Artcetera: Walker calls out to Native artists

"Taku wanji unkoniciyakapi uncinpi," the call to artists begins. Using a mix of Dakota and English, Walker Art Center announced Wednesday it is accepting proposals for a public art project to be installed in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden or on the Walker campus by the fall of 2020. "Artists with in-depth knowledge and understanding of Dakota culture and language are encouraged to apply," the announcement says. A public call is unusual for the Walker, said senior visual arts curator Siri Engberg, "but we wanted this to be a process that was understandable to artists, that would cast a wide net." The move follows conversations held since the razing in 2017 of "Scaffold," a sculpture by Los Angeles artist Sam Durant that sparked protests and was ultimately dismantled and destroyed. "This project builds on the commitments the Walker has made to the Native community and I am excited to see the proposals and further the conversation," said Mary Ceruti, the Walker's incoming executive director. Proposals are due by April 15. Walker staff, working with an eight-person committee that includes Native artists and curators, will select three semifinalists, then choose a project by mid-September. A public art piece is "not necessarily a bronze sculpture," Engberg said. Artists might propose pieces made of light, of sound, of plant material — "it could be many different things." The winner will receive a one-time fee of $35,000. For more information, see walkerart.org.JENNA ROSS

"Glensheen," the murder-themed musical by Chan Poling and Jeffrey Hatcher, has sold more than 43,000 tickets at St. Paul's History Theatre, with a fifth run set this summer. Now composer/lyricist Poling is finally releasing a cast album. "We've had live recordings of the show but I was never satisfied with them," he said. "Now folks can get something that we're very proud of." Best known as frontman for the Suburbs and the New Standards, Poling has so far been unable to interest producers in other cities to stage the show, based on the 1977 murders of Duluth heiress Elisabeth Congdon and her nurse Velma Pietila. "The underlying message from them is that it's too Minnesotan, but I disagree," said Poling. "Everything is regional in its own way. The musical 'Chicago' doesn't play in Chicago alone. The movie 'Fargo' plays well beyond Fargo." The album, available for sale online as a CD or digital download, will help get it out to fans — or potential producers.

ROHAN PRESTON

In her 2016 novel "Raymie Nightingale," Minnesota writer Kate DiCamillo created three friends — Raymie, Louisiana and Beverly, who called themselves the Three Rancheros. The book became a National Book Award finalist and, last fall, she published her first-ever sequel (or companion book, to be precise), "Louisiana's Way Home." Now the third Ranchero gets her moment: "Beverly, Right Here," will be published in September by Candlewick Press. "The writing went quickly," said Tracy Miracle, DiCamillo's longtime publicist. "She says that it 'was like it was all just waiting. And once I opened it, everything came out.' "Aimed at middle-grade students, each book depicts a problematic childhood. In Beverly's case, her dog has died, her father is long gone, and her mother is emotionally absent. Determined to make it on her own, Beverly "can't help forming connections with the people around her."

LAURIE HERTZEL

Like all smart bandleaders, Gabriel Douglas blamed his bandmates for the daunting 10th anniversary marathon that his quartet the 4onthefloor will perform this week in Minneapolis. "I just wanted to play four intimate, fun shows in a row with friends," he claimed. "The rest of the guys were the ones gung-ho about doing the whole albums." The hard-stomping, bluesy rockers kicked it off with their debut album Thursday at Mortimer's, where they return to perform the second LP and then the EPs on Friday and Sunday. In between, the third (and probably best) album, "4x4," is on tap for Modist Brewery on Saturday (all shows at 8 p.m., $20 via eventbrite.com). "Turns out, I don't remember how to play every song I've ever recorded," Douglas reported. Nonetheless, "after 10 years, I still don't ever get off stage and ask myself if I'm still having fun. I think that's a certain form of success."

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

JON BREAM

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