Thursday news and reviews

Here's your daily dose - enjoy!

Art

From the Rez, to the Hood, to the Lake

Sheila Regan profiles Frank Big Bear upon his recent return to painting, the fruits of which are now on view in All My Relations' new gallery space on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis.

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- Sheila Regan, mnartists.org

Lars Martinson: 100 Creatives

Although Lars Martinson is a local artist, he is also a well traveled one. In addition to visiting over 15 different countries, he has lived in Japan, Norway, and Thailand. During his time in Japan, Martinson spent several years teaching English through the JET program. It was here that he began working on a graphic novel inspired by his experiences.

- Jessica Armbruster, City Pages

'Spectacular of Vernacular' opens at the Walker Art Center

The newest exhibition at the Walker Art Center has a title fit for Dr. Seuss. "The Spectacular of Vernacular" is an showing of art with a homespun quality, but pieces are far from anything you'd find in grandma's hope chest.

- Coco Mault, City Pages

Teen says mysterious grand piano in Miami bay was art project for college application

A 16-year-old looking to boost his art school application took a bow Thursday for being the one behind the grand piano that mysteriously showed up on a sandbar in Miami's Biscayne Bay.

- Jennifer Kay, Associated Press

General

A natural history museum and a country bar (in St. Louis Park)

I recall going to the Bell Museum of Natural History on the University of Minnesota campus with some frequency when I was a boy, generally as part of a class trip. I don't recall much about it, but for the "touch and feel room" -- an exhibit of pelts and pine cones and teeth and whatnot in boxes that children are allowed to hold, and which terrified me.

- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com

Movies

These are a few of my favorite things

Of the films I saw at the Sundance Film Festival, a handful impressed me deeply.

- Colin Covert, Star Tribune

Eden Prairie man hoping for fast track to Hollywood

The screenwriter has nabbed a "test film" in a new Amazon deal.

- Bill Ward, Star Tribune

The Oscars: What shouldn't have been nominated, and what was overlooked

The Academy is spectactularly bad at knowing art when it sees it.

- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com

Music

Best New Bands Of 2010 Showcase at First Avenue, 01/26/2011

Judging by the talent and diversity of the acts, as well as the boundless amount of energy and creativity on display throughout the Best New Bands of 2010 showcase at First Avenue Wednesday night, I'd say that the future of Twin Cities music is in capable, if a bit untamed, hands.

- Erik Thompson, City Pages

Linkin Park's new hybrid theory

Coming to the Twin Cities Friday, the rap-rock kingpins talk about sonic experimentation and music activism.

- Jon Bream, Star Tribune

Wilco going DIY, Tweedy going to Rochester

Wilco has just announced the creation of its own in-house record label, dBpm Records, which will release all of the band's albums from here on out along with some other projects, too.

- Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune

Western Wis. native sings way to Hollywood on 'Idol'

A native of western Wisconsin and former Twin Cities accountant has made it through the initial audition on season 10 of television's "American Idol."

- Paul Walsh, Star Tribune

Stage

CTC receives second Joyce Award grant

The Children's Theatre Company has earned its second Joyce Award supporting new works by artists of color. The $50,000 grant will be used to nurture Asian-American playwright Naomi Iizuka's new play The Last Firefly, which the company hopes to premiere during its 2013 season.

- Ed Huyck, City Pages

Television

Melissa Peterman stars in new CMT sitcom Minnesota native, who still owns a house in St. Paul, is a single mom in 'Working Class'

From Hooker No. 2 in the movie "Fargo" to Reba McEntire's sidekick on the TV show "Reba,'' Minnesota's own Melissa Peterman has come a long way.

- Amy Carlson Gustafson, Pioneer Press