This Week in Saint Paul: Monday, May 5–Sunday, May 11, 2014
May 5, 2014
Spring arrives slowly, but Saint Paul hasn’t slowed down. We had a busy Saint Paul Art Crawl two weekends ago, Cinco de Mayo on the West Side, and the Festival of Nations in Downtown this past weekend—and maybe some weather dampening the heels of our festiveness. The momentum and better weather will carry us into more opportunities to keep up the process of thawing and warming up, and art is the star we’re following in the brighter heavens. Here are a few ideas.
Frogtown, 1996
May 5, 2014
We had only been living in Saint Paul for a couple of months when my husband told me he’d found somebody else. “Someone from work,” he said. “Can I keep my stuff here until I find a new place?” I put off telling my mom for a couple of weeks, not wanting her and my dad to worry about me and my one-year-old son. When I finally did tell her, I had to repeatedly assure her that my freelance work was actually bringing in enough money to live on, even though it was far from true.
June 5, 2014 – Soul Sounds Open Mic presents Nature Poems
May 1, 2014
Now that summer has reached full throttle, let’s celebrate it! This is the space for natural poems. Tonight is a space for poems that celebrate the water, the wind, the earth, the universe, animals, plants, and everything in between. We all know that Minnesota summers come and go very swiftly, our poetry can make it last a bit longer.
May 29, 2014 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Fres Thao
May 1, 2014
Fres Thao is an advocate for the Arts; believing Art is direct energy from the soul. As a Hip Hop pioneer of the Hmong American community, he has been an active lyricist, performer, producer and mentor since the early 90’s. Founding member of nationally dispersed Hip Hop group, Illegoaliens and Twin Cities based collective, Pupils of the Storm, Fres has released numerous albums, mixtapes and compilations including his recent full length album Mind Full Of. He was a recipient of the Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative, accessing funds to create his "Mind Full Of" vinyl project; the first full length Hmong Hip Hop vinyl record album. He is in the process of writing an illustrated children's poetry book.
May 22, 2014 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with RACBD
May 1, 2014
RACBD is to create a "RONDO RENAISSANCE" on University Ave in St Paul (the Green Line - LRT) from Griggs to Rice Street. We are developing a Historic Rondo Arts, Cultural, and Heritage District to strengthen and expand the African American business community. We want to leverage the legacy and history of the Rondo community to build a distinct business district that draws present visitors and new visitors to existing and new African American owned businesses on the Avenue! ASANDC’s current work on identifying and supporting the growth of arts and cultural destinations in Saint Paul forms the foundation for this project. This project is a tool to bring alive the idea of utilizing art and culture as a community and economic asset to bring benefits to and opportunities to enhance current African American businesses and promote the growth of new ones on the University Avenue (the Green Line).
May 15, 2014 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with brilyahnt peace
May 1, 2014
brilyahnt peace is a North Minneapolis native, currently exploring the solar—stars and spirit. A former student of the University of Minnesota and a (soon exiting) member of Voices Merging, she is on an ongoing journey to grow, heal, and speak. Poetry is her meditation and lifeline. Truth is her seed. Peace.
May 8, 2014 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Leah Clark
May 1, 2014
Leah Clark is a solo acoustic artist that passionately writes her own music. She's been playing guitar and writing songs for over five years now and is looking to break out of her shell to share her music with anyone that will listen. In her free time she likes to swing in the park, spend time with family and friends, and take naps with her cat, Walter.
May 1, 2014 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Mic RNS and writing workshop
May 1, 2014
"My love for words began in elementary. I've been in special poetry/writing groups since I can remember because I've always been an "above average writer". I also grew up surrounded by hip hop—so becoming an MC was almost inevitable. Though Just Cause is my first official project, I have been recording/writing rhymes since I was 14. I am finally at a point in my life where I feel comfortable with who I am as an artist and can actually afford to put myself out there. Let's be honest here, being an MC is expensive."
