Friday news and reviews
Here are the arts stories from the past 24 hours... note that Colin Covert and Chris Hewitt cannot seem to agree on a single movie...
Art
In St. Paul, an art community in pieces
- Frederick Melo, Pioneer Press
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With final show, an informal cooperative of artists prepares to say goodbye to University Avenue studios.
- Mary Abbe, Star Tribune
Sol LeWitt's conceptual works are showcased in a new Walker Art Center show.
Annual MCAD art show is bigger than ever
- Coco Mault, City Pages
One of the largest fine-art sales in the Midwest takes place right here in Minnesota at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
Twin-Cities based photographer Uche enjoys capturing & creating images of the world around him
By Mary Garza, African News Journal
His passion captures emotional and physical aspects of the human expression, allowing him to catch what's within, the different characters of each of us, and portraitures, in particular, reflect the sacredness of the bond between people in their own spaces, within the community, and in the studio.
Books
mnLIT presents: 2010 What Light grand prize-winner, Connie Wanek
mnartists.org
Read "Polygamy," Connie Wanek's 2010 mnLIT grand prize-winning poem for this year's competition
- Emilio DeGrazia
"The Woman From Beijing" was just awarded first prize for submissions sent to the Monadnock Writers' Group Anthology (New Hampshire).
Patti Smith takes nonfiction honor for memoir
- Claude Peck, Star Tribune
The National Book Award winners were announced Wednesday night in New York City.
Dance
Zenon Company opens its 28th season
- Shelby Meyers, City Pages
The holiday season is just around the corner, and with it comes an onslaught of great theater performances and live dance.
- Caroline Palmer, Star Tribune
Three dance series that are entirely un-Nutcracker
Movies
OPEN, a homegrown pandrogynous love story
- Marsha Trainer, mnartists.org
Filmmaker Jake Yuzna's path to winning the Berlin International Film Festival's Teddy Jury Award this year reveals a deep debt to Twin Cities support from organizations both upstanding and underground.
Harry Potter embarks on his final adventure older, wiser and with a lot more style
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
What's new in the Potterverse? How about: new hairdo for Harry, new composer and cinematographer for the film, new settings, a new technique (there's an animated sequence) and a big new sense of purpose.
'Harry Potter': The Blah Witch Project
- Colin Covert, Star Tribune
Although its young stars shine, the next-to-last chapter in the Harry Potter saga is a muddy mess of a story.
'127 Hours': Where rock meets hard place
- Colin Covert, Star Tribune
Actor James Franco carries this grueling, gruesome and true story of a thrill-seeker trapped in Utah canyonlands.
Review: Drama this intense has no reason to Boyle over
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
The title "127 Hours" is a hope and a curse: Aron Ralston will eventually escape from the canyon in which he becomes trapped. But it will be more than five days before he does.
Review: Well, you know what they say about a jack-of-all-trades
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
I liked "Monsters" a lot more when it was called "District 9."
- Colin Covert, Star Tribune
Giant squidlike aliens from outer space take a back seat to a naturalistic, engaging and surprisingly lo-fi story.
'The Next 3 Days': Till prison do us part
- Colin Covert, Star Tribune
In a tense, unconventional thriller, Russell Crowe schemes to bust his wife out of jail.
Review: Righting wrongs is one thing; writing them quite another
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
Planning to become a crook? Consult YouTube.
Review: Aha! You can teach an old man new tricks
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
You know the bumper sticker about people striving to be the person their dogs think they are? That's what the main character in "My Dog Tulip" is going for.
Music
Twin Cities rapper Eyedea died of drug overdose - Pat Pheifer and Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune staff writers
St. Paul rapper Mikey (Eyedea) Larsen died of an accidental drug overdose, the Ramsey County medical examiner's office said.
and
St. Paul rapper Eyedea's death ruled accidental drug overdose
- Mara H. Gottfried, Pioneer Press
The death last month of St. Paul rapper Michael "Eyedea" Larsen was an accident, from opiate toxicity, according to the Ramsey County medical examiner's office.
- Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune
The first of two books on the tumultuous trio lacks teeth but shouts its praises.
Cloud Cult lassoes its star power at First Ave
- Chris Riemenschneider
The thing that probably made Wednesday's Cloud Cult performance seem so energetic, momentous and pretty much perfect, though, was the fact that it wasn't the first or second show on the band's tour behind their new album, "Light Chasers." They actually hit the road back in September.
At First Avenue, Cloud Cult are welcomed warmly home
- Natalie Gallagher, TC Daily Planet
The energy at Cloud Cult's Wednesday night show at First Avenue (first of two they've nearly sold out, with openers Fort Wilson Riot) was a lot like a welcome home party--a joyous night that had more of a family vibe than a rock show vibe.
Dawes - Even Better Than Expected
- Michelle Los, Examiner.com
Last week, Dawes played First Ave with Moondoggies and local band Peter Wolf Crier.
SPCO reinvents Bach with a barn-dance vibe
- Rob Hubbard, Pioneer Press
Have you ever gone to a classical concert where a hoedown broke out? Something like that happened Thursday night at Apple Valley's Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church.
- Graydon Royce, Star Tribune
Four generations of singers will take the same stage Sunday, under the auspices of the Minnesota Chorale.
A Legend Descends - BB King Plays the State Theater
- Michelle Los, Examiner.com
It's not often that you get a chance to see an artist like BB King live. When I received an invitation to see his show last Friday, November 12th at the State Theater, all my other plans were instantly cancelled.
Versatile singer-songwriter KT Tunstall at Epic
- Britt Robson, MinnPost.com
KT Tunstall wants to go deeper than platinum. The 35-year-old Scottish singer-songwriter hit the jackpot when her debut disc, "Eye to the Telescope," began spooling out hit singles shortly after its release in December 2004.
Owatonna Library first in state to offer free -- and legal -- music downloads, but just three a week
- Joe Kimball, MinnPost.com
Free -- and legal -- music downloads are now available through the Owatonna Library with the Freegal music service.
Orchestra collecting small donations for major commission
Pioneer Press
You don't need a big pile of money to commission a new work from a composer.
Theater
'A Christmas Story' comes to life at CTC
- Ed Huyck, City Pages
Peter Brosius has a confession to make about A Christmas Story.
The actor who scared the bullies
- Rohan Preston, Star Tribune
A youthful incident showed Gerald Drake the benefits of good acting. He grew up to become a Children's Theatre stalwart.
Delightful fairy tale at Old Log Theater
- William Randall Beard, Star Tribune
The "Puss In Boots" story, told in rhyme, is good poetry and good fun for children and grownups.