The date for the 2nd annual Art 4 Shelter benefit has been set for Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 at Chambers Hotel in Minneapolis.

What is Art 4 Shelter?
Art 4 Shelter is a benefit for Simpson Housing Services that exhibits and sells original artworks on paper by emerging and established artists. Each piece sells for $30 and the works are only signed on the back, meaning that you may end up with a piece by a famous artist or by an unknown artist. Either way, you’ll nab some awesome art while helping house people experiencing homelessness.

Donate!
We know a lot of you readers are (damn good) artists. The site hasn’t yet been updated with this 2012 dates, but check out the submission guidelines and get a-crackin’!

1,186 original works were donated last year, raising over $30,000!

It’s a Halloween Poster Show!! With a ton of sweet posters designed by local artists such as Amy Jo, TOOTH, Adam Turman, DWITT, Erik Hamline, Lucas Richards/MouseSaw, and others! Get your scare on and go to the opening party (costumes encouraged)…maybe imbibe at Amsterdam afterwards…

Scary Ink! Halloween Poster Show OPENING*
Saturday, October 29
7pm-10:30pm
375 Wabasha St N
St Paul, MN 55102

*Scary Ink! will run at Big Table Studio from Oct 29 – Nov 19

Artifact Shore’s track Busted Up is featured on The Wire Tapper 27 – the Wire’s CD compilation that comes free with their November issue. Go grab a copy, and don’t forget to like Artifact Shore!

It’s a New Zealand icon – the famous Buzzy Bee. We’re printing up these posters at Big Table Studio for Spunk pal (and Kiwi) Aaron Pollack and his band Quarter Acre Lifestyle.

Great news for your poster needs: the Big Table Studio online store went live this week! Go have a look, maybe grab a poster while you’re there.

More Joia, more love! From Metro Magazine’s “Metro 100”:

31. Joia soda

The local Boundary Waters Brands company launched this line of not-too-sweet, cocktail recipe-inspired sodas this year, and our lives haven’t been the same since. Check out the July 2011 issue of METRO for a no-fail, boozy punch recipe that features the pineapple-coconut-nutmeg flavor. joialife.com

Good call, Metro Mag!

And you, fine reader, make sure to check out the others at the “Metro 100” link above.

Gene Rebeck wrote a nice article about JOIA All Natural Soda in October’s Twin Cities Business. If you’re interested in reading the JOIA story, find the article HERE. There’s even mention of Spunk in there. And if you haven’t tried the soda yet, make it happen! It will not disappoint.

College of Visual Arts 2011 Leaders of Design Series, 26 Oct – 13 Nov

WOMN: Women in Minnesota Design
Honoring women who’ve helped put Minnesota on the map with graphic design that’s conceptual, meaningful, inspiring, hard working, and pretty powerful.

To see the awesome list of participating lady designers and event time and information, go HERE!

Big thanks to Studio Sweet Studio for the “Make Love in Mpls” shout-out. Go ahead, take a looky. Want one for thine self? Click here.