Friends Newsletter
President’s Letter, September 2025
Welcome to a new year of fun and learning with Friends! My name is Elizabeth Short (everyone calls me Liz), and I’m delighted to be serving as your new Friends President. I have big shoes to fill, following a succession of brilliant leaders who, along with their teams, have made us the vibrant organization we are today. I am honored to serve you with this year’s board as we continue to build our community of art lovers, learners, givers, and— yes—friends.
Have you been to the State Fair yet? I never miss it. One of my favorite pastimes is wandering the Creative Arts building. My husband and I always stop by the quilts, slowly flipping through the prize-winners from each Minnesota county. We never fail to be amazed at the beauty, talent, and artistry of these pieces. In the Creative Arts, we are reminded that beauty is all around us, and we can all express our creativity in a variety of ways.
If you can’t get to the fair this year, don’t despair! Pop on by the museum to view “Cream of the Crop: A Minnesota Folk Art Showcase,” where you can see some 2025 crop art artists showing their work at Mia. The show runs from September 6–28, 2025. You won’t want to miss it!
And while you’re here, make sure you stop in Gallery 304 to see the beautiful quilt (shown above) from Lola Pettway, a celebrated quilter associated with the Gee’s Bend collective.
As usual, we have a full schedule of activities in September. The first Coffee & Scones is September 9. Come to learn more about the Friends!
Our kickoff lecture is on September 18, where we’ll hear about “The End of Luxury?” with Robin Givhan, an award-winning critic of fashion and more at the Washington Post. Make sure you get your tickets!
Our Friends Book Club starts its season with The Great Gatsby on September 19 and 20.
For F. Scott Fitzgerald fans—and those who just love a good party—we invite you to join us at our first fundraiser of the year on September 24. Called Gatsby and Friends, we’ll celebrate Mia’s “Gatsby at 100” exhibition with the curators, Lori Williamson and Galina Olmsted. See below for all of our events. We hope you can join us!
And remember, whenever you’re in the museum, stop by the office to say hi. I’d love to meet you!
Liz Short
President, Friends of the Institute
Important September Dates:
• September 9, 2025: Coffee & Scones
• September 14, 2025: Mia Family Day Volunteer Opportunity
• September 18, 2025: Friends Lecture: Robin Givhan, “The End of Luxury?”
• September 19 and 20, 2025: Friends Book Club: The Great Gatsby
• September 24, 2025: Friends Fundraiser: Gatsby and Friends
September Friends Lecture: Robin Givhan, “The End of Luxury?”
• Thursday, September 18, 2025, 11 a.m.
• Pillsbury Auditorium
In 1973, American and French designers went head-to-head in a creative competition called the Battle of Versailles. This dramatic fashion show took place at the historic Palace of Versailles, former residence of King Louis XIV. Robin Givhan tells this story of how the Americans won with cutting-edge, ready-to-wear styles and stunning Black models.
Givhan started her career in 1995 at the Washington Post, where she covered news, trends, and business of the international fashion industry. She won a Pulitzer Prize in criticism in 2006 “for her witty, closely observed essays that transform fashion criticism into cultural criticism.” After leaving the Post for a few years, she returned as fashion critic in 2014.
Her work has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Essence, Elle UK, and The New Yorker, and she’s contributed to several books. Givhan began writing about Michelle Obama in 2009 and the cultural and social shifts created by the first African American family in the White House. She’s the author, along with Washington Post photo staff, of Michelle: Her First Year as First Lady.
Givhan’s first solo book, The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled into the Spotlight and Made History, is a cultural history of how this event challenged the fashion norms of the time and changed the trajectory of the fashion industry.
Her new book, Make It Ours: Crashing the Gates of Culture with Virgil Abloh, came out earlier this summer. It examines the impact of an untraditional creative director and how he transformed the industry so significantly that his rise became possible.
In 2020, Givhan was appointed senior critic-at-large at the Washington Post, with a focus on politics, race, and the arts. Last year, she was honored as one of the recipients of the Rabkin Prize, awarded annually to celebrate the creative and intellectual contributions of today’s visual arts writers.
Lecture tickets are free and available on Mia’s website. As always, Friends members can call Mia’s Visitor Experience at 612-870-6323 on August 15 and secure lecture tickets before they are available to the general public.
Don’t forget to take advantage of another Friends benefit: pre-lecture tours starting an hour before the lecture at 10 a.m. Meet in the Friends Office to connect with your guide. The theme for September tours is Fashion Affecting Culture. Space is limited. Reserve your spot by calling the Friends Office at 612-870-3045 or emailing friends@artsmia.org.
Volunteer Opportunity: Lecture Ushers Needed
We’re looking for friendly faces to help usher at these events. It’s a great way to meet fellow Friends and be part of the action. If you’d like to volunteer, email friendsvolunteers@mia.org.
September Friends Book Club: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Friday, September 19, and Saturday, September 20, 2025, 10 a.m.
