Minneapolis in 3D

Of course I looked for ceramics in Minneapolis, and I found some. But first, the largest 3D creations to be seen in the city - the architecture.

 

Together in this image are the Guthrie Theater on the left with the remains of the Gold Medal Flour Mill, at one time the largest flour mill in the world, on the right.

The Guthrie has an outdoor porch that juts out over the river parkway and has splendid views of the stone bridge and Mississippi. Variously shaped windows frame the view from inside the building.

We saw a play there. Oddly enough, though our seats were near the front right, we were required to enter at the top and descend many steep stairs to arrive at our seats, a treacherous journey for my aged Mama. The architect of the Guthrie appears to enjoy challenging height phobias.

view from the Guthrie open air porch

The Mill City Museum enables you to get inside the ruins of the mill and experience a multi media history lesson inside a moving elevator.
Interesting fact: the vacuum cleaner was an idea "sparked" by a catastrophic fire caused by combusting flour dust in the old mill.

Across the river, welcome to WAM, the art museum on the campus of the University of Minnesota. Can you guess who the architect is of this absurdly complex structure?

If it reminds you of some other aluminum clad buildings by the famous architect, then you know it is a Frank Gehry. This is an older one, built in 1993, and it is beginning to look like this can has been rattled around a bit by the seasonal extremes of Minnesota weather.

Another art museum, The Walker Art Center features contemporary art. Now in mid June, not much was happening, except for an Edward Hopper show and an artist designed attempt at mini-golf (they tried).






The spaces are large, and the windows an array of shapes and sizes. I think the outdoor expanses were the best part for me. Below ground, on the sloping western lawn was an installation by the amazing artist of light, James Turrell.  If you didn't know it was there, you'd miss it.

Sit on the stone bench and lean back. Breath. Look through the opening in the ceiling and see the sky. That's all it is. Beautiful.