JOHN ALSPACH’S GOT THE CRAZY BRIGHT EYES that say artist-with-a-plan. In the lobby of the new Skyscape condo building at 929 Portland he’s meeting his co-conspirator, Terrence Payne (former director of Rosalux Gallery) and the realtor who handles the building, David Abele. They’re part of Broad Cast, a floating exhibition program that uses new unoccupied space as galleries. What’s up? John and Terry…

miniStories launches in 2008, and will be going strong this year as well. As many of our authors and readers note below, 2008 has been especially kind to Minnesota’s literary presses: Graywolf, Milkweed, and Coffee House have all had a very good year, with acclaimed releases and nationally recognized authors represented on all their lists for 2008. It’s also been a wonderful year for local poetry…

by Article by Mason Riddle   January 20, 2009                                                  �Henry David Thoreau of place. The idea of removing oneself from the crowd, living in harmony with nature, hearing the quiet, is universally appealing. For Minneapolis artist and writer David Coggins, Pine Lake, Wisconsin is, like Walden Pond, just such a refuge; and Pine Lake’s idyllic environs are the inspiration for his recently published book, Eden: Summer…

by Compiled by Susannah Schouweiler   January 8, 2009 Between the closures of several beloved arts institutions, widespread media cuts, and ever worsening conditions for small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations, I suspect we’re all weary of bad news. But remember, there have been so many bright spots, too. In spite of the widespread money troubles afflicting many working in the arts, a number of…

by Compiled by Susannah Schouweiler   January 8, 2009 We in the media love to mock them, but year-end lists�top tens and best-ofs, love it/hate it sorts of things�are perennial reader favorites for good reason: they’re entertaining, of course, but also surprisingly effective tools for capturing zeitgeist snapshots. Read below for some listy reflections on 2008 from a few luminaries of Minnesota arts…