Artists in Storefronts
Opens Saturday: Food and fun are always a winning combo. Throw in some street art and you've got a destination, which is what the Whittier neighborhood aims to be this summer. Area impresario Joan Vorderbruggen threw her considerable chutzpah into the project, persuading 40 artists to transform storefronts into an "urban walking gallery" on and near the south end of Eat Street, a stretch of Nicollet Av between roughly 24th and 29th streets in south Minneapolis. Festivities kick off Saturday night with an outdoor music fest hosted by the Black Forest Inn featuring Mixed Precipitations Picnic Operetta, Frances Gumm, Cult Status Gallery on Tour and more. Vorderbruggen will wrap it up with a light-saber walking tour. Participating artists include Jim Denomie, Michael Thomsen, Aaron Dysart, Caitlin Karolczak, Mary Gibney and Noah Harmon. Events later in the summer include a biking tour (June 22), walking tours (July 13, Aug. 10) and the Bridging Festival (Sept. 8). BYO light sabers. (Opening reception 6-10 p.m. Sat., Black Forest Inn, 1 E. 26th St. Mpls. Free. Storefronts up through Sept. 9. www.artistsinstorefronts.com)
