News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Thursday January 8th 2026
Order and Chaos
from the series Peace House Community Journal…
By MARTI MALTBY
The Book of Genesis tells that in the beginning, God brought order out of chaos. We’ve been trying to do the same thing ever since, with varying degrees of success. For the most part, we seem to do okay, creating enough structure for society to function, but not enough to crush everyone. But even accomplishing “okay” is a struggle, and maintaining requires a constant balancing act.
We’ve seen what happens when things get too structured. Sometimes totalitarianism results, where thought, speech, and behavior are all curtailed in the name of some “greater value.” People, either as individuals or groups, are sacrificed for something intangible.
Even if it doesn’t get quite that bad, too many rules still cause problems. George Orwell, an ardent socialist, wrote a lot about the problems he saw in other socialists. Many of them, he believed, embraced socialism because it would make society more orderly, not because it was more just or freeing than other forms of government. According to Orwell, many socialists disliked messiness, and saw socialism as a means of keeping everything (and everyone) in place.
Of course, there are dangers in going too far the other way.… Read the rest “Order and Chaos”
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Open in new tab December ’25 Events
Matrilineal Memory
Through December 13
All My Relations Arts
1414 E Franklin Avenue
Free
A solo exhibition of artist Mikaela Shafer (Hopi), Matrilineal Memory explores memory, emotion, and cultural preservation through paintings, poetry, and installation. Shafer intertwines her practice and her culture, drawing inspiration from her Hopi heritage with a unique approach that incorporates unconventional tools. It is a practice of facing memories head on in order to process, grieve, and ultimately heal. For gallery hours and additional programming, visit allmyrelationsarts.org.
Emerging Portraits
Through December 31
Two Rivers Gallery
Minneapolis American Indian Center
1530 E Franklin Avenue
Free
In this exhibit, Oglala Lakota and Oneida artist Scott Kutney presents a series of photographic explorations that draw upon the textures and patterns of the natural world, creating works that explore the many ways portraits can appear — whether through people, objects, or unexpected forms in nature. Gallery hours: Tuesday – Friday 10am – 4pm
Gingerbread Wonderland
Through January 3
Norway House
913 East Franklin Avenue
$10 (Youth $5, Under 5 Free)
Norway House invites you to celebrate 10 years of their beloved community-curated gingerbread town. Inspired by the world’s largest gingerbread village — “Pepperkakebyen” in Bergen, Norway — Norway House’s Gingerbread Wonderland has been delighting the Twin Cities annually since 2015.… Read the rest “December ’25 Events”
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