Ian Francis Lah is an actor and the executive artistic director for the Northern Lakes Art Association in Ely, Minn. He’s currently in rehearsals for the musical “Songs for a New World,” but this week he took time out to sing the praises of another event. “I love this time of year in Ely, Minnesota, because it’s when the Blueberry Art Festival happens, he said of the festival, which features more than 200 artists and crafters, 25 food vendors, a beer garden, and freshly baked blueberry pies. “It’s a wild time. Ten thousand people pass through a day and that is triple the amount of citizens in Ely.” The Blueberry Art Festival takes place in Whiteside Park and runs from Friday, July 28, through Sunday, July 30.By day, Carolyn Cherry is an educator with the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District. In her spare time, she is passionate about nurturing her inner artist. She met fiber artist Deborah Foutch while taking a class built around the book “The Artist’s Way.” Foutch, whose work focuses on the natural world, spends a lot of time mentoring other artists. Cherry was delighted to get a sneak peek at Foutch’s exhibition “Nine Artists in Conversation,” which features the work of Foutch and eight of her mentees. ”It’s a nurturing exhibition for those who want to be creative in different ways,” Cherry said. ”In ‘The Artist’s Way,’ they talk about artist dates, and I think this is the perfect artist date.” The exhibition opens with a reception 6-8 p.m. Saturday, July 29, and runs through August at the On2 Gallery in the California Building in Northeast Minneapolis. Sasha Warren is a Minneapolis writer whose work has been published in the mental health magazine “Asylum.” “I try to pay attention to events both in the literature world and in the disability scene,” he said. Cowchella, put on by Cow Tipping Press “is the real big event that joins the two.” The literary festival features writers with developmental and intellectual disabilities. “Every year there’s some kind of surprise,” he said. “But the best part is just walking around, soaking in the scene and feeling the pervasive joy of the atmosphere.” Cowchella takes place 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, at Springboard for the Arts in St. Paul.

Ian Francis Lah is an actor and the executive artistic director for the <a href="https://www.northernlakesarts.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Northern Lakes Art Association</a> in Ely, Minn. He’s currently in rehearsals for the musical “Songs for a New World,” but this week he took time out to sing the praises of another event. “I love this time of year in Ely, Minnesota, because it’s when the <a href="https://www.ely.org/events/annual-events-and-festivals/blueberry-art-festival/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blueberry Art Festival</a> happens, he said of the festival, which features more than 200 artists and crafters, 25 food vendors, a beer garden, and freshly baked blueberry pies. “It’s a wild time. Ten thousand people pass through a day and that is triple the amount of citizens in Ely.” The Blueberry Art Festival takes place in Whiteside Park and runs from Friday, July 28, through Sunday, July 30.By day, Carolyn Cherry is an educator with the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District. In her spare time, she is passionate about nurturing her inner artist. She met fiber artist <a href="https://www.deborahfoutch.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Deborah Foutch</a> while taking a class built around the book “The Artist’s Way.” Foutch, whose work focuses on the natural world, spends a lot of time mentoring other artists. Cherry was delighted to get a sneak peek at Foutch’s exhibition “Nine Artists in Conversation,” which features the work of Foutch and eight of her mentees. ”It’s a nurturing exhibition for those who want to be creative in different ways,” Cherry said. ”In ‘The Artist’s Way,’ they talk about artist dates, and I think this is the perfect artist date.” The exhibition opens with a reception 6-8 p.m. Saturday, July 29, and runs through August at the On2 Gallery in the California Building in Northeast Minneapolis. <a href="https://www.mnopedia.org/creator/sasha-warren" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sasha Warren</a> is a Minneapolis writer whose work has been published in the mental health magazine “Asylum.” “I try to pay attention to events both in the literature world and in the disability scene,” he said. <a href="https://cowtippingpress.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cowchella</a>, put on by Cow Tipping Press “is the real big event that joins the two.” The literary festival features writers with developmental and intellectual disabilities. “Every year there’s some kind of surprise,” he said. “But the best part is just walking around, soaking in the scene and feeling the pervasive joy of the atmosphere.” Cowchella takes place 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, at Springboard for the Arts in St. Paul.

Art Hounds: Ely is about to get crowded

Singer-songwriter Katy Vernon, who was born in London and now lives in White Bear Lake, Minn., recommends Theatre 55’s production of  “A Chorus Line – In Concert,” based on the 1975 musical about aspiring Broadway dancers.“Everything they do is geared towards performers 55 and up,” she says. “And as a performer myself, reaching that age in the next few years, I just really am encouraged and inspired by theater that shows none of us have an expiration date.”She adds: “‘A Chorus Line’ is all about putting yourself out there.”Performances run Friday through July 23 at Caponi Art Park in Eagan.Pamela McNulty of Minnetonka has been retired for four years after two decades of working in fundraising for women's higher education. Her recommendation, Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” is produced by The Gray Mallard Theater Co. and is their second production.“It is incredibly special, given the wonderful production, the fact that it's free and open to everyone in the community and presented by outstanding actors who are diverse,” McNulty says. “They provide Shakespeare in a brand new manner.”Performances will be at Sociable Cider Werks in Minneapolis in the parking lot. It runs July 20-August 6.Amanda Malkin of St. Peter, Minn., is an art conservator. She is also a lover of all things art and music and a mother of twins. Amanda is especially looking forward to the Minnesota Original Music Festival, a network of free concerts, workshops and events in St. Peter beginning July 19.Malkin highlights a unique opportunity at the festival: a 48-hour band challenge.“The challenge is a spirited contest, where all musicians playing original music are encouraged to participate,” Amanda explains. “Through a random draft process, new bands are formed for just 48 hours. The new bands then create a new song together for the event and compete in front of a panel of judges with their original tunes.” Winners showcase their music on the weekend mainstage at Minnesota Square Park. The weeklong festival culminates with concerts on July 22- 23.

Singer-songwriter Katy Vernon, who was born in London and now lives in White Bear Lake, Minn., recommends <a href="https://theatre55.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Theatre 55’s</a> production of  “A Chorus Line – In Concert,” based on the 1975 musical about aspiring Broadway dancers.“Everything they do is geared towards performers 55 and up,” she says. “And as a performer myself, reaching that age in the next few years, I just really am encouraged and inspired by theater that shows none of us have an expiration date.”She adds: “‘A Chorus Line’ is all about putting yourself out there.”Performances run Friday through July 23 at Caponi Art Park in Eagan.Pamela McNulty of Minnetonka has been retired for four years after two decades of working in fundraising for women's higher education. Her recommendation, Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” is produced by <a href="http://www.thegraymallardtheater.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Gray Mallard Theater Co. </a>and is their second production.“It is incredibly special, given the wonderful production, the fact that it's free and open to everyone in the community and presented by outstanding actors who are diverse,” McNulty says. “They provide Shakespeare in a brand new manner.”Performances will be at Sociable Cider Werks in Minneapolis in the parking lot. It runs July 20-August 6.Amanda Malkin of St. Peter, Minn., is an art conservator. She is also a lover of all things art and music and a mother of twins. Amanda is especially looking forward to the <a href="https://mnomf.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Minnesota Original Music Festival</a>, a network of free concerts, workshops and events in St. Peter beginning July 19.Malkin highlights a unique opportunity at the festival: a <a href="https://mnomf.org/mnomf-band-challenge/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">48-hour band challenge</a>.“The challenge is a spirited contest, where all musicians playing original music are encouraged to participate,” Amanda explains. “Through a random draft process, new bands are formed for just 48 hours. The new bands then create a new song together for the event and compete in front of a panel of judges with their original tunes.” Winners showcase their music on the weekend mainstage at Minnesota Square Park. The weeklong festival culminates with concerts on July 22- 23.

Art Hounds: Broadway, Shakespeare and 48-hour bands

Anastasia Hopkins Folpe of Rochester, Minn., first encountered the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona several years ago.“I would describe it as a hidden gem,” Folpe said. “It's on the river in Winona, kind of behind the downtown. You have to hunt for it a little bit.” She credited the museum’s director Scott Pollock for investing in spaces devoted to younger visitors.  “It's just a very welcoming and mellow place. I just like to go there and hang out. I think people just don't know about it. So I hope everyone learns and goes there.”Peg Guilfoyle is a writer living in downtown St. Paul and a longtime arts enthusiast. She’s also a fan of sea shanties.“There is something about coming off the street into a room filled with singing,” she explained. “I'm here to testify to the flat fun of the sea shanty sing-along held monthly at the Dubliner Pub on University Avenue in St. Paul, and also in Minneapolis at Merlin's Rest on Lake Street.”“No band, no sheet music or lyrics and all volunteer singers,” Guilfoyle enthused. “Who knew there were so many people who love sea shanties?”The next sea shanty sing-along will be July 10 at the Dubliner.Katrina Knutson of Minneapolis is a teaching artist and muralist. “You should definitely go check out the Chroma Zone Mural and Art Festival,” she said. The event will feature new murals painted by six artists.“I'm really excited to see work by Sydney James, who is an artist who's visiting from Detroit,” Knutson added, “and Leslie Barlow, one of my very favorite Minnesota painters, will also be painting a mural.”She pointed out additional pleasures of the festival, its location in St. Paul’s Creative Enterprise Zone, between the two downtowns: “It's a great neighborhood to go around because there are dozens of murals within a few blocks of each other,” Knutson said, who takes friends and out of town visitors on a tour of the murals.Events related to the festival are scheduled through Sept. 16, including a talk by artist Sydney G. James at Urban Growler in St. Paul on July 14.

