Art Hounds

Actor and storyteller Roy Taylor recommends seeing Highpoint Center for Printmaking’s latest show. “Transference: Printmakers in Mni Sota Makoce” features the printmaking talents of several local artists, including Julie Buffalohead, Jim Denomie, Dyani White Hawk and Jonathan Thunder. Taylor points out that any of these artists merits an exhibition of their own; to see their work together will be particularly powerful. The exhibition runs through Oct 26.

Playwright Dan Pinkerton is looking forward to seeing “Aubergine” at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul. Written by playwright Julia Cho, it tells the story of a Korean son who shows his love for his dying father by cooking a delicious meal. Pinkerton is a fan of Cho’s writing, which manages to move audiences without being overly sentimental. Performances run through Oct 20.

Wood sculptor Curtis Ingvoldstad is a big fan of Frederick Somers’ paintings. Somers wanders deep into the Big Woods area around Northfield to find patches of sunlight that pierce through the tree cover. Ingvoldstad says Somers’ paintings burst with a symphony of color - “a rainbow times ten.” You can see Somers’ paintings as part of the “Foundations” exhibition at Northfield Arts Guild through Oct. 26.

Prop maker Brooke Nelson recommends seeing the musical “Ride the Cyclone” at the Jungle Theater in Minneapolis. The story begins when six teenagers die in a gruesome roller coaster accident; they find themselves in limbo and must compete for the opportunity to return to life. Nelson says the show is a funny, touching look at what it means to value your life while you have it. Performances run through Oct. 20.

Theater artist Paul Coate took his family to New Prague, Minn., to check out Daleko Arts production “Ghost Tour.” The audience takes a walking tour of downtown Daleko’s haunted history, only to have it hilariously interrupted by a series of mishaps. Coate enjoyed the combination of walking about a small town while laughing heartily. Performances run through Oct. 12.

As the director of the emergency medicine department in an east metro hospital, Richelle Jader says she’s thrilled to see a theater production that features the lives and work of small-town first responders. Population 485 is based on the book of the same name, and is inspired by Michael Perry’s experiences working as a volunteer firefighter in New Auburn, Wis. Performances run through Sept. 29 at The Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wis.

Prop maker Brooke Nelson recommends seeing the musical “Ride the Cyclone” at the Jungle Theater in Minneapolis. The story begins when six teenagers die in a gruesome roller coaster accident; they find themselves in limbo and must compete for the opportunity to return to life. Nelson says the show is a funny, touching look at what it means to value your life while you have it. Performances run through Oct. 20.

Theater artist Paul Coate took his family to New Prague, Minn., to check out Daleko Arts production “Ghost Tour.” The audience takes a walking tour of downtown Daleko’s haunted history, only to have it hilariously interrupted by a series of mishaps. Coate enjoyed the combination of walking about a small town while laughing heartily. Performances run through Oct. 12.

As the director of the emergency medicine department in an east metro hospital, Richelle Jader says she’s thrilled to see a theater production that features the lives and work of small-town first responders. Population 485 is based on the book of the same name, and is inspired by Michael Perry’s experiences working as a volunteer firefighter in New Auburn, Wis. Performances run through Sept. 29 at The Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wis.

Sculptor Jill Waterhouse loves the current show at the Elmer L. Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota. “Stamped and Posted: Communication Art from around the U.S.A.” features works from the collection of artist and art educator Mimi Holmes. “Mail art” started in the mid-20th century as a means to circumvent the hierarchy of art galleries; the only criteria for a work of art was that it met size requirements, followed a given theme and could make it through the postal system. Waterhouse says the exhibition is irreverent and delightful. On view through Sept. 30.

Minnesota Fringe Festival executive director Dawn Bentley is looking forward to seeing Theatre 55’s production of the musical “Pippin.” The musical tells the story of a young prince who’s looking for meaning. Theatre 55 features performers who are all over the age of 55; its production replaces the prince with three older women, who are contemplating what to do in their next phase of life. Performances run through Sept. 29 at Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis.

Actress Diana Lawrence thinks you should check out “History Alive!” in Lanesboro, Minn. Now in its fifth year, the production brings to life a piece of Lanesboro history, providing 90-minute tours of the town with dramatic scenes along the way. This year, the town is reliving the year of its founding, 1869, and explores the impact of both the Civil and Dakota wars, the end of slavery and the rise of the suffragette movement. Performances run this weekend and next.

Sculptor Jill Waterhouse loves the current show at the Elmer L. Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota. “Stamped and Posted: Communication Art from around the U.S.A.” features works from the collection of artist and art educator Mimi Holmes. “Mail art” started in the mid-20th century as a means to circumvent the hierarchy of art galleries; the only criteria for a work of art was that it met size requirements, followed a given theme and could make it through the postal system. Waterhouse says the exhibition is irreverent and delightful. On view through Sept. 30.

Minnesota Fringe Festival executive director Dawn Bentley is looking forward to seeing Theatre 55’s production of the musical “Pippin.” The musical tells the story of a young prince who’s looking for meaning. Theatre 55 features performers who are all over the age of 55; its production replaces the prince with three older women, who are contemplating what to do in their next phase of life. Performances run through Sept. 29 at Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis.

Actress Diana Lawrence thinks you should check out “History Alive!” in Lanesboro, Minn. Now in its fifth year, the production brings to life a piece of Lanesboro history, providing 90-minute tours of the town with dramatic scenes along the way. This year, the town is reliving the year of its founding, 1869, and explores the impact of both the Civil and Dakota wars, the end of slavery and the rise of the suffragette movement. Performances run this weekend and next.

Photographic artist Lisa Nebenzahl was blown away by “Graciela Iturbide’s Mexico” at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. This exhibition explores the private spaces of indigenous peoples that many of us would never otherwise access to. Nebenzahl says Iturbide’s photographs are simultaneously surreal, gritty and devastating. The show runs through Dec. 15.

