Our Mission

 

Our mission is to offer stimulating programming that inspires students of all ages to design and build creative projects. We focus on the process of creating art by giving students the freedom to experiment, imagine and invent with materials they choose to work with.

We present opportunities for creative exploration for all people: from children, youth and families to retirees, non-profit organizations, and people facing physical, emotional and/or financial challenges.

At Messes & Masterpieces our focus is on the creative process, not the product. We allow students to experience art without limiting or controlling their exploration. In the process, they learn that messes clean up and that there is no right or wrong in art.

We profess that process art need not be useful, practical, givable or beautiful – but it often is amazing!

Our Commitment to Community

Since June, 2008, we have held over 100 creative classes for children and adults through Community Education and in combination with other community groups including: the Osceola Art Barn, Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts, Adults with Disabilities, New Richmond and Hudson Area Mom’s Group, Girls Hockey Association, and the New Richmond Centre.

Messes & Masterpieces has held over 30 free artistic events throughout St. Croix County including (but not limited to) collaborations with the City of New Richmond’s Chamber; Heritage Center; Parks and Recreation Department; Community Education; and the Public Library. We are particularly proud of our Annual Fire & Ice Celebration – a free community event facilitated by our board, held at our community outdoor ice rink. This celebration invites local businesses, neighbors, friends and family outside to enjoy ice and snow art, bonfires, winter sports and socializing!

Perhaps our strongest commitment to our community is expressed through the projects which we facilitate but that benefit others. One example of this was our 2010 “Return to School” pilot program which we developed to collect used school supplies at the end of the year, sort them, clean them up and return them to classrooms that could re-use them. Our hope was to ease the burden of families purchasing new school supplies while keeping usable supplies from the landfill. With all the supplies collected from one elementary school, 12 students could have a near complete backpack of supplies and 30 pounds of crayons were collected and taken to a crayon-recycling center to make new ones.

Another example is our “Seeds of Hope” participatory art project, which was created as a fundraiser for the local Relay for Life walk. The 4x8 foot display contained pill bottle caps screwed down to form the shape of three large flowers. Participants donated money to write a seed of hope note to or for a loved one with cancer. The note was rolled up in the bottle and tightened down on the cap – eventually changing the flower color from white to amber – signifying renewed hope. Nearly $300 was raised in 2010 for a cure for cancer.

Our Founders

 

Kevin and Christine Melby and their three children founded Messes & Masterpieces in 2008 as a celebration of hands-on/experiential learning and creativity. They wanted a place where children and adults could create what they imagined without being restrained by traditional techniques and forced artistic guidelines.

 

Christine has a BFA from the College of Visual Arts and has taught creative classes for over 6 years. She’s a contributing writer for Family First (a local newsprint for families) where she offers parents ideas for being creative with their children at home. Christine continues learning on her own, taking classes by other artists to learn new skills to share with others. Her artwork is constantly evolving yet she is particularly fond of book making, felting, collage and finding artistic uses for recycled materials. She has a passion for leading community art projects where she witnesses joy in the process of creating together.

Our Board

 

We are thrilled to work with 8 wonderfully diverse members on our advisory board who come together every month to guide and shape our vision. If you are interested in being on our board, please contact Christine at 651-308-2938.