We think we speak for everyone -Winona residents, and visitors alike- when we say we are missing the wonderful Winona arts events and attractions during this COVID-19 crisis. We learned recently that the Great River Shakespeare Festival will be taking an intermission in 2020, and we are patiently awaiting the reopening of our beloved Minnesota Marine Art Museum, when state elected leaders and health officials give such places the green light.
In the meantime, these two wonderful Winona institutions have teamed up for a video series titled, Painting Poetry: Look and Listen. The series, which can be found on both MMAM’s and GRSF’s Facebook pages, pairs the words of Shakespeare, read by actors from the festival, with some of the great paintings in the museum’s collection. The result is a beautiful melange of words and images.
The first video in the series debuted on April 23rd, and featured company member Grace Belt’s pairing of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 81 with N.C. Wyeth’s “Landscape Study in the Woods” (1916).
Watch Belt’s performance here
The second in the series was released on April 28th, and paired long-time company member, and Artistic Director, Doug Scholz-Carlson reading a cutting from As You Like It with James Hope’s painting “Rainbow Falls”.
Watch Scholz-Carlson’s performance here
Follow GRSF and MMAM on Facebook for future installments of Painting Poetry
While we are all missing being at in-person events during this time of staying at home, it is inspiring to see so many creatives sharing their art virtually. We at Visit Winona, would like to thank each and all of the visual artists, actors, musicians, etc, who have been keeping us entertained and sane during this unprecedented time.