Holly Van Eperen, collections and project manager & Shannon Pueschner, curator of exhibitions
Earlier this month, we traveled with Museum members and friends to Minneapolis where we took a behind-the-scenes look at artworks being restored, explored renovated mansions, and had a surprise visit from a Birds in Art artist. As much as we meticulously pore over every detail of a Woodson Art Museum trip during the planning process, Art and Preservation in Minneapolis reminded us to always expect the unexpected.
Our first stop was at the Midwest Art Conservation Center (MACC) where we had the chance to view artworks from the Woodson Art Museum’s permanent collection while they were being conserved. A highlight of this visit was seeing, Andrew Wyeth’s Cormorants, a recent acquisition.
After time at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, which MACC is located within, we settled in at our hotel. Out the door of the hotel lobby awaited our trolley driver John and his vintage trolley which had endured a 1200 mile journey from New Orleans to become a tour trolley in Minneapolis. John brought a level of enthusiasm to our evening that kept us wanting more and he delivered! Besides his trolley tours, John not only owns one mansion, 300 Clifton, which he turned into a bed and breakfast, but recently purchased a second mansion, one formerly owned by a member of the Pillsbury family. This Pillsbury mansion was under renovation, and we were provided with access to every nook and cranny, becoming a highlight of the trip.
The next day-and-a-half was filled with enriching experiences: we toured the American Swedish Institute and the Museum of Russian Art, explored printing techniques at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and attended a performance at the Guthrie Theater. Not to mention, we shared conversation over delicious meals at restaurants across the city.
This all led to a surprise that we kept from our travelers. Just outside of Minneapolis lives Birds in Art artist Jim Rataczak and his wife Joan. We had the opportunity to tour Jim’s studio and even got see the artwork that was accepted into the 2025 Birds in Art exhibition. It was a heartwarming end to an adventure-filled trip with a lovely group of people.
If you are interested in expecting the unexpected on a Woodson Art Museum trip, there are still spaces available on our Santa Fe’s Art Scene trip running from October 27 through 31. Sign up now before it’s too late!
