State of the Arts: July 1, 2009 Archive

The French to storm the Minnesota Opera

Posted at 8:56 AM on July 1, 2009 by Marianne Combs (0 Comments)
Filed under: Culture

The Alliance Francaise of Minneapolis-St. Paul is sponsoring Minnesota French week July 6 - July 11. Events include a "Tour de First" (a few dozen bicyclists in a ceremonial ride down North First Street), the crowning of the Bastille Day Queen (aka Marie Antoinette, who will serve cake to the peasants) and the singing of the Marseillaise. There will be French film screenings and a flea market, but according to L'Alliance Francaise, the highlight of the week is the "Storming the Opera" on July 11 at the Minnesota Opera Center.

In order to celebrate the French holiday Bastille Day (normally July 14) in proper style, the Alliance convinced the mayors of both Minneapolis and St. Paul to sign proclamations declaring Saturday, July 11th to be Bastille Day in the Twin Cities. And they had a bit of fun with it, too. Here are a few excerpts:

WHEREAS, Most of the great state of Minnesota was once a French colony, a distinguished heritage that survives today in the state motto, "L'Etoile du Nord," and in the unmistakable savoir faire possessed by the state's cultural, business and civic leaders;

WHEREAS, The founder of the capital city of Saint Paul, Minnesota, was an industrious entrepreneur in the hallowed tradition of laissez faire, Pierre Parrant, an optically challenged Frenchman who suffered the public relations humiliation of being known as "Pig's Eye";

WHEREAS, the very land beneath the city of Minneapolis was once part of the French colony of Louisiana, and in its heart of hearts still longs to be part of France;

WHEREAS, Minneapolis, with its cultural and academic stature in the region surely qualifies it to be the Paris of the Great Plains;

...You get the idea. Bonne Fête, tout le monde!

Comment on this post

Hours cut at several historic sites in Minnesota

Posted at 1:05 PM on July 1, 2009 by Marianne Combs (0 Comments)
Filed under: Architecture, Culture

The Minnesota Historical Society has announced it's reducing hours at some historic sites and museums statewide (including Fort Snelling and the Mill City Museum) beginning July 1. The change in hours comes in the wake of the state legislature cutting its funding of the MHS' operating budget by 8.6%. While hours at many sites are being reduced, no site is being completely closed.

Sites with new hours of operation are:

Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul: Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sundays noon-3 p.m.

Charles A. Lindbergh HouseHistoric Site , Little Falls: Thursdays-Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays noon-5 p.m.

Forest History Center, Grand Rapids: Thursdays-Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays noon-5 p.m.

Historic Forestville, Preston: Fridays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sundays noon-5 p.m.

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul: Tuesdays-Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays noon-5 p.m.

Jeffers Petroglyphs, Comfrey: Thursdays-Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays noon-5 p.m.

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis: Mondays-Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays noon-5 p.m.

Mille Lacs Indian Museum, Onamia: Wednesdays-Saturdays 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

North West Company Fur Post, Pine City: Thursdays-Saturdays and Mondays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays noon-5 p.m.

Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River: Wednesdays-Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays noon-5 p.m.

Sibley House Historic Site, Mendota: First and Third Saturdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Hours are effective through Labor Day 2009

Comment on this post

Dreaming of an architectural ideal

Posted at 2:00 PM on July 1, 2009 by Marianne Combs (0 Comments)
Filed under: Architecture

American architect Daniel Libeskind has high standards for architecture. In his talk at TED earlier this year (and just released on the web), he talks about the traits he wants to see in buildings today: optimism vs pessimism, raw vs refined, emotional vs cool, etc.

It should be noted that Libeskind is first and foremost an architectural theorist; he completed his first building at the age of 52.

Comment on this post