One day on my run through Prospect Park I found a sign at the Parkside entrance announcing a free performance of Don Juan by Moliere in the Park. A few days later, I received a text from a friend telling me that she had secured a couple seats for the sold out show. I went last Friday to the Lefrak Rink where they had built the stage and stadium seating for a brilliant production. Watch out Delacorte–looks like top public theater has moved into my neighborhood!
Using the wonderful NYC Parks online guide to free events this summer, three times I went to Greeley Square where live music was scheduled. The first two times I went, sadly, there were no musicians to be found and no notification on the website or in the square indicating the events had been canceled! Fortunately, the third time was a charm, and last Monday I was able to see a collection of singer-songwriters presented by Big City Folk and hosted by Niall Connolly. Warren Malone was first invited to take Connolly’s guitar for a lyrical spin, noting he was on break from a residency in Michigan. Dan Florio next jumped on stage with his dog Marlene for a few melancholic tunes. The featured artist for the evening was Savannah Jaine, who showcased her songwriting talent before heading up Broadway to Haswell Greens, where her band The Smokeshow backs live karaoke Mondays at 9:30pm.
Every summer the Trust for Governors Island invites cultural organizations to host artists and events in its historic buildings previously occupied by military officers. Yesterday I stumbled upon a concert being performed by the duo of Shu-Wei Tseng on cello and Yu-Ting Cheng on clarinet in building 17, which was hosting the Taiwanese American Arts Council.
After the concert they invited the artists in residence to speak about the projects they had displayed throughout the old house.
They even had a little reception afterwords with chips and Guac!
My mother gave me this signed print by Minnesota artist Paul S. Kramer (1919-2012). It is of the Minnesota Boat Club, a St. Paul rowing club, which dates back to 1870 and claims to be Minnesota’s oldest athletic institution. Their boathouse on Raspberry Island was built in 1910 and can be rented for weddings or other events.
Kramer’s original 1998 painting is oil on canvas, measures 28″ x 37″ and is part of the Dan Shogren and Susan Meyer collection. Shogren and Meyer’s collection focuses on twentieth century American art and has been featured at The Minneapolis Institute of Art. A beautiful survey of Kramer’s art titled Other Realities was published by Julie L’Enfant, who taught at the St. Paul College of Visual Arts before it closed in 2013.
Kramer grew up on a farm, first in North Dakota and then South St. Paul. After serving in Europe during WWII, he studied art in France then returned to St. Paul, where he took classes at the St. Paul School of Art with Clement Haupers. Next, he attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and spent more time in Europe, before returning to teach and become Director of Exhibitions at the St. Paul Gallery and School of Art, which is now the Minnesota Museum of American Art.
The museum struggled financially in the 1990s and early 2000s but seems to be thriving at its current home in the 1889-1890 Pioneer and Endicott buildings designed by Cass Gilbert and James Knox Taylor. The museum is also free and hopefully can be part of a revitalized downtown St. Paul cultural scene!
Yesterday I went to The Tank--a nonprofit that provides free stage space to emerging artists–and saw a performance of The Back Pack Presents Noted. The tag line for the show is “A Fast Pace Movement Based Comedy Extravaganza.” It is also described as a “a live action cartoon…with over 400 hand-drawn images strapped to the performers.”
I had no idea what to expect but found the entire 90 minutes mesmerizing! Rather than a cartoon, I would compare it more to a comic book come to life. I was completely captivated and also impressed by the technical complexity and timing required. The show is going on to The Edinburgh Festival Fringe for a month long residency in August. What fun!
Paul Mason Fotsch 