Join Art X Detroit: Kresge Arts Experience for a five-day multidisciplinary celebration, from April 10-14, 2013, that will present works created by the 2011-2012 Kresge Eminent Artists and Artist Fellows, along with a special visual arts exhibition at MOCAD that runs through April 28, 2013. The experience will include dance, musical performances workshops and special exhibitions. Visit Art X Detroit’s website for a full schedule of events.

Photo source: Art X Detroit

Minneapolis-based findfurnish is moving their store to a new location! The store, specializing in mid-century modern furnishing is planning a re-opening party at 13 5th Street NE, Minneapolis, 55413 on May 4 from 5-9pm. Make sure to visit findfurnish’s website and Facebook page for updates on merchandise, sales and events!

Photo source: findfurnish

Save the date! On April 20th, Public Functionary, Minneapolis’ newest art gallery will open its doors for the opening of DZINE:Victory. Join the free gallery opening reception from 8pm-11pm and celebrate art, music and conversation. Visit Public Functionary’s website for more information.

Photo source: Public Functionary

Who’s excited to see these guys back in action again? Mad Men’s season 6 premiere starts at 8pm CT on AMC and is rebroadcast on AMC at 10:08pm CT.

Photo source: Collider.com

Join Tim Samuelson, cultural historian for Chicago and an expert on Midwestern architecture, as he speaks about Frank Lloyd Wright’s connections to St. Louis.

The free event is tomorrow, Sunday, April 7th. Samuelson will give his address at 3pm in the Lee Auditorium of the Missouri History Museum. For more information, visit STL Beacon.

Photo source: City of St. Louis

The First National Bank building in downtown Minneapolis was completed in 1960 in the International style. According to this vintage Muzak ad featuring the building, it’s good to know that Muzak was there to help by “providing a pleasant and stimulating atmosphere for both employees and customers.” Click over to Nokohaha to see the full story.

Photo source: Nokohaha

If you love Mid-Century Modern furniture, then you want to make sure to head over to Southfield, Michigan for the Michigan Modernism Expo. The expo takes place on April 26 through April 28, 2013 at The Southfield Municipal Complex (26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, Michigan, 48078). Fifty of the nation’s most prominent dealers will be present selling items designed by greats such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Herman Miller and Salvador Dali.

Hours for the Michigan Modernism Exposition are:

Friday, April 26-preview party from 7-10p.m. For ticket information, visit the Detroit Area Art Deco Society’s website.

Saturday, April 27-10am-6pm, $10 admission

Sunday, April 28, 12p.m.-5p.m., $10 admission.

Click here for more information on the event. You can also visit the Michigan Modernism Exposition’s Facebook page.

Photo source: Michigan Modernism Exposition

A century ago, in 1913, the Art Institute of Chicago became the first art museum in the United States to display Pablo Picasso’s work. The AIC celebrates that anniversary with Picasso and Chicago, an exhibit showcasing 250 of Picasso’s greatest prints, paintings, sculptures, drawings and ceramics from a private collection in the city, as well as from the museum’s collection.

Picasso and Chicago is going on now through Sunday, May 12, 2013 at Regenstein Hall at the Art Institute of Chicago. Visit www.artic.com for more details.

Photo source: Art Institute of Chicago

Join Ingrid LeFleur, Director of Maison LaFleur, a pop-up gallery specializing in contemporary culture, as she speaks on April 5th at Creative Mornings Detroit. A native of Detroit, LeFleur will be speaking about “the future”. Creative Mornings is a free, monthly breakfast lecture series for creative types. For more information, visit creativemorningsdetroit.tumblr.com.

Photo source: Creative Mornings Detroit

It’s Sunday! it’s time to relax and peruse the newest catalog from J.W. Hulme. The J.W. Hulme Company was established in St. Paul and has been making the best quality leather and canvas products since 1905.

Photo source: youhavebrokentheinternet.blogspot.com

We love these Motor Car Postcards from Signal-Return in Detroit. $2.50 each. While supplies last.

Photo source: Signal-Return

A little peek into a current project from Minneapolis interior design firm, LiLu Interiors. We love the colors for this mid-century inspired room! Visit LiLu Interiors’ blog to see more projects.

Photo source: Lilu Interiors

Retro Love Affair, a blog run by Minneapolis’ Jane Kathryn Kolles, recently featured these cancelled first day of issue Eames stamps from 2008 honoring the Eames. Aren’t they fun?

Photo source: Retro Love Affair

Happy birthday to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who would have turned 127 today. Thanks for teaching us that “Less is more”.

Photo source: redingote.fr

Save the date for Preservation Alliance of Minnesota’s (Anti)Wrecking Ball going on at the Soap Factory (514 2nd St SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414) in Minneapolis on May 17th. The event corresponds with Art-a-Whirl, a local art crawl in N.E. Minneapolis. Come out and support your favorite historic buildings and your favorite artists!

