The best cuts: Nikki McClure at the Bellevue Arts Museum

Nikki McClure goes from the Riot Grrrl scene to the domestic scene in the Bellevue Arts Museum exhibit of her work. But it's funny: even if you take the girl out of the revolution, you can't take the revolution out of the girl.

"Tonight", Nikki McClure. Photo credit: Dan Kvitka. Courtesy Bellevue Arts Museum.

McClure once created posters and album covers for Sleater-Kinney and other indie rock bands in the late 1990s. She's since moved into popular self-published calendars and children's book illustrations.

Illustrating family-themed books seems like a perfect fit: clean, definite lines, created with simple tools even a kid could use, if the kid was massively patient and painstaking.

But then I thought about the artist's stylistic choices. McClure cuts away all but the most necessary lines and connectors. Her work is literally black-and-white.

"Rely," Nikki McClure. Photo credit: Dan Kvitka.

And suddenly I drew a connection between McClure's paper cuts and the bold black lines of old Soviet propaganda posters: deliberate strokes to deliver a message. Kind of like the propaganda most mothers deliver to their kids: "Always tell the truth." "Cheaters never prosper."

It seems motherhood doesn't soften an artist like Nikki McClure. It makes her cut away everything but what's most important.

Thursday with LHPAC: "Inception" gets into your head

Watching dancers perform, for me, is like watching video shot from the seat of a rollercoaster: I get so into the movement it almost feels like I'm moving too.

Did you get pulled into the video too? It's footage (no pun intended) of the INCEPTION Dance Theater, a contemporary ballet company in residence at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center.

Still photos courtesy Andrew Ness/INCEPTION

Their mission is to tell stories using original musical compositions and choreography. The dance company places a great deal of emphasis on openness and collaboration. One example of their inclusive efforts: open classes for professional-level dancers, Tuesday through Saturday.

And the open classes are free (always a good thing if you're a cash-strapped artist).

If you're more comfortable in the audience than on stage, good news!

You can support INCEPTION by attending their fundraiser gala in January. Details:

WHAT: Dance concert, silent auction, and meet-and-greet event with INCEPTION's artistic director and dancers
WHEN: Thursday, January 31, 2013, 7pm-9pm
WHERE: Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center theater, 104 17th Ave. S., Seattle
TICKETS: $30 at Brown Paper Tickets
MORE INFO: INCEPTION dance theater and LHPAC 

The word "inception" refers to beginnings. It'll be interesting to see what kind of roller coaster ride the audience goes on with INCEPTION.

Follow-up: "Middle of Nowhere" is going places in the film world

I don't usually check movie box office statistics, but I got some cool news about "Middle of Nowhere" this morning.

Turns out "Middle of Nowhere" earned more than $50,000 in its opening weekend -- while showing in limited release! For an indie film that cost about $200,000 to make, that's like ten kinds of awesome.

You might remember the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center brought the film here for its Seattle premiere in late October. 

Lots of love from Seattle residents, who said:

Excellent film! A small gem!

I thought this was a brilliant film. The dynamics were superb and the dialogue [about the burden prison time places on a prisoner's family members] much-needed. Thanks for bringing it to Seattle!

Here's hoping Middle of Nowhere gets a wider release soon! Since it was held over for a second week in Seattle, I wonder if the filmmakers would bring it back for another round... oh, I like that idea.