Wednesday news and reviews
Editor's note: While I usually focus on local reporting, the deaths of Elizabeth Taylor and Pinetop Perkins seemed particularly noteworthy, so I've linked to stories on both.
Art
Jenny Schmid's print work looks to the future as well as the past through inspirations as broad as medieval engravings, the '90s riot girl scene, and modern Eastern Europe, where she has lived and studied.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
- Jessica Armbruster, City Pages
Books
Freeman's latest is evocative and unpredictable
A deadly fire is at the heart of Freeman's latest mystery, moved from Duluth to Door County.
- CAROLE E. BARROWMAN, Star Tribune
Dance
When it comes to dance, our little towns on the prairie are leaps and bounds ahead of most U.S. cities. A special report on the surprising scene and some of its top artists.
- CAROLINE PALMER, Star Tribune
General
Documents of subcultures: 'Queer Twin Cities' and 'Time Masters'
- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com
Movies/Television
Elizabeth Taylor, beautiful Oscar-winning actress who led soap-opera like life, dies at 79
She was surrounded by her four children when she died of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized for about six weeks, said publicist Sally Morrison.
- DAVID GERMAIN and HILLEL ITALIE , Associated Press
Trans-Atlantic slave trade film kicks off Black docs TV series
A new initiative to showcase Black documentaries has been launched on the Documentary Channel (DOC).
- Charles Hallman, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
This week in genre filmmaking: 'Ip Man 2' and 'Paul'
- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com
Music
Bluesman, Grammy winner Pinetop Perkins remembered for distinctive voice, aggressive style
Muddy Waters was looking for a new piano player when chain-smoking journeyman Pinetop Perkins showed off his aggressive keyboarding during a jam session.
- SHELIA BYRD and JIM VERTUNO , Associated Press
Minnesota SXSW 2011 invasion: Complete
Of the 60-odd Twin Cities bands down at SXSW this year, Doomtree worked the place like they owned it.
- Andrea Swensson, City Pages
SXSW buzz bands coming to town (some very soon!)
The Vaccines will join the Arcitc Monkeys' local date, while the Dodos and Chapel Club are both here this week.
- Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune
Stage
'Woyzeck' gives old tale fresh spin
Filmmaker William Kentridge and the artists from the Handspring Puppet Company have created their own interpretation of the work, moving the action from 19th-century Germany to Jonannesburg in 1956 at the advent of South African apartheid.
- Ed Huyck, City Pages
Standup spotlight: Who the F is Gabe Noah?
This week, City Pages sat down with one of the Twin Cities' funniest up-and-coming comics to talk about his wild--and very real--trip through the world of standup.
- Patrick Strait, City Pages