Reviews
Jan 13, 2010
Review: "8 x 2: Curators Pick Artists"
Michael Fallon
Michael Fallon reviews a doubly-curated photography show at the Minnesota Center for Photography (formerly pARTs)--Mark Wojahn picked 8 curators, who in turn picked 16 artists to create this show.
Feb 14, 2007
Valentine's Gift: A Great Romeo and Juliet
Camille LeFevre
Camille LeFevre went to the Metropolitan Ballet's "Romeo and Juliet" without high hopes, but was carried away by this stellar production. Can the Metropolitan keep it up?
Feb 9, 2007
A Theater Full of Familiar Faces
Ann Klefstad
"The Underpants" at the Playground in Duluth is a charming farce, in director Pat Castellano's version. You've got just a couple more chances to see it.
Jan 28, 2007
Could Have Been Wonderful: Carousel
Jaime Kleiman
Jaime Kleiman takes a ride on Nautilus's "Carousel"; it could use some work. The show runs through February 11 at the Southern Theater.
Jan 20, 2007
Parallel Play at Off Leash Area: Maggie’s Brain
Ann Klefstad
Any production by Off Leash Area is an event: this group consistently pulls together extraordinary talents from all over town to produce performance that is dance, installation, theater, and concert in one. “Maggie’s Brain” is no exception.
Dec 28, 2006
Book Review: Greg Watson, "Things You Will Never See Again"
Connie Wanek
In the meditative season, mnartists is running extra book reviews. Head out to your neighborhood bookstore and grab these titles by Minnesota authors. Here's noted poet Connie Wanek on Greg Watson's "Things You Will Never See Again."
Nov 26, 2006
Seductive, Repulsive: Quantum Circus at Soo VAC
Amanda Vail
Amanda Vail reports on “Quantum Circus: The Intelligent Design Process,” an enviroment built by Michael Zansky and Andréa Stanislav at the Soo Visual Arts Center. The show is up through December 24.
Nov 25, 2006
Wynn Fricke: Fierce and Honest Devotion
Lightsey Darst
The choreographer and dancer Wynn Fricke has worked with both the Minnesota Dance Theater and Zenon Dance Company this fall. Lightsey Darst looks at these perfornances in tthe context of Frick's past work.
Nov 2, 2006
Words and Pictures, Pictures and Words
Julia Durst
Julia Durst responds to “Response”: Artists of the Northern Printmakers Alliance & Poets of the Lake Superior Writers
At Northern Prints Gallery, Duluth, through November 11. Get the book from Calyx Press here.
Oct 30, 2006
Metropolitan Dracula
Lightsey Darst
Lightsey Darst gives us a Halloween feature: she discusses the Metropolitan Ballet's shaggy production of "Dracula" at the State Theater, and talks about a two-hundred-pound gorilla too. We all await their "Romeo and Juliet" later this year . . .
Oct 22, 2006
Coming-Out Party: Arena Dances at Ten
Lightsey Darst
Lightsey Darst saw "Ten," the tenth-anniversary performance of Arena Dances, choreographed by Mathew Janczewski
at the Southern Theater. It runs through October 22. She posits that this choreographer needs the "freakishly gifted" to do his best work.
Oct 19, 2006
Salad Days Sunset: MCAD / Jerome Fellows
Chris Atkins
Chris Atkins reviews the new crop of Jerome artists at MCAD, and is engaged by what he sees. Be sure to get over to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Gallery; the show comes down October 29.
Oct 18, 2006
Not Easy to Take: "Safety Club" at Midway
Patricia Briggs
Patricia Briggs was struck by Todd Norsten's show "Safety Club" at Midway Contemporary Art's new space in Northeast Minneapolis, and driven to think about the long and resonant development of this artist's career. Show is up through October 21.
Oct 18, 2006
Reliquiae: Beauty and Cruelty of Life on Earth
Glenn Gordon
Glenn Gordon visited Sam Spiczka's sculptures at Augsburg College's Gage Family Gallery, and was swept away. The show is up through October 27. Spiczka is giving a talk at the gallery Weds, Oct 25, at 12:30 pm.
Oct 13, 2006
"Gypsy" Almost There
Jaime Kleiman
Jaime Kleiman finds "Gypsy" by Theater Latte Da to be a hell of a show with a major hole through it. Wonderful? Yes-- Awful? That too. The show runs through November 4 at the Loring Playhouse.
Oct 13, 2006
We Can Be Heroes: Cameron Jamie
Jeffrey Kalstrom
Jeffrey Kalstrom writes on Cameron Jamie's show at the Walker as a clarion call for citizen artists--all those who make, throw off your chains! You have nothing to lose but the remote. Jamie's work is up through October 22.
Oct 5, 2006
Two Different Worlds?
Jim Grafsgaard
Read artist Jim Grafsgaard’s opinion on Todd Norsten’s paintings at Midway Contemporary Art and Barbara Gilhooly’s sculpture at Outsiders and Others. What do you think? Please respond!
Oct 4, 2006
MCAD/Jerome Artists 2005-06: Megan Rye
Kristin Makholm
Essays by Kristin Makholm, MCAD Gallery Director and Program Director, MCAD/Jerome Foundation Fellowships for Emerging Artists