Art Hounds

Minnesota Public Radio
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Each week three people from the Minnesota arts community talk about a performance, opening, or event they're excited to see or want others to check out.

  1. JAN 29

    Art Hounds: Literary legends on stage, Shakespearean jazz and the power of gospel music

    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.  Want to be an Art Hound? Submit here. Dinner with literary greats Erin Janssens is a big fan of the Northfield Arts Guild Theater, and she is looking forward to their play “Little Wars,” which opens Friday. Set in the French Alps on the night before France falls to the Nazis, the play imagines a dinner party of female literary greats: Agatha Christie, Gertrude Stein, Dorothy Parker, Alice B. Toklas and Lillian Hellman. The play runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m., through Feb. 8. As the characters discuss what they can do to help Jewish people targeted by the Nazis, Erin says the play raises questions that feel timely. Erin says: What do you want your legacy to be? How do you want to be remembered? Do you want to be remembered as someone who did something to help someone? Or do you want to just be someone who stood back and watched while others helped? There are some serious themes in the show. They deal with antisemitism, xenophobia and your own moral responsibility. — Erin Janssens Classical words meet musical improvisation Minneapolis author Cheri Johnson is looking forward to seeing the Ken Takata Ensemble set the words of Shakespeare, Jane Austen and other classic authors to music. The free event takes place this Saturday, Jan. 31, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at George Latimer Central Library, as part of the St. Paul Winter Carnival. Hear examples of Takata’s work here. Cheri says Takata began by setting the songs in Shakespeare’s plays to music, but he’s expanded to include short Shakespearean passages, often starring female characters, as well as passages from other classic works. She says the music style varies to fit the words. Cheri says: Ken started out as mostly a jazz musician, but there’s [also] stuff that sounds very classical, and then other times he does R&B, or it sounds very musical theater. He just sort of chooses a style, it seems, based on what inspires him in the text and how he can imagine a production looking. — Cheri Johnson A gospel tradition, continued Ella Gates-Mahmoud of Minneapolis says she’s been to nearly all the productions of “The Sound of Gospel” since it began in 2018. The production, presented by Second Chance Outreach, takes place Sunday, Feb. 1, at 3 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University in St. Paul. Ella says to expect an array of music, from spirituals to quartets, solos to choirs, spanning the history and styles of gospel. Ella says: I think it's important to note that gospel music is really a transformative experience. It covers an array of life experiences, and it encapsulates people's emotions, from happiness and joy to sadness to celebration. It encompasses all of that, and you can find yourself crying and laughing at the same time. It's just a beautiful experience. — Dr. Ella Gates-Mahmoud

    4 min

  2. JAN 15

    Art Hounds: Plein air paintings, immersive dance and a West African–Celtic music fusion

    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.  Want to be an Art Hound? Submit here. Everyday beauty, captured outdoors Painter Adam Swanson of Cloquet recommends seeing the work of painter Matt Kania at Duluth Pottery, on view now through February. The exhibit “From There to Here” features Kania’s plein air paintings. There is an artist reception tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. Swanson says Kania is a prolific artist who takes the time to notice — and paint — both landscapes and scenes of everyday life. Dance meets science Rachel Doran is co-director of Hothouse, a dance arts space in Northeast Minneapolis. She can’t wait to see Black Label Movement's show “Rules of Life,” which combines dance with findings from cancer research. Performances are Jan. 16 and 17 — Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. — at the Barbara Barker Center for Dance in Minneapolis. Please note: this 45-minute show seats audience members in pods for an immersive and up-close experience of the dance; no late-comers will be seated. Rachel says: Black Label Movement, a local contemporary dance company helmed by Carl Flink. They are premiering a new work, “Rules of Life,” on Jan. 16-17, which has been in development for years, through Carl’s collaboration with cancer researchers David Odde and Paolo Provenzano. BL’s work is physical-to-the-max, impressively so, pushing limits of what the dancing body can do, and what dancers can do together. I can’t wait to see this culmination of research and output come together on stage. — Rachel Doran A fusion of West African and Celtic music Spoken word artist Ibrahima Kaba, known as IBé, of Robbinsdale loves the West African–Celtic blend of the musical group Canadh Croí, which means “singing of the heart” in Irish Gaelic and is pronounced “Conna Cree,” just like Conakry, the capital of Guinea (and hometown of drummers Fodé and Sana Bangoura). The Twin Cities group combines West African rhythms with Irish and Scottish melodies. Their debut album is called “Badenya,” which is Mandinka for a family relationship that encompasses extended family. There is an album release concert Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Celtic Junction Art Center in St. Paul. Ibrahima says: There is something nostalgic about the sound, how it both transport and transfixes. It both reminds me of the Guinean ceremonies and celebrations, and the feeling I get when I see pictures and videos of the Irish countryside. I think a blending of music tradition gives a result that's truly more than the sum of its parts. When I listen to Canadh Croí, they don't only take me to Guinea and the Ireland I imagine, but also a place totally different, new and refreshing, a place that I believe is as American as the Statue of Liberty. This is especially important to remember and celebrate in today's immigration climate, that one of the amazing and beautiful things about America is the opportunity it gives to bring together seemingly different cultures, to create something new, fresh and totally wonderful. — Ibrahima Kaba (IBé)

