Past Friends Newsletters

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

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.

Get updates and learn more.

Art in Bloom Floral Pedestal Dedications

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.

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February 2026

I’ve always been fascinated by the Zodiac. As a kid I loved comparing myself to the list of traits I was supposed to embody as determined by my birth sign. I’d rejoice over words like “creative” and “compassionate” and balk at others like “dreamy” and “emotional.” But how in the world did this enemy of the life aquatic end up being represented by a couple of fish? Wanting a do-over, I was delighted to discover the Chinese Zodiac, only to realize my animal was a snake. And while I am delighted to claim “wisdom,” “elegance,” and “determination,” the visuals just don’t speak to me.

How lucky, then, that an upcoming exhibition is all about the horse! In “Year of the Horse: Hoofbeats through Time,” you’ll see the power and beauty of this noble animal while learning about its symbolism in Chinese culture. Opening February 17, the show explores the horse as both real creature and cultural emblem. Come see these treasures! Then visit gallery 214 to see the charming fellow above, small enough to hold in your hand, but with personality to spare.

In the meantime, please join us for our next Friends Lecture. It is unusually early this month, Thursday night, February 5, at 6 p.m. Award-winning poet Michael Kleber-Diggs will be in conversation with Milkweed publisher Daniel Slager on “The Art of Poetry, the Voices to Hear.” A reception and book signing follow. The next day we have a Friends member outing to The M (Minnesota Museum of American Art) for a private tour. Book club this month discusses James by Percival Everett. As always, the discussion is followed by a book-themed tour.

Finally, please renew your Friends membership! We hope many of you have already renewed for 2026, but if not, please renew. There are so many wonderful events coming up, and we’d love to see you there.

In gratitude,

Liz Short
President, Friends of the Institute

Important February Dates

• February 5, 2026: Friends Lecture: “The Art of Poetry, the Voices to Hear” with Michael Kleber-Diggs and Daniel Slager
• February 8, 2026: Mia Family Day Volunteer Opportunity
• February 19, 2026: Coffee & Scones
• February 20 and 21, 2026: Friends Book Club: James

February Friends Lecture: “The Art of Poetry, the Voices to Hear”

• Michael Kleber-Diggs, award-winning poet, in conversation with Daniel Slager, Milkweed Editions publisher and CEO
• Thursday, February 5, 2026, 6 p.m., followed by a book signing
• Target Reception Hall
• Free; registration required

Please join us for an evening of thoughtful conversation about the place for marginalized voices in today’s publishing landscape. We look forward to welcoming these literary leaders as they share their expertise with you at our upcoming Friends lecture, held in Mia’s Target Reception Hall, with a book signing to follow.

Get free tickets for this lecture.

About the Panelists

Michael Kleber-Diggs is a celebrated poet, essayist, literary critic, and arts educator. He is the author of Worldly Things, which won the Max Ritvo Poetry Prize and was published by Milkweed Editions in 2021. His essay, “There Was a Tremendous Softness,” appears in A Darker Wilderness: Black Nature Writing from Soil to Stars, edited by Erin Sharkey (Milkweed Editions, 2023).

Daniel Slager is publisher and CEO of Milkweed Editions, an independent, nonprofit publisher of literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. He’s led the press to great success over the past 20 years. Prior to joining Milkweed as editor-in-chief in 2005, he was an editor at Harcourt Trade Publishers in New York. Before joining Harcourt, he was the associate editor of Grand Street, a leading quarterly magazine of literature and fine arts.

Friends Pre-Lecture Tour

• Thursday, February 5, 2026, 5 p.m.

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: Lecture Ushers Needed

This is already our second lecture of 2026 and takes place on Thursday, February 5, at 6 p.m. The speaker is poet, essayist, and critic Michael Kleber-Diggs.

We’re always looking for volunteers to usher these events. It’s a great way to meet new Friends and be a part of our community. If you’d like to volunteer, email us.

Volunteer Opportunity: Mia Family Day

• Sunday, February 8, 2026

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 Family Day.

February Friends Book Club

• James by Percival Everett
• Friday, February 20, and Saturday, February 21, 2026, 10 a.m.
• Museum Tour, 11 a.m.
• Friends Office
• Free; registration required

Join us in February as we read James by Percival Everett. Goodreads calls the book “a brilliant reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—both harrowing and satirical—told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view.”

“When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.”

James was a Goodreads 2024 Choice Award Nominee for Readers’ Favorite Historical Fiction novel and 2024 Nominee for Readers’ Favorite Audiobook.

