Lyle Lovett, Wynn Davis and Tomorrow Night's Gallery Action

I was first introduced to Lyle Lovett's music in 1987. I'd never heard of him, but the deadpan wit and spot on melancholy in his delivery riveted me. I often say I am not into country music, but Lyle is so distinctly Lyle he doesn't fit that category for me. The layered sensitivity in a simple song like "If I Had a Boat" won me immediately. The somewhat ribald playfulness in a song like "Hot To Go" only set the hook deeper. His "sound" incorporates the best of American jazz, country, blues, rock and folk traditions in that unique style that can be only described as Lyle. If you haven't got your tickets yet, he will be playing here in Duluth July 20 at the DECC.

If you choose to miss the show, there's plenty more to do that weekend. Artist Wynn Davis will be showing his drawings at an opening hosted by the Ochre Ghost Gallery on Second Avenue East. Davis is an exceptional draftsman who recently illustrated Charlie Parr's latest CD. "Post-education I have had the time to steer and develop my ideas and draftsmanship via the medium of graphite drawing," Davis said. "I reached a point with photography where the print could no longer be a means to an end, especially with how I wanted to communicate my ideas visually. Photography obviously still plays a major influence as both a tool and a vehicle for inspiration." Originally from Wisconsin, the artist said he plans to move to the Twin Ports in the near future, yet one more asset joining the scene here. This Ochre Ghost show will open July 20 and remain up through August 4. Look for a more complete interview with Wynn Davis next week either in The Reader or here at Ennyman's Territory.

THIS WEEK'S GALLERY ACTION starts tonight at the Duluth Art Institute beginning at 5:00 with a show suitably titled Summer Gallery Celebration. The show features the art of cartoonist Chris Monroe and illustrator Tasha Tudor. According to The Wave, "The Summer Gallery Celebration marks the opening of Monroe’s show and will include sidewalk chalk, cotton candy and maybe a surprise visit from Chico Bon Bon."  Not sure who Chico Bon Bon is, but it might be Duluth's version of Superior's Phantom of the Galleries. Guess we'll find out tonight.

Tomorrow night the PRØVE Collective's ninth show is titled Slow Motion. Curated by Nicolas Monson I will be giving a full preview tomorrow morning here at Ennyman's Territory. For a sneak preview of what to expect, visit the Wikipedia page dedicated to Alexander Calder.

From 6-9 two blocks up the hill you'll want to see Andrew Floberg's Rectifying the Door Through a Separate Moment at Washington Gallery. Floberg works with watercolor pencil, graphite and mixed media. “My paintings are representing by way of portraiture, the phantasmagorical personalities from fictitious characters of an enchantingly hexed and antithetic venue, enraptured and entangled betwixt time.” After tomorrow's opening Rectifying will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5 pm, or by appointment, through July 29. The Washington Gallery is is part of the Washington Studios Artist Cooperative, a community housing facility for artists. The co-op is owned by Artspace Projects, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit, and managed by Bowman Properties of Duluth.

AND FINALLY, there will be a free screening of Chris Marker's A Grin Without A Cat at Ochre Ghost, beginning at 7:00. Described by Marker as "scenes of the Third World War," this epic film-essay covers the worldwide political wars of the 60's and 70's: Vietnam, Bolivia, May '68, Prague, Chile, and the fate of the New Left. The Ochre Ghost team is showing this film to celebrate the unofficial opening of their Small Print Social Club - Zine Library and Book Store! The film will be shown in two parts starting at 7:00 PM sharp with one intermission.

Just another amazing weekend here in the North Country. And I haven't even touched on all the theater happening this weekend, including Hair. It's here! In the meantime, I do hope to see you out and about. Enjoy the shows.