ARTSpulse by Dayna DelVal

la the T ne st i se his ws ssu co is pa e nd pe of to r! the

Published by

of the Red River Valley

A guide to the area’s arts and culture

january/february 2013

Photos by Ann Arbor Miller

Cultivating an appreciation of

our food By Randi Olsen hen you sit down with a delicious plate of fresh garden veggies, how often do you take a moment to ponder where that food actually came from? In a society where convenience is everything, and we are getting more and more detached from our food, people like photojournalist Ann Arbor Miller come along to help remind us of our roots. Miller is partnering up with The Green Market to present On the Farm and In the Garden. This exhibit will feature photographs of produce, plant life, and other scenes taken from a small farm near Shelly, Minn., called Red Goose Gardens. Because of her journalism and documentary photography background, none of the photos have been manipulated or positioned, capturing the farm experience in its most natural state.

More CULTIVATING on page 6

Ann Arbor Miller’s photos capture the nature and beauty of farm life, as seen in these photos from her upcoming show.

The artist will see you now:

Sanford’s resident artist creates a more ‘human’ hospital A

By Kris Kerzman rtists work in some of the most peculiar places: expansive studio spaces; cramped, cluttered holes in the wall; on stages; in garages; or out in public. But here’s a new one. Heather Zinger works in a hospital. Specifically, she works in the Roger Maris Cancer Center at Sanford Health as their artist in residence, a part-time position she’s held since September 2012. So, you’re probably wondering, what exactly does an artist in residence at a hospital do? Zinger’s duties are similar to what resident artists do in other settings, which typically include leading workshops and developing curricula for a program. The big difference, of course, is the unorthodox setting. She plans and coordinates special projects, including one in the works that will hang environmental portraits of the hospital’s doctors engaged in their favorMore Sanford

Courtesy of Heather Zinger and Sanford Health

artist on page 4

During a participatory art project led by Heather Zinger for the 2012 Embrace Cancer Survivor’s picnic, people picked one of the ribbons based on their role in a survivor’s life and attached the ribbon to a balloon in various ways. The balloon will eventually be hung at the hospital.

• inside artspulse •

h i s t o r y s u n d a y s M SU M ’ s e c l e c t i c m u s i c i a n p l a i n s a r t m u s e u m c r e a t i v i t y r o s i e s a v a g e a u

january/february 2013

CulturePulse.org

A guide to Fargo-Moorhead area arts and culture

VIEW point Grateful reflection

Publisher The Arts Partnership Executive Director and Managing Editor Dayna Del Val

Dayna Del Val

Executive Director, The Arts Partnership

Co-managing Editor Kris Kerzman Publications Committee Lisa Farnham Pam Gibb Erin Koffler Sue Spingler

This year, I am resolving to recognize the people in my life who have fostered my artistic self, and I encourage you to do the same.

By Dayna Del Val appy 2013! The new year has me reflecting on all the people in my life who have given me some kind of arts instruction, mentorship, advice, criticism and support. This year, I am resolving to recognize the people in my life who have fostered my artistic self, and I encourage you to do the same. Here’s my list for today, not exhaustive but more top of mind: • Bonnie Bowman — My mom was my first accompanist and first duet partner. • John Del Val — My dad did “commercials” with me when I was little. We sold everything from stocks and bonds to lotion — not sure how we settled on investment opportunities, but I was an excellent salesperson of them! • Roger and Karen Kalinowski — My first formal theatre and musical directors. I was cast as Marta in the Wahpeton Community Theatre Production of The Sound of Music when I was six, and I haven’t looked back. • Joyful Noise — The high school church choir I sang in at the Wahpeton United Methodist Church. We belted out harmony like nobody’s business and knew every word to every Amy Grant song. • Dr. Rodney Rothlisberger — My high school choir director at Moorhead High. He was demanding, exacting and often difficult, but I will never be in a choir or ensemble that comes close to having that exquisite level of precision ever again. When we sang When I Survey the Wonderous Cross in a round at Christ the King church, magic happened that I can still feel.

• Trollwood Performing Arts School — My foundation as a performer comes from my years as a student at this incredible place. • Michael Walling — If you know me, you have heard me say this, but I believe I owe my entire acting career to Michael. He was my Singing Onstage teacher my last summer at TPAS, and he was from New York. He asked me what I was going to study in college in the fall, and I said, “English.” He said, “No you’re not. You’re going to be an actor.” “I am?” “Dayna, that’s who you are and what you do.” Enough said. • The MSUM Theatre Department — Where I spent my most fun and challenging years as a student. I developed as a performer, as a person, and as an artist during those four wonderful years, and that doesn’t even talk about the amazing people who are still important in my life from that time. • John Gassmann —My step-father who always believed I would “make it big.” I’m still working on getting there! • Theatre B — Where I began my “mature” career as an actor. • The Academie Agencie and Stacie Lentz — My agent who has helped me get into some really amazing commercials and enabled me to actually make money from this crazy career. • Linda Boyd — Invited me for lunch one day and told me to apply for the director of an organization called The Arts Partnership. Boy am I grateful for that lunch date! Thinking about these people and the imprint they’ve made on me throughout my life makes me excited to see who else I will encounter on my journey and how they will challenge and encourage me to keep on growing as an artist and person. Happy New Year — I hope you take the time to recall and thank your own list of important people, too.

TAP calls Primary Partner artists and organizations to apply for CSA By TAP Staff ast year, The Arts Partnership launched the Community Supported Art program to great success, and it’s time for artists and arts organizations to get their ideas together and apply to be one of nine juried artists to participate in the upcoming round. The deadline for applying is Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. All forms of art are welcome, and we encourage collaborative projects. Last year, two artists from Gallery 4 mounted photographs of area mushroom bunches onto metal and then attached dimensional metal mushrooms to create depth to the piece. Theatre B presented a snippet of its show at one of the pickup parties and then invited the shareholders to attend one of two private performances at a later date in the theatre. The Northern Plains Botanic Garden Society utilized many of its members to create a concrete

cast of a cabbage leaf. The other six pieces of art were done by individual artists. Remember that all art needs to be replicated 50 times. It needs to fit inside an 18 x 12 x 12" container. You must be available to talk about your work at one of the three pick-up parties. A $1,000 stipend is awarded to each of the nine selected projects. In addition to the stipend, artists are introduced to up to 100 shareholders at three parties. Based on last year’s parties, artists were hired to adjunct teach at NDSU, art shows were developed, students were added to after-school arts enrichment classes, and artists were challenged to think about their own art in new and inventive ways. Please contact Dayna Del Val, TAP executive director, at dayna@theartspartnership.net or 701-237-6133 to get more information and an application. You must be a TAP Primary Partner in good standing by Jan. 31, 2013, to apply.