    5 min

  3. JAN 8

    Art Hounds: Fiber art at MIA, a multimedia premiere in Rochester and surreal sisterhood onstage

    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.  Want to be an Art Hound? Submit here. Fiber art finds a spotlight Sandra Brick, a teaching artist at the Textile Center of Minnesota, recommends a trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to see Amy Usdin’s contemplative fiber arts exhibit, “After All.“ The show runs through Feb. 22 in the U.S. Bank Gallery. Sandra says: I think it’s really great that Mia is giving fiber art this call-out in this show because, historically, fiber art has been considered a craft, and by having this exhibit at Mia, we’re saying that it is an art. Amy's art is an expression of connection and transformation. There's woven layers, knots, found objects and time-composed pieces, both large and small, and many are hanging from the ceiling. So it's a truly immersive experience. You get to walk around the art. I would check it out just to learn and see how simple processes, like weaving, knotting, can be transformed into really contemplative, transformative pieces. A lot of the pieces are very airy, and so you're actually seeing through them. You see how it all blends together and flows into one really great use of the space. — Sandra Brick Multimedia storytelling takes the stage Performance enthusiast Laurel Podulke-Smith of Rochester follows the work of local artist Jessalyn Finch, who has a short multimedia film debuting this weekend. “Embodied Landscapes” is the creation of Finch, Mary Mailand Schlichting and Laura Sukowatey. The film incorporates dance, large-scale drawing and sculpture. The premiere takes place at the Historic Chateau Theatre in Rochester on Sunday, Jan. 11. Screenings are at 2 and 3:15 p.m., with an artist talk and Q&A in between. Attendees are encouraged to wear cocktail attire and enjoy mocktails while meeting the artists. Surreal sisterhood in ‘Plano’ Minneapolis theater maker Caleb Byers recommends “Plano,” presented by Third Space Theater. The play runs Jan. 9–18 at the Alan Page Auditorium at Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis. Caleb says he’s been anticipating this production since seeing Third Space Theater’s original show “Breach” at the Fringe Festival. Caleb describes the play: Will Arbery is something of a magical realist-slash-surrealist playwright. And “Plano” is about three sisters, essentially in a sort of heightened reality and a sort of undisclosed period of time. Time is a little bit strange in “Plano.” They, in a very surreal style, move through their specific problems. There’s very snappy, casual, modern dialogue. I'm incredibly excited for these artists in particular to tackle this. — Caleb Byers

