Seven Midwest Museum Gems Not to Miss
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Nestled in the rolling hills and expansive cornfields of Iowa sits the Des Moines Art Center, an impressive architectural collaboration between three of the greatest architects of the 20th century, Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei and Richard Meier.
Inside the building, an equally distinguished collection of permanent art and rotating exhibitions fills the galleries.
For 15 years, Laura Burkhalter has been a member of the art center's curatorial department, and has been responsible for bringing in exhibitions such as Surface Value ( where artists pushed the boundaries of painting to explore themes of American life and lifestyle) and Transparencies (a show from international artists exploring glass as a medium and subject matter).
Most recently, Burkhalter coordinated the traveling exhibition of work by internationally known artist El Anatsui at Des Moines Art Center (the show was organized by the Akron Museum of Art in Ohio). His bottle cap tapestries will grace the museum's walls through Feb. 9.
This week, Burkhalter takes us on a tour of the Midwest, showing us her seven favorite spots to gawk at paintings and appreciate contemporary art. Check back each day as she shares a new must-see museum or gallery, and visit Burkhalter's Modern Midwest Pinterest page for bonus pins that give you a glimpse of the art within those walls.
Pin #1: “The Milwaukee Art Museum: Amazing architecture and great views of the lake, along with a fantastic collection. Don’t miss the Mrs. Harry L. Bradley galleries, which are an explosion of color, and the American Folk art collection – one of the best in the nation.” Laura Burkhalter
Pin #2: “The Art Institute of Chicago: This is a giant and may seem an obvious choice, but I always discover some new treasure every time I visit. If you like Impressionism, this is the best place to see it outside of Paris. Don’t forget Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” and Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks.” Laura Burkhalter
Pin #3: “Museum of Russian Art, Minneapolis: This small museum in a gorgeous old church is the perfect way to spend a leisurely afternoon. Learn about artists whose work you may not see elsewhere, and also check out the stellar gift shop.” Laura Burkhalter
Pin #4: “Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha: This rotating exhibition space not only shows great contemporary art, but also offers living and studio spaces for artists from around the world. It’s a great way to not only see what’s going on now in the visual arts, but also support living culture in the Midwest.”
You won't believe the art that happens inside these walls: See it now
Pin #5: “The Minneapolis Institute of Arts: Another giant, but of all the “encyclopedic” museums in the Midwest, this is my personal favorite. The Asian collection (especially the Ming dynasty reception hall) is amazing, and if you visit around the holidays they decorate the various historic period rooms to celebrate the season.” Laura Burkhalter
Pin #6: “Grant Wood Studio, Cedar Rapids: Run by the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, this tiny gem will give you a whole new perspective on Grant Wood. Every corner and item was modified by the artist to suit his creative needs and make the small space more useful. Funny, odd, and a great way to get to know Iowa’s most famous painter.” Laura Burkhalter
Do you recognize these works from the iconic American painter?
Pin #7: “The Des Moines Art Center: As a Des Moines native and art center employee for almost fifteen years, of course I’m a little biased, but my museum is absolutely one of the best. There are three sections of the building, each by a world-class architect, and a collection of 20th and 21st century art that can hold its own against any contemporary art museum out there. Our Francis Bacon, Edward Hopper and John Singer Sargent paintings are world-renowned. Introducing newcomers to this place is one of the great joys of my career. Also, the community has totally embraced the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, and we just installed an Olafur Eliasson which is already a hit.” Laura Burkhalter
