Culturology 4-14: New gallery in GR

by Travis Ryder
Grand Rapids is getting a new art gallery this week. A group of seven area artists

are opening the Whispering Woods gallery in the Old Central School on Friday. The co-owners, and the consigners they choose, are heavily influenced by our natural surroundings. Many use materials from the outdoors, too. Paula Brandel met with Karen Olson, Collin Clough, and Jeff Archer to talk about this enterprise. Paula asked the three about their individual work and how they came together to establish the gallery.

The Edge of the Wilderness Art League is presenting a show and sale through the end of April. It’s at the Edge Center Gallery in Bigfork and is open Fridays and Saturdays from 11 to 2. Several members of the League spoke with independent producer Justin Cook about their artistic talents and interests, and what it means to be part of the art community in the Edge of the Wilderness region.

CULTURE CALENDAR
The Appalachian singing duo, The Honey Dewdrops, performs tonight in the Hallett Library in Crosby at 6:30 p.m.

The US Air Force Academy seven-piece ensemble Academy Winds will perform tonight at Tornstrom Auditorium in the Washington Building in Brainerd. They travel to Greenway Auditorium in Coleraine for a show Friday night. Both concerts are free and the general public is admitted starting at 7:15.

Grand Rapids High School presents a production of Verdi’s opera, Aida, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 at the Reif Center.

The new Steampunk-themed staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream continues its run at Bemidji State University. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2.

Bluegrass at the Chief Theater in Bemidji on Friday: Telegraph Road, featuring the world’s fastest banjo player Johnny Butten, and the Blue Turtle Grass Band. Show starts at 7:30.

Jazz saxophonist Jeff Coffin's credits include work with Dave Matthews Band and Bela Fleck. He performs with a pick-up group of crack high school and university jazzers Friday night at 7:30 at the Bemidji High School auditorium.

The Regional Printmaking exhibition and Kiera Faber’s photography and video work are up at the MacRostie Art Center in Grand Rapids through the end of the month.

MINNESOTA HISTORY DATEBOOK
April 14, 1861 Minnesota is the first state to offer troops at the outbreak of the Civil War. Governor Alexander Ramsey is in Washington, D.C., when word of the attack on Fort Sumter arrives. He meets with the secretary of war and offers one thousand Minnesota soldiers for the country's defense.

April 14, 1870 the predecessor institution to the Science Museum of Minnesota, the St. Paul Academy of Natural Sciences is formed.

April 16, 1927 The Mesaba Railway Coach Company stops providing streetcar service between the towns of Hibbing and Gilbert.

April 12, 1937 Dennis J. Banks is born on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. He would be one of the founders of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in 1968.

April 15, 1944 The Farmer-Labor Party and the state Democratic Party agree to merge at their joint convention. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party is unique to Minnesota.

April 13, 1967 Rod Carew plays his first major league baseball game with the Minnesota Twins, hitting a single.

April 13, 1993 The North Stars professional hockey team plays its final game in the Met Center against the Chicago Blackhawks, losing 3-2. The team moves to Dallas later that year.