David Beard
Twin Ports Arts Align
Last night I spent a few hours in the boardroom of the Duluth Art Institute, where artists, representatives of arts organizations, and hangers on like myself met to talk about ways to better align local arts. The result, Twin Ports Arts Align, is a group that is 85 percent energy so far — a webpage, a Gmail account, a Facebook page, all set up by Crystal Pelkey of Zeitgeist and an engine behind Nerd Nite — with Kristin Duckart of the DAI.
What would you want to see in a group whose primary mission would be the support and facilitation of local art? So much of the work is just getting the key players to the table; Arts Align should just be applauded for getting us this far. What is next? I’m thinking they need someone to get their hands dirty — about 1-2 PR interns. What steps would you like to see next?
Writing Life
I just finished a two-hour long open house in the Department of Writing Studies (where I work at UMD). (more…)
Nerd Culture Update
A few Nerd/Geek Culture updates… (more…)
Eat Downtown!
Kate and I have been Eating Downtown lately, part of the annual promotion of downtown restaurants. (more…)
Learning to Sew
My wife is looking for the best way to learn to sew — nothing in the community ed calendar for this semester, but maybe for the future?
What other ideas might you suggest?
ARAC seeking new board members
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is currently accepting applications from individuals wishing to serve on its Board. ARAC offers grant support and technical assistance to individual artists and nonprofit arts organizations residing in the seven counties of the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis.
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Happy First Birthday, Pineapple Arts
My wife and I love your demos, your helpful staff, and the fun vibe you bring to First Street.
McNair Event at St. Scholastica
There’s been a lot of heat on PDD, on the DNT, and apparently, even on NPR, about the “Unfair” campaign to raise consciousness about the existence of structures that result in white privilege. As a result, questions of race and class and gender are flaring to the foreground.
Just for a brief counterpoint, I want today to take a look at a program that “does it right” — that recognizes that race is one variable, an important one, but only one in a matrix of privilege and works to destabilize that matrix. (more…)
Local History Resources
I’m noticing a number of local history queries here. Don’t forget these local history resources: (more…)
Madrigal Dinner
Kate and I were randomly selected as Lord and Lady of the Madrigal Dinner at UUCD last night. (more…)
$31,732 in McKnight/ARAC Individual Artist Grants
In January, 2012, the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council awarded grants totaling $31,732 in the McKnight/ARAC Individual Artist Career Development Grants Program. (more…)
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Grants
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council approved on Jan. 19 grant applications totaling $64,000 to be awarded in Two-Year Administrative Support Grants.
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A few hundred debate marriage for homosexual partners at UMD
On Feb. 6, at UMD, the Center for Ethics and Public Policy, directed by Shane Courtland, sponsored another in its series of events that bring the university and the community into dialogue about key issues of the day. (more…)
Call for Art: “Strange Objects”
Prøve Gallery announces an open call for submissions for the show “Strange Objects.” (more…)
Not Missing the Boat: CSAs in Duluth
I always wait until too late. Not this year!
What Community Shared Agriculture projects would you recommend? I’m an old, fat man who isn’t willing to work on the farm to cut his costs, and who is deathly afraid of programs that mandate that I go to a specific place within a 45 minute window once a month or lose my food.
What would you recommend?
Igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary, anthropic
Brian Klawiter taught an energetic class on the geology of our region at Denfeld High School last night. We learned about two dozen new terms for “rock” but more importantly, we came to understand the geologic processes that created the rocks around here… (more…)
Japanese on the North Coast
Last night, Kate and I attended our second cooking class with Miaki Habuka through Duluth Community Education. (more…)
Farewell, Newspaper Lady
The Newspaper Lady has died. When I moved here, I stubbornly continued to red MSP papers for a year. At every street festival, at every new student weekend on campus at UMD and LSC, she was there, giving out papers and tempting me with deals. After about four free papers and four smooth pitches, I became a DNT subscriber and never looked back.
Thank you, Newspaper Lady. You helped make Duluth home.
See: “Man held on suspicion of drunken driving in Duluth crash that kills woman, injures grandson” for details.
Art is defined by the space it creates, not the space it occupies.
The Window of Prøve Gallery
Days when we owned media are numbered
The Blockbuster store on Central Entrance is closing; what video shops remain? See DNT.
How long until I won’t be able to own my media any more?
Explorations Abroad: China
This looks like fun. Some friends of mine are going. Deadline is on the horizon! –db (more…)
Poverty in Duluth
A public lecture by Dave Benson (executive director of the Damiano Center) happened to a standing-room only crowd at 5pm in the UMD Library Rotunda. I had to sit in the next room and listen intently. (more…)