Art-A-Whirl weekend kicked off with a fashion show in the Thorp Building with a retrospective of local fashion veteran Kerry Riley's work. "The Death of Red Shoe" commemorated her successful clothing line Red Shoe Clothing Co., and also gave the designer a chance to publicly announce that she is relaunching her designs under the new label Needle & Black.
As is an issue with many retrospective-style shows, the presentation felt slightly disjointed as it veered between the dramatic and the casual, the wearable and the couture. However, the looks provided an engaging summary of the designer's history in The Twin Cities. Riley's unique leather harnesses punctuated the collection, while her infinitely wearable jersey dresses in stripes and solids highlighted the chic accessibility that the designer has made her signature.
Riley's breezy summer dresses can be easily dressed up or down, and as the models sauntered through the open-air venue, I couldn't help but imagine spending the summer biking around the lakes in a Kerry Riley dress, wedge-heeled sandals and a straw fedora.
Red Shoe's swan song culminated with an ethereal dress that fluttered in the breeze as the model floated down the aisle on a summery swing. The finale gown's cathedral-length train danced as it caught the air, a suitability dramatic closing for such a successful local line.
Ever the gracious host, Riley closed the show with a few words about the line and many thanks to her family and friends. I was reminded of something that I often take for granted in the cities: Though plenty of our talented local designers continue to have great success, through and through, they are a humble and kind-hearted bunch. It's our very own version of "Minnesota nice." [All photos by Stacy Schwartz]
It's here! The art-crazy weekend we wait for all year is back again and better than ever. Every spring we think it couldn't possibly out-do itself, but Art-A-Whirl proves us wrong time and time again. This year's neighborhood-wide art extravaganza goes above and beyond with big outdoor events, gallery shows, hundreds of open studios, live music, food, drink and pretty much every manner of awesomeness you can imagine. Our annual Art-A-Whirl Spectacular is jam packed with colorful special events as far as the eye can see. Unfortunately, there are so many that you'd have to have one of those Star Trek transporter beams to get you to even half of them, so we suggest planning your itinerary and planning it well. Our listings below detail the coolest events plus a few non-Art-A-Whirl extras that we just couldn't leave out. For those of you who are overwhelmed by our epic list, you can also check out our Art-A-Whirl at a Glance Guide, a listing of specific art buildings and hot areas for maximum arty impact!
For even more info on AAW, including a map, an online artist directory, trolley stops and additional special events, visit www.nemaa.org. Regular AAW hours this year are Friday 6-10pm, Saturday Noon-8pm, and Sunday Noon to 5pm.
Jahna Peloquin interviews St. Kate's Fashion Show mentor Maritza Ramirez
Jahna Peloquin updates our Guide to Sales & Shopping
FRIDAY MAY 14TH (THROUGH SUNDAY)
Under the Vic Chimney
@ Historic Thorp Building & CBC Studios 1618-1620 Central Ave NE Minneapolis
Friday 5pm-Sunday 5pm / Free
Forget the aspirin regimen; this is an art-attack you definitely want! Art-A-Whirl officially kicks off tonight and Under the Vic Chimney opening reception party is one of the hottest tickets in Northeast! Over 35 Open Artist Studios and Creative Businesses open their doors for a fancy meet ‘n’ greet with the Thorp & CBC artists/creators. Opening reception also features a cash bar and refreshments courtesy Red Stag and NEMAA; Spin Art presented by Forecast Public Art and Wet Paint; outdoor projection art from Minneapolis Art on Wheels; a stylish fashion shoot by Costume the Cities and Vicknair Photography; and an ultra vogue fashion show featuring designs by Kerry Riley of Red Shoe Clothing Co – sponsored by us (more deets on that below)! Plus, all weekend-long peep artwork from Bethel University’s Senior Thesis exhibition, Smells Like Art, art projections from The Soap Factory Sampler, (Art)ists on the Verge experimental art by Northern Lights, freight sessions’ live music curated by Mean Larry and much more!
Art-A-Whirl Weekend at the Thorp Building is co-sponsored by l'etoile!
@ Thorp Building 1618 Central Ave NE Minneapolis, MN
8pm / Free (to be held during the Opening Night party, see above!)
Local sweetheart and amazing designer Kerry Riley recently began the process of trade-marking her business name and logo, Red Shoe Clothing Co., only to discover that the name had long been owned by someone else from somewhere else who probably doesn’t have half as much personality, but whatever. To mourn “The Death of Red Shoe” Riley will present a fashion show/retrospective at the opening night Art-a-Whirl party at the Thorp building, featuring a combination of past, present and future Red Shoe looks. Come for the last Red Shoe Clothing Co. show and experience the magic as Kerry Riley transforms her brand in something fresh and new, which will be announced as the finale to the show! Though the event title may be gloomy, Riley insists the show is an optimistic new beginning -- and we’re behind her 100%!
@ The Gallery at Fox Tax 503 1st Ave N Minneapolis
6-10pm / Free
You don’t need to be an astrology-loving New Ager to enjoy Fox Tax Gallery’s latest exhibition, The Age of Aquarius. Co-presented by guest curator Emma Berg of mplsart.com, the exhibit features artwork from three burgeoning locals with youth and perspective in their corner. Harnessing a sense of community with DIY aesthetics and roots in the local music scene, the talented artists showcase their unique take on the next generation’s artistic vision. Enjoy treats and tunes while you peep pieces by Vigilante Justice founder and Lovelee Buttons contributor, Jesse Draxler; artist and drummer for the local noise band Tips for Twat, Katelyn Farstad; and seasoned poster & album cover artist and Knife World member, Josh Journey-Heinz. Expect an energetic mix of found imagery, emotive and colorful visuals and surreal interpretations. On view through June 27th, regular AAW hours through the weekend.
@ Casket Arts Carriage House 1720 Madison St NE #203 Minneapolis, MN
Opening party 8pm-11pm / Free Also showing Sat. noon-6pm, Sun noon-5pm
For those of you who scoff at the idea of wallpaper as a tacky cop-out, prepare to have your mind changed! Flocked features 30 local artists invited by studio mates Nick Howard, Anna Tsantir and Vincent Murray to create five 10”x15” pieces each—enough to cover a 22’x10’ studio wall from floor to ceiling. All kinds of media, including drawing, painting, prints, and 2D multimedia works will be represented. Featuring local faves such as David Peterson, Terrence Payne, Dan Ibarra, Drew Peterson, Ruben Nusz, Crystal Quinn, Alex Kuno, Joel Starkey, Miles Mendenhall, Tim Carroll, Jaime Carrera and many, many other artists. As the Facebook event says, this is definitely not your grandmother’s wallpaper! We couldn’t agree more.
