Guido's Arts Roundup, Thursday, August 21st

The Edge Center for the Arts in Bigfork: this Saturday (8/23) at 7 pm, “Expressions”---an evening of music by area artists (kids and adults) featuring cello, violin, vocals, AND the new piano. Tix at the door. In the lobby: throughout August, Timothy’ Ray’s collaged paintings and collographs. Big, busy, abstract work---wonderful, very accomplished stuff.
Over in Bemidji, the usual abundance: “Re-Collection” at the Art Center, “In the Good Old Summertime” at the History Center, “Coming Together” at Dunn Brothers, “Earthly Delights” at Wild Hare---and there’s more, of course, at bcac.wordpress.com

Ripple River Gallery/Deerwood: now through 9/21, David Norstad and Tracy McMan, “Paintings, Collage and Constructions”---excellent, as everything at Ripple River always is---

Jaques Art Center in Aitkin: opening this Saturday (8/23) and running through 9/27, western and Native American art and, in conjunction with that, in their Dialogue With The Arts series, next Tuesday (8/26) at 1 pm, “Native Art – Woodland Pottery” with Carri Estey, Mille Lacs Indian Museum Director.

At the Range Art Center in Hibbing, they’re winding up their Summer Art Camp for kids this week. For next things there, check out rangeartcenter.org

Ironworld in Chisholm: beginning next week (8/30 – through 1/4/09) “In the Dark”, a nationally traveling exhibit from the Cincinnati Museum Center.

Up the street from KAXE at Brewed Awakenings this month, Cindy Jackson---Heidi Holtan’s sister. Go to womenofwhim.com and check out the photo of Cindy (guess her age) AND her diverse portfolio, handbags to canvas art and everything in between. The photo’s black-and-white, the artwork nothing but color, color, color.

MacRostie Art Center, in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids: now through the end of the month, the 16th Annual Juried Exhibition, plus a show in the back gallery by Rachel Melis, the juror. Front and back: diverse, accomplished work, beautifully installed. Fall classes posted now and starting next week...http://www.macrostieartcenter.org their new and really nice website)

At the Reif Center up on Conifer Drive, tonight at 7:30, Darlene Westgor, Nick at Night’s Funniest Mom in America, the last show in Reif’s Summer Comedy Series. Thanks to our underwriters for the funny stuff every Thursday since June, Reed Drug and Wendigo Lodge, Golf & Conference Center. Next Tuesday, the last of the summer’s Indies on Tuesdays, sponsored by Rivers Wine Bar and Bistro: “Drifters”, an award winning film from China, by way of the Grand Rapids Area Library. Next Thursday the 2008-2009 Reif Season opens with “Teddy Roosevelt…Today” by Keith McGough, underwritten by US Bank and Itasca Reliable Insurance Agency.

Notes from farther afield…. At the Guthrie in Minneapolis Theater Latte Da brings “Old Wicked Songs” to the Dowling Studio, directed by Grand Rapids native (and my old neighbor) Peter Rothstein, in preview 9/12, then running through 10/5. And that same weekend, between here and there, at the Rainbow Granite Quarry in St. Cloud, it’s Merce Cunningham and John Cage’s “Ocean”---our very own Eric Uzelac will be in the orchestra for this literally world-class event. There are three performances, but it’s been sold out for weeks. Dodger and I do have some tix---I’ll report next time.

Steve "Guido" Downing is the Development Director at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids. Steve does a monthly arts roundup on KAXE's morning program. Add your reviews and comments on the northern MN arts scene.