OPENING
"Art at 801"
Saturday, February 24 from 6-9 p.m.
801 Washington Lofts (801 Washington Ave N)
In this eclectic show, Twin Cities artists Jaffa Aharonov, Marc Lamm, Kelley Meister and Josie Winship present new work in a variety of mediums. Aharonov's photography series offers glimpses of a haunted future. Lamm's touchable art – yes, you can touch it! – is made of wood, yet with a painterly and sculptural edge. Meister made their large-scale charcoal and pastel work in response to the Anthropocene era, when humans have irreversibly changed the climate and environment. Winship's sculptures and paintings recall a circus vibe, creating a sense of magic. Exhibition runs through May 2018. More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1614752965284044/
Above: Bo Zheng, Socialism Good, 2016, plants (Alternanthera and weeds), 4 x 16 meters
OPENING
Politics of Weeds
Nash Gallery at the University of Minnesota
Opening reception: Friday, Feb 23 from 7-10 p.m. in the Regis East Lobby
What is a weed? Is it an unwanted plant, a nuisance, or is it a metaphor for something else? In this fully collaborative exhibition between SEACHINA (Socially Engaged Art in Contemporary China) and the newly formed Weed Party Collective in Mpls/St. Paul, artists and scholars explore the cross-cultural politics of weeds. Bo Zheng of Hong Kong's City University and the U of M's Diane Willow work with artists Cante Suta-Francis Bettelyoun, Sayge Carroll, Reb L Limerick, Lisa Philander, Koua Yang, and Marcus Young. Ah yes: The future does "grow." Exhibition ends March 24. More info: https://cla.umn.edu/art/galleries/katherine-e-nash-gallery
OPENING
The Bibliophile as Bookbinder: "The Angling Bindings of S.A. Neff Jr."
Minnesota Center for Book Arts (1011 Washington Ave S, Ste 100, Minneapolis, MN 55415)
Opening: Fri., Feb 23 from 6-9 p.m. with a film screening at 7 p.m.
What's better than a book? A book that is also an art project, of course. More than 50 years ago, a man named S.A. Neff Jr. developed a passion for trout fishing and from there on out collected more than three thousand volumes of books on the art of angling, with some texts dating back to even the 1500s. In the 1980s, he decided to become a bookbinder proper. This exhibition presents a collection of his elaborate bookbinding passions, which range from bindings with Japanese dyed paper to leather bindings with gold tooling. Exhibition ends June 3. More info: http://www.mnbookarts.org/category/upcoming-exhibitions/
Above: Nancy Julia Hicks, traced the skin along the outline, 2017, monoprint
OPENING
"I Want to Live Under You" by Nancy Julia Hicks
Opening reception: Fri., Feb 23 from 6-8 p.m.
MCAD, Gallery 148 (2501 Stevens Ave., Mpls)
Artist performances: Fri., Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Feb. 24, 4:30 p.m.; Sat., March 3, 4:30 p.m.; and March 9, 7:30 p.m.
Artist Nancy Julia Hicks' work explores the violence of seemingly benign, everyday architectural elements. How do they embody and perpetuate white supremacy, colonialism, and imperialism? She explores the answers through printmaking, installation and performance. Exhibition runs through March 9. More info: https://mcad.edu/event/i-want-live-under-you
Above: Czuko Williams, the living room
OPENING
Empty Places: Abandoned Spaces
PRAXIS Gallery (2600 E 26th St., Mpls)
Reception: Friday, February 23 from 6-9 p.m.
In recent years, "ruin porn" has become a thing in urban centers that, once booming, are now abandoned. On that same theme, a new exhibition called "Empty Places: Abandoned Spaces" explores the aesthetic of these decayed, literally "ruined" spaces, taking the theme a step further by asking about who may have lived there and what these people were like, rather than just thinking about the architectural spaces. Exhibition ends March 17. More info: https://www.praxisgallery.com/photography-events
