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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.

Photos: Living tree bridges in a land of clouds

Photos: Living tree bridges in a land of clouds

In the Indian state of Meghalaya, one of the wettest places on Earth, villagers are separated by rivers and valleys. To stay connected, they coax tree roots to grow together into living bridges.
by Prasenjeet Yadav

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Yiyun Li continues her conversations with the dead in 'Must I Go'

Yiyun Li continues her conversations with the dead in 'Must I Go'

Yiyun Li's new book — about a woman looking back on her life by annotating the diary of her late ex-lover — plays with both Vladimir Nabokov's “Pale Fire” and Li's own previous work.
by Thúy Đinh

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A mean ghost story and a souped-up crime novel will wise you up fast

A mean ghost story and a souped-up crime novel will wise you up fast

“The Aunt Who Wouldn't Die,” by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, centers on an Indian family haunted by a jealous ghost. And S. A. Cosby's “Blacktop Wasteland” is a noir thriller — with muscle cars.
by Maureen Corrigan

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American Christianity must reckon with legacy of white supremacy, author says

American Christianity must reckon with legacy of white supremacy, author says

“White Too Long” author Robert P. Jones says churches should be more in vocal on issues of social justice: "White Christians have been largely silent ... and have hardly begun these conversations."
by Terry Gross

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True crime stories and the obsession with them form 'Unspeakable Acts'

True crime stories and the obsession with them form 'Unspeakable Acts'

The search for answers in this nonfiction anthology edited by Sarah Weinman is one of many cohesive elements that make the collection land among the best true crime books of the year.
by Gabino Iglesias

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'Empire of Wild' tells a small story — but not a slight one

'Empire of Wild' tells a small story — but not a slight one

Cherie Dimaline's new novel seems small in scope — it's about a woman who loses her husband and is determined to bring him back, nothing more than that — but it's rich, tightly written and powerful.
by Jason Sheehan

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A new book traces the history of boy bands, the pop phenomenon 'Larger Than Life'

A new book traces the history of boy bands, the pop phenomenon 'Larger Than Life'

Author and music critic Maria Sherman talks about her new book, “Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS” and forgoing rock elitism to give into the joy of boy band pop songs.
by Ari Shapiro and Mallory Yu

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'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' is under internal investigation

'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' is under internal investigation

The bubbly daytime talk show with a "be kind" ethos faces accusations of toxic workplace behavior off set, including firings of staff who took medical or bereavement leave as well as racist comments.
by Anastasia Tsioulcas

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