Andrew Ellis
City Pages
New Hope, MN, United States
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Past articles by Andrew:
Ayahuasca-inspired art at Gamut Gallery
Ramses Alarcon-Sanchez has been inquisitive about the unknown since his first drag of marijuana when he was 16. He curious about how it made him feel. Then he discovered books like The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge by Carlos Castaneda, which led him to ancient medicines like ayahuasca... → Read More
TPT's TV Takeover's season premiere features women filmmakers
This Saturday, filmmaker and screenwriter Nicole Brending plans to shoot a scene for Haley Bonar's “Kismet Kill” music video during TPT's TV Takeover. She'll have the bit added into the piece in time for its world premiere at the end of the hour. Sounds crazy, right? Brending is among a... → Read More
Female artists support each other at the Schmidt Artist Lofts
After running her photography business for a decade in downtown Shakopee, photographer Amy Zellmer was ready for a change, because she felt like she didn't fit in. Many of the businesses around the area were multi-generational, and all were run by men. She was a 30-year-old woman working as an... → Read More
Aldo Moroni's latest installation is a love song to Dinkytown
Aldo Moroni's long-term relationship with the Dinkytown area and the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood started in 1972, after he relocated from Chicago to find his path as an artist at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. While he experimented with all sorts of artistic mediums, he struggled to be happy with... → Read More
400 Days: How a MN filmmaker made a sci-fi thriller on a shoestring budget
Having only 19 days to shoot a feature-length script on close to no budget could spell disaster for many filmmakers. These were two obstacles that Minnesota screenwriter/director Matt Osterman had to overcome to make his second movie, 400 Days. The flick — which stars Dane Cook, Brandon Routh, Caity Lotz,... → Read More
St. Paul startup Headcase combines film and fashion
Nick Barghini was in a tough spot last year. He had been working in California behind-the-scenes in film and television. Then he went broke. So the 29-y... → Read More
How one veteran deals with post-military trauma through amazing photography
The power of photography is no mystery to 25-year-old Mike MacDonald, a veteran who served in the military from 2009-13, including a year in Iraq. He's trained to use lethal weapons, but he's also learning how to capture honest moments with a camera. These works are part of an ongoing project,... → Read More
Gamut Gallery's first show in new space features Yuya Negishi
For the people, by the people. That's the motto that Gamut Gallery is excited to continue as gallery director Jade Patrick and company get ready for the first show in their new space in the Elliot Park neighborhood. “Inclusiveness is a huge a part of our idea and our identity,”... → Read More
Mandy Cox layers up to 40 vintage images to create these surreal artworks
Today, digital-collage artist Mandy Cox will open her first exhibit, "Ephemeral Morphology: Utopian Advents & Departures," at the Imagine Art Gallery and Studio. The collection is the result of a journey that took her from soap-maker to artist. She began working with collage because she wanted creative packaging for the... → Read More
How a college prof made a compelling film with no budget
Two apples and a bag of chips. That's the kind of budget director and writer Nickolaus Swedlund had at his disposal for the filming of his feature-length debut, All the Time in the World. The film is set to make its premiere at the Twin Cities Film Festival tonight. The... → Read More
Jug Band Hokum explores the wild lives and dreams of jug-band members
You'll either love it, or you'll hate it so much you walk out. Those are the only responses Emmy Award-winning director and musician Jack Norton will be satisfied with when people watch Jug Band Hokum, his first documentary. The work, inspired by his love of folk music, is a Twin Cities... → Read More
Twin Cities Film Fest: 5 must-see films
This evening, the Twin Cities Film Festival starts its 10-day party at Kerasotes Theaters ShowPlace ICON in St. Louis Park. The festival screens Minnesota-made films, indie flicks, and works garnering Oscar buzz on a national level. This year's schedule is packed with so many movies that you won't be able... → Read More
IMAGINE art gallery opens in Dinkytown, celebrates rock stars
In mere hours Sherri Faye will see a dream that's been in the works for years come to life. Today, her studio and gallery, IMAGINE, is having its grand opening and its first exhibit, "Come Together." Located on 13th and University Avenue by the gates of the U of M's... → Read More
Superhero webseries Super Academy teams up with The Escapist
A web series about superheroes in training? No, they are not doing an X-Men series. It's called Super Academy, and it was all created and shot in Minneapolis. The series is the result of a passion project that started out as writer-director Ben Lefson's final assignment for the Minneapolis College... → Read More
Nerdist Industries' Chris Hardwick buys half of PUNY Entertainment
Chris Hardwick just got himself another gig. The founder of Nerdist Industries recently bought half of PUNY Entertainment, a Minneapolis-based animation company that also has an office in Los Angeles. PUNY has worked on a range of things, including the website for the most recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, animation... → Read More
Maiden Dixie: From cover band to WeFest
As a country band, it seems Maiden Dixie should be getting their hands dirty in the bars of downtown Nashville. But they'e in Minnesota, a place not entirely synonymous with original country music. Luckily they'll be able to represent this great state when they take the main stage at WeFest... → Read More
Help Human Season bring Wisconsin werewolves to the screen
Big Bang Productions got such a good response from their short film, Human Season, that they're getting ready to do a sequel. They launched an Indiegogo campaign for Human Season Strikes Again, and are looking for help so they can make the sequel a reality. The cast and crew are... → Read More
Inaugural On the Line Film Festival celebrates indie film
The Twin Cities gains another film festival this week at the Landmark Center in St. Paul. The On the Line Film Festival will have its inaugural opening tomorrow, and run through Sunday. It's a festival that's been two years in the making, and is purely independent. Festival founder Joe Ruiz,... → Read More
Sneakers are the canvas at MN4MN's exhibition
This Thursday, MN4MN is taking footwear and turning it into a collaboration of design, fashion, and photography at Public Functionary. The show, titled "The Blank Canvas Exhibition," will showcase 13 pairs of shoes and photography. All participants are from Minnesota. The project is part of MN4MN's mission to spotlight emerging... → Read More
AE's Art House Film Festival goes global, is still local
Volunteer-led arts organizations Altered Esthetics will be putting a spotlight on local, national, and international artists on this Thursday and Friday at the Southern Theater for its second annual AE Art House Film Festival. This year's theme is metamorphosis, and includes submissions from over 30 artists around the world. The festival... → Read More