Past Friends Newsletters

November 2025

What an interesting time of year it is! We’ve quickly moved into the season of all things spooky and sweet. Tricks and treats, pumpkins and parties—it’s a festival of fun.

But it’s also a time of remembrance and reflection. For many, we honor lost loved ones with Dia de los Muertos and those who served our country with Veterans Day.

No matter how you mark the days, the one thing they all have in common is gratitude. We’re grateful for our family and friends who make the good times better and the bad times bearable. We’re grateful for all those with us and those who have passed on. We’re grateful to be here, now, and together. This is the time of year, most of all, for gratitude.

The Friends are deeply grateful for you. You make us what we are, a member organization working on belonging, learning, and giving together.

Please join us as we learn together with Kao Kalia Yang, our November lecturer. Yang is the author of Where Rivers Part: A Story of My Mother’s Life, which is also Mia’s book of the month and our Book Club selection. Make sure to sign up for both events!

We’ve also planned a trip to the Museum of Russian Art with fellow Friends. RSVP soon, as spots are limited.

And finally, we offer a way to celebrate Friends past and present with a party on November 20 called A Legacy of Angels. It’s your chance to own some of the gorgeous needlepoint angels that used to hang on the Friends Christmas tree at Mia. You won’t want to miss this fun, festive event. Tickets are available now.

Thank you, friends, for being here. I’m so happy to be here with you.

In gratitude,

Liz Short
President, Friends of the Institute

Important November Dates:

• November 5, 2025: Friends Member Outing: The Museum of Russian Art
• November 9, 2025: Mia Family Day Volunteer Opportunity
• November 16, 2025: Friends Lecture: Kao Kalia Yang, Where Rivers Part
• November 20, 2025: Coffee & Scones
• November 20, 2025: Friends Fundraiser: A Legacy of Angels
• November 21 and 22, 2025: Friends Book Club: Where Rivers Part: A Story of My Mother’s Life

November Friends Lecture: Kao Kalia Yang, Where Rivers Part

• Sunday, November 16, 2025, 2 p.m.
• Pillsbury Auditorium
• Free; registration required

Kao Kalia Yang is a Hmong American teacher, speaker, and writer. Her work crosses audiences and genres. She’s the award-winning author of the memoirs The Latehomecomer, The Song Poet, Somewhere in the Unknown World, and Where Rivers Part. Yang co-edited the groundbreaking book, What God Is Honored Here? Writings on Miscarriage and Infant Loss By and For Native Women and Women of Color. She is a librettist for The Song Poet Opera (commissioned by Minnesota Opera).

Yang’s children’s books, A Map into the World, The Most Beautiful Thing, The Shared Room, Yang Warriors, From the Tops of the Trees, The Rock in My Throat, and Caged center Hmong children and families who live in our world, who dream, hurt, and hope in it. Her middle-grade debut fiction, The Diamond Explorer, contends with the narratives we are given and the ones we give.

Yang’s work has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Chautauqua Prize, the PEN USA literary awards, the Dayton’s Literary Peace Prize, as the American Library Association’s Notable Books, Kirkus Best Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year, the Heartland Bookseller’s Award, the Carter G. Woodson Award, and garnered seven Minnesota Book Awards. She’s the Star Tribune’s 2024 Artist of the Year. Yang holds an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Carleton College. She’s a McKnight, Soros, and Guggenheim fellow.

She brings her experience as a Hmong immigrant to the United States, as a mother, and as a Minnesotan to the Friends lecture on November 16. Her current book, Where Rivers Part, is Mia’s November Book of the Month for tours.

Reserve your tickets for this free lecture.

Volunteer Opportunity: Lecture Ushers Needed

This is already our third lecture of the season, and we can’t wait to see you there. The lecture kicks off on Sunday, November 16, at 2 p.m.

We’re always looking for friendly faces to help usher all of these events. It’s a great way to meet fellow Friends and be part of the action. If you’d like to volunteer, email us.

Volunteer Opportunity: Mia Family Day

• Sunday, November 9, 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 Family Day.

November Friends Book Club: Where Rivers Part: A Story of My Mother’s Life by Kao Kalia Yang

• Friday, November 21, and Saturday, November 22, 2025, 10 a.m.
• Museum Tour, 11 a.m.
• Friends Office
• Free; registration required

Join us in November as we read local author Kao Kalia Yang’s novel, Where Rivers Part: A Story of My Mother’s Life. Described by Goodreads as, “A mesmerizing and hauntingly beautiful memoir about a Hmong family’s epic journey to safety told from the perspective of the author’s incredible mother who survived, and helped her family escape, against all odds.”

We welcome Kao Kalia Yang on Sunday, November 16, at 2 p.m. as our guest speaker for our Friends Lecture Series. Reserve your ticket to join us in hosting a memorable afternoon with Yang, who is the recipient of three Minnesota Book Awards for 2025.

Then on November 21 and 22, 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 artworks selected to complement the book’s themes.

Attendance is limited to 24 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 December, we’ll read Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, with discussions scheduled for December 19 and 20.