The Arts Partnership’s Board of Directors Brad Bachmeier, board chair Andrew Mara, vice chair Nicole Crutchfield, treasurer

Erin Koffler, secretary

Beth Fortier

Carol Schlossman, past chair

Michael Olsen

Alyson Bjornstad

Michael Strand

Roxane Case

Ellen Shafer Mark Weiler

Design and Layout Shawn Olson Co-Founders John Gould Steve Revland Contact us

1104 2nd Ave. S., Suite 315 Fargo, N.D. 58103 701-237-6133 admin@theartspartnership.net This publication was made possible by the cities of Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo through their allocations for arts & culture and members of The Arts Partnership. ArtsPulse is published six times a year by The Arts Partnership. All rights reserved by ArtsPulse. Reproductions of any kind without written permission are prohibited. The publisher and editor assume no responsibility for unsolicited material, manuscripts or photographs. All materials are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but published without responsibility for errors or omissions. ArtsPulse accepts advertisements from organizations believed to be of good reputation, but cannot guarantee the authenticity or quality of objects, events, or services advertised. Opinions and/or ideas expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Letters to the editor should include the author’s name, address and phone number. All letters are subject to editing. Letters can be submitted to artspulse@theartspartnership.net

Foundation and Institutional Support • Cities of Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo • North Dakota Council on the Arts • Carol L. Stoudt Donor Advised Fund (II) of the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation For calendar listings visit culturepulse.org and for The Arts Partnership information visit theartsparnership.net.

january/february 2013

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news briefs Travel back in time during FM Opera’s The Face on the Barroom Floor By David Hamilton eat the winter blahs and escape to the Wild West without ever leaving FargoMoorhead. On Jan. 10, 11 and 12, Fargo-Moorhead Opera will present The Face on the Barroom Floor at the favorite downtown night spot, The Hotel Donaldson’s HoDo Lounge. Travel back in time to the Gold Rush to hear the story of Madeline, the barmaid with a heart of gold. There’s champagne and dancing until we learn of the dark secret from Madeline’s past. Then jump forward in time to the present day and meet Isabel and Larry where that old axiom “history repeats itself” proves to be true in a most tragic way. Husband and wife singing duo Darci Bultema and Mike Skyles reprise their roles as Madeline and Larry with Fargo’s favorite baritone Peter Halverson telling the story as Tom the barman. The cast is joined by David Ferreria playing honky-tonk saloon piano like no other, Deb Harris on flute and Greg Hamilton on cello. A limited number of $25 advance tickets ($30 at the door) are available for this 45-minute opera. Tickets include a free drink. Children are welcome at the HoDo Bar with their parents. Contact FM Opera at 701-239-4558 or visit fmopera.org to reserve your seats today.

Register for Moorhead Community Education spring classes Submitted by Moorhead Area Public Schools pring Moorhead Community Education classes begin Jan. 22 with the starting date of individual classes varying. The spring catalog, which is available beginning Jan. 7, includes arts and music courses as well as cooking, crafts, computer, recreation, dance, early childhood classes and more. Art and music courses this spring include mosaic classes taught by artist Magda Szeitz and painting and drawing classes taught by artist and art educator Carrie Savageau. Other courses taught by local artists, art teachers and arts enthusiasts include Calligraphy, Beginning Harmonica, Beginning Guitar, Fiddling for Fun and more. If you’d like to offer an

arts opportunity for the community in a future catalog, contact Lauri Winterfeldt at 284-3400. Moorhead residents and past participants receive a catalog in the mail. To request a free catalog or to register for a class, call Community Education at 218-284-3400 or go online at https://communityed.moorhead.k12.mn.us.

Annual celebration honors women and their music By Sarah Morrau ark your calendars for the 16th Annual Celebration of Women & Their Music on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, at the historic Fargo Theatre in downtown Fargo. The Celebration of Women and their Music was founded in 1998 by Deb Jenkins of Fargo, a renowned blues singer, chef and caterer. Over the years the show has featured regional women performing a variety of musical genres from popular to classical, instrumental to vocal. Each year brings newcomers to the stage and favorites from previous years in a celebration of the talent and artistic camaraderie of women in the Fargo-Moorhead and surrounding regions. The money raised goes toward continuing this event and to an endowment fund established with the F-M Area Foundation. The endowment helps fund an annual scholarship awarded to one or more local high school senior female artists to go toward continuing her education. For artists and award winners alike this annual event offers the chance to network with other musicians and find inspiration to pursue their talents and dreams. For the audience, it’s a chance to enjoy a variety of entertainment and inspiration. 2013 scheduled performers are Calli Adamson & Little Winter (Fargo-Moorhead), Samantha Adank (Concordia College student and 2012 Celebration award winner), Peggy Bartunek (North Dakota native), Chastity Brown (Minneapolis-based), Carolyn Cadwell and her daughters (Fargo-Moorhead teacher and resident), Hannah Christianson (Fargo native, currently residing in Boston), Cecelia Erholtz (Detroit Lakes native, currently residing in Minneapolis), I’m with Her (Fargo native Haley E Rydell and Colorado native Angie Stevens), Kris Kitko (Bismarck native), Diane Miller (Fargo-Moorhead), The Pastry Shop Girls (Fargo-Moorhead) and Raining Jane (LA). For more information visit Celebration of Women and Their Music Facebook page or debjenkins.com.

Buy Tickets Now! Daniel Bernard Roumain with DJ Scientific “…Daniel Bernard Roumain is creating a miracle…” —The New York Times Discover DBR’s genius for fusing classical music, hip-hop, concert violin, and progressive electronic beats. DBR, on six-string amplified violin, is backed by DJ Scientific.

Thursday, January 31, 7:30 p.m., Gaede Stage Daniel Bernard Roumain with DJ Scientific

The Complete World of Sports Abridged, performed by The Reduced Shakespeare Company “I laughed so much I didn’t take enough notes to write a review” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette For sports lovers AND haters! A marathon of madness and mayhem as the world’s great sporting events are shrunk down to theatrical size as only the Reduced Shakespeare Company can do.

Saturday, March 23, 7:30 p.m., Hansen Theatre The Reduced Shakespeare Company

For tickets, call the MSUM Box Office at (218) 477-2271 M-F from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or buy online at www.mnstate.edu/perform

Powerful performances right here. Minnesota State University Moorhead is an equal opportunity educator and employer and is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

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sanford artist: Continued

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ite activities. She works out in the community, sharing a recent project with an area school to create holiday cards for hospital patients. And, most importantly, she works directly with patients and their family members in outpatient care situations, getting them involved with art projects that help them pass the time and occupy their minds with something other than their treatment. For both Zinger and Sanford, the goal is to humanize the health care experience, something that has plenty of desirable side effects. Zinger is in her early thirties. A native of the Chicago area, she first studied French before attending the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Ore., to pursue photography. She soon became interested in social practice art, a discipline that involves audience participation and engagement with the public, usually along political and social issues. Her interest in working with hospitals stems from treatment she received for GuillainBarré Syndrome as a child and from her time living in France, where she saw a dramatically different style of health care. “Hospitals can be dreary places. When I was in France, I saw that they were so willing to make things comfortable,” she said. “It wasn’t like what I saw here, where hospitals can be cold and alienating. It was something more human.” After meeting NDSU’s Art Department Head Michael Strand at a social practice conference in Portland, she was encouraged by Strand to apply for the recently created position of resident artist at Sanford Health in Fargo. The position was integrated into Sanford’s Embrace Cancer Survivorship Program, which assists cancer survivors by helping them form personal connections to each other, education and empowerment. The hospital received a grant from the Livestrong Foundation to partly fund the position, accomplishing a goal set by Sanford oncologist Shelby Terstriep to establish broader, integrated services into their health care regimen. Terstriep sees Zinger’s addition to the staff as the first step in creating a dynamic arts program that “taps into an artist’s expertise” to create an environment of healing and wellbeing that wouldn’t be attainable otherwise, and it’s bearing out in patient reaction. “Heather’s had a number of moments that tell us we’re doing the right thing here,” Terstriep said. Having artists on staff at hospitals is still a new idea. There are only 20 such positions in the United States, including one at Sanford’s Sioux Falls location, but the idea is gaining traction as health care professionals realize the potential for healing that the arts can provide through positions like Zinger’s and through more regimented and involved care options like art therapy (for the sake of clarity, it should be mentioned that Zinger is not an art therapist). Embrace program coordinator Jenna Linder says the research is getting harder to ignore, and positive reaction for Zinger’s work keeps flooding in. “The feedback we’ve gotten back on Heather’s work is amazing,” Linder said. “It relieves patient stress, and it improves overall patient well-being.” “It’s the little things that really mean the most to people,” she continues. And for Zinger, the real upshot has been the opportunity to interact with patients and connect with them outside of their regular care routines. “When I work with kids, I see that it has a calming effect on them. And people get so into it. For them, I think it has humanized their hospital experience.”

