For those who can't remember why it is important to be earnest, stop by the Chief Theatre, 314 Beltrami Ave. N.W., this weekend to find out. A local production of Oscar Wilde's romantic comedy or comedy of errors, "The Importance of Being Earnest," to open at 8 p.m. on Friday and run at 8 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $7 for unreserved seating and are available at Brigid's Cross Irish Pub and Ken K. Thompson in the Paul Bunyan Mall. Reservations can be made by calling 751-0280.
Writers' reception
Mary Logue will headline the reading and reception for women whose works were published in the 2007 edition of "Dust and Fire." Logue, a poet and mystery writer, is a Minnesota native and taught writing at The Loft in Minneapolis and Hamline University in St. Paul for many years. She will present a reading of her work during a noon program March 2 in the east ballroom of Bemidji State University Hobson Memorial Union. Publication reading and reception for "Dust and Fire" writers, with opening remarks by Logue will be held at 7 p.m. March 2 in the BSU American Indian Resource Center. Both events are open to the public at no cost. Sixty four individuals have selections in the 21st edition of "Dust and Fire" which is produced by the Department of English of BSU. The anthology features memoirs, poetry, narratives, journal entries, short stories, essays and art from women residing in Minnesota or its neighboring states.
Children's theater
The Prairie Fire Children's Theatre and Laporte Public School will present "Tom Sawyer" at 7 p.m. March 2 and 3 in the school commons, 325 Main Street W. This production is "guaranteed to put a smile on yer face, some warmth in yer heart, and a little bit o' the child back in ya!" This residency is made possible in part by a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, Itasca Mantrap Operation and Cry of the Loon Lodge. Tickets are $3 for adults or students, pre-school children are free.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Children of War"
The Illusion Theater presents "Children of War," at 7:30 p.m. March 6 in the Beaux Arts Ballroom of the Hobson Memorial Union at BSU. The play tells the true stories of young adults who have experienced acts of violence in this country and as refugees to escape famine, ethnic strife, chaos or civil war. It was created by Ping Chong and Michael Robins and Bonnie Morris of Illusion Theater in an effort to increase compassion for immigrants and as a way to seek justice for the inequities, discrimination and horrors of war. This production is part of a statewide tour with the local program sponsored by the Hobson Union Programming Board and is free and open to the public. For more information, call 755-2066.
First Friday Art Walk
E Artists from the BSU Designers Guild will be featured guest artists for the month of March and will be honored 2-5:30 p.m. March 2 at the Gallery North, 502 Third St. N.W. Also on display will be the Artists of Minnesota Mini Show of small paintings. Featured artists Glenn Ferguson will display works in photography, and Erma Stelter will demonstrate painting and tell stories about painting she had done in the past. Musicians and singers on the Minnesota Forest Stage will entertain from 2-4 p.m. and include Mary Ann Lewis, Bob Bilden and Mavis Winger and Ardel Lewis. Stop by Gallery North for art, refreshments and live music on Friday, March 2, Gallery North in the Irvine Bridge Shops (502 3rd Street N.W.) This event is free and open to the public.
E The Wild Hare Bistro and Coffee House, 523 Minnesota Ave. N.W. will presents Jay B. Jones and his "Visual Cohesion- Abstract Thoughts of Nature and Structure." These pieces are acrylic, mixed media and assembled works of art. The opening reception will be held from 4-6 p.m. March 2 is free and open to the public.
E Northwest Technical College, 905 Grant Ave. S.E., will host the Art Appreciation Open House from 4-7 p.m. March 2. Enter by the East Entrance of the new addition. Join in celebrating the installation of NTC's public art which features Al Belleveau, Paul Simonson, Marlon Davidson, Don Knutson, Cyrus Swann, Paula Gordon Van Wert, Judy Onofrio, Jeff Zachmann and Suzi Ross. Special Guests for the open house will include author Will Weaver from 4-5:30 p.m. and musicians Kim Lindell and Barb Houg. Refreshments will be served and this event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 333-6654.
E Bemidji Community Art Center, 426 Bemidji Ave. N. will host the "Bemidji State University Student Awards Exhibit" for the month of March with a reception from 5-7 p.m. March 2. This juried show will display a wide range of work submitted by students applying for 2007 Visual Arts Scholarship and the 2007 Dalzotto Awards for graduating seniors. Exhibit lecture and announcement of awards for this exciting exhibit of painting, ceramics, jewelry, and mixed media will begin at 6 p.m. March 2. This activity is made possible, in part, by the Region 2 Arts Council through funding from the Minnesota State Legislature. BCAC reception is free and open to the public.
E The Great River Gallery, 202 Third St. N.W., is filled with new works created by more than 20 artists. Visit them at their opening reception from 5-8 p.m. March 2 and view a wide array of artwork ranging from fine silver jewelry, one-of-a-kind baskets, paintings and three dimensional collage.
