Week Three, Ding Ding: The Saint Paul Art Crawl Knockout Round

 

Saint Paul’s spring Art Crawl is coming to a close, but not before the grand finale: Crawl your way through Lowertown, downtown, Payne-Phalen, and Raymond Station neighborhoods April 26, 27, and 28 for this season’s last hurrah and final fireworks. Despite our rigorous use of boxing metaphors this entire month, we're doubtful that any belts will be awarded. But glove up all the same, art-lovers, and let us know if you see anything of the sort.

This is a massive crawl, even after the other two legs were unveiled, so get ready. Crawl some of the historic places and see some of the faces who launched this whole thing; welcome the new, embrace new ways of thinking, seeing, perceiving — and have some fun out there. Here are just a few places, themes, disciplines, and people you may want to include in your own crawl plans. 

Crawl Hours: Friday 6 – 10pm, Saturday 12 – 8pm, and Sunday 12 – 5pm. Hours may vary by location.

 

ArT at 967 Payne, 967 Payne Ave. 

Work by Marvin Wise, courtesy of the artist's website.

It’s a full weekend over at ArT at 967 Payne on the East Side, so whenever you stop in you’re likely to find something cool. The exhibition features 16 artists, including Sue Costello Sepulveda, John Vieno, and Marvin Wise. Into art of the aural variety? No problem. Hear live music from Melayz (as well as see his 2D and 3D artwork), Sammie Jean Cohen, and Black Widows (!), and even take in talks and interactive demos from the artists such as MaryBeth Barrigan and Jimmy Longoria. 

 

Northern Warehouse, 308 Prince St.

Image courtesy of artspace.org.

What's big and brick and only a block from the Saints' stadium? Okay, a lot of things. But what's big and brick and also will be full of artists you do not want to miss this weekend? That's right: Northern Warehouse. Stop in to catch a show of new work from Ladylike, the delightfully unnerving paintings of Alex Kuno, the mind-blowing animations of Jacob Docksey (whose work is the banner image for this article), and a whole host of other artists.

Plus, there'll be food, like at...

 

Erta Ale, 308 Prince St.

Work by Teklemariam Zewdie, courtesy of Maraki Art Gallery.

Also located at Northern Warehouse, this Lowertown restaurant, named for the most active volcano in Ethiopia, owner Amy Abebe Tsegaye’s original home, has a menu that reflects its “fiery and flavorful” origins. The neighborhood spot — which Saint Paul longtimers will recognize as the space formerly known as the much-beloved Tanpopo (RIP) — also boasts a gallery. This weekend will feature an extra-special guest: On Friday, April 26 at 6pm, attend the opening of Ethiopian artist Teklemariam Zewdie’s art exhibition. Zewdie owns his own gallery, Maraki Art Gallery, in Addis Ababa, and his work has been shown worldwide. His paintings are known for portraying Ethiopian culture using his skillful touch with light and shadow. 

 

Lost Fox, 213 E 4th St.

Image courtesy of (swiped from) Racket.

Stop into Lost Fox Lowertown for a food and drink respite in one of the coolest shops in the neighborhood, and you may also spy the work of local artists, some from right in the building.  

 

Lowertown Lofts Artist Cooperative, 255 Kellogg Blvd E 

Work by Justin Terlecki, courtesy of the artist's Instagram.

History (especially art history) buffs will love the exhibition of images, posters, and news clippings of the Saint Paul Art Collective, which originated the Crawl in 1977 — and led to what is now the longest-running art crawl in the nation. Artist and SPAC member Marla Gamble will present about the good old days and the creation of the housing committee that made for Saint Paul’s first code-compliant handicap accessible housing for artists. Catch presentations with a chance to ask your questions Friday at 7, Saturday at 4, and Sunday at 2 in the 5th Floor Atrium. 

Make sure to tour some of the other artists’ spaces at Lowertown Lofts, including textile and ceramic artist Kristin M. Jones and former Jerome Fellow Justin Terlecki, whose autobiographical pen-and-ink, watercolor, and gouache work is thematically organized around connectedness and interpretations of where he’s been through his memories. 

 

The M, 350 Robert St. N

At Together, from left: Preston and Elvis Drum, M volunteers Nina and Anisah, and Emmett Ramstad. Image courtesy of The M.

The Minnesota Museum of American Art is the state's oldest art museum, and it’s got a couple of exhibitions worth checking out this weekend. First is a retrospective of feminist artist Hazel Belvo, whose prolific, seven-decade career has borne pieces spanning “delicate drawings to monumental paintings,” and illustrates her life, including drawings made the morning her son was born, and her other son’s tragic illness. This is a great time to catch this enthralling exhibition of an important local artist, whose influence has spanned the coasts and many cultures, before it closes in May. 

While you’re there, also make sure to catch Together, which is an exhibition of 10 artist families, sharing the artwork across the generations. The mixed-media exhibit elevates children's artwork and supports parent artists, which helps solidify a future of art and making in our own communities. See artists and their proteges such as Sayge Carroll and Morgan Laramy, Preston Drum with Elvis and Leroy Drum, Pao Her with Vince and Kailee Yang, Anna Marie Shogren with Wally Glenn-Shogren, Aki Shibata with Atom Shibata Pliner and Yukiko Shibata Colbur, and Jonathan Thunder with Mino Hart Thunder, among others. 

 

OK, this isn’t just one location, but it’s too cool not to mention

Body Watani, Palestinian (Levantine) folk dance. Image courtesy of their Eventbrite.

If dance is your thing, then there is a triple play happening between Saturday and Sunday that will school your body and your mind.

2327 Wycliff St, Suite 214 • Saturday, 1pm

First up is Classical Dance of India on Saturday. Kala Vanadam students will teach all comers Bharatanatyam dance, which is hugely popular and widely practiced. The idea is that peer teaching will empower the students to share their passion and art with others. Pass it on. 

 

1224 Lexington Parkway N • Saturday, 4pm

The Body Watani Dance performance on Saturday at the Como Streetcar Station was developed by Leila and Noelee Awadallah, who are Palestinian sisters. They’ll be demonstrating and teaching a Palestinian (Levantine) folk dance called “Dabke,” which is a sign of solidarity and resistance. Included will be invitations to think about homelands influence how we move in our lives, especially “in relation to place and memories.” 

 

109 West 4th St • Sunday, 1pm

The Mexica Aztec Dance class on Sunday at 1 PM in Rice Park is sure to dazzle. A group of Twin Cities-based dancers called Kalpulli Huitzillin de MN has been committed since 2011 to preserving the Indigenous Mexica culture through Mexica (Aztec) dance. Check out their workshop and presentation. Don’t be late. ◼︎ 

Saint Paul Art Crawl occurs over three weekends: April 12–14, April 19-21, and April 26-28. For a full schedule of locations and participants, visit stpaulartcollective.org or follow them on Instagram @stpaulartcollective.

Banner image: Final still of hand-drawn, animated film by Jacob Docksey, on view this weekend at Northern Warehouse Studio 411. Image courtesy of the artist's Instagram.