by mick laBriola · Camden News 2-1-12

Engagement, articulation, emotion and tranquility are a few of the predominant characteristics emanating from the austere studio of David Cunningham. With a very confident and sensitive disposition, David is a serious oil painter aspiring to continually evolve his art work. You can view his work on his web site.

David was raised in north Minneapolis, in the Camden neighborhood, with three brothers, four sisters and his very ambitious parents. David recalls at the young age of 6 watching his brother Jeremy draw, and his cousin Joshua paint. Both artists apprenticed with fresco painter Mark Balma of Excelsior, Minnesota. David remembers asking Jeremy at age 12 what school he should attend for art studies, but nothing came of this at the time. Then at age 16, while attending high school, David began attending classes part time at the Atelier Studio Program of Fine Art in Minneapolis. And the relationship he developed with the Atelier Program would have an enduring and substantial impact on David’s entire artistic career.

After high school, David enrolled in the Atelier for four years, completing his studies in 2006. The Atelier Program melds formal 19th-century academic training with influences of the French Impressionists. Since its inception in 1970, the Atelier has had a tremendous impact on the entire academic world of French Impressionist, Renaissance and Realist schools, stressing draftsmanship and the historical “sight size” method. David emulated the work of John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn and Joaquin Sorolla. The Atelier offers no degree in Art, but rather implements a foundation for learning mind, eye, and hand coordination skills.

For his post-academic work, David ventured forth to Argentina, taking up water-color landscape creations, living out-of-his-back-pack, and residing for 6 months in the Andes Mountains of Patagonia in the town of El Bolson. This is an area that is a four-to-18 mile hike to get to: no cars or roads; middle of the mountains; only horses allowed. On his return to the Twin Cities, David brought back water-color work that he exhibited in local art crawls and coffee houses.

While back in Minnesota, David dropped water colors and continued doing landscapes in oils; for the next two years in and around Minnesota and Wisconsin living out-of-his-car. As he re-emerged back home in 2009, he acquired a modest apartment and a studio space at the Casket Arts Building in North East Minneapolis.

“Painting is a release valve, letting off all pressure”, David expresses. “Since I got out of school, I want to find my own thing. I have plenty of connections in Minneapolis, I know a lot of people; I can find cheap rent and extra work if I need it. And my work is moderately priced from around $1,000 to $4,000 per piece. I want to evolve my work to where I want to be: I have a lot of freedom and maybe I can find one exclusive gallery and perhaps put out 50 pieces per year, getting my working method down and learning more skills. For the past year I was doing indoor bar and cafe subjects; now I’m working on an outdoor perspective”.

David articulates further, “I started out at Atelier with the bare essentials, did charcoal for three years, drawing plaster casts. Got my discipline or technical abilities and it gave me the nuts and bolts. When I am done learning, I will be dead! My best work gets across emotion, in the simplest terms: just simplicity! My goal is to get across an emotion — all sensual, not intellectual — just emotions!

David now enlightened me about his process, “I see painting being into music! Andy Warhol said, the reason I paint is to listen to music! I (David) listen to music dancing around, it helps me process, amusing my models. Music is very important! I start out with a broad idea or photograph; I may take one item and create something in a half hour. I may leave the idea and let it sit, problem solving, sleeping on them. I keep a template, and expand other ideas or whatever I feel at that moment the painting becomes”.

Currently, he adds, “I am doing Street Photography. I find a street composition, catching the moment (an impressionist quote), and shoot a lot. It is an inspiration.

A little template, stages empty streets. This is the best time of the year for me, a doable time, calculating angles. Forty-five minutes shooting photos will lead to a larger piece incorporating models and other things. The viewpoint is so important and the “Eye Level”, how you see it from your body, from where you are standing, perspective points from eye level”.

Finally, David shares,”I am very rooted here and have a huge extended family. I can sell east to west, move somewhere, and move back. Drawing is a meditation, the amount of focus is incredible. My focus is on satisfying myself, and I’m getting there. But never be too satisfied, you only get better and better. To be able to paint is not easy, you must learn how to do it”. David’s favorite painters are Rembrandt and George Inness.

 by mick laBriola-Camden News-10-1-11

Emanating a great deal of confidence, Korey Hicks is a hard-driving guitarist knocking out crisp tones, smooth licks and a powerful country twang on his vintage collection of Fender and Gibson guitars. Korey is a Twin-Cities-based guitarist and guitar instructor. You can visit his website at koreyhicks.com to hear samples of his music. And his performance schedule is posted at chrisbrooksband.com for his current band “Chris Brooks and the Silver City Boys”.

Korey is a full-time stay-at-home Dad who resides with his wife, Andrea, and their 17-month-old daughter, Charlotte. They have lived on the northside since 2006. The family lives in a house built in the 1950s by Andrea’s grandparents, the Hodgsons.