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ARTS pulse ARTSpulse is a service of The Arts Partnership 1104 2nd Ave. S., Suite 315, Fargo, ND 58103 • 701.237.6133

january/february 2013

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History Sundays with Steve Stark

Steve Stark illustrates local history with a presentation series hosted by the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County.

By BY MATT HANSEN ou’ve probably driven on Roberts Street or passed by Carl Ben Eielson School, but how often have you thought about the people for which they are named: Mr. Roberts or Mr. Eielson? How about Mr. Fargo or Mr. Moorhead? Steve Stark wants you to get to know who those people were. For six more weekends, Stark will be hosting History Sundays at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead. Each weekend, the event allows Stark to present an illustrated history of our region. On a Sunday in December Stark presented drawings from the Fur Trade to the establishment of Fargo and Moorhead. When you walk into the room, you’ll see a large, mural-sized piece of paper that Stark will cover with visual aids, but these are not the chicken-scratch drawings your high school teacher would use. Right in front of your eyes, while telling a story, Stark transforms the white, blank paper into amazing illustrations. “I’m telling a story through art,” Stark said. Generally when you think of regional history, nothing exciting comes to mind. You may

Photo by Matt Hansen

Sundays th rough February 2 4, 1 p.m. Historical and Cultural S ociety of Clay Coun ty hcscconlin e.org

think of dry, self-published books or local, uninteresting talks. Watching Stark illustrate history, however, completely grabs your attention — and that’s not by accident. Stark believes most individuals are visual learners, so learning about local history while watching him illustrate, “really mixes the senses” he said. “It’s a neat teaching tool.” While growing up, he went to a friend’s church when “a guy came in and told the story of the Good Samaritan while drawing it,” he recalled, “I had never seen anything like that in my life.” Stark realized from a very early age that illustrating was something he wanted to do. Inspired, Stark said, “It changed my understanding about what somebody could do — how somebody could tell a story and draw it at the same time.” After many years of practice, he could finally do that himself. His process is pretty straightforward, but it takes a lot of effort and time, he said. At the end of the day, his ability to share our region’s history is what makes it worthwhile. “It’s the greatest joy in my life to be doing this,” Stark said. “We go through so much of our lives not appreciating history ... but [illustrations] really bring it to life.”

january/february 2013

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The ritual of creating returns to A Woman's Perspective

by Vicky Jo Bogart ouring the first cup of coffee, walking the dog, working out, taking a nap — daily routines that have become rituals. Births, deaths, marriage, graduation, birthdays, coming of age, play dates, retreats, sports, hunting, homecomings, holidays, celebratory gatherings with rituals that mark life’s milestones, achievements and transitions. A Woman’s Perspective on RITUAL begins its four-month exploration through song, dance, poetry, prose, film, theatre, play shops and visual art. Visual, literary and performing artists are answering the call to share these rituals from their personal perspective throughout Fargo and Moorhead. For some of the more than 150 participating artists, the multimedia, multi-genre series of arts exhibitions and events has become its own ritual. Anticipating the theme, allowing the ideas to formulate, and realizing the results of the ritual of artistic expression, challenges the mind, body and spirit to create for empathetic and astute audiences. Central to A Woman’s Perspective’s primary visual art exhibition is the Literary and Performing Arts event and public reception on Sunday, Feb. 17, from 1-4 p.m. at the Historic and Cultural Society of Clay Country at the Hjemkomst Center. More than visual art,

A Woman’s Perspective draws diversity of talent, ages and gender to surprise audiences with their original acts. Juggling, hula hoops, burlesque, vocal arrangements, musical compositions, martial arts, the spoken word, film, drumming, and a variety of dance styles delight and intrigue audiences with new ways of expressing a common theme. “That was the best afternoon of my life,” said one audience member who stood during the performance, engrossed in each story, every song, and all the acts. Standing room only has become the norm as new talent is revealed, seasoned performers experiment, and conceptual talent engage the audience to explore the theme through their creative minds. First-time, professional, emerging and hobby artists and performers age 15 and over are invited to participate. Entry forms are due postmarked no later than Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013. A Woman’s Perspective Multimedia Art Exhibitions and Events is supported in part by Quilters’ Guild of North Dakota, Prairie Public, Nichole’s Fine Pastry, Les Skoropat Design, Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, HandWorks and American Association of University Women--Fargo/Moorhead. For entry information and schedule of events, exhibits and classes, contact http://awp.handworks.org or 701-232-5389.

A Woman’s Perspective draws diversity of talent, ages and gender to surprise audiences with their original acts.

cultivating: Continued

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This project was started thanks to The Arts Partnership’s Community Supported Art program. It is like a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), but with art instead of food. Shareholders receive original art created by local artist. Miller used her photographs from Red Goose Gardens and printed them on archival bamboo paper for 50 shareholders. The display at The Green Market will be a continuation of what she did for the Community Supported Art program. The Green Market is a perfect fit for Miller’s vision because it is a local business that serves local food. With On the Farm and In the Garden, Miller wants to support and bring awareness to

not only The Arts Parnership’s CSA, but also encourage people to support local farms like Red Goose Gardens. “I hope the photographs will bring viewers a moment of pause to consider food, where it comes from, the environment in which it was grown, and how it came to arrive at the table,” Miller said. So come and connect with your food with On the Farm and In the Garden. It will be on display from Jan. 3 to March 31 at The Green Market in downtown Fargo, with an opening reception Tuesday, Jan. 8 from 6-8 p.m.

COMMENTARY:

F-M area greater than the sum of its parts By Matt Hansen didn’t really start paying attention to art until I went on my first Concordia College May Seminar, a month-long immersion travel experience throughout Western Europe. During this trip, I visited some of the world’s best known museums and galleries — the British Museum, Tate Modern, the Louvre — and I longed to better understand the pieces of history I saw along the way. Without proper background in art history, the Great Works just looked like nicely framed paintings. Upon return, I decided to better appreciate my local arts community, with hopes of better understanding things the next time I travelled abroad. What a journey it has been. Along the way, I discovered that Fargo-Moorhead is a pretty special place. While we often complain that there’s nothing to do or see, a simple walk Downtown can change all of that. Starting at the Plains Art Museum, one has the ability to view incredible works of art in a beautiful, reclaimed space. A couple blocks away, Theatre B offers top-notch acting and a wonderful atmosphere. ecce gallery, on Broadway, changes featured artists monthly and is in a modern, yet inviting, space. And down the street, the Fargo Theatre, our city’s most iconic building, and bastion of analog film (at least for a few more months) exemplifies the unmatched beauty of an Art Deco theatre. From the start of my writing internship with the Arts Partnership earlier this fall, I have had the opportunity to visit and experience our community’s greatest assets — a one-time show by Theatre B, a Rossini opera, a TEDx event, an orchestra concert, a multicultural festival, and illustration demonstrations, just to name a few. My time with the Arts Partnership has brought me out of my comfort zone and into the community, meeting and learning about the people (known within the organization as Partners) that make this place vibrant and livable. For example, I never thought I would see an opera, but while on assignment for ARTSpulse, I did — and really enjoyed it. I discovered that our community’s opera company is on par with many other, larger metropolitan areas. Throughout my time interning, I have also been able to get a greater sense of place. This is so much more than a college town, though we have 25,000 college students. It is so much more than a technology town, though we have the largest Microsoft campus outside of Washington. It is so much more than an agricultural city, though we’re home to several large farming companies, and the North Dakota Trade Office, which represents the affairs of North Dakota exports. We are even more than an arts town, though we certainly have a lot to brag about from our theatre, to the new addition at the Plains, to the continuing work of partners with this organization. Fargo is a lot of things, and continues to cultivate a unique image. While we may be known for the Woodchipper, we are filled with so much more. That’s what I’ve learned. Matt Hansen is a senior at Concordia College studying sociology. He was an intern for ARTSpulse during the fall semester. You can follow him on Twitter at @matthansen.

