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If you ask us, one of the coolest things to happen in Minnesota this past year was the inception of local arts-focused public television program, MN Original. Each episode focuses on a few Minnesota artists of any and all genres, mediums and career levels, making the title “MN Original” a truly accurate statement. Dancers, painters, sculptors, musicians, photographers, actors, designers — the list goes on and on. If you’ve yet to catch this dynamic and fascinating new program on the MN Channel or TPT Life don’t fret, you can watch each and every episode online on the MN Original website. And we certainly do recommend that you catch up on those missed eps, before this Friday!

To celebrate the successful launch of the series — which began airing in April of this year — the MN Original crew is throwing an all-out bash in Downtown St. Paul’s lovely Mears Park. What does this mean for you? Well, aside from one helluva good time it means free live music, art activities, food and drink and most likely the chance to immortalize yourself on film in some way, shape or form.

You’ll enjoy live music from local artists who have been featured on the show including the sweet, folksy toe-tappin’ tunes of Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps; the hipshakin’ sounds of renowned Latin jazz pianist, Nachito Herrera; the rotating-door jam sessioneers of the Mad Ripple Hootenanny. DJ Scott Stulen (who also just happens to be the director of mnartists.org!) flips wax between band sets and Suicide Commandos front man Chris Osgood (Who just so happens to be a major arts leader around these here parts!) emcees the evening.

Also on the bill is a drawing club with mnartists.org and local artists Calpurnia Peach, Andy Ducett, Doug Padilla, Mary Griep (materials provided), plus musicians and local artists selling their wares in the park, food for sale from Barrio, and remarks from MN Original executive producer, Dianne Steinbach.

MN Original’s Party in the Park happens on Friday, July 23rd in Mears Park in downtown St. Paul bordering 5th St., 6th St., Sibley, and Wacouta. The event is from 5-8pm and is free and open to the public – rain or shine. For more info visit www.mnoriginal.com.

Episodes of mn original air Thursdays at 7:30pm, on tpt2, with additional broadcasts statewide on the MN Channel and TPT Life.

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Pop some popcorn, get in your “Slanket” and cozy up on the couch tonight to watch the premiere episode of the new Twin Cities Public Television arts show, MN Original, an new weekly series focusing on Minnesota artists and their creative processes.

For quite some time, the in-the-know team at MN Original (whose offices are based in St. Paul, btw!) have been quietly filming around the Twin Cities and beyond, interviewing musicians, visual artists, poets, writers, dancers, filmmakers, architects, designers and more (many of them based in ye olde Saint Paul!). Teaser promos have been circulating over the past couple of months, featuring enticing tastes of upcoming episodes that include everything from legendary local punk rockers to up and coming fashion designers.

Tonight’s kick off episode spotlights Photographer Alec Soth, metal sculptor Heather Doyle, Plein Air painter Joe Paquet, and the the musical talents of Twilight Hours and more. The show premieres at 7:30pm Thursday night on tpt2. It will repeat Saturday, April 24th at 6:30pm on the statewide MN Channel and on tptLIFE, Sunday, April 25th at 6pm and will then broadcast new half hour episodes at 7:30pm each Thursday going forward.

For more information and to watch teaser videos visit www.mnoriginal.org.