MN Shortlist: May 16-22
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MN Shortlist is your weekly curated roundup of recommended events from MPR News, highlighting standout performances, exhibits and gatherings around the region.
‘Crush-A-Whirl’
May 17 — While Art-A-Whirl takes over northeast Minneapolis, Turbo Tim’s cat-populated autoshop will be busy crushing cars in the name of art. It’s “Crush-A-Whirl,” the autoshop’s biggest annual event — a “monster truck-style car crush.”
There will also be an art market, balloon animals, face paintings, tarot readings, a magician and live music from Riffin’ Griffin and Cattle Dog.
The event runs noon to 6 p.m., with the crushing of “unfortunate junk cars” starting at 4 p.m. (Alex V. Cipolle)
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‘Time Piece’
Through May 18 — Three Minnesota dance companies — Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre, the Flying Foot Forum and Katha Dance Theatre — have joined forces for “Time Piece,” performed at the Park Square Theatre in St. Paul.
Zorongo presents the premiere of “Amor de Dios” with live music by Ben Abrahamson, Alfonso Cid and Tessa Nichols-Meade; Katha Dance Theatre will perform “Soul: A Kathak Odyssey,” featuring a classical Indian dance form; and Flying Foot Forum will present the world premiere of “Dandelions, or How to Love Your Life.”
The trio will also perform a collaboration. (Alex V. Cipolle)
‘Invasive Plants in My Backyard’
Through Oct. 19 — Using linocut prints, artist Monica Ihrke finds beauty in invasive plants, from the Creeping Bellflower to the Canada Thistle. Ihrke also uses these prints to spread awareness about how nonnative plants can cause “economic, social, or environmental harm, or harm to human health.”
The art encourages folks to identify these local invasive species and rip them out.
An exhibition of these prints, “Invasive Plants in My Backyard,” runs May 16 through Oct. 19 at the Hartley Nature Center in Duluth. There is an opening reception with the artist 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. May 16. (Alex V. Cipolle)
‘Duluth Dylan Fest’
May 18-25 — Bob Dylan is an international household name. Northern Minnesota will never let you forget that before becoming a musical sensation, he was born in Duluth and raised in Hibbing.
Dylan’s birthday is May 24, and to celebrate it, “Duluth Dylan Fest” has a lineup of events, featuring jam sessions, a singer-songwriter contest and lots of live music.
“Duluth Dylan Fest” is also meant to highlight Duluth’s diverse art scene. A pre-festival will take place in his hometown of Hibbing on May 18, with the rest of the festivities taking place across Duluth until May 25. (Jacob Aloi)
‘The Divided Dial’
Ongoing — Minnesota-based musician and journalist Katie Thornton has a knack for creative, engaging narrative journalism, centered on history. Her work has appeared on the BBC, NPR and KFAI.
In 2022, Thornton began her series “The Divided Dial,” which explores how the political right has found a home on talk radio. Made in partnership with WNYC’s “On the Media,” the series won a Peabody Award.
The Divided Dial” is currently releasing its second season, which looks at how shortwave radio has been a home ground for right-wing content internationally. The first two episodes of season two are available wherever you get your podcasts, as is all of season one, which looks at how Christian conservative media dominates talk radio in America. (Jacob Aloi)
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