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Twin Cities Outdoor Theater, ‘Tis the Season

The weather is nice, the spring storms are easing off and we are entering our other season in Minnesota, ‘road construction’. That means it must be time for outdoor theater.

Perhaps because the winters here tend toward the cold and snowy, this past year being a bit of an exception, we do tend to enjoy our outdoor friendly seasons in a big way. Minneapolis has been ranked one of the top …more…

A Moment to Remember, Minneapolis

This month I intended to write in depth about a number of exciting events that are happening in the Twin Cities, and after a fashion I suppose I will. The thing is, this month I have been reminded why all of these wonderful events are out there to be seen. It is because of the people who dedicate themselves, often for little recognition and less remuneration, to the art of …more…

Environmental art has a story to tell

Shelly Leitheiser’s latest exhibit, “Kinetic Connections,” is currently showing at the WARM Gallery in the Minnesota Women’s Center. Aside from being powerful commentaries about the environment, Leitheiser’s paintings in this exhibit raise questions about art and politics.

"Erosion" by Shelly Leitheiser

For starters, Leitheiser’s paintings tell a story. That fact in itself draws the artist into a minefield. While narrative painting was once a popular and accepted style, 20th-century modernists refused …more…

A Trio of Instrumental Concerts in Minneapolis this Weekend

There is no shortage of instrumental music experiences this weekend in Minneapolis.

On Friday or Saturday night, you can make your way to Orchestra Hall to hear the Minnesota Orchestra with a guest conductor performing an intense program of seriously beautiful music by three composers of the 20th century.

Jarvi Conducts Rachmaninoff at Orchestra Hall 
Friday, May 4, 8 PM
Saturday, May 5, 8 PM

 

Kristjan Jarvi conducts the Minnesota Orchestra playing Stravinsky’s Symphony in Three …more…

Antiwar Art: An Idea Whose Time Has Come—Again

"The Volunteer" by Shelly Leitheiser

Social and political contradictions — a daily reality of life in America — are often tough to acknowledge, and most of us spend our days ignoring or denying the most egregious of them.

Take war. The hard truth is that war kills people, harms the environment, bankrupts nations, destroys international relations, endangers democracy and rarely solves political disagreements. Americans have lived with uninterrupted war for over …more…

Top 10 Picks for the St. Paul Art Crawl

"Mears Park" by Richard Abraham

It’s Spring—and that means art crawls! From Friday, April 27th, through Sunday, April 29th, hundreds of artists and art dealers will open their studios and galleries throughout St. Paul. Deciding which to visit can be daunting, especially if your time is limited. Here are my top ten artist picks (in no particular order)!

1. Jesikah Orman (Lowertown Lofts Coop 5th Atrium): works in mixed media on …more…

Top 10 Picks for the St. Paul Art Crawl

Mears Park by Richard Abraham

It’s Spring—and that means art crawls! From Friday, April 27th, through Sunday, April 29th,  hundreds of artists and art dealers will open their studios and galleries throughout St. Paul. Deciding which to visit can be daunting, especially if your time is limited. Here are my top ten artist picks (arranged according to gallery)!

1. Jesikah Orman (Lowertown Lofts Coop 5th Atrium): works in mixed media on …more…

Hospitality in the Twin Cities? That’s Radical!

In an old firehouse in the diverse, vibrant and artistic community that is the West Bank neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Mixed Blood Theatre recently introduced a novel way to see a play. They call it Radical Hospitality. It means that any person can attend any mainstage production of theirs at no cost. A generous number of seats are held for free admission and are filled on a first come, first …more…

The Dragons Are Singing Tonight in Minneapolis!

It is the Year of the Dragon, and there just happens to be a nasty, nasty dragon at The Southern Theater in downtown Minneapolis. But don’t worry – an ordinary boy, a magical girl, a boys choir and an aerialist troupe are there as well, in a project that exemplifies collaboration and thinking outside the musical theater box: The Dragons Are Singing Tonight!

TigerLion Arts, perhaps best known for their touring …more…

“World Beats: Global Contemporary Art” at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

River Escape Panel

Currently showing at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, “World Beats: Global Contemporary Art” is an eclectic mix of paintings, painted photographs, sculpture and found-object art by eight artists whose works range from the glib to the ironic to the poignant.

My choice for most dramatic impact is an arrangement of nine panels—from a larger group of 50—by Cy Thao, a Hmong-American whose family fled Laos in 1975, when …more…

Art for Everyone in 2012!

Museums and galleries in Minneapolis and St. Paul are offering great exhibits throughout 2012. From plein air to modern to contemporary, there’s something for everyone’s taste. Here’s a short list of some major events happening this month. ...more...