Artist Appreciation Celebration with Grand Marais
Artist Appreciation Celebration
With Grand Marais
Friday, November 9, 8:30-11pm
Artpace Courtyard
Free and open to the public
Every year, Artpace throws a special party just for our artist community. Of course we’ll have food, drinks, and open exhibitions for our friends and neighbors to enjoy on November 9. But this year is exceptional for three reasons: Erik Sanden, Joe Reyes, and Odie, who will be performing as Grand Marais—first with a full, interactive set at 9:30pm, then with exclusive music-as-therapy sessions in their van for an audience of one. The band will invite individuals (one at a time) into their vehicle for a brief interview, then will prescribe “the perfect song for that person at that moment,” before delivering just the right dose of music. Serenades include more than 200 original songs, as well as some covers.
Artpace has been an integral part of San Antonio for nearly 18 years now, and while we serve as an international laboratory for the creation and advancement of contemporary art, homebase is always here in our city—no matter how far-reaching our residencies and exhibitions may be. “Artpace is fortunate to be a part of a strong community of artists,” says Artpace Deputy Director Mary Heathcott. “Artists and their ideas have always been at the foundation of everything we do, and we thrive on their inspiration and support. It’s an honor for us to host this annual party to recognize their many important contributions.”
So let us show you our appreciation with the most artful thank you we could come up with: an intensely entertaining evening with Grand Marais.
ABOUT GRAND MARAIS
Grand Marais is a new musical project formed by Erik Sanden, Joe Reyes, and Odie. After years of sowing psychedelic-pop strains with their band Buttercup, these three friends are exploring new territory. The musical bed is at times hyperminimal—two acoustic guitars and an electric bass—but the singing is elaborate, full of harmonies. Grand Marais blends punk, dance, and acoustic folk music in a natural way. The songs are catchy and tell vivid stories, from a picture of a man crying accurately into the neckhole of his beer bottle to the image of a fan inviting Morrissey into their apartment, like a vampire. On stage the band augments these stories with performance art drama—writing on chalkboards, singing into telephones, and executing pratfalls.
Go ahead, have a little laugh with the band…
Wendi Kimura
Wendi Kimura is the Publications Coordinator at Artpace, editing and managing our written and printed matter, as well as our social media. She enjoys a proper pronoun-antecedent agreement and is an absolute serial comma devotee. Wendi hearts Hi-Chew candy, Texas Monthly magazine, The Rub on Brooklyn Radio, and internet cats (like these).