@Behind The Sample Room in NE Minneapolis (music/art on boats, rafts, and stages, on and around the banks of the Mississippi River) 2124 Marshall Street Northeast Minneapolis
Regular AAW Hours , show at 8pm / Free
One of the most rockin' events this weekend, the Slow Mirror and the Metronome is a grand mesh of sound collages, video installations, and floating sculpture pieces, being held behind the Sample Room and utilizing the environment and the acoustics of the river. The installation is created by XYandZ Gallery artists Joseph Belk, Drew Peterson, Ted Quinn, and Adam Burchard, and is presented by Creative Electric Studios and The Sample Room. After you've checked out the art, return after 8pm when hot local bands will be playing from boats, and we are very excited about the lineup: Friday evening sees Zak Sally, STNNG, and Bella Koshka, and Saturday night check out a set from the Marijuana Death Squad, the always show-stopping Mayda, and a late-night “after-boat and barge party” being thrown by Burlesque of North America. Trust us, you do not want to miss out on this!
@Northrup King Building 1500 Jackson St. NE Studio 40 Minneapolis
Regular AAW Hours / Free
Bicycle Theory, a graphic design, Web development, and brand strategy company, is throwing an Art-A-Whirl party showcasing some of the best local artists, brands, and DJs during Art-A-Whirl 2010. They'll have some awesome and affordable stuff for sale, including art from DC Ice, poster design by Adam Turman, gift items (like Giraffe Art + Utility's neat local art-inspired coasters), super-cool LEGO® sculptures and building kits by Brickmania, and of course, bikes. Peace Coffee will be serving up free coffee samples and DJs will keep the beats going all weekend.
@ Q.arma Building 1224 Quincy Street NE #225 Minneapolis
Regular AAW Hours / Free
Head down to the Anthem Heart studios at the Q.arma Building to celebrate the local screen-printing company's third year in the Northeast Arts District. Anthem Heart's Ken Hannigan be printing a new collaboratively-designed t-shirt with Jesse Draxler live all weekend (snag yours for $10 a pop, or bring your own shirt for $5). While you're there, check out an art exhibit from Forest Bash, Dain Germscheid, and Tyler Quigley, live video projections by Matt Bardins, enjoy a live outdoor performance by Spider Baby, and an open turntable jam inside all weekend, plus free refreshments. While you're in the Q.arma Building be sure to check out all the artist studios and the F.R.E.S.H. exhibit at Altered Esthetics Gallery!
@ Architectural Antiques Building 1330 Quincy Street NE #402 Minneapolis
Regular AAW Hours / Free
Stop by local design duo Calpurnia Peach’s studio during Art-A-Whirl to get a glimpse into their creative process and buy up their latest designs. Designers Luci Kandler and Ashley Wokasch will be sewing and screen-printing live, and selling their one-of-a-kind pillows featuring their whimsical, original screenprints ($30-40 each, cash or check only). While you're there, explore this cool old arts building -- a building where some of you old schoolers may have attended a l'etoile art party or two back in the day! Bonus points if you remember the guy in the bear suit with gold teeth!
@ MNfashion Studio Grainbelt Bottling House 79 13th Ave NE #212 Minneapolis
Fri 6-10pm and Sat 10am-4pm / Free
Summer is on its way and you know what THAT means...garage sales! This weekend, junk hunt for a good cause. Our favorites over at MNfashion are hosting a fun Art-A-Whirl event this weekend that includes a fashionable "garage" sale in the Grainbelt Atrium plus a fundraiser and silent auction with some of the savviest Minneapolis art. Stop by either Friday or Saturday to peep their local fashion photo exhibit (including some pics from l'etoile!) or bid on and buy trendy rock posters, pretty jewelry, NYC runway-worn pumps, coffee table books and more! (Believe us, there will be a little something for everyone!) Plus, all the bones they earn will go straight to MNfashion to help out our local designers.
@ Spot Art Gallery 1828 Marshall St. NE Minneapolis
Regular AAW Hours, music goes later / Free
Each year the riverside gallery, Spot Art throw a helluva party complete with awesome art and great live music! This year's visual/sonic jam includes work by artists James Dankert, Sandy Bartel, Shelley Rohlf, Terry Mcdaniels, Mike Mosedale and many more. Live music on Friday starting at 8pm with David Harland and Lonesome Dan Kase, and Saturday at 8pm with Cactus Blossom and Tennesota. Get your paws painted all fancy by henna tattoist Judy O and enjoy some fresh air on the patio!
@ Humans Win studio 1423 29th Avenue NE Minneapolis
Regular AAW Hours / Free
Have you ever driven by that one place on that one street with the pink front door and wondered "What the hell is that?" Well, this Art-A-Whirl you'll definitely find out, as the secretive recording studio, Humans Win!, will be opening its doors to the riff raff (ie-you). Owner Lance Conrad (of the band the Alpha Centauri) has spent the past three years decking out his cool music haven -- with pretty stuff from India to be more specific. In honor of Art-a-Whirl, Conrad and co. welcome the work of five of the Twin Cities "foxiest artists" for you to lay overstimulated eyes on including Johnny Quinine, Evan Beaumont, Deb Getsug, Alex Molitor, and Jonatha Quijano. There's nothing we like more than to weasel our way into somewhere we're not supposed to be, so the rare opening of this mysterious music den is high on our list of AAW must-sees!
If you've never been to the home studio of one Ms. Lauri Svedberg, you need to make this a priority on your AAW itinerary! Svedberg's colorful abode is pure art from the inside out - from a wide open circular atrium gallery that's filled with wild mixed media art to her floor to ceiling mural painted first floor. This AAW, the charismatic lady invites artists L.K. Hanson, Jon O. Erickson and Mark McGinty to join her. The Art-A-Whirl trolley stops here, so you've really got no excuse!
Locals Michael Thomsen and Caitlin Karolczak have teamed up this Friday to present their exhibit Science and Wonder, creating an eccentrically divine collab that will definitely turn heads. On one hand, Thomsen is known for his obscure OCD-esque mixed media sculptures that are directly inspired by pieces of his dreams. Karolczak's concept is similar, emphasizing the traits of a nightmare in her pieces - distress mixed with beauty and fragility - though her oversized oil paintings are of a completely different medium. Together, their collections of fantastical masterpieces will transform the Rogue Buddha Gallery into a dreamy wonderland of art just in time for Art-A-Whirl. Opening party on Friday from 7-11pm, and we all know that RB openings are hella fun! Yes, we said "hella."
