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What a serendipitous evening Saturday night! A live band played in Grumpy's back parking lot, the sidewalks were full of people hustling to dinner events at Spill the Wine and other eateries and large crowds gathered for the Minneapolis Aquatennial fireworks along the Mississippi River. In the midst of this the gallery space inside the Minnesota Center for Book Arts began to welcome invited guests to the culmination of the Book Arts Biennial, the live awarding of The MCBA Prize. I must say, the food was excellent. And I believe everything goes better with a pomegranate martini in hand. The crowd moved upstairs to the Target Performance Hall to see the finalists work first-hand and to hear the announcing of the award. You can hear the words, "Book Art" but you truly "get it" when you see the work. Each finalist piece was stellar. I wondered if selecting a single winner was even possible. Julie Chen's piece was a constant marvel--a personal favorite of mine. Simon Redington's piece was a great bringing together of a poem text and graphics--stunning. Jan Owen's piece had a constant crowd attending to it. Clifton Meador's work was superb as well--I wanted to find a quiet spot to read and view the composition of the images and text. The winner, Veronika Schäpers, was able to bring a translucence to her work that won many fans, and ultimately won over the judges as well. Each work deserves our attention and I hope to see their work and other entrants in the MCBA gallery soon!    Veronika Schäpers
Winner, The MCBA Prize
Durs Grünbein: 26°57,3’N, 142º16,8’E
Here is an opportunity for the arts this weekend. FLOW: Northside ArtsCrawl. Perhaps you've seen the skyscraper ad on the side of Block E and wondered what it was all about. Here is the answer: (From their web site)
The fourth annual FLOW: Northside ArtsCrawl on Saturday, July 25th from 3PM to 8PM continues to grow as it adds new artists and activities in 2009. Businesses, art spaces, and organizations along W. Broadway will open their doors to the community and feature Northside youth and adult artistic talent in visual and performing art. Over 200 artists, dozens of art partners, and businesses will all be highlighted as FLOW solidifies its image as a high-quality community art event in North Minneapolis. Click here to download an event schedule, map and a list of participating artists in PDF format. FLOW is hosted by the PEACE Foundation, Northside Arts Collective, and the West Broadway Coalition.
Artery 24 is twenty-four hours of performance and new media at The Soap Factory from July 24 at 6:00 p.m. to July 25 at 6:00 p.m. Various artists step in for a performance shift of dance, experimental theater, live art or new media. It's a nonstop event where the audience is free to come and go--or--stay for the long haul!
Take a look at the lineup of artists and schedule of events.---
The Soap Factory
518 2nd St. SE
Minneapolis MN
Over the past few weeks I've had the pleasure of learning more about Annie Young. The thing that really stands out about her work is its tactile nature. You just want to reach out and touch it. Her artist statement and art explain it well: Annie Young Artist Statement"I consider myself an abstract topographist, navigating the picture plane with my fingers—because I must. Working primarily in acrylics, I manipulate the interplay of color and gesture to both conceal and reveal the underlying tactile landscapes I build on canvas. Though my eyesight is diminished, I continue to see a life store of visual memories and impressions, and I regularly dream new images that my hands itch to put on canvas for others to see—and to feel."  Confetti Susan Journey with JimAnnie has a few shows coming up. More information will be posted here as it becomes available. --- Upcoming shows:
Beautiful Soul Display
Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota
Pattee Hall, 150 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis
June 1-August 31
This and That
Box Art Gallery/Thrivent Financial
625 Fourth Avenue S., Minneapolis
September 1-September 30
Garden Party
Jo Jo’s Rise and Wine
12501 Nicollet Avenue, # 100, Burnsville
September 1-October 31
Experiencing Art-ucation
Lakeville Art Festival
20965 Holyoke Avenue, Lakeville
September 19: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
September 20: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
The Minnesota Center for Book Arts upcoming MCBA Prize event is one hot ticket! Be sure to visit to get one today!
The finalists for the award are now on display for your own review. Notice them in the gallery display cases as you enter the Open Book building. This is an international competition which premieres during the Book Art Biennial.   Clifton Meador
Avalanche
Chicago, Illinois
United StatesMCBA is a vanguard art center; it is something to cherish in a state full of wonderful arts organizations. This is the first ever awarding of the MCBA Prize. Be sure you are there when the winner is announced! Check out the finalists and all the entries.---
Event Details
At MCBA at Open Book
Saturday, July 25
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
$50, Tickets are available online or by calling 612-215-2520
1. Before you go, do a little research on the artist, era or subject matter. It’s amazing what more you can glean from the art by doing this. If you can’t research before, make time afterward. 2. Try to go with others who are looking for a similar experience as you. Are you a quiet and introspective viewer of art or are you interested in involved discussions? Go with compatible people. 3. Turn off your cell phone and avoid other distractions. 4. Find a handful of pieces you want to spend more time with. Examine them from different perspectives and distances. Observe details and the whole picture. 5. Ask yourself questions about the piece. What message is it conveying? Is this what the artist intended? What elements stand out? What elements play a supporting role? What emotions does this piece reveal? 6. Ask the staff questions—oftentimes they can offer excellent insights. At more intimate galleries, you may even be able to meet the artist. 7. At the end of your visit, return to your favorite pieces either physically or mentally to help you remember them. Enjoy your visit!
