Minnesota artist Melissa Loop draws attention to the complexities and double-standards inherent in fetishizing and idealizing exotic locales, exploring the consequences of tourism through the lush, layered surfaces of her paintings. In a recent conversation with the artist, she discusses the lineage of landscape painting, from Hudson River School to Peter Doig, painting and viewing […] Minnesota artist…

Three years ago, Architecture Minnesota magazine launched Videotect [architect + video], an annual video competition designed “to bring more voices and more creativity into public debates about key built-environment issues.” The first year’s topic, the Minneapolis skyway system, drew 25 entries, each 30 to 120 seconds long. A jury of architecture, advertising and arts notables […] Three years ago, Architecture…

On March 21 teens from around the Twin Cities worked with visiting artist Abraham Cruzvillegas in anticipation of the opening of his solo show, The Autoconstruccion Suites. The night was centered around a game that Cruzvillegas created for dOCUMENTA13. It is a game that originated in his own practice and research. The games asks participants to break apart themes of their lives into, at most, 34…

What do you get when you combine a brand new exhibition, a live band, vats of melted brie, art activities for adults, and a whole host of good looking people? Walker After Hours! Members, staff, and guests from near and far came together for a preview party to celebrate the opening of Abraham Cruzvillegas: The Autoconstrucción Suites, a […] What do you get when you combine a brand new exhibition, a live band…

Like her fellow 2013 Insights Design Lecture Series speakers–Geoff McFetridge, Eike König, and Job Wouters–Moniker’s Luna Maurer had an action-packed trip to the Twin Cities. Here’s what she did: Ate dinner at Moto-I (she ate ALL of the chicken wings and sake and sashimi) Visited with local designers during a reception (aka Design Sundays) at […] Like her fellow 2013 Insights Design Lecture Series…

Upon returning from a road trip to South By Southwest earlier this week, I quickly brought my two disposable cameras to the drugstore for speedy film development. I had decided to document my journey southward visually, but I was worried that the shots might not come out, because the second camera never seemed to make […] Upon returning from a road trip to South By Southwest earlier this week, I…

Todd Balthazor is a satirical, often anthropomorphic illustrator, fine artist, muralist and children’s art instructor from St.Paul, MN, with a BFA in illustration from the College of Visual Arts (CVA).  He has done artist residencies at Jackson Elementary and the St. Paul University Club, and his work has been displayed in venues both locally and abroad, […] Todd Balthazor is a satirical, often anthropomorphic…