Casey Dunn expresses herself creatively through dance, hula hooping and fire spinning. As a member of Lake Superior Flow Arts and the Duluth Dolls, a burlesque and cabaret dance troupe, Dunn uses movement as a way to exercise, entertain and empower others to try new things.
"I'm a huge advocate for hula hooping and dance as a way to stay active and healthy. [Hooping is] a great form of exercise," said Dunn, a registered nurse who works in the post-cardiac care unit at Essentia Health.
Dunn, who has been hooping for six years, moved from Fargo, N.D., three and a half years ago with her young son and founded Lake Superior Flow Arts in November 2014.
"I remember people thinking I was crazy. Honestly, if you'd have told me [LSFA would] be a functioning nonprofit one and a half years later, I never would have believed it. Just serves as a reminder that as people all things are possible," said Dunn.
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Flow Arts is a general term to describe the mix of movement-based disciplines such as dance, juggling, fire-spinning and object manipulation.
Lake Superior Flow Arts (LSFA), which consists of 15 volunteer members, performs hula hooping and fire spinning routines at local events including Hillfest and the Children's Museum's annual Bubble Festival.
"I love being a nurse and I also love to hoop and dance and I love Duluth, so [LSFA] was a good way to put them together," explained Dunn.
Dunn and other members of LSFA will also perform at the Duluth Fire Festival on July 9.
"[Spinning fire is] something that should be given a lot of practice to know what to have on hand, what clothing to wear and basic things to avoid. I encourage people who have an interest to learn fire safety," said Dunn.
LSFA also offers Hoops & Hops, a hooping class at the Red Herring Lounge July 10 and Aug. 7. For more information visit LSFlowArt.org .
Saturday, June 9, 3-9 p.m. Armory Fire Arts Center, 1325 London Rd.
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3:30 p.m. hands on demonstrations: Clay with Snoodle Ceramic Studio and Amanda Belcher of Zenith Bread Project
4 p.m. demonstrations: Forging Community , Visiting artist Daniel Paulson Glass Arts, and visiting jewelry artist Scott Johnson of White Cedar Studio : presenting a forged ring demonstration
4:30 p.m. Ceramic Pit firings begin, Jewelry ingot pouring demonstration by Britta Lynn
5:30 p.m. Lake Superior Flow Art : Drumming and Hula Hoop workshop
6 p.m. Ceramic Raku firings begin, Scorza Art Glass Demonstration (6:00-7:00)
7:30 p.m. Lake Superior Flow Art : Fire Spinners performance
8 p.m. Fire Parade-Fire in place sculpture revealed
Music throughout the afternoon and evening.
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Art events
All events are free to attend!
July-August: Arna Rennan, "plein aire" painter. Zeitgeist Arts Cafe, 222 E. Superior St.
Thursday, July 7, 6-8 p.m., Aullen Raymond, Beaner's Central , 324 N. Central Ave.
Friday, July 8, 6-8 p.m. 2nd Friday Art Crawl, Esther Piszczek, CZT, Zentangle Inspired Art, and UMD Professor Ladona Tornabene, Ph.D. , nature photography, Duluth Fine Pianos , 405 E. Superior St. Free parking behind building after 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 9, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nice Girls of the North 2nd Saturday Marketplace . Lester Park Community Center, 106 N. 54th Ave. "Free coffee, cookies, and a friendly atmosphere await while you browse a collection of handcrafted clothing and bags, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, photography, personal care products, baby items and much more."
Monday, July 11, 5-7 p.m. Martin DeWitt , paintings, drawings, and mixed media, "Color/Space/Hybrid Forms", Zeitgeist Arts Atrium , 222 E. Superior St.
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Friday-Sunday, July 15-17, Chalk-A-Lot Sidewalk Chalk Festival , Thomas Owens Park, Two Harbors
Friday, July 15: Free chalking clinics at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Saturday, July 16: Chalk art drawings from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 17: Chalk art drawings until 1 p.m. Awards at 2 p.m.
Artists of all ages and abilities will draw on sidewalks in downtown Two Harbors on July 16 and 17. There will be free entertainment, art activities and food vendors at Thomas Owens Park. Waterfront Drive will be closed between Second and Fourth avenues. $15 fee includes a reserved 5-by-6-foot sidewalk space, one box of 48 high quality pastel chalks, latex gloves, two sponges for blending. Contact Michelle Ronning at (218) 590-4532 with questions.
Onsite registration begins at 8 a.m. both days, but to ensure you get a spot, register on line by Thursday, July 14 through Two Harbors Community Education . No cancellations or refunds.
