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ACRL NATIONAL CONFERENCE A cultural escape Arts and museums in the Twin Cities by Deborah Ultan Boudewyns hile attending ACRL’s 12th National ture Garden and Loring Park, is a thrill for WConference in Minneapolis in April, thousands of downtown visitors every year. be sure to find time to explore this cultural The bridge gives pedestrians comfortable hotbed brimming with unique and acces- passage over 16 lanes of streets and highway. sible sites. Rewarding your bravery is a block of cafés The two nationally hailed museums of the and restaurants across from the park. Twin Cities—the Walker Art Center and the The Walker Art Center is loved for its en- Minneapolis Institute of Arts—are both in the ticing exhibitions and educational programs. middle of expansion projects. Because of its central and vital role to the com- The Walker Art Center, one of the most munity, Walker Without Walls was created for progressive and challenging contemporary the duration of the expansion project. art centers in the country, will be closed this The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is the spring. However the adjacent Minneapolis scholar’s museum of the Upper Midwest with Sculpture Garden, one of the nation’s largest collections that cover the world and date back urban sculpture parks, will remain open to 5,000 years. Recently, Minnesota collectors of the public. Stroll among sculptural icons, such Chinese art contributed to the advancement as the Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Brug- of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts collec- gen “Spoonbridge and Cherry” and Georges tion, making it one of the largest and most Segal’s “Walking man,” while witnessing the comprehensive collections of Chinese art. mighty construction site and design of the The newly expanded gallery of up to 20,000 new Walker Art Center by the Swiss architec- square feet, designed by architect Michael tural firm Herzog & de Meuron, in partnership Graves, features this exceptional collection with Minneapolis-based Hammel, Green and of Chinese art. Information about the exhibit, Abrahamson, Inc. tours, and the permanent collection can be Strolling across the Siah Armajani Irene found at www.artsmia.org. Book lovers will Hixon Whitney Bridge, which links the Sculp- want to visit the Minneapolis Institute of Arts About the author Deborah Ultan Boudewyns is Art History & Performing Arts Librarian at the University of Minnesota, e-mail: ultan004@tc. umn.edu © 2004 Deborah Ultan Boudewyns 678 / C&RL News December 2004 for the special spring exhibition showcasing The gallery, designed by nationally acclaimed the first modern-day, hand-painted bible. architects Meyer, Scherer, and Rockcastle, is The exhibit “Illuminating the Word: The Saint located in the beautiful new Regis Center for John’s Bible” will display approximately 70 Art, strategically placed in the newly defi ned pages of the bible, revealing the medieval and “Arts Quarter.” Exhibits include faculty and modern techniques of craftsmanship. Saint student work, but not exclusively. John’s has become an international center Between downtown Minneapolis and of the book arts and is in keeping with the the UM-Twin Cities campus is the Mill City Benedictine monasteries of the past. In 2003, Museum. Built within the ruins of the origi- the BBC presented a documentary on the nal Washburn A. Mill, the museum has been six-year making of the added to the Minneso- bible project. ta Historical Society’s The Weisman Art network of museums Museum resides in a and historic sites. The Frank Gehry structure, museum offers a tour fantastical and Gaudi- that leads visitors to a like, situated along- giant elevator, where side the Mississippi they can watch an ex- River on the University citing simulated per- of Minnesota (UM)- formance of workers Twin Cities campus. in the mill. The modest sized but Creatively con- gem-filled collection ceived and executed, features 20th-century the tour documents American art with a the flour milling in- cross-section of con- dustry that generated temporary art from the growth of Min- around the world. Spe- Mill City Museum was built within the neapolis. Journeying cial exhibitions from ruins of the original Washburn A. Mill. through the eight- museums around the Image provided by the Mill City Museum story Flour Tower is country are brought Public Relations offi ce. an illuminating way to the gallery year-round, and this February to learn about Minnesota’s history. The tour marks the opening of an exhibition of works ends on the top floor and balcony, where spanning from 1897 to 1930, by Alfred Mau- the view of Minneapolis and the river is truly rer, the painter often referred to as “the fi rst extraordinary. Wander outside the museum’s American modern.” courtyard, through the mill ruins, to the scenic In keeping with its mission to collabo- overlook from the Stone Arch Bridge, fi rst rate with the UM faculty, students, and