@ Northrup King Building 1500 Jackson Street NE, #332 Minneapolis
Regular AAW Hours / Free
This weekend, the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) is celebrating the 15th year of Art-A-Whirl! Now it’s your chance to praise local artists by viewing, talking about and buying their art. While on your annual gallery tours around Northeast this weekend, make your way up to the 3rd floor of the fancy Northrup King Building for an awesome artsy auction to benefit NEMAA, the non-prof who puts on AAW each year. Viewers will be able to bid on tons of work from over 100 NEMAA member artists. So why not pick up some art for your apartment while supporting a good cause?
Bonus: You can also bid on a 4-image series of prints from l'etoile's recent Kiss Me, Cake photo shoot!
@ Tarnish&Gold Gallery 1511 Marshall St NE Minneapolis
Regular AAW Hours / Free
Debuting just in time for Art-A-Whirl, the Tarnish&Gold art space is the new gallery on the block! Their inaugural show features an eclectic collection of artwork from fresh, gallery newbies as well as notable local artists including Burlesque’s Ben Lefond, Laura F. Bennett, Chuck U, Torey Bonar and many more. The variety of submissions selected for the premiere elicits Tarnish&Gold’s community-centered art mission – one that's ingrained in the expanding and advancing our diverse arts scene and committed to showcasing the best new Twin Cities artists. Sharing and evolving – forgive us for sounding so hippy – but isn’t that what Art-A-Whirl is really about? Well, that and buying art, which you definitely should do!
Bonus: Pick up your May copy of Mpls|St. Paul magazine for delicious deets into MPLS’ newest art gallery!
@ Johnson Street 2800 Block of Johnson St NE Minneapolis
Regular AAW Hours / Free
Presented by the Johnson Street Merchants Association, the 8th annual Johnstock Art-A-Whirl block party kicks off with a free viewing of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in the parking lot on Friday night. Cool, eh? Throughout the weekend, browse through a block-wide arts and crafts fair featuring great finds from over 40 local artists and business, enjoy tasty treats available from NE vendors and get toted around by a trolley which will be traveling to and from other artist buildings in the NE district. The event features tons of family-friendly activities including Captain Jack’s Kids Show; a KFAI sponsored live music stage with bands Unknown Prophets, A Strange Terrain, Northeast & the Beat and more plus an anything goes talent show. Awesomeness!
Once again, 331 Club is hosting their annual all-weekend Art-A-Whirl music extravaganza! Starting at 10pm on Friday, rockers Skoal Kodiak will be jamming out with the help of the bluesy twangs of Knife World and the indie riffs of Chibalo. Leading the crew on Saturday, localite indie-pop boys Halloween, Alaska will shake the outdoor stage after the long line of openers including the likes of Chris Koza, Red Pens, The Dynamiters, Zoo Animal, The Alpha Centauri and more. Plus, don’t miss out on the indoor stage jams of The Rockford Mules and Man Is Doomed. Sunday just stop in for a bloody mary and party arty!
BONUS: On Saturday, split time between the outdoor stages at the 331 and Shuga Records, who is throwing their first ever Hoolie Fest - featuring over 70 BANDS. Yes, 70! 13th Ave will be rockin', most def!
And now for one of our only Non-AAW related events: We’ll be honest, lite-rock and indie-powered supergroups aren’t really music concepts that we would pair, but leave it to this talented bevy of musicians to take on the challenge and totally deliver. Masterminded by producer, Ryan Olson, the studio collective borrows members from Bon Iver, Megafaun, Solid Gold and Lookbook, with vocals lent by P.O.S. and Dessa and more - 25+ musicians to be exact! Born outta a love of drugged-up keyboards, hi-tech 80’s pop and yacht rock, the result is a smooth “symphonic soul” sound, with modern hip-hop influences and the most panty-dropping, soaring falsettos since Jimmy Somerville. Catch Gayngs tonight for a 2-show, CD-release event decked out in “cheesy prom regalia.” Don’t forget to grab a date and dress up for prom!
Bonus: After the show, hop over to The Record Room – for the l'étoile co-sponsored 18+, dance night, Street Sounds. Featuring resident DJs Attitude City, Mike 2600 and guest DJ Sovietpanda remixing the best in rare disco and house.
Have a little lull time in your Art-A-Whirl studio tromping? Grumpy’s is hosting it's annual backyard barbecue bash for all of you out there looking for a party! This all-day musical blowout will get your blood pumpin’, thanks to the long list of local lovelies that will be blasting eclectic tunes throughout the weekend. Expect appearances by artists such as Vaz, Birthday Suits, BNLX, Pink Mink, Niel Dynamite, Bombay Sweets and more. Plus, Grumpy’s is guaranteed to be grilling up some fresh, molten hot, cheesy demon dogs to tickle your tastebuds.
@Red Stag Supper Club 509 1st Avenue Northeast Minneapolis
1-3pm / Free
You know those crazy art cars that you see zooming around sometimes that stop you in your tracks? The ones where out loud to your friends you say, “That’s so nuts,” but secretly you’re thinking about how much you want one? Well, here’s your chance to be part of the experience. Stop down to the Red Stag this Saturday and join the Minnesota ArtCar team to help create a new ArtCar! You may not get to drive away in this one, but at least next time you see it zooming around you can proudly tell your friends about the awesome squid sketch or the zany mosaic pattern you contributed to the bumper. Also, stick around on Saturday night for Karaoke at 10:30 with FM 107’s G.R. Anderson Jr., and stop back again on Sunday for music with Sophia Shorai at 9pm. A helping of the Stag's epic cheese curds couldn't hurt either.
@ Historic Thorp Building 1618 Central Ave NE Minneapolis
7:30pm / Free
The always outrageous, kick-in-the-face literary romp takes its comedy flanks from the Turf Club to the Art-A-Whirl grounds to deliver a hot, artsy mess of rebellious readings, ingenious storytelling and scholarly rudeness. Entertainment hound and comedic quipster, Mary Mack and Minneapolis punk rock poet, Paul D. Dickinson, host this special NE installment located in The Freight Elevator of the Thorp Bldg. Enter through dock 14, go up the stairs and take a right.
Bonus: Live music by Grant Hart to follow the Riot Act. Awesome.
Prepare yourself for the “riot” with the hilar “Street Heat” video from RARS performer Mary Mack:
SATURDAY MAY 15TH
Beneath the Surface: Photos by Rhea Pappas
@Icebox Gallery 1500 Jackson St NE # 443 Minneapolis
8pm / Free
Stop up to the Icebox Gallery inside the Northrup King Building for a show of amazing new work from Rhea Pappas. Her collection of underwater photographs has garnered national and international attention via her past shows in New York, Vermont and France. The beautiful and haunting images she presents will bring you into another world -- join her and other project curators Saturday evening to chat about the art and get your art party on!
