Artistic Inspiration News
A medieval Rabbi sings transgender desire, a janitor guides you wordlessly through a Toronto school, or maybe it's time to reinvent yourself as a London professor who makes alternate reality games?
Welcome to Artistic Inspiration News! Once a month, this substack brings artistic opportunities, activism, events, opportunities, ways to learn and develop as an artist, and artists and artworks to watch. Yes, we did just do this last week. But that was February. Now it is March. All events in the Artistic Inspiration News are free unless noted. We are Twin Cities-centric, but we do report cool opportunities all over. Jackson Street Arts’ substack (including Artistic Inspiration News) remains free, at least for now. Thanks for reading!
Monday Night is Purim!
Here’s a Purim gift for you: Purim is a holiday of masks, of costumes and disguises. We are very pro-mask around here. Masks offer protection. Masks are generous and kind. And masks allow you to present on the outside what you are on the inside. So, as several U.S. states descend into fascism and trans eliminationism, we’d like to remind you that your gender is a mask. It belongs to you; it is a costume you put on and a game you choose to play with yourself and others in that costume. You are sovereign in your gender and can wear whatever mask you like, whatever the law says. Glitter and sequins and wigs, fedoras and ties and wingtip shoes, these are all your birthright. Longing to change your gender is nothing new. Here’s a very old gift to unwrap and try on: the medieval Rabbi Qalonymos ben Qalonymos’ gorgeous poem about their trans longing and desire.
Would you like to think a little more deeply about Purim and masks? Here’s an art project and meditation for you, courtesy of the At the Well Project.
Nature/Horticultural Arts
(Everywhere) The Aldo Leopold Foundation is hosting Aldo Leopold Week now. Sessions are virtual and free; I’m most excited for Robin Wall Kimmerer on March 9. Register here.
(Everywhere) Linda Black Elk is giving a free talk on Growing Your Own Medicine on March 13th at 1 p.m. as part of the free Great Grow Along conference. Lots of the talks look amazing, not just Linda’s.
Immersive/Theater
(New York) I’m curious enough about the Fifth Place to attend an event, but also am sort of suspicious because this is a project of Michael Portnoy’s, and he gives me the cis straight white dude privilege vibes, with all the red flags that entails. Still, it’s free, and I’d check it out. Once.
(Toronto) Theatre francais de Toronto in collaboration with DopoLavoro Teatrale is playing Le Concierge (The Caretaker), a wordless, immersive play for audiences of 15 or less, at night, in a school. “A uniformed figure appears at the end of a hallway and beckons you.” March 8-26th, tickets are $20-45 Canadian. This one is going to be special.
(Toronto) Misha Glouberman/Trampoline Hall are hosting one of their socials again, This Is Not the Show, Monday March 6, 8 pm local time, $15.
(London) Would you like to receive a fully funded doctoral degree in Archaeology while making an Alternate Reality Game in London? I mean, who wouldn’t, really?
Visual Arts
(Twin Cities) Fresh Eye Gallery is hosting a show, Revolutionary: The Feminine Perspective Beyond 50. There’s an artist’s talk March 8th at 6:30 p.m. They also have some exciting calls for art listed for future shows.
(Everywhere) Alain Picard is offering a free workshop on portraits in pastel; March 8 or March 10th at 2 p.m.
(Everywhere) Becca Courtice has a free series in botanical drawing on Youtube; it comes with a free workbook. Links in the description here:
Music/Dance
(Everywhere) ServiceSpace is hosting a free “pod” on the topic of Mystical Music beginning in late April. Pods appear to be quarter-length learning communities. I’ve heard good things about this earnest-sounding org and am curious to try out this deeper commitment.
(Everywhere) Zoe Levine is hosting a three-week movement and dance challenge with live Zoom sessions for 15 minutes each morning. It’s already started but goes through mid-March, and might be a nice way to get moving.
Poetry
(Twin Cities) Public Art Saint Paul is once again hosting their Sidewalk Poetry contest, where winning poems are set in concrete on the city’s sidewalks. They will be selecting 15 poems this year – about twice as many as in previous years. Also, they are hosting five poetry workshops to prepare your work for submission, on various dates in March, in various languages: English, Hmong, Spanish, Dakota, and Somali. Registration and submissions open tomorrow.
Food
(Various locations, USA) Nothing Bundt Cakes is giving away free Oreo bundlets tomorrow, March 6th, at 1:11 p.m. Might be a nice little treat for your Purim celebration.
How are you masking and unmasking these days? What are you drinking tomorrow night? Are you happy it’s Adar? Let us know in comments, and, as always, like, subscribe, comment, and share to keep this blog going.