Museum and cultural center dedicated to the preservation and study of the historic role Sweden and Swedish Americans have played in US culture and history
General Information
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Overview
The American Swedish Institute (ASI) is a museum and cultural center in the Phillips West neighborhood of Minneapolis. The organization is dedicated to the preservation and study of the historic role Sweden and Swedish Americans have played in US culture and history. The museum complex includes the Swan Turnblad Mansion, completed in 1908, and the adjoining Nelson Cultural Center, completed in 2012.
The museum offers exhibitions from Sweden and the Nordic region, programming for youth and family, and in recent years, has expanded its performing arts offerings.
In 2012, ASI opened a 34,000-square-foot (3,200 m2) addition designed by HGA Architects of Minneapolis. The addition includes new gallery space, craft workshop, glass-enclosed reception area, gift shop, restaurant (FIKA), and spaces for events such as concerts, lectures, and community gatherings. The addition was dedicated by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden.
Exhibits at ASI have included:
- The Watercolor Worlds of Lars Lerin - Lars Lerin is a contemporary Nordic artist whose work is described as "both impressionistic and highly detailed".
- Nordic: A Photographic Essay of Landscapes, Food and People - photography from the Michelin Star-winning chef, Magnus Nilsson.
- Eight Seasons in Sápmi, the Land of the Sámi People - the art and culture of the Sami people from the northernmost regions of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Russia.
- Papercut! The Incredible Psaligraphy of Karen Bit Vejle - an exhibit of 54 paper creations.
- Nobel Creations - Couture designs from students of Beckmans College of Design, on loan from the Nobel Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "American Swedish Institute", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
