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Update from the Mayor – June 1, 2005
June 1, 2005
News from Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak
U.S. Bank "Many Worlds. One Weekend." Celebration Opens 3rd Annual Mosaic Festival Of Arts
In the next three days you can find a world of entertainment, representing some of the city's best artists...all for free....as we kick off this year's MOSAIC festival. The U.S. Bank "Many Worlds. One Weekend" Opening Celebration starts tomorrow and runs through Saturday. Check out MOSAIC's website at www.minneapolismosaic.com for more information. Thursday night's events center around south Minneapolis, Friday's events are in north Minneapolis, and Saturday's are downtown. Pick your favorite event or come all three nights - either way I hope you'll join the celebration!
My wife Megan O'Hara and I, with Erik Takeshita from my office, began thinking about MOSAIC when I was running for Mayor four years ago. We talked about the need to paint a picture of the new Minneapolis, one where we now speak 81 languages, and one where people who come from around the world mix with those of us who have been here for generations, in a place that is now exploding with culture. You get this feel when you go to the Farmer's Market, or walk down Nicollet Avenue's Eat Street, but we thought it could be even more dynamic if this story of Minneapolis was told through local artists. The arts do such a great job of helping us cross cultural lines, and it would be especially powerful if we could bring together many from across cultures for a single festival.
MOSAIC was born with the help of some visionary funders, especially the Minneapolis Foundation and U.S. Bank and tomorrow we kick off the third year. Like last year we will open the State, Pantages and Illusion Theaters for free Saturday night for a series of performances. New this year are other opening events in the neighborhoods. Megan and I hope to see you and at least one of the events below and I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thursday, June 2nd
South Minneapolis - presented by Xcel Energy and Carlson Companies
6-10 p.m.
East Franklin Avenue
Locations: Ancient Traders Market: 1100 East Franklin Ave.
Franklin Library: 314 East Franklin Ave.
Activities: Indian drumming, Mariachi musicians, American Indian music and visual arts and more.
Lake Street & Minnehaha Avenue
Location: Nuevo Rodeo Nightclub Ballroom: 3003 27th Ave. S.
Activities: Somali music, Middle Eastern dance by Sahara Nights, FUEGO Flamenco and more.
Lake Street & Lyndale Avenue
Location: Intermedia Arts: 2822 Lyndale Ave. S.
Activities: B-Girl Summit, a celebration of women hip-hop artists with exhibitions, films and special presentations.
West Franklin Avenue
Location: Minneapolis Institute of Arts: 2400 Third Ave. S.
Activities: Asian art galleries, films, Indonesian gamelan music, Imp Ork jazz orchestra and more.
Friday, June 3rd
North Minneapolis - presented by American Express and General Mills
6-10 p.m.
U.S. Bank
Location: 1030 West Broadway
Activities: Outdoor dance party featuring Puerto Rican music and dance with El Arco Iris, American Indian dance and drum, Hawaiian hula, Uniquely Abled Wheelchair Dancers and Juxtaposition Arts.
Sumner Community Library
Location: 611 Van White Memorial Blvd.
Activities: Finnish musicians, Jewish dancers, independent films, storytellers, youth performances and more.
Saturday, June 4th
Downtown Minneapolis - presented by U.S. Bank
6-10 p.m.
Outdoor Stage
Location: Hennepin Avenue between Sixth and Seventh Streets
Activities: Hmong Butterfly dancers, American Indian dancers and drummers, Taiko drumming by Mu Daiko, Brazilian music with Brasamba, Freedom Marching Band and more.
Historic State Theatre
Location: 805 Hennepin Avenue
Activities: Salsa music, gospel music from the Buckner Family group, the Bluedrifters bluegrass music, North American Flamenco fusion with Rai Action. At 9:15 p.m., the Zenon Dance Company will unveil a new dance piece created for MOSAIC and set to the music of last year's MOSAIC commissioned orchestra piece Cedar and Lake.
Pantages Theatre
Location: 710 Hennepin Avenue
Activities: Jawaahir Middle Eastern dance, CAMM Chinese Dance Theatre, Ballet of the Dolls, African dance, hip-hop, modern dance, tap, Kairos intergenerational dancers and more.
Illusion Theatre
Location: Hennepin center for the Arts, 528 Hennepin Ave. 8th floor
Activities: Performances by Mixed Blood Theatre, Teatro del Pueblo, Mu Performing Arts, SASE spoken word arts and more.
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