Korey is originally from Rochester, Minnesota, and moved to the Twin Cities in 2000. He shared one of his earliest musical experiences with me: “I remember going to the music store with my dad, Donald, and he bought a Les Paul guitar when I was six years old. My dad played Blues and Rock and performed with his local church worship service; he also had a vast record collection that influenced me alot.” This obviously made an impression on Korey, but he insists that he did not really have an interest in music then. Even though at nine years old his Dad did want Korey to pursue music.

Finally, at age 13 or 14, Korey took the leap and immersed himself in what would become his future career. He quickly digested his sister Kim’s record collection as well. Korey considers himself self-taught; he read through tons of instruction books and biographies of musicians, as well as practiced on a regular basis.

While attending Plainview High School in Plainview, Minnesota, Korey performed with his band “The White Hotel”. The group’s first performance was at the Jon Hassler Theater in Plainview, affiliated with the Rural America Arts Partnership. He was with the band until he was 18. Korey expressed to his amazement, “I learned Blues through Dad’s record collection, studied Jazz in college, and now I make my living in a Country Band!”

In 2001 and 2002 Korey attended summer Guitar Sessions at Berklee School of Music in Boston. The sessions emphasized practical playing experience through a variety of classes, clinics, and performance activities. In 2003 Korey moved to Boston to become a full-time student at Berklee College. Two years later he returned to the Twin Cities and graduated Magna Cum Laude from McNally Smith College of Music, in St. Paul, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Guitar Performance. Over this period of time Korey performed with Shelby’s Voyage, a top-40 band: Iron Horse, a Country band; and the St. Croix United Methodist Praise Band in Lakeville.

Korey emphasized, “I had the Maximized Experience: for two years I would practice from 5am to 7:30am, work till 5:30pm, teach from 6 to 10pm and come home and practice again.” Korey taught at Swift School of Music in St. Paul and the Riff Factory (Guitar Center affiliate) in Roseville. Since then, Korey has played over 800 shows regionally and has opened for artists such as Chris Duarte, Thompson Square, Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith (Muddy Waters) and Indigenous. Korey received special recognition performing for Whiskey Junction’s “Guitar Extravaganza” in 2009 and winning the Guitar Center’s “Guitarmageddon” in 2007.

Korey finds his current project working with Chris Brooks (former lead singer of The Mason Dixons) very fulfilling. “In Country music I get to play a lot of guitar, and we have played for huge crowds opening up for acts like Little Texas, Two Tons of Steel, Dale Watson and Troy Olsen.

With another child on the way, however, Korey was considering moving to Austin, Texas. He has done several auditions for national acts to perhaps broaden his income. The current state of the music industry is very challenging for musicians these days! Work is very competitive, and not as plentiful as it once was prior to the internet boom.

Korey shared, “ I learned for myself that some types of musicians play for themselves, which is important– like the reflections of David Liebman on his book “Self Portrait of a Jazz Artist” – and some play for other people. That’s why I chose Country music. I want to make other people happy when I play music.”

by mick laBriola-Camden News-11-1-11

The gracious, pleasant and joyful Larry Greenstein is a life-long northsider dedicating his career to Traditional American and Celtic Fiddling, in addition to working as a Guitarist/Singer, Playwright, a Recreational Therapist and fundraiser for the Guthrie Theater. You can reach him via his web site, fiddlertogo.com, to see what he is up to. He is truly a Community Artist dedicating his career to the service of others, rather than exclusively showcasing his talents in the performance arena. I think we should have an award for every lifetime northside artist: The “Northside Lifetime Artist Achievement Award.” What do you guys think?

Larry was born on the northside at Queens Avenue Maternity Home, originally located at Glenwood and Plymouth Avenues, and lived with his parents, Joe and Maria Greenstein, and his sister Rachel. The family moved to Larry’s current residence, where he has been since 1969. He lives with his wife, Jodi, and daughter, Hannah. Jodi works as a social worker in Golden Valley.

Maria, Larry’s mother, played mandolin and sang Polish and Ukrainian music around the home, which had a strong influence on Larry’s music career. Larry recalls first playing violin around age eight or ten, while attending John Hay Elementary School, once located at Penn and Oakland. He also was taking violin lessons from Catholic nuns at St. Joseph’s Church, once located at I-94 and Plymouth Avenue. His dad, Joe, had a grocery store, the Bargain Price Market, and was known as the “Pumpkin Man. Through his generosity hundreds of free pumpkins were distributed to school kids on “Pumpkin Day” in north Minneapolis (see the full story). Joe was also an Alderman in the 5th Ward. Larry pleasantly remembers taking a bus to the grocery store after school and then walking to his violin lessons at St. Joseph’s Church.

Larry continued playing music in the orchestra at John Hay Elementary, and then carried on music at Lincoln Junior High, switching to percussion, specifically the snare drum. Later, attending Shattuck Military School (St Mary’s) – a boarding school in Fairbault, MN -

Larry again switched instruments, this time to the Bass Drum. There he befriended Doug Humphrey, son of Minnesota Political Legend, Hubert H Humphrey.

