Recently in Exhibits Category

"Behind the Scenes: Twin Cities Performing Arts and 50 Years of the Guthrie Theater," April 1-June 28, 2013, presented by the Performing Arts Archives at Elmer L. Andersen Library.

Come for a behind-the-scenes look at the Guthrie Theater, James Sewell Ballet, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Minnesota Dance Theatre, Minnesota Orchestra, and many, many more!

We find magic on our stages, and that magic comes from many sources, at once sublime and profoundly human. The work that goes into every production we see is a prelude to the thrill of theater, dance, and orchestra performances. Indeed, as much energy goes into hiding the gears, logistics, and stagehands that make the performing arts appear utterly complete and seamless as in showing audiences a well-set world, wondrously brought to life by actors, dancers, and musicians.

There are great pleasures to be found in peeking behind the curtain, into the rehearsal studios, costume and prop shops, offices, and boardrooms that make opening night, and every night following, possible. It is there we find the genesis of an idea--for a theater that will change Minnesota, or a groundbreaking ballet company, or a revolutionary version of a well-known story--transformed through personalities, budgets, missions, director's notes, nightly performance reports, and beautiful costume renderings.

The Givens Collection of African American Literature celebrates Black History Month with "Bibliophilia: Collecting Black Books," now on display at the Hennepin County Government Center until the end of February. Listen to Curator Cecily Marcus and exhibit Co-Curator Davu Seru discuss the Givens Collection and the exhibit on Cities97.

Click here to see a slide show of the exhibit or get more information on the Hennepin County Gallery, including location, hours and a map.

Cecily Marcus, Curator of the Givens Collection in African American Literature

Painted renderings of backdrops, sketches, and other artifacts from the Performing Arts Archives at the University of Minnesota Libraries will be featured in the exhibit that explores the exotic worlds created by the scenic artists for both public theatres and private fraternal spaces of the Freemasons. The exhibit is guest curated by Professor C. Lance Brockman of the University's Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. It runs from Jan. 15 through March 15, 2013 at the Elmer L. Andersen Library and is free and open to the public.

For a video tour of the exhibition, click here.

The current exhibit in the Andersen Library gallery grew out of my conversations with ASC Exhibit Design Specialist, Darren Terpstra, about parallels between current cultural attitudes towards sexuality and sex education and the themes documented in the American Social Health Association records. We had several of those short, brainstorming conversations that often happen between ASC staff in the hallways at Andersen Library and decided to produce an exhibit that brought these issues together. For over two years, we nursed our "pet project" to raise awareness about current sexual health issues while showcasing the work of the American Social Health Association (ASHA).