Despite the fact that I was born and raised in the twin cities it has only been in recent years that I have really begun to explore and love it. So, being the art major that I am, as follows are my favorite art stops throughout St. Paul and (mainly) Minneapolis. If you have the time I would highly recommend stopping at any one of them.
This gallery is located on Lyndale and showcases a lot of local and emerging artists from the twincities. Most of the stuff is really neat modern and since they're emerging relatively cheap to purchase. One of my local favorites, Amy Rice, is opening a new show mid-October and I'm very excited to check it out.
Here's an example of her work found here:
Also up right now are these awesome murals found on the back of the building and visible from the alley (these pics are from their website):
They're also located next door to Robot Love, which you should check out if you havn't.
Part gift shop part gallery this tiny place is located at the corner of 50th and Xerxes in Minneapolis. They carry a well pulled together selection of handmade gifts and jewelry and feature some burgeoning local artists as well. A couple months back I managed to catch a show there featuring minnesota artist Danny Saathoff who uses mixed media to create these amazing moving pieces:
Watering Sands
Russia isn't necessarily the first thing place that pops into my head when I think of art but surprisingly enough this museum manages to carry a really wide variety of both mediums and artists. The real reason why I love this place though is the building, which is a renovated Spanish revival style church.
This photo doesn't really describe how beautiful it is inside but you get the gist. Visitors can also walk upstairs and look down into the main room.
It is easy to overlook this modern art museum as it tends to kind of sit in the shadow (figuratively) of the Walker but it's definitly worth the trip down to the UofM's campus. Again, if not for the art then for the architecture of the building. Designed by Frank Gehry (think guggenheim) the outside is a striking jumble of steel angles and its balconies sport some spectacular views of the river.
The collection and exhibits usually displayed here range from the permanent collection of 20th century art to emerging UofM or Minnesota artists both worth the visit.
Highpoint Center for Printmaking
I was actually introduced to this mecca for printmaking in college (my medium) and was thrilled to hear about their new location opening on lake street near uptown. Word on the street is that Highpoint received a nice grant from the government and expanded from their original building (which was next to Soovac) and just moved into this gorgeous spacious modern building. It houses a fully functional print studio equipped to produce intaglios, lithographs, screenprinting, oh my (sigh) and in the front they have rotating exhibitions of, often, artists who produce within the studio. Usually whenever I stop in the people there are super friendly and encourage you to wander around the shop, studio and back rooms and drool over the state of the art printing presses (which I do).
This photo is from their website depicting construction of the studio space.
The bread and butter for midwest modern art the Walker really is one of the best museums in the midwest possibly ranking in the country's top art museums ad lucky us, its in minneapolis! I've always loved the walker but began volunteering here in the past year and realized I barely knew anything about it. There is always something going on at the walker or something new to see. For example there is an outdoor piece on the hill where they do Rock the Garden in the summer called the Sky Pesher that is open to the public until the wee hours of the morning. Basically it's a room cut into the side of the hill with an open ceiling.
If a trip back to classical roots is what you're looking for in a museum the mia is the place for you. I have been visiting this place since elementary school field trips. It's the place where you learn about buddha's and the tragic death of lucretia. It makes art understandable and beautifully simple to appreciate. This place, like the Walker, has tons of details and features that take forever to appreciate. And bonus: it's free! My favorite part (aside from the art) is this blow your mind ginormous Dale Chihuly glass sunburst that hangs from the ceiling in the lobby:
The Mia is as old and classic to minneapolis as the James J Hill house and definitely worth several afternoons of exploration.
- R.
Mmmm ... I like this post. I like your writing. Nice work R. Glad to be your friend.
Posted by: lsf | September 30, 2009 at 07:35 AM