Friends Newsletter
President’s Letter, March 2026
I hope you are well. These are challenging times, asking of us our resilience, strength, and hope. Yet, resilience requires rest, while hope needs inspiration. Luckily for us all, rest and inspiration are here at the museum. A place for the community, Mia inspires us with wonder, challenges us with questions, and uplifts us not just through beauty, but by reminding us of our shared humanity. Come walk the halls. See what’s calling to you. Breathe. Great art is here, ready to lift you up and bring you joy.
What else will bring you joy? Art in Bloom! Our seasonal celebration of all things floral is arriving April 23–26, and we couldn’t be more excited. Anticipating spring and those beautiful flowers, we’re offering a Great Gathering on March 5. This features former news anchor Diana Pierce speaking on the seduction and symbolism of flowers. A festive floral themed cocktail, delicious food and wine, and good friends—it’s an evening you won’t want to miss! Purchase tickets. The deadline is February 26.
Once again we’re offering dedications for Art in Bloom. You can dedicate one of the 150 floral interpretations to a loved one throughout Art in Bloom. All dedications must be received by March 16, so there’s no time to waste.
Party in Bloom takes place on Wednesday, April 22, and promises an unforgettable evening in support of the Friends. Friends VIP guests enjoy an early red-carpet arrival at 5:30 p.m., access to a private lounge with hosted bar and small plates from Bûcheron, an exclusive first look at the floral installations before they open to the public, and a celebratory champagne toast—all within an intimate, beautifully styled setting. Purchase tickets.
As always, all funds raised will support the work of the Friends and help bring thousands of children to Mia through our Friends Bus Grant program.
Finally, we look forward to welcoming you to our lecture on Sunday, March 15, with mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski; to sharing our Members Outing to the Weisman Art Museum on Wednesday, March 4; and to discussing The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik at book club on Friday and Saturday, March 20 and 21. We are the Friends. We bring people together, foster community, and celebrate the arts. Come refresh your spirit with us. You’re always welcome here.
Thank you for being a Friend,
Liz Short
President, Friends of the Institute
P.S. Please renew your membership if you haven’t yet! We’re so glad you’re with us!
Important March Dates
• March 5, 2026: Friends’ Great Gathering
• March 15, 2026: Friends Lecture: Clara Osowski
• March 20 and 21, 2026: Friends Book Club: The Bohemians
Art in Bloom Dates
• April 22, 2026: Party in Bloom
• April 24–26, 2026: Art in Bloom Floral Workshops
• April 26, 2026: Art in Bloom Family Day
March Great Gathering: The Seduction and Symbolism of Flowers
• Thursday, March 5, 2026, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
• Target Reception Hall
• $100; tickets required
Photo Credit: Diana Pierce
It’s already been a long, hard winter in many ways. Look ahead to March 5 and join your Friends for a floral feast for the senses.
For 4,000 years, flowers have been weapons of seduction, tools of political power, and symbols of freedom potent enough to spark change. Join veteran Minnesota journalist and two-time Art in Bloom participant Diana Pierce for a visually rich journey through the scandalous history hiding in blooms. Told through paintings, textiles, and illustrations from museums worldwide, including treasures from Mia’s own collection, this talk traces how flowers have shaped our shared human story. From Cleopatra’s roses to Ukraine’s sunflowers, discover the surprising forces behind familiar blooms.
Enjoy a curated floral cocktail and wine, inspired appetizers, and airy flute music that heralds the coming of spring. You may even be a lucky winner of select door prizes.
Purchase tickets: $100 ($70 tax deductible)
Generously sponsored by Mary Olson. Proceeds support the work of the Friends.
March Friends Lecture: Clara Osowski, Mezzo-soprano
• The Intersection between Music as Art and Physical Objects as Art
• Sunday, March 15, 2026, 2 p.m.
• Pillsbury Auditorium
• Free; tickets required
Mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski, praised for singing “from inside the music with unaffected purity and sincerity,” is an active soloist and chamber musician known for her rich and radiant voice. She’s been a Metropolitan Opera National Council Upper-Midwest Regional Finalist and the recipient of a 2018–2019 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Musicians administered by the MacPhail Center for Music.
Join us as Osowski pairs musical performance with objects she selected from Mia’s collection, exploring the intersection between music as art and physical objects as art.
Get free tickets for this lecture.
Friends Pre-Lecture Tour
The Friends offer free tours the hour before each lecture. These tours are themed to align with the lecture topic. Attendance is limited to 30 participants (15 per guide), and participants meet outside the Friends Office. Reserve your spot by calling Mia’s Visitor Engagement at 612-870-3000.
Volunteer Opportunity
We’re always looking for volunteers to usher these events. It’s a great way to meet new Friends and be part of our community. If you’d like to volunteer, email us.
March Friends Book Club
• The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik
• Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10 a.m.
• Museum tour, 11 a.m.
• Friends Office
• Free; registration required
Join us in March as we read The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik. Claire Hamner Matturro of Compulsive Reader writes, “With crisp, eloquent prose, author Jasmin Darznik weaves a compelling story that brings the historical Dorothea Lange to life.… It’s a dazzling book.”
