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Arts and Culture

MPR News has you covered with news and stories about local art and culture happenings across Minnesota.

Art Hounds: Art Hounds are members of the Minnesota arts community who look beyond their own work to highlight what's exciting in local art. You can explore arts events here, or become an Art Hound today.

Art Reviews: Our arts team offers insight on the latest in theater, music, visual arts and more. We explore the breadth of creativity and innovation found throughout Minnesota, offering audiences a deeper understanding of the works and artists shaping our cultural landscape. Read more here.

Art Friend: Everyone needs an art friend. Art Friend is a new segment with our arts team. Art spaces can feel exclusive and art can be confusing, obtuse, and even boring. But, especially with the right context, everyone can be a critic. So let us be your guide- your Art Friend. Listen or read Art Friend stories here.

Our arts coverage is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Historian uncovers the racist roots of the 2nd Amendment

Historian uncovers the racist roots of the 2nd Amendment

Carol Anderson says the Second Amendment was designed to ensure slave owners could quickly crush any rebellion or resistance from those they'd enslaved. Her new book is “The Second.”
by Dave Davies

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'The Kissing Bug' challenges which diseases matter — and why

'The Kissing Bug' challenges which diseases matter — and why

Through the story of her aunt, who died of Chagas, Daisy Hernández raises damning questions about which diseases get attention — and whom we believe to be deserving of care.
by Kristen Martin

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Seals and sea lions adapt to a new, year-round home at Como Zoo

Seals and sea lions adapt to a new, year-round home at Como Zoo

Harbor seals are getting used to one of the new pools at Como Harbor, part of a custom-built, 250,000-gallon outdoor tank that's been in the works for nearly a decade.
by Tim Nelson

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Mapping a path forward for the Asian diaspora in 'Imagine Us, The Swarm'

Mapping a path forward for the Asian diaspora in 'Imagine Us, The Swarm'

In her latest collection, Chinese American poet Muriel Leung considers what it means to assimilate, and ultimately heal, against the collective memory of grief and vulnerability.
by Jeevika Verma

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What's in a genre name? The trouble with 'Asian fantasy'

What's in a genre name? The trouble with 'Asian fantasy'

Asian fantasy has been increasingly popular over the past few years, but some authors shelved in that category are wondering whether it's really a useful way of describing a vast and varied subgenre.
by Kalyani Saxena

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A few 'take to the lake' crime novels

A few 'take to the lake' crime novels

Kerri Miller is here just in time for the official start of the summer with a bunch of “take it to the lake” crime novels & thrillers that you can find in your local library.
by Kerri Miller

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Sinéad O'Connor has a new memoir ... and no regrets

Sinéad O'Connor has a new memoir ... and no regrets

Fiery singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor became a star in the MTV era, rewriting the rules while courting controversy. Now, she reclaims an influential legacy with a new memoir, “Rememberings.”
by Allyson McCabe

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Benjamin Percy novel re-imagines Minnesota as meteor-strewn center of geopolitics

Benjamin Percy novel re-imagines Minnesota as meteor-strewn center of geopolitics

While prolific novelist and comic book writer Benjamin Percy moved to Minnesota almost a decade ago, it's only now he's written a book based in his adopted state. "The Ninth Metal" delves into the politics and environmental battles of northern Minnesota, but it does so as science fiction.
by Euan Kerr

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