I feel like I'm writing about the Soap Factory all the time these days, but ... this summer, they're hosting some really wonderful arts programming. This Saturday, the gallery kicks off another intriguing month-long series, "Common Room" — it looks to be one part art-and-performance exhibition, one part social experiment, with a lineup of events and programming curated by Andy Sturdevant and Sergio Vucci.

"Common Room" aims to explore the ways curators, artists, performers and community members might fruitfully engage one another. To this end, Sturdevant and Vucci have set the stage by rehabbing a back room at the Soap Factory into a casual, living-room environment. There they will host potluck dinners, film screenings and discussions, music and performance events, readings and karaoke. They've even planned a game night. (You can find the full roster of happenings for "Common Room" on the Soap Factory website.)

For the opening on Saturday evening, the public is invited to bring an instrument — ukuleles, guitars, tambourine, drums, maracas, triangle, a washboard, anything — to play as part of the Common Room Community Orchestra. Musically inclined artists and visitors will then jam together to create impromptu scores for a selection of classic silent films. (On the other hand, if you'd rather just sit back and listen, I hear that's perfectly acceptable, too.)

Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

"Common Room" events will run throughout the month, from Aug. 1 until Sept. 6, at the Soap Factory in Minneapolis. The Common Room Community Orchestra and movie screening is scheduled for this Saturday, Aug. 1, from 7 until 11 p.m.