Minnesota treasures on tour, and in new book

Posted at 2:40 PM on September 13, 2011 by Marianne Combs
Filed under: Arts around the state, Books, Galleries, Museums

For a museum without a building to call home, the Minnesota Museum of American Art is certainly doing a good job of making its presence known.

Currently the museum is touring some of the finer pieces from its extensive collection to different galleries around the state. First stop: the Tweed Museum of Art on the Duluth campus of the University of Minnesota. The exhibition is titled "Our Treasures" and features work by everyone from sculptor Paul Manship and muralist Thomas Hart Benton to potter Warren MacKenzie and photographer Wing Young Huie.

"Indian Hunter and His Dog" by Paul Manship

Along with the touring exhibition, the MMAA has published its first ever catalog of highlights from the collection, also named "Our Treasures." Selected works of art are accompanied by essays by museum curators and other scholars. MMAA Director Kristin Makholm says the publishing of the catalog marks an important step for the museum.

Minnesotans need to recognize what a significant collection the MMAA has so they understand the need to get it back into the public eye. Most people have no idea of the riches this museum holds. For the first time, we've opened a panorama on the history of the MMAA and its collection, confirming our long-time commitment and dedication to the visual arts in St. Paul and to showcasing the best in American art since the 19th century. This is part of the message we need to deliver to bring people back as supporters (and lovers!) of a permanent and sustainable Minnesota Museum of American Art.

"Our Treasures" in on display at the Tweed Museum of Art through October 23. From there it travels to the Hillstrom Museum of Art in St. Peter and then to the Perlman Teaching Museum on the campus of Carleton College.

Visa issues plague Walker Art Center's new season

Posted at 1:05 PM on September 13, 2011 by Marianne Combs
Filed under: Museums, Music

One of the highlights of the Walker Art Center's performing arts season this fall was to be a mini-festival of new Congolese music and dance.

Unfortunately the music-half of the festival has had to cancel, due to "visa-related issues."

Staff Benda Bilili

Staff Benda Bilili, a group of street musicians who live in and around the grounds of the zoo in Kinshasa, has had to cancel its entire North American tour.

The documentary of their story, however, will still screen at the Walker on Thursday, September 22, for free.

The dance-half of the mini-festival, Faustin Linyekula and Studios Kabako's presentation of "more more more ... future" is set for September 23 and 24.