Anastasia Hopkins Folpe of Rochester, Minn., first encountered the <a href="https://mmam.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Minnesota Marine Art Museum</a> in Winona several years ago.“I would describe it as a hidden gem,” Folpe said. “It's on the river in Winona, kind of behind the downtown. You have to hunt for it a little bit.” She credited the museum’s director Scott Pollock for investing in spaces devoted to younger visitors.  “It's just a very welcoming and mellow place. I just like to go there and hang out. I think people just don't know about it. So I hope everyone learns and goes there.”Peg Guilfoyle is a writer living in downtown St. Paul and a longtime arts enthusiast. She’s also a fan of sea shanties.“There is something about coming off the street into a room filled with singing,” she explained. “I'm here to testify to the flat fun of the sea shanty sing-along held monthly at the <a href="https://thedublinerpub.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dubliner Pub</a> on University Avenue in St. Paul, and also in Minneapolis at <a href="https://merlinsrest.com/#" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Merlin's Rest</a> on Lake Street.”“No band, no sheet music or lyrics and all volunteer singers,” Guilfoyle enthused. “Who knew there were so many people who love sea shanties?”The next sea shanty sing-along will be <a href="https://thedublinerpub.com/event/sea-shanty-sing/2023-07-10/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">July 10 at the Dubliner</a>.Katrina Knutson of Minneapolis is a teaching artist and muralist. “You should definitely go check out the <a href="https://www.chromazone.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chroma Zone Mural and Art Festival,</a>” she said. The event will feature new murals painted by six artists.“I'm really excited to see work by <a href="https://playgrounddetroit.com/portfolio/sydney-g-james/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sydney James</a>, who is an artist who's visiting from Detroit,” Knutson added, “and <a href="https://www.lesliebarlowartist.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Leslie Barlow</a>, one of my very favorite Minnesota painters, will also be painting a mural.”She pointed out additional pleasures of the festival, its location in St. Paul’s <a href="https://www.creativeenterprisezone.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Creative Enterprise Zone</a>, between the two downtowns: “It's a great neighborhood to go around because there are dozens of murals within a few blocks of each other,” Knutson said, who takes friends and out of town visitors on a tour of the murals.Events related to the festival are scheduled through Sept. 16, including a talk by artist Sydney G. James at <a href="https://www.urbangrowlerbrewing.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Urban Growler</a> in St. Paul on July 14.

Art Hounds: Water, shanties and murals

Kyle Bernier is a Minneapolis-based art therapist and author of “Lazy Creativity: The Art of Owning Your Creativity.” He wanted to introduce Art Hounds audiences to the work of Susanna Gaunt, whose work can be seen through Sept. 5 at the Merrill Lynch Fine Arts Gallery of the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth.“Susanna is a Duluth-based artist who's been working at the GLA for a year now on the Great Lakes Almanac,” Bernier said. “Susanna has been gathering stories from the community about their engagement with natural history, whether at the aquarium or just out in nature in general. Susanna has taken the survey and created artwork from those stories that she's now put up on display.”Gaunt’s work can also be seen online.Heather Beal of Minneapolis is a journalist who writes about the arts and all aspects of the built and natural environments. She recently heard about an art event that she says “sounds very cool.”The event is Midsummer: a Summer Solstice Festival, taking place Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight at Franconia Sculpture Park in Shafer, Minn. “I've always enjoyed touring Franconia’s grounds because of the wonderful way that more than 100 sculptures by contemporary artists are woven into the landscape,” Beal said. “There is always something new to see and experience. This is why I'm especially looking forward to the Franconia Summer Solstice Festival. It offers opportunities to interact with the work of 10 local artists, including several whose work is in progress or has recently been installed at the park.”  Activities include contributing to a prayer flag installation, making Solstice suncatchers and creating crowns from native flowers, as well as taking part in a maple dance, pine tree derby and a lantern-lit procession. There will also be a sunset observation and a bonfire. At 10 p.m., the Minnesota Astronomical Society will provide telescopes that visitors can use to view the night sky.Laurel Podulke-Smith of Rochester, Minn., is a performing arts enthusiast. She recommends a new production of “A Raisin in the Sun” at the Rochester Repertory Theater. “The Rochester Repertory Theater is unique among community theaters because it's entirely volunteer-staffed,” she says. “I'm excited about this production. Because, first of all, it's a fantastic play, a fantastically dramatic play. It has an almost all-Black cast and it's co-directed by two Black directors, E.G. Bailey and Shá Cage.”The play runs through June 25.

Kyle Bernier is a Minneapolis-based art therapist and author of “Lazy Creativity: The Art of Owning Your Creativity.” He wanted to introduce Art Hounds audiences to the work of Susanna Gaunt, whose work can be seen through Sept. 5 at the <a href="https://glaquarium.org/exhibits/fine-arts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Merrill Lynch Fine Arts Gallery of the Great Lakes Aquarium</a> in Duluth.“Susanna is a Duluth-based artist who's been working at the GLA for a year now on the Great Lakes Almanac,” Bernier said. “Susanna has been gathering stories from the community about their engagement with natural history, whether at the aquarium or just out in nature in general. Susanna has taken the survey and created artwork from those stories that she's now put up on display.”Gaunt’s work can also <a href="https://www.greatlakesalmanac.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">be seen online</a>.Heather Beal of Minneapolis is a journalist who writes about the arts and all aspects of the built and natural environments. She recently heard about an art event that she says “sounds very cool.”The event is <a href="https://www.franconia.org/midsummer/#:~:text=June%2017%2C%202023%2C%205pm%2D,%3B%20parking%20is%20%2410%2Fvehicle." rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Midsummer: a Summer Solstice Festiva</a><a href="https://www.franconia.org/midsummer/#:~:text=June%2017%2C%202023%2C%205pm%2D,%3B%20parking%20is%20%2410%2Fvehicle." rel="nofollow" target="_blank">l</a>, taking place Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight at Franconia Sculpture Park in Shafer, Minn. “I've always enjoyed touring Franconia’s grounds because of the wonderful way that more than 100 sculptures by contemporary artists are woven into the landscape,” Beal said. “There is always something new to see and experience. This is why I'm especially looking forward to the Franconia Summer Solstice Festival. It offers opportunities to interact with the work of 10 local artists, including several whose work is in progress or has recently been installed at the park.”  Activities include contributing to a prayer flag installation, making Solstice suncatchers and creating crowns from native flowers, as well as taking part in a maple dance, pine tree derby and a lantern-lit procession. There will also be a sunset observation and a bonfire. At 10 p.m., the Minnesota Astronomical Society will provide telescopes that visitors can use to view the night sky.Laurel Podulke-Smith of Rochester, Minn., is a performing arts enthusiast. She recommends a new production of “A Raisin in the Sun” at the<a href="https://www.rochesterrep.org/wp/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Rochester Repertory Theater</a>. “The Rochester Repertory Theater is unique among community theaters because it's entirely volunteer-staffed,” she says. “I'm excited about this production. Because, first of all, it's a fantastic play, a fantastically dramatic play. It has an almost all-Black cast and it's co-directed by two Black directors, E.G. Bailey and Shá Cage.”The play runs through June 25.

Art Hounds: Stories from the Great Lakes

Noah Hynick of Minneapolis works at an escape room. He recommends a new play at Bryant Lake Bowl titled “The Assassination of the Archduke of Austria-Hungary Franz Ferdinand.” The play was written by Minnesota stand-up comic Joey Hamburger and is produced by Jackdonkey Productions.“It's all about the events leading up to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand,” Hynick explains. “It's sort of a tragic comedy and follows some real things that happen as well as some not quite true things.” “Lots of places are still feeling the effects of COVID and everything. And now having new theaters come out, I think it's a really good chance to support smaller theaters and new art,” Hynick said.The show runs June 14-17, with an additional performance June 22.Amy Garretson of Rochester is the education and community outreach coordinator with the Rochester Art Center. She’s excited that a new art house movie theater has opened in the Cooke Park neighborhood of Rochester, Pop’s Art Theater.“The type of films they're showing are either films that are shown before the wider release at the big theaters, or they're just independent cinema that you're really just not going to see screened anywhere else in southeast Minnesota,” Garretson said. “After a long drought, there's finally a place where you can go to see interesting, innovative independent cinema here in Rochester.”Pop’s Art Theater’s screenings currently include “Dalíland,” a 2022 film about Salvador Dalí starring Ben Kingsley, and two classics of Hong Kong action cinema, “Police Story 2” with Jackie Chan and 1972’s “Fist of Fury” with Bruce Lee.St. Paul’s Christine Sweet is a former classical music broadcaster with Classical MPR and a current member of the Twin Cities theater community. “Ladyslipper Ensemble is one of my favorite local chamber music ensembles,” she says. “And that's because every time I've been to a Ladyslipper concert, I hear something wonderful that I've never heard before — whether it's brand new or just new to me.”She explains that Ladyslipper is “a group of four instrumentalists plus mezzo-soprano Sahar Hassan, who is its director. They typically don't perform as a quintet but in combinations of those instruments, or instruments and voice and sometimes they also have guest performers.”The next Ladyslipper performance will include music of Gabriel Fauré and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, as well as a premiere of a new piece by Minnesota composer Carol Barnett. The event will take place June 12 at MetroNOME Brewery in St. Paul.

Noah Hynick of Minneapolis works at an escape room. He recommends a new play at Bryant Lake Bowl titled “<a href="https://www.bryantlakebowl.com/theater/the-assassination-of-the-archduke-of-austria-hungary-franz-ferdinand" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Assassination of the Archduke of Austria-Hungary Franz Ferdinand</a>.” The play was written by Minnesota stand-up comic Joey Hamburger and is produced by Jackdonkey Productions.“It's all about the events leading up to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand,” Hynick explains. “It's sort of a tragic comedy and follows some real things that happen as well as some not quite true things.” “Lots of places are still feeling the effects of COVID and everything. And now having new theaters come out, I think it's a really good chance to support smaller theaters and new art,” Hynick said.The show runs June 14-17, with an additional performance June 22.Amy Garretson of Rochester is the education and community outreach coordinator with the Rochester Art Center. She’s excited that a new art house movie theater has opened in the Cooke Park neighborhood of Rochester, <a href="https://www.popsarttheater.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pop’s Art Theater</a>.“The type of films they're showing are either films that are shown before the wider release at the big theaters, or they're just independent cinema that you're really just not going to see screened anywhere else in southeast Minnesota,” Garretson said. “After a long drought, there's finally a place where you can go to see interesting, innovative independent cinema here in Rochester.”Pop’s Art Theater’s screenings currently include “Dalíland,” a 2022 film about Salvador Dalí starring Ben Kingsley, and two classics of Hong Kong action cinema, “Police Story 2” with Jackie Chan and 1972’s “Fist of Fury” with Bruce Lee.St. Paul’s Christine Sweet is a former classical music broadcaster with Classical MPR and a current member of the Twin Cities theater community. <a href="https://www.ladyslipperensemble.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Ladyslipper Ensemble </a>is one of my favorite local chamber music ensembles,” she says. “And that's because every time I've been to a Ladyslipper concert, I hear something wonderful that I've never heard before — whether it's brand new or just new to me.”She explains that Ladyslipper is “a group of four instrumentalists plus mezzo-soprano Sahar Hassan, who is its director. They typically don't perform as a quintet but in combinations of those instruments, or instruments and voice and sometimes they also have guest performers.”The next Ladyslipper performance will include music of Gabriel Fauré and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, as well as a premiere of a new piece by Minnesota composer Carol Barnett. The event will take place June 12 at <a href="https://www.metronomebrewery.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MetroNOME Brewery</a> in St. Paul.