Too tired to leave Art-A-Whirl stomping grounds after whirling your face off all day? Relax and let loose by getting wild at the cozy Honey lounge, conveniently located in Northeast! This Saturday, Stophouse Music Group is bringing you another installment of their Northeast dance fest. Mainman DJ Cornelius (or you may know him as producer 84 Caprice) will be spinning jams all night just for you people who love to get down. Pop in to Honey to enjoy some of the best hip-hop classics (we’re talking a little ODB and some Ghostface Killa!), sip on some of Honey’s tasty drink recipes and grind the night away (or leisurely perch on a comfy couch) to a plethora of old school hits!
Bonus: There's local art on the walls here too so you can technically put one more art notch on your belt while getting crunk at the same time!
@ Modern Café Parking Lot 337 13th Ave NE Minneapolis
11:30am-9pm / Free / $1 wristbands for 21+ to drink
Joined in holy matrimony over the love of cold beer, music and art, Gastro Non Grata teams up with NE eatery, the Modern Café, for a day-long feast of debaucheries. Sip down ice cold samples of Sweet Child of Vine IPA from the local peeps at Fulton Beer and delicious summer-inspired wine samples from Bourget Imports. Plus, PBR will be on hand slinging Tall Boys and artists will be on hand creating a live wall-wide mural piece in the parking lot. Talk about multi-tasking! Chow down on BBQ-style treats including carnitas tacos and braised pans of shouldered pork and enjoy live sets from Claps, Communist Daughter, Chickadee Mountain Martyrs, Me and My Arrow, Building Better Bombs and many more all day long! Food at 11:30; music at noon; gluttony from am to pm.
For those of you who want the condensed info on the must-see buildings and areas, look no further. This handy-dandy guide will clue you in on destinations that hold the highest amount of concentrated fun and visual stimuli. Don't forget to check our full guide to Art-A-Whirl, as well as other cool special events going on in the Twin Cities this weekend!
BUILDING SPOTLIGHT: CASKET ARTS
Housed in what used to be an actual casket manufacturing plant, the Casket Arts Building is a relative newcomer to the Northeast Arts District, having been renovated only a few years ago. Here you'll find over 100 resident artists as well as a number of guest artists. Highlights include Flocked: A Wallpaper Project, a pattern-themed installation created by dozens of buzzworthy locals; Pete Driessen's Gorgonica exhibit which features a fleet of mixed media ship sculptures, fifteen marching soft-water tanks, and a full scale Optimist Dinghy; contemporary photography and paintings in the studio of awesome local filmmaker Mark Wojahn; not to mention, cute lobby lounges on each floor where you can rest your weary feet -- and of course plenty of live music, demos and surprises throughout the weekend. Located at 681 17th Avenue NE.
One of Northeast's staple arts buildings, the California houses over 80 amazing painters, sculptors, jewelry makers, mixed media artists and more. Aside from the tasty treats you can procure from the adjacent Mill City Cafe (we suggest the Cuban sandwich!) we recommend popping into the building's first floor art gallery for a peek at the recently opened Brock Davis exhibit, which features work from the much-talked-about "Make Something Cool Every Day" project -- a project that encouraged artists globally to make a piece of original art every day for a year -- Davis was the only one to complete the project! We'd also suggest a stop into painter Doug Padilla's studio, always a great spot for colorful art and cool art scene stories from days of yore. Other l'etoile faves such as Aldo Moroni, Robyne Robinson, Kendall Bohn, Susan Opitz and many more have studios in the building. Located at 2205 California St. NE.
Click HERE for more info on the California Building
BUILDING SPOTLIGHT: THORP BUILDING
Ah, the birthplace of Art-A-Whirl. Long ago (15 years to be exact) a handful of spunky artists at the ye olde Thorp had a crazy idea: a building-wide studio crawl lovingly dubbed "Art-A-Whirl." Well, that little seed that was planted so many years ago has now blossomed into a full-fledged, neighborhood-wide extravaganza of epic proportions. An extravaganza that has single-handedly transformed the landscape of Northeast Minneapolis from a cozy neighborhood into what is now the art capital of Minnesota. Highlights at this legendary building include a HUGE Friday night party featuring live art, outdoor projections, a fashion show, exhibits, open studios, beer, music, and oh-so-much more. The party continues throughout the weekend with live music and performances the Freight elevator, carefully curated by Thorp O.G., Mean Larry. Be sure to check out the studios of l'etoile faves Dave Sollie, Kerry Riley, The Lab Digital Imaging, and Scott Nedrelow -- who will be debuting his collaboration with Ruben Nusz entitled Location the first in a series of limited edition artists’ books featuring idea-based work in all media; essentially a well-curated quarterly gallery exhibit in book format. The Thorp Building is located at 1618 Central Avenue (in the same building as Diamond's Coffee Shop). AAW at the Thorp is co-sponsored by l'etoile!
There's plenty going on in and around the Bottling House and the Keg House this Art-A-Whirl! Droves of awesome artists await you at these historic hot spots on the edge of the district. Stop into the MNFashion studio to see a fashion photography exhibit, or take a spin through the Bottling House atrium to check out a slew of guest artists on display. We especially love Grainbelt artist Lynn Speaker's signature gunpowder-blast art pieces and Caitlin Karolczak's surreal oil painted creatures. On the edge of the parking lot, behind the Bottling House, you'll also find the stand-alone studio building of artist Nick Legeros, whose amazingly crafted bronze sculptures grace many local landmarks. If you're lucky, you may even catch Nick casting something live in his studio! Just a hop, skip and a jump down from all the 13th Avenue hoopla, the Grainbelt buildings are a must-stop on your AAW itinerary. Located at 79 E. 13th Avenue NE.
This one's a no-brainer. The Northrup King Building is one of the premiere destinations for top notch Art-A-Whirl shenanigans, as it houses the largest concentration of artist studios in the district -- 150 to be exact. And when you factor in all the guest artists and shared studios, that number likely crawls up significantly. If you're pressed for time, NKB could be your AAW one-stop-shop for maximum arty impact, but if we know you (and we think we do) you plan on hitting as many Art-A-Whirl locations as you can, right? Anyhoo, highlights in the Northrup King include but are not limited to: The NEMAA Silent Auction in the 3rd floor gallery, where you can lay eyes on (and bid on) over 100 works by NEMAA member artists from all over the district -- complete with studio locations on each label so you can hunt down your favorites. Also of note, is l'etoile pal Krista Mina on the 2nd floor, where you can score sweet deals on hand-blown glass beads and see live demos. Pop into Icebox Gallery to check out the serene underwater photography of Rhea Pappas; peep the large-scale abstractions of Duane Ditty on 3 or the colorful creations of Pati DeVries on 2; and the head up to 4 to witness live screen-printing at Angel Bomb Studios -- just to name a mere few. The Northrup King is located at 1500 Jackson Street NE.
