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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!

THE ART OF MIKE CARNEY

Take your coffee with a side of art this Friday at Cosmic’s Coffee Shop! Local artist Mike Carney has garnered attention for his kaleidoscopic, pop culture-infused mixed media works, which will be on parade for your viewing enjoyment this evening, and through the month. Party with the artist at this fun opening reception while enjoying caffeinated beverages and live music from Reed & Ben. The show will be up for at least a month, so if you can’t make it to the opening party, be sure to stop in for a cup o’ joe sooner than later to catch a glimpse of this awesome art!

Opening Reception: Friday, June 5th / 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Cosmic’s Coffee, 189 N. Snelling Avenue (Selby & Snelling), St. Paul

CONVERGING TRADITIONS

Head Downtown this evening for an unusual and beautiful combination of musical influences! Expanding the boundaries of sound and tradition, composers Paul Elwood, a renowned banjo player, and Chinese pipa player Gao Hong will accompany Zeitgeist, a new music chamber ensemble that features percussion, piano and woodwinds. “Through new music, Converging Traditions will give audiences the opportunity to discover common ground between two musical traditions developed worlds apart,” said Heather Barringer, managing director and percussionist for Zeitgeist. Come experience this musical mashup of style and sound at Studio Z this weekend!

Performances: Friday June 5th & 6th / 8 p.m. / $10

Studio Z, 275 E. 4th Street, Downtown St. Paul

THE ART OF D.C. ICE

As you may have read in my introductory post, I recently bought a piece of art by D.C. Ice. And as luck would have it, Ms. Ice will be opening a new exhibit of her work this very weekend! Unfortunately for me, I am currently on an “art buying freeze,” due to lack of wall space (and moola), though owning more D.C. Ice is certainly tempting. One of my favorite St. Paul artists, D.C. Ice has a self-described “sinister but sweet” style that combines her girlish sensibilities with dark, poetic imagery, fine lines and thoughtful composition. Head to Highland Park this Saturday evening for a peek inside the mind of this imaginative up and comer, and go home with a D.C. Ice piece all your own. Show runs through July 6th.

Opening reception: Saturday, June 6th / 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Frameworks, Ford Parkway & Cleveland Avenue, Highland Park

GRAND OLD DAY GETS ARTY

Grand Avenue will be rockin’ with the annual Grand Old Day celebration this Sunday! There will be tons of arty goodness to check out, as the festival has its very own “Art District” that overflows the street between Snelling and Hamline. See work by local artists on display, art cars, and street performances; participate in art-making activities and even listen to live music! Visit www.grandave.com for more info on Grand Old Day, and be sure to mark these arty Grand Ave businesses on your map to check out this Sunday or next time you’re in the area!

Benevolent Acorn
1087 Grand Avenue

This cute little specialty shop is a go-to source for locally made artisian wares such as paintings, prints, photography, jewelry, purses, scarves, ceramics, sculpture, functional art, and more. www.benevolentacorn.com

Grand Hand Gallery
619 Grand Avenue

A Grand Avenue staple, the Grand Hand Gallery caters to the discerning art buyer with an eclectic selection of rotating artwork and crafts created by artists in Minnesota and across the U.S. including clay, metalwork, woodwork, fiber and jewelry. www.thegrandhand.com

Wet Paint
1684 Grand Avenue

One of the best independently owned art supply stores in the Twin Cities, Wet Paint is a crowded and lively shop filled with colorful tools for the artistically inclined. One stop into Wet Paint and you’ll surely be inspired to create! www.wetpaintart.com

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE ORDWAY!

Get your tickets now for these two amazing upcoming engagements at the Ordway, later this month!

Singin’ in the Rain

Runs June 16th-28th in the Main Hall

“In 1952, Singin’ in the Rain burst upon the scene and became one of the most celebrated movie musicals of all time. The musical stage production embraces the best of the beloved songs and characters and adds a remarkable dimension that delights theater lovers. This show overflows with romance and unforgettable dancing, and YES, it is going to rain!”

Click HERE to reserve your tix!

Mu Performing Arts presents Flower Drum Song

June 26th-July 12th, Ordway McKnight Theater

“In Tony Award®-winner David Henry Hwang’s new adaptation of the Rogers and Hammerstein classic, Mei-Li flees communist China and finds herself in San Francisco’s Chinatown. This naïve young refugee is befriended by Wang, who is struggling to keep the Chinese opera tradition alive despite his son’s determination to turn the old opera house into a swingin’ Western-style nightclub. The unique blending of American razz-ma-tazz and stylized Chinese opera traditions creates a beautiful theatrical tapestry in this lovely new version of an American classic.”

Click HERE to reserve your tix!