The Arts Partnership directly supports the organizations and programming that you have been reading about in this issue of ARTSpulse through re-granting. You can help support all the arts in the metro area by becoming an Arts Advocate Partner at any level. Join us today! Name_______________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________ Telephone _______________________________________________ Email ___________________________________________________

 $10  $25  $50  Other $______________ Please mail to: The Arts Partnership 1104 2nd Ave. S., Suite 315, Fargo, ND 58103 701.237.6133 or go online to donate at TheArtsPartnership.net admin@theartspartnership.net cultivating the arts in our community

january/february 2013

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A fresh look at Shakespeare Submitted by Marie Offutt ublic television is utilizing history, biography and new analysis to tell the story behind the stories of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. The six episodes in the Great Performances series Shakespeare Uncovered travels to key locations, studies clips from some of the most celebrated film and television adaptations, and chats with actors, directors and scholars to explore nine of the Bard’s timeless masterpieces. Look for the series on Prairie Public beginning in January.

January 25, 2013 Macbeth Ethan Hawke invites viewers to join him in his quest to play Shakespeare’s murderous Thane of Cawdor by uncovering the true story that served as inspiration, immersing himself in some of the most memorable and innovative productions and discovering Shakespeare’s extraordinary insights into the criminal mind. January 25, 2013 Twelfth Night & As You Like It Joely Richardson and her mother Vanessa Redgrave investigate the legacy of these two brilliant cross-dressing comedies and the great comic and romantic heroines created by Shakespeare in two perennially popular plays. February 1, 2013 Richard II Derek Jacobi returns to a role he played 30 years ago, coaches actors at the Globe in aspects of the play, reveals why it could have cost Shakespeare his life — and shares some of the extraordinary modern political parallels within the play that still resonate as dictators are deposed. Also featured are notable excerpts from the upcoming Great Performances film adaptation starring Ben Whishaw and Patrick Stewart. February 1, 2013 Henry IV & Henry V Jeremy Irons (who stars as Henry IV in the upcoming new Great Performances film adaptation) uncovers the enduring appeal of Shakespeare’s “history plays,” from the facts of English history to the father-son drama that Shakespeare created. He discloses what Shakespeare’s sources were — and how he distorted them. He invites the viewer behind the scenes at the filming of some of the most important sequences in the new Great Performances adaptations of both plays, starring Irons, with Tom Hiddleston as Prince Hal. February 7, 2013 Hamlet An acclaimed Hamlet himself in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s recent hit production (and another recent Great Performances production), David Tennant meets with fellow Hamlets, including superstar Jude Law, comparing notes on the titanic challenge of playing the most iconic of all roles. He also tries, alongside Simon Russell Beale and Ben Whishaw, to master the meaning of the play and the reason why it is considered the greatest of Shakespeare’s works. February 7, 2013 The Tempest Trevor Nunn, the legendary director who has directed 30 of Shakespeare’s 37 plays and is determined to complete them all before he retires, takes viewers through the magical and mysterious world created in Shakespeare’s

Photo courtesy of Prairie Public Broadcasting

Cobbe portrait, claimed to be a portrait of William Shakespeare done while he was alive. Circa 1610. Unknown artist, possibly photographed by Oli Scarff. This is a faithful photographic reproduction of an original two-dimensional work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain for the following reason: This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired.

last complete play. He considers The Tempest Shakespeare’s farewell from the stage and relates the play to the playwright’s family life. Among the enthusiastic students of the play who contribute ideas about the role of Prospero is the Archbishop of Canterbury, along with Helen Mirren and director Julie Taymor, who collaborated on the most recent film adaptation — with Mirren playing a female Prospera.

New from New Rivers Press

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With a decidedly Midwestern feel, Nick Healy’s awardwinning collection of stories chronicles everyday life— from a letter to the editor exploding in local media to an older man arrested for hiring a prostitute. “It Takes You Over builds like a deceptively quiet, mesmerizing snowfall.”—Nicolet Helget, author of Turtle Catcher

Twists of fate and a haunted past wrack the residents of Lincoln after the biggest tornado they have ever seen rips straight through their 1950s small town, leaving in its wake a naked body, a missing person, and an escaped convict. Nationally acclaimed author Clint McCown will be in Fargo-Moorhead in April 2013 for special reading events.

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january/february 2013

Wabi-Sabi Show celebrates imperfect beauty

By Kelsy Johnson brand-new pair of jeans with washed-out color and a tear in the knee. An oddly shaped coffee mug. Gray hair. Asymmetry. These are just a few of the things that are cherished for their imperfect beauty. The Spirit Room is calling on all artists of imperfect works. That’s right – imperfect. This March, the Spirit Room will host a free, non-competitive exhibition based on the Japanese philosophy of imperfection called “wabi-sabi,” which celebrates the belief that beauty lies in what is flawed. The Wabi-Sabi Winter Show will feature local artists of virtually every art form, including literary and performing arts. All interested artists will be accepted into the exhibit as long as they meet the February 22 deadline for registration. Dawn Morgan, executive director of the Spirit Room, said she doesn’t plan to turn anyone away. The origin of wabi-sabi comes from the experience of Murata Shuko, a 15th-century Zen monk and tea master from Nara who used objects that were aesthetically understated and locally made instead of the gorgeously lacquered foreign tea utensils that were in fashion. This concept was further developed by Sen No Rikyu, a 16th-century tea master. Rikyo’s tea rooms were mud-walled, rough-thatched, misshapen and small. Unfortunately, this direction so threatened the authorities that at age 70, Rikyo was forced by the emperor to commit ritual suicide. However, his ideas have survived as one of the core concepts of Japanese culture. Wabi-sabi exists today in fashion, design and philosophy as an alternative to aesthetic perfection. It favors the irregular, the local, the earthy and the organic and, as an overall philosophy accepts that imperfection is inevitable. In traditional Middle Eastern rug weaving, for example, imperfections happen when the weaver runs out of yarn or forgets to repeat a pattern. Instead of starting over, she continues to make the rug with the imperfection intact. Some rug weavers intentionally leave a visible imperfection in the rug to remind the viewer that only God is perfect. Traditions like this one abound in art around the world. Each acknowledges our inability to attain perfection and celebrates the imperfections in our lives. “Sometimes too great a perfection is actually scary,” Morgan said. For example, if a person had complete facial symmetry, she would appear abnormal to others. This year’s Wabi-Sabi Show invites artists to find the perfectly imperfect in their lives, whether in their surroundings, in others or in themselves. Morgan hopes to make this event just as popular as the organization’s biannual Crow Show. The Wabi-Sabi Winter Show will take place on alternate years to that event. Like the Crow Show, the Wabi-Sabi Show offers local artists the chance to share their talent and good humor with the community in whatever capacity suits them. Entry forms can be found on the Spirit Room’s website at www.spiritroom.net.