Art Hounds: The comedy of assassination

Ellen Mueller is an artist based in Minneapolis. She recommends “Im/perfect Slumbers,” on view in the window galleries and skyway entrance of the Minnesota Museum of American Art through August 20.“You can be walking down the street, and you will get the privilege of passing by several very cool artworks,” Mueller says. She especially likes the work of Peng Wu, “who has some really great vinyl installations.” Mueller also recommends Rachel Breen's recycled textiles and fiber creations and Katya Oicherman’s work.According to Mueller, the theme of the show is sleep, and especially disrupted sleep, “which everybody can connect to.”Jenny Fogarty lives in Le Center, Minn. and attended an exhibition of photographs by Edward S. Curtis, who was raised partially in Le Sueur County and whose work often focused on Native American subjects.“I went to go see the exhibit, not really expecting much. And I walked in and I was floored,” Fogarty explains.She was especially struck by an early 20th century photograph of Nez Percé tribal leader Chief Joseph. “I did a drawing (of him) when I was in college,” she says. According to Fogarty, Curtis’s images offer rich details from their subject’s life, including “the arts, from the boats to the baskets … it's just a very awesome exhibit.”The exhibit will be on display through the rest of the year at 48 N Park Ave in Le Center, Minn.Full Circle Theater is doing a production called “Antigonick,” which is based on Sophocles' (spelled Sophokles in this production) “Antigone.” Twin Cities theatermaker, improviser and writer Shanan Custer says she is excited that the translation is “new and fresh.” Custer is also a fan of Meskwaki actor Oogie_Push, who stars in the title role of Antigone. “I'm just excited for what looks like a lot of movement and a lot of really beautiful storytelling,” Custer says.The play runs through June 4 at the Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis.

Ellen Mueller is an artist based in Minneapolis. She recommends “Im/perfect Slumbers,” on view in the window galleries and skyway entrance of the <a href="https://mmaa.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Minnesota Museum of American Art</a> through August 20.“You can be walking down the street, and you will get the privilege of passing by several very cool artworks,” Mueller says. She especially likes the work of <a href="https://cargocollective.com/pengwu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peng Wu</a>, “who has some really great vinyl installations.” Mueller also recommends <a href="https://rachelbreenart.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rachel Breen</a>'s recycled textiles and fiber creations and <a href="https://www.oicherman.art/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Katya Oicherman</a>’s work.According to Mueller, the theme of the show is sleep, and especially disrupted sleep, “which everybody can connect to.”Jenny Fogarty lives in Le Center, Minn. and attended an exhibition of photographs by Edward S. Curtis, who was raised partially in Le Sueur County and whose work often focused on Native American subjects.“I went to go see the exhibit, not really expecting much. And I walked in and I was floored,” Fogarty explains.She was especially struck by an early 20th century photograph of Nez Percé tribal leader Chief Joseph. “I did a drawing (of him) when I was in college,” she says. According to Fogarty, Curtis’s images offer rich details from their subject’s life, including “the arts, from the boats to the baskets … it's just a very awesome exhibit.”The exhibit will be on display through the rest of the year at 48 N Park Ave in Le Center, Minn.<a href="https://www.fullcircletheatermn.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Full Circle Theater</a> is doing a production called “Antigonick,” which is based on Sophocles' (spelled Sophokles in this production) “Antigone.” Twin Cities theatermaker, improviser and writer Shanan Custer says she is excited that the translation is “new and fresh.” Custer is also a fan of Meskwaki actor <a href="https://www.instagram.com/oogie_push/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oogie_Push</a>, who stars in the title role of Antigone. “I'm just excited for what looks like a lot of movement and a lot of really beautiful storytelling,” Custer says.The play runs through June 4 at the Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis.

Art Hounds: Bad sleep on Robert Street

Kate Lawson, a former arts administrator and current arts enthusiast living in Minneapolis, is excited for Art-A-Whirl, the sprawling northeast Minneapolis open studio art tour that begins Friday. In particular, she wants to point people to Hossle Woodworks. Founder Justin Hossle creates mid-century modern furniture and home decor. “The clean lines and natural finishes of his pieces really let the beauty of the woods stand out,” she said. “And it's a really fun experience to get to see how the pieces are put together in his workshop.”Hossle Woodworks will offer demonstrations and classes throughout the weekend.Sarah McGrill is an art consultant and educator in Minneapolis. She is a fan of visual artist Tammy Ortegon, who she says “has been a force in south Minneapolis, as she's owned her own gallery for 20 years and realized that she had never had a solo exhibition.” To remedy this, Ortegon is offering a retrospective of her work in her own space, called the ColorWheel Gallery. The exhibit is called “30years Reflect Back/30years Inspired Forward,” and, according to McGrill, “it's just an experience to walk in and see the inspiration that she has in her shop to support local and regional artists.”The exhibit begins Saturday.Shannon Twohy is a curator and fiber artist from Minneapolis. She recommends “Living on the Edge,” presented by the North Shore Artists League.“As an artist myself, I think events that are pro-artists are so important,” she says. “I also love that the artwork and the exhibition are featuring the beauty of the North Shore.”The exhibition runs Friday through July 9 at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wis.

Kate Lawson, a former arts administrator and current arts enthusiast living in Minneapolis, is excited for <a href="https://nemaa.org/art-a-whirl/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Art-A-Whirl</a>, the sprawling northeast Minneapolis open studio art tour that begins Friday. In particular, she wants to point people to <a href="https://www.hosslewoodworks.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hossle Woodworks</a>. Founder Justin Hossle creates mid-century modern furniture and home decor. “The clean lines and natural finishes of his pieces really let the beauty of the woods stand out,” she said. “And it's a really fun experience to get to see how the pieces are put together in his workshop.”Hossle Woodworks will offer <a href="https://www.hosslewoodworks.com/events" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">demonstrations and classes</a> throughout the weekend.Sarah McGrill is an art consultant and educator in Minneapolis. She is a fan of visual artist Tammy Ortegon, who she says “has been a force in south Minneapolis, as she's owned her own gallery for 20 years and realized that she had never had a solo exhibition.” To remedy this, Ortegon is offering a retrospective of her work in her own space, called the <a href="https://colorwheel-gallery.square.site/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ColorWheel Gallery</a>. The exhibit is called “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/6122932967788556?ref=newsfeed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">30years Reflect Back/30years Inspired Forward</a>,” and, according to McGrill, “it's just an experience to walk in and see the inspiration that she has in her shop to support local and regional artists.”The exhibit begins Saturday.Shannon Twohy is a curator and fiber artist from Minneapolis. She recommends “Living on the Edge,” presented by the <a href="https://northshoreartistsleague.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">North Shore Artists League</a>.“As an artist myself, I think events that are pro-artists are so important,” she says. “I also love that the artwork and the exhibition are featuring the beauty of the North Shore.”The exhibition runs Friday through July 9 at the <a href="https://thephipps.org/visual-arts/current-galleries" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Phipps Center for the Arts </a>in Hudson, Wis.

Art Hounds: Mid-century modern weekend

Sarah Schultz is a freelance curator and writer in Minneapolis. “I am really excited to see this body of work,” she says of the exhibition “Paysage Français: mémoire et fantasme” by Minneapolis artist Ilene Krug Mojsilov, which brings together decades of the artist’s work.Schultz explains the show title translated into English is “French landscape: memory and fantasy.” She says Mojsilov’s work is inspired by time the artist spent in France.“It's a rich assortment of work. It's both abstract, has elements of realism. [It] is a series of drawings and pastels and also large paintings. It's really beautiful and evocative,” Schultz said.“Paysage Français” is on display at Alliance Française in Minneapolis through June 10.South Minneapolis resident Davis Brinker took time away from cat sitting to recommend the play “West Point Players,” produced by Spiral Theater at the Phoenix Theater in Uptown Minneapolis.The comedy tells about a troupe of aspiring Army thespians who put on a show to raise money for their military academy.“It's a company that I think is really dedicated to just creating like, silly, unserious, very approachable work,” Brinker said. “I think sometimes the theater can feel sometimes a little bit stuffy and a little bit like taking itself very seriously. And this feels very, very antithetical to that.”“West Point Players” runs through May 14.Courtney Mault lives in Minneapolis but loves traveling to northern Minnesota where her family is from.Mault recommends a Duluth exhibit by artist Lori Franklin and describes the Minnesota nature-inspired art as “prismatic.”“A fox will have a big, bright pink splash of orange or pink on it, or a bear will have an image of a flower on it. So, very, very nature influenced but also … heightening that sense of the natural world,” Mault said.Lori Franklin's exhibit “Hidden Realms” opens Friday at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth.