    4 min

  4. 12/18/2025

    Art Hounds: Children's literature, a Solstice blessing and Hanukkah goblins

    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.  Want to be an Art Hound? Submit here. Songs and stories with Kao Kalia Yang Melissa Meyer works at Way to Grow, which focuses on education for families, including literacy, music and the arts. She's excited to attend “An Evening of Children’s Literature with Kao Kalia Yang and Friends” this Friday at 7 p.m. at the Ordway Theater in St. Paul. In an evening of songs and stories, Yang will read from all her picture books, and Leslie Damasco and T. Mychael Rambo will perform songs Yang wrote specifically for the evening. Jocelyn Hagen, who composed music for the event, will play piano. Melissa says of Kao Kalia Yang: Let me tell you, she has a gift. She really wraps you into the story. Her stories about are about her own personal experience as well as her family's experience coming here to the United States. [The subject matter in her stories] can be difficult to hear at times, as far as just some of the difficult experiences, but in the end, it really inspires you to love community and love one another. — Melissa Meyer A ceremony of renewal for the Winter Solstice Melanie Shirley of St. Paul is looking forward to attending the 24th annual Winter Solstice Blessing. She went last year and says she emerged from this theatrical, shamanic ceremony feeling refreshed and ready for the year to come. The event is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 7 – 9:30 p.m. at the Minnesota Opera Center in Minneapolis. This event is not recommended for young children. Melanie describes the event: It's a blessing led by Jamie Meyer and Patricia Choate, and they lead the audience through a two-part ceremony about letting go of what's ready to die through the solstice and receiving blessings for new life. So there's the Old Bone Mother who helps us to release what needs to go, kind of like a spiritual composting. And then in the second act, there are reindeer women who move through the audience with rattles and blessings, and they fill the space with new life. There's storytelling and singing, and it ends with a wild drum jam. And so it is dealing with heavy themes, but there's a lot of lightness and humor. Jamie is hilarious, so there's hilarity and sacredness all at the same time. — Melanie Shirley Hanukkah Goblins in dance theater form Shari Aronson of Z Puppets Rosenschnoz has taken part in many productions of Eric Kimmel’s beloved children’s book, “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins,” but she says she’s never seen a dance theater production of the story. Enter Little Tanz Theater, which was formed this year, led by Hannah MacKenzie-Margulies. Their family-friendly dance theater production of the classic story is Saturday at 2 and 5 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Southwest High School in Minneapolis. Shari says: I find [dance theater to be a] really a great way to express this story of bringing light to dark times and to really using your wits to overcome what seem like insurmountable forces against you. The production incorporates klezmer music with some of my favorite local klezmer musicians, and that just adds such a feeling of being back in those small Eastern European villages — the shtetl. — Shari Aronson

    4 min

  5. 12/11/2025

    Art Hounds: Holiday folk concerts, a beloved musical and symphonic cheer

    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.  Want to be an Art Hound? Submit here. Concerts at the Cedar Cultural Center Renee Vaughan, who plays the Swedish folk instrument the nyckelharpa, recommends a concert on Friday that will bring a mix of musical holiday folk traditions. Red Thread will perform along with Minneapolis and Duluth-based folk band Ponyfolk, Friday at 8 p.m. at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. Renee says: Red Thread is fronted by one of my absolute favorite singers, Sarah Larsson, with her lush, warm voice, coupled with these incredible harmonies, and it's mixed with a deep love of cultural lineage. Their music spans from Yiddish and klezmer and Slavic, Scandinavian, Irish, English and American winter traditions, and they'll be sharing the stage with Ponyfolk. They're able to have this folk sound that creatively blends folk and rock and jazz and Nordic influences. I'm sure there'll be opportunities to get up and move, but you can also sing, and it'll be like this lovely musical quilt covering the audience. — Renee Vaughan While you’re looking at the Cedar website, musician Leslie Vincent recommends you check out a performance there on Sunday at 2 p.m. by Ben Cook-Feltz, with Ann Reed and Zippy Laske. Leslie says: He's an INCREDIBLE singer and performer. His “Holiday Shindig” is coming up on December 14 and features lots of my other favorite performers in town, including Zippy Laske, who I'm obsessed with. — Leslie Vincent A musical classic in Rochester Voiceover actor Rebecca Brokaw-Sands is excited to see Rochester Repertory Theatre’s production of “Little Women: The Musical” this weekend. Based on the classic story by Louisa May Alcott, the musical follows the four March sisters from childhood to adulthood. The remaining performances are tonight through Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. Rebecca says: “Little Women” itself is a fantastic, heartwarming story that focuses on family and dreams and hope and following your own path, even when it's not the one that others would have chosen for you or the one that seems traditionally laid out by society. The music is fantastic and supported very well by the voices in this cast. Amber Feind as Jo knocks it out of the park. — Rebecca Brokaw-Sands Symphonic celebration in Grand Forks Stacy Bach is a band director at East Grand Forks High School, and she suggests coming back to her school’s auditorium this Sunday at 2:30 p.m. for the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra’s Yuletide Concert. Expect holiday favorites, including Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite,” plus classic carols that invite the audience to sing along. The winner of the Young Artist Concerto Competition will also be featured.