• Museum Tour, 11 a.m.
• Friends Office
The Friends Book Club kicks off a new season with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, celebrating its 100th anniversary and coinciding with Mia’s September exhibition “Gatsby at 100.” We’ll discuss the novel over coffee and then head to the galleries at 11 a.m. for a guided tour of artworks selected to complement the book’s themes.
Attendance is limited to 24 participants. If you’ve been curious about our book club, now is the perfect time to join us—all are welcome!
Reserve your spot by calling the Friends Office at 612-870-3045 or emailing friends@artsmia.org.
Looking ahead to October, we’ll read Hello Beautiful: A Novel by Ann Napolitano, with discussions scheduled for October 17 and 18.
Friends Fundraiser: Gatsby and Friends
• Wednesday, September 24, 2025, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
• Private residence, Roseville, MN
• Tickets: $100 per person
Come celebrate the 100th anniversary of the classic novel The Great Gatsby. Saint Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald—along with artists of the Roaring Twenties—grappled with the decadence, excess, and contradictions of the Jazz Age. Mia’s exhibition “Gatsby at 100” showcases these visual artists and their attempts to capture the spirit and paradoxes of the era.
Enjoy a roaring fun evening with friends, wine, and appetizers while experiencing the intersection of Art Nouveau and mid-century modern design in this stunning home and garden! Flapper-period attire is welcome but not required. The curators of “Gatsby at 100,” Lori Williamson, Supervisor of the Print Study Room, and Galina Olmsted, Associate Curator of European Art, will share insights about the exhibition.
Graciously hosted by Wayne Groff and Jim Dryden at their home in Roseville, near the junction of Highways 35W and 36. Generously sponsored by Marietta and Jot Turner and Holly and Carl Jones. $70 of the $100 ticket is tax deductible.
Tickets are available on Mia’s website.
Meet New Friends: Coffee & Scones
• Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 10 a.m.
• Friends Office
Curious about the Friends of the Institute? Join us on Tuesday, September 9, at 10 a.m. in the Friends Office for coffee, scones, and conversation. Learn about our upcoming 2025–2026 events, explore volunteer opportunities, and connect with fellow Friends. Please RSVP to friendsmembership@artsmia.org.
Volunteer Opportunity: Mia Family Day
• Sunday, September 14, 2025
We’re looking for volunteers for Mia’s Family Day to help families with art projects. The shifts are just two hours, and the atmosphere is fun and casual. No art experience is needed, just a desire to assist families in their exploration of the arts!
If you’re interested, please email familyday@artsmia.org.
Look Ahead: October Friends Lecture and Fall Luncheon: Jane Kallir, “Egon Schiele: Life and Art”
• Thursday, October 16, 2025, 11 a.m.
• Lecture ticket: free; luncheon ticket: $45 per person
Renowned Egon Schiele scholar Jane Kallir takes a deep dive into Schiele’s life and art, with special emphasis on works in Mia’s collection. Schiele was not yet 20 when he created his first breakthrough Expressionist works, and he died scarcely eight years later. His brief life was turbulent, including an arrest on morals charges and recurrent financial hardship. More so than most artists, Schiele poured his life experiences into his work, as he gradually grew to maturity: personally, professionally, and artistically.
Tickets for the lecture are available to Friends on September 15 and the public on September 17. Visit Mia’s website for more information.
Following the October lecture, join the Friends of the Institute for the annual Fall Luncheon in the Target Reception Hall. Enjoy catching up with old friends, making new ones, and hearing about the exciting events and activities planned for the season—all over a lovely lunch.
Tickets are $45 per person, available starting September 15. Reserve your spot by calling the Friends Office at 612-870-3045 or emailing friends@artsmia.org.
Friends-Only Events 2025–2026: Treasure Hunting
• Saturday, October 11, 2025, 2 p.m.
• Purcell-Cutts House
Friends members love discovering the art, architecture, and history that make our community unique. From October 2025 through June 2026, join us for monthly Treasure Hunt outings around the Twin Cities. We’ll explore local gems, learn something new, and enjoy time together. This year’s lineup includes a mix of weekend events for our working Friends and weekday lunches for a little extra fun.
A few highlights for the coming year:
• A private, before-hours holiday tour at Norway House
• An exclusive tour of the Thrivent Art Collection
• A spring floral excursion at the Como Park Conservatory
October: A Treasure of Prairie School Design
We’ll open the season with a visit to the Purcell-Cutts House, led by Mia guide Lyn Osgood. Learn about the home’s history, architectural influence, and the Purcell family as we explore this Prairie School treasure.
• Date & Time: Saturday, October 11, 2025, 2–3 p.m.
• Location: 2328 Lake Place, Minneapolis, MN 55405
• Cost: Free (open to 15 guests)
• RSVP: Email Lezlie Pinske by Friday, October 3, 2025, at noon
The full 2025–2026 Friends-only events schedule will be in the October Friends Newsletter. We look forward to treasure hunting with you!