| This summer, come to Minneapolis to see three | | | | be a stage adaptation of "The Great Gatsby," the |
| grand openings that promise to change the city's | | | | Jazz Age novel by St. Paul native F. Scott |
| architectural and cultural landscape. The nationally | | | | Fitzgerald; the play opens July 21. For more |
| renowned Guthrie Theater is opening its new | | | | information, go to www.guthrietheater.org. |
| theater overlooking the city's birthplace on the | | | | Minneapolis Institute of Arts On June 11, the |
| Mississippi. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is | | | | Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA), in a |
| opening a spacious three-story wing to better | | | | neighborhood just south of downtown, will open a |
| display what is already one of the nation's most | | | | $50 million wing designed by American architect |
| extraordinary collections. | | | | Michael Graves. The new 113,000-square-foot |
| And the Minneapolis Public Library will open its new | | | | addition and associated 49,000 square feet of |
| Central Library. Most tourists won't set out on a | | | | renovated space will add 34 new galleries, |
| library tour, but they may want to see how the | | | | increasing display space in the region's premier art |
| Cesar Pelli-designed building will transform the | | | | museum by 40 percent. |
| northern end of Minneapolis' famed Nicollet Mall | | | | "It means a tremendous amount to the museum |
| downtown. | | | | proper," says Robert Jacobsen, senior curator of |
| Guthrie Theater on the River The Guthrie | | | | Asian art and liaison with architects and builders on |
| Theater will close the doors of its facility near | | | | the project. "We're definitely going to jazz it up |
| Loring Park after the March 4 May 7 production | | | | with larger and livelier exhibits." The new wing |
| of "Hamlet," the same play that launched the | | | | features a circular three-story atrium with a |
| theater in 1963. | | | | Venetian plaster dome. A maple-paneled reception |
| But the Guthrie won't close for long. In June, the | | | | hall on the third floor overlooks the sculpture |
| theater reopens in the new Guthrie Theater on | | | | garden. Also on the top story are the expanded |
| the River-a $125 million, 250,000-square-foot | | | | Modernism galleries and 10 new galleries for |
| theater at 818 Second Street overlooking the | | | | 20th-century and contemporary paintings. |
| Mississippi River. There will be an Open House on | | | | Second-floor galleries will hold 20th-century art, art |
| Sunday, June 25 with entertainment on all three | | | | of Native America and Oceania, works of |
| stages. | | | | Minnesota artists, and craft collections. The wing's |
| From the cantilevered lobby jutting toward the | | | | ground floor houses a new art library, a prints and |
| river, theatergoers will look below to the graceful | | | | drawings study center, a photography study |
| stone-arch bridge and upstream to St. Anthony | | | | center, and a multi-purpose classroom. |
| Falls. Next door is the Minnesota Historical | | | | The addition allows the MIA to more dramatically |
| Society's Mill City Museum. Along the riverbanks lie | | | | display its Asian art collection, representing 17 |
| the city's Mill Ruins Park, walking paths and bike | | | | cultures over 5,000 years. The Chinese collection, |
| trails. | | | | already one of the most extensive in the country, |
| The new theater was designed by French | | | | will now have a gallery for each of China's three |
| architect Jean Nouvel, his first project in North | | | | major philosophies, Confucianism, Taoism, and |
| America. The new Guthrie borrows its massive | | | | Buddhism. Other new galleries will fill with ancient |
| outline from the surrounding mill and elevator | | | | Chinese bronzes, jades, and ceramics, as well as |
| buildings. The building's indigo cladding will fade into | | | | gold and silver, lacquer, textiles, and paintings, |
| the twilight at evening performance time so that | | | | sculpture and calligraphy. Six new galleries are |
| the building, despite its bulk, will seem to | | | | devoted to the museum's Japanese art collection, |
| disappear, leaving the warm lights of the lobby | | | | spanning the last 25 centuries. The MIA has |
| shining through generous windows to create a | | | | brought more than 1,000 pieces out of storage to |
| warm beacon floating on the river bluff. | | | | fill the new space. |
| "The views of the river valley are amazing," says | | | | Expanded special exhibition space "gives us a large |
| Tom Proehl, managing director of the Guthrie. | | | | enough gallery that we can now attract the |
| "Nouvel's design completely mingles the old | | | | largest traveling exhibits," says Jacobsen. "We can |
| industrial age with new architecture in a very | | | | attract shows that previously were only seen in |
| careful way. It truly fits in on the riverfront." The | | | | New York or London." For example, the MIA will |
| new facility, he says "will bring all of the Guthrie's | | | | show three special grand reopening exhibitions, all |
| functions together for the first time in many, | | | | running from June 11 into early fall: * "The Surreal |
| many years." The Guthrie long ago outgrew its | | | | Calder exhibit explores the origins of 20th-century |
| original building as its season expanded from four | | | | surrealist artist Alexander Calder in the context of |
| plays to a dozen, attended by more than | | | | his contemporaries. |
| 400,000. The original theater was known for its | | | | * "Treasures on Paper displays the Herschel V. |
| trademark thrust stage-great for Shakespeare | | | | Jones Collection of nearly 200 of the world's most |
| but not suited for more intimate and | | | | famous engravings, lithographs and woodcuts, |
| contemporary works. | | | | made over five centuries. |
| The new facility will have a 1,100-seat thrust | | | | * "The Harrison Photography Collection includes |
| theater, much like the old facility, but with | | | | nearly 100 photos of 20th-century luminaries such |
| improvements to sightlines and additional legroom. | | | | as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Dorothea Lange. |
| In addition, the new Guthrie will have a 700-seat | | | | "This is one of the biggest museums in the |
| proscenium theater. A 250-seat studio will provide | | | | country that has remained free." Says Jacobsen, |
| a space for experimental productions. | | | | "This will be the greatest show in town." For more |
| With the new facility, the Guthrie will be able to | | | | information, go to www.artsmia.org, or call |
| nearly triple the number of plays, concerts and | | | | 612-870-3131. |
| other presentations during its season. New | | | | The museum is located at 2400 Third Avenue |
| amenities for playgoers will include a bookstore, | | | | South. |
| bars and a restaurant. A skyway will link the | | | | The city's third opening this year will transform |
| theater building to a convenient parking ramp. | | | | the northern end of the downtown. On May 20 |
| The Druid Theatre Company of Galway will | | | | the new 357,000-square-foot, five-story |
| provide the first performances at the new | | | | Minneapolis Central Library opens at 300 Nicollet |
| Guthrie June 27-July 1 when it presents | | | | Mall. The new building, designed by American |
| "DruidSynge," productions of all six plays by John | | | | architect Cesar Pelli, will include a public commons, |
| Millington Synge, one of Ireland's greatest writers. | | | | retail space, as well as the largest collection of |
| The first Guthrie production in the new theater will | | | | any public library in Minnesota |