the built in the 1880s. community, the Weisman Art Museum has Across Washington Avenue from the Mill sponsored a special program “Public Art on City Museum is the Minnesota Center for Campus.” Displayed in a variety of locales the Book Arts, which offers a multisensory around campus, such as building entrances environment with a gallery, printmaking and and hallways, courtyards, and plazas, the art papermaking studios, deli, and gift shop. ranges from traditional sculpture to multime- Great respect for the tradition of bookmak- dia installations. This is an amusing treasure ing is merged with the vitality of a cultural hunt of sorts that leads to discoveries about arts center. Exhibit information for spring is art, the campus, and Minnesota. yet to be determined, but a visit regardless A smaller gallery on the UM west bank promises to satiate those who relish the tactile campus is the Katherine E. Nash Gallery. quality of books. C&RL News December 2004 / 679 the American Swedish Institute provides a great cultural experience for all. The institute was founded by Swedish immigrant and newspaper publisher Swan J. Turnblad “to celebrate Swedish culture.” Located just south of downtown Minneapolis, the Ameri- can Swedish Institute’s historic museum offers a variety of programs, tours, and a gift shop. The Turnblad mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is the only castle in the Twin Cities. As part of their yearlong 75th anniversary celebration is the February opening of the exhibition “A Community Collects,” presenting art and everyday objects from the personal collections of members of the American Swedish Institute. Learning more about Minnesota requires The Weisman Art Museum resides crossing the river to the Minnesota History in a Frank Gehry structure, situated Center. Architecture fans will want to see alongside the Mississippi River on the Hammel, Green & Abrahamson’s L-shaped University of Minnesota UM-Twin Cities building set into a hillside in downtown St. campus. The image was provided by the Paul. The building provides 300,000 square museum’s Public Affairs offi ce. feet of archival storage and three public levels of galleries, an auditorium, restaurant, While those of Swedish descent will fi nd and gift shops. Minnesota especially interesting, due to its The Minnesota Historical Society is strong ties to that country and its immigrants, the world’s largest repository of Minnesota ACRL National Conference needs you! Would you: ers, Hospitality Booth assistants, Placement • Like to gain the satisfaction of assisting Service assistants, Internet Café assistants, your colleagues? and preconference assistants. • Like to meet new people and expand your professional network? What do you need to do to volunteer? • Give something back to the profes- • Be prepared to give a few hours of sion? your time • Provide some additional justifi cation • E-mail Volunteers Committee chair, for attending a conference? Bob Rose, at [email protected]. Please If the answer to any of the above include your name, mailing address, email questions is yes, the 12th National ACRL address, phone number, and dates you Conference in Minneapolis, April 7–10, would be available to serve as a volunteer 2005, has something for you. To put on a (if known). successful conference requires many vol- • And of course, you will need to register unteers to serve in such roles as meeting (and pay) to attend the conference room assistants, event ticket-takers or ush- See you in Minneapolis! 680 / C&RL News December 2004 materials. On exhibit in April will be the side of Minneapolis, another emerging area Smithsonian’s “The American Presidency: A for the arts. Glorious Burden,” which includes artifacts While you prepare your presentations from the Smithsonian Institution and Min- and schedule workshops and various meet- nesota Historical Society collections. ings, be sure to plan to sneak in some of Other sites await those who embark on these small adventures; when you look back the mini-excursion to St. Paul. The Minne- on your trip to the Twin Cities, you will be sota Museum of American Art is located satisfied that you experienced a burgeoning in its new Riverfront Gallery in downtown cultural scene in the Upper Midwest. St. Paul. The permanent collection with its focus on American art reinforces its compan- ion collection at the Weisman Art Museum. Where to go While the spring exhibition schedule has not been determined, there is likely to be • Walker Art Center (1750 Hennepin a show of pieces from the permanent col- Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403, 612-375- lection —a necessary visit for followers of 7622) American painting. • Minneapolis Institute of Arts On the first and third Friday of the month, (2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, the Minnesota Museum of American Art MN 55404, 612-870-3131) hosts soirees with live music, which could • Frederick R.

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