Playwright, actor and storyteller Roy Taylor is a fan of the celebrated artist George Morrison. Morrison is known best for his wood collages, abstract art and landscape paintings. Taylor loves that Morrison always considered himself an artist first; his works are heavily influenced by his early years on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation. In the coming weeks, three different galleries are celebrating Morrison’s 100th birthday with exhibitions: Bockley Gallery, All My Relations Arts and Two Rivers Gallery in the Minneapolis American Indian Center.

Musician John Sievers says there’s something for everyone at the Med City Arts Festival in Rochester, Minn: a plein aire competition, an abstract paint-off, all kinds of arts and crafts, slam poetry, music, comedy and even a scavenger hunt. The fun runs from 10 a.m. through 10 p.m. at the corner of First Avenue and Third Street in downtown Rochester on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Photographic artist Lisa Nebenzahl was blown away by “Graciela Iturbide’s Mexico” at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. This exhibition explores the private spaces of indigenous peoples that many of us would never otherwise access to. Nebenzahl says Iturbide’s photographs are simultaneously surreal, gritty and devastating. The show runs through Dec. 15.

Playwright, actor and storyteller Roy Taylor is a fan of the celebrated artist George Morrison. Morrison is known best for his wood collages, abstract art and landscape paintings. Taylor loves that Morrison always considered himself an artist first; his works are heavily influenced by his early years on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation. In the coming weeks, three different galleries are celebrating Morrison’s 100th birthday with exhibitions: Bockley Gallery, All My Relations Arts and Two Rivers Gallery in the Minneapolis American Indian Center.

Musician John Sievers says there’s something for everyone at the Med City Arts Festival in Rochester, Minn: a plein aire competition, an abstract paint-off, all kinds of arts and crafts, slam poetry, music, comedy and even a scavenger hunt. The fun runs from 10 a.m. through 10 p.m. at the corner of First Avenue and Third Street in downtown Rochester on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Minnesota Chorale executive director Bob Peskin associates late summer and early fall with Mixed Precipitation’s annual picnic operetta, which mashes opera with more contemporary fare. This year’s production is “The Clemency of Tito’s Tennis Club” which combines Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” with '80s new wave and synth-pop hits. The shows tour community gardens, parks, farms and wineries and the performances are interspersed with a peak-season tasting menu. The tour runs through Sept. 29, with stops in Hastings, New York Mills, Wykoff, Oronoco and Avon.

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Jewelry maker and sculpture artist Tia Keo recommends paying a visit to Film North to check out the new group art exhibition “Anxiety About the Precise Significance of the Present and Uncertainty About the Future.” The artists are wrestling with climate change, racism, displacement and other sources of stress; Keo says the results — which span sculpture, photography, painting, film and poetry — are beautiful. There’s an opening reception tonight and the show runs through Oct. 31.

Longtime theater-goer Florence Brammer is looking forward to New Native Theatre’s production of “The Rez Sisters” at Gremlin Theatre in St. Paul. The play, written by Tomson Highway, is largely credited with inspiring a Native theatrical renaissance. It tells the stories of seven women planning a trip to the “Biggest Bingo in the World.” Brammer says New Native Theatre offers an important opportunity to see native stories on stage. Performances run through Sept. 1.

Minnesota Chorale executive director Bob Peskin associates late summer and early fall with Mixed Precipitation’s annual picnic operetta, which mashes opera with more contemporary fare. This year’s production is “The Clemency of Tito’s Tennis Club” which combines Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” with '80s new wave and synth-pop hits. The shows tour community gardens, parks, farms and wineries and the performances are interspersed with a peak-season tasting menu. The tour runs through Sept. 29, with stops in Hastings, New York Mills, Wykoff, Oronoco and Avon.

Instagram link

Jewelry maker and sculpture artist Tia Keo recommends paying a visit to Film North to check out the new group art exhibition “Anxiety About the Precise Significance of the Present and Uncertainty About the Future.” The artists are wrestling with climate change, racism, displacement and other sources of stress; Keo says the results — which span sculpture, photography, painting, film and poetry — are beautiful. There’s an opening reception tonight and the show runs through Oct. 31.

Longtime theater-goer Florence Brammer is looking forward to New Native Theatre’s production of “The Rez Sisters” at Gremlin Theatre in St. Paul. The play, written by Tomson Highway, is largely credited with inspiring a Native theatrical renaissance. It tells the stories of seven women planning a trip to the “Biggest Bingo in the World.” Brammer says New Native Theatre offers an important opportunity to see native stories on stage. Performances run through Sept. 1.

Dancer and choreographer Melissa Clark loves the variety you’ll find at a Rhythmically Speaking performance. Founder Erinn Liebhard brings together choreographers from across the country — and right here in the Twin Cities — to share new work that’s inspired by jazz and American social dances. This weekend Rhythmically Speaking presents “The Cohort” at The Southern Theater in Minneapolis.

Retired sociology professor Navid Mohseni is excited to attend the Twin Cities first-ever “Iranian Culture Week.” Mohseni says most Americans associate Iran with tense politics, but have little familiarity with its rich cultural traditions. The week will feature the art, music and crafts of local Iranian-Americans, as well as food, travel photography and lectures on Iranian history. It all takes place at ArtSpace Jackson Flats in Minneapolis with an opening reception on Sunday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

When ArtReach St. Croix’s Heather Rutledge first heard about the two-day “Music in the Trees” festival, she assumed it was simply a concert in the woods. But the Belwin Conservancy is actually putting musicians up in tree stands to perform a variety of music from around the world. There are also prerecorded music installations you can encounter while walking through the woods. The festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.