With the B-Girl Be Summit dramatically upping the estrogen this weekend, l'étoile is officially claiming it for the fairer sex! Not to say we don't love the boys – they're holding their own at numerous events – but a few days of girl power could be just what spin-doctors ordered.
xo-l'étoile
PS – check your inbox early next week for l'étoile's summertime guide to keeping your cool!
THURSDAY JUNE 28TH
Electrobowl
@ Memory Lanes
2520 26th Av S
Minneapolis
10pm-2am / $9 all-u-can-bowl
DJs Talk Radio and Soviet Panda are taking it over the line. Really! The talented boys will be setting the tone for the always in over-drive the Memory Lanes this Thursday. Put on your best day-glow attire and add to the epileptic atmosphere!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE MEMORY LANES SITE
THURSDAY JUNE 28TH
Calvin Johnson, Mike Gunther, Julie Doiron
@ First Amendment Arts
1101 Stinson Blvd
Minneapolis
7:00pm / All ages / $7
First Amendment Arts presents a night magnificently blended soul, blues, country and rock and roll. Headliners Calvin Johnson & The Sons of the Soil just released their latest self-titled album with world-famous K Records. (Also check out "Dessert," new paintings by Cohen Morano and collaborators, now appearing in the gallery!)
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT SITE
THURSDAY JUNE 28TH (Through Sunday)
B-Girl Be Summit
@ Various Locations
& Intermedia Arts
2722 Lyndale Ave S
Minneapolis
Thurs-Sun / Price varies / check site for lineup
B-Girl Be, the first international summit to focus on women in hip-hop, seeks to inspire leadership and change the perceptions of women in the field. The summit features speakers, spoken word events, aerosol art exhibitions, discussions, performances, and of course, parties. This is going to be an amazing weekend! See their website for a full list of events!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WEEKEND EVENT LINEUP
FRIDAY ART PICK: Brant Kingman
If you're looking for a beautiful experience in Minneapolis, you'd better get to know Brant Kingman. From bronze casting to assemblage, fashion design to parties, Kingman always delights with his creations. We asked Kingman to talk about his artistic endeavors, and he generously obliged…
You work in a number of different styles and mediums - can you tell us a bit about your inspirations?
You're right. Life is so delicious I want to try it all. I've spent years making bronzes. But right now I'm focused on creating a museum tour of a series of giant tableaux I call Pop Art. For Pop Art, I make popular iconic images from pop cans using the can as a pixel. The initial inspiration was simple. One day I was running and noticed all these colorful aluminum cans squished on the road side. I thought, we're covering this country in trash. Then I thought, hey, there's a metaphor here. I could make a geopolitical map of the US using the cans we've trashed it with. It took seven years to collect the cans. Now I save them from my parties and it goes a lot faster.
How do you think the Minneapolis art scene has evolved?
The Minneapolis art scene has become much more integrated, especially music, fashion and art. The essence of the art scene is not so much object related as it is experiential. I'm happy to see a movement away from exclusivity toward inclusivity. Caryn Gustafson--who was 24 or 25 at the time, once said to me, "Brant I love your parties, they're the only place you can dance with an 80 year old man and have a great time."
You have a very interesting history...What was your most epic moment/experience?
I'm living the most epic moment of my life right now. If my life were an epic film, the panoply of characters and settings would be incredible. I treat billionaires and bums with equal respect. But I must say, I really appreciate the people who make an effort to express--gratitude, joy, love, anxiety, whatever it is, through some form of art. I love the talent in this city. I try to include an many talents as possible when I entertain so that people can get exposed to them. I don't like them to be separated from their audience. I like it all mixed up. That way life can be full of surprises.
You have very unique style and flair - how do you relate fashion to art?
I dress how I feel. If the clothes I have don't match the feeling I want to express, I think what could I do to make this more my style? For instance, I like the combination of Western (cowboy) style with fabrics like lace or mesh that might be considered feminine. I don't take myself too seriously. I think wigs are funny, jewelery can be funny. I believe people want to know each other. They're afraid to introduce themselves. I like to design clothes that give them easy access.
We love to come to parties at your studio! Are there any new events or projects you want to tell us about?
Well Kate, we've got the 7-7-7 party on July 7th with DJ Vision coming back from Chicago. A little further out, this September, I'll be hosting a bodypainting festival patterned after the World Bodypainting Festival my girlfriend, Kara, and I were invited to last summer in Austria. You can always check my web site, kingmanstudios.com, for the latest.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR BRANT KINGMAN'S SITE
FRIDAY JUNE 29TH
Night Flight feat. The Glamour
@ The VIP Room
701 First Avenue North
Minneapolis
10pm / 21+ / $6
We normally count on Night Flight to get our weekend started right, and we're never disappointed. That tricky little devil Nyteowl has really outdone himself by bringing in electro-party maestros The Glamour to the VIP Room. Are you ready for some serious dancing? You better be! This is the hottest ticket in town!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE NIGHTFLIGHT MYSPACE
FRIDAY JUNE 29TH
Semi.Official with DJ Abilities and I Self Devine
@ The Fine Line
318 1st Ave N
Minneapolis
8pm / 18+ / $13.50 in advance / $16.50 day of show
For one night only, DJ Abilities and I Self Devine bring you the live version of their collaboration, Semi.Official. Get ready for some old-school methodology: crazy samples, heavy drums, and intricate scratching are all a part of the plan!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FINE LINE SITE
FRIDAY JUNE 29TH
Attitude City
@ Foundation (Deep Lounge)
10 5th Street S.
