The Hutchinson Public Arts Commission was established in 2006 in order to oversee the donations, maintenance, and funding of public art in the city of Hutchinson, Minnesota. The Commission acts in an advisory capacity to the City Council for the City and makes recommendations to the City Council on issues regarding public art within the city limits.
Members
The Public Arts Commission is composed of seven members, six who serve staggered terms and one who is a member of the City Council. The Director of Planning/Zoning/Building and the Director of Parks/Recreation/Community Education serve as ex-officio members.
Morgan Baum
Morgan is the Owner and CEO of The Clay Coyote in Hutchinson, Minnesota. The Clay Coyote is a small business incubator for emerging ceramic artists in central Minnesota. From 2004 to 2016, Morgan worked for the national nonprofit Consumer Reports where she educated the public and helped to empower consumers to make the marketplace more fair, safe, and healthy for everyone. Most recently serving as the Associate Director of Development, leading the Consumer Reports’ major donor giving efforts. Morgan previously worked for the Center for Public Integrity as an investigative reporter and researcher.
Morgan is a 2001 graduate from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls where she studied political science, journalism, and art. In 2013, Morgan graduated with honors from Columbia University where she completed her Master’s in fundraising and nonprofit management. In her spare time she and her husband enjoy traveling, playing golf, and working with local nonprofits.
Justin Beck
Justin was born and raised in Hutchinson. He is excited to be serving on the Public Arts Commission and giving back to his hometown. Justin is a visual artist working in the medium of photography and is passionate about supporting working artists.
“The PAC is a great asset to our community and provides unique arts experiences for everyone, so I am happy to be contributing my ideas to the commission.”
Brandon Begnaud, City Council Rep.
Brandon and his wife, Charlotte, moved to Hutchinson in 2014. They have four children: Leo, Willy, Woody, and Evelyn. Brandon grew up in Hastings, Minnesota, and loves all that Hutchinson has to offer. He serves fulltime as the Worship & Music Director at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Hutchinson.
Brandon’s involvement in our community goes far beyond his service at church. He also plays piano for community events such as Hutchinson Theatre Company musicals and productions, Jaycee Water Carnival Miss Hutchinson pageants and coronations, and Crow River Singers. Brandon also helps co-lead Common Cup Ministry’s “Coming Together In Song” concert fundraisers, and provides music and tech support for various other community events throughout the year.
Steve Cook
A resident of Hutchinson since 1983, Steve served as mayor from 2005-2014 and as a city council member from 2016-2020. While mayor Steve initiated the public art program after the dedication of the Hutchinson Brothers statue in 2005 as a way to increase public art in the community. Since that time the Public Arts Commission was established, the Sculpture Stroll was created with the number of rotating pieces growing from six to thirteen locations. and the number of permanent sculptures in the city’s collection has increased from three to twelve. In addition, two murals grace downtown buildings through the efforts of private parties, with the support of the public arts commission and the city.
Steve enjoys art in all its forms and was involved in the creation of the Crow River Area Youth Orchestra (which at one point had 130 members), served on the Hutchinson Center for the Arts board, and has volunteered with the RiverSong Music Festival, the MN Pottery Festival and the Historic Hutchinson Cemetery Tour. Steve is also an advocate for the local park and trail systems, and he appreciates how they and the arts complement each other.
Jackie Fuchs
Jackie is a Hutchinson native, born and raised. She received her AAS in Administrative Support from Ridgewater College in 2008, and her BFA in Creative Writing from Hamline University in 2014. She works as an office assistant for Westlund Associates.
In addition to the Public Arts Board, Jackie is also on the Talent Committee for RiverSong Music Festival and is the talent contact for Music in the Park; she is a member of the Heartland Fall Forum staff for the Midwest Independent Bookstore Association and volunteers with the MN Pottery Festival. She loves books and reading, going to museums, and spending time with her cat, Gizmo.
Patrick Hiltner
Patrick has been a resident of Hutchinson for twenty-three years and is a high school English teacher at Glencoe-Silver Lake Public Schools. He is also a director of the one act play and spring play at GSL High School.
A founding member of the Hutchinson Theater Company, Patrick was active as a board member, president, director, and actor for many years. In addition, he has volunteered for other art groups in Hutchinson including RiverSong and the MN Pottery Festival.
Kay Voigt
Kay has a degree in art education. She taught elementary art in Hutchinson for 20 years. After she retired, she became active in Historic Hutchinson when her husband attended the Blandon Leadership Workshop with Jim Fahey. It was Jim who used his Blandon idea project to start Historic Hutchinson and Kay’s husband thought that would be a good group for them to become involved.
Kay is getting back into making art with a granddaughter who has helped her remember that she used to love to make art. Oil painting and graphic art were her favorite genre. Her latest goal is to make her own Christmas cards and to sketch an old oak tree that is in prominent view from their farm apartment. It is at that farm where she and husband watch birds, garden and entertain family. They have 4 grown children and 6 grandchildren.
