Music as Resistance: How The Format Turned a Reunion Into a Platform for Social Justice
In the landscape of modern indie-rock, few reunions have been as poignant or as politically charged as that of The Format. Comprised of vocalist Nate Ruess and multi-instrumentalist Sam Means, the band—known for their cult-classic status and, in Ruess’s…
The Second Act: How Minneapolis Saved ‘Captain’ Jack McDuff
On September 17, the jazz world marks the centennial of Brother Jack McDuff, a titan of the Hammond organ who defined the hard-bop and soul-jazz sound of the 1960s. While history books often focus on his scorching early-career output alongside guitar…
Minneapolis Cultural Renaissance: A Dual Deep Dive into Modernist Innovation
This week, the Twin Cities theater and music scenes are colliding with the spirit of the 20th-century avant-garde. From the architectural precision of the Minnesota Orchestra’s latest concert series to the existential gravity of the Guthrie Theater’s…
The Art of Displacement: How Andy DuCett is Reimagining Winona’s Civic Identity
At Rocco’s Pub and Pizza in Goodview, Minnesota, a conspicuous void now occupies the wall space near the jukebox. A large, rectangular patch of discolored paint marks the former home of "Coming In" (1972), an idyllic landscape painting of ducks…
The Digital Renaissance of Sheet Music: How Graphite Publishing Redefined the Composer’s Path
In the early 2000s, the classical music industry was a bastion of tradition, governed by institutional gatekeepers who prioritized "accessible" compositions over the experimental, complex works emerging from the underground. For composers…
Echoes of Resistance: How Twin Cities Performance Art is Confronting Institutional Trauma
In an era defined by political instability, systemic violence, and the lingering ghosts of historical atrocities, the Twin Cities theater and dance scene has emerged as a critical laboratory for cultural processing. Across three distinct productions…
Rooted in Resilience: Seitu K. Jones’s First Solo Museum Retrospective Excavates History and Humanity
At the Minnesota Museum of American Art (the M) in St. Paul, a quiet revolution is taking root. In his first-ever solo museum exhibition, “The Smell of Earth: Seitu K. Jones Working in the Elements,” multidisciplinary artist Seitu K. Jones invites…
From the Soil to the Gallery: The Resonant Legacy of Seitu K. Jones
For decades, Seitu K. Jones has been a cornerstone of the Twin Cities’ cultural landscape. As an artist, activist, and educator, his work has consistently sought to bridge the gap between community survival and artistic expression. Yet, in a striking…
Acts of Resistance: How Twin Cities Performance Art is Confronting Institutional Violence
In a climate of profound national volatility, the Twin Cities’ performance art scene has emerged as a critical laboratory for processing collective trauma. From the intimate, biting satire of Marcie R. Rendon’s Sweet Revenge to the physically demanding,…
Echoes of Resistance: How Twin Cities Performance Art is Confronting Institutional Trauma
In an era defined by political instability and the persistent, heavy shadow of historical injustice, the stages of the Twin Cities have become vital crucibles for catharsis. This month, three distinct productions—Marcie R. Rendon’s Sweet Revenge, Moriah…