In 1973 Larry earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theater from the University of Minnesota. While attending college Larry developed his skills as a playwright, and in 1978/79 became a Jerome Foundation Resident Playwright at the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis for one year.

Although Larry received critical reviews for a production of an original work entitled “The Caucus” at Chimera Theater in 1981, he decided to re-direct his continuing education to Human Services; he next earned a Masters Degree in Therapeutic Recreation.

But he kept writing plays. He has had plays produced at the Lakeshore Players (”The Trotsky Rebellion”), Storytalers Children’s Theater (”The Littlest Snowflake”), and most recently the Northfield Arts Guild (”Alternate Bass Strum,” “King of the Fiddlers,” and “Homeless TV Segment.”) In October of 2011 his play, “Alternate Bass Strum”, was also featured at the Roy Arias Theater, near Times Square in New York City.

Larry worked as a Recreational Therapist through the 1980s and 90s, touring and performing on Guitar, conducting “Sing-a-Longs” in Nursing and Group Homes and Adult Day Care Centers, as well as doing one-to-one sessions for patients. Larry also directed several Theater groups for seniors.

In 2001/02 Larry created a new business called “Fiddler To Go”, a little Celtic and Old Time Fiddle music for parties, classrooms or historical events. Larry exclaimed, “If you ever need a fiddler of ole time music give me a call.”

He has performed for events at many locations: Heritage Days and Solstice at Three Rivers Parks; Murphy’s Landing (reenactment of 1800′s settler village); Gale Wood Farm and North Mississippi Regional Park; NE Minneapolis Arts Crawl; Spring Valley Historical Society; and at Elementary and Pre-Schools, and facilities for Seniors. Larry also worked for 15 years on the Ski Patrol for Three Rivers Parks.

On December 3rd  Larry will be performing at Murphy’s Landing (now called “The Landing”) for the “39th Annual Folkways of the Holidays” from 10am-4pm. The Landing is located at 2187 Highway 101 East in Shakopee, MN 55379 or call 763-694-7784. Larry will also perform on December 10th for “Gifts of the Holidays, Craft, Art & Food Fair” held at Crystal Community Center located at 4800 Douglas Drive in Crystal, MN 55429 or call 763-360-0588.

Larry articulates, “The kind of music I play is traditional and Celtic fiddling, not bar or club music. I feel young people should get started early. And if they’re lucky enough to do this it is very rewarding. North Minneapolis youth have access to as much music and art as possible. Not just to make a living, but to enjoy Living, as much as possible.”

mick laBriola · Camden News-1-1-12

Anthony Rocco Sclavi has a riveting, high-intense energy that is as contagious as it is captivating. He has managed to harness this ubiquitous reservoir of insight and implement it into his art work.

Anthony is a Freelance Artist, whose focus has been in Painting & Drawing in the fields of Abstract and Representational. He is also the Creative Director for BRIO Books; a book-publishing service for self-publishing authors and small presses. And when Anthony has spare time he plays guitar and records in the studio. Anthony’s web site address is www.sclavi.net

Anthony has lived on the northside for about five years in the Camden neighborhood. He is a full-time Dad raising his five-and-a half-year-old son Rocco. Anthony’s brother Dan also shares the home; Dan also works for BRIO at their warehouse in Northeast Minneapolis in shipping and receiving.

Anthony recalls, “I remember while attending kindergarten trying to replicate the rooster on the Corn Flakes box, and since then I’ve had an affinity toward roosters. In the Chinese horoscope I am the Rooster! I started working with oil paint at about 12 years old and further cultivated my art interest taking summer classes at the University of Wisconsin-Superior at about 13.” Anthony grew up in Superior, Wisconsin. Throughout high school Anthony took three art classes per year, later continuing art studies at the University of Minnesota in Duluth.

Next, Anthony had a four-year hiatus, redirecting his focus from painting and drawing to music. He played guitar with a heavy metal band called “Outside the Fences” during this period. But finally he returned to his academic pursuits, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Arts, in 2007, from the University of Minnesota. Anthony currently plays guitar with a group called “Manchild” but primarily records; rarely performing live. He began his musical pursuits at 12.

Anthony became very enterprising while transitioning from academia to the job market. Very excitedly articulating, “While bartending at Cafe Havana I was able to market my freelance Paintings to customers.” This was indeed remarkable. “And in 2008 while pounding the streets for work I had a lucky break. I had been working at Hotel Sofitel with my friend Dan and one day I randomly met with Dan at the BRIO and surprisingly there was a job opening for an Illustrator. I was able to show my portfolio to Will Reynolds, President of BRIO, got hired and remained there ever since.”

