Don Hammer
On July 20, the Grand Marais Art Colony announced the resignation of Director Don Hammer. Art Colony Board Member David Hahn said Hammer had been replaced by Amy Demmer.
Hammer was hired in fall of 2008. Contacted as to his plans, Hammer said he hopes to be able to stay in Grand Marais, but said he is uncertain what his plans are. “I’m taking some time off; doing some canoeing, working in my shop, and working at WTIP. I’ll be involved in this community in whatever way I can.”
“I’m a strong proponent of the arts and that doesn’t change,” said Hammer.
Amy Demmer is leaving her position as an assistant to Duluth Mayor Don Ness. She was project coordinator for “Prosperity Agenda,” which, according to Demmer was a “citywide collaborative effort to increase income and build assets of Duluth residents and businesses.”
Demmer enjoyed the Duluth job, but her heart is in Grand Marais, where she first lived as a North House Folk School intern in 2006. Working at North House inspired her to become an artisan bread baker. And she hoped to find a way to return to the North Shore.
She feels her background in administration and her work toward her Master’s Degree in Advocacy and Political Leadership (MAPL) with UMD will lend itself well to overseeing the Art Colony. Her focus in non-profit administration.
“I’m really excited about the Art Colony and plugging into the community, making the Art Colony a very visible, community hub.”
Demmer will be working with the Art Colony board whose members are David Hahn, Sandi Pillsbury-Gredzens, Pat Bigelow, Joyce Yamamoto, Sharon Frykman, Jan Morris, Sara Métis, Kjersti Vick, and Mike Carlson.
The Art Colony has had seven directors since 2001: Jay Andersen (who held the role for 12 years); Virginia Reiner, Linda Bauer, Jane Johnson, Jean Marie Modl, Leah Thomas, and Don Hammer.
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