Seeing as it’s set to hit 75°F on Tuesday, this week’s events were chosen because of their connections to nature, their ability to get people outdoors, or because they reflect the type of verdant beauty that the spring weather has brought with it. It’s everything from Audubon bird prints to an original play that explains volcanoes for this installment of Arts MN. Enjoy.
Audubon and the Art of Birds
Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota
Runs through June 8, 2014
If you can’t distinguish between the wildlife one might spot on the side of a German highway (Autobahn birds) and the work of revolutionary, French-American naturalist John James Audubon (Audubon birds), stop by the Bell Museum of Natural History’s current exhibit, titled Audubon and the Art of Birds, which explores the human fascination with birds, and showcases one of the museum’s most valuable treasures: a double-elephant folio edition of J. J. Audubon’s most well-known work, Birds of America. In addition to Audubon’s prints, you’ll also get a well-curated look at the evolution of ornithological art from the Renaissance to the present day through pieces by Mark Catesby, Alexander Wilson, Francois Levaillant, John Gould, Francis Lee Jaques, Roger Tory Peterson and Charley Harper. Museum admission is $6 for adults, $4 for children, non-UMN students, and children ages 3–17, and free for museum members, UMN students and staff, as well as children under 3. In addition, there is free admission for all visitors on Sundays. For more information, including museum hours, please visit the Bell Museum of Natural History’s webpage.
Beer bonus: Located up University Avenue, just over a mile from the Bell Museum is New Bohemia, a “bier hall” in Northeast Minneapolis that specializes in sausages and beers. Additionally, they offer a variety of pleasing weekly happy hour deals and are open late (till 2am on Fridays and Saturdays).
Jerome Residency Emerging Printmakers
Highpoint Center for Printmaking, 912 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN
Opening reception May 23, 6:30–9pm (Runs through July 3)
After stopping by the Audubon show earlier in the week, consider making an appearance at the Highpoint Center for Printmaking to see work by the 2013–2014 Jerome Emerging Printmakers: Hend Al-Mansour, Michael Gordon, and Lindsay Splichal. The Jerome Foundation’s Emerging Printmakers residencies provided the three artists with nine months of access to the Highpoint Center’s printmaking facilities, as well as critiques and dialogue with professional artists and curators. The result? Woodcuts, screenprints, intaglio prints, objects, and a site-specific installation, all of which will be featured at the exhibit. The exhibit runs through July 3, is free an open to the public, and begins with a reception and artist talk-back on May 23. Visit the event page for more information on each of the artists.
Beer bonus: An eight-minute drive down Lake Street will take you to The Rabbit Hole. If you haven’t yet, consider tumbling into the establishment’s list of adventurous house cocktails.
Forage + CIRCA
CIRCA Gallery, 210 N First Street, Minneapolis, MN
Runs through May 24
There’s still time to check out the CIRCA Gallery/Forage Modern Workshop collaborative exhibit before it closes on Saturday! The show is collaborative since modern design pieces from Forage and contemporary art from CIRCA are featured side by side in well-curated spaces. Fans of either establishment are bound to be pleased. As Forage business manager Rebekah Cook states, “What we love about this concept is that it is, in a sense, the opposite of what we do in our store—in the store we try to take modern design pieces and place them in vignettes to show their functionality and accessibility. This exhibit will take modern design and show it as art.” The event is free and open to the public, but make sure you keep in mind the gallery’s limited hours—it’s only open from 1–6pm on Fridays and 11am–4pm on Saturdays.
Beer bonus: It’s a 13-minute walk to Fulton Brewery (whose taproom is open until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays) and takes even less time to make it to The Freehouse. Not bad options for some post-gallery revelry.
Tracing Fault Lines
In The Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, 1500 E Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN
Opens May 23 (Runs through May 31)
Last Sunday marked the anniversary of the second of two 1980 Mount St. Helens eruptions. While you probably didn’t do anything special to commemorate the eruption, simply recalling the event means that you might just have volcanoes on the brain. If so, why not quell your musings by attending In The Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre’s production of Tracing Fault Lines? Done in conjunction with Mad Munckin Productions, the show will use “puppetry, mask, movement, and original music to explore natural disasters, man-made disasters, and interpersonal tragedies.” Tickets are $15, although some pay-as-able performances are offered, and can be purchased online or at the door.
Beer bonus: After the performance, stop by Herkimer Pub and Brewery to discuss the show, as well as how In The Heart of the Beast has completely changed your perspective on puppetry. You may already be familiar with HOTB from Minneapolis’ MayDay Parade, but for those of you who aren’t, know that these are not your normal puppets.
Saint Paul Farmer’s Market
Saint Paul Farmers Market, 290 E 5th Street, Saint Paul, MN
Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, 6am–1pm (Runs through November 22)
Hardly anything reflects this week’s theme of nature better than the Saint Paul Farmers’ Market. First off, the market itself is located outside. Second, the only items for sale are those that either completely made themselves, or that were grown by individuals who possess intense appreciations for all things natural. Finally, for those of you wondering what connections the market has to art, know that there are always musicians playing in the space of the market, or on its fringes, and that the different vendors’ stands will soon have you discussing the art of produce and of working the land. The market is open from 6am–1pm on Saturdays, as well as from 8am–1pm on Sundays, and while we’d like to say that the event is free, chances are you’ll spend at least a few dollars on a scrumptious treat.
Beer bonus: The Farmers’ Market offers the perfect venue at which to procure some amazing ingredients to use in a homebrew of your own. Consider yourself lucky for having access to such things.
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