Goings On About Town: Three Special Twin Ports Art Openings This Week

Photo courtesy Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art

This is just a heads up for three visual arts events coming up that you won't want to miss. If you've been following along here you already know Duluth Dylan Fest kicks off tonight with Robby Vee at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum. Every time I mention Karpeles people ask, "Where's Karpeles?" When I say, "It across the street from the entrance to St. Luke's Hospital Emergency Room, just above the parking lot for the Gitch."

"Oh, yeah," they invariably say. "I've been meaning to go sometime."

Well, today might be a good time to check it out. Bill Pagel has donated more of his Dylan collection for public viewing, and it will be there through June. If you've bought tickets for Robby Vee's Rock N Roll Caravan tonight, then go early so you can see all these pieces of history, though actually the museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. If I have my facts correct, the show is again titled Einstein Disguised as Robin Hood, though I have been told this will not be an identical replay of last year's exhibit. I will keep you posted.

As for Art Happenings, here are four to mark on your calendars.

Dylan-Themed Art Show Opening Reception 

In the past our Dylan-inspired art shows have been across the bridge at the Red Mug Coffeehouse. This year, we're in the heart of Downtown Duluth at the Zeitgeist Atrium, one block west of Carmody's where our annual Dylan Trivia takes place. The Monday reception at Zeitgeist is free and will run from 5-7 p.m. We have new work by Daniel Botkin of Chicago, and a couple great pieces based on an original work by Kristi Abbott, an artist from Down Under who now resides in St. Paul. Other contributors include Sue Rauschenfels, Becky Perfetti, Adan Swanson, Tim Beaulier and a blogger who signs his work with an e.

Monday, May 22, 5-7 p.m.

On the Cutting Edge
Papercut Art Exhibit by Ellen Sandbeck

Anyone who has seen Ellen Sandbeck's papercut art is an instant fan. I have been following her career since the early days when she was doing illustrations for Dover Books. Her Buddha-A-Day Series was a remarkable achievement and only showed the first inklings of what she was capable of.

The Opening Reception for On the Cutting Edge will be this coming Friday at the AICHO/Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center, 212 W. 2nd Street in Duluth. If you have never been to this facility I strongly encourage you to make this your first visit. It won't be your last. 

There will also be entertainment, with music and limericks by Mina Kaiser. Sounds like fun to me. There is a suggested $10 donation to support AICHO's ongoing arts and cultural programming.

This event is Friday from 5-7 p.m. This would be a great way to begin a very special Friday evening of art and music. If you attend On the Cutting Edge, then move westward to the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art exhibition, you can still get over to Clyde Iron Works for the Duluth Dylan Fest Singer/Songwriter Contest. If that's too much for one evening, the Great Lakes open house is all weekend.

Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art
Annual Student/Instructor Exhibition

This is something I have been especially looking forward to. The Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art is inviting the public to attend their first Annual Student/Instructor Exhibition. According to their Facebook page, "We will be showcasing our students first year curriculum and also lead you through what an atelier style of classical art training looks like. We will have many examples of their work as well as that of our instructors (Jeffrey T. Larson and Brock Larson) on display here at the Academy. We are also excited to be able to show the progress with the renovation that has been made on our building (the old St. Peter's Church)."

May 26th, 5pm - 9pm
May 27th, 1pm - 8pm
May 28th, 1pm - 5pm

SINEW at the Tweed

"Sinew: Female Native Artists of the Twin Cities," will be opening at the Tweed Museum of Art June 1st, 2017, 6-8 PM. Mark your calendars. Come celebrate and honor this amazing group of women artists. Details Here.

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DULUTH DYLAN FEST IS UNDERWAY. Check out the full schedule of events at BobDylanWay.com.

Meantime, life goes on all around you. Get into it.