Welcome to Le Parisien

Minneapolis Institute of Arts
http://www.artsmia.org/

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts was established in 1883. The museum building, designed by the firm of McKim, Mead and White, opened its doors in 1915. In 1974 the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange was commissioned to design needed additions to the neoclassical structure. In the 1990s, with funds from the New Beginnings Campaign, the museum was renovated, the collections reinstalled, and state of the art technology introduced to help visitors and members interpret the works of art.

Mission: The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is dedicated to national leadership in bringing arts and people together to discover, enjoy, and understand the world’s diverse artistic heritage.

Walker Art Center
http://www.walkerart.org/index.wac

Formally established in 1927, the Walker Art Center began as the first public art gallery in the Upper Midwest. The museum's focus on modern art began in the 1940s, when a gift from Mrs. Gilbert Walker made possible the acquisition of works by important artists of the day, including sculptures by Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, Alberto Giacometti, and others. During the 1960s, the Walker organized increasingly ambitious exhibitions that circulated to museums in the United States and abroad. The permanent collection expanded to reflect crucial examples of contemporary artistic developments; concurrently, performing arts, film, and education programs grew proportionately and gained their own national prominence throughout the next three decades. Today, the Walker is recognized internationally as a singular model of a multidisciplinary arts organization and as a national leader for its innovative approaches to audience engagement.

Mission:
The Walker Art Center, a catalyst for the creative expression of artists and the active engagement of audiences, examines the questions that shape and inspire us as individuals, cultures, and communities.

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is located on Vineland Place, across from the Walker Art Center and Guthrie Theater. The 11-acre garden is a joint project of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the Walker Art Center. It offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy important works of art by leading American and international artists in a setting of plazas, walkways, and plantings.

Look for these displays on your visit:

•	The colossal Spoonbridge and Cherry Fountain by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.
•	The Irene Hixon Whitney Footbridge designed by Siah Armajani that connects the Sculpture Garden with Loring Park and dowtown Minneapolis. Walk across the bridge to visit the Loring Park Garden and to find a selection of cafes!
•	Frank Gehry's Standing Glass Fish located in the Palm Room of the Cowles Conservatory. This room features permanent and seasonal horticultural displays including, exotic orchids, palms, and other fragrent and beautiful species.
•	The northern boundary of the Sculpture Garden features the Alene Grossman Memorial Arbor. Along the entire 300-foot length of the vine-covered stainless steelarbor are colorful plantings of perennial and annual flowers.