Friday news and reviews

Art

Someplace to love

In a smart new show, Polish-born artist Goshka Macuga puts Walker Art Center under a lens.

- Mary Abbe, Star Tribune

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.

1st annual Handmade Heartfelt Artisans' Fair

In order to carry out their mission of creating opportunities for artists to introduce their creations to the community, TACIT is hosting the first annual Handmade Heartfelt Artisans' Fair this Saturday.

- Coco Mault, City Pages

Books

Minnesota book blogs

A look at local book blogs, new and old

- Linda White, Examiner.com

Fashion

Envy, chiffon, and sublimated homoeroticism at Voltage: Fashion Amplified 2011

As someone coming from outside of the fashion community I was skeptical about how successful a Minnesotan approximation of the Fashion Week model might be. It was immediately clear that MNfashion meant business, as the entire thing from entry to finish was like a well-oiled machine.

- Sarah Heuer, TC Daily Planet

Funding

Southern Theater declares a "state of emergency"

After 101 years as a staple of the Twin Cities' cultural community, the Southern Theater stands in serious mud.

- Andrew Flanagan, City Pages

Movies

'Water for Elephants' is a three-ring romance

The hit novel gets a handsome movie version

- Colin Covert, Star Tribune

Review: Beautifully filmed circus-set romance rings true

The movie version of Sara Gruen's novel lacks the big themes that would make it more stirring than the wee story of three little people. That aside, "Water for Elephants" is still an entertaining and satisfying film on its more modest scale.

By Chris Hewitt

MSPIFF showcases Minnesota filmmakers

The festival has four different programs of Minnesota- made short films, a MN music video program, and a number of feature films by local filmmakers.

- Sheila Regan, City Pages

'Meek's Cutoff': Don't call it a western

Director Kelly Reichardt creates poetry on the prairie.

- Colin Covert, Star Tribune

Move reviews: 'I Am' and 'The Princess of Montpensier'

Spotlights on new movies out this week.

- Colin Covert, Star Tribune

Review: If looks could thrill ...

A miscast lead dooms "The Princess of Montpensier." The French costume drama is supposed to be about a woman who captivates every man she meets, but the actress playing her is a bore.

- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press

Review: Film is meaningful, but the medium may be wrong for the message

"I Am" will probably remind you of a Michael Moore movie and of the fluff-ball documentary "What the Bleep," but it's better than that makes it sound.

- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press

Music

Haley Bonar goes for 'Golder'

The Twin Cities singer/songwriter returns from a detour to Portland with a sparkling new album.

- MICHAEL RIETMULDER , Star Tribune

Concert Review / SPCO will be a breath of fresh Midwestern air in the Big Apple

As if playing America's most famous classical music venue -- New York's Carnegie Hall -- weren't enough of a high-pressure gig, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra is doing it next month amid a nine-day festival called "Spring for Music" that features seven North American orchestras. So there will be plenty of comparison and contrast afoot.

- Rob Hubbard, Pioneer Press

Prince's land is on auction block

But a representative said a $368,000 mortgage bill on 20 acres in Chanhassen was paid.

- Paul Walsh, Star Tribune

Prince defaults on Chanhassen mortgage, property facing foreclosure

First things first: No, this is not the land where Paisley Park is located, so don't start calling up your rich investor friends quite yet.

- Andrea Swensson, City Pages

Are we ready to welcome the Pixies back to the Cities again? Oh, yes

Seven years ago -- April 13, 2004, to be exact -- reunited alt-rockers the Pixies stepped onto the stage of the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis to play what would be their first show together in a dozen years. Roughly 300 concerts later, the Pixies are still together and return to the Twin Cities on Sunday to headline at St. Paul's Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

- Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press

Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago talks about the band's Minneapolis memories

Gimme Noise was fortunate to speak with Pixies' lead guitarist Joey Santiago prior to their performance this Sunday night at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

- Cindal Lee Heart

Tony Allen talks Afrobeat and Fela Kuti

As a fellow drummer and Afrobeat diehard I found myself as just another lucky student watching the man and his group who as far as I'm concerned are the most anticipated gig of the season that's finally happening this Saturday night at the Cedar.

- Danny Sigelman, City Pages

Robert Plant and Jeff Beck at the State Theatre: Pure joyWithin the space of a week, ageless superstars Robert Plant and Jeff Beck hit the Twin Cities with strong, sold-out shows at the State Theater in Minneapolis.

- Dwight Hobbes, Tc Daily Planet

Arturo Sandoval demands silence at the Dakota, 4/20/11

Known primarily as the melodic force in the '70s Cuban funk band Irakere (with pianist Chucho Valdés and Paquito D'Rivera), Sandoval, like Dizzy Gillespie, has been an ambassador of Afro-Cuban jazz music for nearly four decades, having performed around the world and with everyone from Frank Sinatra and Gloria Estefan to Justin Timberlake and most recently, Alicia Keys.

- Danny Sigelman, City Pages

Low celebrate "C'mon" release at First Avenue

Beginning their busy Saturday in Minneapolis, on April 16 Low played an acoustic in-studio to a packed house at the Electric Fetus to celebrate Record Store Day before playing an unofficial CD release for their ninth studio album C'mon at First Avenue.

- Kyle Matteson, TC Daily Planet

Talib Kweli talks about his new tour, album, and the role of role models in hip-hop

On the heels of his latest effort Gutter Rainbows, Queens rapper Talib Kweli rolls through Minneapolis this Sunday at Epic, with a live backing band and recent XXL freshman Fred the Godson in tow.

- Andrea Swensson, City Pages

Stage

'Arsenic and Old Lace' and the death of American Theater

We're coming up on a crossroads for American theater.

- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com