South arts briefs: Farmington seeks entries for annual city photo contest

Farmington is sponsoring a year-round contest for photos to be used in the city's calendar, promotional materials, website and — new this year — on the streetlight pole banners.

Deadline for entries for the 2016 community calendar is Aug. 17.

Entrants can choose a category — place, activity, natural area or feature — and submit photos that convey a sense of Farmington.

For a complete list of rules or for more details, go to www.ci.farmington.mn.us or call Lena Larson at 651-280-6905 or Danielle Cahlander at 651-280-6807.

Art, music, painting, writing and theater inspired by the Mississippi River will be celebrated Wednesday in Hastings during "An Evening by the River."

The event will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Jaycee Park and will include:

• A concert of river songs by the trio Lockwood, Rivard and Rivard, which performs locally and throughout the Midwest.

• A reading by author Tim Spitzack, who will read from his new book, "Reflections from the Riverfront: Essays on Life in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area," which was released May 1.

• An improv performance by the Black Dirt Theatre doing a comedy skit with a river theme.

• A meet-and-greet with the artists.

The event is sponsored by the Hastings Prescott Area Arts Council in partnership with the National Park Service.

People are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or a blanket. There will be free refreshments. In case of rain, the event will be held at the Hastings Art Center, 216 E. 4th St.

Prizes will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place finishers among those ages 13 to 18. The winning bookmark will be printed and distributed at Dakota County Library branches.

Artists can enter only one design per person. Bookmarks will be judged on creativity, originality and neatness.

The contest is part of the Bookawocky summer reading program.

Expressions Community Theater will present Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park," starting July 31 and running through Aug. 9.

The play tells the story of newlyweds and opposites Corie and Paul Bratter, just returned from their honeymoon and moving into their first apartment while Corie also attempts to spice up her widowed mother's love life.

Tickets are $13 and are available at www.LakevilleAreaArtsCenter.com, or at the center at 20965 Holyoke Av. For more information call 952-985-4640.