The651.com

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!