Remember last fall when Minnesotans overwhelmingly approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment? That increases the general sales tax by three-eighths of one percent. Now the Minnesota State Arts Board and Minnesota's eleven regional arts councils want to hear from you about how that money should be spent. They've already completed a series statewide of public forums; now they're conducting an online survey. How this money gets spent will impact arts in the region for years to come. Let your voice be heard! Take the survey.
Hopkins Arts FairPaintings, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, photography and more will line historic Mainstreet in Hopkins this weekend. The weather will be beautiful—enjoy! Saturday, July 11, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, July 12, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MN Summer Dreams II
Opening at The Grand Hand GalleryThe Grand Hand Gallery worked with Minnesota artists to create a show as vibrant and bright as Minnesota summers. Saturday, July 11, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Alan Honn
Splash Vase
GlassCheck out the gallery on Grand Avenue in St. Paul and enjoy live music by Paul Metsa. Work by Virginia Bueide (paintings) and Alan Honn (glass) will be on display. Show ends August 2. --- The Grand Hand Gallery
619 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN
If you get a chance to visit Rochester this summer be sure and visit the Rochester Art Center. The current main exhibit is the hyper-realistic work of Karel Funk. Each of the portraits in the exhibit draw you closer and closer which contrasts with the position of the subjects themselves: looking away, eyes closed, back turned. The technique is stunning, be sure to see it (the exhibit continues through August 30).
I had a chance last weekend to visit points outside of the Twin Cities. Here is one I wanted to, but wasn't able to see: Minnesota Marine Art Museum http://www.minnesotamarineart.org/According to their web site, "The museum is expanding with the addition of a large gallery and multi-purpose room scheduled to open May 2009. The new gallery will feature more than 70 Hudson River School and Impressionism paintings." I'd love to stop in and see their collection, especially Pissarro's work. His work started my love of art.
The Textile Center is one of the jewels of the area art community. They offer an array of classes, a library with 15,000+ circulating/reference materials and a delightful gift shop. Of course they also have a gallery! Nothing New is the latest exhibit in the Joan Mondale Gallery. It features 28 local and national artists (including Nancy Mackensie, Mimi Holmes and Pat Grady) who have created art out of reused items.  Flyin' Off the Handle by Peggy WymanThe show ends August 1. By the way--are you a fiber artist? Take a look at their calls for entry to upcoming shows. --- Textile Center
3000 University Avenue SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Bravo TV will be launching a new series--yet to be titled--by the same people who created Project Runway and Top Chef. It is an "hour-long creative competition series among aspiring contemporary artists who will create and compete to conquer the art world!" They're in the process of casting artists for the show. Interested? The nearest casting call is in Chicago on July 16. Might be worth the quick road trip! Learn more about the Untitled Art Project.
There is a new book art award thanks to the Minnesota Center for Book Arts. The MCBA Prize is the first honor in the US to recognize book art from across the field and around the world. A jury of three distinguished leaders in the field of book arts reviewed more than 110 submissions from 10 nations. Now there are five finalists, and the winner will be announced at the July 25 MCBA Prize celebration. In addition to the recognition, the award winner will receive a $2,000 cash prize.  Simon RedingtonBombLondon, EnglandUnited KingdomLetterpress type, woodblocks and circular saw blades. Want to go? The five finalists' works will be on display and the winner will be announced at The MCBA Prize celebration. It will be great, especially with the cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, live music and dessert buffet! Check out the finalists and all the entries.---
Event Details
At MCBA at Open Book
Saturday, July 25
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
$50, Tickets are available online or by calling 612-215-2520
Short attention span? You've got to check this out! After the fireworks show at St. Anthony Main, stay to watch a variety of films that clock in at only 10 seconds. Show starts at about 10:15 p.m. (right after the St. Anthony Main fireworks).  Dallas Cornell, Let's Be Friends
The Mhiripiri Gallery satellite gallery opens in the Crystal Court at the IDS Center today! TCFAO was able to get a behind-the-scenes tour with Rex Mhiripiri before the gallery opened. When we stepped through the doors, it was like entering another world. We were greeted with large, breathtaking sculptures of elephants, antelope and more. The rest of the story unfolded as we meandered through the gallery (formerly a Williams Sonoma store).  Rex Mhiripiri giving TCFAO a tour before the gallery openedThe 3,000-square-foot gallery space holds an array of Zimbabwe Shona stone sculpture—things you can hold in the palm of your hand up to things that weigh approximately half a ton. The gallery features more than 20 artists, some of which have shown their work at MoMA. The media varies and includes opal, lepidolite, spring stone, bronze and more. Mhiripiri also shows masks and paintings. Rex Mhiripiri even has the history behind how some of the pieces are made. For some pieces, you can see a photo of the slab of rock in the ground that later became art. Wow. The Mhiripiri Gallery has been a mainstay in the Twin Cities arts community for nearly 25 years. The main Mhiripiri Gallery is in Bloomington, and it is even larger than the IDS location. Visit them soon! ---
Mhiripiri Gallery
IDS Center Crystal Court
Skyway Level
7th and 8th Streets at Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Main location:
9001 Penn Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55431
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Veronika Schäpers
