'Art and Healing: In the Moment'
A colorful, intricate quilt hangs in the Minneapolis Institute of Art's new exhibition, which showcases artists' responses to the fatal shooting of Philando Castile. It was created by Aisha Masakella and given to Castile's mother, Valerie, whose personal collection — and a cold call to the museum — spurred this show. Masakella began patterning the quilt shortly after Castile's death and, more than a year later, finally finished it, said Nicole Soukup, the museum's assistant curator of contemporary art: "Stitch by stitch, she was creating this work. ... Art quite literally was the tool she was using to process and heal." Although it showcases just 15 works, the exhibit displays a wide range of grief and anger, hope and healing. There are portraits and protest posters. A ceramic broken heart, the word "why" patterned over its right atrium. And a video by Sarah White, "Raising Black Joy," of her 5-year-old daughter, dancing. (Free. Tue.-Sun. through July 29. Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Av. S., Mpls. 612-870-3000.)
JENNA ROSS
