My Day Job

As some of you know, I work for AFS Intercultural Programs. This year is our 60th anniversary and AFS is undertaking an international petition. The purpose of the petition is to promote intercultural exchange as a path to greater world peace. The goal of the petition drive is to collect one million signatures, to be presented to the UN in a ceremony coinciding with the 60th anniversary celebrations this fall. Please join me and sign the petition drive at http://www.exchanges4peace.org to help create a new generation of global citizens. Thank you!

Our Studio

Art-A-Whirl Recap

For those of you who couldn't make it, here's a few memories from this year's AAW!

Our studio

Until the End

Bankrupt in Panama

Rabi & Jono

Outside the Q.arma Bldg

Friends from out of town

My sis Jess demonstrating glass etching

S'mores to close out the night.

Art-A-Whirl this Weekend

Don't forget! This coming weekend is Art-A-Whirl! Rabi will have work in 5 Northeast locations.

The event hours are as follows:

Friday, May 18 @ 5-10pm

Saturday, May 19 @ 12-8pm

Sunday, May 20 @ 12-5pm

Our studio will be open all weekend in the Q.arma Bldg.

1224 Quincy St NE Studio B25

Minneapolis, MN 55413

Look for the Big A again. And be sure to stop by on Saturday afternoon and evening. There will be live bands, movies after sundown, a BBQ and drinks. We are sponsoring the Kotou Danse Company, who will also be performing at 4pm. Check out the tentative entertainment schedule.

Rabi will have about 5 new pieces at the Frank Stone Gallery.

1224 2nd St NE

Minneapolis, MN 55413

Preview Party: Thursday, May 17 @ 5-9pm (we will be there)

Group Show Reception: Friday, May 18 @ 7-10pm (we won't be there)

Open Gallery: Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20 @ 12-5pm

He will also have 4 pieces at Gallery 13.

302 13th Ave NE

Minneapolis, MN 55413

Along with other members of TAWU, Rabi will have 2 pieces at the Palm Court Restaurant.

2424 Central Ave NE

Minneapolis, MN 55418

Please support NEMAA at its silent auction and bid on his piece "Union". All proceeds from his piece go to NEMAA and help out the arts district.

Northrup King Bldg

1500 Jackson St NE Room #332

Minneapolis, MN 55413

We will post updates as they become available. Please let us know if you need directions to any of these venues or more information. Invite your friends!

Drink and Be Merry

On Friday night, come and drink a Surly. Surly is made in the neighboring bode of Brooklyn Center. Although I've been to their brewery before, I managed to get seriously lost when attempting to pick up a few growlers this last weekend. Note to Omar and Todd, put your phone number on the growlers! Their brews are served in a few spots in NE that I'm aware of (331 Club, the Sample Room). Rabi and my favorite is the Bender, but we'll also have some Furious.

We will also have treats from Kenkayba's Place. We haven't been there in a few months, but I recently stopped by to say hey. WOW! What changes Cecilia and Emmanuel have made! And they now have a website. We won't have their famous fufu or banku, but rather finger foods like meat pies, plantains and fries.

Just don't forget the art!

Preview Issues of NEED

As at our studio opening reception, we will have preview issues of NEED magazine on hand. This includes the latest 2nd issue! If you subscribe using our exclusive Yarbi Design offer, you'll get 4 issues for $18 which is 33% off the normal subscription rate.

Bike Around Art-A-Whirl

Leave your water-guzzling camel at home and jump on your bike this weekend! Pick up your Northeast Arts District Bike Map at our studio and see all the sights to see via velo.

l'etoile Magazine

Saturday night's festivities at the Q.arma Bldg are being sponsored by l'etoile magazine, a gorgeous new publication to hit the streets. Just as NEED Magazine documented humanitarian aid efforts in a beautiful way, l'etoile takes a similar photo-based spin. Benefits from your donations will go towards Altered Esthetics, a soon to be non-profit (cross your fingers!) gallery on the 1st floor. DJ Bach will be mixing techno "after" AAW hours and hip movies will be played outside in the yard.

AfricaNOW Artist in Residence Faustin Linyekula

Next week is a busy one for us! I don’t think we’ll be able to make this event since we’ll be at the Frank Stone Gallery Preview Party and the NEMAA Silent Auction Preview Party but I just wanted to alert you to a free 30-minute solo performance and reception with Congolese choreographer Faustin Linyekula.

Walker Art Center’s Gallery 4
May 17th @ 7-9pm
1750 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis , MN 55403
Open to the public - free

Linyekula and his ensemble cast Les Studios Kabako will return to the Twin Cities this fall to present Festival of Lies, November 1-3. He would very much like to include local musicians and performers in the final performance so is hoping to receive information about our local performance community during his visit.

If you or someone you know is a performer and would like to be considered as a participant, please mail dvds, and cds to:
Michèle Steinwald (Festival of Lies submissions)
c/o Walker Art Center
1750 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis , MN 55403
or send website addresses and links to:michele.steinwald@walkerart.org

Read his interview in this month's edition of Mshale. Check out the Walker site for more information on this special event and Faustin Linyekula's artistic statement.

Tentative Entertainment Schedule

This is the schedule until further notice:

12pm: Bankrupt in Panama
1:30pm: Until the End
3pm: Jazz Mussell
4pm: Kotou Danse Company
6pm: The Sam Planet Group

There will also be fire-spinners, hair extensions and face painting during the day.

After dusk, there will be outdoor movies on the wall including Barnstormers and other cool flicks, grilling and a bonfire. DJ Bach will be mixing inside as well.