Dorothea Lange is known for the iconic photograph Migrant Mother (1936, Nipomo, California). Mia is proud to offer this artwork in the Art Adventure program for school groups touring the collection.
We’ll discuss the novel over coffee at 10 a.m., 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 10 participants. If you’ve been curious about our book club, join us. All are welcome. You’ll find the Friends office on the first floor of Mia, located in the hallway between the museum gift shop and Agra Culture Cafe.
Register by emailing the Friends Office or calling 612-870-3045.
Looking ahead to April, we’ll read The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali, with discussion dates on April 17 and 18, 2026.
Art in Bloom
Join the Friends of the Institute and celebrate spring at Mia during Art in Bloom! Presented by the Friends, this year’s four-day festival takes place April 23–26, 2026. Free and open to everyone. Experience the floral beauty and fragrance throughout the museum, take a free guided tour, and enjoy family-friendly activities.
Art in Bloom Floral Pedestal Dedications
Pierre Bonnard, French, 1867–1947. Dining Room in the Country, 1913. The John R. Van Derlip Fund. 54.15
Looking for a meaningful way to commemorate a teacher who made a difference, memorialize a loved one, or celebrate a milestone? Floral Pedestal Dedications are a unique way to mark an occasion through Art in Bloom.
Participants may choose from a list of Mia artworks that will be matched with pedestal floral arrangements on view. Each pedestal can hold up to three dedications, with wording limited to 10 words or fewer (including recipients’ names). Dedications may be “In Honor Of” or “In Memory Of.”
Dedications are $75 and $100 per entry and close on March 16, 2026. Dedication registration is online and payable by credit card.
As always, dedications are part of the Friends Art in Bloom fundraiser, which helps fund transportation for school-aged children to visit Mia and begin their own journey with art.
Party in Bloom: A Celebration of Flowers, Friendship, and Community
• Wednesday, April 22, 2026, starting at 5:30 p.m.
• Mia galleries
• Tickets required; tiered pricing
Party in Bloom returns in full flourish with an elevated experience and tier-level pricing. Spring is on the horizon, and with it comes one of the season’s most anticipated gatherings.
With three curated ticket tiers, there’s an experience designed for every guest—though you may want to indulge in the exclusive Friends Experience VIP enclave.
Friends Experience begins at 5:30 p.m. with complimentary valet service at the 24th Street entrance. After you ascend the iconic staircase, enjoy live jazz, a sumptuous buffet crafted by Bûcheron, a graciously hosted bar, and a lounge inside Gallery 200—an atmosphere designed for effortless glamour.
At 7 p.m., the celebration expands as additional ticket tiers are welcomed. Explore more music, dancing, curated delights, and, of course, flowers. Be among the first to see the floral installations adorning the galleries alongside the party. Purchase tickets.
Art in Bloom: Come Together and Create Workshops
• Friday, April 24–Sunday, April 26, 2026
• Tickets required; registration details coming soon
This year, Art in Bloom will present five different workshops to tickle your creative self. Sarah Arnold of Bloomcroft and a local flower farmer, botanical artist, and designer is back to lead these imaginative, 90-minute classes.
Workshop times:
• Friday, April 24, 2026: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Saturday, April 25, 2026: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Sunday, April 26, 2026: 2 p.m.
Workshops include:
• The Art of the Hand-Tied Bouquet
• Ikebana: Finding Balance
• Sustainable Floral Design
• Everlasting Botanicals Under Glass
• Framed Everlasting Floral
Tell your garden club, book club, friends, and family, and keep an eye out for registration details.
Calling All Art in Bloom Volunteers
It’s that time of year again! We’re dreaming of color and flowers and can’t wait to bring our community to the museum for our grand celebration of spring. This is a huge undertaking, and we can only do it with your help.
Love Art in Bloom? Enjoy working with people and being at the center of the excitement? Great! We have a place for you on our volunteer team!
Art in Bloom 2026 will be held April 23–26. While it’s too early to sign up for specific roles and times, we’re currently gathering names and contact information of all those interested in helping. We’ll reach out in late March with specific opportunities for you to choose from.
Don’t delay! Let us know your interest. And thank you!
Once Upon a Bloom
• Art in Bloom for Families
• Sunday, April 26, 2026, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Target Reception Hall
Join us on Sunday, April 26, with all the young people in your life for Art in Bloom family activities. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy creative artmaking and flower activities so children can bring some floral beauty home.
At 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., teaching artists from the Children’s Theatre Company will engage the group with movement and storytelling featuring a Japanese folk tale, Three Strong Women. The story follows a sumo wrestler learning how to be strong in mind, body, and heart through a family of strong women before a major competition.
Volunteers Needed!
We need many volunteers to make this fun event happen! Please consider volunteering to help us! Watch for the Art in Bloom volunteer sign up to go live. In the meantime, you can register your interest.
Friends Member Outings
Join your Friends to explore the treasures of the Twin Cities. Remaining outings include artworks from the Weisman Museum (March), behind-the-scenes at the Como Conservatory (April), a visit to the private art collection at Thrivent (May), and Franconia Sculpture Park (June).
View the full schedule available. Guest spots are limited—RSVP today to Lezlie Pinske.