Arts briefs: 53 St. Croix Valley artists featured in Stillwater show

The annual Members Show at ArtReach St. Croix is on view until Aug. 15, with work by 53 artists who live or work in the St. Croix Valley.

The show includes two award winners:

The River Moon Award, selected and supported by members of the IkutaSchodde family, went to James Shoop of St. Croix Falls for "Ramautar," a bronze sculpture of a gypsy dancer.

And the visual arts committee at ArtReach presented an award for best three-dimensional work to Elizabeth Belz of Stillwater for "Medusozoa," a cast iron and forged steel sculpture depicting a jellyfish.

A third cash award will be announced at a closing reception on Aug. 15 from 2-4 p.m. Each gallery visitor during the run is invited to cast one vote for a favorite artist or piece. Votes will be tallied to determine the winner.

Galleries at ArtReach St. Croix are open Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m., and extended Thursday hours during the Members Show are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

ArtReach St. Croix is located at 224 N. 4th Street, Stillwater. For more info: www.StCroixSplash.org

A group called Tricia and the Toonies is among the remaining summer acts in a series of "Performances in the Park" in Woodbury.

The venue is the Ojibway Park band shell, 2695 Ojibway Drive. Performances are free. If weather looks forbidding, the acts will switch to the indoor Central Park Amphitheater, 8595 Central Park Place. Details:

Friday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m.: Mary Hall, children's music and dancing.

Friday, Sept. 4, 11 a.m.: Tricia and the Toonies, environmental children's show.

Saturday, Sept. 19, 2 p.m.: 451st Army Band, in a concert honoring veterans.

For more information visit the "special events" page of the city's website, www.ci.woodbury.mn.us.

Newport's annual celebration festival will be held Sunday, Aug. 9, at Pioneer Memorial Park.

A parade at 11 a.m. starts at the Fire Hall, 155 20th St., making its way to Pioneer Park.

Live music from noon to 7 p.m. includes the Chad Edwards Band (noon to 2 p.m.) and the Riddle Brothers (from 3-5 p.m.).

Visit the city's website at http://ci.newport.mn.us/pioneer_day2011.php for more information.

Performances in Hudson, Wis., of "The Phipps Dance Theater Celebrates the Oscars" are set for mid-August.

The 11th annual summer dance production will feature Oscar award-winning films adapted to the stage, including "Alice in Wonderland" "All That Jazz," "American Beauty," "Black Swan," "Moulin Rouge," "Titanic" and "West Side Story."

Dates and times:

Friday, August 14 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, August 15 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, August 22 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., as well as Sundays, August 16 and 23 at 2 p.m. at the Phipps Center for the Arts.

The 49 dancers are from Minneapolis, St. Paul, Golden Valley, Apple Valley, Eagan, White Bear Lake, Woodbury, Oakdale, and Afton, in addition to Hudson.

Tickets are $24 for adults and $12 for students of all ages. Contact the ticket office at 715-386-8409 or visit www.ThePhipps.org.

David Peterson