I wanted to know more more about Anthonys’ art work. Then Anthony deluged me with perspective, “I work from either the abstract or the representational/realistic point of view. I can take the traditional approach to represent a image as it really is or experiment with mixing work with multiple medias like sound, video, photography etc. I an interested in a unifying approach, problem-solving. I have to make a decision and be involved. I am interested in the Process not concerned with the end result. Is the Process separate or combined? Process is vital.” This idea is exemplified in the genre of the Psycho Thriller, as demonstrated in film and the art world. Mentors of this genre are vast such as; David Lynch/film, Edward Hopper/paintings, Wendy White/photography, Liza Lou/bead art and Adrian Ghein/painter.

Anthony has been substantially influenced by the abstract expressionist Robert Rauschenberg who would implement used materials to his work called “Combines,” and psychologist William Glasser of the “Choice Theory” creating a new psychology of personal freedom. Anthony expresses, “I have had two goals of expressing, one of a no pre-conceived notion, and two that of the classical approach; but I feel I am about to leave this process and explore new art work. I have been studying figure drawing at The Atelier Lack Studio in Minneapolis, and I want to explore the human body.”

Anthony has had his work displayed in a spectacular variety of venues: Milwaukee Art Museum, Tweed Museum of Fine Art, NoName Exhibitions at the Soap Factory, Walker Art Center, Patrick’s Cabaret, Acadia Cabaret, Rogue Buddha Gallery, Intermedia Arts, The National Theater for Children, The House, Babylon International Gallery, Alley Show, Red Door, The Fallout, Manhattan Arts and Antiques, Wakefield Studios, Red Hot Air Festival, Kinship Mentoring, Stevens Community Center, Minneapolis Institute of Art, New Art Center (Manhattan) , Duet Exhibit at Maggie’s Garden (NYC), TBA Lounge (Brooklyn) and more.

“I spent my 20′s like a work-horse, now I am ready to do my work. I am in no hurry to develop my original work. I want to give myself 10 years to open it up and study and grow.” I think of irony and truth; all media is a lie, like representational work trying to convince someone your work is real. I think of artists like Tonja Torgerson working with silkscreen who has multiple sclerosis, exploring illness and art or artists that have isolated themselves on islands near Nova Scotia, the Apostle Islands or even Madeleine Island. They have isolated themselves to focus, to really focus and produce art.”

by mick laBriola-Camden News-9-1-11

The very amiable, kind and courteous Kenneth W Garnier is a skilled Bass player (electric and upright) soaring his way to the top of his field. The much-sought-after Bassist is best known for his current project: The KRENDENTIALS, who performed at the 2011 Black Music Awards and have been together since 2008.

Kenneth has lived on the northside for about a year in a house he is rehabbing with his brother Joseph. However, Kenneth did reside briefly on the northside as an infant. Kenneth has two daughters: Anijah Gabrielle Marie, seven years old; and Arriannah Aaynessiah, six years old.

As a child, Kenneth was thoroughly immersed in music and art by his intensely artistic parents: Kenneth P Garnier and Olivia D King. Olivia is a dancer; and Kenneth P is a pastor of the Church of Christ ministry, the founder of his music ensemble Akouo, a Bass player, songwriter and producer. As a result, Kenneth’s siblings are also incredibly artistically creative individuals. Brother Joseph initially played violin and has moved on to all instruments; Sister Alannah also studied violin and is working as an opera singer in Los Angeles; and sister Elizabeth studied guitar and viola. All the children at an early age were active in theater, acting, commercials, photo shoots and auditions. Kenneth proclaims a childhood motto, “You stay busy, you stay out of trouble!”

Kenneth attended the Ramsey International Center for the Arts grammar school K-8th grades, studied cello for eight years and performed with the St Paul Youth Chamber Orchestra. But Kenneth had more ambitions and as he states, “I would sit down with the cello, radio, and play along! Soon my friends and I created a Pop Orchestra at school. Listening to theme songs and Santana or whatever. I also studied African Drumming with my instructor Pat Kelly of Ramsey school.”

Kenneth reminisces, “The entire family would jam at the house and helped Dad write songs. We would all travel across the country attending church events. We would listen to a wide range of music from Jaco Pastorius to the Funkadelics-love music-road trips. There’s a song for every occasion!”

Kenneth’s father was the pastor of the Minneapolis Central Church of Christ located on 4th Street and Newton Avenue North for many years; and Kenneth P was very active in the implementation of music in their church services. Kenneth recalls, “ As a young child of five or six I remember singing lead, playing drums, piano and African percussion instruments in church.” The Church of Christ considers itself a pre-Christian religion and at one time did not use instrumental accompaniment with it’s worship singing.

Kenneth later attended Washburn High School, playing in the Orchestra for one-and-a-half years and in the Jazz band. Later he joined a trio with Matt Hughes and Matt Brennemen and performed for Macy’s, Target Corporation, the Park Board and private events. The group did covers from Van Morrison to Jamiroquai.

