Body Politics
From state portraits to fashion ads, images of the human body show something about the culture from which they came. That's one of the premises behind a new Walker Art Center show called “Body Politics.”
It features some 60 works of art from the first half of the 20th century by more than two dozen artists, including Pablo Picasso, Max Beckmann and Georgia O'Keefe.
The period in the Western world was marked by revolution, economic depression, labor struggles and wars. Conventional gender roles also began to collapse as women gained the vote and entered the work force.
The pieces were mostly drawn from public and private collections in the Twin Cities, including the Weisman Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
“Body Politics” runs through July 15. Walker Art Center. 1750 Hennepin Ave. www.walkerart.org. 375-7600.
The Anti-Christmas
Santa drinks, parents swear and kids lose it in “The Santaland Diaries,” an anti-Christmas carol comedy by David Sedaris.
The piece is being performed by Theatre Limina this month at the Bryant-Lake Bowl with two shows remaining before the New Year.
The story revolves around three narrators who share the horrors of taking jobs as elves at Macy's. It's the fourth year the local theater has presented the show.
“Sooner or later, the frantic pace of the holiday season and forced ‘quality time' with friends, family and co-workers results in burnout,” Director Eric Nelson said. “Maintaining one's sanity sometimes requires escapism.”
Mature audiences only for adult language.
“The Santaland Diaries” plays Dec. 21 and Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. Bryant Lake Bowl. 810 W. Lake St. www.bryantlakebowl.com. 825-8949. $15.
Rust and rulers into art
Local artist Danny Saathoff collects discarded antiques - ruler bits, typewriter keys, rusted metal clock parts - and cobbles them into works that fall somewhere between fine art and wearable sculpture.
His show called “Back Space” premiered at Gallery 360 earlier this month and runs through the middle of next month.
Saathoff, also a jewelry craftsman, pairs the pieces he finds with highly rendered drawings of a seafaring voyage. His works contain oxidized metals, carved hardwoods and semiprecious stones.
The show coincides with five-foot shows by Diana Darden, Laurie Pruitt, and Sabrina Dechert, and windows by Saathoff and Dechert.
“Back Space” runs through Jan. 14. Gallery 360. 3011 W. 50th St. 925-2400.
Green actors
It's green, grumbly and getting off to a good start in its fifth run at the Children's Theatre Company.
“Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas” played to sold-out houses in 1994, 1995, 1998 and 2001, and ticket sales this season show the production is as popular as ever, according to the theater.
The show has a few new actors debuting on the theater's main stage. They include one from Minneapolis, Nathan Barlow, who plays Young Max.
“It's always exciting to have new actors inhabit classic roles because we can all benefit from the fresh perspective that they bring not only to these characters but to the essential story as well,” said Director Matthew Howe.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” runs through Jan. 5. The Children's Theatre. 2400 3rd Ave. S. www.childrenstheatre.org. 874-0400. $17-39.