    4 min

  6. 12/04/2025

    Art Hounds: A Sherlock Holmes–Scrooge mash-up, classical guitar and comedic letters to Santa

    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.  Want to be an Art Hound? Submit here. A Holmesian holiday twist Heidi Dybing of Lanesboro loves the arts scene in her community. She’s seen the Commonweal Theatre’s production of “A Sherlock Carol” twice and plans to go back for more. The story, she says, is equal parts Sherlock Holmes mystery and Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” with recognizable lines from each woven into the script. The show runs through Dec. 21. Heidi says: This show is absolutely fantastic. It's eye candy because of the amazing sets with the amazing vintage props all over the stage and the walls and the ceilings. It is very Victorian, with authentic Victorian costumes and music. — Heidi Dybing Classical guitar meets civil rights anthem Joe Haus, former president of the Minnesota Guitar Society, recommends seeing the vibraphone and guitar team of Vincent Hyman and Robert Ekstrand in concert at Lynnhurst Congregational UCC in Minneapolis. The duo will perform music spanning three centuries, including classical, jazz, and tango. The Lynnhurst choir will join them to perform Oscar Peterson’s “Hymn to Freedom,” a civil rights anthem. The concert is 7 p.m. Friday. Admission is free, with donations accepted for the Sabathani Food Shelf. Joe says: Vince Hyman is one of the best vibe players in town. Bob Ekstrand has been playing guitar forever: playing in rock bands, playing as a solo blues artist, jazz ensembles studying classical guitar. I can't recommend them enough. — Joe Haus Sketch comedy meets Santa Claus Megan McDonough is a high school theater director who celebrates the season by seeing “Letters to Santa... With a Twist,” a one-woman show by Janelle Ranek. Each year, Ranek co-writes and performs 10 new and returning characters who update Santa on their year and share their holiday wishes. This year’s run is at Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis, Dec. 5–22, with all shows at 7 p.m. Megan says: This show is hilarious! It is, it is essentially an individual sketch comedy... the likes of a “Saturday Night Live,” or like a Smosh comedy, where she creates a character, runs with it for a few minutes, and then we change characters, and we get to meet somebody new right afterwards. My favorite is Marjorie. She's a motivational speaker, and there's usually a prop that the audience gets when Marjorie comes up to talk to you. — Megan McDonough

