Minneapolis Institute of the Arts Trip

April 24th, 2006 by Peter Schmelzer

-Minneapolis Institute of the Arts-

Friday, I chaperoned the St. Dominic School 5th Grade trip to the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts. We bussed up, then spent an hour with a doscent, reviewing art work from the Art Adventure program (for which Mary volunteered as a classroom instructor). It was neat to see the kids recognize the art from photos they had studied in the classroom and the excitement they showed as they realize the true quality of the original in comparison.

We saw paintings, sculptures, artifacts, mummies, weapons, and tapestries, but my favorite was the Japanese Rooms.

Michael Graves designed the new wing, which has not yet opened. The kids played tag on the labyrinth in the sculpture garden in front of the wing. As I watched, I was caught up in my own architectural critique of what I could see. In a word, I was not impressed by the form, materiality, or composition of the facade. No wonder area residents aren’t enamored with it!

I recommend a visit nonetheless; the exhibits are very engaging and a good time was had by all.

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