The coolest building in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area, and possibly in the entire state of Minnesota, in my opinion, has to be the Weisman Art Museum, also known as WAM. The building that currently houses this collection was designed by the renowned contemporary architect Frank O. Gehry in 1993, and its latest bit of expansion was completed in 2011. A contemporary architect is the perfect choice to build a museum that houses nearly 20,000 pieces of contemporary art, don’t you think? The building is art itself.
Seeing WAM in all its glory reminded me of another Gehry original, the Museum of Pop Culture here in Seattle. Check out some more of Gehry’s iconic buildings here.
WAM itself has been part of the University of Minnesota in one form or another for 70 years. The current gallery sits on a bluff above the banks of the Mississippi River, and admission is free. You can even rent some of their art if you are a UM student or member of the faculty, and the rates are insanely reasonable. There are also a number of Online Programs, including a virtual visit to the permanent collection gallery, or you can browse through the entire collection from the comfort of your own home, even the things not currently on display, through WAM’s emuseum.
I love contemporary art, and the twin cities hosts more of it than I’ve ever seen in one area in my life. (Check out my blog post about the Walker Art Center here.) I found the Weisman, in particular, to be whimsical and a pure delight. It reinvigorated my imagination. If you’re ever in the area, make sure to pay a visit to this museum.
Here are a few photos and videos that dear husband and I took while we were there, with you in mind. Enjoy!
The ultimate form of recycling: Buy my book, read it, and then donate it to your local public library or your neighborhood little free library! http://amzn.to/2mlPVh5
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