Click HERE for more info on the Northrup King Building
AREA SPOTLIGHT: QUINCY STREET
The whole of Quincy Street will be abuzz with more art action than you can shake a bedazzled stick at between the Architectural Antiques Building, the Quincy Street Studios, and the Q.arma Building. See bands rock out live on the street, peep bronze pours, art demos, gallery shows and more. Highlights include Altered Esthetics Gallery F.R.E.S.H. show, live screenprinting and DJs courtesy of Anthem Heart and co., and metal art by Rabi Sanfo in the Q.arma; see the art exhibit Questioning the Machine featuring work by Jack Pavlik at the Conduit Gallery (Quincy Street Studios), and fabulous fashion by Calpurnia Peach (Architectural Antiques Building). Just a quick stroll across the tracks from the Northrup King, Quincy Street is an easy-access art mecca just waiting to be explored. Not to mention, the cool old buildings are quite a sight, inside and out! Located on Quincy Street between Broadway & 14th.
Okay, this less of a "area" and more of a fun-filled strip of frenzied art activity! The landscape of 13th Avenue has changed significantly over the past five years with the surge of cool businesses staking claim to the little district that includes the 331 Club, the Northeast Social, The Ritz Theater, Anchor Fish & Chips, Chowgirls, Shuga Records and more. Each Art-A-Whirl 13th Avenue picks up more and more steam, and honestly, we're not sure how they'll be able to top themselves come next year. Highlights include the Science & Wonder exhibit at the Buddha, the annual 331 live music and art bonanza, over 70 bands on an outdoor stage at Shuga Records, free brats at Chowgirls slung by l'etoile's own Robyn Lewis (aka the Bitchelor), art at Frank Stone Gallery, screenprinted poster goodness at Who Made Who, performances at the Ritz and all manners of surprises and arty goodness at pretty much every joint within a four block stretch. Definitely a destination for the more party-minded Art-A-Whirlers, 13th Ave supplies not only plenty of visual stimulation, but tons of food, drinks and loud, live entertainment. The awesome area was even recently written up in the NY Times Travel section! The 13th Avenue fun is centered around 13th & University Avenue -- just follow the noise!
Click HERE to read the NY Times article on 13th Avenue
AREA SPOTLIGHT: EAST HENNEPIN
This adorable little shopping/art/entertainment area located on edge of Arts District is becoming cooler by the minute. Over the past five years additions like the Red Stag Supper Club, The Gallery at Fox Tax, Belle Reve, Punch Pizza, Ginger Hop, Pink Hobo Gallery and more have considerably jazzed up an area perhaps best known for being home to Surdyk's liquor store. This Art-A-Whirl you'll be treated to plenty of visual goodness as well as numerous opportunities to fuel up with delicious food. Hit up Fox Tax for the opening of the mplsart.com curated exhibit The Age of Aquarius, see the Scion video installation at Pink Hobo Gallery, see hot art at Gallery 122 at Hang It and at Midway Contemporary Art and peep the detailed works of Shari Carlson at Artistic Indulgence. Stop into cute shops like clothing boutique Belle Reve or locally-focused artsy gift shop I Like You, then grab a bite to eat at any number of great restaurants including the Bulldog, Whitey's, Butcher Block, Ginger Hop and many more. Nightlife is also a blast on East Hennepin as the newish Honey Lounge hosts DJs on both Friday and Saturday and the Red Stag offers live music and karaoke. And if you're feeling adventurous, you can always bust out your black vinyl unitard for a late night trip to goth club Ground Zero! The East Hennepin Area centers around University Avenue and East Hennepin Ave, stretching up to Central avenue and 1st.
A bit off the beaten path, but totally worth the trolley trip, Johnson Street -- just like East Hennepin -- has become increasingly cooler over the past five years. Cute businesses like Foiled Again hair salon, Rewind Vintage, Crafty Planet and more dot the vicinity of Johnson & 29th, along with fantastic restaurants like Pop! and the brand new Amici Pizza & Bistro, which just opened in the old Snap! location. For the past four or so years, the merchants in the area have banded together to throw one of the rockin'-est outdoor parties of Art-A-Whirl: Johnstock! A great AAW destination to take the family, Johnstock not only provides a great line up of live music on an outdoor stage, but numerous artsy and craftsy vendors shilling reasonably priced art creations and trinkets alongside kids activities and even a talent show. A street fair-style art party with plenty to look at and do, the Johnson Street Area is worth the jaunt! Located on and around the intersection of Johnson & 29th.
Most photos courtesy of www.northeastminneapolisartsdistrict.com - a great resource for all things Northeast! Johnstock photo courtesy of Johnson St. Merchants.
When it comes to student fashion, the University of Minnesota's annual senior fashion show gets a lot of the attention. But it's the College of St. Catherine that seems to produce a more consistent, higher quality of talent despite being a smaller school with fewer resources. Recent St. Kate's grads such as Amanda Christine, Jenny Carle, Emily Weich, Renate Adjei and Maritza Ramirez have all found varying success in their post-grad fashion careers. (Left: Maritza Ramirez photographed by Emily Utne)
Every year the bar continues to raise, and it should even higher now that one of their own is serving as mentor for this year's show: 2008 grad Maritza Ramirez. We chatted with the designer about her position as mentor, her experience at St. Kate's, and what to look forward to at this year's show.
What does your role as "mentor" mean to the student designers?
Mostly I’m mentoring them on production, not so much design - I'm helping them to plan the show this year. We're trying to make it better every year. The actual runway show has only been around for eight years, and it's completely student produced, so we're trying to bring a greater element of professionalism to the show. For instance, we did a promotional photo shoot this year, using a model from Vision (Jane). For our press release, I brought in (l'etoile magazine art director) Chris Larson to the class to talk about writing a press release. (Right: Photo by Emily Utne)
What do you remember most about your senior show at St. Kate's?
I just remember being so excited. It was my debut on the runway, and it was the first opportunity for people outside of St. Kate's to see my work. I actually remember during the day-of, thinking, "Jahna (Peloquin) and Emma (Berg) are here, it's so amazing!" (Left: Photo by Emily Utne)
Have you had any mentors yourself?
For my junior year, I worked for Ra'mon (Lawrence Coleman). I helped him do little things for Voltage. He was a great person to work with, not just because he taught me design things, but we just had chats about the industry. We'd watch The Devil Wears Prada and he would say, "Sometimes you have to make some really tough decisions, especially when it comes to fashion." And Michele Henry - I interned one summer with her. She taught me a lot about draping and pattern-making, the more technical aspect. (Right: Photo by Emily Utne)
What can you tell us about the collections we'll see at Saturday's show?
