July 2008

July 25, 2008

Water fight: Soucheray vs. Rybak...and me

This past Tuesday, on the so-called Endless Bridge of the Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak helped launch a project he called "not the least controversial thing I've ever done," unveiling the designs for 10 artist-designed drinking fountains that will be installed throughout the city over the next few years. The project has not just the full-throttled support of the city's public art coordinator--the indefatigable Mary Altman--but also the city's Public Works director, who spoke glowingly of the project at the unveiling Tuesday, and if you can imagine the usual cultural differences between artists and public works folks, the guys who maintain your roads and sewers, you can begin to understand just how impressive this partnership is. (In fact, this city's... Read more »

Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 17, 2008

The arts in turmoil

It's about time the arts were making headlines. Unfortunately, it's not for the best reasons. Artists are in an uproar--most recently about the controversial exits of two long-time arts administrators, well-liked by artists, at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Southern Theater, the area's de-facto home for dance among other performing arts.

The alleged force-out of Jeff Bartlett, the Southern Theater's artistic  director who'd been at the theater since interning there in 1975, is still a mystery to most: He apparently was told not to report to work for the indefinite future and wasn't offered any explanation. At the same time, the Southern gleefully announced the hiring of its first president and CEO, Patricia Speelman, characterizing it as a significant step up... Read more »

Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 10, 2008

Are you ready to rock, Republicans?

This is why Minneapolis has the coolest mayor: This morning, at the press conference in the Crystal Court of the IDS building announcing the Spark24 arts festival, there was R.T. Rybak, tieless and bopping his head to an electrified ukelele played by one of the festival's participants, Lucy Michell. This isn't news to me--I've seen him join the kickline of the Rockettes at the Orpheum Theater and once, at the opening of the Hard Rock Cafe, he smashed a guitar then asked the media if anyone wanted to join him for a beer ("I've got a half hour til a Council meeting," he said).

But actually, it's the partnership between Rybak and arts booster Scott Mayer that's truly beneficial.... Read more »

Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2008 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 8, 2008

Sundance comes to Minnesota

You can go to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City and pay top dollar to see the latest progressive films, ski, party, and maybe even spot Robert Redford in the midst of what he has turned into an enormously influential artistic enterprise. Or--you can go to the Walker Art Center this Thursday and see two examples of why Sundance is more than just snow bunnies and film nerds in black-framed glasses. Read more »

Posted on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 in Front & Center | Permalink | Comments (0)