One Week Until Art on the Town!

That’s right, one week. Are you excited? We are!

Don’t miss the opening reception for Art on the Town: Selections from Twin Cities Fine Arts Organization which will kick off Art on the Town 2011. Not only can you find art from 20 of our member galleries in one place, we will also be announcing finalists for the 2011 Best of Twin Cities Fine Arts Organization awards.

Member galleries represented in the show are:
AAW Gallery of Wood Art • Anita Sue Kolman Gallery • AZ Gallery • Bloomington Theatre and Art Center • The FrameWorks Gallery • Form + Content Gallery •The Grand Hand Gallery • Katherine E. Nash Gallery • MCAD Gallery • Mhiripiri Gallery • Minnesota Center for Book Arts • NEMAA • Northern Clay Center • Northfield Arts Guild • Savage Art Studios & Gallery • Textile Center • Traffic Zone • Tychman Shapiro Gallery at Sabes JCC • University of St. Thomas • The Westminster Gallery

For more information on the show, the reception and all other things Art on the Town, visit www.artonthetown.org.

Google Art Project

The day has come when anyone with an Internet connection can experience some of the world’s most acclaimed museums in their pajamas.

Google has partnered with 17 museums (and perhaps more soon) to make great art accessible to everyone. Visitors can virtually explore galleries using Google Street View technology and view high resolution images of artworks that allow for brushstroke-level detail. Getting your nose this close to the actual painting would give any docent a heart attack and that makes this a great way to really examine a work without getting yourself in trouble.

Google Art Project also allows art to be shared. The Create a Collection feature lets users save specific views of the 1,000+ artworks and build a collection. You can then add comments to each image and share the whole collection with friends and family. Check out the Twin Cities Fine Arts Organization collection here to see how it works.

Want more info? Visit the Google Art Project online.

Must See Art: Homewood Studios

Where to go:
Homewood Studios
2400 Plymouth Avenue N., Minneapolis, MN 55411 (Map)

What to do:
1. Take a look at the current show.
Shows at Homewood Studios usually feature one or more local artists. The next show, called Printed Poetry, opens October 1. The show features the work of both local and non-local letterpress artists to celebrate the publication of Bringing Gifts, Bringing News, Fifty Poems Five Lines Each, a letterpress printed anthology of new poetry published by DownStairs Press. An opening reception will be held Friday, October 7 from 6 to 9 p.m.

2. Attend Improvised Music at Homewood Studios.
These experimental music concerts are held the second Monday of every second month. The next concerts are Sunday, October 23 and then back to the usual Monday schedule November 14, both at 7 p.m.

3. Visit with one of the eight resident artists.
Homewood Studios provides studio space for George Roberts, Bill Jeter, Linda Maylish, Meiko Yamazaki, Kathleen Malecki, Jack Mader, Kristen Treuting and Julie Landsman. Working in a variety of media, these artists provide a great opportunity for visitors to see their working process and chat with them about the art.

Must-see piece right now:
Gallery 1x1xOne is a one-piece gallery exhibiting the work of local children. The gallery features one piece of art for one month by one artist under 15 years old. The current piece is Self Portrait by Enoch Elliot, age 12 (pictured above).

While you’re in the area:
Head to Theodore Wirth Park for golf in the summer or sledding in the winter, bike four blocks to the Grand Rounds bike paths or stop by the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center to check out their displays or take part in their programming.

Want more info?
Call 612-587-0230 or visit Homewood Studios online.

State Fair Call for 2012 Commemorative Art Submissions

2011 Commemorative Art by Steve Thomas

Not ready to give up that State Fair feeling? Harness it to create art!

The Minnesota State Fair has put out a call for commemorative art. The call is open to Minnesota residents age 18 and over working primarily in two-dimensional media. The selected work will be the ninth in a series of works created exclusively for the Great Minnesota Get-Together and will be featured in a commemorative poster.

To get inspired, take a look at the State Fair Commemorative Art Gallery online to see artwork from previous years by prominent Minnesota artists such as Mary GrandPré, Nancy Carlson and Michael Birawer. There is no entry fee and the deadline for applications is Friday, October 7 by 4:30 p.m.

Want more information? Check out the call online.

Must See Art: MPLS Photo Center

Where to go:
MPLS Photo Center
2400 North Second Street, Minneapolis, MN 55411 (Map)

What to do:
1. See what’s in the gallery
The MPLS Photo Center galleries are located throughout the first and second floor and showcase six-week exhibitions. The current shows are John Sevigny’s Nomads and Geoffrey Stone’s Primitive Contours.

2. Check out the events calendar
Photography at the Center holds artist talks, lectures and other events at the MPLS Photo Center Lecture Center. Coming up are an artist talk by Michael Crouser on October 5 and a lecture by John Schott on November 3. See more event listings online. 