I've seen most of Anna Taney's collection. She's got really great ready-to-wear pieces. I think she's really thinking about how these pieces will translate to everyday wear. She mixes up prints with solids, and she's very on trend. Ariel Bock's collection is called "Shades of Grey" and not everything is as it seems, so she was talking about having pieces that from one end of the runway start out in one form and end up in another. For instance, she'll have a long gown and it will unsnap and become a short little cocktail dress. (Left: Photo by Emily Utne)
We hear you're working on your first collection since last summer - what can you tell us about it?
It will be a ten-piece collection for fall 2010 (part of the "I Feel Love" fashion show on June 12 with Mackenzie Labine). It's inspired by "boyswear." Not menswear - this is more inspired by children’s clothing from the early 1900s to the '60s. I think it stays true to my very structured yet very feminine aesthetic. (Right: Poster art by Chris Larson)
St. Kate's Katwalk 2010: Altered Appearance will take place on Saturday, May 15 from 7:30-9 p.m. at Coeur de Catherine at College of St. Catherine, 2004 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul; Tickets are $8. Click here for the facebook invite.
With Art-A-Whirl coming up NEXT weekend, the Twin Cities' non-Northeast art spots are trying to cram in as much as they can before all eyes turn to the famed Arts District and remain locked there through the 16th. And who can blame them? There's more than enough arty goodness to go around, so we say "load us up!" The more visual stimulation the better, especially since we'll need something colorful to distract us from the so-called SNOW in MAY rumor that has been circulating. Say it ain't so!
xo-l'étoile
Photo by Kate Iverson for l'etoile's "Kiss Me, Cake" Spring photo shot
ALSO THIS WEEK ON L'ETOILE
Rob Callahan reviews Cole "Inky" Sarar's chapbook "An Army of Nursery Rhymes"
Jahna Peloquin updates our sales and shopping guide
l'etoile releases our Spring 2010 fashion editorial: Kiss Me, Cake
FRIDAY ART-A-WHIRL PICK: SUSAN OPITZ
With Art-A-Whirl quickly approaching, May 14-16, we thought it proper to clue you in on some awesome artists who will be showing their work this year! Check back each week leading up to the Whirl for more artist spotlights, plus our big guide to Art-A-Whirl 2010 the week-of! This week's pick is painter Susan Opitz.
Seasoned art vet Susan Opitz caught our eye years ago with her chaotic swirls and splats of vibrant color splashed across large canvases. This educator and art scene regular is known for her inventive array of abstract pieces that are both eye-catching and uniquely concieved. The self-proclaimed “messy painter” will present yet another leg of her prolific, ongoing body of work that she believes captures her life experiences and emotions -- varying from the drippy, water washed piece she calls “Inferno” to the bright, speckled canvas of “Sails." Find Opitz at her studio in the California Building in studio 106 over Art-A-Whirl Weekend, May 14th-16th.
Click HERE for the Susan Opitz site Click HERE for more info on Art-A-Whirl 2010
FRIDAY MAY 7TH
Cinco De Mayo Fiesta
@District Del Sol Various locations St. Paul's West Side
4-9pm Friday / 10am-6pm Saturday / Free
Time for a fiesta! This Friday and Saturday District del Sol on Saint Paul's West Side is celebrating Cinco de Mayo for the 28th year in a row -- complete with six fun-filled blocks of festivities. A pinnacle of local latin culture celebrations, St. Paul's Cinco festival is the end all be all of spicy soirees (which, btw, is co-produced by l'etoile's own Brian Gioielli, who happens to be the Marketing Director for the Riverview Economic Development Association over on the Westside!). On Friday evening you'll be treated to a "Sound Off and Hop" showcase plus the awesome annual lowrider car show. Saturday, hit the streets from 10am to Noon to watch the colorful parade as it weaves its way from Plato & Wabasha to Ada & Cesar Chaves. Then jam out to live music on multiple stages while you scarf a neverending array of delicious latin fare from locally-based businesses and mingle with all manners of interesting folks. Also included in the two-day event is a Cinco Sports Zone, a Community Wellness Village, a People's Choice Salsa Tasting Contest, a Photo Contest Area, a History Area, craft vendors, and so much more.The first big street fair of the season, the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta is one of the hottest (free) tickets in town!
5:30-9:30pm / $10 registration fee $15 fee plus official RR Tee
If you haven’t heard already, Portland was recently dethroned as America’s best bike city, and the crown passed to our very own Minneapolis. Take that Portland hipsters! A perfect example of MPLS bicycle culture is highlighted tonight in an alleycat race brought to you by local bike-loving coffee shop, Urban Bean. For the non-bike messengers out there, an alleycat race is an informal scavenger hunt style bicycle race where riders complete tasks, earn points and hit check points, competing to win bodacious prizes and of course, glory. Tonight’s race is a great opportunity to get out on your 10-Speeds, cruisers and fixed gears for an epic, city-wide race featuring prizes and plenty o' swag. Meet at Mueller Park to register, grab a race manifest, get your hands on swag bags with spoke cards from artist John Vogt and Pedalar, gift cards and more, and get pumped up for the 6pm race. Sponsored by #30DAYSOFBIKING, ROBOTlove, Metro Mag, Summit, Lululemon Athletica and Pizza Luce - just to name a mere few! Prizes include a framed Art Crank poster, gift cards, bike tune-ups from Angry Catfish and tons more! Riders: bring a lock and a messenger bag; wear your helmets and bike lights and don’t forget to be safe and follow traffic laws! The race ends with a killer after-party featuring tasty treats from mobile culinary pros, Chef Shack, a raffle drawing, DJ spun tunes and drinks. For post-party info or to register, visit www.30daysofbiking.com or register at the park day of.
@ Pink Hobo 507 E Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN 55414
7pm-11pm / Free
Stop by the Pink Hobo Gallery Friday night to see eye-poppin' video art installations from ten up-and-coming artists from around the world! Talented creatives were recruited from New York, Los Angeles, London, Tokyo, Paris and more, making Scion's 6th annual art experience something that you certainly don't see every day at a local independent gallery. The fact that this year's video-fueled traveling exhibition makes its Minneapolis stop at the Pink Hobo is certainly apt, as the gallery serves as the storefront for interactive/animation agency, PUNY, who among other impressive things, is a major artistic contributor to the hip and innovative children's show Yo Gabba Gabba. The exhibit, put on by automotive giant Scion, is definitely curated by some in-the-know peeps considering the visual line up includes buzzworthy types such as Dust La Rock, Mark Mothersbaugh, Josh Graham, Monihan Monihan, PMKFA and many more. Not to mention, Scion definitely throws a pretty sweet party every time they are in town, complete with hot art, hot beats and hot people. Definitely worth a stop on your busy itinerary tonight!
