Arts + Culture: Top Acts, Bottom Dollar

The Art of Getting a Good Buy

When it comes to decorating your home with one-of-a-kind artwork, shop local for the best deals. Yearly art crawls offer opportunities to view multiple artists at multiple price points in one venue or neighborhood. This month, take a walk around the Northrup King Building during Art Attack 2007. Painters, sculptors, printmakers, photographers, ceramists, textile artists, and jewelers open their studios to the public for three days. Nov. 2–4. Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson St. NE, Mpls.

Art Walk
Be honest—when was the last time you gave an hour of your life to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden? Forget the giant cherry on a spoon; there are eleven acres full of other sculptures to explore, many of them rivaling our famous spoon for surrealism and size. To add novelty, stroll around under a full moon—the Sculpture Garden is open until midnight. 726 Vineland Pl., Mpls., 612-230-6400

From Russia, With Love
The Museum of Russian Art’s measly $5 entrance fee is a small price to pay for a deep look into the rich culture of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Russia. If you go anytime between now and the end of the year, you’ll have the chance to see the enormous and arresting paintings of Russian artist Geli Korzhev, including several of his Tyurlikis (mutants), which satirize the power-grabbing elite of post–Cold War Russia. Museum of Russian Art, 5500 Stevens Ave. S., Mpls, 612-821-9045

Chamber of Secrets
The Schubert Club’s Hill House Parlor Concerts are one of the best-kept secrets in local classical music. Performances take place in the art gallery of the James J. Hill mansion and some of the Cities’ finest musicians participate. Best of all, tickets are only $16 (tickets for many of the Schubert’s other concerts can run upward of $45) and the setting is a sublime complement to the beautiful chamber music. 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul, 651-297-2555

Firsthand Folk
For folkies, Thursday night at Ginkgo Coffee House has become the place to go to hear some of the nation’s best up-and-coming singer/songwriters, as well as acoustic musicians who play jazz, bluegrass, Celtic, and various stylistic mutations thereof. Tickets are usually $10, but the setting doesn’t get much more intimate. 721 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul, 651-645-2647

Artful Rotation
The Frank Stone Gallery rotates its artful offerings in its main gallery every week with an opening party almost every Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. There are plenty of deals to be found on paintings, sculpture, ceramics, photography—you name it. 1224 2nd St. NE, Mpls., 612-617-9965

Thrifty Theatergoer
A night at the Guthrie is stimulating, entertaining, and usually a little pricey. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the show. Ten minutes before the start of each show, remaining seats go for $15 to $25. Get there early, lines for the rush seating start to form up to an hour ahead of time. 818 S. 2nd St., Mpls., 612-377-2224

Good Deal, Good Cause
Find beautiful artwork at unbelievable prices during the upcoming MCAD Annual Art Sale. With a wide array of pieces—more than 7,500 works were displayed in 2006—priced under $1000 (and many under $100), you’re sure to find a painting, print, photograph, sculpture, or piece of clothing to take home. Plus, your purchase directly supports art students at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Nov. 30–Dec. 1. 2501 Stevens Ave. S., Mpls., 612-874-3700

Real Steal for the Entire Fam
Target 2 for 1 Opening Weekend at the Children’s Theatre offers families a low-cost way to enjoy new shows. Buy two tickets, get one free. Another option—every main-stage production features one “Pay What You Can” performance. Call the box office at 612-874-0400 for details. 2400 3rd Ave. S., Mpls.