Art Hounds: Metaphorical art and storytelling classical music

Plus, an appreciation for a Bemidji master of egg tempera painting

"Crow Builds The Most Beautiful Nest" by artist Marley Kaul.
"Crow Builds The Most Beautiful Nest" by artist Marley Kaul.
Courtesy of Marley Kaul

Lynnea Iverson Schmitz of Grand Rapids, Minn., treated her middle school choir students to the Itasca Orchestra and Strings Program’s new recording of the classic musical story “Peter and the Wolf,” based on the work by Sergei Prokofiev.

“It was nice, I think, for my kids to see that COVID can’t stop music,” said Iverson Schmitz.

It’s a message for everyone, and so is the performance.

In the video-on-demand, Itasca Strings director Pedro Oviedo introduces the story’s cast. Each character, animal or human, is represented by its own instrument playing a different theme. With the help of narrator Steve Jaeger of the Grand Rapids Players, the musicians tell the story of Peter and the animals’ encounters with the wolf.

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The 37-minute performance is available on the Reif Center for the Performing Arts website through March 31.


"Fresh And Faded Memories" by artist Marley Kaul.
"Fresh And Faded Memories" by artist Marley Kaul.
Courtesy of Marley Kaul

When painter Marlon Davidson moved to Bemidji, Minn., in 1987, one of the first artists he met was Marley Kaul.

The egg tempera painter has been “a very big influence in my life,” Davidson said. 

Egg tempera is an ancient form of painting that builds luminous color through repeated application, and Davidson calls Kaul a master of the difficult form.

Kaul’s bright paintings on 12-by-12 panels are loaded with story and metaphor. Davidson also appreciates Kaul’s books. The two most recent “strikingly beautiful books” are a collaboration with poet Taiju Geri Wilimek.

Art Hounds are members of the Minnesota arts community who look beyond their own work to highlight what's exciting in local art. If there’s a Minnesota artist or show you’d like to talk about, let us know! Follow this link to learn more.

This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.