State of the Arts Blog

Standing ovations, tears for Vanska as conductor begins waving his baton goodbye
Emotion floated through the lobby of the Ted Mann Concert Hall Friday night before before Osmo Vanska, who resigned as music director of the Minnesota Orchestra on Tuesday, conducted the first of three farewell concerts in Minneapolis. There was excitement Vanska would lead the musicians he built into a world-class ensemble and sadness that partnership Read more →
MIA casts an ‘audacious eye’ on major acquisition of Japanese art
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts’ new curator, Andreas Marks, is bursting with energy and industry. At a recent press lunch, the recently appointed head of the Department of Japanese and Korean Art took attendees on a whirlwind tour of the MIA’s new show “The Audacious Eye,” which opens to the general public on Sunday. Hee Read more →
Cube Critics: Gravity and Minneapolis Underground Film Festival
On this week’s Cube Critics Euan Kerr relives the spellbinding 3D terror of “Gravity,” and Stephanie Curtis touts the Minneapolis Underground Film Festival. Gravity: Minneapolis Underground Film Festival: “Cube Critics” was created and produced by Chris Roberts. “The Cube Critics” theme was written by Chris Roberts and produced by Marc Sanchez. Music performed by Marc Read more →
Atlantis Quartet expands musical vison on new CD
The Atlantis Quartet has been fusing genres since 2006. This weekend at St. Paul’s Artists Quarter, the group celebrates a much-anticipated fourth album.
The Minneapolis City Council has approved a settlement agreement between the city, the Cultural Landscape Foundation and the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota over the fate of Peavey Plaza, the modernist public square situated next to Orchestra Hall. According to a statement released by the Preservation Alliance, the three parties “agree to work together on a Read more →
When word got out that the departing Osmo Vanska would conduct two already scheduled concerts with the locked out musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra, all remaining tickets flew out the door. So they added a third concert for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Ted Mann Concert Hall. According to MPR’s Euan Kerr, those tickets – Read more →
Art Hounds: Birthday Suits, 11th Wundr, and Brave New Workshop on the attack
This week the hounds bid farewell to a revered Minneapolis-based Japanese punk band, gaze in admiration at the work of a prolific Minneapolis street artist, and prepare for an attack by Minnesota’s premier sketch comedy troupe. St. Paul songwriter and performer Mayda is paying tribute to the blazing punk rock of Birthday Suits. The celebrated Read more →
Winona art museum expands, acquires masterworks
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona is growing apace, both in terms of size and its collection.
Nautilus Theatre makes small move for big impact
It looks like we can expect extraordinary things from Nautilus’ new, ordinary, space.
Key composer leaves Minnesota Orchestra amid contract fallout
The Minnesota Orchestra’s labor dispute claims anothAaron Jay Kernis, a Pulitzer Prize winning composer is leaving the Minnesota Or currently the orchestra’s composer in residence is leaving.