The White Night Memory Theater

A Project of the Northern Spark Festival

Starts: June 4, 2011
Ends: June 5, 2011

Artist Suzanne Kosmalski is bringing to life the shuttered Saint Paul Orpheum Theatre, currently known as the Palace Theatre. Her moving image work covers the west facade of this 100-year-old theater. Focusing on historic memory, Kosmalski recovers this empty space in a journey that deals with the archaeology and experience of the theater, transporting the viewer into a suspended time from the building's opening in early 1900 to its quiet presence in the everyday life of current Saint Paul.

College of Visual Arts students worked with Kosmalski in the Advanced Video Production class taught by faculty Cheryl Wilgren Clyne. During the event, we encourage you to view the featured student work.

Presented with support from Charles Fuller and Constance Mayeron Cowles.

Student Work
Kosmalski’s Website

This project is part of a new Minnesota Festival, Northern Spark, modeled on a nuit blanche or “white night” festival—a dusk to dawn participatory art event along the Mississippi and surrounding areas.

Northern Spark focuses on Minnesota-based artists, pushes the boundaries of contemporary art, transforms the urban environment into a city-wide art gallery, includes a diversity of participating organizations from partner non-profits to commercial sponsors to “mom and pop” businesses, involves a broad and diverse audience who are not regular attendees of traditional art venues, and showcases the natural and urban splendors of the Twin Cities.

Event Details

June 4 (sunset 8:55 pm) – June 5 (sunrise 5:28 am)
Northern Spark

Project Location

448 Saint Peter Street
Next door to Original Coney Island

Image Credit

Susanne Kosmalski