Submitted photo

Wabi-sabi values the abnormality and imperfection found both in nature and in human life. The uneven lines in the field represent the natural imperfection that gives the world character. Wabi-sabi was created in opposition to the strict philosophy of perfection in the Japanese tea ceremony.

Submitted photo

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Individual, Group, and Couples Counseling Evening and Weekend appointments available Clairmont Counseling Center 1644 Tom Williams Dr. S, Fargo (located behind Hair Success on 32nd Ave)

january/february 2013

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Sounds eclectic: classical/hip hop fusion from DBR

Courtesy DBR Music Productions

Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) crosses genres in an upcoming installment of MSUM's Performing Arts Series.

BY Rebecca Sundet-Schoenwald BR’s head is shaved bare. Perhaps the yard-long dreadlocks he wore for years distracted from the music and the message. More likely, the change reflected…change. Haitian-American musician and composer Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) constructs and deconstructs; creates and imitates. The one constant in DBR’s performances is the merger of musical genres and audiences that would normally not be found seated next to one another. Old and young; experimental and traditional. The New York composer comes to Fargo-Moorhead in late January to work with students and perform his fusion of hip-hop, funk and classical music at MSUM and Moorhead Area Public Schools. It’s something he does regularly all over the world. “I am a product of public-school music education, and it’s important for me to mention that if it wasn’t for those experiences, I would not be able to be a composer,” he said in an interview at a New Jersey school last year. “My elementary school had an orchestra

program, I signed up, and that’s how it all began.” DBR begins his Fargo-Moorhead residency Monday, Jan. 28, rehearsing with Moorhead student orchestras for two days in preparation for a Jan. 29 public performance of his Voodoo Violin Concerto at Assembly of God in Fargo. He’ll also visit Moorhead’s elementary schools the next day to inspire young musicians and to create on-the-spot compositions with them using a variety of composition techniques and sounds. On Jan. 31, DBR will lead a composition workshop for high school and college musicians, using acoustic and electronic methods, on the MSUM campus. That evening, DJ Scientific will join DBR on the Gaede Stage in the Roland Dille Center for the Arts for a program called “Woodbox Beats and Balladry.” DJ Scientific will use a variety of turntables and microphones, and DBR will use a six-string amplified violin. The music contains elements of classical minimalism, dance club beats, traditional ballads, and noise. The collaboration between MSUM and Moorhead schools began when Rebecca SundetMore eclectic

musician on page 16

The Fargo-Moorhead Chamber Chorale Presents:

Singing Valentine Saturday, February 9, 2013

6:00 P.M. - Silent Auction and Social w/ Cash Bar 7:00 P.M. - Dinner 8:00 P.M. - Concert Michael Culloton, Artistic Director Ramada Plaza and Suites, Fargo, ND Symphony Hall Ticket Price: $50 per person To purchase your tickets, call Sheila: 701-491-2910 or email: info@fmchamberchorale.org Deadline for ticket purchase February 1, 2013. Seating is limited.

january/february 2013

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Plains Art Museum extends creativity to the community

Offering Andy Warhol exhibit and classes for youth, adults and families

Students participate in a pottery workshop in the newly opened Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Center for Creativity

Photo courtesy of Plains Art Museum

By Nicole Ellis fter years of dreaming, planning, fund raising and building, Plains Art Museum opened the doors to the Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Center for Creativity last fall. This new creative space is for our entire community — youth, artists, teachers, museum members, and people of all ages and backgrounds. The Center for Creativity is the culmination of years of dreaming and working toward this dream. But, the museum is also at a new beginning. It is the beginning of new dreams and aspirations of what our creative community can become and what creative individuals will build to help us solve problems, deepen life experiences, and sustain strong communities together.

wabi-sabi 2013 winter show

call for entries [visual. literary. performance.] aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

The First Wabi-Sabi Winter Show at the Spirit Room will be held March 2 to April 14, 2013. The theme, wabi-sabi, is the recognition of imperfection in the world and its inhabitants, making life much more interesting than living in a perfect world. Entry registration forms are due by February 22, 2013. Instructions for submitting work and entry forms are available at www.spiritroom.net.

All artists are invited to participate in their chosen field of imperfect expression.

The Spirit Room 111 Broadway N • Fargo, ND 58102 (701) 237-0230 • www.spiritroom.net

Join the museum this winter and spring for an exhibition that includes the work of one of the most remarkably fresh-thinking artists of the 20th century: Andy Warhol. Opening Feb. 2, Andy Warhol: Creating Myth and Icon is the first solo exhibition of Warhol to be presented in the Fargo-Moorhead area. It features 36 prints, including two of Warhol’s last series: Cowboys and Indians and Myth, showcasing such legendary figures as John Wayne and Superman. Learn something new and have new experiences in the classes for all ages in the Center for Creativity. The studios are already abuzz with the creative energy of children from our region. Evening and weekend classes extend the lifelong enjoyment of art to adults, and special weekend workshops like Kid Quest and teen events provide even more opportunities. Registration for winter and spring classes begins in January.

january/february 2013

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TAP’s Advocate Partners 2012 Alan J. Kluger Alyson Bjornstad Andrew Marry & Dayna Del Val Andrew & Miriam Mara Barbara Wood Williams Bernie & Bonnie Sinner Bernie’s Wines & Spirits Beth Fortier Bonnie Bowman Brad & Carol Schlossman Brad & Kristine Morris Brad Bachmeier Brian Hayer and in memory of Dorothy Goos Brian & Lisa Roach Brian Slator Britta Trygstad Burton & Patricia Belknap Catalyst Medical Center Carol L. Stoudt Carol Zielinski Caroll & Jo Engelhardt Charles & Helen Grommesh City of Fargo City of Moorhead City of West Fargo

Davis Anthony Scott Duane Henricks Eric & Anna Runestad Erin & Monte Koffler FM Convention & Visitors Bureau Gen Eidem Gene Okerlund George & Connie Blank Green Market Catering Insight to Action, LLC James & Annette Croves Dr. & Mrs. James McCulley James & Kristen Williams Jane Hella Jeff & Anne Peltier Jennifer Paulsrud Joan Justesen John & Sherri Stern Jonathan & Amy Jo Warrey Julie Burgum Kate Priesler Kevin & Paula Bartsch Lake Agassiz Concert Band Lisa Tate LOFT Marjorie Schlossman

Mark & Betsy Vinz Michael & Martha Keeler-Olsen Michael J. Strand Microsoft North Dakota Library Association NDSU Women’s Club Nem Schlecht Otter Tail Corporation Randi Martin Rebecca Berge-Buss Robert & Janice Miller Roger Minch Ronald Goos, in memory of Dorothy Goos Sam & Coralie Wai Sanford Health Scott & Karen Kost Susan Spingler Thomas & Ann Riley Virginia Dambach Wade and Theta Miller West Acres Development, LLP West Acres Merchant Association William & Mary Schlossman

Grant funding provided by:

