Minneapolis Institute of Arts

I took a little trip to the MIA with my brother Rob yesterday. I realize that I should make better use of the institute. It's free and it's expansive. We spent most of our time in the modern wings, but one could spend a week in the period rooms and still not see it all.

A few of the things that stood out for me...

Der Postagent Haustler (Telegraph operator) -Albert Birkle

Composition with Blue, Red, Yellow, Black- Piet Mondrian

Frank (detail)- Chuck Close
Notice the "reflection" of the windows and skylines beyond in his glasses. This is a painting. Close is a genius. Minneapolis is lucky enough to have a few of his pieces at both the Walker and Wiesman.

Build it and they will come...

Target Field is taking shape. Although I'm forcing myself to reserve
judgement until completion, my initial reaction is 'swoon'. I love the
stone. I love the metal wing at the roofline. Is it a suble nod to
Ceasar Pelli's library, or a next step towards an emerging Minneapolis
School of Architecture? I'm not-so-secretly hoping for the latter.
(note the cantilevers. We LOVE cantilevers :)

King Obama

My local bottle shop has a poster of Obama in it. The owners obviously
have respect for our new president. It reminds me of posters I've seen
of budda or Jesus in other stores. We now live in a very different
world.

Trashy

These rubbish recepticles sit in Millenium park in Chicago. They're
cool. I wonder if they were done by Geary's office, because they work
really well with his grandstand and bridge.

Tough

Some drunk girls on the L (the eLevated train, Chicago's version of a
subway) asked me to take their picture. As I began chatting with them,
they told me they were afraid to ask me at first because I 'looked
mean'. I laughed at the time but now that I see my reflection, maybe I
did :) leather jacket, shaved head, dark shades. Sometimes the world
sees us differently than we see ourselves.

Then again, I've never been mugged. :)

Renzo Piano Bridge

Renzo Piano has designed a bridge for Millenium Park. It will lead to
the mezz level of the new modern wing of the Institute of Arts. Thus
far, it's a boarded up construction site, but the renderings posted
look pretty impressive. Guess I'll have to go back to Chicago some day
to see the finished product.

Then again, maybe some work is required...