Twin Cities' 5 must-see art shows this weekend

Prairie Constructs: New Work by Regan Golden

Opening reception: Thurs., June 14, 6-9 p.m.

Exhibition runs through July 21

Soo Visual Arts Center (2909 Bryant Ave. S, Suite 101, Mpls)

http://www.soovac.org/prairieconstructs

More than just a fascination with the prairie, artist Regan Golden takes these plants' lives seriously. The artist collects more than 140 images documenting the lifecycle of plants from Minneapolis' edgelands, a transitional space found on a town's boundaries which are generally absent in city maps. Her images bring visibility to this much-overlooked landscape.

Summer Salon

CIRCA Gallery (210 N First St., Mpls)

Hours: Tues.-Fri. 1-6 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Opening reception: Sat., June 16, 3-6 p.m.

Exhibition runs through July 28

http://www.circagallery.org/exhibits/

Summer is here, hence the name of this group exhibition. Keep an eye out for Lindsy Halleckson's dreamy purple landscape, "Ponytail."

The White Page Artist Market

Fri., June 15 5-9 p.m. and Sat., June 16 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

3400 Cedar Ave S., Mpls

More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1953269121653746/

The popular summer arts market returns with vendors selling everything from tarot readings to custom tintypes, artwork, ceramics, clothing and other homegoods. This year's both evenings vendors include Zoey Melf, Casey Deming, Noah LH, Fiona Avocado, Arcana Leatherworks, There There Collective, Ann Erickson, Wacks Co., Amanda Dobbratz, Daniel Jaffe, Linda Moncada, Rebecca Spangenthal, Discounted Future, Heather MacKenzie, and Alex Micallef. Friday-only vendors will be Collecting Dust, Hand Bound, Hey Ok Good Goodies, Nicole Mayefske AKA Big Mouth Tarot. Saturday-only vendors are ROMI Apothecary, and Mystery Spot Books.

Above: Carry on Homes, in the Commons park, is a multifunctional pavilion hosting the stories of Minnesota immigrants. It was conceived by artists Peng Wu, Shunjie Yong, Aki Shibata, Preston Drum and Zoe Cinel. Photo credit: SISHIRPRITHVI BOMMAKANTI

Northern Spark 2018

When: 9:02 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat.

Where: Downtown Mpls., at the Commons park (next to U.S. Bank Stadium), Nicollet Mall between 3rd and 8th Sts. and Minneapolis Central Library.

Ride pass: Download a free pass for Metro Transit trains and buses each night.

Info: northernspark.org

Northern Spark is like those former college all-night ragers who now need their eight hours of ZZZ's.

After seven years as a single-night, sunset-to-sunrise outdoor arts festival, Spark is splitting its schedule over two evenings, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The thrill of staying up all night will be lost, but more sleep could mean more fun.

"Two nights is an experiment," said publicist Amy Danielson. "It's just quite unpredictable to plan one night, not knowing what would happen with the weather."

Northern Spark devotees will remember 2014, the year of torrential downpours. Last year, a big storm came through as artists were beginning to tear down their projects — a near-miss. Weather this year appears to be clear skies, but given this week's on-again, off-again rain, anything could happen.

Such is the experimental nature of the program, taking place this year in downtown Minneapolis at the Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis Central Library and the Commons park next to U.S. Bank Stadium.

The latter location helped inspire this year's theme, "Commonality." A total of 28 artists received stipends ranging from $1,500 to $6,000 for projects responding to the stormy cultural and political landscape and trying to raise awareness, both societally and interpersonally.

Read the full story here: http://www.startribune.com/no-more-all-nighters-for-northern-spark-this-weekend-s-minneapolis-arts-fest-splits-into-two/485579541/

Above: "Hero's Horse," by Kevin Box, is one of the prominent pieces in "Origami in the Garden," an exhibition at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum that's on view through Oct. 21. Photo credit: RICHARD TSONG-TAATARII

Origami in the Garden

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (3675 Arboretum Blvd, Chanhassen, MN 55317)

Smell the flowers and spot some gigantic origami art while you're at it! Sure, they may look like enormous pieces of delicate paper folded origami-style, but all of the works in Kevin and Jennifer Box's "Origami in the Garden" are carefully cast in metal. "Master Peace," a tower of 500 cranes that grow smaller as they reach into the sky, stands in the Perennial Garden. The cranes appear as a reflection in the adjacent pond, which was dyed black to make the image more visible. Counting the reflected versions, there are 1,000 paper cranes in all — and, as legend has it, if you make 1,000 paper cranes in a year, you'll have a wish granted to you by the gods.The Boxes also have a companion exhibition indoors at the Reedy Gallery at the Oswald Visitor Center, which includes collaborations with origami masters and more information about the complexity of origami itself. Read more here: http://www.startribune.com/artworks-bloom-amid-the-38-000-tulips-at-minnesota-landscape-arboretum/484185911/#1

Above: Stone Arch Bridge Art Fair, 2017. Photo by Jenna Klein.

ART FAIR BONUS:

Stone Arch Bridge Art Fair

Fri., June 15: Free kick-off concert

Sat., June 16, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Sun., June 17, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

http://www.stonearchbridgefestival.com/

Art, music and vintage cars flood the riverfront for this weekend fair. Ceramicists, craftspeople, painters, glass artists, jewelrists, sculptors, photographers, printmakers and even students will be selling their art ands and crafts. Catch a variety of musical acts, including MN Sinfonia, Rogue Valley and Murzik. If your true love is the classic vintage care, stop by the Art of the Car show, where well preservered hotrods and convertibles transport you to a different time. There's plenty to eat, too, courtesy of the culinary artists.