Desserts -n- Drag

University of Minnesota’s attempt at a Drag event fails to live up to the culture and popularity of the movement Desserts -n- Drag

BY IAN KNOLL

The vibrant and welcoming community of drag has, in modern years, exploded into mainstream recognition with younger audiences, and the Twin Cities has a historic and thriving drag scene. One would think this combination would make the University of Minnesota the perfect spot to host a drag event, but Desserts-n-Drag was just that: a drag.

Hosted by local drag Queens Valencia and Cariño, Desserts-n-Drag was an opportunity for UMN students to have some sweets, play party games, win prizes, and see a few drag performances along the way. The idea of a more casual drag experience has potential (especially for the uninitiated), and what college student doesn’t love free stuff? The problem, however, lies in execution. While the prizes were great for college students (things like essential oils, a crockpot, and a fleece blanket), the games themselves were little more than highschool assembly affairs: the usual stacking marshmallows, eating Oreos off your face, or guessing the price of an item ala “Price is Right.” Lacking any extra panache, these quickly get old.

One would think that the drag performances would be a welcome break, and while this certainly was true, the performers were woefully underutilized. The energy, dexterity, and overall sexiness of Valencia and Cariño’s performances clearly won over the crowd, but four brief musical numbers in two hours isn’t much, and the venue (a conference center on the upper floors of the Memorial Union) clearly isn’t the ideal space for these queens to strut their stuff.

Despite what felt like a dull first attempt, I still feel Desserts-n-Drag has the potential to be a great event. The audience is certainly there (the nearly 180 person capacity of the room was filled in minutes), but when nearly half of that audience leaves before the end, the excitement clearly isn’t. My suggestion? Use a more appropriate space (there is an entire stage just a few floors down after all), devise some more active games, and give those queens the chance to really shine. Maybe then, Desserts-n-Drag will be an event worthy of the drag culture that surrounds it.

Walker Art Center’s “Free First Saturday” is Perfect for College Students

There’s something for all ages at the Walker

BY JOSEPHINE TAKESHIMA ALLEN

Free First Saturdays are perfect if you’re a museum loving broke college student like I am. The first section of the museum that was open was intended for kids, but creativity has no age limit, so I proceeded. When we entered the area, a volunteer told us that a mythical creature had come to Minneapolis, and felt homesick. It was our job to make something that made us feel at home to welcome him. As an “adult”, I don’t feel like I get many opportunities to just sit and make something with no assignment requirements and no grade attached to it. Once I was finished, I hung up my masterpiece, made of scrap pieces of paper glued onto an old postcard, and moved onto the galleries.

Several of the galleries were open, including Five Ways In. That collection explored the blurring of genres of art, such as sculptures which were also landscapes. There was also a gallery on the nude body, a welcome surprise at an event that I assumed only catered to children. There was also a unique opportunity to snowshoe through the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, allowing patrons to see a part of the museum that is rarely accessible during the winter.

Three short films were playing throughout the day: The Maid, Kohl, and Felt Tip. The first followed six sculptures sold to very different people. Kohl explores the effect coal has had on our society and hints that the power it has over us is still being used. Felt Tip showed that though women are advancing through the ranks of white collar work, they are still constricted and molded by a patriarchal society. The films were all uniquely captivating, and the opportunity to see them in a gallery was amazing. These events happen every first Saturday of the month, and it is a fun and free way to spend a Saturday afternoon.