ADVERTISEMENT
E Dunn Bros Coffee, 501 Paul Bunyan Drive, S., continues its exhibit of Susan Hallett's "Native American Families Collection" of quilts. A permanent display of Levandowski Pottery of stoneware and raku made with nontoxic clay and lead-free glazes is available for purchase.
Other events
E "3 by Beckett" by Samuel Beckett will open at 7:29 p.m. Feb. 22-24 at the Black Box Theatre of Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex at BSU, Birchmont Drive and 15th Street. The trio of short plays all focus on the question of the human condition or how does one remain human in the absence of meaning. An opening night reception will follow the Feb. 22 performance and "A Talkback" with Patrick Carriere and Kit Christianson following the Feb. 23 show. For information and ticket reservations, call the box office at 755-3863. Ticket prices are $4 for students and senior citizens, $8 for adults and free for BSU students with valid ID.
E Bemidji Baroque Ensemble will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Thompson Recital Hall of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex. Members of this ensemble began performing together at a time when there was a renewed interest in playing pre-1750 music in a historically accurate style. This concert is free and open to the public. For further information, call 755-2915.
E Fourth Installment of the BSU Concert Series will feature the Pat Harbison Jazz Quartet at 7:30 p.m. March 3 in Thompson Recital Hall of Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex. Tickets for the concert are $20 for the general public and $10 for students and are available at the BSU Department of Music (755-2915) and Tutto Bene Restaurant.
E Bemidji Community Theater, in collaboration with the Theater Department of BSU, will present "Kiss Me, Kate," a musical version of William Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew," at 7:30 p.m. March 2, 3, 9 and 10, and 2:30 p.m. March 4 on the main stage of Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex. The musical will feature voice and music students from BSU and community members. This musical comedy is aimed toward mature audiences. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students through college and are on sale at Iverson Corner Drug in downtown Bemidji and Ken K. Thompson Jewelry in the Paul Bunyan Mall. Tickets will be sold at the theater starting one hour before show time. For group rates and further information, call Sarah Einerson at 335-2400.
E Tin Pan Gallery of the Blackduck History and Art Center, Main Street and Margaret Avenue, hosts a quilt show featuring the Blackduck "Wednesday Quilters" through March. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays; and 1-5 p.m. Thursdays. For more information or for special arrangements to see the show, call (218) 835-4478.
E The Minnesota Orchestra will return to Bemidji for a concert of Beethoven's Third and Eighth Symphonies at 7:30 p.m. April 27 at Bemidji High School. This event is sponsored by the BSU Department of Music where the tickets are now on sale. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $10.
ADVERTISEMENT
E Anishinaabe Arts Grant. These grants may be requested by individual Native American artists for up to $700 to assist them in the completion of an artistic work or to take advantage of an opportunity; by schools for up to $500 that wish to engage the talents of an artist-in-residence; and by organizations for up to $1,200 for community project grants. For further information write Terry Widman at the Region 2 Arts Council, 426 Bemidji Ave., Bemidji 56601 or call 751-5447 or toll free at (800) 275-5447. The website is www.r2arts.org . Deadline for submission is March 8.
E Jenn Steinbrink is the featured artist in the Bemidji Kiosk project. The kiosk galleries in downtown Bemidji are former telephone booths that have been altered to display art work. The display pieces are for sale. Look for the kiosk display February through April.
E Tickets for student version of "Les Misérables" are on sale. The Mask and Rose Theater Collective, under the direction of Cate Belleveau, will present a regional premier of the musical featuring local talent and some Minneapolis youth. Two shows for high school students will be presented on at 9 a.m. April 26 and 9:30 a.m. April 27 for $5 per ticket. Reservations for the school performances may be made by calling P. Lester at 751-6284. Four rows of prime center seats at $20 each may be reserved until April 1. Performance dates are April 25-29 at the Chief Theatre. For further information, contact Belleveau at kayakc2@mac.com . General admission tickets for $12 for adults and $9 for students may be purchased in advance at Brigid's Cross Irish Pub in downtown Bemidji. Tickets at the door will be $14 and $9.
E Headwaters Winter Writers' Retreat by CarolAnn Russell Schlemper will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Headwaters School of Music and the Arts, 519 Minnesota Ave. N.W. This full day workshop with lunch from the Wild Hare Bistro is limited to the first 12 participants. Call the HSMA at 444-5606 to register or for further information. The cost of $95 includes lunch, refreshments and all materials.
E Early registration for Northwoods Writers Conference at BSU is March 1. The June 17-22 conference will feature a multi-genre offering for new writers, a creative non-fiction session and two workshops in poetry, one for novices and another for more experienced poets. A fifth program, symbolic modeling, is designed to explore techniques for cultivating memory and knowledge as sources of subjects for writers. The cost of the conference is $424 for those who submit applications prior to March l; after that date, the fee increases to $455. For further information, contact the Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference at www.bemidjistate.edu/writersconference or call 755-2068.