We’ll discuss the novel over coffee at 10 a.m. and head to the galleries at 11 a.m. for a guided tour of the 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. Reserve your spot by emailing the Friends Office or calling 612-870-3045.

Looking ahead to March, we’ll read The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik, with discussions scheduled for March 20 and 21.

Join the Friends Book Club

Our December book club selection was the historical novel Wolf Hall, based on political, religious, and marital events of the Tudor Monarchy in 16th-century England. For one of our discussions, we surrounded ourselves with symbols of the British Isles and the world of the Tudors.

Because the complicated story is driven by conflicts and alliances of the main characters, it was helpful to display reference portraits of the main characters: King Henry VIII, Queen Catherine of Aragon, future queen Anne Boleyn, advisor Thomas Cromwell, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, and Sir Thomas More.

Peckish (British slang for “hungry”) attendees enjoyed a few treats from contemporary Great Britain—Hobnob cookies, Scottish thistle shortbread, After 8 dinner mints, and Cadbury chocolates—presented on an iconic tartan plaid tablecloth.

The Friends Book Club cannot wait to share thoughtful discussion with you in 2026. Friends member Sue Droegemueller, and our group leader for December’s discussion, knocked it out of the park with her discussion of Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel with English treats for all, photos of the characters in our book, and even an English inspired tablecloth to round out the inspiring presentation. Such thoughtful presentations await you at our book club table all year long! Please consider joining us for future discussions. Reach out to the Friends with any questions. See future book selections and dates.

Save the Date: The Friends Great Gatherings Series

• Thursday, March 5, 2026, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

In early March, will you be yearning for spring, maybe thinking of some outdoor color and flowers? Then join us for a floral feast for the senses!

• • Learn about the seduction and symbolism of flowers presented by special guest and former news anchor Diana Pierce.
• • Mingle and chat with friends as we emerge from a Minnesota winter.
• • Enjoy a curated floral cocktail, along with wine and appetizers.

This event is open to all and requires a paid ticket. Proceeds help support the work of the Friends. Watch your email for more blooming details!

February Friends Member Outing: The M (Minnesota Museum of American Art)

• Sunday, February 8, 2026, 2–3 p.m.
• No cost
• RSVP by January 30, 2026, to Lezlie Pinske

Enjoy a private tour of the M’s permanent collection featuring the inclusive community arts and culture in the Twin Cities. Open to 25 guests.

Preview future Friends Member outings.

Meet New Friends: Coffee & Scones

• Thursday, February 19, 2026, 10 a.m.
• Friends Office

Curious about the Friends of the Institute? Join us on Thursday, February 19, at 10 a.m. in the Friends Office for coffee, scones, and conversation. Learn about our 2026 events, explore volunteer opportunities, and connect with fellow Friends. RSVP today.

Mary Olson and Polly Bullock: 50 Years of Friendship through Friends

Mary Olson and Polly Bullock have been friends for 50 years. They both had an interest in the arts and found that the Friends gave them a way to volunteer and become directly involved at Mia.

In the late 1970s, Mary and Polly accepted Friends board positions. Polly began with co-chairing the newsletter, and Mary chaired Arrangements. The Friends monthly newsletter continues to keep members informed of Friends and museum activities of interest to its members.

As chair of Arrangements, Mary planned a luncheon following each of the monthly lectures. She worked with Erwin Dick of Town and Country Caterers of Wayzata to plan the menu. Dick founded his catering business in 1952, and among his guests he counted royalty, U.S. presidents, movie stars, business leaders, and last but not least, the Friends.

After monthly Friends board meetings, many continued their conversations over lunch at Mia’s restaurant on the mezzanine. Mary and Polly built their lasting friendship with time spent with Friends and museum activities. And today they continue to attend Friends lectures each month.

Mary and Polly credit the Friends for taking them on a journey of lifelong learning in the arts and for being the glue that’s held them together over the years.

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January 2026

Happy New Year! What a joy it has been to spend time with you this year and to be greeting 2026 together. I think Helen Frankenthaler found the same joy in greeting the new. Here she is, above, celebrating in Grey Fireworks, which seems relevant to the season.

We are caught in a time of endings and beginnings. A time of turnover, with both anticipation and a little anxiety. A time when the snow and the sky in Minnesota create days of grey, and in which we humans, with our bustle and busyness, our hopes and dreams, provide the color. Let’s try to add a little more color to the world this year, shall we? Being a Friend, sharing smiles, laughter and community, helps make that wish a reality.

