State of the Arts for October 1, 2004
In
State of the Arts this week, we look over the state of art education and how it affects the achievement gap. Plus, mural art, typically displayed for the public eye outdoors, is now showing at a gallery.
Education Gap in the Arts
The academic disparities among racial groups are being noted and turned into a month long series concerning the cause and effects of the achievement gap. We will focus specifically on how this concerns art education. David O'Fallon, President of MacPhail's Center for the Arts, will be in studio to take your calls.
Spreading politics across the walls
The work of artist Mike Alewitz is currently on display in an unusual place: an art gallery. His wall sized murals are intended for more public, and often more dangerous, spaces. He's painted murals on buildings along the Israeli Palestinian border and on the bombed streets of Baghdad. And here in Minnesota, one of his murals provided a backdrop to the Hormel strike in 1986. A show of Alewitz's work at St. Cloud State's Kiehle gallery gives an overview of the career of one of the country's most prolific political muralists.
The pride of St. Paul
The Twin Cities are home to one of the most thriving hip hop scenes in the country. It's a scene that arose on its own, independent of the mainstream rap world which emanates from the coasts. One group that epitomizes this "homegrown" spirit is Heiruspecs of St. Paul. Heiruspecs, who's founding members met seven years ago at Central High School, is heralding the release of a new CD. It's called "A Tiger Dancing."