Sarah Schultz is a freelance curator and writer in Minneapolis. “I am really excited to see this body of work,” she says of the exhibition “<a href="https://www.afmsp.org/events/exposition-paysage#/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paysage Français: mémoire et fantasme”</a> by Minneapolis artist <a href="https://www.ilenekrugmojsilov.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ilene Krug Mojsilov</a>, which brings together decades of the artist’s work.Schultz explains the show title translated into English is “French landscape: memory and fantasy.” She says Mojsilov’s work is inspired by time the artist spent in France.“It's a rich assortment of work. It's both abstract, has elements of realism. [It] is a series of drawings and pastels and also large paintings. It's really beautiful and evocative,” Schultz said.“Paysage Français” is on display at Alliance Française in Minneapolis through June 10.South Minneapolis resident Davis Brinker took time away from cat sitting to recommend the play “West Point Players,” produced by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/spiraltheater/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spiral Theater</a> at the <a href="https://www.phoenixtheatermpls.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Phoenix Theater </a>in Uptown Minneapolis.The comedy tells about a troupe of aspiring Army thespians who put on a show to raise money for their military academy.“It's a company that I think is really dedicated to just creating like, silly, unserious, very approachable work,” Brinker said. “I think sometimes the theater can feel sometimes a little bit stuffy and a little bit like taking itself very seriously. And this feels very, very antithetical to that.”“West Point Players” runs through May 14.Courtney Mault lives in Minneapolis but loves traveling to northern Minnesota where her family is from.Mault recommends a Duluth exhibit by artist <a href="https://www.lorifranklinart.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lori Franklin</a> and describes the Minnesota nature-inspired art as “prismatic.”“A fox will have a big, bright pink splash of orange or pink on it, or a bear will have an image of a flower on it. So, very, very nature influenced but also … heightening that sense of the natural world,” Mault said.Lori Franklin's exhibit “Hidden Realms” opens Friday at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/9457531130954325/?ref=newsfeed%20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Siiviis Gallery</a> in Duluth.

Art Hounds: Memories of France

Patricia Anderson of Rochester is a choral director who teaches voice. She is excited about a forthcoming concert by Resounding Voices Chorus, “a wonderful organization that is part of a growing worldwide movement to improve the lives of people living with some sort of dementia and with their support partners through musical participation.”She explains that artistic director Suzy Johnson ”gets a wonderful mix of music … and then she arranges them so that they really fit very well with the people that are singing in the choir.”The concert is called “Rain or Shine” and will take place May 14 at Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Rochester.Louise Robinson of Minneapolis has a career managing professional dance companies in Minnesota. “I grew up in Winona in the 60s and never imagined finding a connection with the South Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam,” she says. “But years ago, my paths crossed with Ranee Ramaswamy, artistic director of Ragamala Dance here locally, and I have been captivated by the form ever since.”  Don't see video? Click hereSaturday the Fitzgerald Theater will host Ragamala’s Dance Company’s “guru” (as they describe her on their website), Indian dancer and choreographer Alarmel Valli.“Miss Valli’s style of Bharatanatyam is particularly emotional in its intentions and fluid in its movement style,” Robinson says. “Her performances are captivating, and that's not easy to command a stage for an entire evening as a solo performance. But that's her forte.”

Patricia Anderson of Rochester is a choral director who teaches voice. She is excited about a forthcoming concert by <a href="https://www.resoundingvoices.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Resounding Voices Chorus,</a> “a wonderful organization that is part of a growing worldwide movement to improve the lives of people living with some sort of dementia and with their support partners through musical participation.”She explains that artistic director Suzy Johnson ”gets a wonderful mix of music … and then she arranges them so that they really fit very well with the people that are singing in the choir.”The concert is called “Rain or Shine” and will take place May 14 at Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Rochester.Louise Robinson of Minneapolis has a career managing professional dance companies in Minnesota. “I grew up in Winona in the 60s and never imagined finding a connection with the South Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam,” she says. “But years ago, my paths crossed with Ranee Ramaswamy, artistic director of Ragamala Dance here locally, and I have been captivated by the form ever since.”  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDGn337TL6Q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Don't see video? Click here</a> Saturday the<a href="https://first-avenue.com/venue/the-fitzgerald-theater/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Fitzgerald Theater</a> will host Ragamala’s Dance Company’s “guru” (as they <a href="https://www.ragamaladance.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">describe her on their website</a>), Indian dancer and choreographer <a href="https://www.alarmelvalli.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alarmel Valli</a>.“Miss Valli’s style of Bharatanatyam is particularly emotional in its intentions and fluid in its movement style,” Robinson says. “Her performances are captivating, and that's not easy to command a stage for an entire evening as a solo performance. But that's her forte.”

Art Hounds: Rare solo performance of Indian dance at the Fitzgerald Theater

South Minneapolis playwright and poet William Nour recommends “Returning to Haifa” by Pangea World Theater. This is a U.S. premiere of a play based on a novella by Palestinian author Ghassan Kanafani.The play tells of a Palestinian couple who return to Haifa after the 1967 war to find the baby they left behind in 1948. They find a Jewish family of Holocaust survivors living in their old home.“It's my reality,” Nour says. “I came here when I was 16. Basically, because there were no opportunities for Arabs in Israel, like as second-class citizens. So it's very poignant for me and it's just — I cried when I saw it for the first time.” “Returning to Haifa” plays through May 6 at the Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis.Eric Heukeshoven is the director of Worship, Music and Arts for Central Lutheran Church in Winona, Minn. He says he’s “really excited” to attend “Portraits,” the spring concert for the Winona Symphony.The piece that he's most looking forward to is called “Peanuts Gallery.” American composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich wrote it, inspired by the characters of the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz. “I grew up with ‘Peanuts,’” Heukeshoven says, “and it's for piano and orchestra and it's just delightful.”The performance is Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Winona.Holly Harrison is a freelance writer and a creative located in south Minneapolis, and she recently attended a performance of “Othello: The Remix” by Minneapolis Musical Theatre.“Unlike most tributes to Shakespeare, this one kind of tosses out all of the 17th-century dialogue,” Harrison says, “and rebuilds it as a hip-hop musical. Instead of taking place among Venetian military and political figures, it follows a hop-hop crew that’s going on tour.”Harrison adds that “you really get to know your fellow audience members a little bit by seeing which references really crack them up and which ones slip past them.” “Othello: The Remix” plays through May 7 at Phoenix Theater in Minneapolis.

South Minneapolis playwright and poet William Nour recommends “Returning to Haifa” by <a href="https://www.pangeaworldtheater.org/events/returning-to-haifa-2023-04-22-19-30" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pangea World Theater.</a> This is a U.S. premiere of a play based on a novella by Palestinian author Ghassan Kanafani.The play tells of a Palestinian couple who return to Haifa after the 1967 war to find the baby they left behind in 1948. They find a Jewish family of Holocaust survivors living in their old home.“It's my reality,” Nour says. “I came here when I was 16. Basically, because there were no opportunities for Arabs in Israel, like as second-class citizens. So it's very poignant for me and it's just — I cried when I saw it for the first time.” “Returning to Haifa” plays through May 6 at the Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis.Eric Heukeshoven is the director of Worship, Music and Arts for Central Lutheran Church in Winona, Minn. He says he’s “really excited” to attend “Portraits,” the spring concert for the <a href="https://www.winonasymphony.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Winona Symphony</a>.The piece that he's most looking forward to is called “Peanuts Gallery.” American composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich wrote it, inspired by the characters of the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz. “I grew up with ‘Peanuts,’” Heukeshoven says, “and it's for piano and orchestra and it's just delightful.”The performance is Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Winona.Holly Harrison is a freelance writer and a creative located in south Minneapolis, and she recently attended a performance of “<a href="https://www.aboutmmt.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Othello: The Remix</a>” by Minneapolis Musical Theatre.“Unlike most tributes to Shakespeare, this one kind of tosses out all of the 17th-century dialogue,” Harrison says, “and rebuilds it as a hip-hop musical. Instead of taking place among Venetian military and political figures, it follows a hop-hop crew that’s going on tour.”Harrison adds that “you really get to know your fellow audience members a little bit by seeing which references really crack them up and which ones slip past them.” “Othello: The Remix” plays through May 7 at Phoenix Theater in Minneapolis.

Art Hounds: Palestinian couple revisits Haifa in US premiere play

Each week three people from the Minnesota arts community talk about a performance, opening, or event they're excited to see or want others to check out.

Updated: 9:35 a.m.Daniel Doktori and his wife moved to Minneapolis and found painter Evan Abrahamson's work at local art fairs. “We kept running into Evan and his booth and his work. And we really fell in love with it,” Doktori says.“His work is oil on canvas. And it combines this kind of really impressive skill in terms of rendering lifelike images of both landscapes and people with this kind of blurring technique that results in a kind of a haunting or like a dream-like type image and we think it's really quite wonderful.”The show at Gallery 360 in Minneapolis runs through May 28.Merritt Olsen recently moved to Minnesota from the West Coast and recommends the Rochester Civic Theatre’s production of “The Miracle Worker” on stage through Sunday.Olsen recommends the play not only because it's a “wonderful, timeless play,” but also because there's an exhibit called “Child in a Strange Country” that accompanies it.“This exhibit highlights the Innovations in Education for the blind and the low-vision,” Olsen explains. “It outlines an alphabet of touch that opened the door for learning in the fields of geography, biology, chemistry, physics, you name it. And Helen Keller's curiosity and lifelong commitment to furthering the learning of others influenced these educational efforts. So it's a wonderful marriage of the play and the exhibit.”The exhibit is open through April 29.Jere Lantz is a longtime music conductor in the Twin Cities and Rochester. He is excited about the debut of a new musical organization, The Classical Music Project.  “It's put together by a bunch of professional musicians who feel that music from the Classical period is not as focused on by the public as it used to be,” he says.The Classical Music Project debuts this weekend with two musical pieces: Beethoven's Sonata for Orchestra No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30, and No. 2b Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58.The Beethoven sonata will be conducted by Yaniv Segal, with an arrangement by composers Garrett Schumann and Segal. The second part of the program, Piano Concerto No. 4, is performed by Nachito Herrera, who also is known for his Afro-Cuban jazz virtuosity, playing at the Dakota in Minneapolis, among other venues. The Classical Music Project will perform at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis on Sunday.Correction (April 20, 2023): In an earlier version of this story, an artist’s name was misspelled. This has been corrected.

