Poem on a Bridge

Read a poem while pushing my bicycle across a pedestrian bridge spanning sixteen lanes of traffic. Took one line literally, applied it to this week’s weather.

Categorized as Arts

Confronting History

Cycled around southeast Minneapolis looking for public art. This mask of Little Crow, chief of the Mdewakanton Dakota, is on sacred ground in Minnehaha Park. He was murdered by a settler in 1863 while picking raspberries. The Legislature awarded the settler $500.

Meeting Lucille van Pelt

Lucille van Pelt ambushed me with a “newspaper” outside the building where the Star Tribune is printed. On our “No-News Wednesdays” we carefully avoid all news, including the Star Tribune. Mercifully, Lucy’s news was a little out-of-date.

Categorized as Arts

Remembrance of Earth’s Past

It’s “No-News Wednesday,” a day without any news media. Made a dent in the second book in the “Remembrance of Earth’s Past” trilogy by Cixin Liu. I normally don’t go for science fiction, but this is a fine summer read. I get to see through Chinese eyes, dimmed by translation.

Categorized as Arts

Casket Arts

It’s Tuesday, so cycled with a friend in search of things we’ve never seen before. The grounds of the Casket Arts Community are always a good bet. This is a base for over 140 artists and art businesses. In 1882 the Northwestern Casket Company made caskets.

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Eye-popping Art

Most Tuesdays I cycle with a friend, often looking for things we’ve not seen before. Our ride, today, included sidewalk art on Downtown’s Nicollet Mall

Categorized as Arts

Oozing with Contempt

Cycled across (positively) 4th Street in Dinkytown, Minneapolis. Back when I was a student, I loved the way Dylan oozes with contempt in this song. The title probably refers to the 4th Street that runs through Greenwich Village, but Minneapolis can claim some connection.

Categorized as Arts

Minneapolis Protest Street Art

The elderly white woman periodically topped up our wine glasses. When she decided we were sufficiently lubricated, she turned the conversation to race, specifically African Americans. “They need to get over it,” she announced, repeating with added vehemence, “Get over it.” That conversation has been reverberating in my head as I’ve been looking at street…… Continue reading Minneapolis Protest Street Art

Protest Art

Cycled across South Minneapolis looking for some of the extensive street art created, mostly with permission, on the plywood of boarded-up businesses. The artist painted this “in hopes of healing and hope for the future.” “Say his name. George Floyd. He was a human being.”