Click HERE for this art event and more at mplsart.com
Let’s not bash Portland too much this week, eh? After all, it is home to former local and DIY illustrator, printer and binder, Keegan Wenkman. Co-owner/operator of KeeganMeegan Press & Bindery and Onefootinfront Illustration Studio, Wenkman creates hand-drawn pen and ink illustrations that accompany an exploration of symbolism, emotionalism and spiritual perspective. The exhibit will also mark the official release of Codex Viginti Sex, a letterpress printed, hand-bound book - the first in 26 planned volumes featuring Wenkman‘s art and technical progress. Tonight, lay eyes on this artist's well-honed, imaginative illustrations, as well as silkscreen prints published by Burlesque of North America and printed by Ben Lafond. The exhibit runs through June 11th.
Click HERE for this art event and more at mplsart.com
FRIDAY MAY 7TH
Jeremy Messersmith CD Release
@ Cedar Cultural Center 416 Cedar Ave S Minneapolis
7pm / All Ages / $12
l'etoile friend and fave Jeremy Messersmith has come a long way since he burst onto the TC music scene in 2006 with that sweet batch of home-recordings known as The Alcatraz Kid. The critically lauded songsmith has since toured the country, played several high profile SXSW showcases, and even landed songs on MTV's awesome train wreck of a show Jersey Shore (lol!) not to mention My Life as Liz, The Real World, and Ugly Betty. His latest album, The Reluctant Graveyard, the third in a trifecta of perfect pop albums, solidifies his reputation as a masterful songwriter and lyricist with its catchy and satisfying Beatle-esque sunny-sidewalk melodies, and a friendly voice that invites listeners to sing along. Fans of Sufjan Stevens or Elliott Smith will eat this up! The Reluctant Graveyard will make its official live debut this Friday evening at the Cedar Cultural Center with supporting act the Mynabirds.
Bonus: Check out City Pages' awesome cover story on Jeremy!
@The Bedlam Theatre 1501 6th Street South Minneapolis
10pm / 21+ / $10
Reigning as one of Minneapolis’ most hauntingly awesome alternative rock bands, Bella Koshka gives you absolutely no reason to miss out on their CD release party for Deception Island this Friday...especially considering the BK crew refuses to stop at simply music, adding in firebreathers, sparklers, cupcakes, a music video premiere for BK's "Matinee" and cool projection art from Demietoile to jazz things up. Between eerie melodies, heart-wrenching instrumentals, and Laura Boland’s sensuously tragic vocal style, this band gives you an earful of epic sound. They'll be joined on stage with a fantastic cast of musical characters including Renee Klitzke on cello (Me & My Arrow), Charles Sadler on piano (Stellar Vector), Sean O' Hea on mandolin & organ (Dearling Physique) and Adam Wirtzfeld on saw (Roe Family Singers). Not to mention, we’re pretty much in love with opening band the Alpha Centauri. Stick around for a late night dance party courtesy of DJ Kiera after the show.
Listen up fashionista four-eyes, never sacrifice personality for Benjamins. Introducing Netflix for your eyewear wardrobe: Warby Parker. Forget Pearle Vision, Warby Parker features vintage-inspired, boutique quality eyewear for a fraction of the price - under $100! Try on up to 5 frames in the privacy of your own home, paying only the shipping price. Return the ones you don’t like, keep the frames you do. And for only $95, put your prescription into your favorite frames and never again compromise price for “look.“ Warby Parker’s aesthetic puts a fashion-forward twist one of the best - and necessary - accessories in your wardrobe, and every pair can be custom fit with anti-reflective, polycarbonate prescription lenses. Really, when you have your eye on those $300 Miu Miu espadrilles, you can’t afford to spend your money on over-priced eyewear, right? Awesome for both stylish men and women, Warby Parker even sports whiskey tortoise monocles -- the “perfect accessory for budding robber barons, post-colonial tyrants and super villains.” It’s safe to say, Warby Parker is not your average eyewear store, and thank god for that!
PowderKeg Live is back again in its final installment of the season with more variety show debauchery than ever! This time, hosts Geoff and Stephanie are supplying more music, witty antics, and hilarious lines to keep the show rolling. With the help of their Men’s Glee Club, a wacky local historian, the stereotypical Mexican neighbor and more, The Ritz will be showing off some of the funniest songs, dances, ramblings and complaints about the hard life in the Powder Keg neighborhood.
@Nicademus Art & Frame 225 N. Snelling Ave. St. Paul
7-11pm / Free
Local artists Christopher Bowman and DWITT are at it again for their second mixed media collaboration at the Nicademus Gallery! The blend of Bowman's neurotic illustrations with DWITT’s signature rock poster style creates a simply spectacular showcase of art. With over 200 prints at their first show, this one promises to be even better! The night will be filled with one-of-a-kind pieces of art including typical screen prints and paintings, obscure drawings on cookware and tiny illustrations on big panels. The night will be rounded out by the Burnsvillian beats of 20 Dollar Love and the tasty fizz of PBR.
Click HERE for this art event and more at mplsart.com
SATURDAY MAY 8TH
Fresh Prints
@ Cal Surf 1715 W Lake St. Minneapolis
6pm-10pm / Free
With the amazing art museums and galleries glittering all over this city, it’s easy to glaze over the fresh talent that’s practically spilling over at smaller venues and specialty shops that support the scene by showing local artists on their walls. This Saturday at Cal Surf, check out a show from a number of College of Visual Arts students, who will be showing off the prints they’ve poured their blood, sweat and tears into this semester. Come. Be wowed. Be nice.
Click HERE for this art event and more at mplsart.com
SATURDAY MAY 8TH
Urban Disturbia
@Studio22 2201 2nd St NE Minneapolis
2pm-Midnight / Free
Come check out some fresh art at the so-cool-you-probably-haven’t-even-heard-of-it-yet Studio 22 this weekend for the opening of Urban Disturbia! The show is a collaboration between local artists Sam Creighton, Matthew Jenkins, Bacon Teeth, Liseli Polivka and Studio 22 who united with a vision of digging a little deeper, beyond the images that bind us to reality. The show will feature art of various media, including photography, drawing, scultpure, and painting. Check out this cool spot and rub elbows with the artistic underground! The exhibit also runs 7pm-Midnight for a "soft opening" on Friday and from 3-6pm on Sunday. And, despite you may construe from the promo image (see below) the show's curator insists the exhibit has nothing to do with S&M. Sorry, ya'll! (wink)
@7th Street Entry 701 North 1st Avenue Minneapolis
9pm/ 21+ / $7
Join Dada Trash Collage for a night of noisy pop sounds and experimental jams! This Saturday, the Dada is hosting a CD release soiree at the 7th Street Entry and everyone who shows up is guaranteed a copy of the brand new disc. Plus, special guests like the ever-stylish Dearling Physique, rockers Hunting Club and crazy catch pop artists Netherfriends will keep the tunes flowin' throughout the night.
