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Musicians and visual artists team up at Public Functionary and the Soap Factory

by Cecilia Johnson

March 06, 2015

Minnesota is known for its collaborative arts scene, in which hip-hop and folk bands can share the same bill and play a sold-out show. Musicians don't just collaborate with each other, though, as evidenced by two upcoming shows at local art galleries. This spring, visual artists and musicians are joining forces to create multimedia presentations.

In Minneapolis, Public Functionary will display Liz Miller’s new art installation; In Which _______ and Others Discover the End opens with a reception this Saturday, March 7. The show, according to the gallery's website, "harnesses the transformative power and value of contemporary performance, stimulating our collective capacity to dream, think inventively, and make connections between divergent ideas while creating space for reflection and dialogue."

Local dance troupe SuperGroup and the band Brute Heart will accompany the art at occasional open rehearsals during the run of the show and also for a run of six free climactic performances, spanning from March 27-29 and April 2-4. During the weekdays, the space will still be open for open rehearsal, discussions, and workshops. It's all free, but SuperGroup are accepting contributions via GiveMN.

Later this spring, the Soap Factory will host an opera adaption of Flannery O’Connor’s 1952 novel Wise Blood. Visual artist Chris Larson and composer Anthony Gatto have worked together to frame a show centered around set pieces, projections, and live performances from Hüsker Dü founding member Grant Hart, celebrated opera tenor Martin Bakari, Zoo Animal's Holly Hansen, and the musicians of the Adam Meckler Orchestra.

Like Public Functionary’s new project, this show is opening the doors to the public during set-up and rehearsal times. After a public opening reception on May 9, 2015, viewers can see an installation come to life until June. Then, performances run from June 4-7 and 11-14.

This show relies on backing from the Walker Art Center and the Soap Factory, but the creative team is also asking art fans for Kickstarter support. The campaign will go live on March 12, 2015. Until then, tickets for Wise Blood are available here.

Cecilia Johnson is studying English and Spanish at Hamline University. Her favorite things include poetry, café con leche, and Angers, France.

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.