2/7/2011 MinneCulture

Five stories from KFAI's 10,000 Fresh Voices series:

1. Blu Dot
Produced by Dale Connelly
Fourteen years ago, three college friends--Maurice Banks, John Christakos and Charlie Lazor--chose Minnesota as the place to start an inventive contemporary furniture company with a sense of humor. Today, Blu Dot is creating eye-catching products to occupy the industry’s vast middle ground between IKEA and the stuff no one can afford. KFAI producer Dale Connelly has the story.

2. ARTitecture
Produced by Britt Aamodt
Buildings represent artistic decisions; and when they're old, they also possess historic pedigree. ARTitecture, a photography exhibit that examines architecture as art and history, will be on display at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center through February. To view images of Andrew Hill's photography, go to middletowncreative.com.

3. Artist Florence Hill
Produced by Dixie Treichel
Minneapolis-based Florence Hill has been a practicing artist for nearly 50 years, creating work in a variety of mediums. She is a frequent lecturer and painting demonstrator, and for 35 years has hosted a Sunday figure-drawing co-op in her Minneapolis studio. KFAI producer Dixie Treichel spoke to the octogenarian about her artistic legacy.

4. Frank Big Bear & All My Relations Gallery
Produced by Cyn Collins
The new All My Relations Gallery, which is part of the Native American Community Development Institute, recently celebrated its grand opening with an exhibit by artist Frank Big Bear. Known for his prisma-color drawings, the inaugural show featured vibrant paintings that drew colorful commentary by friends and vistors. KFAI producer Cyn Collins was there.

5. Minnesota African-American Museum & Cultural Center
Produced by Britt Aamodt
Roxanne Givens has one dream right now, and one challenge: to open Minnesota's first African-American history museum and do so on schedule, by fall 2011. But fund raising during an economic recession is challenging. The Minnesota African-American Museum and Cultural Center already has a home at 17th and 3rd Avenue in Minneapolis, in the historic Coe Mansion near the convention center--a place Givens believes is an ideal backdrop for building cross-cultural relationships, educational advancement and community support. KFAI's Britt Aamodt talked to Givens and MAAM marketing coordinator Shvonne Johnson about the challenges of coordinating and opening a museum in two years, and the rich vein of Minnesota's African-American history they hope to tap for the 8,500-square-foot space. For more information, visit maamcc.org.