by Profile by Alison Morse   September 29, 2008�winner of prestigious national awards and commissions�agrees to an interview with me, she suggests we meet at her home. What kind of home would this accomplished classical composer live in? A sleek, modern box reflective of the clean precision of her music? Would the d�cor evince a mix of styles that would speak to the diversity of instruments�everything…

I TOLD CARMEN I HAD A SURPRISE FOR HER. We were at Manny’s Good Time, and she was lit on gin and juice. She was acting like a little kid, calling me Ricky in this high, squeaky voice. She was sitting on my lap, and she had her skinny arms draped around my neck.           “Tell me what it is, Ricky,” she said. “Tell me, tell me, tell me.”           It was a happy hour and I breathed it all in. There were two-for-ones and free hot…

by Article by Camille LeFevre   September 22, 2008for Dance entered my inbox, I immediately thought: . As it turns out, connections are particularly easy to find in the category. The Sage Awards defines that category as follows: �A show, a work or piece of choreography from the past season. An audience must be present at the performance. Interdisciplinary work can be considered. Award will go to the creator…

by Article by Shannon Gibney   September 22, 2008 � easy, accessible, and widely accepted � most are like those that author David Mura wrestles with, which usually stay hidden within the steadfast silences of tight-lipped family members and neighbors, invisible to (or effectively erased by) historians compiling the erudite texts that line the walls of our libraries and sacred institutions. In his memoirs…

by Profile by Susannah Schouweiler   September 11, 2008 Her eye-popping artwork, much of it made through a technical fusion of photography and abstract painting, rewards sustained attention. But it’s her business savvy�not a common strength among creative types, I’ve found�that first captured my interest. (“It’s in my blood,” she shrugs when I ask her about it. “I come from a family of ad-men, so I’m…

by Essay by Michael Fallon   September 9, 2008, red-banner day. It was The Day the Music Died, the time of my own private Ground Zero, the moment I got kicked off , and the instant that my address changed from Stardust Avenue to the Boulevard of Broken Dreams. July 15, 2008, was the day I finally realized I would never have an answer to the question my mother had asked twenty years before: �What are you…

This and all images appear courtesy of the author and the artists (Click images to enlarge them) by Essay by Andy Sturdevant   September 8, 2008 is a very handsome monograph of the work of designer Art Chantry, signed by the author when I saw him give a lecture in 2002. Chantry is not a household name per se, but alongside designers such as Frank Kozik, he is one of those rare figures that has achieved…

by Article by Mason Riddle   September 3, 2008 So say the organizers of the UnConvention, the multi-faceted string of cultural activities that is taking place in tandem with the Republican National Convention (RNC) in St. Paul. As forward-thinking and inclusive as the UnConvention proffers to be, though, it isn�t for every creative type. In fact, some of the most interesting activities will be independent…

by Essay by Lightsey Darst   September 2, 2008 That day, The Star-Tribune broke news of Jeff Bartlett�s abrupt dismissal from his longtime position as Artistic Director of the Southern Theater. He was surprised, he said in the article. He didn�t know why it had happened. Quickly, people in the dance community forwarded the article to each other. Bartlett was important. He didn�t just book shows, he got…