TAP’s Primary Partners 2012 Acappella Xpress, Inc. Andrea Baumgardner Angels of the Muse Anne Kaese Arbor Photographic Artist in Residence Program Roger Maris Cancer Center Bachmeier Pottery Bree Reetz Camria Ballet Academy Carmen I. Bruhn Carrie Lee Wendt Concordia College Dan Francis Photography Density Over Duration Productions Doug Hamilton Downtown Community Partnership Ecce Art & Yoga Eric A. Johnson Erika Lorentzsen

Fargo Park District Fargo Theatre Fargo-Moorhead Area Music Club Fargo-Moorhead Area Youth Symphonies Fargo-Moorhead Ballet Fargo-Moorhead Chamber Chorale Fargo-Moorhead Drum & Bugle Corps Fargo-Moorhead Master Chorale Fargo-Moorhead Opera Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra Fargo-Moorhead Visual Artists Fine Arts Club FM Golden Notes New Horizons Band Friends of the Fargo Public Library Gallery 4 Gin Templeton Givinity Press Gooseberry Park Players Great Plains Harmony Green Purse

Gypsy & the Fish Harwood Prairie Playhouse Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County Hotel Donaldson Jenna Holt Rheault JPII Catholic Schools Kathryn Luther KCCM, Minnesota Public Radio Lake Agassiz Girls Choir Learning Bank McCal Joy Studio Michael J. Strand Midwest Mud Moorhead Area Public Schools Moorhead Parks & Recreation MSUM College of Arts & Humanities Music Theatre Fargo-Moorhead NDSU Dept. of English New Rivers Press/MSUM

Nichole's Fine Pastry Nordic Arts Alliance Nordic Culture Clubs North Dakota Museum of Art North Dakota State University Northern Plains Botanic Garden Society Penny & Pals/Kid Core Perry Rust Plains Art Museum Prairie Public Broadcasting Quilters' Guild of North Dakota Raine Design Rasmussen College School of Design Red Raven Espresso Parlor Red River Boy Choir Red River Dance & Performing Company Red River Valley Design Red River Watercolor Society Rourke Art Gallery & Museum Rust Belt Bindry

Sherbanoo Aziz Spider and Company Spirit Room Steven Hammer Studio e Susie Ekberg Risher Tangerine Life The Bare Stage Theatre The Jass Festival The Listening Room The Stage at Island Park, Home of FMCT Theatre B Theatre Tales Tin Roof Theatre Company Trollwood Performing Arts School West Fargo Park District West Fargo Public Schools Willi Nilli

january/february 2013

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Fargo native's play to be the first in Theatre B's Incubator Series

By David Wintersteen he theater world can be a very small place. When the artists of Theatre B embarked on the Incubator Series, little did they know that the author of the first play would be someone who was born and raised in Fargo. The incubator series started with a challenge from Rob Urbinati, associate artistic director for new play development at New York’s Queens Theatre in the Park. Urbinati, a longtime friend of the artists at Theatre B and a playwright himself, said, “It is time for Theatre B to pave the way for productions of unpublished plays.” He sent Theatre B’s artistic direction committee a dozen scripts to read, without revealing the authors. After much discussion the committee agreed that one play in particular had the best potential for success: Sweet Nothing, A (Grim) Fairytale. Once Theater B chose the script, Urbinati revealed that the playwright was a Fargo native, Stephanie Timm, who was now located in Seattle. The play is inhabited by familiar fairytale creatures, but it is set in a war-ravaged land. Three sisters share a cottage; wolves lurk outside; a mute wood-cutter’s boy wants to help. One of the sisters marries a prince and goes off to live with him; the postcards she sends home hint that all is not right. One unusual part of the development of Sweet Nothing is that the title changed during the submission process. The original title was “Picked,” but another playwright had pub-

lished under that title, so Timm felt it best to draft a different title to reduce confusion. In doing so, aspects of the play related to that idea also changed in later drafts. Director Kimberly Miller was surprised to see some of the changes that the script had undergone since she was first invited to direct it. When she received the latest version she exclaimed, “Wow, I can’t wait to see what else has changed.” This is one of the joys and risks of producing new work. It can be a highly collaborative process, with playwrights editing the script based on a director’s questions or the manner in which specific actors inhabit their developing characters. Or it can simply be a process of surprises, with artists having to be flexible as the story continues to evolve. Another risk is that these new works have not been tried and tested by an audience. Unlike the Tony and Pulitzer award-winning plays usually produced at Theatre B, the artistic direction committee has to trust that the story that engaged them on the page will translate to the production on the stage. But it is in Theatre B’s mission to take risks, and it’s exciting to break new ground. If the Incubator Series is successful, Theatre B plans to commission new work by regional and local playwrights. This will encourage local writers to draft and edit stories with the input of other creative artists. It will allow Theatre B’s artists to do more than interpret words on a page, but to influence storytelling at an early stage of the process when changes can still be made. And it will invite regional audiences into the unique experience of being the first to encounter a play.

Music Theatre Fargo-Moorhead welcomes NYC couple to direct/perform in upcoming musical

BY MTFM STAFF usic Theatre Fargo-Moorhead (MTFM) will bring Jennifer Tuttle from New York City to direct upcoming production of Songs for a New World by Jason Robert Brown. Tuttle’s directing credits include: The Seafarer, Shout!, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Sound of Music and The Music Man. She has studied with Patsy Rodenburg, Kari Margolis, members of the RSC and the Stratford Festival Company, at the Dell Arte School of Physical Theatre, and at the Moscow Art Theatre. Her husband, Ryan Kipp, who will be performing in this production, served as the artistic director for The Other Theatre, a professional company whose productions included both classical and modern texts. Kipp worked regionally, as a professional actor, in companies such as Florida Studio Theater and The Alliance Theater Company, Atlanta, Ga. Seeking to create more of his own work he formed 89 Second Productions and has dedicated most of his time to producing GLBTQ-themed films. Ryan’s first documentary short, The Collector, won Best Documentary at the 2011 NYC Downtown Short Film Festival. Fresh off of its win for Best Theater Production from the High Plains Reader 2012 Best Bets awards for its fall production of Jekyll & Hyde, MTFM is back with another talented

cast, sure to be another Best Bet. When asked about her concept for Songs for a New World, Tuttle said, “The show has been described by Jason Robert Brown, the composer, as a song cycle. He also says each song is about a character who is ‘in the moment’ and choosing to make a decision or take action ‘right now.’ There also seems to be a theme of discovery, especially of the self. So the set has a bit of a sailing ship look to represent the ideas of possibility, discovery and journey. I think the audience will be taking the journey with each character, song by song, and be in the moment with the actors.” “I really enjoy the work that MTFM does, as well as the people in the company,” she said. “I’ve wanted to direct a show with them for a long time, and they've expressed interest in working with me after seeing my work around the FM community. This was finally the opportunity where all of our schedules lined up; we are all really thrilled to have the opportunity to work together.” Songs for a New World will be performed at The Stage at Island Park on Feb. 14-16, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 16 & 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online at musictheatrefm.com or at 701-235-6778.

