Wander Minnesota: Game Face

You may have heard about the impressive Rembrandt in America exhibit currently at the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts (and if you haven't, check out that link and make plans to attend—it's only here through Sept. 16). But starting next Sunday, Aug. 12, a new local exhibit, called Game Face, will open to the public for a week only.

Game Face is the result of a collaborative project of Free Arts Minnesota, photographer Wing Young Huie and the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts. Together, these partners provided arts education to more than 75 students for nearly two months during the summer.

The arts intensive was centered around the Art Institute's exhibit The Sports Show: Minnesota. Students in the program had the opportunity to be guided through the artistic experience, learning how photography and other media can raise sports to high levels of mass participation.

This is just one example of many wonderful projects involving Free Arts Minnesota, which works with abused, neglected, and at-risk kids and their families, and gives these kids the chance to explore the world of art with guidance and encouragement, not only to help them explore personal interest in the subject, but to expose them to the intangible benefits of art: a source of healing and power, and a connection to a larger world. Game Face also gave these artists the opportunity to view sports as a larger metaphor for life—specifically, their lives.

The exhibit will be unveiled on Aug. 12 with a special event from 11 a.m.-noon. Visitors will have the chance then to meet the artists. The exhibit itself will be on display through Aug. 19.

What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.