also take a moment and visit the artist showcase. Yankton Area Arts is working with area artist to provide a venue for them to sell their art. As in prior years, our patrons had a wonderful time perusing the many unique handmade gifts during our recent Crimson Door Holiday Show, and we want to make sure this type of opportunity is available throughout the year. Currently we are featuring work by Cheryl Halsey-Peterson, Art Ciccotti, Dick Cuddihy, Dawne Olson, and Genevieve Echols. If you have a favorite artist you would like to see at the gallery, please contact our office. And remember, Yankton Area Arts members receive 10 percent off all their gallery purchases — so be sure to stop by when you are looking for that one of a kind gift.

It has been a great first year for me at Yankton Area Arts and I have loved getting to know so many folks in the process. The organization works tirelessly and maintains such a great focus on our community’s art needs. It’s such a neat opportunity for me to work with such fine people. Of course, that means the only thing I have to complain about is the weather. Which reminds me, if you have your own personal time machine, please let me know right away. Oh, and if you see that groundhog, tell him I’m looking for him!

YAA Calendar of Events:

• through Feb. 16 — “Collaborationism” featuring the work of Cory Knedler and Shannon Sargent at the G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery.

• Feb. 6 — “Spearfish Canyon; First Impressions” featuring the work Janet Jensen Reception: 2-4 p.m. at W.H. Over Museum in Vermillion, 1110 Ratigen Street. The event is free and open to the public.

• Feb. 19-March 16: Annual Youth Art Show featuring the works of Yankton Middle School students at the G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery.

The G.A.R. Hall Gallery and Yankton Area Arts office are located at 508 Douglas Avenue, Yankton. The gallery is open to the public free of charge from 1-5 p.m. weekdays and from 1-3 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, please contact Pam Meylor, executive director, via e-mail at Pam@YanktonAreaArts.org, visit our Web site at www.YanktonAreaArts.org or drop us a line at 665-9745.