As a Bassist, Kenneth had the incredible opportunity to study at Victor Wooten’s Bass/Nature Camp in Nashville, Tennessee. Kenneth has also met several Bass Guitar giants and attended many concerts of mentors such as Larry Graham, Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller.

At 18 or 19 Kenneth premiered his first real group “Serious Buddha”, a funk and R&B group, with Jimmy Schlenker, who also taught Kenneth about music production. Kenneth began backing up vocalists Erika West and Queen Drea. Later, Kenneth joined “New Congress” with Russ King and Arron Cosgrove and opened for “Pharcyde”, a national hip-hop group.

In 2008 Kenneth joined the KREDENTIALS. The group recently returned from a tour in Kansas and are about to debut their new CD which is a collaborative effort by all its members. Kenneth has also been working with local singing Latina diva Maria Isa, Ashley Gold, Autumn Compton and Chase & Ovation, a Prince cover band.

Kenneth supplements his income working in office telemarketing, the service industry and security. He currently is working at the “Country Bar” at 3006 Lyndale Avenue South, doing Karaoke hosting, bartending and cooking.

Kenneth expresses, “I think everybody has rhythm, or just listen, you are helping to create music. Music comes from the universe and you are frequency! If you like the arts just get to know yourself. You can create anything that you want!”

mick laBriola-Camden News-9-1-11

The outgoing subtly flamboyant, confident, gentle and nurturing Kelly Larson is a refreshing spark of exuberance as a young vocalist, guitarist, poken word artist, poet and bandleader in the current very challenging and competitive music market industry. Kelly is a mother of three young toddlers and a musical powerhouse; determined to create her music and perform locally, doing solo performances and playing with her current all girl band, Said Kelly. Check out Said Kelly’s impressive facebook site .

Kelly Larson is a very active full-time mom and wife caring for her beautiful children: Sidney, 3; Prudence, 2; and Lennon, 1. Kelly and her husband Joshua decided Kelly would name their girls, and she chose Beatles names. Joshua was privileged with the naming of the boys, and later confessed he named Sidney after Syd Barret of Pink Floyd. The family has resided on the northside since 2007. Kelly confides she and Joshua love Minnesota and north Minneapolis and “We will live here for the rest of our lives.”

Growing up in Plymouth, Minnesota, Kelly’s interest in music began at age ten when her parents insisted she take private vocal lessons from Lisa Barry. This continued for seven years. “Every year I would complain, I wanna quit voice lessons”, her parents would agree she could quit after a few more lessons. Then Kelly would boast, “I can’t quit, this is awesome!” Kelly sang with the New Hope Church in the Youth Choir and later, at 16, with the Adult Choir doing solos and singing with the Worship Team on Sundays.

By age 12 Kelly learned Guitar at a summer camp, then wrote her first song- “Beautiful”. She was only permitted to listen to Christian Music as a kid from sources such as KTIS-fm 98.5 radio. Kelly only started her own music listening at age 16.

Kelly’s first band was as a vocalist, with “Red Line Dairy”. She was with the group for only 9 months with her brother Adam Peterson playing drums. Later Kelly wanted to learn surfing, so she moved to San Diego with her sister Cory and joined a band called “Keith Keifer and the All Stars” doing classic rock covers from the Stones to Aretha Franklin. “Alot of it I never heard and had to learn,” she remembers.

Kelly met Joshua while getting tattooed at “Forever Yours” in Anoka, Minnesota. (By the way, Kelly has two stunning tattoos-one on each arm: on the right upper bicep is a huge Rock-a-Billy microphone; on the lower left forearm is a cassette player in the shape of the State of Minnesota.)

Joshua and Kelly immediately became close friends. Then while flying off on her surf adventure to California Joshua left Kelly with a goodbye gift to open on the plane: a tape recorder-headphones-play tape where Joshua said he Loved her. “No way,” Kelly thought. Kelly moved back only a month later and started dating Joshua; two months later they were engaged; two months later they were married in 2006; and two months later they were pregnant.

When Kelly had her second child, she started recording her first solo album. Her guitar teacher, Bruce Balgaard, soon became her producer, therapist, inspiration and recording engineer for that home/raw sound he was looking for in Kelly. “I want to implore you to work with other musicians,” Bruce stressed! “I don’t want to and I want to do it all on my own” Kelly responded. “For every three guy musicians there’s maybe one female musician”. Bruce convinced her to work with other musicians. She agreed and insisted on an all girl band.

Bruce found Kelly two musicians: Heather Weideman on Bass, a student of Bruce’s for eight years and Holly Maczuzak on Drums-both college students. “While practicing I loved how they play and they loved my music.” Their first gig was at the Kitty Kat Klub in March of 2011. Finally, “Said Kelly writes a song for every show, never to be played again, something we share only with that audience.” This is truly unique!

