‘Between the Lakes’
A combination book launch and wine tasting takes place on Monday, April 10 at 6 p.m. at the France 44 liquor store, 4351 France Ave. S. “Verse and Vintages” kicks off the release of “Between the Lakes: The Poets of Linden Hills,” a book of poetry by Linden Hills poets and writers with ties to the neighborhood.
Linden Hills poet laureate Doug Wilhide isn’t completely certain that any poetry reading will take place at “Verse and Vintages.”
“I’m not sure if we’ll be reading, but my guess is yes, especially after a little wine,” Wilhide wrote in an e-mail. “As many of the poets as can make it will be in attendance.”
The poets in the book are Esam Aal, Cris Anderson, Carrie Bassett, Kirsten Bergh, Felicity Britton, Elissa Cottle, Stephan Grandpre, Jolene Gustafson, George Scott, Doug Wilhide and Sam Wilhide.
The book is $14.95 and is available at Bibelot, 4315 Upton Ave. S.; Black-eyed Susan, 4300 Upton Ave. S.; and from www.bibelotshops.com and Doug Wilhide at [email protected] (add $5 for shipping and taxes when ordering from Wilhide).
State of the (dream) state
Sekou Sundiata is coming to town to contemplate America’s national identity. The poet, theater artist and musician, along with a dozen musicians, singers and spoken-word artists, is at the Walker Art Center for the last half of March to develop his latest work, “The 51st (dream) state.”
It will examine our national mythologies and what it means to be a citizen and individual in our complex society. The piece incorporates new music by Ani DiFranco, Graham Haynes and others.
Essayist and Village Voice writer Greg Tate wrote of Sundiata, “here is a writer with the bluesy poetic grasp, historical insight and populist spirit to reach the bourgeois, seminar the politically correct and still rock the boulevard.”
Sundiata and his fellow artists will follow each of the performances of “The 51st (dream) state” with a question-and-answer session with the audience.
If you’re interested in catching this Harlem-born artist in action, you can experience a free open rehearsal of “The 51st (dream) state” on Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. Be sure to call ahead for reservations for this event. (Sundiata and company will take questions after the rehearsal, too.)
F-Sa March 31-April 1, 8 p.m., Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., $15 ($12 for Walker members)., 375-7600, www.walkerart.org.
Sun, water, wine
Linden Hills artist Jeanne Long bathes her watercolors in the glow of the nearest star, imbuing them with golden white energy and hues. You can see sunlight creating strong shadows in her “Crossing at Harmon,” which depicts a scene down the street from where her art hangs, at Willie’s Wine Bar and Coffee House.
Long worked in the administration offices of the University of Minnesota before deciding 10 years ago to strike out on her own and dedicate herself to painting. She’s now the house artist at Willie’s, where her work will rotate as pieces sell and new ones are created. She has over 40 paintings hanging there now, mostly of scenes from around the Minneapolis lakes, as well as some from first-growth wine chateaus in France.
You can see her work at www.lcolor.com/gallery/long or by dropping by Willie’s, 1100 Harmon Pl. Call 332-881 for more information or visit www.experiencewillies.com.
Birth of a salesman
The Walker will shed light on America’s past identity, and perhaps some indirect light on its current international identity, by showing a series of movies made when the United States was engaged in rebuilding Europe via the Marshall Plan. “Selling Democracy, Films of the Marshall Plan: 1948-1953” consists of 25 movies that were part of Secretary of State George C. Marshall’s post-World War II plan for European recovery. (The Marshall Plan Motion Picture Section made over 250 films.)
The movies weren’t viewed for nearly 60 years as a result of a 1948 piece of federal legislation preventing them from being shown to American audiences. The four-part “Selling Democracy” series is the first major public showing of these movies since.
The series begins Wednesday, April 5 at 7 p.m. Films shown that night include “Hunger,” a controversial film about postwar misery that lays the blame for the desolation on Germany. German audiences rejected the film and the U.S. military pulled it from theaters there.
“Selling Democracy” continues the next night with, among others, “Island of Faith,” a 20-minute, 16mm black-and-white film depicting in classic propaganda form the struggle to reclaim land and water.
On the following night, Friday, April 7, the selection of films shown includes “Aquila,” a 21-minute, 35mm film said to be a beautiful example of early Italian neo-realism, and “The Smiths and the Robinsons,” a 19-minute comedy about British class divisions.
On Saturday, April 8, “Selling Democracy” concludes with, among others, “The Hour of Choice,” a 21-minute, 35mm film about the threat of Communism, as well as “Do Not Disturb!” a satirization of Soviet Union propaganda that attacked the United States and West Germany.
You can get a complete schedule of films by going to www.walkerart.org.
W-Sa April 5-8, 7 p.m., $8 ($6 for Walker members).