David Beard
“Now we Float”
I recently saw the the work of Duluthian Shannon Hickok Cousino, including this piece.
My first thought is that I am drawn to it because it reminds me of other, iconic imagery — like the paintings of Ophelia (paintings by Millais and Waterhouse, below). These are the “tragic woman” of literature rendered as a beautiful tragedy. Almost so beautiful they are hard to imagine as tragic. Without a doubt, we have aestheticized the suffering of Ophelia, of women, repeatedly.
“Now we Float” makes no attempt to aestheticize the tragedy (at least, if by that, we mean erase suffering and replace it with flowers and outstretched hands).
Even as she floats, the figure in “Now we Float” does not break the surface. The surface weighs upon her. A friend of mine called it “weight of insurmountable pressure” — the kinds of pressures that crush someone, inside or out. I am remembering here the Pipher books about Ophelia that were so powerful in the 1990s.
But is the woman in Cousino’s work tragic? “Now we Float,” as a title, speaks to a kind of agency, even in death. As opposed to the scene captured on film (perhaps a scene of floundering, struggling, drowning, beneath those pressures), now, we float. Now, we simply rise to the surface. There is a simple clarity in that title, one that both underscores and undermines the tragedy, I think. No longer struggling, she floats. No longer struggling, though, she fails, still, to break the surface.
Three more artists this week … Coldsnap, Koshinski, Dalbec
Three more artists to mention: (more…)
Last Week: Living Large, Locally
Avoiding Homegrown until Friday, when I see my friend Emily Jayne play at Sir Ben’s… but still today enjoying Darin Bergsven at Dubh Linn. Time to reflect on the week.
Monday, I spent some time with Tim Jollymore, an author who arrived at UMD because of the hard work of Veronica and Mareesa and the awesome students in the Writing Club. Jollymore talked to the students about his craft as a writer — and it was an amazing afternoon for all of us. (more…)
ARAC Individual Artist Awards
Your Legacy Sales Tax, with some money from the General Fund and from the McKnight foundation, makes possible these Arrowhead Regional Arts Council awards to individual artists in Duluth and the region. If you see a friend on this list, say “Woot,” would you? (more…)
Literary Northland
This week has been a week of literary experiences for me, from International Falls to Minneapolis, from Icebox Radio to Holy Cow Press.
I drove with friends from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council to International Falls. It was both planning/working/friendly talking time with Ashley (grants manager) and Bob (executive director) and time to visit friends in International Falls. (more…)
Wildwoods: Deer and Eagles
From Wildwoods: a heartwarming, yet bittersweet story about people who saw animals in trouble and decided to do something about it. Then, a depressing story, so sad.
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Awesomeness
Do you want to see what your regional arts council is funding in your community? Check out the list below, congratulate friends and neighbors who won money, then take a look at the bottom of this message for more about ARAC. (more…)
Student Productions, New Works
As a faculty member, I get word of lots of student productions. Here are two worth thinking about.
(more…)
Tenancy Questions: Pets, etc.
A friend of mine is in a state of post-graduation flux. He’s been asked to renew his lease. He has days to decide. He might be relocating, so renewing is committing before he knows what his job prospects are.
1. He may know within a few weeks. How does one sweet-talk a landlord into extending a lease for a few months? (more…)
Busy… Arts and Such
A lot of ground to cover this week… (more…)
“A bat flew into my car and bit my hand.”
She was on her way across town to tell me about a road trip she’d taken with friends. She texted me while she was driving — something that I wish she’d never do, but this seemed extraordinary circumstances.
“A bat flew into my car and bit my hand.” (more…)
Thank you, DTA
To the driver of the #6/7 running past 20th Avenue East Jefferson Street at 8:45 this morning, who saw me looking dejected as he rolled past the intersection (I was running late trudging through the snow) … and pulled over and waited for me … thank you!
You can read minds.
Fireworks in February
I’m in the cafe at Barnes and Noble, where I just bought the new issue of Charlie Hebdo. I wish that it didn’t feel so commercially crass to have bought this now. (more…)
Slowing Down
Friday night, I celebrated my friend Scott’s birthday. When I asked him how old he was, he only said that he was 39 again. I know that feeling.
(more…)
Bobcat in the Snare
From my friends at Wildwoods, with a warning that some images are graphic:
(more…)
Tim Kaiser at Jefferson Peoples House
Tim Kaiser celebrated the kickoff of his crowd fundraising event by performing at Jefferson Peoples House in Duluth.
Minnesota Cup overfloweth with Northlanders (maybe, if you help)
Minnesota Cup event at the Green Acres Barn Event Center.
Minnesota Cup is an innovative idea competition. According to Mark Dayton on the website:
The Minnesota Cup celebrates and encourages the unique character that makes Minnesota a special place to do business. From our rich history of entrepreneurship to our impressive list of Fortune 500 companies, Minnesota is where great ideas become great companies. Attracting more than 8,000 entries since 2005, the Minnesota Cup is now the largest statewide new venture competition in the country…. I am grateful for the support provided by the Minnesota Cup’s lead sponsors, including: the University of Minnesota; Wells Fargo; Carlson Companies; Digital River; General Mills; UnitedHealth Group; and the state of Minnesota. This is an excellent example of how public and private partnerships can work together and encourage new business development in Minnesota.
It would be great if I could post every year about a Northlander winner of this competition (and celebrate the cash as well as mentor support this program offers new businesses). But I can only do that if you apply with your amazing business idea.
Ruffed grouse release 2/5/15
Several days ago, one of our great local conservation officers brought in a ruffed grouse with a head injury to Wildwoods. The grouse has made a full recovery, so today, Sarah and Trudy released her back into the wild. The grouse exploded from the transport kennel and quickly disappeared into the woods.
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
Blind Tigers, Zombie Robots, karaoke, acoustic guitar, trees in the dark
Tracing backward … (more…)
Pixel Farmer Yields Big Harvest for Locally Laid
Friend and local pixel farmer Lucie Amundsen yielded a big harvest when she wrote a reply to a letter complaining that her actual farming operation (“Locally Laid”) was too spicy for the grocery aisle.
She’ll be on the Daily Circuit (MPR) today; the story has been picked up regionally here and here and here.
Duluth creativity (and Duluth passion for sustainability) on the map!
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.
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…)