From MPR News, Art Hounds are members of the Minnesota arts community who look beyond their own work to highlight what’s exciting in local art. Their recommendations are lightly edited from the audio heard in the player above.
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A classic story returns to the stage
Juanita Vang is co-executive director at the Southeast Asian Diaspora (SEAD) Project in Minneapolis. She performed in the original production of Ehkhudah Zar’s play “Muyehpen” in 2023, and she’s excited that Exposed Brick is mounting a new, traveling production of the play.
Written in English and billed as one of the first — if not the first — tellings of the classic Karen story in English, Muyehpen will be performed at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul this Friday at 7 p.m. and at the Paramount Theatre in Austin at 6 p.m. April 25.
The theater notes that, while all ages are welcome, the play contains references to sexual assault.
The Karen story of Muyehpen finds new lif
Juanita says: I love seeing how oral traditions through the centuries are able to come to life and are able to be documented in a way where we can show the rest of the world.
Now that it's actually being documented, hopefully, it builds a more beautiful world of diversity and understanding that we all come from different places, but we also have shared lived human experiences, and hopefully, that instills empathy and love in the world.
— Juanita Vang
Abstract art show: where sound and color meet
Amanda Clark owns of Siiviis Gallery in Duluth. She’s shining a light on an exhibition opening at Lizzards Art Gallery on Friday. “Chromesthesia: The Sound of Color” features abstract works by 20 artists represented by Lizzards. There’s an opening artist reception 4-7 p.m. Friday, and the show will be up through late June.
Amanda is looking forward to seeing the sheer variety of work in this show, as artists convey on canvas the sounds they hear.
Amanda says: They hand-selected artists that are very different from one one another, and it kind of pushes their boundaries of what they normally might do in their artistic endeavors or their artistic style.
And so I think this show is kind of pushing that thread of, how can I still keep my same artistic values and artistic techniques, but then create something that's a little bit less conceptual.
— Amanda Clark
Flamenco at a turning point
Jessica Fiala is a company member of Ragamala Dance Company, and she teaches tap classes at Ballare Teatro. She’s looking forward to seeing Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre’s show “Amanecer” April 24–26 at the Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis.
Jessica says: Zorango Flamenco was founded in 1982 by Susanna De Palma, so over more than 40 years now, she's been carving out a place for Zorongo as this anchor arts organization in the Twin Cities that also fosters an international artistic dialogue.
But for this production, she's handing over the creative reins to longtime company member Deborah Elias. And so I'm particularly excited about this production because it marks a turning point in the company's history.
“Amanecer” means “Dawn,” so it's both celebrating everything that has brought them to this point, with Susanna continuing as a mentor and advisor for the production, but it's also marking the dawn of a new chapter for Zorongo.
— Jessica Fiala
