The M unveils its new wing,
triples space
Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer
Thousands of acclaimed American artworks hidden for more than four years in the back rooms of the Minnesota Museum of American Art (M) are about to see the light of day once again. The M recently wrapped up a $14 million project restoring some 17,000 square feet of its museum in the Pioneer Endicott building, ultimately tripling its gallery space to about 6,000 square feet. The newly restored wing has a series of galleries housed under refurbished stained-glass ceiling tiles and is dedicated to exhibiting selections from the M’s 5,000-piece permanent collection.
“The museum’s new wing is a transformative advancement for art lovers and history enthusiasts, alike,” said M director of marketing and communications Ann Benrud. “Selections from the M’s permanent collection will now be beautifully showcased in the historic Pioneer Endicott building under the Cass Gilbert-designed arcade glass tile ceiling. For the first time in a long time, we’re able to share these treasures with the public, revealing the stories behind each piece, the artists who created them, and the cultural contexts that shaped their significance. By opening our doors to these previously infrequently seen works, we hope to inspire, educate and enrich the lives of visitors.”
The first exhibit, “HERE, NOW: Selections from the Collection,” will be unveiled October 17, and a free open house will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26. It features 150 artworks, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, textiles and jewelry. On display through 2025, the exhibit explores kinship systems and connections between historically significant and notable contemporary artists such as George Morrison and Louise Nevelson; Grant Wood and Elizabeth Catlett; and Warren MacKenzie and Joan Mitchell.
Securing a home for its permanent collection has been a goal for the M for more than a decade and it cements the museum’s place in the city like never before. Before moving to the Pioneer Endicott building in 2013, the M was without a permanent home for about four years. Before that, it had jumped around, residing at times in the Jemne Building, Landmark Center and the former West Publishing building on Kellogg Boulevard. The organization traces its roots to 1894 when it was the St. Paul School of Fine Arts. It was renamed the Minnesota Museum of Art in 1969, and “American” was added to its name in 1992 to reflect its focus on national and regional art.
While excitement surrounds the new exhibit and expanded building space, M staff haven’t forgotten the positive feedback they’ve received from the skyway exhibits they began installing shortly after the M closed its doors in spring 2020 due to the pandemic.
The M reopened last November – except for the new wing which was still under construction – and continues installing skyway exhibits for passersby to enjoy. Currently in the Robert Street skyway is “El Vaiven,” an installation by Zamara Cuyún depicting a dreamscape based on a Mayan landscape in Guatemala and featuring a series of characters, including Gucumatz, the feathered serpent, and Ixchel, the moon goddess. Also on display through Jan. 15 in the John and Nancy Lindahl Gallery is “Hilo de la Sangre (Thread of Blood).” It brings together 15 Latine visual artists from across the diaspora to consider the significance of blood as a material foundation of life, a carrier of complex lineages, a signal of violence and death, and a cultural and spiritual symbol of sacrifice and atonement.
“We’re thrilled to be in the heart of St. Paul and look forward to inviting old friends and new friends alike to enjoy this significant St. Paul art museum – the capital city’s only art museum,” said Benrud.
The M’s construction project was supported by $10.4 million in funding from the State of Minnesota and private and corporate donations. The museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thurs.-Sun. Admission is free. For more information, visit mmaa.org.