Art Hounds: Theatre Smackdown, Ruben Nusz, and young virtuosos

"Paint Stone (3)" and "Untitled (green frame, diamond exceeding the frame)" by Ruben Nusz

This week's hounds are endorsing art that's abstract and illusionary at the same time, classical music that's being performed by some of the region's finest young adult soloists, and a 24 hour theater festival with all the energy of the WWE.

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Scott Pakudaitus will almost always say yes to chaotic, frenetic, seat-of-your-pants theater. Scott, a theater director himself and Bedlam Theatre's board president, says Theatre Unbound's "24:00:00 Xtreme Theatre Smackdown" is right in his wheelhouse. Over 40 playwrights, directors and actors have 24 hours to craft six 10-minute plays that can be about anything they want, provided they meet certain stipulations. The madness culminates with a performance of all six plays on Saturday, January 14 at Hamline University's Anne Simley Theatre at 8pm.

For a glimpse of the next generation of top-shelf professional musicians, flute instructor and musician Tina Persson says get thee down to Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis on Sunday, January 15 from 1-4pm, for the annual Young Artists Competition. It's sponsored by WAMSO, the Minnesota Orchestra Volunteer Association. Tina says the finest young adult classical musicians in the Upper Midwest and parts of Canada are competing for thousands of dollars in prizes and a chance to perform with the Minnesota Orchestra.

MCAD and CVA instructor and artist Pam Valfer raves about fellow Art Hound and painter Ruben Nusz's exhibition at Thomas Barry Fine Arts in Minneapolis entitled "Sticks/Stones." Pam says Ruben takes his ongoing interest in abstract yet illusionary images in a new direction in the show, which is on view by appointment through Feb. 9. For more Art Hounds' recommendations, check us out on Facebook and Twitter. And you can get an early sneak peek at the Art Hounds' picks every week by texting the word ART to 677-677. Art Hounds is powered by the Public Insight Network.

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