Scenes from Station to Station in St. Paul
By Paul Schmelzer
A peek inside Kenneth Anger’s yurt, where Anger’s Lucifer Rising was screening. All photos by Paul Schmelzer
Station to Station, the “polyphonic culture train” spearheaded by artist Doug Aitken, made its way to St. Paul Thursday night. While the locomotive itself was nowhere to be seen — it was parked at Midway Station — a train of artists made its way to the stage and throughout the expansive station. Four yurts outside greeted around a thousand visitors, while inside, art, drink, and music were the fare. Here’s a look — including a clip of Patti Smith’s headlining performance — of what you missed.
Linking the Walker’s Fritz Haeg exhibition with Station to Station, the BodyCartography Project performed with yields from Haeg’s gardens in and around the Union Depot.
Minneapolis-based artist Kate Casanova with Vivarium Americana, a 1976 AMC Pacer she turned into a terrarium that grows oyster mushrooms from the upholstery.
Juliette Brungs, dancer/choreogrpher Patrick Scully, and BodyCartography Project founders Olive Bieringa and Otto Ramstad.
Lawrence Weiner designed flags for each of Station to Station’s stops. Here’s what he came up with for St. Paul.
Ariel Pink, who later performed on the Station to Station stage.
Vendors included The Beez Kneez, a Minneapolis-based honey producer that delivers its wares via bicycle. Pictured: Kristy Lynn Allen.
Inside the yurt designed by Ernesto Neto.
Minneapolis’ Mark Mallman, prior to joining Patti Smith and her son Jackson on stage. “I didn’t get their names,” Smith said of her local bandmates, which included Mallman and Gary Louris.
No Age’s Randy Randall playing guitar with a drumstick.
Chicago’s White Mystery, the brother/sister team of Miss Alex White and Francis Scott Key White.
Patti Smith’s powerful lo-fi performance included a cover of Neil Young’s “It’s a Dream” (see video below).