Wednesday news and reviews

Here's a look at the arts stories making headlines...

Art

Is the Northside Arts Collective finished? Board of directors say yes, many members say no

Sheila Regan, TC Daily Planet

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In the organization's December newsletter, the Northside Arts Collective's board chair Kelly Hoffman wrote that the board has voted to start the process of legally dissolving the organization.

Rogue Citizen: 100 Creatives

- Jessica Armbruster, City Pages

There's a reason so many bands break up just as they are on the threshold of stardom: It's very difficult to work creatively as a group. This is an obstacle that artists Rogue Citizen expertly navigate with each collaborative project they take on.

"Painting Zombies" at the University of Minnesota's Katherine E. Nash Gallery

- Maddy Hughes, TC Daily Planet

The description of the exhibition featured in its press release claimed that the works "exemplify and stretch the bounds of 21st century painting practice." Really?

Funding/Awards

2 from Twin Cities win national arts fellowships

- Rohan Preston, Star Tribune

Twin Cities-based playwright Carlyle Brown and sculptor Siah Armajani were honored with $50,000 prizes by the program United States Artists.

Music

Prince's "Purple Rain" named to Grammy Hall of Fame

- Jon Bream, Star Tribune

The soundtrack to "Purple Rain" won an Oscar, a Grammy and a Diamond Award for selling 10 million copies. Now the landmark 1984 album by Prince & the Revolution has been named to the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Curtiss A prepares for his 31st annual John Lennon tribute show

- Cyn Collins, City Pages

Now in its 30th year, the John Lennon Tribute is the stuff of legends, a magical mystery tour lasting four to five hours and spanning over 50 songs from Lennon's vast and varied musical career.

Cepia talks influences, remixing, and working with M.I.A.

- Danny Sigelman, City Pages

Amidst albums hoping to become stocking stuffers or to be put under the Hanukah bush this week comes the newest offering from Twin Cities electronic music maestro Huntley Miller, a.k.a. Cepia.

People

Minnesotans on ice: Three natives swirl and glide with the gang in 'Disney on Ice'

- Erica Tasto, Pioneer Press

Meet the local skaters inside the costumes and on the ice in the production of "Disney on Ice" that opens Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center: Woodbury native Cassie Deilke, 27; Apple Valley native Kathryn Meyer, 21; and Rochester native Heidi Herness, 18.

Theater

'Super-Powered Revenge Christmas #1' drawn with off-kilter lines

- Dominic P. Papatola, Pioneer Press

When it comes to Twin Cities holiday shows, traditionalists have their "Christmas Carol(s)," while gospel fans have "Black Nativity" and cynics have "Santaland Diaries." The aesthetic stockings of comic book geeks have, alas, gone unfilled by local performance companies. Until now.

Open Eye Figure Theatre's Holiday Pageant sticks a pincushion under the holiday season

Lea Sorrentino, TC Daily Planet

The performances by the cast and puppeteers are comical and at times enchanting, but the sarcasm of the play overshadows the intended holiday spirit.

'The Match Girl's Gift' offers a new holiday experience

- Ed Huyck, City Pages

A new entry to the crowded holiday theater scene is a piece adapted from another famed 19th-century Christmas tale.

In the Heart of the Beast's "La Befana" is a warm, rich story on all scales

- Leslie Kruempel, TC Daily Planet

In the Heart of the Beast presents a puppet show based on the old Italian folk legend of a lonely woman who goes in search of the Holy Child.

Superheroes and camp for Christmas

- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com

We Twin Citians always seem to be offered a dose of irony, or cynicism, or whatever else we need to make our hearts grow three sizes smaller when it all gets a bit much.