What kind of art depicting Minnesota and Minnesotans should be displayed at the state Capitol when it reopens after renovation?
That’s a question state officials are pondering, and they’re holding meetings around the state to get public input. Six meetings have been scheduled with more to come.
Currently, art at the Capitol relates to the Civil War and Minnesota before 1905. It’s due for some updating, many feel.
The Capitol Preservation Art Subcommittee wants to know what citizens thinks. Retired Supreme Court Justice Paul Anderson is co-chair:
“Much of the existing art in the Capitol reflects the popular ideas, belief and attitudes of the majority population in early 1900s and some of those may not represent the way many of us think today,” he said.
The group says it will “tackle many challenging questions to ensure art at the Capitol represents a broad and inclusive story about Minnesota’s heritage and culture.
The scheduled meetings start Tuesday:
- Rochester, Nov. 10, 7-9 p.m., Rochester Area Foundation, 12 Elton Hills Dr. NW.
- Minneapolis, Nov. 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Minneapolis Park Administration Building, 2117 W. River Rd. N.
- Willmar, Nov. 16, 7-9 p.m., Ridgewater College, Student Center, 2101 15th Av. NW
- St. Paul (tentative) Nov, 19, 6-8 p.m., Hamline University Anderson Center, 774 Snelling Av. N.
- Mankato, Nov. 23, time to be determined, Mankato State University Ostrander Auditorium, 620 South Rd.
- Bemidji, Nov. 30, 6-8 p.m., Bemidji State University, American Indian Resource Center, 1500 Birchmond Dr. NE
Other meetings may be scheduled in Duluth, Bloomington, Southeast Minneapolis, Minnetonka and suburban St. Paul.
