Art Hounds: Unsafe levels of laughter

Work from Minnesota jeweler Beth Farber
Minnesota jeweler Beth Farber will be one of the more than 225 artists showing their work at the American Craft Show in St. Paul this weekend.
Image courtesy of the American Craft Council

This week on Art Hounds: a variety show in Lanesboro, the American Craft Show in St. Paul, and a comedy marathon in Bloomington.

Debra Newman calls herself "a collector of wearable art," and each year she treats herself to something new at the American Craft Show. She says she's amazed that people buy mass-produced purses and outfits when, for not much more money, they could get something unique. And considering how much her male counterparts spend on their business suits, she thinks splurging on a one-of-a-kind jacket is totally justifiable. The American Craft Show runs April 8-10 at the RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul.

David McKay is a self-described comedy nerd, and this weekend he's going to attempt to die laughing when he attends a 50-hour comedy marathon. Produced by Fearless Comedy Productions, the marathon will offer stand-up, improv, sketch comedy, podcast tapings, musical comedy and more. McKay says there are some shows aimed at kids, but things get kind of crazy as the 50 hours wear on. The laughter starts at 7 p.m. Friday at the Doubletree Hotel in Bloomington.

Robbie Brokken works for Lanesboro Arts, and says she's amazed by the amount of talent in the small town. Each month the community puts on "Over the Back Fence," a variety show featuring music, comedy and pretty much whatever else people come up with. This month's theme is the '70s, and Brokken says her friends are all coming up with crazy costumes and stories to tell. Shows are the second Friday of the month, March through November, at the St. Mane Theater.

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