Today is the anniversary of Stonewall, so take a moment to extol the “the hairpin drop heard ’round the world.” Looking for an appropriate way to celebrate? You can always try the second night of films from the Walker’s Queer Takes: Standing Out series. Tonight’s program includes two sets of shorts from emerging filmmakers. The first set, Women Unite!, begins with a 22-minute film about two women who plan to escape their stifling upstate New York town on a snowy night during the Iran hostage crisis. This film is followed by three others — a comedy about a hold up, a story about a hospice nurse helping her nearly comatose patient, and a documentary about lesbians in Johannesburg. The second group of films, Odd Man Out, focused on the male experience and includes cutout animations, webcams, and young boys struggling to find their place in the world.
7 p.m. and 9 p.m., Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-375-7656; free.
MUSIC by Britt Robson Marsalis Brothers Do Ellington
Even the irrepressible Wynton Marsalis merits no better than third in the current family pecking order after brothers Delfeayo and Branford put out resplendent discs — Minions Dominion and Braggtown, respectively — in 2006. Now Delfeayo (the trombonist, for those without a scorecard) is kicking off the Minnesota Orchestra’s Sommerfest program with a Duke Ellington tribute by an all-star ensemble that features Branford on tenor and soprano sax, pianist Anthony Wonsley (who was superb with Delfeayo at the Dakota this past winter), drummer Winard Harper, and saxophonists Mark Gross and Jason Marshall. Given the level of talent involved, and the titan being honored, expect both the arrangements and the improvisations to be top-notch.
If you’re looking for a more casual setting than Orchestra Hall, a slightly less polished, though equally uplifting performance, and perhaps a little less strain on the wallet (like free), head on over to Galleria for their Summer Music Sampler. The Brass Kings are playing tonight at Good Earth, so get ready for a little washboard jamming over CopaBanana smoothies and PowerPlus shakes. At least you’ll have plenty of energy with which to dance and slap those knees. The Brass Kings serve up an amazing mix of back porch experimental music. They take old-time jug-band scrubbing to new heights by applying Latin, Middle Easters, and Eastern rhythms. And their energy is just fabulous.
6 p.m., Good Earth, 3460 Galleria, Edina; 952-925-1001; free.
The 4-day 2007 B-Girl Be Summit begins today, showcasing women in hip-hip through live performances, fashion, films, videos, workshops and panels. Head on over to Intermedia Arts for a series of events beginning at 4:30 p.m. with an hour-long DJ performance. At 5:30, Ashley Gold, Akira Johnson, and H.E.A.T will perform. And at 6 p.m., the visual art exhibit The Art of T&A… Truth and Activism opens as a welcoming ceremony begins with Aztec Dance Youth, drummers, B-Girl B Drum & Dance, and Tish Jones. The highlight of the evening, however, is the keynote address by Rosa Clemente, a Black Puerto Rican grassroots organizer, journalist, and entrepreneur, as well as a Hip Hop activist, member of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement and a journalist with Pacifica Radio, WBAI 99.5FM NYC, and Air America Radio. Clemente is an incredible woman with many achievements under her belt and much to talk about. Her commitment to scholar-activism and youth organizing has taken her across the country, and even across countries, sharing her vast knowledge about hip-hop, African-American and Latino Intercultural relationships, the history of the Young Lords Party, and organizing to free U.S. political prisoners. (Yes, we do have political prisoners. And if you don’t know who the Young Lords are, you best find out.) Don’t miss this rare opportunity.
If you want to continue on with the B-Girl Be Summit events after the keynote presentation, there’s a Youth (Teen) Dance Workshop from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at Jawahiir Studios, 1940 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis. And the Foundation Nightclub has an interesting lineup this evening, featuring Sistaz In Rhyme, Maria Isa, Stacy Epps, Invincible, and Bahamadia. 10 p.m., Foundation Nightclub, 10 S. 5th St, Minneapolis; $10.
ART by Ann Klefstad One on One: Annabel Clark, Journal + Arlene Gottfried, Midnight
These two artists (plus Burton Fialk, in the MCP’s Minnesota Projects Gallery) make work about seeing others — in particular, seeing them under duress. Photography lends itself to this, although it’s a use that most of us would not dare undertake. Annabel Clark has documented her mother, Lynn Redgrave, as she endures breast cancer and its treatment (Redgrave plans to visit during the run of the show; see here for updates), while Arlene Gottfried documented the life of a man named Midnight for over twenty years. At first he was beautiful enough to command a premium price as a hustler; then he melts down with madness, bad drugs, and the simple toll of years. As standards narrow for all of us in a consumerist world, we need to push against the limits of what we can love, and what we can find lovely. This show helps.
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