16th AnnuAl CelebrAtion of

sponsors

historic fargo theatre

Photo by kate koshnick

saturday, february 16th, 2013

Women and their music Monthly Guild meetings

feature education, talks, and project show and tell. 1 p.m., Third Saturdays Everyone welcome! Skills and Technology Training Center 1305 19 Ave. N, Fargo

Multimedia Art Exhibition February 1-March 30, 2013 •

Public Reception Sunday, February 17 1-4 p.m. Start time: 6:30 Pm

2013 scheduled Performers

DoorS oPen: 5:30 Pm

•

ticketS: • $15 general admission • $10 students • $50 VIP Tickets for sale at Tickets 300 – (701) 205-3182

Calli Adamson & Little Winter

•

Hannah Christianson

•

Cecelia Erholtz

•

Samantha Adank

•

Peggy Bartunek

I’m with Her

•

Chastity Brown

Kris Kitko

•

Carolyn Cadwell & her daughters

Diane Miller

•

The Pastry Shop Girls

•

Raining Jane

for more information visit celebration of Women and their music facebook page or debjenkins.com

Literary and Performing Art Event quilt detail

Congratulations to JoAnn Hornbacher, Horace ND, the winner of the 2012 raffle quilt, Standing Tall. A portion of the proceeds benefit African Soul, American Heart.

Founded 1980 QGND P.O. Box 2662 Fargo ND 58108 ndquilts.com

2 p.m. • Hjemkomst Center 202 First Ave. N, Moorhead •

Entry Forms Due Tuesday, January 15 • Entry information at awp.handworks.org

january/february 2013

CulturePulse.org

The phenomenon lives on! Downton Abbey, Season 3

Submitted by Marie Offutt he Great War is over and a long-awaited engagement is on, but all is not tranquil at Downton Abbey as wrenching social changes, romantic intrigues, and personal crises grip the majestic English country estate for a third thrilling season. With the return of its all-star cast plus guest star Academy Award-winner Shirley MacLaine, Downton Abbey season 3 airs over seven Sundays on Prairie Public beginning on January 6, 2013. Downton Abbey won an impressive six Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe in its first season, and season 2 has garnered 16 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series. Executive producer Gareth Neame called the global Downton Abbey phenomenon a “rollercoaster.” “We couldn’t be more thrilled by the way American critics and audiences have taken Downton to their hearts,” he said, “and I’m so excited to be getting the third season ready for everyone to see.” The press also loves it. The Hollywood Reporter called the series “one of the great melodramas of the modern television age.” And The Los Angeles Times styled it “big, beautifully acted, and romantic.”

“Sex, blackmail, girls in nice frocks and now a war. Downton Abbey just got even better.” — The Guardian The returning cast includes Hugh Bonneville, Dame Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern, Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Penelope Wilton, Joanne Froggatt, Brendan Coyle and a host of others, joined by Shirley MacLaine (Oscar for Best Actress, Terms of Endearment), who plays Martha Levinson, the very American mother of Cora, Countess of Grantham (McGovern). Years earlier, Cora rescued Downton Abbey with her New World riches by marrying Robert, Earl of Grantham (Bonneville). Now, New World and Old World are about to clash as Cora’s mother locks horns with Robert’s redoubtable mother, Lady Violet, played by Maggie Smith. A tantalizing glimpse ahead: Lovebird servants Anna and Bates face new ordeals in their star-crossed marriage. Downton’s impeccable butler, Carson, breaks in a new footman, who happens to be the nephew of the scheming lady’s maid O’Brien. Following Matthew and Mary’s engagement, Robert sticks to his duty to maintain Downton more firmly than ever — even as other great houses are crippled psychologically and financially in the wake of World War I. In this changing landscape nothing is assured, and could it be that even the war-weary Crawleys must fight a new battle to safeguard their beloved Downton? Top right: Dame Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess. Bottom right: The housemaids of Downton Abbey.

Photos courtesy of 2011 Carnival Film and Television Limited for Masterpiece.

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january/february 2013

New exhibition traces the history of two early Clay County artists BY Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County staff n search of the origins of the Moorhead-Fargo art scene, art historian Markus Kreuger (aka visitor services coordinator at the HCSCC museum at the Hjemkomst Center) came upon a rich panoply of early area artists, among them two rural Clay County women whose works deserve special attention. And so they will be featured in Prairie Daughters: The Lives and Art of Annie Stein and Orabel Thortvedt come January. As the focus of the latest Clay County history exhibit, which opens Jan. 22 at the Hjemkomst Center, Annie and Orabel provide a fascinating look into the creative lives of women from the turn of the last century and a lesson in the importance of preserving family history. Annie Stein came first. Born in 1872 to German-immigrant Buffalo Settlement pioneers Wilhelmine and Adam Stein, Annie lived her whole life in Georgetown, Minn. By all accounts, a quirky individual Annie painted, sketched, photographed, and did needlework as well as wrote songs, a few of which were published. Her paintings are of particular interest, not only for their folk art sensibility but also for how they provide a colorful record of the people, places and events in Clay County more than 100 years ago. Her painting of the 1897 flood must have been so popular that she was asked to paint copies for others. Five copies have been located so far, and there may be more. Her portraits reveal a hardy people who seemed to be enjoying the adventure of developing the region. A sample of her works as well as personal items carefully preserved by a number of Clay County residents will reveal her creative side as she lived out her life on the farm. In contrast, Orabel Thortvedt lived for a time in Minneapolis and studied art at the University of Minnesota, though she was also a daughter of pioneers: Norwegian immigrants Levi and Ingabor Thortvedt. Her style is more refined, and she was able to secure commissions for pet portraits by wealthy patrons in the Twin Cities. Her paintings of pioneer life have been hanging for years in locales such as the Moorhead Public Library and the W.W. Wallwork offices. Research on these two women’s lives and art has been going on at the Historical and Cultural Society for several years. Local collector Kelly Wambach has been able to do a regional inventory of sorts on the works and personal effects of Annie Stein since a 1970s auction sale first brought her work to his attention. Two of her works have even turned up at the Rourke Art Museum and will be on loan. Orabel Thordvedt’s life is easier to trace as she followed her father’s example and kept meticulous records of the daily activities of her family for many years. The Thortvedt Collection, a compilation of scrapbooks, sketches and photographs, has provided researchers with vivid detail on Clay County development. Krueger and collections manager Lisa Vedaa, archivist Mark Peihl, and MSUM intern Bayley Kinner have been peeling back the layers of history that have been preserved in these treasured documents. “Perhaps the biggest lesson I have learned in observing this process,” said HCSCC Executive Director Maureen Kelly Jonason, “is how important it is to preserve the one-of-a-kind photos, diaries, sketches, and even personal items like paint brushes and hair combs of our predecessors. We forget that we are making

history even now. It’s easy to think that this album or that letter isn’t relevant to today, but in fact, that is exactly where our history is preserved. I’ve learned that local history is fascinating and that the extraordinary can be discovered in our shoe boxes and attics. That’s what your local historical society is for – preserving your history so you don’t have to.” The exhibit, which will showcase the variety of art forms the women practiced — but with a significant array of their paintings — will open Jan. 22. The HCSCC staff plans to put together some interesting programs about the women and the context of the developing art scene. Clockwise from top left: Annie Stein, Orabel Throtvedt, Mama & Papa by Annie Stein, Ingabok Thortvedt by Orabel Thortvedt

Photographed by Annie Stein and Orabel Thortvedt

2013

january/february 2013

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The wide, wintry spaces of Rosie Savageau's Interlude

