Programs

  • Community Engagement Exhibitions

    EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS: IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, JULY 2020 THROUGH JUNE 2021, THE M REMAINED FOCUSED ON RE-IMAGINED APPROACHES TO ENGAGEMENT NECESSITATED BY THE FACILITY BEING CLOSED (FIRST IN RESPONSE TO THE MANDATED COVID-19 CLOSURE AND THEN IN ANTICIPATION OF BEGINNING CONSTRUCTION TO COMPLETE THE FACILITY). THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PERMANENT HOME IN THE PIONEER ENDICOTT BUILDING IS CRITICAL TO REINVIGORATE AND POSITION THE VISUAL ARTS ON PAR WITH THE OTHER GREAT EAST METRO INSTITUTIONS; AND TO ESTABLISH AN IMPORTANT ANCHOR THAT CONNECTS THE LIVELY ARTS SCENE IN ST. PAUL'S LOWERTOWN AND THE VENERABLE CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS SURROUNDING RICE PARK. THE FIRST PHASE OPENED IN 2018 AND THE SECOND AND FINAL PHASE WILL OPEN IN 2023. THESE REIMAGINED APPROACHES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN BY A DIVERSE RANGE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE CORE TO THE M'S PROGRAMMING MODEL. THESE APPROACHES INCLUDE: CO-CREATING 24/7 EXHIBITIONS IN OUR WINDOWS AND SKYWAYS IN DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL TO REACH AUDIENCES THAT MAY NOT VISIT MUSEUMS; ORGANIZING RELATED VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING THAT PROVIDES FREE, ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES TO DELVE DEEPER INTO THE EXHIBITIONS AND TO REACH AUDIENCES WHO CAN'T COME SEE THEM IN-PERSON; CREATING ART KITS THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE EXHIBITION THEMES FROM HOME OR IN THE CLASSROOM; AND SHOWING UP BEYOND THE M WALLS TO DEVELOP AND SUPPORT WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AT PARTNER FACILITIES AND IN PUBLIC SPACES. (1) GORDON PARKS: A HOMECOMING, MARCH SEPTEMBER 2020. CURATOR: ROBIN HICKMAN-WINFIELD; COLLABORATORS WERE STUDENTS FROM GORDON PARKS HIGH SCHOOL, FRANK MURPHY'S FASHIONS, SAINT PAUL HOTEL, HALLIE Q BROWN COMMUNITY CENTER AND MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER.(2) 1.5: A SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIASPORA REMIX, SEPTEMBER 2020JANUARY 2021. ORGANIZED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIASPORA PROJECT TO REFLECT ON THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM/AMERICAN WAR FROM THE RARELY SEEN SOUTHEAST ASIAN PERSPECTIVE.A. 1.5 SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIASPORA KICK-OFF, VIRTUAL OPENINGB. SCATTERED ZINE PICKUP, IN-PERSON PICKUP OF ORIGINAL ZINE CREATED FOR 1.5 EXHIBITIONC. "SCATTERED DIASPORAS AND THE CRITICAL RENEWAL, "VIRTUAL ARTIST TALKD. PAUSE & PA KWAN ART KIT PICK-UP, IN-PERSON DISTRIBUTION OF EXHIBITION-RELATED ART KITSE. "REIMAGININGS: A COLLISION COURSE IN TIME + DUAL PANDEMIC," VIRTUAL, EXHIBITION-RELATED CONVERSATION(3) OUTER EXPERIENCES: BLACK LIFE IN RURAL AND SUBURBAN MINNESOTA, FEBRUARY-JUNE 2021. ORGANIZED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN INTERPRETIVE CENTER OF MINNESOTA. A. "OUTER EXPERIENCES KICK-OFF," VIRTUAL OPENINGB. "BELONGING," VIRTUAL CONVERSATION FEATURING ROBYNE ROBINSON IN CONVERSATION WITH EXHIBITION CURATOR JOJO BELL AND THREE OTHER BLACK MINNESOTANS WITH FORMATIVE EXPERIENCES IN RURAL OR SUBURBAN MINNESOTAC. COLORING BOOK PICK-UP, IN-PERSON DISTRIBUTION