Mission
Artify Sauk Centre is a group dedicated to beautifying Sauk Centre and enriching the lives of our community members through public art.
We accomplish this goal in collaboration with the city, local artists, businesses and civic groups to create public art, which supports economic vitality and tourism.
History of Artify Sauk Centre
We started as a group of volunteers authorized by the city of Sauk Centre to fund-raise and oversee the rehab of the Sauk Centre Band Shell. Over the years, we have had the pleasure of involving many community members on as volunteers on our committee and for our various public art projects.
The group grew as a sub-committee of the Sauk Centre Area Community Foundation. We used the Community Legacies Foundation as our Fiscal Manager until our incorporation as a 501c3 in April 2024.
Our current board meets monthly to discuss current and future projects.
President & Webmaster Marisa George, is the Library Services Coordinator for Great River Regional Libraries of Sauk Centre and Upsala. She has years of library, technology, training and art/design experience. She is a perpetual student, whose goal is to share the joy of creativity and life long learning with others.
Vice President & Project Manager, Mike Wiesser is a Sauk Centre native. He lived and worked in Southern California much of his adult life before moving back to Sauk Centre upon retirement. He is passionate about using his business experiences for the beautification and fundraising efforts of Sauk Centre.
Treasurer Pam Borgmann is founder and President of Community Legacies Foundation, Inc. who was our fiscal agent for many years, before Artify became incorporated as a 501c3. A native of Sauk Centre she aims to keep Sauk Centre a vibrant, viable community thru arts and commerce. She writes the grants and coordinates activities between the Project Manager and the Artists.
Secretary Jim Himanga joined the group after his contribution of the Children's Literature full mural panorama summer 2018.
"I am a Petroleum Exploration Geologist in Texas with roots in Sauk Centre. I remember eating a Hot Beef dipped at John’s place, $1.00 a carload at the Drive-In, beeping horns as applause for bandshell concerts, and fishing below the dam." His aim in Artify Sauk Centre is to "celebrate the past and work towards the future."
Local artist Roger Reinardy has long envisioned ways to Artify Sauk Centre, having his eye set on the Band Shell for nearly ten years before the mural became a reality. He designs the murals and provides the know-how while being willing to work along side anyone wanting to join efforts.
Cara Lewis has a love of arts and the community. She is the Manager of the Sauk Centre branch of the Great River Federal Credit Union and a member of the Rotary Club. She knew as soon as she heard about Artify Sauk Centre she wanted to be a part of it.
Cathy Raef-Dunnigan
Dámaris Peterson
