In the words of our art historian and presenter, Shelly Nordtorp-Madson, 

"From Romanticized paintings of gypsy life, to screeds about their "disreputable" lifestyles, to "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding,"   the Roma, or Travelers, or whatever often pejorative name given them, gypsies are a prime example of  "The Other" -- a society that lives within the majority culture, but keeps a distance as well.   We will explore the visual manifestations of gypsies, generally by non-Roma, and explore the mystique of the gypsy lifestyle."

“Hot club” or “Gypsy jazz” is a style of music made popular by guitarist Django Reinhardt in the 1930’s.  It is characterized by a swinging rhythm beat, and very fast chromatic lead, both played on hollow bodied guitars.

About our musicians: 

Mark Kreitzer has been playing music in the region for years, as part of rock, country, bluegrass, folk, traditional jazz and Gypsy jazz bands.  Mark is an expert player of a number of instruments, including guitar, mandolin and fiddle.  He currently plays with the Mark Kreitzer Band, the ’53 Swingbillies, Patty and the Buttons, and the Clearwater Hot Club, and performs regularly at Dulono’s, The Aster Café, Vieux Carre and other local and regional venues.

Dean Harrington has been performing and teaching guitar in the Twin Cities for over twenty years.  His career began in classical music with a degree in classical guitar performance from the University of Minnesota.  He is currently performing with the Dean Harrington Trio and the Mill City Hot Club.

Join us for the December noonartsound, in the O'Shaughnessy Room of the O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library.   Free and open to all - bring your friends!