Art
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.
(more…)
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.
(more…)
Goin’ Postal 2014 Fall Art Show
I was going to write about the Goin’ Postal show in Superior. (Goin’ Postal is one of the major hubs of the art community in Superior.) But Ed Newman does it better, with pictures.
Ghosts of the French River
This summer Erin Renee and I released a video trilogy of a collaboration at the French River. Here is the final, fourth installment, a coda if you will. (more…)
14-31DS
A few fundamental questions on the on the Chester Ski Jump Memorial Plan City of Duluth RFP.
Is not art, true art — spoken, written, painted, sung, or mixed media — an expression of that which comes from places that are intangible or elusive? i.e.: from within, a collaborative, the Netherlands, the proverbial Vibe?
Yes, the history of a place, lived out by a people is vital — I get that (and the real magic still is to have been there and lived it out) — however, most of us probably don’t have that benefit.
But a request put out on an RFP – a bid – along with city hall upgrades and roofing repairs not only diminishes the call, but is the antithesis of artistic inspiration. Just my opining.
(more…)
Home dressed as the White house for Halloween
Be wary of any loose wall outlets, and don’t mind the smell of gasoline in the carpet.
My wife and I decided to turn our front window into a Breaking Bad themed display so our house could dress up for the holidays as a meth kingpin’s abandoned home.
Reviewing Hedwig and the Angry Inch
So I thought I would like to write a review of the rock-musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
I am new to writing full-blown reviews so I guess by default this will be the worst one ever… but also the best? I am by no means an expert on anything, nor should you hold my opinion to more or less value than you would hold to someone you just met on the street. My opinion is my own, but I would like to share it.
(more…)
Photo Tour of Nopeming
Photographer Andrew Perfetti has posted an interesting series of photos of his time “discovering the abandoned hospital on the hill.”
For background, there’s a history of Nopeming on Zenith City Online. Also, check out Substreet’s “The Nopeming Stories: Recollecting a Century of Use and a Decade of Abandonment.”
Fred Tyson – “Free Man”
Sometimes larger creative projects beget smaller ones. Here is one such instance. Submitted for your viewing pleasure, a music video for Fred Tyson’s “Free Man,” captured on a cross-country road trip while shooting for the feature film Half Super. What’s captured in the tag at the end can only be explained as the late-night result of three guys punch-drunk from a dozen days together in a small car. Enjoy.
Oh, and Fred has no idea about this. So happy birthday, Fred! What?? It’s not Fred’s birthday you say? Nonsense, every day is your birthday when you’re Fred Tyson!
PAVSA Art Auction seeking donations
The Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault is seeking artwork for its annual Art Auction. PAVSA serves victims/survivors of sexual violence throughout southern St. Louis County, offering free services like advocacy, medical-forensic exams, therapy and support groups. The art auction, held every fall, is PAVSA’s largest fundraiser of the year. A wide variety of local art is auctioned off, with proceeds going toward PAVSA programs, which provide crucial services to the people the organization serves.
Painters, potters, jewelers, knitters, or those who would like to donate a gift certificate for a gift basket are encouraged to call the PAVSA office at 218-726-1442 during office hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for more information. The deadline for art to be collected is the end of October.
Folks interested in attending the auction should mark their calendars for Friday, Nov. 14, for an elegant evening of art, dinner, live entertainment, community ally awards and more. All proceeds benefit PAVSA’s programs and the healing services they provide for survivors of sexual violence.
Split Rock Review, Fall 2014
The online literary magazine, Split Rock Review, recently released the Fall 2014 issue. Also, SRR is now accepting submissions of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, book reviews, graphic narratives, visual poetry, digital literature, and hybrid forms.
For more information about the magazine and submission guidelines, please visit the SRR website.
News about the arts from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council
Various bits for local artists, arts consumers, and art organizations:
- The next ARAC grant deadline is Oct. 31. The grant programs included in this deadline are: Two-year Operating Support for organizations, Rural and Community Art Grants for organizations and Career Development Grants for individual artists. Online applications for these grant programs will be available Sept. 19. ARAC will also be holding grant writing workshops on these programs in the weeks prior to the deadline.
- ARAC is accepting nominations for the 17th annual Arrowhead Arts Awards. The awards were developed to recognize individuals who have made important contributions to the arts in the region. ARAC gives out two awards each year: The George Morrison Artist Award and the Maddie Simons Advocate Award. The purpose of the awards is to recognize the work and contributions of individual artists and arts administrators, as well as raise the profile of arts in their communities. Nominations must be postmarked by Nov. 14.
- View the calendar of ARAC-funded events at aracouncil.org.
Duluth Artist in the Black Hills
Duluth Artist Catherine Meier is back from an installation project in the Badlands.
(more…)
One Book, One Community … One Local Author
Visit Duluth Public Library’s One Book, One Community page and cast your vote for a book to be selected for this reading program. My suggestion: Support, Linda Grover’s The Dance Boots. Grover is the only local author on the shortlist, and this award-winning set of stories is perfect for this honor. (You might also check out Grover’s hot-of-the-press novel The Road Back to Sweetgrass.)
Half Super – teaser trailer
In honor of Labor Day, 4 Track Films would like to share with you its three-year labor of love — the teaser trailer for the new film Half Super. It’s a tale of love, loss and superheroes. It stars Abraham Curran and Tierney Michon and was written and directed by yours truly, Jason Page.
This is just the first taste. Each month for the next four months we will be releasing additional videos as we build to our February 2015 premiere. Stay tuned for more, and please help us raise awareness by passing on the link. Cheers!
Ark of the Anthropocene is coming to Duluth and needs support!
Minneapolis-based artist and musician Sean Connaughty has done many wonderful and interesting things. Among them are a series of self contained ceramic biospheres that he sculpts, fills with plant life, and then submerges in waterways to become free floating universes. He wires them with cameras so viewers can hit his website and see what is going on inside. Now he has taken on his biggest version of the project yet, a massive concrete ‘Ark’ biosphere which will be submerged in Lake Superior near the Aquarium. The image is of the Ark being hoisted in place for the Northern Spark Festival in June at the Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis.
(more…)
New Duluth Film Meetup Group
I’m a filmmaker new to Duluth. I started a new Meetup so I could wrangle all the film enthusiasts in the area into one location. The group covers people interested in making films and those who just enjoy watching them. Only a day old and already growing, with our first meeting coming up Sept. 4. Hope to see you there!
Ghosts of the French River (pt.1)
Starring Erin Renee. Camera: Jim Richardson.
Photo album here.