The651.com

Make your way over to Nicademus art in St. Paul Saturday evening for the hip gallery’s first exhibit of 2011. Sure to be a pop culture-riddled, colorful affair, artists Biafra Inc. and Chris Williams takes over the gallery/frameshop’s walls, creating a vivid respite to our otherwise cold, gray situation. The collection of collaborative works stem from current projects from each artist that were then swapped and reimagined by the other, resulting in graffiti-centric, design-heavy eye-candy. Looking for an easy way to cancel out your Seasonal Affective Disorder? Look no further than Nicademus. The reception runs from 7-10pm and is free and open to the public. The exhibit runs through February. For more info visit www.nicademusart.com.

Content share via SecretsoftheCity.com

It’s an arty party in Saint Paul! From Grand Ave to Lowertown to Midway, our fair city has lots to look at and appreciate this weekend. Want to make an evening of it? Check out our handy-dandy itineraries below!

Friday, August 27th

Beneath the Surface Closing Party

7-10pm / Free

Rhea Pappas Photo Studio / Northern Warehouse, 308 Prince St., Studio #411

The photography of one Rhea Pappas always takes our breath away – and not just because her subjects are submerged under water. The young shutterbug has made major “waves” in the art scene this year, showing her work in multiple locales and being accepted to the State Fair’s Fine Arts Competition. Her current body of work Beneath the Surface was displayed at the Icebox Gallery in Northeast Minneapolis over Art-A-Whirl. And for those of you who didn’t have the chance to cross the river this May, Pappas is offering a chance for you to peep the goods at her Lowertown studio this Friday – an unofficial “closing” party, if you will. Check out Pappas’ ethereally submerged lovelies and her ghostly, abstract light-play, meet the artist herself, sip some refreshments, nibble some apps and even tap your toes to live music a la Sarah Cotner. Click HERE to read an interview we did with Rhea earlier this year.

What to do after: After checkin’ out the art, pop into the Black Dog Cafe for a glass of vino and live music from the Fantastic Merlins. Or stroll a couple blocks down to Barrio and try one of their awesome margaritas and perhaps a couple happy hour tacos!

Friday, August 27th

Well Done Closing Party

7-11pm / Free

Nicademus Art / 225 N. Snelling Avenue

Burlesque of North America’s small but famed group of collaborators have whipped up beautifully designed posters for cool bands the world over and have sold their limited edition art prints far and wide. And what’s that you say? They’re based out of the Twin Cities? Yep, it’s true. And even if you didn’t make it to last month’s opening reception and BBQ, you’ve been granted one last chance tonight. Well Done is a collection of the collective’s favorite pieces, many of them in alternate color palettes than their original designs — making the prints on display truly one-of-a-kind. What’s more, is that the group has created a huge wallpaper installation in the gallery and will be selling off “wallpaper packets” to those interested in jazzing up their own abode.

What to do after: Jaunt on over to the nearby Turf Club to take in live tunes from Vaz (comprised of founding members of legendary local noise rock group, Hammerhead). Or for something less loud, make your way to the Blue Door Pub on Selby, a joint widely heralded for its perfect Juicy Lucy burger.

Friday, August 27th-Saturday, August 28th

Tri-Art Acrylic Event

10am-8pm Fri / 10am-6pm Sat / Free

Wet Paint / 1684 Grand Avenue

Okay, so this isn’t an art opening, but hey, we figure after all the above shenanigans you might be inspired to create art yourself! Head down to Grand Avenue’s staple art supply store, Wet Paint, for a weekend sale and some fun art-play! The shop will be offering a whopping 60% discount on Canadian-made, high-pigment acrylic paint line, Tri-Art. And Reps from the Jack Richeson Company (US distributor for Tri-Art) will demo the Tri-Art range and answer any questions you have about the line. They will also have samples of each of the Tri-Art paint lines found at Wet Paint on hand so you can test them out yourself – and you can forget doodling on little sheets of paper – this weekend’s even invites you to try out the wide range of products on a huge 5′x’10 canvas easel. Painters of all ages and skill levels are welcome. So, get inspired, grab some heavily-discounted supplies from Wet Paint and put your creativity to work!

What to do after: Since you’ll likely need some replenishing after a day of artsy shopping, stroll up the block to the Coffee News Cafe, a cozy spot that offers a great menu of sandwiches and soups…and yes, coffee. Or check out the Shish Cafe, where you can snack on Mediterranean delights and baked goods. Don’t forget to stop into some of the cute boutiques in the area while you’re at it!