<h4>Updated: 9:35 a.m.</h4>Daniel Doktori and his wife moved to Minneapolis and found painter <a href="https://www.paintingsbyevan.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Evan Abrahamson</a>'s<a href="http://www.evanabramson.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>work at local art fairs. “We kept running into Evan and his booth and his work. And we really fell in love with it,” Doktori says.“His work is oil on canvas. And it combines this kind of really impressive skill in terms of rendering lifelike images of both landscapes and people with this kind of blurring technique that results in a kind of a haunting or like a dream-like type image and we think it's really quite wonderful.”The show at <a href="https://www.gallery360mpls.com/current-show" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gallery 360</a> in Minneapolis runs through May 28.Merritt Olsen recently moved to Minnesota from the West Coast and recommends the <a href="https://www.rochestercivictheatre.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rochester Civic Theatre’s </a>production of “The Miracle Worker” on stage through Sunday.Olsen recommends the play not only because it's a “wonderful, timeless play,” but also because there's an exhibit called “<a href="https://www.downtownrochestermn.com/do/child-in-a-strange-country-helen-keller-and-the-history-of-education-for-those-who-are-blind-or-visually-impaired" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Child in a Strange Country</a>” that accompanies it.“This exhibit highlights the Innovations in Education for the blind and the low-vision,” Olsen explains. “It outlines an alphabet of touch that opened the door for learning in the fields of geography, biology, chemistry, physics, you name it. And Helen Keller's curiosity and lifelong commitment to furthering the learning of others influenced these educational efforts. So it's a wonderful marriage of the play and the exhibit.”The exhibit is open through April 29.Jere Lantz is a longtime music conductor in the Twin Cities and Rochester. He is excited about the debut of a new musical organization, <a href="https://www.theclassicalmusicproject.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Classical Music Project</a>.  “It's put together by a bunch of professional musicians who feel that music from the Classical period is not as focused on by the public as it used to be,” he says.The Classical Music Project debuts this weekend with two musical pieces: Beethoven's Sonata for Orchestra No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30, and No. 2b Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58.The Beethoven sonata will be conducted by Yaniv Segal, with an arrangement by composers Garrett Schumann and Segal. The second part of the program, Piano Concerto No. 4, is performed by Nachito Herrera, who also is known for his Afro-Cuban jazz virtuosity, playing at the Dakota in Minneapolis, among other venues. The Classical Music Project will perform at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis on Sunday.Correction (April 20, 2023): In an earlier version of this story, an artist’s name was misspelled. This has been corrected.

Art Hounds: Evan Abrahamson's dreamy landscapes

Nancy Crocker of Minneapolis recommends the musical “How to Avoid Burnout in 73 Minutes: A Minimally Invasive Musical Procedure.” “I saw this show in its initial run. This is a wonderful, life-affirming show,” Crocker said.The show was created by Dr. Stuart Bloom, who also performs. It depicts his journey from a comedian in New York to an oncologist in Minnesota. The show is built around a simple premise: Bloom reads from a questionnaire designed to determine if someone is experiencing burnout at their job.“And of course, doctors – and especially oncologists – have one of the highest burnout rates of any profession,” Crocker explains. “And so he goes through this questionnaire, one question at a time, but his answers are always in the form of a song.”The musical is at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis from April 19-23. John Orbison of Minneapolis is an amateur musician. He recommends the season finale of the Bakken Ensemble at Antonello Hall at MacPhail Center for Music.“All of the composers on the program are people that I'm not very familiar with … They delve into music that you might not hear anywhere else, featuring some of the finest musicians in the world that we're so blessed to have here in Minnesota.”The season finale is Sunday.Stillwater-born Patrick Hicks is the writer in residence at Augustana University. He’s looking forward to a pair of readings by author Christopher Vondracek, who will be reading from his latest book, “Dancing With Welk: Music, Memory, and Prairie Troubadours.”“This book engages with Lawrence Welk, that cheesy and inescapably popular television bandleader of the 1960s and ’70s,” Hicks said, but also describes the book as “a funny and poignant coming of age story.” Vondracek will read at Fair Trade Books in Red Wing and Paperback and Pieces in Winona on Saturday.

Nancy Crocker of Minneapolis recommends the musical “<a href="https://www.burnoutmusical.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How to Avoid Burnout in 73 Minutes: A Minimally Invasive Musical Procedure</a>.” “I saw this show in its initial run. This is a wonderful, life-affirming show,” Crocker said.The show was created by Dr. Stuart Bloom, who also performs. It depicts his journey from a comedian in New York to an oncologist in Minnesota. The show is built around a simple premise: Bloom reads from a questionnaire designed to determine if someone is experiencing burnout at their job.“And of course, doctors – and especially oncologists – have one of the highest burnout rates of any profession,” Crocker explains. “And so he goes through this questionnaire, one question at a time, but his answers are always in the form of a song.”The musical is at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis from April 19-23. John Orbison of Minneapolis is an amateur musician. He recommends the season finale of the <a href="https://bakkenensemble.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bakken Ensemble</a> at Antonello Hall at MacPhail Center for Music.“All of the composers on the program are people that I'm not very familiar with … They delve into music that you might not hear anywhere else, featuring some of the finest musicians in the world that we're so blessed to have here in Minnesota.”The season finale is Sunday.Stillwater-born Patrick Hicks is the writer in residence at Augustana University. He’s looking forward to a pair of readings by author Christopher Vondracek, who will be reading from his latest book, “Dancing With Welk: Music, Memory, and Prairie Troubadours.”“This book engages with Lawrence Welk, that cheesy and inescapably popular television bandleader of the 1960s and ’70s,” Hicks said, but also describes the book as “a funny and poignant coming of age story.” Vondracek will read at <a href="https://www.fairtradebooksrw.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fair Trade Books </a>in Red Wing and <a href="https://paperbacksandpieces.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paperback and Pieces</a> in Winona on Saturday.

Art Hounds: Musical follows journey from comedian to oncologist

Pamela Lundstrum is a member of the Cultural Centre of Bird Island, which brings fine art to central Minnesota, south of Willmar.The center is offering an exhibit by wildlife painter Bradley Donner called “Wild Art,” which continues through the end of the month. Donner explains on his website that he enjoys going to the “wilds of northern Minnesota, Canada and the Driftless trout streams of southeast Minnesota and Wisconsin” to research art.“I am so excited about the newest exhibit,” Lundstrum says. “It's very exciting to see something that is just so beautiful and so perfect. And we only have to go to Bird Island to see it.”“Wild Art” will be on display at the Cultural Centre of Bird Island through April 22. Bonnie Stewart is the executive director of the Fosston Community Library &amp; Arts Association. She is looking forward to attending performances by singer/songwriter Dan Rodriguez, who she calls “an amazing performer. He's a talented musician. He writes his own songs, he sings beautifully. And he is probably one of the most engaging entertainers.”Rodriguez was raised in Detroit but moved to Minneapolis at age 18 to study music. His varied career includes the song "When You Come Home,” which played as part of a Budweiser commercial during the Super Bowl in 2014.“He just brings joyful, new, awesome music,” Stewart says.Rodriguez will play at the 318 Cafe in Excelsior Saturday. Annie Deutsch of Minneapolis recommends artist Sadie Ward, whose exhibition, “Midwest Women” will be on display at the Second Floor Gallery in Coffman Memorial Union in Minneapolis.Ward “has been making portraits of women throughout history out of bras,” Deutsch explains. “Brart. You put ‘bra’ and ‘art’ together.”The works are of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michelle Obama, and Jane Goodall among others.“Her first one that kind of inspired it all was Anna Dickey Olson, who was the first woman from Minnesota to run for Senate.” “Midwest Women” runs through April 23, with a reception Friday.

Pamela Lundstrum is a member of the <a href="https://birdislandculture.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cultural Centre of Bird Island</a>, which brings fine art to central Minnesota, south of Willmar.The center is offering an exhibit by wildlife painter Bradley Donner called “Wild Art,” which continues through the end of the month. Donner explains on his <a href="https://www.bradleydonnerwildart.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a> that he enjoys going to the “wilds of northern Minnesota, Canada and the Driftless trout streams of southeast Minnesota and Wisconsin” to research art.“I am so excited about the newest exhibit,” Lundstrum says. “It's very exciting to see something that is just so beautiful and so perfect. And we only have to go to Bird Island to see it.”“Wild Art” will be on display at the Cultural Centre of Bird Island through April 22. Bonnie Stewart is the executive director of the Fosston Community Library &amp; Arts Association. She is looking forward to attending performances by singer/songwriter <a href="https://www.danrodriguezmusic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dan Rodriguez</a>, who she calls “an amazing performer. He's a talented musician. He writes his own songs, he sings beautifully. And he is probably one of the most engaging entertainers.”Rodriguez was raised in Detroit but moved to Minneapolis at age 18 to study music. His varied career includes the song "When You Come Home,” which played as part of a Budweiser commercial during the Super Bowl in 2014.“He just brings joyful, new, awesome music,” Stewart says.Rodriguez will play at the 318 Cafe in Excelsior Saturday. Annie Deutsch of Minneapolis recommends artist Sadie Ward, whose exhibition, <a href="https://sua.umn.edu/events/midwest-women" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Midwest Women” </a>will be on display at the Second Floor Gallery in Coffman Memorial Union in Minneapolis.Ward “has been making portraits of women throughout history out of bras,” Deutsch explains. “Brart. You put ‘bra’ and ‘art’ together.”The works are of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michelle Obama, and Jane Goodall among others.“Her first one that kind of inspired it all was Anna Dickey Olson, who was the first woman from Minnesota to run for Senate.” “Midwest Women” runs through April 23, with a reception Friday.

