Twin Cities Tour Guide

Hello again,

            Today I visited the Walker Art Center, located at 1750 Hennepin Ave (map), just southwest of downtown Minneapolis. Unlike the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, whose collection features works of art hundreds to thousands of years old, the Walker Art Center showcases contemporary art. I guess it’s only fitting that a building full of modern contemporary art would look like this: 

The one-of-a-kind Walker Art Center. Note: this photo is a few years old and the construction area and dirt hill in the foreground are now a beautiful grassy knoll. (Photo courtesy of Matt Desmond).

The Experience

The most striking aspect of the Walker Art Center is the building itself. The spaces inside are every bit as dynamic, unique, and surprising as the exterior of the building (maybe more so). Hallways with walls of windows, uniquely angled walls, columns, stairs, doorways, and nooks all add to the stunning environment. 

The main hall just inside the entry. You might even see hair that is a work of art at the Walker Art Center. (Photo courtesy of Peter Fleck)

The Walker Art Center somehow manages to fit a seemingly impossible amount of gallery space into what appears to be a fairly small building, despite the fact that there is only one gallery in the entire large silver cube section (A.K.A. the “Theater Tower”)! The galleries house a large collection of modern artwork, from minimalist art to abstract art to photography to sculpture. The center also currently co-hosts an exhibit on the design and architecture of Eero Saarinen (he designed the St. Louis Arch and TWA terminal at JFK airport in New York). Part of that exhibit is displayed at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (the airports and other large buildings). The rest is at the Walker Art Center (residential and smaller buildings, and furniture and industrial designs). I was quite impressed with the Saarinen Exhibition and would highly recommend to anyone with an interest in Architecture.

In addition to the seemingly endless gallery space, the Walker also houses restaurants and cafes, (featuring Wolfgang Puck cuisine) a cinema, a performance hall, classrooms and workshops, and a store that sells numerous art books, art-related t-shirts and other unique artsy gifts for folks of all ages. For more info, check out the Walker’s website.

The “Great Ones” (Highlights) of the Walker Art Center:

1. The building itself – It is a wonderfully unique building that surprised and amazed me throughout. 
2. Free for all (sometimes) - Kids 12 and under always get in free, and the Walker Art Center offers free admission for all every Thursday night from 5pm – 9pm and all day on the first Saturday of each month. Many fun family programs are offered on these days, the Walker can be a very affordable and fun family outing on those days.
3. The “Grassy Knoll” – That is my own term for the grassy hill on the west side of the building (the side shown in the first picture in the post). It is a good romantic spot and offers my favorite scenic view in Minneapolis, featuring three beautiful churches, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (more in a future post), Loring Park, and a spectacular view of the downtown skyline. The view is gorgeous daytime and nighttime, and the knoll is always open to the public (four people were grilling out there this afternoon). Towards the top of the knoll, near the building (and the gorilla sculpture) is an underground room with an open roof that is one of my favorite hidden gems in the city. If you’re at the Walker, be sure to check it out.
4. Interactive Stations - The Walker has several unique interactive stations and activities. Just off the main lobby there is a listening station that allows users to hear selections from upcoming performances that will be held in the performance arena and a viewing station that allows users to view videos about current art topics. Directly across from the viewing station was one of the most fun interactive information stations I have seen:

Tiny virtual people meander amongst works of art. For more info, simply grab a person by pinching them between your thumb and fingers (as in the picture) and then drop them on a work of art by releasing them. For extra fun, try picking a person up, shaking them around a little, and then drop them back down anywhere. More detailed information is here. (Photo courtesy of Eric) 

Here is another great interactive station for kids:

Kids ask this dolphin questions by typing on a cordless keyboard, and the dolphin squeaks answers. Don’t worry – there are subtitles so you will know what the dolphin is saying. (Photo courtesy of Peter Fleck)

The “Not-so-Great Ones” (Lowlights) of the Walker Art Center:

1. Where am I? – I found the museum’s layout to be somewhat confusing and disorienting, and the museum map that was available was kind of vague and confusing and only actually showed one floor.
2. Slow Elevators - I know that’s a really minor inconvenience, but I was unable to visit several galleries, because I spent about 5 minutes waiting for an elevator that never came and by the time I got up to the galleries via the stairs the galleries were closed (it was 5 o’clock).
3. Stairs Everywhere – There are stairs seemingly everywhere in the Walker Art Center. Everything is wheelchair accessible, but some long detours may be required in order to get from one gallery to another.
4. What is art? - I found myself asking that question many times at the Walker Center today. I don’t profess to be an expert or lover of modern art, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what qualified some of the pieces at the Walker as art. Some examples: a piece consisting of a long lit fluorescent light tube with a short unlit fluorescent tube directly on top of it, a small child’s chair with a box of kleenex on it, or this bizarre piece by none other than Yoko Ono (yes that Yoko Ono):

Ono’s piece is entitled, “Painting to Hammer a Nail in”. The photographer’s reflection is not part of the piece. (Photo courtesy of ThunderChild tm)

If you go:

The Walker Art Center is open Tuesday – Sunday 11am – 5pm (9pm on Thurs). Admission is always free for children 12 and under, and is is free for all on Thursdays from 5 – 9pm and all day the first Saturday of each month. Otherwise admission is $10 for adults, $8 seniors 65 and up, and $6 dollars for teens and students with IDs. There are also a few other ways to get free admission to the Walker Art Center.

The Walker Art Center is located at 1750 Hennepin Ave (map). There is ample parking in the attached City of Minneapolis underground parking ramp (On Vineland Place near Bryant Ave) and in the Parade Grounds parking lot adjacent to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Both of those are pay lots, but free street parking is often available (especially on Mount Curve Ave at the top of the hill). The Walker is also accessible by bus, and is only a few blocks off of the Cedar Lake Bike Trail.

…And now I am going to go stretch out on the “grassy knoll” and enjoy the beautiful views. Stay tuned for the next installment: Farmers Markets in St. Paul… coming soon!