Kelly has become a staple at Plums Bar in St Paul on Sundays, open mike nights showcasing singers/songwriters with Nick Salisbury on Bass and Nick Hensley of the band “Love Songs for Angry Men” as the MC. “I do spoken word, and solo music. So many talented people, always a good crowd and I wrote a poem called “Plums,” which is a sensitive insight into the atmosphere of this network of artists.”

“It’s awesome, I would say yes to every show but I have to deal with two other schedules with Said Kelly. I Love playing music and will do it for the rest of my life. I am a Mother by day and a Musician by night!”

by mick laBriola-Camden News-8-1-11

The bold, daring, vibrant and auspicious demeanor of vocalist Michael Mothershed is one of obvious delight. Big as life itself, Michael exudes an excitement and enthusiasm about his art form that is unprecedented by any conventional standards.

Michael asserts, “I am a vocalist out of the 70′s genres: R&B, Jazz, Blues and Rock.”

Michael has been a North Minneapolis resident off and on since 1989, primarily working as an Electrical Engineer. Originally from Independence, Kansas in the southeastern section of the state near the Oklahoma border, Michael also spent ten years living in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael has two daughters: Mya, 12, and Shaina, 24.

Early musical endeavors in the Twin Cities included the Flatfoot Rollers and Billyclub Snyder and the Snitch Boyz. Michael was also featured in several National events such as opening up in 1998 for Frankie Beverly and Maze in Los Angeles at the Great Western Forum where the Lakers used to play; The Red, White and Blue Blues Show in Chicago from 2000-2010; and in 2008 The Rat Pack Show of Atlanta.

Michael, has had a serious attitude about music from an early age. In his hometown Michael became Choir Director and Music Leader at age 12 for a local Baptist Church, a post he maintained until about age 22. He was considered a child prodigy and remembers “How excited the people got hearing young people singing with such conviction and passion. It was so exciting. Later I then understood why people flipped out about James Brown and understood why people got so engulfed in music.” Obviously, performers like James Brown exemplified the intense passion that was possible in vocalists of this era of music-making. Next Michael began studying the accomplishments of such artists as James Brown, Elton John, David Rivkin and Carlos Santana.

At age 22 Michael steadfastly served his country with four years in the Army and 8 years in the Navy. He was stationed in Los Angeles and was very fortunate to do backup vocal work for Luther Vandross. He states, “I was not a harmony singer. I took my knowledge to a whole other level.”

In 1989, prefacing his Navy career, Michael relocated to Minneapolis and worked security for the Riverview Supper Club in North Minneapolis. There he met music legends Johnny Hodges, Bobby Blu Bland, Bobby Womack, Johnny Taylor and the Average White Band. “That was major for me, exclaims Michael.” And this became a turning point of his musical perspective.

By 1999 Michael’s work dried up in Minneapolis and he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, home of a phenomenal historic blues scene! He started singing the Blues and opened for acts like Mel Waiters and Sir Charles Jones. Michael was suddenly noticed by local bands and became sought after to get down with the gritty blues thang and work with them. This was exciting but not very lucrative. When Michael’s electrical engineering work started to take off he acquired a job in Shakopee and found himself back in the Twin Cities.

Michael then created a new objective with his musical career, and decided to be a Lead Front Man determined to work with committed musicians and also book and manage the bands as well. This was a giant step. A few years later he posted ads on Craigslist and found his current projects.

Function Junction, a R&B, Funk and Motown seven piece group with three vocalists two years running. And The Undergroove, an original six piece R&B group also performing obscure covers for the last three years.

Michael recalls probably the most pivotal comment ever given to him, while working at the Riverview Supperclub. I was given the best advice imaginable! “Do it for the love, and not the money, and you’ll have a career!”

by mick laBriola-Camden News-7-1-11

The electric, enigmatic and stunning energy of Kenna-Camara Cottman is a highly contagious and exciting experience. Black Dance Artist, choreographer, musician and educator, Kenna has an intense commitment to her art and to becoming a Black American Griot in the Malinke (Mandinka) traditions of West Africa. You can reach Kenna via her web site.

Kenna’s current work consists of two major segments: First, she is Artistic Director of Voice of Culture Drum and Dance, an association of young artists who are dedicated to West African arts and culture; second is Kenna’s contemporary/original work emphasizing West African and Hip Hop dance and culture. (This includes her role as a principal dancer of Ananya Dance Theatre, building community and social justice for women of color, and being a member of Baato Askan Wii Drum and Dance in Gambia, West Africa.)

Kenna has two children: Yonci, her 12-year-old daughter; and her four-year-old son, Ebrima. Kenna has resided on the northside for about 12 years. Kenna also attended North High School where her mom Beverly Cottman taught Biology.

As a child, Kenna states, “Art was a given and Art was all around” in her household. Her mom Beverly was painting, weaving and dancing, as well as teaching for a living; her dad Bill was writing and doing photography, as well as working as an engineer for Honeywell.

