Art Hounds: Ballet Preljocaj, Muslim women, and a sad vampire comedian

Image of "Fatimah: The Queen of Heaven," an installation by Hend Al-Mansour. (Image courtesy of the artist)

The hounds have a dark, somber french ballet interpretation of "Snow White," an art show elevating overlooked matriarchal figures in Islamic religion and culture, and a sad vampire comedian's stand-up routine on their radar this week.

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Minneapolis mixed media artist Veronica G. Ochoa calls "Great Mothers of Islam" at Vine Art Center in Minneapolis a "can't miss" exhibition. It features the works of two women artists, Hend Al-Mansour and Leili Tajadod-Pritschet, in what the Vine Art Center describes as an exploration of "the inherent feminine power in the Islamic tradition." Tajadod-Pritschet, an Iranian Shiite, and Al-Mansour, a Saudi Arabian Sunni, each depict a great woman in Islamic history. The show is up through April 14.

If you'd like to dive into the darker, more eroticized side of "Snow White," Twin Cities theater and dance agent Christine Tschida would like to bring Ballet Preljocaj to your attention. The renowned French dance troupe, which rarely tours in the states, has gotten raves for its edgy interpretation of the fairy tale, complete with costumes by Jean Paul Gaultier and partial nudity. Presented by the University of Minnesota's Northrop Auditorium at the Orpheum Theatre, April 13 & 14.

In terms of belly laughs and humorous food for thought, Minneapolis actor Clarence Wethern says Joseph Scrimshaw's company Joking Envelope has never disappointed. Joking Envelope's latest show is called "The Sad Vampire Comedy Hour" in which a morose melancholic vampire comedian shares his schtick. The show will be at the Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis Fridays and Saturdays through April 28. For more Art Hounds' recommendations, check us out on Facebook and Twitter. Art Hounds is powered by the Public Insight Network.

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