OF ORIGINAL EXHIBITION-INSPIRED COLORING BOOK(4) "TO LOOK BACK AND WONDER: A CONVERSATION BETWEEN SALLY FRATER AND DR. KELLY MORGAN," JUNE 2021. ORGANIZED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EMERGING CURATORS INSTITUTE. (5) WISE, GIFTED, AND BLACK: ART BY THE MAGNIFICENT GOLDEN AGERS, JUNE-JULY, 2021. ORGANIZED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HALLIE Q. BROWN COMMUNITY CENTER AS THE CULMINATION OF A SERIES OF ARTIST-LED RESIDENCIES FOR THE CENTER'S WOMEN ELDER GROUP.(6) SAINT PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 2021 HONORS EXHIBITION, JUNE-JULY, 2021. ORGANIZED AS PART OF A MORE THAN 30-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $1.3M

  • Art Collection and Support

    COLLECTIONS:IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE M ADDED ELEVEN WORKS TO THE PERMANENT COLLECTION IT HOLDS IN PUBLIC TRUST. PURCHASES AND DONATIONS REFLECT THE M'S ONGOING COMMITMENTS TO SUPPORTING MINNESOTA ARTISTS, EMERGING ARTISTS, AND ARTISTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUNDS. THE M MAINTAINED A TEN-YEAR TRADITION OF PURCHASING AN ARTWORK FROM THE FINE ARTS EXHIBITION AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR. A HIGHLIGHT FROM THE YEAR WAS THE ACQUISITION OF A SERIES OF FIVE SKETCHBOOKS THAT PASSED BETWEEN 70 DIFFERENT MINNESOTA-BASED ARTISTS WHO CONTRIBUTED 120 ORIGINAL ARTWORKS TO THE BOOKS' PAGES TO CREATE CONNECTION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. DURING THIS YEAR, THE M ALSO COMPLETED A COLLECTION ASSESSMENT AS PART OF ITS ONGOING EFFORTS TO MAKE THE COLLECTION ACCESSIBLE VIA DIGITIZATION AND OTHER MEASURES.KYLE FOKKEN (B. 1966), CLASS ACT (PIGGY BANK SERIES), 2020, WOOD, FABRIC, LEATHER, FOUND GUN PARTS, PLYWOOD, PAINT, TAXIDERMIED DEER, 28 X 48 X 10 INCHES, PURCHASE, ACQUISITION FUND 2020. 04.01MEG LIONEL MURPHY (B. 1986), THIS IS WAR, 2019, GOUACHE ON ARCHES PAPER, 51 X 38 INCHES, PURCHASE, ACQUISITION FUND, 2020.05.01NICOLA GINZEL (B. 1968), TRANSITIONAL FRAGMENT: UTZ COMPOSITE WITH EMBROIDERED FROTTAGE FROM MOROCCAN SOAP BOX, WRAPPER, THREAD, FROTTAGE, FABRIC, PENCIL, OIL PASTEL, AND INK, GIFT OF MARY AND BOB MERSKY, 2020.06.01JULES OLITSKI (B. 1922, D. 2007), SPIRIT SPLENDOR, 1994, ACRYLIC ON CANVAS, 24 X 36 INCHES, GIFT OF MARY AND BOB MERSKY, 2020.06.02JUDY ONOFRIO (B. 1939), HABITAT, 2010, MIXED MEDIA, 20 X 11 X 9 INCHES, GIFT, PUBLIC ART ST. PAUL, 2020.07.01JEFFERY GIBSON (B. 1972), IF I RULED THE WORLD, 2019, DIGITAL PRINT, SILKSCREEN, COLLAGE, GLOSS VARNISH, CUSTOM COLOR FRAME, 36 X 34 INCHES, GIFT OF MARY AND BOB MERSKY, 2020.08.01ALEC SOTH (B. 1969), MISTY, 2005, CHROMOGENIC PRINT, 40 X 32 INCHES, GIFT OF MARY AND BOB MERSKY, 2020.08.02KIT WHITE (B. 1951), OPEN FIELD, 2019, PHOTOTRANSFER AND OIL ON WOOD PANEL, 23 X 27 INCHES, GIFT OF MARY AND BOB MERSKY, 2020.08.03KAT ENG (B. 1991), BACKWATERS I, 2020, ARCHIVAL PIGMENT PRINT, 42 X 53 INCHES, PURCHASE, ACQUISITION FUND, 2020.09.01KAT ENG (B. 1991), BACKWATERS II, 2020, ARCHIVAL PIGMENT PRINT, 42 X 53 INCHES, PURCHASE, ACQUISITION FUND, 2020.09.02VARIOUS ARTISTS, MPLSART SKETCHBOOKS A, B, C, D, E, 2020, MIXED MEDIA, 10 X 7.5 X 1 INCHES, PURCHASE, ACQUISITION FUND, 2021.01.01-05THE M LENT THE FOLLOW ARTWORKS IN ITS COLLECTIONS TO OTHER ART AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS:SIX DRAWINGS AND THREE