Minneapolis
10pm / 21+ / $5 before Midnight - $8 after
Join our faves Attitude City this Friday at Foundation Nightclub for a proper summer party-rocker! Jeff Dubois, Karl Frankowski, and Ben Hribar will be burning up the deep lounge from 10pm - close! Come ready to rock with your dancing shoes and a wallet full of benjamins!
Speaking of Attitude City, Summer and lovin' download their latest mix HERE
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ATTITUDE CITY SITE
FRIDAY JUNE 29TH
RhapsodE, Isis, Desdamona and Ursula Rucker
@ Nomad World Pub
501 Cedar Ave
Minneapolis
9pm / 21+ / Free
Nomad World Pub is hosting this B-Girl Be event, an evening of spoken word. Poetry, narrative, raps and rhymes: you name it, it'll be there and will be remarkable! (Check out our interview with B-Girl Be organizer Desdamona below!)
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE NOMAD SITE
COOL LINK: Hidden Lives
What's the one thing that you've never told another living soul? Hidden Lives asks you to expose yourself to the world on their social experiment/website. Often funny, sometimes moving, take a break from your own head and see what is going through the minds of others.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE HIDDEN LIVES SITE
SATURDAY JUNE 30TH
S.P.A.M./Plaster the Town
@ The Soap Factory
518 2nd St SE
Minneapolis
7-11pm / Free
S.P.A.M., the Sexy Poster Artists of Minnesota (as well as our new favorite acronym!) presents the best in rock poster and flyer design. This year they've staked out the Soap Factory, making it the biggest Plaster the Town to date!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE PLASTER THE TOWN MYSPACE
SATURDAY JUNE 30TH
Gerald Prokop CD Release Show
@ Stevens Square Center for the Arts
1905 3rd Ave S
Minneapolis
8pm-12am / $3 donation
In the middle of producing his latest album, Twenty-Eight, Gerald Prokop’s four-track went out on him. Luckily for us, he’s got the mad AV skills: he popped the thing open, fixed it, and wrapped up the album - which is a catchy blend of indie-pop-acoustic-confection! Jump on this bandwagon before there's no more room!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR GERALD PROKOP'S MYSPACE
SATURDAY JUNE 30TH
Shortee & Pam the Funkstress
@ Foundation
10 S 5th St
Minneapolis
10pm / 21+ / $5 before 12 / $8 after
B-Girl Be presents two of the most famous female DJs on the scene today: DJ Shortee & Pam the Funktress. Each has a list of awards, credits and collaborators a mile long… trust us, this double bill is not to be missed!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FOUNDATION SITE
SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: Desdamona
Definitely a force to be reckoned with in the Minnesota music community, Desdamona is also one of the founders of this weekend's B-Girl Be Summit. Her new album, The Source, is also out this week! Even with all of these things going on, she took time out from her busy schedule to talk to us about her music, the Summit, and style…
Your new album, "The Source", hit shelves on June 26th - how has your sound evolved since your last album?
I think that the songs that I choose to put on this project are a bit more mature than on the last project & being able to work with LIVE instrumentation allowed me to stretch out a bit more than on the first full length.
You are a local female hip-hop icon - have you gotten a lot of response from younger girls in the scene?
I have....I see more and more girls stepping up to the mic. I'm not saying that I am the reason for that but I would like to think that maybe I've been influencial in bringing the female voice to the forefront in the local scene. Since I started I have had many conversations with young women who have wanted to step to the mic and all they needed was to see someone else doing it.
You are a founder and producer of the B-Girl B Summit - how did the Summit come about and how has it grown over the past 3 years?
It came about through the Intermedia Arts' series, "the Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Evolution". We were having an annual all female hip hop show and it was usually our most well attended show of the year. Intermedia took an interest in cultivating a relationship with women artists in the community and asked if I would be interested in taking it to a larger scale....and that's how the idea of B-Girl Be was born.We have gotten connected with so many woman over the past three years and I have seen the local scene burst into action. There are a lot of local women getting more attention than ever before. It's strength in numbers.
How would you describe your personal style? (p.s.-we love your hair!)
My personal style varies from day to day...sometimes it's B-Girl style, sometimes it's the peace, love and hippy-ness, tom boy, and sometimes I probably look like a soccer mom. ha! I like doing different things with my hair. Obviously it's a big part of my identity. I like to wear it up when I perform...I feel like I can be a little more sassy that way. I actually just got my hair cut...but it grows very fast! I donated it to "locks of love" I have enough hair for 3 people. Why should I keep it all for myself?!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR DESDAMONA'S MYSPACE
SUNDAY JULY 1ST
Indulge yourself - Brunch @ 20.21 After a phenomenal weekend of hip-hopping, rock n'rolling, dancing, and art over-indulgence, aren't you ready for a refuel? We've got just the ticket: Brunch at Wolfgang Puck's 20.21 at the Walker. Just reading the menu is making your mouth water and stomach growl.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE 20.21 BRUNCH MENU
COOL OPPORTUNITIES
Sound Unseen Music Submissions - Online
The submission deadline for the festival has past but Sound Unseen is still accepting entries for the web - music videos/songs will be posted at soundunseen.com. No Deadline - send your songs and music videos to SOUNDUNSEEN@GMAIL.COM
Great opportunity for local bands to shine!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SOUND UNSEEN SITE
COOL OPPORTUNITIES
The 2007 International Exhibition Photography
July 10th is the deadline for this all-subject photography show at The Center for Fine Art Photography! Whether you're an amateur or a seasoned pro, acceptance into this show comes with some amazing prizes and lots and lots of exposure. Check out their website for a full listing of details and entry instructions
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR MORE INFO
If you would like your event, link, or opportunity to be featured in l'étoile magazine's WEEKEND WHAT'S WHAT please email info and image to kate@letoilemagazine.com for consideration.
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