Original BOLD-choice Musical closing their run! Jasper County once had the most illustrious Honky Tonk venue in all the country – but years of wear and changing times have put “The Jewel” on the verge of ruin. Through original songs and music, storytelling, and reflection, BOLD-choice tells the fictional story of the once-famed Country Western Theatre. When a traveling band finds themselves booked to play what appears to be a run-down shell of a theatre, an eccentric owner takes them through a historic retelling of the venue’s past with tales of the famed legends that performed on The Jewel’s stage. BOLD-choice Theatre is a community theatre company that creates original, fully staged productions that seek to align artistic expression with civic engagement. This program is a place for artists to explore their craft and realize the power of artistic expression. The company seeks to entertain and engage the community, leading to dialogue around the issues of inclusivity, individuality, and social responsibility. BOLD-choice's professional actors are primarily adults proudly living with disabilities. This performance is made possible through the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation!

What: You are invited to Great Lakes Atelier of Fine Art’s ninth Annual Student/Instructor Exhibit. There will be examples of full time student work, part time student work, and children’s class student work on display. Most of the work will be available for purchase. It’s a great opportunity to support these young artists in-the-making and to own quality, original fine art. This year, the Atelier is excited to have the Oasis Del Norte food truck on site, and live music for 2 hours opening night performed by local singer/songwriter Gavin St. Clair. When: Two-day fine arts display Friday, May 2nd, 5 pm - 9 pm Saturday, May 3rd, 12 pm - 5 pm Where: Great Lakes Atelier of Fine Art - 810 W. 3rd Street, Duluth, MN 55806 Why: The church, St. Peter’s, was on its way to demolition before the Larsons purchased it and turned it into a fine arts academy. It’s a staple of traditional training in Classical Realism and it’s the only place like it in Duluth. The four-year program is modeled after the traditional European Atelier system of training. The focus of the Atelier is to train individuals in Classical Impressionism. On day one, the student starts with pencil in hand, and over the course of the apprenticeship will systematically work their way through the program at their own pace, eight hours a day, five days a week. Who: A number of students have traveled to Duluth for this training from across the country. The Founder/Head Instructor is Jeffrey Larson, an internationally recognized and incredibly accomplished oil painter. Background on Jeffrey T. Larson: Jeffrey T. Larson was born in 1962 in Two Harbors, MN and grew up in the Twin Cities. Jeffrey has been trained in the manner of the Old Masters at the prestigious Atelier Lack, a studio/school whose traditions and training methods reach back through impressionism and the 19th century French Academies. He followed his four-year formal training with museum study in the US and Europe and has been painting full time for over 30 years. Jeff recently won the Draper Grand Prize honored by the Portrait Society of America, the country’s most prestigious portrait painting competition. More on Jeffrey here - http://jeffreytlarson.com/ The Atelier’s website: http://greatlakesacademyoffineart.com/ For more information and/or questions about GLAFA, please contact: Jeffrey T. Larson (founder and head instructor)