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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.

The rise of the graphic novel

The rise of the graphic novel

Comics have gone mainstream and broadened way beyond the world of superheroes. What’s behind the trend?
by Chris Farrell and Kelly Gordon

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'A Long Petal Of The Sea' finds love in a time of chaos

'A Long Petal Of The Sea' finds love in a time of chaos

Isabel Allende's new novel follows two refugees from the Spanish Civil War, whose mock marriage as they flee to Chile gradually deepens into real love, set against a backdrop of war and upheaval.
by Marcela Davison Avilés

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'This Isn't New': Questions for Tochi Onyebuchi, author of 'Riot Baby'

'This Isn't New': Questions for Tochi Onyebuchi, author of 'Riot Baby'

Tochi Onyebuchi's slim, devastating novella follows a young man born amidst the chaos of the 1992 Rodney King riots — and his sister, whose terrifying magical powers can't protect him from racism.
by Petra Mayer

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'Processed Cheese' Is Hard To Love — But Easy To Admire

'Processed Cheese' Is Hard To Love — But Easy To Admire

Stephen Wright's new novel is a darkly funny satire of American consumer culture, set in a Day-Glo alternate reality that's unsettlingly close to our own. It's an exhausting but unforgettable read.
by Michael Schaub

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Finalists announced for 2020 Minnesota Book Awards

The field of finalists is set for the 2020 Minnesota Book Awards. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on April 28.
by MPR News Staff

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'Franchise' tracks the rise and role of fast food in Black America

'Franchise' tracks the rise and role of fast food in Black America

History professor Marcia Chatelain's new book tracks what she calls the hidden history of the relationships between the struggle for civil rights and the expansion of the fast food industry.
by Michel Martin

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'Interior Chinatown' puts that guy in the background front and center

'Interior Chinatown' puts that guy in the background front and center

Charles Yu's new novel follows a TV actor who often gets stuck playing generic Asian men. Yu says he was inspired by shows that set episodes in Chinatown — but keep Asian actors in the background.
by Scott Simon

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Pain drives the creation of a sanctuary in 'Remembrance'

Pain drives the creation of a sanctuary in 'Remembrance'

Rita Woods' ambitious novel spans 200 years and multiple storylines — it's a complex story of loss and survival that doesn't always work. But Woods creates memorable characters readers can relate to.
by Denny S. Bryce

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