Last weekend, I caught the Jungle Theater’s new production of a scintillating new play called “A Jumping-Off Point,” by Inda Craig-Galván, and I’ve shared my rundown of it this week. I’ve also caught wind of a new exhibition highlighting the creative output of women in the skateboarding subculture that you can read about in Artscape this week. Read on to find out about improvised dance and music happening inside of a textile art installation at Kolman & Reeb Gallery, two new exhibitions at Dreamsong, new choreography as part of Threads’ Tapestries program, and The Minnesota Orchestra’s Symphony Ball.
A Jumping-Off Point
A timely play litigates the question of who gets to tell a story in a tight production directed by Shá Cage.
You can read my review of “A Jumping-Off Point” here.
Wednesday, May 1-Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m., through May 19 at the Jungle ($16-96). More information here.
Esprit de Corps: Women Artists in Twin Cities Skateboarding
Hit the boards with this art-filled send-up of women skateboarders.
11 skateboarding artists are showcasing their art in a new exhibition at the Pillar FORUM Café, in the skateboard-themed cafe’s gallery room, called the Golden Room Gallery.
I discuss the exhibit and how you can see it here.
Live Music & Dance, and Artist at Kolman & Reeb
This Thursday, artist Carolyn Halliday will give an artist talk at Kolman & Reeb about her site-specific installation at the gallery, where she’s tracked climate change and pollution using kitted wire. Before the talk, Ruby Josephine Dance Theater will be making an improvisational dance piece in the dance work, in collaboration with cellist Rosa Thompson-Vieira. Find ways that nature inspires art and art inspires art in this cross-disciplinary happening on Thursday, May 2 at 6 p.m. with the artist talk beginning at 7:15 p.m. at Kolman & Reeb (free). More information here.
Sarah Thibault, Stephanie Lindquist and more at Dreamsong
In 2009, a raging wildfire wreaked havoc on Los Angeles County in the largest wildfire the jurisdiction had ever seen. The fire would cost 2 firefighters their lives, and destroy 89 homes, plus 120 other structures. But a 150-year old oak tree survived, saved by firefighters. It was named The McFall Oak after the assistant city manager Bob McFall manager of Glendale, in LA county. They even made a plaque in honor of McFall’s leadership.
The McFall Oak serves as inspiration for LA-based Sarah Thibault’s new painting, “An unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night” (2024), titled after a line by Rainer Maria Rilke in a letter to his wife. Glowing in deep orange and red colors, with a deep purple background, the painting attests to the tree’s majesty as well as its incredible survival. The painting is on view in Thibault’s exhibition at Dreamsong, “Things Worth Saving,” opening up at Dreamsong on May 3. The artist, who recently has drawn on a plein air practice to develop her work, will be in attendance.
Also opening at Dreamsong is a show called “ndɔmi dɔmi” featuring Minneapolis-based artist Stephanie Lindquist. It’s named after two words in the MƐnde language from Sierra Leone, and meditates on themes of sustainability and agriculture, using soils as raw pigment. The opening reception for both shows takes place Friday, May 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with an artist talk between Thibault and Elizabeth Workman at 5n p.m. (free). More information here.
Additionally, Dreamsong is organizing an evening of silent films by Sara Pajunen, Sabrina Gschwandtner, and Andy Graydon and live music by Pajunen, Gabriel Saloman, Luke Martin on Sunday, May 5 at 7 p.m. (free). More information here.
Tapestries 8.0
Karen L. Charles, founder of Threads Dance Project, was honored at the Performing Institute of Minnesota (PiM), as part of the school’s 20th anniversary on April 4. Charles was the school’s first principal, back when it was called the Main Street School of Performing Arts, but moved on to found her own company.
Threads’ “Tapestries” program, featuring emerging choreographers, heads into its 8th year. Besides a work by Charles, the show features a piece by Da’Rius Malone that confronts trauma and hardships from early life, and hip hop movement by Averie Mitchell-Brown. Also on the program, Shoko Tamai envelops cycles from nature in a work about transformation and healing.
Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m. at the Tek Box Theater ($30). More information here.
Symphony Ball: River Rhapsody
It’s not too late to nab a “partier” ticket to the Minnesota Orchestra’s “Symphony Ball” at Orchestra Hall. The $99 ticket option gets you into the gala after dinner for a concert led by music director Thomas Søndergård, and hosted by Minnesota Orchestra violinist Hanna Landrum. The orchestra will perform a river-themed program, including symphonic arrangements of St. Louis Blues and Beale Street Blues, as well as Johann Strauss II’s “On the Beautiful Blue Danube, and Bedřich Smetana’s symphonic poem, “The Moldau.” An after party includes live music by Jack Brass Band, and a curated selection of food and drinks. Saturday, May 4 at 9 p.m. ($99). More information here.
Sheila Regan
Sheila Regan is a Twin Cities-based arts journalist. She writes MinnPost’s twice-weekly Artscape column. She can be reached at [email protected].