On this Thursday May 24th a very special concert will occur in one of the most unique settings in Minneapolis. If you haven’t had a chance to visit Bella Luna Studios at The Wolf House in NE than this is your opportunity to see it for yourself! I can promise you that your eyes won’t lack for enchanting things to fall upon, and since this is a concert your ears will be entertained as well.
The event is a fundraiser for the MN Music Coalition, the sole MN nonprofit devoted to serving musicians of all ages, genres and backgrounds. In a climate of decreasing funding to the Arts in general, the MMC has dedicated itself to helping artists to not only survive, but to thrive.
Headlining the event is singer-songwriter Chris Koza, who is well known for his work in Rogue Valley, and most recently his solo project Nobody Kid. Koza is a wonderfully charming performer, and I’ve come to look forward to the near instant rapport he creates with his audience. He is at the heart of things a songwriter that draws from his everyday life and it’s maybe the little things that he takes note of, the things that others might totally dismiss that makes him both so captivating and accessible.
Special guest Lydia Liza might be most recently well known for her re-working of the classic holiday hit “Baby Its Cold Outside” that went viral. The song got loads of radio play and became number 1 on Spotify. The song proceeds were donated to The Sexual Violence Center of Minnesota and RAINN. Liza is an alum of the Bomba de Luz and has worked with acclaimed musicians like Toki Wright, Eric Mayson, Big Cats, Jeremy Messersmith and more. There is no one who can surpass the energy that Liza brings to the stage, she exudes pure joy and has a beautifully impressive melodic range. I have never seen an artist so unaffected by being onstage, so herself.
In the environment of full disclosure I have to admit that I am emotionally involved with The Wolf House. When I was in High School my art teacher Lauri Svedberg lived there and created the space. When the home was sold a few years ago there was some news coverage because of its uniqueness. Some didn’t appreciate the artistic vision with which it was imbued. Others fell in love with it immediately. I remember seeing a FB friend write about it and several negative comments bordering on rude being written about it–I admit it made me very angry. Although it is true that “art is in the eye of the beholder, and everyone will have their own interpretation”, I think they missed the point. The home was an extension of Svedberg’s creative vision, and immeasurable talent.
I think you’ll walk into the space and find what you need there. I have always felt enveloped in the care that Sved gave to the home and personally to me as a student. Sved as a teacher was intuitive and inspiring. In intensive studies art class she gave us a lot of freedom to create, and also allowed us to bring our own music in to play in class as we painted, drew or sculpted. I invariably brought local music: The Replacements, Arcwelder or such, and she let me forgo the no cursing in music rule because I think she understood what it all meant to me, those songs. I wish you could meet her, but her wonderful home might be as close as you’ll get because she no longer lives in Minnesota.
That The Wolf House continues its life as a creative force is invaluable. The fact that Bella Luna Studios hosts literary events, art showings and concerts like this MMC fundraiser is such a tribute to the artist who created it. My sincere gratitude to the buyer of the home and all they have done to honor its legacy.
Consider coming to the MN Music Coalition fundraiser this Thursday May 24th at 7 PM, seats are limited so act fast.
Learn more about Lauri Svedberg and The Wolf House
~Rebecca Marx, Photo Credit Justin Blair (Koza) & Peter Jamus (Liza)
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