2019 04 Trip to Minneapolis

Minneapolis 2019

For Denice's spring break and to help pass on some of her teaching tools now that she thinking of retiring, Denice and I made a trip to Minneapolis to visit with Carrie and Dan Davis. Denice and Carrie have known each other for 15 years and now live in separate cities but keep up their friendship.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

We began our trip by heading north from Milwaukee to the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts in Fond du Lac. Our goal is to see the exhibition Mel Kolstad: 200 Days: A Life in the Quotidian. The exhibition consists of 200 drypoint sketches, made one per day for 200 days, defining Mel's life. My is one of my art buddies and my teacher on occasion. I was a honor to purchase one of the drypoints in the collection, a classic car at an auto show.

After a long car ride and some rather challenging rainy weather, we made it to our motel in Richfield, just outside the Twin Cities. We got there in time to go out to dinner with Carrie and Dan at Kyoto Japanese Restaurant in Eden Prairie.

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Even before breakfast, we decided to deliver Denice's big books to Glendale Elementary School. These big books were teaching tools when Carrie and Denice taught together in Milwaukee years ago and the two teachers built the book holders and had their kids paint them.

The big books and their cabinets

Carrie's school is Savage, MN, and is a wonderful environment for learning.

After all the hugging and celebration, it was time for us to head out for our Thursday adventures. We started by getting breakfast at the Windmill Cafe in Savage. One of my favorite things to do on any road trip is to find a diner for breakfast. This cafe fit the bill perfectly.

This morning we are heading over to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. We did not plan to, but we ended up, spending all day here from opening to 5;00 p.m.

The museum posts about the fire at Notre Dame

Picasso

 assemblage by Picasso that was then turned into a bronze cast

  

Photography by Edward Weston, Robert Frank, and Walker Evans

Smirky Jesus

Bored Jesus

Found this view out the window of the museum

That night we went to dinner at the Dakota Jazz Club because the evening entertainment was Daryl Steurmer. Daryl is a guitarist that Denice's sister works for in Milwaukee. He has been the touring guitarist for Genesis and has worked with Phil Collins on most of his solo efforts. We got front row seats and in case you do not believe me, here is Denice's cell phone picture from stage right.

Dinner was from 5:30 p.m. with the concert running from 7:00 p.m to 9:30 p.m. I think this jazz club knows the age of its patrons as we appreciated having the experience but being able to be back in our hotel room by 10ish.

Friday, April 19, 2019

This morning we drove into Minneapolis and had breakfast at The Bird. We parked at the museum and walked to the restaurant over a bridge that is a part of the outdoor sculpture garden.

Next to the restaurant is The Basilica of St. Mary, the first basilica built in the United States. It is gorgeous and equal to many of the basilicas we were in when we went to Europe. The basilica was being prepared for Good Friday services but we were able to walk where ever we wished.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After leaving the basilica we were able to walk right into the outdoor sculpture garden outside the Walker Art Center.

Unfortunately, while we spent all day at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Walker Art Center's exhibits and collections did not appeal to either of us. The major exhibit was on video and how it relates to art and our lives but we both found it not engaging. Here are some photos of some art I did enjoy.

Andy Warhol

Because we did not spent much time in the Walker we had most of the afternoon free so we headed over to Wet Pages Artists' Materials and Framing in St. Paul. This is a great art store and we spent our cash on paper and supplies for future art projects.

That night we had dinner at the India Palace Grill in Burnsville with Carrie and Dan.

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Today we spent the whole day driving home. We decided to drive south down Highway 61 on the west side of the Mississippi River.

As we were driving we came upon the Anderson Center at Tower View in Red Wing, MN, This art incubator also has a sculpture garden which we walked through.

Inside the main building of the center there is an art gallery in the basement which houses some pretty special stuff. 

Man Ray

Warhol

Picasso

It was great to see Carrie and Dan again and renew our friendship. We also saw some pretty cool art and a great concert. This trip proved to be a test for what life will be like shortly when Denice retires.