“What would it be like if we were wrapped in joy, imagination, possibility and could just be free with each other?” asked Minneapolis artist Leslie Barlow. 

Whether you’re looking to dive into a new reality or engage with today’s pressing issues, the Twin Cities art scene this weekend brings a multicultural sci-fi convention, a festival spotlighting filmmakers of color, and a solo exhibit at Northeast Sculpture Gallery serving up a reminder of art’s role in revolution. 

Cosplay, sci-fi and fantasy converge at ConFluence

The mainstream worlds of sci-fi, fantasy and visual art have rarely been designed with Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) fans in mind. Yet, this weekend, Barlow is carving out a space in northeast Minneapolis where marginalized communities can cosplay, play games, and attend panels and workshops covering everything from Black indie comics to inclusive video game design. 

A convention fan since 2011, Barlow cosplayed as Princess Leia alongside her husband as Han Solo at their wedding. ConFluence came from her desire to create a BIPOC-centered event for the Twin Cities. 

When Barlow reached out to friends and collaborators in 2023, nearly 20 people volunteered to help organize it. Its inaugural year drew nearly 500 attendees, and 35 community organizers are helping bring the two-day convention to life this year. 

“We really need it right now,” Barlow said. “Things are stressful. Our communities are tired, they’re grieving, they’re scared. We deserve to dip into an alternate reality — even if it’s just for 24 hours — for our heart and soul.”

This year’s theme, “Futures in Color,” reflects the possibilities of speculative fiction and futurisms for communities of color. It also nods to artist Alisha B. Wormsley’s billboard project, “There Are Black People in the Future,” which celebrates Black presence and agency. 

ConFluence will feature a marketplace with 30 Minnesota-based artists offering everything from prints and stickers celebrating Black and brown womanhood to Indigenous-inspired jewelry and beadwork. A visual art exhibit will feature Barlow’s series on Black cosplayers alongside six other artists. Attendees can meet special guests, including Star Trek actor Tim Russ, gamemaster Aabria Iyengar, cosplayer Roger Presa, and video game designer Evva Karr. Saturday night will close with “Prismatic Underground,” a dance party featuring local DJs and artists. 

“When you get so many of us in a space talking about all the things we love — books, films, TV shows, anime, costuming, just geeking out with one another — you’re reminded that you’re not alone in your interests,” Barlow said. “Maybe you’re a wizard, maybe you’re a fairy, maybe you’re a robot. There will be so many people that you just want to know and connect with.”

Latin protest in print

The Northeast Sculpture Gallery Factory is exhibiting “The Power of Prints in Dangerous Times,” a solo show by Nicaraguan-born, Chicago-based artist Carlos Barberena. The exhibit features black-and-white relief prints that confront pop culture, systemic injustice and revolution across the Latin diaspora. Works carry messages such as “Abolish ICE,” “No Somos Ilegales (We’re Not Illegal),” “Immigrants Welcome,” and a portrait of writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin that reads, “Artists are here to disturb the peace.” The show emphasizes how art becomes a call to action during times of unrest.

Horror, heritage and history at the Twin Cities Film Fest

The Twin Cities Film Fest returns this weekend, showcasing more than 100 feature-length and short films, including a lineup by BIPOC filmmakers. 

On Friday night, Edina Mann Theatre will screen Vida Nueva, a film by University of Minnesota grads exploring the long-term impact of incarceration on a Latinx family. A short film series examining the meaning of the “American Dream” will also screen “Daly City,” which follows an Indonesian boy navigating his identity. 

Saturday brings a horror-comedy short film series, featuring “Halfway Haunted,” in which a woman teams up with the ghost haunting her home to save it from a developer planning to tear it down. Feature-length highlights include the documentary “Remaining Native” following a 17-year-old solo runner inspired and haunted by the memory of his great-grandfather, who ran 50 miles across a Nevada desert to escape an Indian boarding school, and “The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo,” a romantic comedy about a Spanish-exchange student. 

Sunday at the Marcus West End Cinema focuses on drama shorts and documentary programming. Screenings include “Knew Love,” a short film featuring young BIPOC dancers in the Twin Cities hip-hop scene and “What I Am Today: Maa Maa Dei,” following an Asian American child of immigrants pursuing a career in architecture and engineering in Chicago.

Other notable films include “We Are Pyramids,” following three Black teenagers from Minnesota as they travel to Egypt to explore their ancestral roots; “She Runs the World,” chronicling the story of the track and field athlete Allyson Felix; and “Speak,” a documentary capturing spoken word performances by high school students of color. 

Looking ahead to next week, festival highlights include “Assembly,” a documentary following artist Rashaad Newsome as he transforms a military facility into a Black queer performance space; “Reconstruction Destructed,” which challenges viewers to reconsider American history and the ongoing impact of slavery; “Kukràdjà” celebrating the festival traditions of the Kayapó Indigenous community; and “Between Goodbyes,” a documentary exploring the estrangement between a Korean adoptee and her birth mother.

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