As always, we have a number of ways to spend time together this coming month. Our Friends Member Outings visit the Minnesota State Capitol building on January 7. On Sunday, January 11, we have a lecture by Alison Saar, an important contemporary artist whose work is in Mia’s collection. Meet other Friends members at our monthly Coffee and Scones, January 15. You’ll learn about Friends and how you can get involved. Of course, our Friends Book Club is near and dear to many. We’ll discuss The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder on January 16 and 17.

Finally, be sure to read all about the upcoming Friends Art and Architecture trip to Santa Fe! The deadline to register is December 30, so don’t put this off if you’re interested. We expect this to be very popular and have decided to use a lottery system to determine participants. Read all about it below and register soon!

Remember, too, to renew your Friends membership! We hope many of you have already renewed for 2026, but if not, please renew. We have so many wonderful events coming up, and don’t want you to miss out.

Thank you for being a Friend,

Liz Short
President, Friends of the Institute

Important January Dates

• January 7, 2026: Friends Member Outing to the Minnesota State Capitol Building
• January 11, 2026: Friends Lecture: Alison Saar
• January 11, 2026: Mia Family Day Volunteer Opportunity
• January 15, 2026: Coffee & Scones
• January 16 and 17, 2026: Friends Book Club: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder

January Friends Lecture: Alison Saar

• Sunday, January 11, 2026, 2 p.m.
• Target Reception Hall
• Free; registration required

Alison Saar will give a lecture about her artistic practice, which spans sculpture, painting, and printmaking. She’s renowned for her powerful explorations of cultural identity, spirituality, and the African diaspora. Drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, including mythology, history, and personal experience, Saar’s work often incorporates found objects and traditional materials such as wood, metal, and glass.

Her evocative sculptures frequently address themes of resilience, transformation, and the complexities of race and gender. Saar discusses the importance of confronting sexism, racism, and bigotry, emphasizing that truly engaging with these complex issues requires striving to understand their essence. She explains that only by reaching this deeper understanding can we begin to dismantle the forces of racism and bigotry.

Saar’s art has been exhibited in major museums and galleries across the United States, and she’s recognized for her ability to intertwine narrative and symbolism in visually compelling forms that invite viewers to reflect on the human condition.

Get free tickets for this lecture.

Volunteer Opportunity: Lecture Ushers Needed

Happy New Year! Alison Saar is our first lecture for 2026, on Sunday January 11 at 2 p.m.

We’re always looking for volunteers to usher these events. It’s a great way to meet new Friends and be a part of our community. If you’d like to volunteer, email us.

Volunteer Opportunity: Mia Family Day

• Sunday, January 11, 2026

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 Family Day.

January Friends Book Club

• The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann
• Friday, January 16, and Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10 a.m.
• Museum Tour, 11 a.m.
• Friends Office
• Free; registration required

Join us in January as we read David Grann’s book The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder.

From Goodreads: “From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon, a page-turning story of shipwreck, survival, and savagery, culminating in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth. The powerful narrative reveals the deeper meaning of the events on the Wager, showing that it was not only the captain and crew who ended up on trial, but the very idea of empire.”

The Wager won the 2023 Goodreads Choice Award for Best History and Biography book.

We’ll discuss the novel over coffee at 10 a.m. and head to the galleries at 11 a.m. for a guided tour of the 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. Reserve your spot by emailing the Friends Office or calling 612-870-3045.

Looking ahead to February, we’ll read James by Percival Everett, with discussions scheduled for February 20 and 21.

Friends Buy-A-Bus Donation

One of the programs the Friends are best known for is our School Bus Grants Program. Over the last 30 years, the grants have brought more than 50,000 students from the Twin Cities and the surrounding region to the museum to experience the wonder of art.

Recently, the Friends have expanded our transportation funding to provide support for bringing community partners to Mia. While the bulk of our transportation funds remain with school programs, the outreach to other community partners allows the Friends to support Mia’s mission of making the museum accessible to all.

In this season of giving, would you consider helping to defray transportation costs for schools and other community partners? Your generosity will sustain this vital Friends initiative for years to come.

Donate

Announcing a New Friends Series!

Friends have been enjoying a series of special fundraising events for the past few years. They’ve been held in lovely homes from Victorian to Mid-century Modern, a wine shop, a historic basilica, and Mia’s Wells Fargo Room, each spotlighting a Mia curator or special speaker and featuring great appetizers, good wine, and sweet treats. Intimate in size, popular with guests, and affordable in price, these events deserve their own name—and now they have it!