SCULPTURES BY PAUL MANSHIP WENT TO THE WADSWORTH ATHENAEUM MUSEUM OF ART IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS FOR A RETROSPECTIVE DEVOTED TO THE ARTIST'S WORK, PAUL MANSHIP: MELDING ANCIENT AND MODERN, JANUARY-JULY, 2021.TRIANGLE TRADE, A FIBER WORK BY CONTEMPORARY ARTIST SONYA CLARK WENT TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS IN WASHINGTON D.C. TO SUPPORT A SOLO EXHIBITION OF THE ARTIST'S WORK, SONYA CLARK: TATTER, BRISTLE, AND MEND, MARCH-MAY, 2021.OZ: THE EMERGENCE, A PAINTING ON CANVAS BY JIM DENOMIE WENT TO KUNSTHALLE WIEN IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA TO BE INCLUDED IN A GROUP EXHIBITION, AND IF I DEVOTED MY LIFE TO ONE OF ITS FEATHERS?, MAY-SEPTEMBER, 2021.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $209.7K

  • Program 1 [2024]

    EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS:IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, JULY 2023 THROUGH JUNE 2024 THE M CONTINUED TO COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PRESENT EXHIBITIONS THAT FOSTER UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICAN IDENTITIES, EXPERIENCES, AND COMPLEX TRUTHS FROM WIDE RANGING PERSPECTIVES, IN PUBLIC SPACES IN DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL. THE M ESTABLISHED NEW PARTNERSHIPS, WHILE MAINTAINING LONGSTANDING ONES. THE PARTNERSHIPS WERE WIDE-RANGING, BUT STORYTELLING AND BRIDGE BUILDING ACROSS DIFFERENT LIVED EXPERIENCES WAS A CONSISTENT ELEMENT, INCLUDING SUPPORTING EMERGING AND UNDERREPRESENTED ARTISTS AND CURATORS. IN ADDITION TO UTILIZING THE M'S STREET-FACING WINDOWS, THE M WORKED WITH COLLABORATORS TO ACTIVATE THE SKYWAYS, AND MAINTAIN VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING- ALL TO PROVIDE FREE, ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF ART, CREATIVITY, AND COMMUNITY. 1. IM/PERFECT SLUMBERS, FEBRUARY 11 AUGUST 20, 2023: IM/PERFECT SLUMBERS WAS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY SERIES OF ART INSTALLATIONS THAT OCCURRED IN THE M'S WINDOW GALLERIES AND SKYWAY ENTRANCE. DIVERSE VOICES OF LOCAL ARTISTS, WRITERS, AND CULTURAL ACTIVISTS CAPTURED THE HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY STATE OF SLEEPING AND BEING IN BED. THIS EXHIBITION WAS THE RESULT OF TEXTILE ARTIST AND RESEARCHER KATYA OICHERMAN'S LONG-TERM RESIDENCY AT THE M. WORK BY RACHEL BREEN, SAYGE CARROLL, AMOKE AWELE KUBAT, SHANAI MATTESON, KATYA OICHERMAN, MOLLY PARKER STUART, ANAT SPIEGEL, ROTEM TAMIR, YUKO TANIGUCHI, GWEN WESTERMAN, AND PENG WU WAS SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED FOR THE M'S WINDOW SPACES, INCLUDING VISUAL AND SOUND INSTALLATIONS BASED ON THE HISTORY OF THE BUILDING AS THE HOME OF THE FIRST LOCAL NEWSPAPER, THE MINNESOTA PIONEER (WHICH BECAME THE PIONEER PRESS). 2. LET GO, BREATHE DEEPLY: AN "IM/PERFECT SLUMBERS" VIRTUAL CONVERSATION, JULY 26, 2023: SIX ARTISTS FEATURED IN IM/PERFECT SLUMBERS GATHERED FOR A CREATIVE EXCHANGE ABOUT SLEEP AND SHARED CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THEIR PRACTICES. KATYA OICHERMAN, AMOKE AWELE KUBAT, SHANAI MATTESON, ROTEM TAMIR, YUKO TANIGUCHI, AND GWEN WESTERMAN SHARED POETRY AND WRITING IN THE FORM OF A CALL AND RESPONSE.3. WAKPA AT THE M: MONA SMITH'S MAGAZU (RAIN), JUNE 24-SEPTEMBER 16, 2023: MAGAZU (RAIN), A VIDEO INSTALLATION COMMISSIONED BY