Jay Gabler, Associate Editor
Jay Gabler (jay@tcdailyplanet.net) is associate editor of the TC Daily Planet. He works with Mary Turck and Lisa Peterson-de la Cueva to develop original content for the Daily Planet and to share content from media partners. He also serves as arts editor. In that capacity, he edits the Daily Planet’s unique Arts Orbit blog as well as writing the Arts Orbit Weekly newsletter. He also writes his own blog: Front Row Seat.
Jay Gabler grew up in Duluth and St. Paul, where he graduated from Nativity of Our Lord Elementary School and St. Agnes High School. He went on to earn an undergraduate degree in education from Boston University and graduate degrees in sociology and education from Harvard University. With colleagues, he has published several academic research articles and a book, Reconstructing the University. He now lives in Uptown Minneapolis. In addition to his work at the Daily Planet, he is an arts correspondent for Go2 Media. His writing has appeared in publications including METRO magazine, The Rake, mnartists.org, and ARP!.
Photo by Bryan Nanista
THEATER | Cirque du Soleil's "Kooza": A big flippin' deal
Near the beginning of Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza, a large number of grinning men and women in festive, ambiguously ethnic dress come hopping out with their arms spread wide, performing flips and pirouettes as a multitiered bandshell rolls forward. Brass blares, drums thump, and lights flash wildly as a shapely singer winds her hips and sings ecstatic praises in nonsense syllables. It’s a convincing dramatization of the reception President Bush expected American troops to receive when they arrived in Baghdad. MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar: 7/2/09
This week’s picks
Thursday, July 2
On the radar: There are a lot of people who still get really excited when Soul Asylum perform, and there are a lot of people who think the Roots are even cooler now that they’re Jimmy Fallon’s house band. If you’re among either of those groups, your evening plans are set. It’s also the annual Hmong Freedom Celebration, and this year emcee Tou SaiKo is helping to organize an all-out two-day hip-hop battle associated with the event.
Under the radar: Fringe favorite Allegra Lingo is at the BLB previewing her 2009 show, and if you really want to feel that out-in-the-street rock ‘n’ roll spirit, there’s a battle of the bands going down on “the legendary streets of Richfield.”
Friday, July 3
On the radar: Tonight, glam and spectacle rule: Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza opens in St. Paul, African fashion show ExtraVaaKhangha rolls out at the Graves 601 (relocated from the suddenly shuttered Trocaderos), and Judas Priest tastes Minnesota.
Under the radar: CONvergence will bring sci-fi fans from all over the country to Bloomington, and our peeps at l’etoile will be there to greet them with smiles, syle, video art, and vodka. If you’re looking for a more conventional evening of entertainment, stop by the Celtic Junction for Pop Wagner’s 60th birthday bash; it also serves as a fundraiser for medical expenses Wagner has incurred after a horse-riding injury. MORE »
OPINION | A metaphysical engagement with the ludic poetics of bullshit
Why does art exist? Most artworks have themes and ideas; some go so far as to make arguments. Why not just write down what you want to say and hang it on the wall? There are, granted, conceptual artists whose work often consists of written descriptions of an action they have performed (or want you to perform), and there are artists like Jenny Holzer and Ed Ruscha who put text at the center of their work—but those artists tend to incorporate text within their work, rather than make the text itself the work. This refusal by artists to tell us what exactly they’re doing, what exactly they’re saying, is damned frustrating. MORE »
Walker director Olga Viso reveals the unseen Ana Mendieta, an artist who "gave permission" to transcend ethnic pigeonholing
“That was hard,” admits Olga Viso when asked how she found time to polish a 300-page scholarly tome while also juggling her many duties as director of the Walker Art Center. The book, Unseen Mendieta (Prestel, 2008), presents hundreds of images relating to the Cuban-American artist’s work, none of which have previously been available to the public. The book was a labor of love for Viso, who is regarded as the foremost expert on Mendieta. MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar: 6/25/09
This week’s picks
Thursday, June 25
On the radar: It’s already a festive weekend, and it’s not even the weekend yet! The Twin Cities Improv Festival kicks off at the Brave New Workshop, and Bedlam gets radical and raunchy with Queertopia.
Under the radar: Whoever decided that Stillwater needed an ice bar should get some kind of award. What kind of award, I don’t know.
Friday, June 26
On the radar: Uptowners don’t need any excuse to be proud (sometimes obnoxiously proud) of being Uptowners, but when Pride Week rolls around, it’s high time for the Uptown Pride Block Party. It’s also high time for a new Gospel Gossip record, which the band will be dropping with a show tonight at the Turf Club.
Under the radar: You’ll have to step out into the alley behind Art of This if you want a little high time at the ARP! release party, but then be sure to get back inside for a sweet taste of Tropical Ambrosia Salad. MORE »
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