The Great Northern is a 10-day festival that starts Jan. 28 and is run in coordination with legacy winter events the St. Paul Winter Carnival, City of Lakes Loppet and U.S. Pond Hockey Championships. (The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships have been canceled for 2021.)
Great Northern adds events to the Winter Carnival schedule and the Loppet activities.
Here are some highlights:
“Innerworld Prism” is a large-scale piece of digital art animation by St. Paul-based visual artist Marlena Myles. It will be projected first onto Highlight Tower in Northeast Minneapolis and then make its way across the Twin Cities at different sites over the course of the festival. There will be “live fire grilling” and takeout by chef Yia Vang on festival eve, Jan. 27, at a site offering views of the premiere of Myles’ work.
Architecture/art duo Dream the Combine will present “Tracking, A Polyrhythm of Winter.” Participants will receive a text message with an “intention for the day” and are invited to respond with audio, video or images within 24 hours. “Tracks and visuals received will later be combined to create a polyrhythmic sonic image of this time and place.” Register at thegreatnorthernfestival.com by Jan 27.
“Unweaving” is an art installation at Theodore Wirth Park Trailhead by multi-disciplinary artist Tia Keobounpheng on display Jan. 28-Feb. 7.
Other Great Northern events include virtual conversations, exhibits and performances and experimental walking (“a series of walks meant to highlight sensorial experiences of winter”).
All Great Northern events are subject to change because of COVID-19 restrictions. The full schedule of 2021 programming is available at thegreatnorthernfestival.com.
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