Art
Selective Focus: Capers
Kip Praslowicz, untitled
Maybe I slant toward the unorthodox, but I know that images exist of regrettable tattoos, cow-tipping episodes, and numerous other lapses in sense. Not that I’m remotely disappointed with this week’s submissions; stunts, escapades, etc. were very well-represented (ask Richard sometime for the story behind those axes and puckish grins). (more…)
ARAC seeking new board members
I have been a board member at the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council for, like, four years now. It has enriched my life immensely. Immensely. Consider joining as an Duluth member, at-large.
ARAC is currently accepting applications for the upcoming term starting in June. Positions that will be available include a board representative from Koochiching County and at-large members from any of the seven Arrowhead region counties.
For more information on becoming an ARAC board member and how to apply, click here.
ARAC Organizational Grants Awarded
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council awarded a total of $93,840 in two-year operating support grants in January. There were eight organizations awarded out of 11 applicants. The program awards up to $12,000 over a two-year period to established nonprofit regional arts organizations to maintain their ongoing operating needs and services. The following is a list of organizations granted:
- County Seat Theatre, Cloquet
- Lake Superior Community Theatre, Silvery Bay
- Matinee Musicale, Duluth
- Mesabi Symphony Orchestra, Virginia
- Nordic Center, Duluth
- North Shore Music Association, Grand Marais
- Northern Lights Music Festival, Inc., Aurora
- Twin Ports Wind Ensemble, Duluth
ARAC also awarded a total of $39,090 in rural and community art project grants. There were nine organizations awarded out of 10 applicants. The program provides grants up to $5,000 to nonprofit, regional arts groups to support community- or artist-initiated arts activities that will affect the group and/or the community it serves. The following is a list of organizations granted:
- Chalk.a.Lot, Two Harbors
- Cook Area Chamber of Commerce, Cook
- Friends of B’nai Abraham, Virginia
- Good Harbor Hill Players, Grand Marais
- Grand Rapids Area Male Chorus, Grand Rapids
- Grand Rapids Players, Grand Rapids
- Great River String Ensemble, Aitkin
- Itasca Choral Society/Itasca Community Chorus, Grand Rapids
- Minnesota State Old Time Fiddle Championships, Virginia
Perfect Play or Musical of 2014: Renegade’s Red
It was close, and it has to be considered an upset. Renegade Theater Company’s two-character biographical play, Red, staged in the roughly 100-seat Teatro Zuccone theater, was the winner in Perfect Duluth Day’s poll to name the best play or musical of 2014. It edged out the Duluth Playhouse’s centennial-marking, big-budget musical production of Les Misérables, which was staged in the 2,200-seat Symphony Hall at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.
Duluth Grants Available
The Duluth Legacy Endowment Fund is issuing more grants this year. The endowment has already donated almost $34,000 over the years. Go to the website for information and application information. Deadline to apply is Feb. 1.
The DLEF supports valued Duluth community programs. Anyone from a group involved in these areas should consider applying:
- Arts and culture
- Beautification
- Education
- Environment
- Human service
- Parks and recreation
Woodblind – “Big Voice”
Some Woodblind for your weekend.
Reel North film and video call for entries
Reel North is a new film and video series at Zinema 2 that asks people to bring in any film/video they’ve made for a screening in front of an audience of their peers. It’s open to absolutely everyone and anyone who wants to see their work up on the big screen. The first event will be Tuesday, March 31, from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is free. (more…)
Ken Marunowski @Zeitgeist
My friend, colleague and local artist Ken Marunowski has art on display at the Zeitgeist.
It’s a new body of work, and it’s worth a look.
Best Play or Musical of 2014 Nominations
It’s time again to look back at the previous year of locally produced theater and choose the nominees for Best Play or Musical. In 2013, the Duluth Playhouse Children’s Theatre’s production of Cats took top honors. What was your favorite play of 2014?
Robert Adams on Display
I stopped by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth, on College Street, to see the art on display by Robert Adams.
