The Twin Cities arts scene has a packed weekend ahead with a mix of visual arts, film, and ballet. The St. Paul Art Crawl returns, showcasing over 350 visual artists across the city. The crawl embraces movement this year by incorporating cultural dance workshops.
The Minneapolis-St.Paul film festival celebrates local gems, while Asian choreography will be highlighted at the Northrop auditorium on the University of Minnesota campus.
St. Paul Art Crawl celebrates art, dance, and community
The St. Paul Art Crawl kicks off this weekend, showcasing over 350 artists across 40 galleries and art spaces throughout the city.
Lowertown artists launched the event in the 1970s, laying the groundwork for the city’s vibrant art scene. The first official art crawl took place in 1991.
“There was music, there was dance, there were live paintings, but they didn’t sell any work during those few years,” said Mariusz Kujawski, a member of the St. Paul Art Collective. “I think that’s so powerful that they continued to work on selling their work for a few years, because now we see that it really worked.”
This year, the crawl expands to 10 St. Paul neighborhoods. The first weekend, starting April 12, features artists in the historic Summit-Grand, Merriam Park, and West Side neighborhoods. The following weekend showcases art in the West Seventh and Cathedral Hill neighborhoods. The final weekend focuses on galleries and artist lofts in downtown, Lowertown, Como, Payne Phalen, and Raymond Avenue neighborhoods.
“Our goal is for you to be able to walk out of your house and go see art—start with the places nearest to you,” Kujawski said. “Chances are your neighborhood or the neighborhood next to you is already participating.”
New this year is a focus on dance performances and workshops, alongside the traditional emphasis on visual arts.
“I’m a dancer, so I wanted to bring more of that art form to the crawl,” Kujawski said. “I find it’s important to share diverse types of arts. It’s not just painting, which is beautiful, but there is more to it.”
The workshops, offered the next two weekends, provide a glimpse into cultures and traditions from around the world. Body Watani Dance, a movement workshop led by Palestinian sisters Leila and Noelle Awadallah, explores how stories of their homeland live in their bodies. Body Watani, which means “my homeland” in Arabic, combines improvisation and Palestinian folk dances, such as Dabke and Baladi, to create a unique dance form, Leila Awadallah said.
For younger audiences, Kala Vandanam Bharatanatyam Dance School will offer a workshop in classical Indian dance forms, and Kalpulli Huitzillin will focus on Indigenous Mexican dance.
Other family-friendly events include “(Neo)Muralismos de México ,” which invites participants to create art, including puppets on bikes.
Date: April 12-14, April 19-21, and April 26-28
Time: Varies depending on activity and gallery. Find the full schedule here.
Location: Various locations throughout 10 St. Paul neighborhoods. Find the locations here.
Cost: Varies depending on activity; many events are free.
For more information: Visit stpaulartcollective.org/Spring-2024-Art-Crawl.
Film festival shines spotlight on Minnesota filmmakers
The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival kicks off its 43rd year with a program featuring over 200 film screenings. Beyond the screen, festival goers can participate in panel discussions, cocktail parties, and book signings with filmmakers.
The featured films include Hollywood releases, locally produced gems, films by Indigenous and Latine creators, documentaries, LGBTQ+ stories, and explorations of African cinema.
The “MN Made Celebrate” event will shine a spotlight on Minnesota’s film industry on Saturday, April 13, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Among the Minnesota-made films are “The Electric Indian,” by Leya Hale, documenting hockey legend Henry Boucha’s journey through personal recovery after an on-ice assault. “Nextwave Youth Media Showcase” features short films by high school students, tackling themes such as missing and murdered Indigenous women and the experience of Black women navigating identity and police interactions.
“Profe,” directed by Sergio Mata’u Rapu, explores two public schools implementing a decolonized, bilingual and culturally affirming curriculum for Latine students. “Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted” by Issac Gale and Ryan Olson delves into the life and career of the soul “cult musician.” “Shorts Program 08: Creative + Community” presents six short films that grapple with social issues and celebrate cultural heritage.
Date: Friday, April 12-April 25
Time: Varies depending on the film or event. Find the full schedule here.
Location: The Main Cinema, 115 S.E. Main St., Minneapolis
Cost: Tickets start at $10 per screening for members, $15 for non-members, and $8 for students. Request a student pass here. Learn more about tickets and passes here.
For more information: Visit mspfilm.org.
Ballet performances celebrate Asian Choreography
Northrop will present “10,000 Dreams: A Celebration of Asian Choreography,” a two-day program highlighting the contributions of Asian choreographers who worked with The Washington Ballet, BalletMet, and Oakland Ballet Company.
The program honors Singaporean choreographer Choo San Goh with performances of his works alongside pieces by contemporary Asian American choreographers. Audiences can also expect a lineup featuring Edwaard Liang, the first Asian artistic director for a major American ballet company, Cali Quan, Phil Chan, and the Minnesota debut of choreographer Brett Ishida.
The University of Minnesota’s Oriental Music Club will perform live music at 6:30 p.m. before Friday’s performance. Additionally, student associations and local leading Asian arts and culture organizations like the Hmong Museum, The SEAD Project, and Theater Mu will display art installations.
Date: April 12-April 13
Time: Pre-show art exhibits start at 6:30 p.m. Friday’s performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday’s performance begins at 2 p.m.
Location: Carlson Family Stage at Northrop, 84 Church Street S.E., Minneapolis
Cost: Tickets start at $44 for adults, $39 for students, and $22 for children under 17.
For more information: Visit northrop.umn.edu.
