We’re about to begin our final day of Art-A-Whirl 2013. It’s been a great weekend … with so many people visiting our California Building Studio 211. (I share this studio with my partner Reynaldo Diaz.)
Jay Gabler of the Twin Cities Daily Planet re-posted this video clip of the very first Art-A-Whirl in 1996 by John Akre. It contains some great footage of our California Building.
Art-a-Whirl, now the largest art crawl in the country, had its start in 1996. John Akre was then a volunteer at MTN, and created a 40-minute documentary about the new Northeast Minneapolis event. He’s now edited the documentary down to a more concise five minutes to provide this peek into the past. ~ Jay Gabler, Twin Cities Daily Planet
What do I love most about Spring in Minnesota? Sunshine. Green grass. First flowers of spring. And … Art-A-Whirl!
Presented by the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA), Art-A-Whirl is the largest open studio tour in the country. It’s a great opportunity to tour private artist studios and galleries, connect with the artists, and purchase original artwork. ~ NEMAA on Art-A-Whirl
The artists on the second floor of the California Building have also come together to create a new exhibition space on our floor thanks to generous support from California Building owners John Kremer and Jennifer Young called the on2gallery, and there will be live music from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday.
2013 Dates and Hours:
Friday, May 17 - 5 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, May 18 - 12 Noon to 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 19 - 12 Noon to 5 p.m.
This past year Reynaldo has been prolific … creating many amazing new paintings (acrylic on canvas). Our studio is filling up … so come by and check out Rey’s work!
Most of my time is spent working as director of the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis, but I have managed to squeeze in some time to create a new photo shot and to create a few fun cats out of clay. They were very popular last year, and if you are a cat lover like Rey and me … I think you will enjoy my newest creations!)
And … we’re so pleased that my mom, Ruth Reichert, will be back for Art-A-Whirl this year. She will be selling more of her affordable, original jewelry … particularly earrings created with beads.
We hope to see you at Art-A-Whirl 2013. There is so much to see … and you will find that the California Building has a friendly and diverse community of artists!
It’s been a long winter … so maybe I should wait until the hot days of summer to post these photos of ice! During Mother Nature’s brief flirtation with spring a weekend ago, my Little Brother Eli (Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities) and I spent time at Silverwood Park in St. Anthony watching the ice melt off Silver Lake. The process was moving rapidly on a beautiful 80-degree Saturday afternoon as the wind pushed the ice to the shore. These ice crystals demonstrate what a magnificent artist Mother Nature is! As Eli reached into the lake and pulled chunks of ice from the water for me to photograph, we were amazed by what a magnificent artist Mother Nature is!
If you haven’t visited Silverwood Park … I recommend you put it on your list of places to visit in the Twin Cities this spring or summer! As Eli and I experienced last weekend, this park uplifts the artistic spirit!
Nestled along the shores of Silver Lake, and with a focus on arts and the environment, Silverwood Park is unique in the metro area. Minutes from a busy freeway, it offers visitors an opportunity to relax in tranquil beauty and provides inspiration for artists. Stop in the coffee shop, bring an instrument and share your musical talents, or simply set-up your easel in the park to paint. Artists are welcome here! ~ Three Rivers Park District
The shadows of Eli (age 14) and me “high five” on a bridge
that leads to an island in the middle of Silver Lake.
Sunrises and sunsets … photographing them during my travels has become an obsession for me the past few years. (If you explore the archive on this blog, you will find a number of them!)
Located in the high desert of central Mexico and surrounded by mountains, San Miguel de Allende offers spectacular sunsets, including these views I captured after an afternoon of hiking up a hillside at the edge of the city.
What do I love most about Spring in Minnesota? Sunshine. Green grass. First flowers of spring. And … Art-A-Whirl!
