Enjoy the Minnesota art shows

Several new developments on the Minneapolisoutside of their country. The paintings mostly
arts scene only serve to solidify its reputation asdepict images from daily life in Russia during the
a lively, entertaining arts town. With fall comes alast century.
new, full season of plays, performances andAn exhibit called "Perspectives of Russian Art,"
exhibits: click here for what's coming up. Here isshowing August 5 through November 5, explores
some of the recent arts news, in addition to themany styles of 20th-century Russian painting,
new stage at the Children's Theatre Company.including classical realism, Russian impressionism,
Jeune Lune Honored with Tony Award Lastsocial realism and modernism. From October 13
spring, the Tony Award for best regional theaterthrough January 14, the museum will also host a
was given to the Theatre de la Jeune Lune ofspecial exhibit, "The Art of Russian Icons,"
Minneapolis in recognition of their artisticfeaturing 60 pieces of religious art.
achievement and contribution to the growth ofThe Museum of Russian Art is at 5500 Stevens
theater nationally. The annual Tony Awards areAvenue South, at the Diamond Lake Road exit
the most prestigious honors granted in Americanfrom I-35. It is open weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
theater.and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more
This is the third regional Tony for a Twin Citiesinformation, call 612-821-9045 or visit
theater, following the Children's Theatre Companywww.tmora.org Check Out the Walker If you
in 2003 and the Guthrie in 1982. Chicago is thehaven't had the chance yet, visit the "new"
only other city with three theater companies thatWalker Art Center, which reopened last April
have won this award.after a major expansion and renovation. Last
Physical humor and wacky antics are trademarksMarch, Newsweek called the Walker "probably the
of Leune Lune's imaginative productions, drawingleading American venue for cutting-edge artists
on mime, street theater and commedia dell'arte.(both visual and performing)." Eleven galleries
"A small, zany Twin Cities theater has won a big,display a wide range of contemporary arts and
serious prize," announced Twin Cities theater criticnew performance space showcases work of
Rohan Preston.contemporary choreographers and musicians.
The Theatre de la Jeune Lune makes its home inCheck out the exterior artwork as well.
a flexible production space created in an oldThe new building expansion is the work of
warehouse in downtown Minneapolis. Discover theaward-winning, avant-garde European architects
appeal of their productions this fall; see theirHerzog and de Meuron. "What makes this a very
season line-up at www.jeunelune.org. Or callbig deal is not just that the building is so cool but
612-332-3968.that we've been waiting so long for these Swiss
New Museum Showcases Russian Art Themasters to build something major in the United
Museum of Russian Art was established threeStates," exclaimed Newsweek in its review of the
years ago in Bloomington by a Twin Citiesnew Walker design.
businessman to showcase his extensive collectionSee the new, hip, silvery ice-cube of a building on
of Soviet-era art. Last spring, the museumHennepin Avenue South, just west of downtown
moved to an attractive, spacious new home in aMinneapolis. For more info on the Walker, see
renovated Spanish-style structure that formerlywww.walkerart.org By the way, this is the last
housed a church in south Minneapolis. Thisseason to see a Guthrie production in its facility
architectural gem showcases the paintings in anext to the Walker; next year it moves to a new
warm, open space.home on the riverfront, which will be another new
Collector Ray Johnson began buying paintings inarchitectural highlight in this city on the go.
1989 from Russian artists who were unknown