By now, you should have given Aimee Mann’s new album, Lost in Space , a few thousand listenings—not because you don’t get it, but because you do. “Humpty Dumpty” was on local playlists for a while, but Mann is the kind of artist who still makes albums you want to listen to, from beginning to … Read more
Though he still tours constantly, Bobby Z.’s attention lately has been taken up more and more by the movies. Perhaps inspired by the Oscar netted by “Things Have Changed,” Dylan’s developed a thing for releasing his new songs on soundtracks. His newest, “Waitin’ For You” was in Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, so you’re … Read more
Eugene Larkin has been a fixture of local printmaking for more than 30 years, a denizen of both MCAD and the University’s art department. Larkin’s work has a reassuring quality to it—never indulging in gimmicks or trends, but hewing to old-fashioned media and traditional values in composition, tone, and texture. In terms of subject matter, … Read more
Mexico’s most prominent photographer turned 100 this year. Sadly, he died just a few weeks ago, before he could join us; the Walker was already bringing to town a Getty Museum retrospective of 100 of Alvarez Bravo’s works covering the many phases of his long career. Born into a family of painters and photographers, Alvarez … Read more
If Groucho Marx were a brooding existentialist French playwright, he’d be Eugene Ionesco, creator of the Theater of the Absurd. In fact, Ionesco was much influenced by Groucho’s anarchic spirit and irrepressible verbal dynamism, although Ionesco’s creations were far more surreal, not to mention darker and nihilistic. It’s surprising how much humor there is to … Read more
After long and dreary years in the comedy wilderness, inflicting duds like like Life Stinks and Robin Hood: Men in Tights on innocent moviegoers, Mel Brooks went back to square one. He took his 1968 cult classic (and still best) film and rewrote it as a Broadway musical; nicely ironic considering it’s about two schlemiel … Read more
This isn’t officially a family event—it features the world premiere of three new works by Bill Young, Mark Haim, and Wynn Fricke, undeniably Big People in the world of choreography. But we know from experience that kids love Zenon—not only because the 20-year-old local institution has always embraced the little folks in dozens of awesome … Read more
If you’re one of the many Lundgrens or Nelsons or Nordbergs living in these parts, some of your ancestors’ belongings might very well be on display here. This traveling Smithsonian exhibit showcasing Old Norse culture and heritage makes its final stop in St. Paul. Encompassing more than 300 artifacts, it’s so large that the Science … Read more
For some reason Ebay has inspired more than its share of goofy pranks and not-quite-legit satirical auctions—we still get a chuckle over the guy who tried to sell his soul to the highest bidder. But a few people have crossed the line from prank to performance art, including John Freyer, an Iowa grad student, graphic … Read more
The Vikings thought the northern lights were the unearthly spirits of Valkyries pointing the way to the warrior’s afterlife in Valhalla. Eskimos thought they were evil spirits who decapitated the heads of children for sport. A former BBC documentarian tells a true story no less strange and tragic in The Northern Lights . Turn of … Read more