Better Things: A 5X5 Reading Event and Open Mic
Tuesday, April 2
7 PM
Moon Palace Books
3032 Minnehaha Avenue
Free
Please join us for the inauguration of ReEntry Lab’s Better Things reading series, sponsored in partnership with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop and Moon Palace Books. This reading will feature five fantastic writers: C. Fausto Cabrera, Chavonn Williams Shen, LM Brimmer, Junauda Petrus, and Sara Dovre Wudali, and will be hosted by Erin Sharkey and Davi Gray.
ReEntry Lab works to connect writers and other artists leaving incarceration to a community that’s ready to receive them. You can learn more about ReEntry Lab at reentrylab.org, and about the Better Things series at better-things.org.
Lake Street Art Drop with Renee Dori and Benja Wuest
Thursday, April 4
6 PM
Starts at Midtown Global Market
920 E Lake Street
Free
Join Visit Lake Street starting this month for a free monthly scavenger hunt featuring photo clues on social media and local artwork prizes!
Here’s how it works: Follow us @VisitLakeStreet on Facebook and Instagram, then head to Midtown Global Market with your favorite people. At 6pm, we’ll start posting photo hints for the hiding places of art treasures. Follow the hints to find the art! If you’re the first person to find it, it’s yours to keep (one art piece per household, please). Message us when you find a piece, post your successful finds, and tag us and the artist so we can celebrate with you! Lake Street Art Drop will be held every first Thursday through October with different featured artists each month. See the lineup at visitlakestreet.com/artdrop.
Phantom Loss
Through April 7
The Avalon Theater
1500 E Lake Street
$25 general admission
April 2 – pay what you can
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (HOBT) presents Phantom Loss, a new tabletop puppet show created by local artist Oanh Vu.
Thuy’s life is upended when her mother, Hai, moves them to a small town to run a nail salon. Hai is excited for their new life, but Thuy hates it. Even worse, the nail salon and their house above it may be haunted. Luckily, Thuy discovers that the lingering spirit is a dopey ghost named Chicken. Thuy and Chicken become fast friends, but their time is cut short when Chicken reveals a dark secret, leading them to become contestants on a wacky game show in the underworld which quickly devolves when Chicken’s mysterious past comes to light.
Phantom Loss is a tragicomedy that weaves Vietnamese mythology and American pop culture to explore the impact of criminalized immigration. For tickets and information, go to hobt.org.
Living in America: The Waiting List is Full
Wednesday, April 10
6 PM
Minneapolis Central Library
Pohlad Auditorium (2nd floor)
300 Nicollet Mall
Free / sliding scale
Living in America: The Waiting List is Full, is a performance about public housing that showcases original content created by participants in zAmya Theater Project’s workshops who have lived experience of housing insecurity, with creative contributions from zAmya Troupe Members. With humor, history and humbling questions, Living in America asks “What is public housing? Why is public housing? And why is the waitlist full?” ASL interpretation provided, and tickets will be available at the door. For more information about zAmya Theater Project, visit zamyatheater.org.
Okizi (To Heal)
Through April 13
All My Relations Arts
1414 E Franklin Avenue
Free
Okizi (To Heal), is a partner exhibition with the American Swedish Institute in response to the traveling exhibition, Arctic Highways: Unbound Indigenous People. Okizi highlights the revitalization efforts that reconnect this generation and future generations of Native peoples to our language, land, and culture as a means of healing. For more information, visit allmyrelationsarts.org/exhibitions-events/exhibitions/okizi-to-heal.
Angelica Encore Choral Ensemble
Sunday, April 14
4 PM
Mount Olive Lutheran Church
3045 Chicago Avenue S
Free
Mount Olive Music and Fine Arts presents a concert by Angelica Encore Choral Ensemble, a mixed vocal, auditioned community choir providing continuing choral experience for Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs (ACYC) alumni, as well as musicians throughout the Twin Cities. Join us for this eclectic spring program of music about the earth! This event is free and open to the public; a free-will offering may be received to support the Music and Fine Arts program. For further information on this event and the Music and Fine Arts program, visit mountolivechurch.org.
JUOIGGAS!
Sámi National Theater
April 16-17
American Swedish Institute
2600 Park Avenue
Free – Registration Required
Join ASI for two special concert performances from the Sámi National Theater, Beaivváš, that guides audiences through a mesmerizing musical voyage, showcasing the diverse landscapes and eras of Sápmi through its evocative lyrics and traditional yoiks.
The ancient art of yoik is one of Europe’s oldest folk music genres, originating from the Sámi people. Derived from the Sami word juoigat, yoik represents a unique cultural expression for the Sámi people. This concert is co-presented by ASI and the Sámi Cultural Center of North America. Register to attend at asimn.org/experience/events.
Kids Yoga and Music Class
Saturday April 20
Midtown Global Market
920 E Lake Street
Free
Calling all kiddos for a morning of fun! Miss Lydia will start with kid’s story time and yoga at 10:30, followed by a Rockin’ Robins Music and Movement Class at 11. You may bring yoga mats, towels or rugs for the yoga class, which will be bilingual in English and Spanish. The Rockin’ Robins Class will incorporate musical instruments such as shakers, tambourines, and bells along with favorite songs to get your child moving and singing!
Arctic Highways: Unbounded Indigenous People
Through May 26
American Swedish Institute
2600 Park Avenue
$6 – $13
Free: Thursdays 3 – 8 PM
Arctic Highways shares stories of Indigenous People who live on different continents yet regard themselves as kindred spirits. Each artist tells their own stories, through their own forms of expression, inviting opportunities to explore what it means to be unbounded—not just for Indigenous People, but for all of us. For more information and related programming, visit asimn.org/exhibition/arctic-highways-unbounded-indigenous-people.
South High Spring Art Show
May 2 – 16
Modus Locus Gallery
3500 Bloomington Ave S
Free
Experience the artwork of over 200 talented South High students at Modus Locus Gallery this spring! A diverse array of media is represented, including ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, comic art, design, and sculpture. We encourage you to stop by and view the amazing work of our community’s youth. Gallery hours are 4-7 M-F and 11-5 Saturday and Sunday.
Music Thursday: Polivon
Thursday, May 2
6 – 7 PM
American Swedish Institute
2600 Park Avenue
Free
Enjoy the sounds of local indie band Polivon at ASI’s May Music Thursday. If weather permits, the performance will be held outdoors. This event is included as a part of ASI’s Free Thursdays After 3 pm program. Don’t miss out on free concerts every first Thursday of the month at ASI!
