Twin Ports Art Beat, December 9

A lot happening again this weekend in the Twin Ports art scene. Just gonna take a minute to make a suggest a few places and spaces to take in if you're out and about this weekend.

Tonight is the opening/reception at the PRØVE that I wrote about early yesterday. If you missed their first show last month, don't miss this one, aptly titled Second. 7-11 p.m. at 21 North Lake Avenue, on the left side as you're driving up the hill from the Canal Park District.

Tomorrow evening is a a dual event in Superior featuring art in atypical spaces, Lucky's Billiard Hall and two blocks north, Goin' Postal, both on Tower Avenue. The Goin' Postal event runs from 6-9 p.m. featuring work by Jeredt Runions, Tara Stone, Andrew Perfetti, Gustave Campanini, John Heino, Bonnie Grittner, Eric Horn, Amanda Christine, James Campbell, Kelly Thompson, Jeredt Runions, Sharon Rogers, Tal Lindblad, Amanda Mead and Ed Newman, among others. Mark Anderson will be on hand with his jazz guitar. 816 Tower Avenue, just across the tracks.

The impetus behind the Lucky's event up the street was Dusty Keliin's desire to share some of his own creative work with friends. Sometimes the best way to share one's art when you can't bring the public to your space is to bring the contents of your space to the public. The Superior Telegram featured these two events in a front page story yesterday by Maria Lockwood titled Mixing art and business.

Back on the Duluth side of the bridge there are at least two goings-on at the Depot. The 2011 Holiday Pottery Sale will certainly be fun because in addition to exceptional art and holiday treats there will be jug band music by Dave Lynas and the Procrastinators. Artists include Jan Andler, Tim Riley, resident stone sculptor Sean McManus and many others, including the hearth-warming work of Lynas himself. (Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Near simultaneously there will be a Depot Winter Arts Festival from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. According to an announcement in the Trib, the Depot Winter Arts Festival includes free tours of the Depot’s museums, Santa and elves and performances by local artists including Arrowhead Chorale, Playhouse Children’s Theatre, On-Call Cabaret and a reading of “The Polar Express” by the super-animated and good-hearted local actor Cheryl Skafte.

The notice asks that guests bring mittens to decorate the mitten tree, mittens that will be donated to a local shelter.

The festival is from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and is free and open to the public. Santa visits from noon-4 p.m.

While downtown, don't neglect Lizzard's Gallery on Superior Street, the Ochre Ghost art sale (hours posted on the window) or the month long show of Kamikaze artists' work at Jitters.

To paraphrase Bob Dylan, "Meantime art goes on all around you." Have a great weekend.