PUBLIC ART SAINT PAUL FOR THE WAKPA TRIENNIAL, WILL WELCOME VISITORS TO THE M. THE PURPOSE OF THE INSTALLATION IS TO INTRODUCE VISITORS TO DAKOTA HOMELAND, TO A RANGE OF URBAN DAKOTA OLDER WOMEN AND TO SOME DAKOTA NOTIONS OF WATER AND RELATIONSHIP TO THE RIVER.4. HAZEL BELVO: FOR LOVE, NOVEMBER 4, 2023-MAY 26, 2024: THIS CAREER RETROSPECTIVE, CO-CURATED BY DAKOTA HOSKA AND LAURA JOSEPH, HONORED BELVO'S LIFELONG WORK AND DEDICATION AS AN ARTIST THROUGH A FOCUS ON HER DEEP RELATIONSHIPS, HER STRONG SENSE OF PLACE, AND HER FEMINIST WORLDVIEW. BELVO IS A SIGNIFICANT AMERICAN ARTIST, ART EDUCATOR, AND FEMINIST LEADER. FROM DELICATE DRAWINGS TO MONUMENTAL PAINTINGS, BELVO'S WORK HONORS INTIMATE MOMENTS OF LOVE AND CONNECTION, AS WELL AS NATURE AND SPIRITUALITY.5. CURRENTS: ADAPTION, BRILLIANCE, AND JOY, DECEMBER 7, 2023-FEBRUARY 25, 2024: THIS GROUP EXHIBITION OF WORK BY DISABLED ARTISTS WAS CURATED BY DREW MAUDE GRIFFIN. CURRENTS REFERENCES THE STRENGTH, INFLUENCE, AND ADAPTABILITY OF DISABLED PEOPLE AND OUR COMMUNITIES. MIXED MEDIA ARTWORKS BY ARTISTS VICTORIA DUGGER, ARIELLA GRANADOS, AURORA LEVINS MORALES, KELLEY MEISTER, AND LYNDA MULLAN CONSIDER THE WAYS DISABLED ARTISTS GUIDE US FORWARD THROUGH THE PRESENT, AND INEVITABLY TOWARD FUTURES THAT PRIORITIZE AND EMBRACE ALL THE COMPLEXITIES AND JOYS OF RADICAL ACCESS AND CARE. 6. TOGETHER, MARCH 28-OCTOBER 13, 2024: THIS MIXED MEDIA ART EXHIBITION FEATURED ARTWORK FROM TEN MINNESOTA ARTIST FAMILIES. ARTISTS EMMETT AND KIT RAMSTAD CONCEIVED THIS PROJECT TO ELEVATE CHILDREN'S ARTWORK AND PROVIDE A SPACE FOR PARENT ARTISTS TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AS THEY FULFILL THE ROLES OF PARENTS AND ARTISTS WHILE RAISING A NEW GENERATION OF MAKERS. PARTICIPATING ARTISTS: SAYGE CARROLL, MORGAN LARAMY; PRESTON DRUM, ELVIS AND LEROY DRUM; ISA GAGARIN, RAE GORDON; PAO HER, VINCE AND KAILEE YANG; AMANDA LOVELEE, WALDEN WAITES; AVIGAIL MANNEBERG, KAIAH AND MICAH MANNEBERG-TOMPKINS; EMMETT RAMSTAD, KIT AIZURA RAMSTAD; ANNA MARIE SHOGREN, WALLY GLENN-SHOGREN; AKI SHIBATA, ATOM SHIBATA PLINER AND YUKIKO SHIBATA COLBURN; JONATHAN THUNDER, MINO HART THUNDER.SKYWAY PROJECTS1. COLONIA TRAUMAS BY LUIS FITCH, OCTOBER 2022 PRESENT: TWIN CITIES-BASED ARTIST AND DESIGNER LUIS FITCH BRINGS HIS SIGNATURE STYLIZED CALAVERAS TO THE SKYWAY BRIDGE, FEATURING COLORFUL, VINYL CUT-OUT SKULLS THAT REPRESENT THE COMPLEXITY OF IDENTITY, PLACE, AND BELONGING FOR PEOPLE OF MIXED-RACE DESCENT.2. SKYTRAIN: CITIES IN THE CLOUDS, MAY 18, 2023 PRESENT: JUNIORS AND SENIORS FROM SAINT PAUL CONSERVATORY FOR PERFORMING ARTISTS (SPCPA) COLLABORATED WITH THE M AND VICTORY RAMP TO CREATE THIS COLORFUL ARTWORK. FOR MANY STUDENTS, THIS WAS THEIR FIRST TIME PAINTING A MURAL AND PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING A LARGE-SCALE COLLABORATIVE ART PIECE.3. EL VAIVEN, OCTOBER 2023-PRESENT: ZAMARA CUYUN WELCOMES MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TRAVERSING THE SKYWAYS INTO A SACRED DREAMSCAPE BASED ON AN ACTUAL MAYA LANDSCAPE IN GUATEMALA. A VIBRANT SERIES OF IMAGES LEAD VIEWERS ALONG A CONTINUUM OF COLORFUL DESIGN FROM WARM TONES, AIMED AT ENERGIZING THE SPIRIT DURING THE COLD MINNESOTA WINTER, TO THE COOL BLUES OF PRIMORDIAL WATERS ENCOURAGING MOMENTS OF CONTEMPLATION AND RELAXATION.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $1.8M