Art-a-Whirl

For many, creativity can't be placed on a timeline. Rather, inspiration strikes seemingly at random, leaving chaos, obsession, and exhaustion in its wake. It's fitting then, that Art-a-Whirl's promotional posters often include a tornado. This yearly northeast Minneapolis art festival features over 500 artists working in a whirlwind of just about any artistic medium imaginable. Local and national artists will exhibit their works in galleries, homes, and sidewalk booths, with interactive activities, film screenings, and music in addition to talks and art demonstrations. Highlights this year include a Friday wine tasting at the Kallsen Studio, a free Black Blondie concert Saturday at the Red Stag, and art activities for kids including bubble art at Studio 404. Perhaps the most intriguing activity is a screening at the Ritz Theater of My Art School Summer, a hand-drawn cartoon produced in northeast Minneapolis and featuring bawdy adult sexual humor and nudity. Free. 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; noon to 8 p.m. Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Check www.NEMAA.org for a complete schedule of events and a list of participating galleries or call 612.788.1679 for more info. Welcome booths are located at 13th and Marshall Avenues and at Quincy Street off Broadway Avenue, near the Q.arma Building.
Fri., May 16, 5-10 p.m.; Sat., May 17, 12-8 p.m.; Sun., May 18, 12-5 p.m., 2008