Photo from FLOW
FLOW Northside 2015 is officially underway. Now in its tenth year, the annual arts crawl continues to celebrate arts and community in North Minneapolis. The festivities kicked off on Thursday with a block party that incorporated dance, discussion and visual art. It continues on Friday with various gallery showings, arts activities, performances and food leading up to the main event on Saturday.
For their 10th anniversary, FLOW has expanded to include Plymouth Avenue. And they’ve increased the number of artists with links to Minneapolis’s North side.
Below are some top picks for this weekend.
Friday and Saturday
Juxtaposition (JXTA) Textile Lab
Fri. 3-7pm, Sat. 1-7pm
While most of Juxtaposition’s events are slotted to take place on Saturday, on Friday, early birds can check out the North Minneapolis art hub’s newly opened storefront. The storefront was designed and remodeled by a handful of JXTA’s own instructors and apprentices. For a small fee, those looking for a more hands-on experience can also bring a shirt to make their own textile or screen-print. Other pre-printed gear and apparel will also be on sale.
Pop Up Gallery & Boutique
Fri. 5-8pm, Sat. 11am-6pm
On both Friday and Saturday, FLOW will be showcasing its 10th Anniversary Photography Retrospective. The retrospective provides a visual history of FLOW through the lens of both amateur and professional photographers. It also provides the backdrop for NEON (Northside Economic Opportunity Network)’s fashion show on Friday at 6 p.m. The show features local designers and retailers, some of whose work will also be on sale the following day at NEON’s pop-up fashion boutique.
Mural Painting at Clipper Cuts
Fri. 5-8pm, Sat. 12-8pm
Those itching to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty can do so via this weekend’s mural painting. Northside illustrator and muralist Melodee Strong will lead the making of a large community mural, near Clipper Cuts salon. Strong is one of ten featured artists whose work is a part of FLOW’s 10th Anniversary postcard series.
PLOT
West Motors lot – 2011 W Broadway Ave.
Fri. 12-9pm, Sat. 10am-7pm
In the vacant West Motors lot on West Broadway, festivalgoers can participate in an interactive installation consisting of live chainsaw woodcarving by Jason Soderlund, as well as live painting from jewelry artist and painter KNZ. PLOT is an Uptown gallery space and clothing store bringing their work to the Northside for FLOW.
Homewood Studios
Fri. 1-6pm, Sat. 1-4pm
Homewood Studios is one of two Northside community-oriented art galleries open on Plymouth Avenue this weekend. In addition to the contemporary multimedia art that occupies the gallery space, arts lovers may also be able to catch some of the artists whose work is on display (some of their studios also share the same space). Plymouth Ave Art Studio next door will be open as well.
West Broadway Farmers and Artisan Market
Fri 3-7pm, Sat 11am-3pm
In its fifth year at FLOW, the West Broadway Farmers Market continues to work towards providing access to locally grown foods in North Minneapolis. The artisan market aims to do the same for local art and artists.
Saturday
KMOJ Stage
North High Football Field – Freemont & 17th Ave N
Sat. 12-7pm
Hip-hop legends Roxanne Shanté and Kool Moe Dee headline the KMOJ stage this year from 5-7 p.m. A slew of local artists will share their talents as well, including Chadwick Phillips, Eemanna, Diane Robinson, Lothario, The NightStones, Mike Dreams, Khem Clan, MC Longshot, Osiris James, Drew Hopkins, Chris Hagedorn, Nate Blomquist and more. Between sets, concertgoers can also grab a bite at one of the food trucks and check out some of the art and merchandise being sold by vendors.
KBEM/New Space Stage
Sat. 11am-5pm
On a stage just outside the Capri Theater, KBEM Radio and Voice of Culture Drum and Dance/New Space are curating and hosting an afternoon of music and dance. Elder and poet/storyteller Naima Richmond will open the event, followed by poet Joe Davis at 12 p.m., along with a number of other performances and interviews throughout the day (including a North High alumni dance recital). On Saturday from 12-5 p.m., the NAZ Youth Zone will also be open in the same space.
C&J Barbers – Emerging Artists Exhibit
Sat. 12-8pm
As part of FLOW’s ongoing efforts to foster new talent in the community, an Emerging Artists Exhibit will be held at C&J Barbers. Featured artists include Briana Watson, Nagashia Jackson, Tamira Jade Mason and Christopher Williams. To catch the Established Artists counterpart to the Emerging Artists Exhibit, visitors can head to EMERGE Career and Technology Center at 1834 Emerson, where there will also be 3D printing and other activities.
Juxtaposition (JXTA) Textile Lab
Fri. 3-7pm, Sat. 1-7pm
The Juxtaposition arts campus will be a hive of activity this weekend. The campus includes several spaces stretching from Broadway around the corner to Emerson. Besides the Textile Lab listed above, here are a couple more highlights:
Justaposition (JXTA): Tactical Urbanism at Saint Satoko Pocket Park
Sat. 1-7pm
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore ideas on urban planning and public transit through art. “Tactical Urbanism” is a collaborative lab that involves “transit engagement activities,” some of which are based on exercises originally created by urban planner James Rojas.
Juxtaposition Workshop Space
1108 W Broadway Ave
Sat. 1-7pm
JXTA instructors will lead workshops in charcoal gesture drawing and Notan paper cutting, two drawing techniques of the organization’s Visual Art Literacy Training program. Visitors can also make buttons in the graphics lab or check out the portfolio show.
More information on FLOW Northside events can be found at flownorthside.org. Many events and organizations also have their own Facebook pages.
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