3. Take a class
There are tons of classes offered at MPLS Photo Center for a wide range of ability levels, interest types and skill sets. Take a look at the class and workshop listings online to find one that fits you!

Must-see piece right now:
Colleen Guenther, Being Woman (pictured above)

While you’re in the area:
Conveniently located a block from the river, walking and biking trails make it easy (and eco-friendly) to get to lots of great places nearby, including Mill City Museum, the Stone Arch Bridge, artist studios in Northeast and the Grain Belt Brewery Building.

Want more info?
Call 612-643-3511 or visit MPLS Photo Center online.

NEMAA's Fall Fine Art Show

Barbara Steen, Falling, glass mosaic

Don’t miss the 2011 Fall Fine Arts Show, one of the largest and most diverse group shows in the Twin Cities! Come to the historic Grainbelt Bottling House and see a sampling of the wonderful works that the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District has to offer. Better still, all artworks are for sale so whether you are a photography fanatic or a ceramics connoisseur you can find a piece to fall in love with and take home.

Exhibition runs September 23–25, 2011
Opening reception Friday, September 23, 6–9 p.m.
Free and open to the public

Grainbelt Bottling House
79 NE 13th Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55413 (Map)

For more information call 612-788-1679 or visit NEEMA online.

Is It that Time Already?

It may not be feeling too brisk yet, but fall is definitely beginning. Kids are back in school, there is a chill to the air and before long the snow will start falling.

The upside to the loss of summer (other than Art on the Town) is that we get to look forward to Art Shanty Projects! The call is out for proposals and informational meetings are scheduled for September 15th at 6:30 p.m. at Grumpy’s Downtown and September 25th at 2 p.m. at Forecast Public Art.

To satisfy your need for awesome art shanties between now and January, here are some images from shanties past.

For more information, check out Art Shanty Projects online.

Must See Art: Art Resources Gallery at International Market Square

Where to go:
Art Resources Gallery, International Market Square
275 Market Street, Suite 166, Minneapolis, MN  55405 (Map)

What to do:
1. Browse the wide selection of works
Art Resources have one of the largest and most unique collections of limited edition artwork available for sale in the Twin Cities, so there is something for everyone. With works in glass, oil, acrylic, textiles, ceramics and sculpture there is always a great piece waiting for you.

2. See works by Tonja Sell
After taking time off from her art to raise her children, Art Resources Gallery is happy to have Tonja Sell back. Don’t miss her oil paintings and a great new mixed media piece.

3. Appreciate the architecture
International Market Square (IMS)is the largest renovated building in Minnesota. Finished in 1915, it was originally used as a manufacturing plant for Northwest Knitting Company (later called Munsingwear). Manufacturing at the plant was halted in 1981 and in 1985 the building became IMS.

Must-see piece right now:
Tonja Sell, Owl Hat, pastel (pictured above)

While you’re in the area:
Art Resources Gallery is just one of more than 70 showrooms open to the public. Once you’ve browsed the gallery, be sure to visit a few others. Art Resources’ inventory includes virtually everything you need for home or office environments. IMS was also the first design center to include architectural products like brick, tile and moldings.

Want more info?
Visit their second location at the Galleria in Edina or go to  Art Resources Gallery online.

St. Paul Almanac at AZ Gallery

The Saint Paul Almanac is an annual calendar and guidebook to take the curious urban adventurer through the year in Minnesota’s capital city. The 2012 issue is the first to date to be printed in color.  To herald this special issue of the Saint Paul Almanac and to highlight the polychromatic artwork of Saint Paul artists within its folds, originals of the artists' works from the guidebook will be on view the entire month of September both at the AZ Gallery and neighboring Black Dog Café. Be sure to check out these great events at AZ Gallery celebrating the 2012 issue:

Exhibit opening at the AZ Gallery and the Black Dog Café as part of Lowertown First Friday
Friday, September 2 from 6:00 – 10:00 pm
Live music by "Jeff Ray & Hurricane Harold" starting at 6:30pm.

Saint Paul Almanac fundraiser at AZ Gallery
Thursday, September 8 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Attendees will be able to meet the artists and photographers featured in the 2012 Saint Paul Almanac and view their work at AZ Gallery and the Black Dog Café.
   
Saint Paul Almanac release party at the Black Dog Café, the AZ Gallery and the Clouds in Water Zen Center
Thursday, September 15 beginning at 7:00 pm
Free admission for everyone!
   
The AZ Gallery is located at 308 Prince Street, #130,  St. Paul, MN 55101 (Map)

For more information on the Saint Paul Almanac or these events, visit the AZ Gallery or the Saint Paul Almanac online.