Kenna recalls at age four or five participating in the production of “Medea” at the Jewish Community Center with her mother. They needed children to perform roles and suddenly Kenna was on stage. However, Kenna elaborates,“ I was always given a choice to get involved with my mom’s projects, I was never forced.” Kenna also recalls going to many of Morris Johnson’s dance classes with mom. The totality of her art experience at a young age Kenna calls “Art Centricity!”

Along with this unique exposure to art came the very empowering experience of “Afro Centricity”, a vital sense of pride of her Blackness and appreciation of African Roots and African-American heritage. Kenna has trained with a host of West African artists, such as William Atchouellou and Henriette Gbou of Cote D’Ivoire; Fode Moussa Camara and Mouminatou Camara of Guinea; Zalika Reid of Jamaica; Rich Baba Faye and Muse Sarr of Senegal; and Francis Kofi and Christian Adeti of Ghana.

Kenna’s journey to creating her own art work came after her formal school training. Kenna received a Teaching Degree from the University of Minnesota and went on to a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. After concluding five years of conventional teaching, Kenna began teaching at Harvest Prep School/Seed Academy where she was given an opportunity to teach subjects of her own discretion. Thus she began courses in theater, dance, music and media. This was a turning point in Kenna’s career as Kenna concludes, “This was feeding me.”

In 2004 Kenna was working as an administrator in the offices of COMPAS, an arts organization. She then had the opportunity to work as a member of COMPAS’s artist roster and as Kenna states, “Went out on a limb, doing my own art”. Kenna then was teaching art courses for educators at the Perpich Center for Arts Education.

“Since I quit my straight job and became a full-time artist I have not been idle, ”  Kenna enthusiastically expresses.

Kenna is on the performing artist rosters of COMPAS and Young Audiences of Minnesota, teaches Hip Hop and West African concert dance at the University of MN; Thought & Motion for WEWin Rites of Passage; and classes at BallareTeatro School of Dance.

Kenna is working on choreography projects with James Sewell Ballet and YoungDance, and is the recipient of a Momentum 2011:New Dance Works production grant from the Southern Theater and the Walker Art Center. Kenna is the curator of Black Choreographers’ Evening ’03-’05 and African Nights 2010 at Patrick’s Cabaret. She has performed the work of Roxane Wallace, Leah Nelson, Aneka McMullen, and Morris Johnson – all Minnesota dance artists with national and international acclaim. Outside of her culture, Kenna works with cutting-edge performers like Pramila Vasudevan and April Sellers.

“I believe there is a Black esthetic that draws from the Black experience. When you are Black and creating a work, Blackness is in it!”

by mick laBriola-Camden News-6/9/11

Bright smiles and a radiant glow of optimism emanate from the lovely Native-American Performance Artist, Storyteller and Puppeteer Julie Kastigar Boada. Julie categorizes her work into 3 segments: Performances, Building Puppets and Teaching. You can reach Julie at her email address coyotesinging@yahoo.com

The Performance portion of her career encompasses a wide variety of aspects. In addition to performing Puppet Shows and Storytelling she has four touring productions: The first is “Nanabosho,” the Anishinabe Coyote “Trickster” Stories with storytelling and puppetry; next is “Skeleton in the Closet,” a presentation of the Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos (a Mexicano/Aztec holiday remembering and honoring the Ancestors); the third is “Shingebis,” the red breasted Merganser Diver Duck tales; and fourth is “On the Day You Were Born, ” a story by Debra Frasier originally presented by In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater (HOBT).

Julie has lived on the northside for 20 years, residing in her current location for the last 15 years. She has raised two sons, Troy and Tom, and two grandchildren, Christopher and Michael. She resides with her father, Edward, and her husband, Gustavo Boada. Gustavo is a Peruvian Artist, Puppeteer and Mask Maker.

Born in Duluth, Julie was brought to Crystal, Minnesota at age four where she lived with her two sisters and parents. Julie recalls as a young girl going to the Walker Art Center with her Dad and getting very excited about the collage artwork. Julie elaborated, “I was always drawing and painting and making dolls. I never imagined I would be a puppeteer! My sisters and I would put on shows about fairy tales and make up musicals. My Dad would bring home empty refrigerator boxes and we would make sets for our shows.” This process is similar to the HOBT practice of puppet making and float construction for such events as the 37th Annual Mayday Celebration just held on Sunday, May 1st 2011.

Julie received a BA degree from the University of Minnesota in Studio Art and American Indian Studies. She worked with sculpture, performance art and installations, usually outdoors. Julie mixed traditionally-inspired ideas with her own blending of interpretations of Earth Religions. This is truly a very powerful, passionate and creative process interweaving history with a contemporary disposition.