The (Anti)Wrecking Ball is free to the public. R.S.V.P’s are welcome, but not required. R.S.V.P. here.

Photo source: Preservation Alliance of Minnesota

On April 14th, BBYO-Michigan Region is organizing Stand UP for Detroit!, an evening of advocacy for Detroit’s renewal. BBYO is an international movement that teaches Jewish teenagers to make a difference in the world.

Stand UP for Detroit! is being organized by eight high schoolers who are a part of BBYO-Michigan Region. The event will be held at St. Andrews Hall and features national bands, The Ready Set and the Timeflies. The group’s goal is to help restore Detroit’s image and build a better community.

A minimum donation is $35 with proceeds going towards the future of Detroit. BBYO-Michigan Region will vote in the springtime on how to use the proceeds by a teen vote.

The doors of St. Andrew’s Hall will open at 4:30pm on April 13 and the events will begin at 6pm. For more information, visit www.standupfordetroit.com.

Photo source: WikiTravel

Save the date for the biggest poster party for bike people! ARTCRANK is a poster party featuring original bike posters by local artists for sale at an affordable price. Admission to the party is always free.

ARTCRANK will be happening in the following Midwest cities:

Minneapolis
4.6.13
Grain Belt Studios, 77 and 79 Thirteenth Avenue N.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55413
Click here for more info.

St. Louis
5.10.13–5.11.13
Atomic Cowboy, 4140 Manchester Road, St. Louis, MO, 63110
Click here for more info.

Chicago
5.17.13
Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219-21 South Morgan Street, Chicago IL, 60608
Click here for more info.

Photo source: ARTCRANK

Architect Mies van der Rohe built a series of works commissioned by clients in Krefeld, Germany during the period of 1927 through 1930. One of his famous Krefeld works, Haus Lang, was commissioned by businessman and art collector, Hermann Lange.

Join art historian, Christine Lange, the great-granddaughter of Hermann Lange, as she speaks about the ten projects Mies built for the “Krefeld Circle,” amongst them Haus Lange and Haus Esters and the visionary Café Samt und Seide (Velvet and Silk Café).

Join Christine Lange for the following events:

Lecture: Mies van der Rohe in Krefeld: An overlooked period in the life of the architect

• Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 7pm. Reception at 6pm

• S.R. Crown Hall, 3360 S. State Street, Chicago, IL

• Reservation required. Click here to reserve your spot.

• Click here for more information on the event. 
  

Documentary: Mies van der Rohe in Krefeld with a Q&A with the film’s protagonist, Christine Lange

• Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 6pm

• Gothe-Institute, 150 N. Michigan Ave. Ste 200, Chicago, IL

• Click here for more information on the event.

  Photo source: builtby.tv

If you are in Minneapolis and love mid-century design, then make sure to reserve your ticket for “A Mid-Century Affair,” presented by Docomomo US/MN and the Minnesota History Center.

The event features a bus tour of several of Minneapolis’ favorite modern hotspots. Stops include visits to Miller Upholstering and furniture shop, Forage Modern Workshop. Guests will also get the chance to meet the folks behind the furniture company, Rapson-Inc, which reproduces furniture from the original designs of architect, Ralph Rapson.

The tour progresses to a local mid-century home tour and concludes with a social hour at Christ Church Lutheran, designed by architects, Eero and Eliel Saarinen.

The first tour occurs on Sunday, April 28th and is repeated on Sunday, May 5th. The program lasts from 1pm-5pm. Tickets are $60 ($50 Docomomo members and MHS members). Reservations required; tickets may be purchased at the Minnesota History Center’s website.  

Photo source: Docomomo.us.mn.org. Photo by Peter J. Sieger. 

Make a night of the town tonight with Art Detroit Now! Tonight and
every third Thursday, a handful of contemporary art galleries and stores will
be open from 6-9pm. For more information and for the list of locations, visit artdetroitnow.com.

Photo source: Art Detroit Now

Get ready to enjoy Warhol’s iconic pop art in Minneapolis. Andy
Warhol in Minneapolis is coming to ARIA
from March 16-23. 

The week-long selling exhibition is free and open to the public. Andy
Warhol in Minneapolis showcases a curated group of more than 50 paintings,
photographs, prints and works on paper from Warhol. All works are drawn from the collection of The Andy Warhol
Foundation for the Visual Arts, with proceeds benefitting the Foundation’s
grant making programs.

“I really don’t talk well without a pencil
in my hand.” (Star Tribune video, 2003) — Architect Ralph Rapson
(1914-2008)

Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota was the
world’s first indoor shopping center. The Minnesota historical blog, Nokohaha, gives us a glimpse into what
Southdale used to look like in the 1960’s. Click here
to see more photos of Southdale at Nokohaha.