Rosie Sauvageau

Courtesy Natalie Kaye Lindberg

BY kris kerzman efore we get into anything else, I feel it necessary to make the following announcement: Rosie Sauvageau can’t whistle. It’s only worth mentioning because she seems to be able to do just about everything else. She’s been playing piano since the age of two (!) and is classically trained as a pianist. She can also play cello, guitar, organ, clarinet, and a bit of accordion. She’s an accomplished vocalist. She can act and has a theatre degree from Concordia. As if that’s not enough, she’s also smart, funny, and charming. Oh, and she’s also the reigning Miss North Dakota … and all that talent probably explains why. So you can probably forgive the whole whistling thing. With so much happening in her life, it makes sense that she turned to the quiet of rural North Dakota in the throes of its cold season to find inspiration for her latest EP, Interlude. “I’ve been driving a lot. I drove seven hours today,” she said, referencing her visits to schools across the state giving presentations and leading music workshops as part of her efforts as Miss North Dakota. The long drives have given her time to consider the state’s open spaces. “North Dakota is so stark and beautiful in its simplicity. I’ve had so much time by myself, and this album is definitely influenced by that.” Indeed, like the state’s wide horizons, the songs are spare and minimal, relying almost entirely on Sauvageau’s voice and delicate piano lines. And although they heavily reference winter, they’re anything but cold. They are songs of longing set against backdrops of snowy ground, chilly houses, winding roads, and changing leaves. At first blush, they have a chamber pop feel, which can be explained by Sauvageau’s classical background. But, they also share elements of Low’s post-rock aesthetic and a touch of soul, all attributable to her broad tastes in music and an effort, at the outset of recording, not to focus on a single genre or idea. “I get really bored really easy, so when I listen to an album, I look for a lot of differentiation. With my writing and with this album, I haven’t set out to write songs that have a theme or sound similar,” she said. “My classical background has been a big influence, whether I even realize it or not, especially with some of the more technical pieces I’ve written. But I’m also a huge fan of Elton John and Carole King, and I’m a big Liberace fan.” As Sauvageau gears up for the Miss America pageant this January, she’s keeping an eye for opportunities the experience lends her and her music career. While balancing this hectic lifestyle with her work as an accompanist for NDSU’s theatre department, she’s also penning a musical. “I would play a certain group of songs live and people would say, ‘ohmigosh, that sounds like a musical theatre song,’ and that would make sense, because I’m a huge musical theatre nerd. And, as I was looking over these songs that had this feel, I thought, ‘this could be a story.’” She hints that story would be slightly autobiographical. If it is, then we can probably expect there to be plenty going on. But no whistling, of course.

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eclectic musician: Continued

from page 9

Photo by Leslie Lyons

The dreads are gone, but the drama is not. DBR performs with Evan Vytal, aka DJ Scientific, Jan. 31 at MSUM.

Schoenwald, managing director of MSUM’s Performing Arts Series, told Brian Cole, orchestra teacher at Horizon Middle School, that she was considering bringing the artist to the community. She asked him if he would like to collaborate. “Brian was exited. He said he’d wanted to bring him for years. It’s worked out perfectly. The Series is about stylistic diversity, along with excellence, and Brian is all about providing meaningful, exciting experiences to his students.” Several years ago, Cole brought Mark O’Connor, an American bluegrass, jazz and country violinist, fiddler, composer and music teacher to Moorhead to work with string students. And he’s had rock violinist Mark Wood to Moorhead more than once. Wood, who plays an electric violin, developed a music and string education program that’s been featured on news programs nationwide. “Like O’Connor and Wood, DBR connects with students in creative ways, actively involving them with their instruments and getting them to think about what music means, to them and to others,” Cole said. Sundet-Schoenwald notes that DBR’s outreach and residencies have garnered extravagant praise and long-term relationships with countless universities, orchestras, and performing arts centers, including the Berklee School of Music, Boston; The Academy, a program of Carnegie Hall; The Juilliard School and many others. Additional accolades range from being voted as “America’s Assignment” on the CBS Evening News, to receiving praise as one of the “Top 100 New Yorkers” (New York Resident), “Top 40 Under 40” business people (Crain’s New York Business), one of the entertainment industry’s “Top 5 Tomorrow’s Newsmakers” (1010 WINS Radio) and as a “New Face of Classical Music” in Esquire Magazine. DBR made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2000 with the American Composers Orchestra, performing his Harlem Essay for Orchestra. He would go on to compose works for the Albany Symphony, the American Composers Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Dogs of Desire Ensemble; Carnegie Hall; the Library of Congress; and the Stuttgart Symphony. DBR’s music has been performed by the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, Des Moines Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Memphis Symphony, New World Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Noord Nederlands Orkest, the Vancouver Symphony, and many others. His most recent orchestral work, Dancers, Dreamers, and Presidents, is a 2010 Sphinx Commissioning prize and will be performed by the Detroit Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic and Virginia Symphony. Other recent work includes a third commission for the Brooklyn Academy of Music and a new work for the Atlanta Ballet in collaboration with choreographer Amy Seiwert and poet Marc Bamuthi Joseph. DBR earned his doctorate in music composition from the University of Michigan under the tutelage of William Bolcom and Michael Daugherty. Community members are invited to attend the free composition workshop at MSUM along with high school and college students. Registration is required. To find out the time of the workshop and to register, contact Rebecca Sundet-Schoenwald at 218-477-2178 or email her at sundetre@mnstate.edu. To purchase tickets to the Jan. 31 performance at 7:30 p.m. featuring DBR and DJ Scientific, go to www.mnstate.edu/perform or call the MSUM Box Office at 218-477-2271 Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are also available at the door if still available.

january/february 2013

History Sundays with Steve Stark

Sundays at 1pm Free at the Hjemkomst Center Like a story book unfolding before your eyes, Steve Stark tells fascinating stories about people in history while drawing on a 30-foot roll of paper. Each program highlights a different topic of history related to this region.

Jan 13: Carl Ben Eielsen

Eielsen, a pilot from North Dakota, became a rugged adventurer in the Alaskan wilderness. He embarked on epic flights over the North Pole in 1927. His life and death are what Hollywood movies are made of.

Jan 20: Pioneer Power Couples of Clay County

As homesteaders began breaking up the land, the Comstock and the Probstfield families played pivotal roles in forging the communities we know today. Learn how these hardworking homesteaders achieved the American Dream in Clay County.

Jan 27: Local Women of Influence

Hear the untold stories about the women who impacted the communities the Red River Valley. From Catholic nuns to wealthy wives, women leaders started many important institutions in the F-M community.

Feb 3: Smith Stimmel

As a bodyguard to President Abraham Lincoln, Sergeant Smith Stimmel witnessed the most pivotal events of Lincoln’s first two years in office. Stimmel later settled in Fargo as a lawyer and served in the territory legislature helping lead North Dakota to statehood.

Feb 10: Bonanza Farms

Just like corporate farming of today, Bonanza farms were large farming operations back in the late 1800s. They employed large crews of workers to grow and harvest grain. For over twenty years, they were highly profitable until they slowly faded away by the 1920s. Find out what caused their demise.

Feb 24: Propellers & Pantaloons

As flying became accessible to the average person, women took to the skies and broke many barriers on and off the runway.

regional visual, Íupporting literary, and performing

artists and events.

Providing the finest European-style desserts, cakes, confections, and gelato. Offering breakfast and lunch items, espresso, tea, and wine. Voted Best Bakery 2012 High Plains Reader

13 S 8th St • Fargo ND Tue-Wed 8-6 • Thu-Sat 8-10

Closed Sun & Mon • 701-232-6430

nicholesfinepastry.com

Funded in part by the North Dakota Humanities Council, a nonprofit, independent state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the North Dakota Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County Hjemkomst Center 202 1st Ave N, Moorhead, MN www.hcscconline.org 218-299-5511