Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/category/design-and-style/page/10/)
During the summer of 2007 I became enmeshed with photographing a mural that was being painted on the side of Freewheel Bicycle in the West Bank area of Minneapolis. As I was traveling the Greenway to and from the West Bank I crossed Hiawatha Avenue at 28th Street and saw the installation / construction of the Martin Olav Sabo Bridge. Continue Reading
Even with the absence of Voltage: Fashion Amplified from this year’s Minneapolis-St. Paul Fashion Week lineup, there’s still plenty to look forward to. For starters, a new scheduling process that allows you to attend all the events. Also, MNfashion organizers have more time to focus on their three categories (The Shows, satellite runway shows, retail events). A few things to look out for: Emma Berg, Kimberly Jurek and Amanda Christine’s Autumn/Winter 2012 collections, The Red Dress Collection, Style for Smiles benefiting Project Healthy Smile, and SnowGRADE pop-up market. Coverage of issues and events that affect Central Corridor neighborhoods and communities is funded in part by a grant from Central Corridor Collaborative. Continue Reading
Have you ever been to Minneapolis’s El Dorado Conquistador Museum? No? Oh, but I think you have. Have you ever been to the Kitty Cat Klub? Local writer Eric Dregni formerly curated the museum—er, “museum”—in a law school bookstore, but the gems of the collection are now on view in the KCK’s pool room. It’s what’s left of America’s only museum dedicated to the effluence of kitschy conquistadors that became faddish in the late 60s and early 70s after Man of La Mancha became a smash hit on Broadway and in movie theaters.
It took me a while to really appreciate the design of Parasole’s Uptown Cafeteria and Support Group. At first glance, it’s a pretty lucid and simple gimmick—oh, right, cafeteria theme. Trays on the walls, lunch lady photos over the urinals, cute. But I keep returning to Cafeteria, and though the unpretentious and nicely priced happy hour food menu is one reason for that, the bright, appealing, smart design doesn’t hurt. With a distinctive blue-and-orange palette, NYC-based Moschella + Roberts created a space that feels both comfy and classy. If you can stomach the two-figure cocktail prices—and if the jumpy Parasole doesn’t shut Cafeteria down before the thaw—the Skybar is an excellent alternative to the crowded spray-tan meat market on the roof of Stella’s.
As the Walker Art Center’s Andrew Blauvelt pointed out when conducting a media tour of the Walker’s recently-closed exhibit Graphic Design: Now in Production, 20 years ago most people didn’t even know what a font was—now, font names become trending topics on Twitter. You may have dismissed Gary Hustwit’s acclaimed 2007 Helvetica if you’re not a font geek yourself; if so, you made a mistake. The film is one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen, an articulate exploration of why design matters in everyday life. It’s now available in multiple home video formats, including Netflix streaming; let your serifs down and enjoy it sometime soon. Continue Reading
There is the chance that the sledding may be a little thin, but The Art Sled Rally says that the event will be held on this Saturday regardless or the weather. The art will go downhill beginning at 2 p.m. this Saturday January 28, 2012.
MNfashion, the organization behind MNfashion Week, is set to make some changes to their programming this year. MNfashion Week will now be known as Minneapolis-St. Paul Fashion Week, the organization announced last month on its blog, and will next take place from February 19-26 rather than in April as was previously the case. Continue Reading
Body modification and ink artists, entertainers, spectators, and those looking for tattoo inspiration converged at the Hyatt in Minneapolis over the January 13-15 weekend for the Minneapolis Tattoo Arts Convention. Many showed off elaborate body ink work during contests, testament both to the skill of the artists and the visions of the wearers. Local tattoo artists along with others from around the country inked eager clients in a very social workshop environment. In addition, workshops were held for artists to share their knowledge as well as for those curious to the trade to learn more about history, technique and maintenance of these permanent body adornments.
The Brickmania Toyworks in Northeast Minneapolis hosts a free public open house on the second Saturday of each month. The Greater Midwest Lego Train Club has an ever-evolving permanent display featuring the works of different local and international builders each month. Their goal is to provide a museum quality educational and inspiring experience and something new to enjoy month after month.