The Friends Great Gatherings Series will be sponsored by long-time, faithful Friends member Mary Olson, from January 2026 through June 2027. We’re grateful to Mary for believing in the value of this special series and underwriting it to foster its success.

Mary Olson has a way of showing up and making a meaningful gift to ensure that something special happens. She was a generous donor to our Delacroix fund and sponsored the beautiful “Friends For 100 Years” history book, paid for an Art in Bloom mailing, and generously shares her well-thought-out ideas to help us keep learning and growing.

Many thanks to Mary Olson for being the inaugural sponsor of the Friends Great Gatherings Series. We hope to see you at our next event so you can thank her in person!

Meet New Friends: Coffee & Scones

• Thursday, January 15, 2026, 10 a.m.
• Friends Office

Curious about the Friends of the Institute? Join us on Thursday, January 15, at 10 a.m. in the Friends Office for coffee, scones, and conversation. Learn about our 2026 events, explore volunteer opportunities, and connect with fellow Friends. Please RSVP.

Recap: Celebrating “Angels,” Past and Present

By Robin Keyworth

Friends dressed in their holiday finest to celebrate angels in art and needlepoint at the November 20 Great Gathering “A Legacy of Angels.” The evening featured 75 stunning angel ornaments created by Friends members in 1997 to celebrate our 75th anniversary—and admired for years on our Christmas tree at Mia. Rescued from a storage bin, these unique pieces found new homes as guests scrambled to purchase every one of them, all to the magical sound of a harp!

President Liz Short introduced original artists Sheila Morgan, Patty McCullough, Linda Goldenberg, and Barbara Goldner, shown with their angels, and thanked the evening’s sponsors, Sheila Morgan and Mary Olson.

Learning is always part of our Great Gatherings, and it’s a special pleasure when Tom Rassieur is the teacher. Tom narrated a slideshow of angels in Mia’s collection with his usual grace and humor.

As always, the evening included appetizers, wine, sparkling water, and angel sugar cookies as a special touch. Congratulations to Beverly Hauschild-Baron and the Fundraising Events Committee for following up “Gatsby & Friends” with another festive evening!

Save the Date: Friends Spring Trip to Santa Fe

The Friends at “The City Different”: Santa Fe

Our stay: The historic La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel

• Monday, April 6–Saturday, April 11, 2026

Our visit: Museum tours, Canyon Road gallery tour with Robyne Robinson, and artist studio visit with Cara Romero, as well as a historic walking tour of the city. Full schedule details upon arrival.

Our food: We’ll enjoy local, much-loved owner-created restaurants: the El Flamenco Spanish Cabaret and the internationally renowned four-star establishment Geronimo’s.

The cost: $2,200 (does not include airfare). Includes:

• Five hotel nights, double occupancy. A limited number of single-occupancy rooms are available for an up-charge.
• All museum tour fees.
• Four lunches and four dinners, with all tips and taxes. There will be one day where you’ll be “on your own” (except for hotel breakfast).
• Airport bus shuttle from ABQ Sunport – La Fonda, Santa Fe.

Airfare: You’re responsible for making and paying for your own flight arrangements. No flights are included in the trip. We can make suggestions for airlines so you may book accordingly to arrive at a specific time at the Albuquerque Sunport (airport) for our scheduled shuttle. Shuttle details to come.

Registration & Payments Due

• Friday, January 9, 5 p.m.: First payment of $1,100 due
• Friday, January 21, 5 p.m.: Second payment of $1,100 due

You may pay the full amount on January 9 if you wish.

We anticipate a lot of interest for this trip, so we’ll use a neutral, lottery system from the sign-up for determining the travelers. We have a limit of 25 travelers.

Enter the lottery by filling out the sign-up sheet, emailing us, or calling 612-870-3045 by December 30.

January Friends Member Outing: Minnesota State Capitol Building

• Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 10–10:45 a.m.

Enjoy a private tour featuring the architecture, art, and history of our state capitol. Available to 20 guests. No cost. Please RSVP by December 19, 2025, to Lezlie Pinske.

Preview future Friends Member Outings.

Save the Date: February Lecture

• Thursday, February 5, 2026, 6–7 p.m.
• Book signing to follow, 7–7:30 p.m.

The Friends lecture committee presents “The Art of Poetry, the Voices to Hear” with Michael Kleber-Diggs, award-winning poet, and Daniel Slager, publisher at Milkweed Editions.