Thursday, April 4, 2013

Best Bets and Kudos


Thursday's Wave in the Duluth News Tribune is a good way to catch ideas for things to do here in the Twin Ports. Here are a few activities to be aware in case you don't see them there, with kudos to some of the people involved.

Fund Raiser for the Film Festival
Tonight the Duluth Superior Film Festival is putting on a Silent Auction and Kickstarter Launch Event at the Prøve Collective, 5:30-8:30 PM. They will be sharing an abundance of food from Hanabi Sushi and Tycoons Alehouse and Eatery with free cocktails, free beer and free admission. Richard Hansen has pounded the pavement to bring in some valuable auction items from the Duluth Playhouse, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of the North, Renegade Theater Company, UMD's Theater and Music Departments, Minnesota Ballet, Zinema 2, Film Festival All Access Passes, Guthrie Theater, Duluth Airshow, artwork from local artists, GCs from great restaurants, plus other works by local artists and photographers. Sounds grand.

Kudos to Richard Hansen for the energy he brings to the local arts scene.

'ImPULSE' art exhibition at the PRØVE
I've been waiting eight months for this show that will feature new work from Jen Dietrich and Sandy Gillespie, April 12 - April 27. Mark your calendars for Friday April 12th, 7-11pm. The write-up for this show is intriguing. "As politically engaged feminists, Jen Dietrich’s work often addresses the personal thru the political—with Sandy Gillespie’s, the reverse. Gillespie’s work still holds to the early feminist principle that the personal is political. We are each interested in experimenting with media, texture, and color -- materials -- as well as content. We are both abstract artists, though Dietrich’s abstraction is representational. Gillespie’s is seldom representational." What I have found in my readings of recent years is that feminism is often miscast as a singular perspective when in reality it is as varied as Christianity's diverse denominations.
 
Kudos to Jen Dietrich for the manner in which she's rolled up her sleeves to do so much for the arts locally while continuing to pursue her own self-expression.

Congressman Rick Nolan at the Zeitgeist
Tomorrow evening Twin Ports Arts Align is hosting a mixer with 8th District Congressman Rick Nolan from 5-6pm at the Zeitgeist Arts Atrium in Downtown Duluth. Wine and cheese provided. It's a good opportunity to share the many good things happening in the local arts community. I heard him sing last year at a fund raiser for the heart association, too, and he isn't half bad...

Kudos to Crystal Pelkey for your leadership in the TPAA. Keep it going.

Seeding the Next Generation
Phantom Galleries Superior is hosting a student art show with works from high school art students of Superior and Maple in a vacant storefront. The event will be Saturday April 13 from 1-5 at 1412 Tower Avenue. There will be an artist talk at 3:00 PM.

Kudos to Erika Mock, another tireless worker in the Superior arts scene.

First Weekend at the Snoodle
Tomorrow evening from 5:30 PM until Sunday 3:00 PM there will be activities at the Snoodle Ceramic Studio on Grand Avenue near the zoo. A Snoodle Hike and open studio times are planned along with a Family Art Exhibit.

Kudos to Tonya Borgeson for her overcoming attitude in the face of last year's flood damage and her commitment to making art have meaning for the wider community.

Minnesota Book Awards Poetry Reading
One more agenda item for tomorrow evening is literary arts event at the Prøve Gallery downtown.
This year's Featured eBook of the Day: Jim Johnson, Dore Kiesselbach, and Patricia Kirkpatrick are making a stop in Duluth. These poets are sure to kick your weekend into gear with thoughtful, funny, and beautiful words at Prøve Gallery on Friday, April 5. As with all Prøve events, admission is free.

Kudos to Kathleen Roberts for helping blur the lines between the literary arts and visual arts and helping to give poets a viable platform to reach out beyond their usual confines.

And to think, this is but a warm up for the rest of the spring which will be alive with gallery hops, Homegrown Music, Dylan Fest and more. Have a great weekend. There's plenty to do.

No comments:

Popular Posts