No, these boys don’t wear pasties and tassels — they are the nationally renowned screen print collective more formally known as Burlesque of North America! The small but famed group of collaborators have whipped up beautifully designed posters for cool bands the world over and have sold their limited edition art prints far and wide. And what’s that you say? They’re based out of the Twin Cities? Yep, it’s true. And this Saturday, St. Paul’s Nicademus Art and Framing is letting the group loose on their gallery walls for a new exhibit entitled Well Done.

But before you pigeon hole Burlesque as simply a talented group of “artists” think again. They have their fingers in just about every creative facet of the local arts community from music to art curating to event production. The arty smarties are the masters of their own space over in ye olde Northeast Minneapolis, with a full on screen printing empire as well as a brand spankin’ new gallery space entitled CO Exhibitions. They also regularly engage local music aficionados with hot n’ heavy DJ nights all over the cities, even putting out their own mix CDs and vinyl from time to time. How cool is that?

The show at Nicademus, which opens this Saturday and runs through August 28th, is a collection of the collective’s favorite pieces, many of them in alternate color palettes than their original designs — making the prints on display truly one-of-a-kind. Also on task for Saturday’s opening party is a BBQ behind the gallery for the first couple hours as well as fresh beats doled out by BRLSQOTHEQUE DJs. Art, food, music: the trifecta of awesomeness.

The opening reception for Well Done happens on Saturday, July 24th from 7-11pm and is free and open to the public. The exhibit runs through August 28th. For more information visit www.nicademusart.com. For more info on Burlesque of North America visit www.burlesquedesign.com.

Warning: Visual overload ahead! This Saturday head to Snelling Avenue’s Nicademus Art for the next installment in their ongoing series of awesome art shows. This month, Saint Paul artists David Witt (a.k.a. DWITT) and Christopher Bowman team up for another collaborative incarnation in Gone Bye Bye.

Witt, a well-know illustrator and rock poster designer pairs his colorful signature style with seasoned mixed media artist and illustrator Christopher Bowman’s more intricate lines and frenzied pace. Two of the more prolific artists around these here parts, Bowman and Witt will present upwards of 200 collaborative and individual pieces in numerous shapes, sizes and mediums including screen prints, paintings, four foot panels of teeny-tiny illustrations, and drawings on used cookware.

What’s great about these two local artists is that their work is always priced to sell, which means pretty much anyone can afford a piece. Whether it’s a limited edition screen print for under $20 or a large work on canvas for a few hundos, DWITT and Bowman strive to make their works accessible to everyone — a feat not oft attempted by most artists. Like we always say, art collecting is for everyone! Not to mention, Nicademus also doubles as a framing business, so it’s really a one stop shop!

The opening reception for Gone Bye Bye happens on Saturday, May 8th from 7-11pm and will feature refreshments and live music from 20 Dollar Love. The exhibit also runs through the month of May. Regular store hours are Tuesday-Thursday 11am-7pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-5pm. Located at 225 N. Snelling Ave.
St. Paul. For more info visit www.nicademusart.com.

‘Animal Dreams’ at The Grand Hand Gallery

The Grand Hand opens a new show this weekend with a fun reception on Saturday evening. See the animal-themed work of painter Adu Gindy, whose colorful abstract figure works incorporate a sense of whimsy with a folk art meets Basquiat twist; and potter Aaron Sober whose imaginative salt-fired ceramic pieces use surface design to tell darkly graceful tales of  the woodland. Gindy’s work is in numerous collections, including the Minnesota Museum of American Art, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, and the Walker Art Center, while Sober is a graduate of Macalester College and Penland School of Crafts, he relocated from Minnesota to Maine.  Enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres, conversation and great art!

Saturday, Jan 16th /5-8pm                                                                                                                                                                            Runs through Mar 7th

For more info visit www.thegrandhand.com

‘Robozoology’ at Nicademus Art

The opening reception for this show has passed, but that certainly doesn’t mean you can’t stop in to check it out! Local illustrator, Chuck U, busts out a big, bold exhibit at the hip Saint Paul frame shop/art gallery. A longtime staple in the Twin Cities art scene, Chuck is known for his intricately designed rock and hip hop show posters and artistic album cover art. There’s no denying his signature style, which is consistently recognizable and impressive; deftly drawn lines that together present and almost psychedelic feel, though the artist’s humor is always front and center.