    4 min

  7. 11/20/2025

    Art Hounds: Women's choir harmony, Latinidad film fest and jazz with a mission

    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.  Want to be an Art Hound? Submit here. A harmonious gathering of voices Singer and voiceover actor Jen Maren always enjoys seeing the Twin Cities Women’s Choir perform. Their fall concert, whose theme is “Ignite!,” takes place 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23 at South High School in Minneapolis. Maren says: This is an incredible group that is 140 voices, all non-auditioned, but incredibly professionally sounding. There's percussion, there's a string quartet happening. There's some great jazz arrangements that are happening. There's all six-part harmony of all these women's voices raised in song. And I don't know about you, but we're living in a rather divided time right now, so a little bit of harmony would actually be soothing to my soul. — Jen Maren Celebrating Latinidad on screen Filmmaker Maxie Rockymore is looking forward to the inaugural Serpentina Arts Film Festival at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 25. at The Parkway Theater in Minneapolis. The free event promises a range of styles of short films, all created by Minnesota-based Latin filmmakers. The theme is “Celebrating Latinidad Through Short Films.” Rockymore explains why this film festival is important to her: When people share stories, and share other people's stories, that's when we connect and realize that we are all one. That's what filmmaking, I think, does for people. — Maxie Rockymore Holiday jazz with heart Aaron Lohmeyer is an associate professor of music education and jazz band director at Winona State University, and he wants people to know about the holiday album release of a Winona band that’s also a family affair. H3O Jazz Trio is the work of Eric Heukeshoven and his sons, Max and Hans, with wife Janet Heukeshoven as a frequent musical guest. They celebrate the release of their second album, “Combo Carols,” at the Steele County Historical Society in Owatonna at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. The songs are mash-ups of holiday carols and jazz standards. The trio also holds jam sessions at Two Fathoms Brewing in Winona on the third Sunday of every month. Aaron says: One neat thing about the H3O trio is that their jam sessions also function as a fundraiser for area nonprofits. So it's not only a family band, but it's a band with a mission, and their commitment to give back to the community through music is really unique. — Aaron Lohmeyer

    4 min

  8. 11/13/2025

    Art Hounds: Theater rooted in lived experience and more

    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.  Want to be an Art Hound? Submit here. Centering voices of experience Mankwe Ndosi is a community-engaged artist at Pillsbury House + Theatre in Minneapolis. She admires the work of zAmya Theater, whose original plays focus on housing and homelessness, drawing from the lived experience of the communities in which they perform. Their show, “Living in America: The Waiting List is Full,” takes place in conjunction with Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. The hour-long performances are today through Friday, Nov. 21, at venues across the Twin Cities, including Minneapolis Central Library, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis and 825 Arts in St. Paul. Mankwe says: I think this group is really important, because a lot of times when we talk about making change, often things are happening from the top down, from large institutions or academics or policy makers, and we really seldomly actually are listening to folks who are in some of the hardest challenges situations, but they actually have the most information about what works and what doesn't work. And so I think in this time, when there is room for change and transformation, it's helpful to be able to see people who are living it, who are the experts, who are also the visionaries of how to transform what can be some of the toughest situations that people can experience. — Mankwe Ndosi Wordplay and wonder in Longfellow Sara Rothholz Weiner is an architect and potter living in Minneapolis, and she recommends a visit to the Snakpak Gallery in the Longfellow Neighborhood, where a sidewalk community makers event is also happening this weekend. The gallery features the work of Jim Ockuly. Sara says: Jim Ockluly’s witty and evocative art explores the relationship of image and language. It's quirky, it's fun, it's thought-provoking, and it's accessible to all audiences. He explores our world with a sense of irony and a big dose of wonder that's very relevant to our times. This [weekend] event, importantly, includes several local artists and craftspeople from the Longfellow neighborhood on a sidewalk art show and yes, bundles of local firewood [will be] for sale with proceeds going to Soup For You Cafe, a local soup kitchen that's free for all. — Sara Rothholz Weiner Jazz and emotional honesty on stage Meghan Kreidler is a musician and actor in Minneapolis, and she’s shining a light on fellow musician Leslie Vincent, whose new album “Little Black Book” has its Twin Cities premiere on Sunday, Nov. 16 at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis. The jazz album of original songs explores the ups and downs of dating and marriage. Leslie and her band will be joined on Sunday by guest musician Jeremy Messersmith. Meghan says: It's really hard not to fall in love with [Leslie] the minute she steps on stage. She just creates a really warm and fun atmosphere. I remember the first time I ever saw Leslie perform, and it just felt really accessible and fun and kind of new, and it broke my kind of preconceived notions about what jazz can be and how it can feel from an audience perspective. — Meghan Kreidler

    4 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Each week three people from the Minnesota arts community talk about a performance, opening, or event they're excited to see or want others to check out.

Information

  • Creator
    Minnesota Public Radio
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Minnesota Public Radio
  • Show Website
    Art Hounds

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