The exhibit includes didactic panels that really opened up Rob’s art to me. It made clear the conscious efforts to blend the formalism of Josef Albers and the playfulness of Rosenquist (or at least of pop art like Rosenquist’s) with a public commitment to the environment and a personal exploration of identity. (more…)
Selective Focus: Perilous
Richard Narum, untitled
Mother Superior seems to have held a prominent place in the psyche of many of you who considered our “perilous” theme. It conforms to a theory of mine regarding what makes this area so unique; when you’re daily reminded that life is tenuous, highs and lows are more pronounced, and halcyon days are more precious. (more…)
What’s in your beard?
If you heard MPR Arthounds where I said Minneapolis poet Brian Beatty (doing a reading tonight and free workshop tomorrow) will fit into Duluth’s Lumbersexual landscape, you might enjoy this YouTube gem, What’s in Your Beard? It features Mr. Beatty himself.
Where in Duluth?
Saw this one this morning. It’s tiny, but it stood out, so maybe someone else will remember seeing it.
2014: The Year in Duluth Gig Posters
This is by no means a comprehensive collection of the past year’s gig posters, just 126 of them that caught my eye.
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Year In Review: Artist Interviews 2014 — July to December
New work by Elizabeth Kuth
All-in-all it has been an exciting year in the local Twin Ports art scene. I was able to interview and share the work of more than 25 artists again this year. My blog post today links to 15 of those interviews that were shared at Ennyman’s Territory from July through December.
Interviews with Local Artists
End of the year means summing up what’s been happening in 2014 so we can turn forward and face the new year. This morning I posted links to many of the interviews with local artists that I had the privilege of sharing from January through June. This was another great year for arts happenings here in the Twin Ports. Here are some of the people who make it happen.
Work by Karen Owlsley Nease who has recently transplanted to the North Country from Kansas City.
Selective Focus: Light
Marissa Murdy, untitled
Given the perpetual greige skies of Duluth this late-December, looking at last week’s light-themed photos was a necessary pleasure. And, as I can see no reason now to stop being seasonally appropriate, our theme next week will be “resolve.” Again, here’s a word that is capable of many possible valencies: tenacity, commitment, coming into view, and more. (more…)
The One Who Watches
The One Who Watches movie premiere tonight at Zinema 2 is sold out. The movie is available to stream or download at nicholassunsdahl.com. It will also show again Jan. 6 at the Zinema 2 Explorer’s Club and on Jan. 8 at the Trylon Microcinema in Minneapolis.
Duluth News Tribune: Duluth filmmakers hope audiences enjoy their first feature-length film
Selective Focus: Warmth
Marissa Murdy, untitled
It’s good to be reminded that however bare and frozen our present surroundings may be (though granted, there’s an austere beauty there too) that current conditions aren’t permanent, and are not beyond most of our abilities to moderate them — given enough light, loved ones, woolen wear, fire, alcohol, some occasional nudity … whatever is close at hand. (more…)
Selective Focus: Home
Richard C. Johnson, untitled
The theme of “home,” and the numerous ways we can represent that idea were especially meaningful to me for two principle reasons — first, for having spent the past few years without something that fit the word’s conventional definition, and second for having accomplished a longed-for arrival here, in this community. (more…)
Art, Friends, Food, Drink
I spent tonight walking from art to art, from food to food, from friend to friend — the midpoint of an art week. (more…)
ARAC Technology/Equipment Grant Recipients
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council granted technology/equipment funding to the following individual artists on Oct. 16. For past program recipients, please contact the office by e-mailing info @ aracouncil.org.
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Washington Gallery accepting applications
Washington Gallery is accepting applications for exhibits, performances and other events for the 2015 season. A single-page application can be downloaded at the Washington Studios Artists Cooperative website. The application deadline is Nov. 21. Call Emma at 218-260-1110 for tours and more information.
Halloween Banner Contest winner
The winner of the PDD Halloween Banner Contest of 2014 is Mark Ryan with this entry.
Honorable mention goes out to the submissions below. Thanks to everyone who sent photos, all of the submissions are now in the rotation along with photos from past years.
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