36 Hours of Art!

Yesterday and today I've been to several very different art events!

It started out yesterday by hearing SPA's choirs sing on their mini-tour. Beatrix will miss the big spring concert coming up due to circus performances (though I'll be singing in it as part of Community Chorale), so this was our last chance to hear her sing in a choir, maybe ever (yikes!). I think the people at Marvella and the Arbor liked hearing them too.


We also stopped by SPA to see the Senior Show for her Art Seminar class, all based on Creole traditions (You can stop and see it too! At the Drake Gallery at SPA, open school hours through the end of the month).


Last night, Patrick and I went to the opening night of The Mind Has a Hundred Thousand Gates, by Pangea World Theater at the Southern. Based on the 15th century writings of the Indian poet Kabir (with some recent influences), I was not sure what to expect. What I got was a beautiful, meditative work the gave me some hope that the world has been through hard things before and we just might get through this. Highly recommended, plays for a couple more weeks.


Today, we went to the new iteration of The International Festival of Minnesota. As The Festival of Nations, this event ran for 87 years, from 1932-2019, before it was closed for covid and never restarted. I was dubious on the reboot, but I'm pleased to say I was wrong. The new event is smaller, but even more fun. There are fewer food booths, but the ones there were great. The vendors were very interesting, with lots of demonstrations and unusual items. The stages were smaller, but the dancers were fantastic, especially Beatrix's Norwegian Dance group, the Peer Gynt dancers. And they seemed to get a great crowd! Unfortunately, it was just yesterday and today so you missed it, but mark your calendar for next year.



Tonight, my cousin Erin and I went to see Fair State, presented by Walking Shadow Theater Company (with a stop for a beer and at the Alex Pretti memorial on the way).



The production was not at all what I expected, which made it all the better — and especially great to see with a family member. Also highly recommended, with just one more performance, so get there tomorrow if you can!



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