Minneapolis Institute of Arts

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is a treasure for the Twin Cities.  It is free every day and though it isn't as large as the art museum in Chicago nor New York, it is a pretty good size and has some famous pieces and collections.  I have enjoyed going for a visit since I was in elementary school in St. Paul.  I don't get over there as frequently as I did pre-family when I lived in south Minneapolis, but we still go several times each year to wander the galleries.

We're in the middle of a stretch of pretty steamy days here in the Cities, and as much as I want to get out, I don't really want to be outside.  So after dropping Sarah off at work this morning, the boys and I went off to the museum (didn't feel like going to Choo Choo Bob's today).  The museum opens at 10 am, so we had a little bit of time to kill once we arrived, which was good enough anyway since Thomas needed a change and a bottle.  So we went to a big park across the street from the museum.  The question then is how to occupy James.

Frisbee fetch!  We do this in the back yard sometimes.  I throw the frisbee, he runs to it, throws it once (so as not to hit Thomas sitting next to me), and then runs it back to me.  He's happy to do this for an extended period of time.  Besides, I have to get him ready to start playing ultimate.

Once it was time to head into the museum, I decided to have some fun with pictures.  James thought we were going to the "sculpture museum", so James is doing his best human representation of different sculptures we saw along the way.  Forgive the poor quality of the pictures.  I didn't have the camera along today.

James is doing his best Geo. Washington here.  Thomas is ummm... the cherry tree.

RAR!  Just like the lions outside the old entrance.

James as Michael in "The Fighter Spirit" by Ernst Barlach

As we went in, we needed a bathroom break.  According to James, the one on the right is for daddy, the one on the left is for James and the one in the middle is for mommy.

James is a 14th century Japanese temple guardian.

Thomas wanted to get into the at and  prepared to eat the Very Hungry Caterpiller, by Eric Carle.

Bodhisattva James... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  This is the Bodhisattva Kuan-yin from 12th century China.

Classical James.  Study him.  Admire him.  He is the ideal.  This is The Doryphoros (Greek?) from the 4th century BCE.

"Dad, I wanna be the big puppy."  Ok, James.  Be the big puppy.  Wish I could tell you about the sculpture, but I didn't see the little information sign before James insisted we go find an elevator.  They are the best thing in the world, you know.

James has too many clothes on here for this Matisse ("Large Seated Nude" c. 1923-1925), but I suppose the museum would frown on naked little boys running around and laughing.

James is a "Panther Devouring a Rabbit (Very Hungry Caterpiller)" by Antoine-Louis Barye.

After walking around the museum for 30 minutes or so, James was ready to go down the really old elevator with the thing you close ('cause once again, elevators are the best things in the world).  We read a book and played in the little family room before coming home.  I may not be the most knowledgeable person when it comes to fine art, but I do enjoy spending time among it and I hope in time James and Thomas will grow to appreciate it as much as I do.  Exposure is a start.