Runs through Feb. 9th                                                                                                                                                                                      Tues-Thurs 11-7pm; Fri 11-6pm; Sat 10-5pm; Sun Noon-5pm

For more info visit www.nicademusart.com

Theatre of Fools: A Life of Serious Nonsense

@ The Jewel Theatre, 250 E. 7th Street, 2nd Floor, Downtown St.Paul, Call 651-797-7591 for tickets

Fridays & Saturdays through December 19th / $15

Downtown St. Paul’s Jewel Theatre is a whimsical little “gem” of a playhouse, located above Twin Cities Costume and Magic Shop. The 144-seat theater is, charmingly, the only magic-specific theater in town, featuring regular performances by local magicians. The latest production, A Life of Serious Nonsense, put on by local company, Theatre of Fools, is described as “the delight of cirque du Soleil mixed with the charm of Laurel and Hardy.” And we certainly can’t argue with that. Not to mention, who doesn’t want a little magic in their lives around the holidays?

For more info visit www.theatreoffools.com

Sinister but Sweet: New work by DC Ice

@ Nicademus Art, 225 Snelling Avenue, Midway St. Paul

Reception: Friday, December 11th / 6-11pm / Free (runs through December)

Local artist DC Ice’s tagline “sinister but sweet” perfectly sums her up. Fine-lined, dainty illustrations are darkened by just the right amount of twisted imagination. Leery-eyed girl hybrids, centaurs serving cupcakes, and antlered, spindly cat-creatures are just a few of the strange characters in DC Ice’s arsenal of oddities. Creating deftly etched figures who wouldn’t be out of place in a Neil Gaiman book, this bewitching artist takes a decadent spin on the mundane and transports you into her delightfully disturbing dream world. Hit up the opening reception for a chance to meet the artist herself, nibble some cupcakes and drink some ‘nog. Also up for grabs will be D.C. Ice’s handmade, vintage-inspired hair clips and brooches. What’s better? Her smaller art works start at just $60, a minimal price to pay to own a piece of this artist’s vast imagination. The opening reception runs from 6pm-11pm and is free and open to the public.  -excerpted from my column at Secrets of the City

For more information go to www.nicademusart.com or visit the D.C. Ice site at www.sinisterbutsweet.com.

Ordway Circle of the Stars Gala

@ Ordway Center, 345 Washington Street, Downtown St. Paul

Sunday, December 13th / 5pm / To purchase tickets call 651.282.3006

An annual Ordway fundraising event, the Circle of the Stars Gala offers a chance for theater patrons to get up close and personal with the minds and talent behind what makes the renowned theater and performance hall tick. Enjoy a reception with gourmet food, a silent auction and a jewelry room by RF Moeller, then at 7pm take in an exclusive dress rehearsal of the upcoming production of Beauty and the Beast (opening December 15th). After the show enjoy dessert with the cast! Proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to support the Ordway and its educational programs.

For more information visit www.ordway.org

Beauty and the Beast will run December 15th-January 3rd in the Ordway’s main hall. For tickets and more information on this touching Disney tale click HERE.

Looking to mingle with St. Paul’s hippest art crowd? Look no further than Nicademus Art. By day a framing shop, this edgy art nook regularly rotates the work that graces its walls, and celebrates that rotation with fantastic art parties! Saturday’s opening reception features work by longtime artist and creative instigator Peyton Russell. Founder of North Minneapolis’ Juxtaposition Arts, an organization that links youth with local muralists and other artists to help engage and creatively inspire. Known around town as simply “Peyton,” Russell first made his mark as a well-known Northside graffiti artist in the 1980s, eventually founding Juxtaposition in 1995.

Taking a cue from the spontaneity of youth, Russell’s recent work has taken a more abstract turn by “letting the paint fall where it may,” and not over-thinking the creative process. The show title, Doodling by Peyton, is representative of a free-spirited style inspired by his young students. Using an original screen printing technique, drippy, delightful figures and designs add an imaginative spin on the typically meticulous art form of printing. Doodling is a show that will definitely have you feeling a bit nostalgic for your free-wheelin’ youth, when perfection wasn’t an issue and the stress of concentration was blissfully fleeting.

Saturday’s reception will feature music by Task Rock, refreshments, and the chance to rub elbows with Peyton Russell himself as well as other Twin Cities artsy types. The show runs through September 12th, so even if you can’t make the reception, a stop in to this cool spot during business hours is definitely encouraged. Buy a print and have it framed all in the same place!

Reception: Saturday, August 15th / 7-11pm / Free

Nicademus Art & Framing, 225 Snelling Avenue North, St. Paul, 651-207-8322