'The Age of Aquarius' at Fox Tax

Art-A-Whirl has always favored the Twin Cities' up-and-coming artists over its more established ones, and the Fox Tax gallery has a knack for finding many young artists who go on to larger renown. With this year's Art-A-Whirl show, guest curator Emma Berg tips her hat to three young local artists: Jesse Draxler, Katelyn Farstad and Josh Journey-Heinz. Each has a unique perspective, but they're tied together by their DIY spirit and involvement with the local music scene. Opening reception 6-10 p.m. Fri 5/14. More event deatils.

  • Jahna Peloquin

'Flocked' at Casket Arts

If you want to get a glimpse of the real innovators around town, check out "Flocked," a wallpaper project located in the Casket Arts Carriage House. This 22-by-10-foot floor-to-ceiling installation has a bill of collaborators that doubles as a yearbook of up-and-coming artists in the Twin Cities. Art entrepreneurs, gig poster designers, local celebrities -- they're all present, from Miles Mendenhall to Dan Ibarra of Aesthetic Apparatus to Jessica Seamans of screenprinting duo Landland. The project asks 30-plus artists to contribute roughly five prints each, to see whether the pieces would work together or create dynamic contrast in juxtaposition. Opening reception 8-11 p.m. Fri 5/14. More event details.

  • Rebecca Lang

'Beneath the Surface' at Icebox

Icebox Gallery is launching its 23rd year with a show by 23-year-old Rhea Pappas. A recent graduate of Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Pappas grabbed her camera and plunged into a freshwater swimming pool, where she snapped a school of local mermaids, many of them decked out in chiffon evening wear that billows fetchingly as they flutter past. Her pretty confections offer a serene counterpoint to Art-a-Whirl frenzy. Opening reception 8 p.m.-midnight Sat 5/15. More event details.

  • Mary Abbe

'Make Something Cool Every Day' at the California Building

The must-see event of Art-A-Whirl might be the first full-scale showing of all 365 pieces in Brock Davis' "Make Something Cool Every Day" project at the California Building Gallery. A creative director at Carmichael Lynch by trade, Davis was the only survivor in a grueling 2009 marathon of creativity that required all participants to "Make Something Cool Every Day" and post it on Flickr. International fame followed along with commissions and the big-deal Cannes Lions Award. Fun stuff.

  • Mary Abbe

'Share|Space' at Tarnish&Gold

The inaugural show for the newest addition to the Northeast art circuit, Tarnish&Gold, illustrates the gallery's mission to encourage collaboration, or "share space." Artists asked to contribute a piece that encapsulates shared space include notable regulars like Tucker Garrick, Chuck U, Laura Bennett and Ben LaFond of Burlesque of North America, as well as a handful of fresh, young unknowns. More event details.

  • Jahna Peloquin

Northrup King Building

Northeast features plenty of sprawling industrial buildings turned into sleek exhibition spaces, but if you only have time to visit one building, the Northrup King Building is by far the most prominent, with more than 190 artists and dozens of organizations. Winding through hundreds of art studios can be exhausting, so it's best to research specific studios on www.northrupkingbuilding.com. The site divides artists up by medium. Artist Sean Tubridy recommends checking out Angel Bomb Design studio (#271), a letterpress shop that will be doing demonstrations and handing out samples. Illustrator and Rosalux Gallery founder Terrence Payne recommends checking out avant-garde sculpturist Ruben Nusz at Sellout Art Studio (#456) and Bird x Bird (#322), an aesthetically pleasing, socially conscious project devoted to avian awareness.

Margaret Andrews, Star Tribune
"A Cyborphant Never Forgives" will appear at Tarnish&Gold

  • Rebecca Lang

'The Slow Mirror and the Metronome' on the Mississippi River

After the success of last year's houseboat art project "SS Infinite Regret," the minds behind Creative Electric Studios are once again bringing art to the riverbank. Instead of just one boat, producer Joe Belk, filmmaker Phil Harder and the Creative Electric crew will have bands playing on multiple boats, floating installations, sound collages transmitted to floating speakers, and video projections onto the water. The project is viewable throughout Art-A-Whirl, but the real action happens Friday and Saturday nights with live music from the STNNNG, Bella Koshka, Mayda and Marijuana Death Squads, and a late-night dance party on Saturday with Burlesque of North America DJs. (Noon-11 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Music: 8-10:30 p.m. Fri. & 8 p.m.-midnight Sat. Mississippi River behind the Sample Room.)

  • Jahna Peloquin

Art-A-Whirl music events

1. HOOLIE FEST

Vinyl shop Shuga Records goes all-out for Art-A-Whirl, with more than 50 bands indoors and outdoors from noon fri. Through 6 p.M. Sun., Plus live screen-printing and a live mural painting by Rogue Citizen. Highlights include the Guystorm (4 p.m. Fri.), Communist Daughter (4:15 p.m. Sat.), the Unknown Prophets (8 p.m. Sat.) and First Communion Afterparty (5 p.m. Sun.). More event details.

2. Art-a-Whirl at the 331 club

Festivities begin on Friday with Skoal Kodiak, Knife World and Chibalo inside the saloon. But the party moves to the back parking lot on Sat. afternoon, with Halloween, Alaska, Chris Koza, Red Pens, Zoo Animal, the Alpha Centauri and more. The Rockford Mules and Man Is Doomed bring it back inside at 10 p.m. Sat.

3. GRUMPY'S ART-A-WHIRL PARTY

The annual throwdown in Grumpy's back yard returns with a punk-flavored bill of Vaz, BNLX, Birthday Suits, Pink Mink, Neil Dynamite and the Heartlights, Bombay Sweets, Bitch-N-Brown and more. More event details.

4. GASTROWHIRL 2

The Modern Cafe teams with Gastro Non Grata for another outdoor food-beer-bands party at 12:30 p.m. Sun., with 10 bands (including Building Better Bombs at 8 p.m.) and a barbecue pit.