Art Hounds: Minnesota's Cultural Centre of Bird Island brings art to rural areas

Catherine Glynn is artistic director of Audacious Raw Theater in Lanesboro. She was able to see a preview of the play that opens Commonweal Theatre’s 35th season: “Bernhardt/Hamlet” by Theresa Rebeck. Glynn calls the play “a love letter to the theater and the art of collaboration.”The play is a work of historical fiction about actress Sarah Bernhardt, who was wildly celebrated in her time. Set in Paris in 1899, when Bernhardt’s theater has become riddled by debt. In order to save it, she decides to play the lead role in “Hamlet.” All of Paris is up-in-arms over whether she can pull off a “pants role.” Bernhardt herself is daunted by Shakespeare’s language.Glynn notes that this a perfect show to cap off Women’s History Month, having been written, directed, costumed and sound-designed by women. Glynn says that the role of the famous actress is beautifully played by Commonweal company member Adrienne Sweeney, who herself is no stranger to playing roles originally written for men. Sweeney played Ebeneezer Scrooge in the theater’s staging of “A Christmas Carol” in 2021.After final preview performances tonight and Friday, the show opens April 1 and runs through June 24.George Roberts, artistic director of Homewood Studios, recently attended the opening of a gallery exhibit at the new, nearby Northside Artspace Lofts. The building was designed as an affordable space for artists to live and work, complete with dance space and gallery. Roberts said he appreciated the variety of works in that gallery show, which is titled “Works in Progress.”The exhibit “speaks about supporting young and new artists to have a space to show their work. And it speaks about a place where more accomplished mid-career artists have a place to act as mentors,” says Roberts, adding that beginning works that “show promise” were happily positioned next to accomplished, finished works. The exhibit “Works in Progress” is on view through May 7. Roberts notes that, since the building is also residential, the doors are locked. But if you ring the doorbell to enter, the gallery is accessible and easy to find.Educator and art lover Kris Prince of Minneapolis plans to be at the Sundin Music Hall Friday evening to hear the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet perform in St. Paul. Prince calls the quartet “wonderful, entertaining” performers, and she loves the range of styles and sounds the four produce with their guitars. Their upcoming series of performances includes music from Spain, Finland and Macedonia; new arrangements of music by Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and Japanese jazz composer Hiromi Uehara. They will also perform a new, commissioned work by Twin Cities composer A.J. Isaacson-Zvidzwa.In addition to Friday evening’s concert, founder Joseph Hagedorn, Maja Radovanlija, Ben Kunkel and Milena Petković will kick off a series of performances this spring. The Minneapolis Guitar Quartet will perform Sunday, April 2, at the Walker Community UMC; Thursday, April 13 at the White Bear Center for the Arts; and Saturday, April 29 at the Heart of the City Music Factory in Anoka.

Catherine Glynn is artistic director of Audacious Raw Theater in Lanesboro. She was able to see a preview of the play that opens Commonweal Theatre’s 35th season: <a href="https://commonwealtheatre.org/our-season/bernhardt-hamlet/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Bernhardt/Hamlet”</a> by Theresa Rebeck. Glynn calls the play “a love letter to the theater and the art of collaboration.”The play is a work of historical fiction about actress Sarah Bernhardt, who was wildly celebrated in her time. Set in Paris in 1899, when Bernhardt’s theater has become riddled by debt. In order to save it, she decides to play the lead role in “Hamlet.” All of Paris is up-in-arms over whether she can pull off a “pants role.” Bernhardt herself is daunted by Shakespeare’s language.Glynn notes that this a perfect show to cap off Women’s History Month, having been written, directed, costumed and sound-designed by women. Glynn says that the role of the famous actress is beautifully played by Commonweal company member Adrienne Sweeney, who herself is no stranger to playing roles originally written for men. Sweeney played Ebeneezer Scrooge in the theater’s staging of “A Christmas Carol” in 2021.After final preview performances tonight and Friday, the show opens April 1 and runs through June 24.George Roberts, artistic director of Homewood Studios, recently attended the opening of a gallery exhibit at the new, nearby <a href="https://www.artspace.org/northside" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Northside Artspace Lofts</a>. The building was designed as an affordable space for artists to live and work, complete with dance space and gallery. Roberts said he appreciated the variety of works in that gallery show, which is titled “Works in Progress.”The exhibit “speaks about supporting young and new artists to have a space to show their work. And it speaks about a place where more accomplished mid-career artists have a place to act as mentors,” says Roberts, adding that beginning works that “show promise” were happily positioned next to accomplished, finished works. The exhibit “Works in Progress” is on view through May 7. Roberts notes that, since the building is also residential, the doors are locked. But if you ring the doorbell to enter, the gallery is accessible and easy to find.Educator and art lover Kris Prince of Minneapolis plans to be at the Sundin Music Hall Friday evening to hear the <a href="https://www.minneapolisguitarquartet.com/schedule" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Minneapolis Guitar Quartet</a> perform in St. Paul. Prince calls the quartet “wonderful, entertaining” performers, and she loves the range of styles and sounds the four produce with their guitars. Their upcoming series of performances includes music from Spain, Finland and Macedonia; new arrangements of music by Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and Japanese jazz composer Hiromi Uehara. They will also perform a <a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/03/05/musicians-tackle-powerful-personal-topics-for-10th-round-of-cedar-commissions" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">new, commissioned work</a> by Twin Cities composer <a href="https://www.ajmnmusic.com/#/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A.J. Isaacson-Zvidzwa</a>.In addition to Friday evening’s concert, founder Joseph Hagedorn, Maja Radovanlija, Ben Kunkel and Milena Petković will kick off a series of performances this spring. The Minneapolis Guitar Quartet will perform Sunday, April 2, at the Walker Community UMC; Thursday, April 13 at the White Bear Center for the Arts; and Saturday, April 29 at the Heart of the City Music Factory in Anoka.

Art Hounds: Love, collaboration and Shakespeare

Minneapolis actor Nissa Nordland was drawn to the play “Wish You Were Here” because of the premise: It’s a one-act improvised comedy about grief.A group shares memories about a friend who has died some time before. The show, which tends to vary each night, considers how their relationships have changed since the loss.“I love that it's the idea of bringing joy to a situation that we often are looking at with a sad lens,” said Nordland. “We are celebrating the person… and finding the joy in remembering them, and then figuring out, where do we go now?”The show was created and directed by Mike Fotis, a co-founder of Strike Theater, which is dedicated to building a community of sketch comedy, storytelling and the spoken word.Nordland says the cast features a group of Twin Cities “comedy legends” who are sure to bring a funny and heartfelt show.“Wish You Were Here” runs March 10-11 and 23-25 at 7:30 p.m. at Strike Theater in Minneapolis.Actor Meghan Kreidler of Minneapolis is a big fan of JuCoby Johnson’s plays, which she says explore heavy, thought-provoking topics through the lens of love. She’s looking forward to seeing his new play, “5,” at the Jungle Theater, co-produced with the Trademark Theater.Johnson acts in the play he authored, about two close friends who own a convenience store. When a real estate developer offers to buy the store located in a rapidly changing neighborhood, the two friends face decisions that will test their friendship.Kreidler says it’s a show about family legacy, gentrification, and what happens to friendship as environments evolve.“I think the thing that excites me also about this piece is where it's being done,” adds Kreidler, “because the Lyndale Lake Street area [where the Jungle Theater is located] has so rapidly changed over the last five to 10 years, and I feel like audience members will be able to engage with the show in a different way based on where they're seeing it.”“5” opens Saturday and runs through April 16.Molly Anthony of Richfield is an artist and teacher who lately has focused on teaching art for self-care, and she loves the meditative process of creative Joleen Emery.The Spring Grove resident creates flowers, wall decorations, and other eye-catching designs out of old books and magazines. It’s a process that involves the repeated folding and cutting of paper — and sometimes taking a bandsaw to old books. Anthony watches Emery on Tik Tok as she walks through her creative process.Emery runs yoga and artist retreats at Big Raven Farm in southeastern Minnesota, which also operates as a bed and breakfast. You can check out the space during the Bluff Country Art Studio Tour the last weekend in April.Correction (March 9, 2023): An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled an actor’s last name. This has been corrected.

Minneapolis actor Nissa Nordland was drawn to the play “Wish You Were Here” because of the premise: It’s a one-act improvised comedy about grief.A group shares memories about a friend who has died some time before. The show, which tends to vary each night, considers how their relationships have changed since the loss.“I love that it's the idea of bringing joy to a situation that we often are looking at with a sad lens,” said Nordland. “We are celebrating the person… and finding the joy in remembering them, and then figuring out, where do we go now?”The show was created and directed by Mike Fotis, a co-founder of Strike Theater, which is dedicated to building a community of sketch comedy, storytelling and the spoken word.Nordland says the cast features a group of Twin Cities “comedy legends” who are sure to bring a funny and heartfelt show.“Wish You Were Here” runs March 10-11 and 23-25 at 7:30 p.m. at <a href="https://www.strike.theater/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Strike Theater in Minneapolis</a>.Actor Meghan Kreidler of Minneapolis is a big fan of JuCoby Johnson’s plays, which she says explore heavy, thought-provoking topics through the lens of love. She’s looking forward to seeing his new play, “5,” at the <a href="https://www.jungletheater.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jungle Theater</a>, co-produced with the <a href="https://www.trademarktheater.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trademark Theater</a>.Johnson acts in the play he authored, about two close friends who own a convenience store. When a real estate developer offers to buy the store located in a rapidly changing neighborhood, the two friends face decisions that will test their friendship.Kreidler says it’s a show about family legacy, gentrification, and what happens to friendship as environments evolve.“I think the thing that excites me also about this piece is where it's being done,” adds Kreidler, “because the Lyndale Lake Street area [where the Jungle Theater is located] has so rapidly changed over the last five to 10 years, and I feel like audience members will be able to engage with the show in a different way based on where they're seeing it.”“5” opens Saturday and runs through April 16.Molly Anthony of Richfield is an artist and teacher who lately has focused on teaching art for self-care, and she loves the meditative process of creative Joleen Emery.The Spring Grove resident creates flowers, wall decorations, and other eye-catching designs out of old books and magazines. It’s a process that involves the repeated folding and cutting of paper — and sometimes taking a bandsaw to old books. Anthony watches Emery on Tik Tok as she walks through her creative process.Emery runs yoga and artist retreats at <a href="https://bigravenyoga.com/pages/big-raven-farm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Big Raven Farm</a> in southeastern Minnesota, which also operates as a bed and breakfast. You can check out the space during the <a href="https://bluffcountrystudioarttour.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bluff Country Art Studio Tour</a> the last weekend in April.Correction (March 9, 2023): An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled an actor’s last name. This has been corrected.

