Tonight, Tonight: A Good Night for Gallery Hopping

The theme was Intergalactica

I can't say enough about last night's Artist Kamikaze IV in which at least fourteen teams were paired for a show which now hangs at the Luce for the remainder of June. Eris Vafias and the Limbo Gallery get the credit for putting it together, and the teams of competing artists get all the enjoyment as the devote themselves to three months of innovation and execution. I will most assuredly be writing more about some of the things I learned in this year's project. But we'll save that for another time as this morning I want to highlight a few happenings for gallery goers to look forward to tonight in downtown Duluth.

In a nutshell, if you do not have time to read any further, there are openings at the Ochre Ghost, the PROVE, the Washington Galleries and the Zeitgeist lobby. If you plan your route, each is two blocks from another, a most leisurely stroll... and if we're lucky the afternoon storms will have dissipated for a beautiful night on the town.

Ochre Ghost

Morgan Pease returns to Duluth for a solo exhibition of his new work. Pease is a young artist in his mid-twenties who hase been fascinated with triangles and movement. He studied paint, print and draft at University of Minnesota Duluth before heading off to St. Paul. He's traveled part of the world and like bicycle-riding. I first noticed his work at the Duluth Art Institute in 2010 and am certain he will be presenting some interesting pieces tonight.

PRøVE Gallery 

If you've been there you already know you love the space down on the ground floor of the Sons of Norway Building. Last night as I was heading in to the Artist Kamikaze opening I stopped to see what's on the docket for tonight's show. This month it will be a photography show featuring work by Ryan Tischer, John Heino, Andrew Perfetti and others. Curated by Richard Hanson, the lights were on early as they spackled nail holes and scratched their heads as to how best to display the many works on hand. 

Washington Galleries

Emma Rustan’s show at Washington Galleries, two blocks up the hill from PROVE, is titled “Goodbye, Blue Skies.” Among other things (according to yesterday's Wave) the event "will include re-creations of old portraits of military personnel, railroad workers and regular people in moments of outdoor leisure. She also has a series inspired by Homegrown Music Festival. The opening reception is from 6-9 p.m. and will include music by Kyle Ollah.

Zeitgeist Lobby

One of the great additions to the arts scene in recent years has been the Zeitgeist Building, Teatro Zuccone and the Zinema. A staple of this venue is the art in the lobby. My brother recently reminded me that my first show in New Jersey several decades ago was in the lobby of a theater in Bernardsville. This month's lobby "gallery" will feature paintings by Robert Dewitt Adams. Adams is new to Duluth, but not new to the arts. His shows at the Seattle Art Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum clearly make one aware that he's been around. Let's give a warm welcome to Mr. Adams.

As for other things happening, stay current by reading DNT's The Wave on Thursdays and The Reader, which has added a number of pages to cover the arts. We have great theater happenings (I suggest the two Tennessee Williams plays) and a vibrant music scene. So...

In the meantime, I do hope I'll run into you tonight on the town. Embrace as much as you are able. And be enriched.

This beautiful piece by Ryan Tischer will be on display tonight at the PROVE.