This weekend is literally electrified! Not only do we have an abundance of exciting art exhibits opening but there are no shortages of amazing musical experiences to be had (and danced to). The Bent Festival rolls into Minneapolis for 3 days of innovative electronic music, art, and workshops, while local DJs fill clubs in all corners of the city and experimental musicians tantalize at the Walker. Expect a jolt of artistic inspiration!
xo-l'étoile
photo by Jake Armour for l'étoile
WEDNESDAY APRIL 30TH
Willie Nelson's 75th Birthday Tribute
@ 331 Club
13th & University Ave NE
Northeast Mpls
9:30pm / 21+ / Free
Some l'étoileites have fond childhood memories of the music of Willie Nelson, while others have fond memories of his cameo in the movie "Half Baked". Either way, none of us can hate on Willie. Tonight at the 331 Club rock your best braids and bandanas and create some "Stardust Memories", or at least enjoy the $2.50 drink specials.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE 331 SITE
THURSDAY MAY 1ST
First Thursdays in the Arts District
@ Various Locations
Northeast Mpls
5-9pm / Free
Get an Art-A-Whirl sneak peek at this monthly studio tour in Northeast Minneapolis. Visit a number of buildings all over the district, meet the artists, and pick up something artsy for Mom (Mother's Day is next week you know!)
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE NEMAA SITE
THURSDAY MAY 1ST
Bent Festival Day 1
@ Intermedia Arts
2822 Lyndale Ave. S
Uptown
7pm / $10 ($25 for 3-day Festival Pass)
The Bent Festival kicks off this evening at Intermedia Arts with the premiere of art installations by Jason Wilhelm, Raul Gschrey, and Michael Una which will be on display all weekend, plus a concert with circuit bending electronic music phenoms Igloo Martian, Datura 1.0, Caly McMorrow, Brian McKenna, EraSer, and Beatrix Jar.
Co-Sponsored by l'étoile magazine and MAKE Magazine
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BENT FEST SITE
THURSDAY MAY 1ST
Artist Talk: Chris Johanson and Jo Jackson
@ The Walker Art Center
Walker Cinema
1750 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis
7pm / Free (tickets @ Bazinet Lobby from 6pm)
Chris Johanson and Jo Jackson will be giving a free artist talk this Thursday (during Target Free Thursdays) at the Walker about their graffiti-inspired work and all-around cool lifestyle. Be sure to check out their show at Art of This Gallery opening on Saturday.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WAC SITE
ART-A-WHIRL SPOTLIGHT: DC ICE
St. Paul based artist DC Ice will surely charm you with her sugary yet dark painting and illustration work. Rooted in fantasy but also offering a clear window into her own psyche, Ms. Ice weaves a visual story of sensitivity, passionate despair, and girly nostalgia that we can't help but take a shine to.
See the work of DC Ice in "I Dreamed I Dream" presented by mplsart.com at the Fox Tax Gallery, opening over Art-A-Whirl Weekend.
DC Ice sat down for a chat with l'étoile this week...
Your work will be shown in the upcoming show at Fox Gallery curated by mplsart's Emma Berg called 'I dreamed I dream' - What can viewers expect from DC Ice in this show?
My art is thought of as sinister but sweet, hence my website: sinisterbutsweet.com. I used vintage and gilded frames to hold the illustrations of vicious yet playful dogs, deer and other creatures who are all suspiciously clever with questionable intent.
You are a new NEMAA member - are you planning to become more involved in the Northeast art scene? Where is your studio currently?
My studio is actually in my St. Paul home. I have been showing with the St. Paul Art Crawl for a few years and really wanted to start showing in Minneapolis on a regular set basis.
You have already shown your work at various locations town. What is your ultimate goal with your art?
BOOKS. I want to illustrate and write mounds of books that tell quirky short stories that carry semi-malicious imagery but underlie love and honesty.
Can you describe your inspiration for your characters and artistic style?
Drawing characters helps me tell stories and figure out my own feelings. I'm always trying to recreate a mood that I might not otherwise know how to explain. I get inspired from artists that I look up to, Nate Williams, Ann Faith Nicholls, David Choe, Edward Gorey...and the list goes on.
If you were not an artist what do you think you would be?
I'm not sure where I would be without art. It's my outlet and a safe place to store all of my secrets.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE DC ICE SITE
FRIDAY MAY 2ND
Lutefisk Sushi Opening & AE Fundraiser
@ Altered Esthetics Gallery
1224 Quincy St. NE
Northeast Mpls
7-10pm / Free
Altered Esthetic unveils their art vending machine tonight, along with this year’s issue of The International Cartoonist Conspiracy's limited-edition mini-comics box set. Comic artists around the city have been test printing, inking, folding, and stapling their hearts out for this project. Did we mention tonight is also a fundraiser for one of the most prolific galleries in the city? Prepare for a silent auction, a raffle, door prizes, an even a hand cranked zoetrope! We know you’ve been lusting after one of those Lutefisk Sushi volumes forever - snap one up before it lands at the bookstore for $300.
CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM
Art by Dank!
FRIDAY MAY 2ND
Bent Festival Day 2
@ Intermedia Arts
2822 Lyndale Ave. S
Uptown
7pm / $10 ($25 for Festival Pass)
The second day of Bent Fest activities continue with a workshop headed by Chicago's Michael Una, who will demonstrate how to apply circuit bends via MIDI and other applications like drum machines. Stick around for live music from 8pm-Midnight from Ronald J. Schleper, Life as Number Five, Talking Computron, Sounds Happy, The Circuit Ben Reaction (UK), and Loud Objects (NYC)
BONUS: After Party @ The Bedlam Theatre featuring Tentacle Boy and Hot Tony. Midnight / 21+ / Free
Co-Sponsored by l'étoile magazine & MAKE Magazine
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BENT FESTIVAL SITE
FRIDAY MAY 2ND
Hotel
@ The Kitty Cat Klub
14th & University
Dinkytown
Join party-starter Jonathan Ackerman for the latest installment of his popular monthly event, Hotel at the Kitty Cat Klub. Special guest Asher Diamonds from The Glamour (Milwaukee) joins in the fray to make your evening a pure dance frenzy.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE HOTEL MYSPACE
FRIDAY MAY 2ND
Beautiful Losers Screening
@ Walker Art Center
Cinema
1750 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis
7pm & 9:30pm / $10 ($8 Members)
Street, Graffiti, and DIY art is here to stay. Similar to the book of the same name, this documentary brings together artists who got their start the 1990s such as Shepard Fairey, Margaret Kilgallen, Barry McGee, and yep, Chris Johanson. Need we say more? Director Aaron Rose will be there to take your questions after the 7pm screening.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WAC SITE
FRIDAY MAY 2ND
Todd Bratrud: Volcom Pin-Up Series
@ Umber Studios
3109 East 42nd St.
Minneapolis
7pm / Free
Skate your way over to Umber Studios this Friday and maybe Todd Bratrud will customize your board! Well...probably not, but at the very least you can feast your eyes on some juicy skateboard-inspired pin-up art and sip adult beverages with the cool cats at Umber Studios!
CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM
FRIDAY MAY 2ND
Get Cryphy!
@ VIP Room
701 1st Ave. N
Downtown Mpls
10pm / 18+ / $3
You are a VIP, right? Which is why your rightful place is at First Avenue’s VIP Room tonight getting DOWN to the sounds of Jimmy 2 Times and Plain Ole Bill with special guest Deejay Grocery. In case you're wondering, Hyphy + Crunk = Cryphy. Look it up in the Urban Dictionary then get yourselves down to the VIP.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE PUSH MYSPACE
COOL LINK: DESIGN AND THE ELASTIC MIND
Design and the Elastic Mind is an exhibition of MoMA: The Museum of Modern Art that makes the case that form really does follow function! Spend some time exploring this awesome online exhibit and its equally cool interface, which plays upon the designers' ability to grasp changes in technology and translate them into objects people can easily understand.
The physical exhibit at MOMA closes on May 12th so if you happen to be in NYC, be sure to check it out!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE MOMA SITE
SATURDAY MAY 3RD
Walker Art Center Jewelry Sale
@ Walker Art Center
Skyline Room
1750 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis
10am-3pm / Free
The Walker Shop presents a special shopping event for those with good taste! The Skyline Room will be bustling and sparkling this afternoon as the WAC offers deals on beautiful pieces from the gift shop jewelry collection. Catch a deal on something shiny just in time for Mom's Day!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WAC SITE
Necklace by Karin Jacobsen
SATURDAY MAY 3RD
Bent Festival Day 3
@ Intermedia Arts
2822 Lyndale Ave. S
Uptown
11am-Midnight / $10 ($25 Festival Pass)
The biggest day of the Bent Festival is here! From 11am-5pm check out a number of workshops and lectures on various forms of circuit bending, then at 5pm get your eat on at the Bent BBQ! Stay put for this evening's music program, which begins at 8pm and features Creme De Menthia, Memory Selector (see last week's edition of the What's What for our interview with Memory Selector), Albino Ghost Monkey, Tim Kaiser, DJ Tendraw (London), and Dr. Rek (Japan).
BONUS: 8-Bit After Party @ The Bedlam Theatre featuring Unicorn Dream Attack and Lameboy. Midnight / 21+ / $6
Co-Sponsored by l'étoile magazine & MAKE Magazine
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BENT FEST SITE
SATURDAY MAY 3RD
Second Runway
@ State Fair Grounds
Grandstand
St.Paul
7pm / $10 Adv - $12 Door
After the Living Green Expo stick around for this recycle-friendly experiment in fashion. A number of local designers were challenged to re-use clothing from the Goodwill to create fresh runway-ready styles. Featuring work from Ellen Dahl, Thom Navarro, Hilary Falk and more.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR MORE INFO
SATURDAY MAY 3RD
Conclusions on Boundaries
@ Art of This
3506 Nicollet Ave. S
Minneapolis
7pm / Free
We are so happy Art of This is getting more funding, thus more amazing shows and well-deserved recognition! Tonight's installation by Chris Johanson and Jo Jackson includes video, found materials, sculpture and painting. The colorful and energetic work of these two artists has them pegged as major players in the contemporary art scene and we are not ones to disagree. We strongly suggest NOT missing this can't-miss show at Art of This!
CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM
SATURDAY MAY 3RD
Fashioned
@ MN Center for Photography
165 13th Ave. NE
Northeast Mpls
7pm / Free
Grey Garden’s Little Edie always carefully considered her “costume for the day”, so what do our costumes/wardrobe say about us? Perhaps if we're lucky...fashion revolutionaries! Six photographers take on that question with portraits of clothing and their wearers tonight at the Minnesota Center for Photography.
CLICK FOR THIS AND OTHER ART EVENTS AT MPLSART.COM
Photo by Jessica Rowe
SATURDAY MAY 3RD
Martin Dosh & Friends
@ Walker Art Center
McGuire Theater
1750 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis
8pm / $20 ($18 Members)
Take in the mashed up electro-jazz-hip-hop fused sonic blast that is Martin Dosh tonight at the WAC along with local and national special musical guests, including Andrew Bird, Jel, Jeremy Ylvisaker, Andrew Broder, Mike Lewis, and more!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WAC SITE
SATURDAY MAY 3RD
Background Noise
@ Rosalux Gallery
1011 Washington Ave.
Downtown Mpls
7-10pm / Free
The works of Greg Priglmeier and Ben Garthus compliment each other in this new exhibit as their two totally different mediums reference the same concept: our urban environments and our interactions with them.
CLICK FOR THIS AND OTHER ART EVENTS AT MPLSART.COM
SATURDAY MAY 3RD
Eccentric Beats 5 Year Anniversary
@ VIP Room
701 1st Ave. N
Downtown Mpls
10pm / 18+ / $8
Local party-bringers Eccentric Beats celebrate their 5-year anniversary tonight at the VIP in cooperation with Black and Bassheadz! In honor of this momentous occasion, the crew brings in influential Austrialian DJ and producer Phil K to rock the party alongside local faves Leon J, Symmetry Jen, and Ricky the Golden Child.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ECCENTRIC BEATS SITE
SATURDAY MAY 3RD
Themes
@ The Uptown
Lake & Hennepin
Uptown
8:30pm / 21+
Pianos! Baritones! Altos! This is epic music at its finest. If sound was a season, Themes would be late autumn, when the leaves are off the trees and it's chilly and a little spooky out. Let this charming group woo you with their good looks and good music at the Uptown this Saturday. Little Sister, Lacona, and Red Daughters join in the fun.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE THEMES MYSPACE
SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: DJ NEOTERIC
Canadian DJ and producer Jeremiah Rusznyak aka DJ Neoteric is a definitely someone you should keep on your radar. His style fuses hip-hop, electro, Baltimore club, house, breaks, and many dance-worthy styles to create epic party fodder for the masses. Neoteric has been getting major play in the electronic music scene, most recently creating killer mixes for XMU Radio and popular music blog Discobelle. Already established and having played alongside such luminaries as Raekwon, Devin the Dude, and DJ Jam, Neoteric will soon take it to the next level by not only releasing a fresh single on the UK's Dubsided, but also starting his own record label (or so a little birdy tells us)!
Click HERE to download a free mix!
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE NEOTERIC MYSPACE
SUNDAY MAY 4TH
May Day Parade and Festival
@ Bloomington & E. 25th St.
& Powderhorn Park
Minneapolis
1pm / Free
Giant puppets, cute dogs and tall bikes! Just a few of the reasons to anticipate the legendary May Day parade. In the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater works overtime to create stunning, oversized puppets made with recycled materials for their annual May Day performance, which is as visually enticing as it is entertaining.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE MAY DAY SITE
SUNDAY MAY 4TH
Face Candy
@ Artist Quarter
408 St. Peter St.
Downtown St.Paul
8pm / 21+ / $10
The Artists’ Quarter seems like that place that never left the beatnik era, and if hip hop was around back then you can be sure they’d be blending it with jazz. Tonight experience Eyedea’s spoken word add new dimension to jazzy bass and drums. We can dig it.
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FACE CANDY MYSPACE
TUESDAY MAY 6TH
Silver + Gold
@ Clubhouse Jager
923 Washington Ave.
North Loop
Every Tuesday / 21+ / 10pm / Free
Join DJ Jonathan Ackerman and l’étoile magazine for an evening of sly winks and sideways glances every Tuesday at Clubhouse Jager. Create some mystery, sip 2-4-1 cocktails with pretty people, and dance the night away to electro, pop, and so much more. Flirt up a storm then visit letoilemagazine.com on Wednesdays for "missed connections" from the night before!
Sponsored by l'étoile magazine
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE JAGER MYSPACE
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