Events - October 2023

DREAMING IN COLOR OCT. 21
The 7th Annual Minnesota Black Authors Expo is set for Oct. 21, 2023, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at DeLaSalle High School. It is the largest gathering of Black writers and book lovers in the Midwest. This year’s theme is “Dreaming in Color: Telling Our Stories to Save Our Lives." It is free and open to the public. More at www.blackauthorsexpo.com. There will be 40+ local Black authors featured, as well as an artist stage sponsored by Hennepin County Libraries with DJ Digie on the 1s and 2s. WCCO’s Shayla Michelle will feature a kid’s corner with arts and crafts provided by Northern Suburban Center for the Arts. There will be a two-hour writer’s bootcamp presented by Aya Media & Publishing, and vendors will be selling food and goods. Additional sponsors are: The Loft Literary Center, TruStone, In Black Ink, Strive Publishing, The Givens Foundation for African American Literature, Saint Paul Public Libraries.

LUTEFISK DINNER NOV. 4
Minnehaha Communion Lutheran (4101 37th Ave. S.) will hold its Annual Lutefisk & Meatball Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 4. Food is served family style with mealtimes at 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, and $10 for kids 10 and under. To reserve your seat, call 612-722-9527.

ANNUAL BAZAAR NOV. 18
Join Minnehaha Communion Lutheran Church (4101 37th Ave. S.), Saturday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., for their Annual Bazaar. They’ve got it all – craft tables, silent auction, raffles, bake sale, grandma’s attic. They’ll also have Flotegrot and ham sandwiches available for purchase.

RISING FROM THE ASHES RUNS THROUGH OCT. 21 AT VINE ARTS CENTER
This fall marks the end of a year of shows at the Vine Arts Center (2637 27th Ave. S.) with artwork from community members, gallery members and an artist from Iowa. “Rising From The Ashes” run Sept. 16 to Oct. 21 The gallery is open on Saturdays during shows from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Work will be shown by members Anita White, Aribert Munzner, Candace Carlson, Gordon Coons, John Box, Julie Liebelt, Kat Corrigan, Kathleen Crook, Kathleen Davis, Kim Pickering, Leah Bukovchan-Gossom, Lori Grafing, MasakoOnodera, Raven Miller, Reime Jahr, Rick Pirtle, Rubin Latz, Sarah Hopkins, Stephen Hoffer, Sue Kolstad, Tanya Beyer, Thrace Soryn, Wendy Henry. The artists have continued to work during COVID-19 and through the rebuilding of the gallery.
Last year when The Vine Arts Center reopened with the annual Member Show and a celebration of the new space it was dedicated to Howard Gelb who encouraged the artists to establish the gallery in his building.
After over two years of reconstruction, The Vine Arts Center and Ivy Building For The Arts reopened. In 2020 after being closed because of COVID-19, during the civil unrest a wayward spark fell on the building roof and caused the fire. Neighbors and tenants gathered hoses and kept the fire from spreading as best they could until the fire department arrived a few hours later. The building experienced a lot of damage from smoke, water, and some flames. This required reconstruction of most of it.
The rebuild of the center has been possible through the generous contributions of organizations and individuals. It has been fortunate to receive private donations as well as grant money.
Vine Arts introduced a new policy of providing a sign language interpreter for the opening shows and will continue this for openings the rest of this year.
Vine Arts Center is a non-profit, member-run organizaIon supporIng emerging and established artists, partnering with the community, and providing space and support for visiting shows and events.
More at vineartscenter.org.