At the Minneapolis Institute of Art today, explored German art from 1910 to 1945. In the foreground ‘The Fallen Man’ was created in 1916 as a memorial against war. Like other pieces in this gallery, it was declared ‘degenerate’ in the 1930s. Moving through the exhibit, I saw the contrast between artists who resisted and those who compromised their work.
Category: Arts
Music for a winter night
A light snow was falling as we walked into Orchestra Hall for a Minnesota Orchestra concert. The program included pianist Kirill Gerstein, who performed two concertos: a modern piece by Thomas Adès, a British composer new to me, and Ravel’s Concerto for the Left Hand. It was impressive to hear such a rich, full sound produced by just one hand. By the time we left, the snowstorm was intensifying.
A study of moral failure
Tonight, Macbeth on the thrust stage at the Guthrie. I asked AI to restate the first two acts as though Macbeth was you-know-who: ‘Listen, we’re going to make Scotland great again, okay? The previous administration—Duncan, total disaster—was weak. Very low energy. We’re doing a complete takeover, and frankly, the witches, they’re tremendous people, they saw the vision. They told me, “Sir, you’re going to win so much you’ll get tired of winning.”‘
Pride festival at Auckland Art Gallery
Today is Saturday in Auckland, the final day of Pride Month. Our hostess for the day, the fabulous Buckwheat, introduced the music at the Auckland Art Gallery’s Pride Festival this morning. It was a rare sight to see a drag queen so early in the day. Later, we observed the Auckland Rainbow Community Choir rehearsing a program inspired by gay icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Liza Minnelli, and Lady Gaga.
Art walk through Auckland
Joined a docent-led art walk from the Auckland Art Gallery through downtown to the harbor. Since the group was all locals, we dove straight into the deep end. Our docent expertly connected several public installations by Māori artists to foundational myths and the origins of Aotearoa (New Zealand). (The audio receivers shown in the photo let us hear the commentary clearly over the bustle of the city.)
Pride takes flight
Caught some stand-up comedy as part of Auckland’s Pride Month. The venue was wonderful: the Aviation Hall at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT). Our backdrop for the night was a 1945 Belfast-built flying boat, once used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force for maritime search and rescue.
Nordic themes
Hygge was clearly a theme as we walked into Orchestra Hall for a Nordic chamber music concert performed by members of the Minnesota Orchestra. The program featured works by three Scandinavian composers: Valborg Aulin, Otto Mortensen (I had to Google both), and Jean Sibelius. The current music director, Thomas Søndergård, is from Denmark and his predecessor, Osmo Vänskä, is from Finland, reflecting the Nordic roots of many Minnesotans.
Hue and haze
Inside, colorful American Indian mosaics and artwork blend traditional and non-traditional materials. Outside, the world fades to grey in the mist. This morning at the Walker Art Center.
A moderate dose of Christmas cheer
Tonight, the sold-out A Swingin’ Little Christmas, starring Jane Lynch, famous for her enthusiastic tyranny (Glee, Best in Show, etc.). The show delivered talented performers and reasonable doses of holiday schmaltz. This was a chance to experience the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre, which just reopened this month after a major renovation.
Where we’ll spend our evening
Taken from the Stone Arch Bridge today, the Guthrie Theater’s architecture nods to the area’s industrial past. Its prominent “chimneys” are actually scrolling marquees. The building houses three theaters, and this evening we’ll be seeing the new play, Primary Trust, in the proscenium theater.