Art Hounds: Flute as percussion and Detroit '67

Justin Quinn
"Whatever" (left) and "Ad Nothing." Collages by Justin Quinn.
Courtesy of Justin Quinn

This week on Art Hounds we check out Art-A-Whirl, Penumbra Theatre's "Detroit '67" and a gallery show in St. Cloud.

Rolf Erdahl is looking forward to taking his family to the annual art extravaganza in northeast Minneapolis, a.k.a. Art-A-Whirl. Erdahl is particularly looking forward to checking out the music of Julie Johnson and The No-Accounts. Johnson plays a flute and sometimes turns it into a percussion instrument by injecting it with short blasts of air. Erdahl says he admires her ability to jump between genres and push musical boundaries.

Tirzah Blair moved to the Twin Cities last year, and is enjoying discovering the local theater scene. Last weekend she saw Penumbra Theatre's production of "Detroit '67," and was impressed by how timely and relevant the show is. The story revolves around a brother and sister who host Motown dance parties in their Detroit basement, and how violence and brutality in their community affect their lives.

Peter Happel Christian encourages anyone in the St. Cloud area to check out the current show at Gallery St. Germain. It features Justin Quinn's collages made from album covers and Sam Johnson's ceramics. Christian says while the two media might seem unrelated, the more you look the more you realize they have in common. The show runs through May 30.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.