Art Hounds: Art about shifting friendships, changing times

Updated: 2:55 p.m.St. Cloud-based concert pianist Mark Ochu is looking forward to an eclectic evening by vocal and musical trio Partly Tame, presented by the Granite City Folk Society.The trio consists of the group’s founder Mariénne Kreitlow, violinist Cristina Seaborn and Susan Schleper, vocals. “All three musicians are authentic performers … comfortable in multiple genres ranging from classical to folk, to slap stick comedy, to the introspective and spiritual,” Ochu said, adding that he never knows quite what will be on the program. He said Kreitlow, a composer, is an intuitive performer, shifting to incorporate poetry, jazz improv, and more as the mood of the show requires.The one-night show starts at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in St. Cloud.Art lover Doris Rubenstein of Richfield is excited that after several difficult years, the Artistry Theater and Visual Arts is in full swing. This week galleries will feature visual art shows by local artists, which Rubenstein says makes March a good time to discover or rediscover the Bloomington Center for the Arts.Landscape photography by Marc Ye of Lakeville, whose subjects and photo shoots range all over the world, opens his fine art show in the Atrium Gallery. An artist reception Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. is free and open to the public. The exhibit runs through April 23. In the Inez Greenberg Gallery, Roshan Ganu, Chris Rackley and  John Swartwout’s show uses art made both by hand and through technology to explore memory. Their show, “Hyper Memory,” runs through April 7.Artistry also helped mount an exhibit at Confluence Gallery, located at the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge, of the wildlife paintings by Kat Corrigan. “Wild and Precious Life” runs through April 5. Sarah Prindiville, director of fine arts in the Robbinsdale public schools, recommends “Once on This Island, Jr.” It’s a 60-minute version of the Broadway musical packed with songs created by the same music-and-lyric team behind “Seussical!” and “Ragtime.”Set in Haiti, it’s the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl, who falls in love with a wealthy boy from the other side of the island. Gods and goddesses are part of the story about class, culture, and the power of love.The production at Stages Theatre in Hopkins is directed and choreographed by Twin Cities theater-maker Kelli Foster Warder. Prindiville says students, some from her district, are part of the ensemble.“Once on This Island, Jr.” runs March 3 though March 19 and is recommended for ages 7 and up.Correction: A previous version misstated where an exhibit connected to the Bloomington Center for the Arts was taking place. The above version has been updated.

<h3>Updated: 2:55 p.m.</h3>St. Cloud-based concert pianist Mark Ochu is looking forward to an eclectic evening by vocal and musical trio <a href="https://www.aroundthecloud.org/?syndicated_data&amp;apid=9400&amp;aplang=eng&amp;apoutput=iframe&amp;apd=det&amp;apdid=18899" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Partly Tame</a>, presented by the Granite City Folk Society.The trio consists of the group’s founder <a href="https://marienne.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mariénne Kreitlow</a>, violinist Cristina Seaborn and Susan Schleper, vocals. “All three musicians are authentic performers … comfortable in multiple genres ranging from classical to folk, to slap stick comedy, to the introspective and spiritual,” Ochu said, adding that he never knows quite what will be on the program. He said Kreitlow, a composer, is an intuitive performer, shifting to incorporate poetry, jazz improv, and more as the mood of the show requires.The one-night show starts at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in St. Cloud.Art lover Doris Rubenstein of Richfield is excited that after several difficult years, the Artistry Theater and Visual Arts is in full swing. This week galleries will feature visual art shows by local artists, which Rubenstein says makes March a good time to discover or rediscover the Bloomington Center for the Arts.Landscape photography by <a href="https://www.marcyephotography.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marc Ye</a> of Lakeville, whose subjects and photo shoots range all over the world, opens his <a href="https://artistrymn.org/exhibitions/2023/landscapephotography" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fine art show in the Atrium Gallery</a>. An artist reception Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. is free and open to the public. The exhibit runs through April 23. In the <a href="https://artistrymn.org/exhibitions/2023/hypermemory" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Inez Greenberg Gallery</a>, Roshan Ganu, Chris Rackley and  John Swartwout’s show uses art made both by hand and through technology to explore memory. Their show, “Hyper Memory,” runs through April 7.Artistry also helped mount an exhibit at Confluence Gallery, located at the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge, of the wildlife paintings by Kat Corrigan. <a href="https://artistrymn.org/exhibitions/2022/1/27/wildandpreciouslife" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Wild and Precious Life”</a> runs through April 5. Sarah Prindiville, director of fine arts in the Robbinsdale public schools, recommends “Once on This Island, Jr.” It’s a 60-minute version of the Broadway musical packed with songs created by the same music-and-lyric team behind “Seussical!” and “Ragtime.”Set in Haiti, it’s the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl, who falls in love with a wealthy boy from the other side of the island. Gods and goddesses are part of the story about class, culture, and the power of love.The production at <a href="https://www.stagestheatre.org/once-on-this-island/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stages Theatre</a> in Hopkins is directed and choreographed by Twin Cities theater-maker Kelli Foster Warder. Prindiville says students, some from her district, are part of the ensemble.“Once on This Island, Jr.” runs March 3 though March 19 and is recommended for ages 7 and up.Correction: A previous version misstated where an exhibit connected to the Bloomington Center for the Arts was taking place. The above version has been updated.

Art Hounds: Galleries at Bloomington's Artistry busy with three shows

Peyton Scott Russell

Retired science teacher Ellen Fahey says art galleries are her refuge, and she’s gone three times to see Peyton Scott Russell’s retrospective exhibition at the White Bear Center for the Arts. The show features 40 years of Russell’s work, from elementary school through today.A graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Russell is perhaps best known for his murals, including one painted in 2020 of George Floyd, entitled “Icon of a Revolution.” The exhibit features that work as well as examples of Peyton’s Graffiti art, stenciling, jean jackets and sculpture.The exhibit runs through March 3, with an open house March 2 at 6:30 p.m.Jendayi ‘Jedi Maji’ Berry of Minneapolis loved creating abstracts to live music back in September as part of MacPhail’s Spotlight Series: Musical Explorations in Spectral Colors. He strongly recommends seeing the next installment of the series, “Translucent Beauty” Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Antonello Hall in Minneapolis.This performance will feature visual art and short films of Eyenga Bokamba, created and projected in response to live music that includes Bach’s Suite for solo cello No. 5 and “electronic soundscapes".Berry says it’s exciting to experience the two art forms combined and speaking to one another in a live setting.Your Classical MPR is a media sponsor for this series. Writer Dave Walbridge from St. Paul suggests keeping your eyes open for a Free Little Art Gallery. Like the Little Free Libraries, anyone can set up a box to house a miniature art gallery. People may simply take in the art, or take a piece they enjoy. And as with Little Free Libraries, artists may leave work in the galleries.The movement began in Seattle and has spread across the world, inside art galleries and community centers as well as outside. In Minnesota, Free Little Art Galleries have popped up in and around St. Paul as well as Duluth, Willmar, Waconia and Hawley, a town east of Fargo.Writer Tyler Tork of Plymouth, Minn. has come up with an online map of Free Little Art Galleries.

Retired science teacher Ellen Fahey says art galleries are her refuge, and she’s gone three times to see <a href="https://houseofdaskarone.com/exhibitions" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peyton Scott Russell</a>’s retrospective exhibition at the <a href="https://whitebeararts.org/peyton-scott-russell" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">White Bear Center for the Arts</a>. The show features 40 years of Russell’s work, from elementary school through today.A graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Russell is perhaps best known for his murals, including one painted in 2020 of George Floyd, entitled “Icon of a Revolution.” The exhibit features that work as well as examples of Peyton’s Graffiti art, stenciling, jean jackets and sculpture.The exhibit runs through March 3, with an open house March 2 at 6:30 p.m.<a href="https://www.jendayiberryart.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jendayi ‘Jedi Maji’ Berry</a> of Minneapolis loved creating abstracts to live music back in September as part of MacPhail’s Spotlight Series: Musical Explorations in Spectral Colors. He strongly recommends seeing the next installment of the series, “<a href="https://www.macphail.org/events/translucent_beauty/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Translucent Beauty”</a> Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Antonello Hall in Minneapolis.This performance will feature visual art and short films of Eyenga Bokamba, created and projected in response to live music that includes Bach’s Suite for solo cello No. 5 and “electronic soundscapes".Berry says it’s exciting to experience the two art forms combined and speaking to one another in a live setting.Your Classical MPR is a media sponsor for this series. Writer Dave Walbridge from St. Paul suggests keeping your eyes open for a Free Little Art Gallery. Like the Little Free Libraries, anyone can set up a box to house a miniature art gallery. People may simply take in the art, or take a piece they enjoy. And as with Little Free Libraries, artists may leave work in the galleries.The movement began in Seattle and has spread across the world, inside art galleries and community centers as well as outside. In Minnesota, Free Little Art Galleries have popped up in and around St. Paul as well as Duluth, Willmar, Waconia and Hawley, a town east of Fargo.Writer Tyler Tork of Plymouth, Minn. has come up with an online <a href="https://freelittleartgalleries.art/map/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">map of Free Little Art Galleries</a>.