Julie’s introduction into Puppetry came at a time while doing her graduate work in college. She was hired by another northsider and puppeteer, Dan Polnau. He created a show called “Anaconda” and Julie worked as a Puppeteer and mask builder; she portrayed a monkey, an alligator and a fish. This production in turn launched her into working with HOBT performing “Discover America” and “Circles of 500”. Originally on staff with HOBT Julie now works as a contract artist; a good portion of her work is with HOBT.

Julie recently received a Minnesota State Arts Board grant for her creation “Hidden History”; set in the 1600′s-1800′s, it is a performance piece about the Great Lakes region during the Fur Trade, prior to the settlers occupation. She recently received a Travel Study Grant to study in Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, Mexico with the indigenous people Raramuri (what they call themselves) or the Tarahumara (the scientific term). That was a four-week excursion. This summer Julie will be doing a “Gather Stories and Community Pageant” in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, funded through the Fergus Falls Center for the Arts.

Julie expresses that “Art is a powerful tool for people to tell stories that are on the fringe. It gives voice to people who don’t ordinarily have a voice for expression.”

by mick laBriola · Camden Community News-5/1/2011

Walking into the northside studio of Phil Belknap is a maniacal excursion into Guitar mania and amazing unusual sound inventions made from toys — including the Gadgetor Guitar displayed in Phil’s pic. With an intense passion for Sci-Fi and comic books, the very delightful and light-hearted Phil Belknap is most currently know as a guitarist, lap-steel-guitar player, Farfisa organist, composer, and inventor of various sound/audio devices mostly made from toys: a composite of switches, wiring and toys producing very high-tech frequencies and ambiances.

For the last 10 years Phil has been the principal songwriter of the Big Surf Band, his most notable current project. Earlier in his adventuresome folly, with a background in gymnastics, Phil became a dazzling rope-walking, acrobatic, juggling, lariat-spinning, mandolin-playing street performer. As a solo artist he became “Flip Phillip” working with theatrical ensembles, Renaissance Fairs and other events nationally and internationally. Phil has been supplementing his income working at the Wedge Co-op for the last 20 years.

Phil and his wife Liz Knaeble have resided for 11 years in their Northside home. Liz’s roots on the northside astonishingly date back four generations to the year 1860. Liz is a child-care provider with Minneapolis Public Schools for high-school teens working to complete their education.

Born in West Covina near Los Angeles, California from Iowa farm-folk parents, Phil was brought to Austin, Minnesota at age three. The family later moved to White Bear Lake in 1962. Phil’s older brother Craig had a fun record collection and started taking lessons on guitar which sparked Phil’s musical interests. Phil soon studied guitar with his neighbor Louis Hauser. By age 13 Phil had initiated his career with his first band: “Beggars Opera” contained his childhood friends from Sunrise Junior High in White Bear Lake.

In the mid-70′s Phil relocated to Greeley, Colorado attending college, managing a food co-op, learning rope-walking with tips from Evan Ravitz (Evan from Heaven), doing some music and eventually working for White Wave Tofu (who spearheaded tofu in the United States) after moving to Boulder.  He then worked the Renaissance Fair in Castle Rock, Colorado where he developed his one-man act of rope-walking while juggling or playing mandolin.

One year while wintering in Austin, Texas he joined the zany antics of Troupe De Jour featuring Magical Mystical Michael and Franko the Flying Sorcerer. By 1985 Phil migrated back to the Twin Cities working with the music groups The Talkabouts, Flesh Fantasy (Billy Idol covers), Frayed Knot, Beat Curio and the Electric Arab Orchestra.

Phil is an aficianado of Surf Music, he expresses “that twangy reverb guitar with bass and drums” climaxing from ’62-’64 in Southern California. “It’s instrumental music with no singing featuring the melodies knocked out on guitar, what a great idea! “ Phil enthused. “Pipeline”, “Walk Don’t Run” and “Wipe Out” were the first tunes of Phil’s repertoire influenced by Arab/American Dick Dale (King of the Surf Guitar) and the Del-Tones, and Lynk Wray and his Ray Men (of Rawhide and Batman themes fame).

Phil also journeyed into Arabic music listening to another twangy guitar style, that of Omar Khorshid who performed with Arabic music legends Oum Kalthoum and Mohammed Abdel Wahab. While continuing his Venture, no pun intended, into the Surf and Middle Eastern genres Phil began to compose and write music implementing his 1960′s Farfisa electric organ along with his many stunning guitars, including the Fender Jazzmaster.

Big Surf is working on their fourth CD and often perform at Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit and Marios Keller Bar in Northeast Minneapolis in between the regular polka bands. For five and a half years Big Surf had a once-a-month gig at the Hexagon Bar in Seward neighborhood that folks really looked forward to. Phil hopes to find the band another venue for their committed fans. Any ideas???

Phil insists that “Ya gotta do the music ‘cus you Love it, there isn’t always a crowd or money available. I’ve played some of the big gigs and Wow we’re having Fun! Then sometimes there’s just a few people in the house and this really tests your commitment to your art or music!”

photo by mick laBriola