@ Sauce Spirits & Soundbar 3001 Lyndale Ave S Minneapolis
9:30pm / 21+ / $6
The boys of Blue Sky Blackout were turning heads at Voltage: Fashion Amplified last month not only for the macho pastels they were sporting, but for the even manlier powerhouse rock sounds oozing from the stage. A collective rock n' roll dynasty that features members from notable bands like Astronaut Wife, Landing Gear, Medication and more, BSB have been setting the benchmark for Minneapolis rock since late ‘09 with their triple guitar-infused jams. The recent mini-release, Clear from a Mile Away, features three of the band’s most memorable tunes including “Somebody Said That You Loved Me,” “Libertine” and “The Drugs Don’t Work.” We'd describe Blue Sky Blackout as Brit-inspired, driving rock doused in catchy riffs; delicious anthems rung out by a fleet of well-seasoned local staples who just want to do one thing: Rock. And rock hard. Celebrate BSB’s latest release tonight at Sauce with Susstones label mates BNLX, as well as You, You’re Awesome (Ohio) and an acoustic set by Chris Pavlich of Two Harbors.
Click HERE to download the 3-Sided Single for Free!
Photo of Blue Sky Blackout by Kate Iverson
TUESDAY MAY 11TH
JagerCon: Sci-Fi Tuesdays
@ Clubhouse Jager 923 Washington Avenue N. Minneapolis
Every Tuesday 10 p.m. / 21+ / Free
Join hosts Kate Iverson (l'étoile magazine, Secrets of the City) and Beth Hammarlund (l'étoile magazine, A Tiny Machine) every Tuesday Night for JagerCon! JagerCon is a weekly sci-fi party featuring screenings of classic nerdy movies and television shows -- topped off with 2-4-1 cocktails all night served by Star Captain Paul!
Mingle with like-minded sci-fi geeks, discuss D&D strategies, and use that Captain Picard impression you've been perfecting to pick up chicks at the bar. Snort-laugh the night away while bragging about your MMORPG addiction and enjoy a cozy, nerd-friendly environment.
MAY 11: Ghostbusters MAY 18: Pontypool MAY 25: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy JUN 1: The Neverending Story
L'ETOILE NEWSWIRE
mplsart.com gets an iphone app!
Our pals at mplsart.com just got a fancy iPhone application! Now, you can keep up with what cool art openings are happening each weekend while you're out and about -- just pull out your iPhone, tap on the shiny pink button and get an exhibition listing. You can also take advantage of a fun draw capability to view current exhibitions! And at a mere $1, how can you go wrong? Click HERE to snag the app, and visit www.mplsart.com to check out the site online.
Refuge Magazine hits the stands!
The U of M’s magazine editing and production class -- filled with aspiring local journalists and designers -- has been working all semester to create a fresh new magazine and website. This Thursday, their hard work hits the stands! Refuge Magazine covers an array of topics from tasty comfort food to the social networking of stay-at-home moms to the secret life of WCCO’s man, Jason DeRusha. Keep your eyes peeled around campus and downtown Minneapolis for color copies of Refuge Magazine or check out the website HERE for cool multimedia, awesome articles and even a downloadable .pdf of the pretty magazine pages (designed by one of our own l’étoilers, Lauren Gantner!)
Show your support and VOTE for MNFashion!
MNFashion has been accepted in to the Pepsi Refresh Challenge and are in the running to get a $50K! This amount of money could change the spectrum of the fashion community in the Twin Cities in a BIG way! You can vote for MNfashion every day through the end of May. The money will allow Mnfashion to better support the local design community through a sewing co-op and to provide designers networking and access to resources that will help them with their business. This means that designers can produce product at a lower cost (which also means a lower cost to you!). Currently MNFashion is ranked 138th among 1300 or so canidates vying for about 40 or so grants. SO, if you make an effort to vote everyday it could really make a huge difference. VOTE HERE it takes but a minute!
VOTE FOR L'ÈTOILE STAFFER BRIAN GIOIELLI!
Excuse us while we gush. l'étoile's own advertising manager, Brian Gioielli is one of the finalists for the annual One Man Minneapolis contest! The competition identifies the one man in the Twin Cities who represents the best of the best from the perspectives of community involvement, personality, intelligence and fitness. Well, if you ask us, Brian embodies all of these! Our boy not only volunteers his time for l'étoile, but also does a ton of charity work including being the Vice President on the St. Paul Festival Association board, 12 Bars of Christmas charity event co-organizer, and YMCA volunteer. He's also hilarious, adorable, and one of the most kind-hearted and fun dudes we've ever met.
The best part? If Brian wins, he gets to donate $2500 to his choice of charity, and has even committed $1000 of his personal winnings to l'etoile, so we can put together outfits to donate to another great non-profit, Dress for Success! Isn't he sweet? Vote for Brian every day starting this Friday at www.onemanminneapolis.com!!!!
Editor in Chief: Kate Iverson // Contributors: Juleana Enright, Lauren Gantner, Natalie Gallagher, Kate Iverson, Robyn Lewis, Rob Callahan, Beth Hammarlund, Jahna Peloquin
To request an event listing on letoilemagazine.com, or to inquire about advertising, e-mail kate@letoilemagazine.com
To send a promo or press release for consideration through U.S. mail:
l'etoile magazine
628 4th Street NE
2nd Floor
Minneapolis Mn 55413
Art-A-Whirl weekend kicked off with a fashion show in the Thorp Building with a retrospective of local fashion veteran Kerry Riley's work. "The Death of Red Shoe" commemorated her successful clothing line Red Shoe Clothing Co., and also gave the designer a chance to publicly announce that she is relaunching her designs under the new label Needle & Black.
As is an issue with many retrospective-style shows, the presentation felt slightly disjointed as it veered between the dramatic and the casual, the wearable and the couture. However, the looks provided an engaging summary of the designer's history in The Twin Cities. Riley's unique leather harnesses punctuated the collection, while her infinitely wearable jersey dresses in stripes and solids highlighted the chic accessibility that the designer has made her signature.
Riley's breezy summer dresses can be easily dressed up or down, and as the models sauntered through the open-air venue, I couldn't help but imagine spending the summer biking around the lakes in a Kerry Riley dress, wedge-heeled sandals and a straw fedora.
Red Shoe's swan song culminated with an ethereal dress that fluttered in the breeze as the model floated down the aisle on a summery swing. The finale gown's cathedral-length train danced as it caught the air, a suitability dramatic closing for such a successful local line.
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