Art Hounds: Peyton Scott Russell's retrospective at White Bear Lake's art center 

Rachel Coyne, an author and artist in Lindstrom, Minn., plans to attend the opening artist reception this Friday for Robert DesJarlait’s show “Woodland Visions” in Hinckley.The solo show at the East Central Regional Arts Council Gallery features 21 watercolor paintings describing Ojibwe stories and culture. Coyne loves DesJarlait’s brightly colored paintings of dancers whose movement seems to leap off the canvas. Coyne looks forward to standing in the middle of this gallery and taking in the energy of the whole show.DesJarlait is a member of the Red Lake Nation. He’ll give an artist talk at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The exhibit’s opening reception takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The show runs through March 17.Lucy Soderstrom, director of the Ely Folk School, loves seeing the streets and businesses of her town transformed into an outdoor art gallery for the annual February Ely ArtWalk.A team of dedicated volunteers coordinate around 100 artists, whose work is on display in the storefronts of 40 local businesses.Soderstrom says she notices new details every time she passes by. With the warmer weather recently she was able to take time looking. Some of her favorite window displays include Ely’s Old Fashioned Candy Store, where stained glass hangs over locally-made pottery, and Mitska’s Market, where Alexia Springer’s porcupine quill earrings are on display.The Ely ArtWalk will be up through the end of February.Theater-maker Ashawnti Sakina Ford of Plymouth, Minn., is looking forward to seeing Nora Montañez Patterson’s new play “Code You,” which opens Thursday in St. Paul. Ford was able to attend an earlier reading of the play, and she was captivated by its humor and rollercoaster of emotions, which shone even in a Zoom format.The in-person production by Exposed Brick Theatre takes place at Dreamland Art’s intimate 40-seat theater in St. Paul.The play is set during the height of the pandemic with a twist that turns the collective experience on its head. In this play, the main character is the only one who’s heard of the pandemic, and when three unmasked friends show up at her apartment for a party, parallel worlds unfold. The show runs through Feb. 25. 

Rachel Coyne, an author and artist in Lindstrom, Minn., plans to attend the opening artist reception this Friday for <a href="https://www.robertdesjarlaitfinearts.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Robert DesJarlait</a>’s show “Woodland Visions” in Hinckley.The solo show at the <a href="https://www.ecrac.org/events/ecrac-gallery-features-woodland-visions-ojibwe-art-local-artist-robert-desjarlait-0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">East Central Regional Arts Council Gallery </a>features 21 watercolor paintings describing Ojibwe stories and culture. Coyne loves DesJarlait’s brightly colored paintings of dancers whose movement seems to leap off the canvas. Coyne looks forward to standing in the middle of this gallery and taking in the energy of the whole show.DesJarlait is a member of the Red Lake Nation. He’ll give an artist talk at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The exhibit’s opening reception takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The show runs through March 17.Lucy Soderstrom, director of the Ely Folk School, loves seeing the streets and businesses of her town transformed into an outdoor art gallery for the annual February <a href="https://www.elyartwalk.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ely ArtWalk</a>.A team of dedicated volunteers coordinate around 100 artists, whose work is on display in the storefronts of 40 local businesses.Soderstrom says she notices new details every time she passes by. With the warmer weather recently she was able to take time looking. Some of her favorite window displays include Ely’s Old Fashioned Candy Store, where stained glass hangs over locally-made pottery, and Mitska’s Market, where Alexia Springer’s porcupine quill earrings are on display.The Ely ArtWalk will be up through the end of February.Theater-maker Ashawnti Sakina Ford of Plymouth, Minn., is looking forward to seeing <a href="https://pwcenter.org/profile/nora-patterson" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nora Montañez Patterson’s</a> new play <a href="https://exposedbricktheatre.com/upcoming" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Code You</a>,” which opens Thursday in St. Paul. Ford was able to attend an earlier reading of the play, and she was captivated by its humor and rollercoaster of emotions, which shone even in a Zoom format.The in-person production by Exposed Brick Theatre takes place at Dreamland Art’s intimate 40-seat theater in St. Paul.The play is set during the height of the pandemic with a twist that turns the collective experience on its head. In this play, the main character is the only one who’s heard of the pandemic, and when three unmasked friends show up at her apartment for a party, parallel worlds unfold. The show runs through Feb. 25.

Art Hounds: Art storefronts in Ely, Robert DesJarlait's paintings and Nora Montañez Patterson's new play

Mina Leierwood is a Minneapolis art teacher who creates art and puppets of recycled materials. Recently, she saw a retrospective of Anita White’s work entitled “Journeys” at Vine Arts Center in Minneapolis, and was fascinated by White’s documentary art style and the stories told.White has a daily practice of capturing the people and images she sees with marker and watercolor. The exhibit includes White’s world travels, her spiritual journey and her navigation of the medical system.The artist learned as an adult that her grandmother was Jewish, a fact hidden in order to avoid Nazi persecution in Europe. One series of drawings explores her Jewish identity and family history, incorporating old family photos and her travels to her ancestral home in Romania, as well as sparks of the divine.Leierwood was also struck by White’s drawings of her medical journeys as she documented her husband’s illness and death. “Her way of dealing with a crisis was to draw your way through,” said Leierwood. White’s journal images from this period show medical workers, ambulance interiors, and ticking clocks of a waiting room, often with notes in the margins. White later returned to HCMC to create a series documenting a day in the life of the hospital.The Vine Arts Center is open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as by appointment. White will be present during portions of both Saturdays, as well as at the closing celebration, which takes place Feb. 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.Keila McCracken, a weaver in Turtle River and owner of sustainable design business, Bare Cloth, looks forward to the art show of a fellow Bemidji-area creator, Diamond Knispel. Knispel combines intricately painted animals with whimsical backgrounds in art that McCracken says captures the energy and magic of the Northwoods.The paintings in the exhibit are arranged to represent the course of a day, beginning with vivid colors and ending in richer tones.Diamond Knispel’s show “Wild Whimsy of the Northwoods” opens at the Watermark Art Center in Bemidji on Friday with an artist reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The show runs through April 28.Actor David Beukema of Minneapolis is a huge fan of the Twin Cities theater group, Transatlantic Love Affair. He loves their simple staging and the way the actors use their bodies to suggest props, setting, and character details. He recalls being deeply moved by the theater group’s play “These Old Shoes” during the 2013 Fringe Festival, and he can’t wait to see it again during its current February run.Beukema calls the play “a beautiful show about aging, lost love, and refinding love.” Transatlantic Love Affair’s players created the play, inspired by their family stories. It’s directed by Diogo Lopes with original songs by the Minneapolis-based duo The Champagne Drops.“These Old Shoes” runs through Feb. 19 at the Illusion Theater in Minneapolis.

Mina Leierwood is a Minneapolis art teacher who creates art and puppets of recycled materials. Recently, she saw a retrospective of Anita White’s work entitled “<a href="https://www.vineartscenter.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Journeys</a>” at Vine Arts Center in Minneapolis, and was fascinated by White’s documentary art style and the stories told.White has a daily practice of capturing the people and images she sees with marker and watercolor. The exhibit includes White’s world travels, her spiritual journey and her navigation of the medical system.The artist learned as an adult that her grandmother was Jewish, a fact hidden in order to avoid Nazi persecution in Europe. One series of drawings explores her Jewish identity and family history, incorporating old family photos and her travels to her ancestral home in Romania, as well as sparks of the divine.Leierwood was also struck by White’s drawings of her medical journeys as she documented her husband’s illness and death. “Her way of dealing with a crisis was to draw your way through,” said Leierwood. White’s journal images from this period show medical workers, ambulance interiors, and ticking clocks of a waiting room, often with notes in the margins. White later returned to HCMC to create a series documenting a day in the life of the hospital.The Vine Arts Center is open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as by appointment. White will be present during portions of both Saturdays, as well as at the closing celebration, which takes place Feb. 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.Keila McCracken, a weaver in Turtle River and owner of sustainable design business, Bare Cloth, looks forward to the art show of a fellow Bemidji-area creator, Diamond Knispel. Knispel combines intricately painted animals with whimsical backgrounds in art that McCracken says captures the energy and magic of the Northwoods.The paintings in the exhibit are arranged to represent the course of a day, beginning with vivid colors and ending in richer tones.Diamond Knispel’s show <a href="https://watermarkartcenter.org/wild-whimsy-of-the-northwoods/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Wild Whimsy of the Northwoods” </a>opens at the Watermark Art Center in Bemidji on Friday with an artist reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The show runs through April 28.Actor David Beukema of Minneapolis is a huge fan of the Twin Cities theater group, <a href="https://www.transatlanticloveaffair.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Transatlantic Love Affair</a>. He loves their simple staging and the way the actors use their bodies to suggest props, setting, and character details. He recalls being deeply moved by the theater group’s play “These Old Shoes” during the 2013 Fringe Festival, and he can’t wait to see it again during its current February run.Beukema calls the play “a beautiful show about aging, lost love, and refinding love.” Transatlantic Love Affair’s players created the play, inspired by their family stories. It’s directed by Diogo Lopes with original songs by the Minneapolis-based duo <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thechampagnedrops/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Champagne Drops</a>.“These Old Shoes” runs through Feb. 19 at the Illusion Theater in Minneapolis.

Art Hounds: Works about love, the magic of the woods and life journeys

A discussion at Open Book in Minneapolis explores artist Sam Robertson’s illustrated art-book take on the King James Bible. Sarah Nassif’s hands-on “Weaving Water” workshop connects the ancient art of indigo dyeing and spinning fiber with local water systems. And at The Southern Theater, the group Cumar combines West African rhythms and Celtic dance to create something new.

A discussion at Open Book in Minneapolis explores artist Sam Robertson’s illustrated art-book take on the King James Bible. Sarah Nassif’s hands-on “Weaving Water” workshop connects the ancient art of indigo dyeing and spinning fiber with local water systems. And at The Southern Theater, the group Cumar combines West African rhythms and Celtic dance to create something new.

Art Hounds have ideas to exercise your art brain

I love getting these tips for cool art stuff to do each weekend but I absolutely cannot stand the intros. I listen to this as a podcast and every week I try to gauge how far to fast forward so I don&#39;t have to listen to the &#34;cheeky,&#34; &#34;creative&#34; introduction to the show. Please stop trying so hard, it shows, and it would be stronger if you dropped the attempt to be cool and just added another review.

Good Overview, ANNOYING Intro

Art Hounds

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