Almost Wordless Wednesday -- Revolution Jones at the Top Hat Tavern

Local art seen, and heard: Revolution Jones at the Top Hat Tavern.

Formerly The Cove, among other names... Live music returns to Souptown.

Local Art Seen: Art on the Plaza and a Handful of Upcoming Events

If you've not yet been to Art in the Plaza you may find it a worthwhile stopping point if you're in the neighborhood. The gallery is tucked into a small space in Belknap Plaza near UWS. I happened by last week and captured the photos on this page. Art in the Plaza is a project of the Superior company Twin Ports Stage. The store is dedicated to providing artists with a venue to sell their work. It's open 30 hours a week, including Thursday evenings.

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Though I don't usually cover the music scene, which is better covered elsewhere, this Friday Revolution Jones will be performing at Top Hat Tavern on Tower Avenue in Superior. It's an eight o'clock show and a nice opportunity to see what the old Cove has become in its current iteration. Revolution Jones features Reggae-style music. It's a St. Patrick's Day weekend bash. Details here.

Saturday March 19 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., the Unitarian Church at 835 W College Street is hosting a Treasures of the Earth, Green Art Fair.  The event is a gathering of regional artists who create art/items with natural materials (stone, wood, fiber) and/or reused/recycled items.

Also happening March 19: the Great Lakes Aquarium, Merrill Lynch Fine Arts Gallery is presenting a new exhibit featuring the work of watercolor illustrator Maury Aaseng. The show is titled "Saturated Life". The opening reception is from 2-5 p.m.; admission free. Aaseng's show is slated to run from March 14-May 27. Drawing and Illustration books by Maury Aaseng will be available.

This weekend another kind of art and still will be on display at the DECC: the annual spring ritual known as the World of Wheels, billed again this year as Motorhead Madness. Cars are stars this weekend at the DECC. Purchase your tickets here. The history of the automobile is a history of style. Motorhead Madness is where collectors gather to share some of their favorite "works." Local car clubs and their fans will be filling the DECC, Pioneer Hall and the other halls.  Hot rods, street rods, and all the energy they generate, along with suitable eye candy, cotton candy and more.

ATTN: ARTISTS
The Reader Weekly is seeking original artwork from local artists to illustrate the publication's covers this year. Selected works will be auctioned off at some future date with a portion of the proceeds used as a fund-raiser for the Duluth At Institute. Contact publisher Bob Boone or staff writer Paul Whyte for details: info@duluthreader.com

Esther Piszczek's Zentangled designs can be found on both sides of the bridge.

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Discover it anew.

Art Openings This Week in the Twin Ports

Thursday is a major opening at the Tweed for New York artist Robert Miniciello's Spontaneous Acts in conjunction with Sharon Louden's Windows at the Tweed Museum of Art. The reception is slated for 6-8 p.m. There are some interesting features about the show which you can read about here.

Friday is the Fall Goin' Postal Show, the 9th semi-annual show here. Goin' Postal is a shipping store that has evolved into a gallery space featuring work by local artists. The openings have become something of an event with high caliber musicians capping off the evening in an after-party downstairs. Revolution Jones is slated to perform, along with Israel Malachi.

Perhaps we'll see you there?

Aaron Kloss at the Red Mug and Other Twin Ports Happenings

Paintings by Aaron Kloss at Red Mug this month

Last night I was watching The Diving Bell and the Butterfly for the fourth, fifth or sixth time, and as in every previous viewing am completely in awe at Julian Schnabel's incredible film. This time around I was struck by the complete disconnect between people living out fast-paced lives in the business realm and the tediously slow pace people locked in hospitals experience, especially those in hospice or paralysis.

We who have our health forget how fortunate we are. We who possess mobility and youth must remember that neither of these are permanent. The time to explore is now... otherwise that inquisitive spirit of our childhood will atrophy.

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Here are a few Twin Ports events to take in if you are able.

TONIGHT

Changing Seasons Art Show 
If you live or work in Superior, be sure to take a few minutes to visit the Red Mug Coffeehouse this evening for an opening reception between 5 and 7 p.m.  On display will be a collection of new original paintings and prints celebrating the arrival of spring, by local landscape painter Aaron Kloss. The Red Mug is located on the corner of Hammond and Broadway.

Twin Ports Stage
Tonight at the Belknap Lounge the Twin Ports Stage live radio theater troop will be presenting Episodes 10 and 11 with live musical guest Joe Lindzius. The show starts at 6:00 p.m. "We want the show to start!"

THURSDAY

Gallery Celebration: Youth Art Month
March is Youth Art Month and the Duluth Art Institute has pulled together a show from 10 of the region's schools.  The exhibition is designed to showcase the creativity and imagination that is being taught and practiced by our young artists. Work in a wide variety of media will be on display, from clay to photography, pen and paper to watercolor and oil. The opening reception will be from 5 - 7 p.m., the art itself on display throughout the month of March.

Gene Lafond and Amy Grillo at Little Angie's Cantina
Gene Lafond has left the Twin Cities and now lives here in the North Country with his partner in song Amy Grillo. Hence, Lafond friends and followers on Facebook will have noticed all the gigs they are doing up near Two Harbors and Silver Bay. Thursday evening Gene and Amy will be performing at Little Angie's in Canal Park. I'm not sure when Little Angie's became a music venue, but it's all right by me. I've always liked the food there, and the Margaritas. If you are a night life type, this will be a fun place to unwind.

Head of the Lakes Jazz Festival
For fans of jazz, this event is 18-karat. Every dude has his axe and man, these cats can really blow. Or so it goes. It's a two-day feast so don't get in a lather if you can't make the first night. For details visit their Facebook page by clicking the headline of this paragraph. Weber Hall at UMD is gonna be hot.

Revolution Jones at the Rex
The Twin Ports music scene is off the charts for a community this size. You can follow it best by paying attention to the Transistor or the Reader, not this blogspace which attempts to highlight the oft overlooked visual arts. Nevertheless, it seemed a good time to mention a few new and noteworthy additions to our local music action. Revolution Jones is a resurrected Uprising featuring an import from the Centerville All Stars, John Heino, on keyboards. It's reggae with attitude. Expect your feet to be moving as they groove. Let's give a big welcome to Revolution Jones.

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Have a great week ahead as you listen to the music.