Friends Fundraiser: A Legacy of Angels

• Thursday, November 20, 2025, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
• Wells Fargo Room, Mia
• Tickets: $75 per person ($50 tax-deductible)

How do you celebrate a milestone? If you’re the Friends, you do it in an extraordinary and lasting way, like giving Mia a Delacroix painting in 2022 for our 100th anniversary. For our 75th in 1997, Friends were creative and highly personal. Our gift was 75 exquisite angel ornaments needlepointed by our members for the historic Friends Christmas Tree located for years at the same entrance.

Then-president Barbara Goldner recently helped locate this Friends Newsletter article from November 1997:

“The angels, designed exclusively for us by Joan Thomasson, were lovingly finished by Friends member Sarah Cox, courtesy of Needlework Unlimited, which generously supplied the canvases at cost and discounted the finishing work. Thank you to everyone involved in this celestially spirited project!”

No longer on display at Mia—and too beautiful to remain in storage—these angels will be available for purchase at A Legacy of Angels celebration event on November 20. Angel gowns come in six different colors, and the angels play six different instruments, all with the maker’s initials on the back. Check the list for familiar names like Patty McCullough, Sheila Morgan, Margene Fox, Linda Goldenberg, and Barbara Goldner!

Tom Rassier, John E. Andrus III Curator of Prints and Drawings, will explore the many ways angels are depicted throughout Mia’s extensive art collection. A gifted curator and speaker, Tom Rassier will highlight specific pieces of art and the angels depicted therein.

Enjoy wine and appetizers in the company of fellow art enthusiasts. All are invited to attend, we encourage you to dress in festive attire. Purchase your tickets now.

Generously sponsored by Sheila Morgan and Mary Olson.

Meet New Friends: Coffee & Scones

• Thursday, November 20, 2025, 10 a.m.
• Friends Office

Curious about the Friends of the Institute? Join us on Thursday, November 20, 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.

Friends Member Outing: Treasure Hunting: Norway House

• Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 9 a.m.

In December, join us for a private, before-hours tour of Gingerbread Wonderland and the special collections at Norway House. Following the tour, guests are invited to enjoy an optional lunch in the Kaffebar.

Tickets are $15 per guest. Please RSVP to Lezlie Pinske and submit payment by November 14. Space is limited to 20 guests.

Get ready for an exciting year of exploration and enrichment as part of our Friends Member Treasure Hunting series—a program designed to delight and inspire with outings celebrating art, architecture, and history throughout our community. To RSVP or learn more, contact Lezlie Pinske.

Get ready for an exciting year of exploration and enrichment as we unveil our Friends Member Treasure Hunting series. We’re thrilled to offer a range of outings designed to delight and inspire throughout the year.

Sign up for one—or all! Just be sure to RSVP before the deadlines and before spots fill up. Email Lezlie Pinske to RSVP for Friends Member Outings.

We look forward to having you join us to explore the treasures of art, architecture, and history around our community.

Recap: Gatsby at 100 Fundraiser: Fringe and Feathers and Pearls—Oh My!

Friends and friends were all-in to celebrate the 100th anniversary of F. Scott Firtzgerald’s The Great Gatsby at our September 24 event! Enthusiastic guests, many in flapper garb, enjoyed the warm hospitality of Wayne Groff and Jim Dryden’s amazing midcentury modern home and beautiful landscaping (complete with ponds, roof deck and abundant apple tree).

Friends member Josie Owens brought historic Fitzgerald memorabilia from her father’s collection and Lori Williamson, exhibition co-creator with Galina Olmsted, gave a spirited presentation on “Gatsby at 100,” currently on view at Mia. Guests sipped welcome mocktails and wine, enjoyed appetizers, and as always, thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company. Special thanks go to sponsors Marietta and Jot Turner and Holly and Carl Jones.

A Note from the Friends Historian, Sue Stillman

The History Committee is busy preserving both new and old Friends events in our beautifully organized archives, located in the Friends Office. Everything is now neatly bound in notebooks by year and committee—a true record of our shared history.

If you are a Friend with saved materials, please place them in the Friends Office mailbox under “History” (located in the printer room). We welcome programs, invitations, notes, and especially photographs from the events you attend. Please be sure to include dates, places, and any additional information so we can archive them correctly.

We’re continuing to make history with your wonderful memories, and we’d love your help capturing them! Thank you for your contributions and enthusiasm as we keep the Friends story alive.

Warmly,
Sue Stillman
Chair, History Committee

Save the Date: Friends Holiday Luncheon

• Thursday, December 11, 2025

The holiday season will be here before we know it! Mark your calendar for the Friends Holiday Luncheon on Thursday, December 11, following the Friends lecture featuring Olivia Lonetti, jewelry specialist at Revere Auctions.

Registration is open from November 15 through midnight on November 30. The luncheon is in Target Reception Hall, and the cost is $45 per person. We hope you’ll join the festivities with the Friends at this special luncheon.

Time to Renew Your Friends Membership for 2026!

We’d love to have you with us for another wonderful year! Renew your membership to keep enjoying all your favorite Friends benefits—free lectures and hospitality, member-only events, book club, art and architecture tours, volunteer opportunities, and so much more. Join at any level, have fun, and make new friends along the way by renewing your Friends membership for 2026!

Please note: If you join now, you’ll enjoy membership benefits through December 31, 2026. If you joined Friends after October 1, 2025, your membership is already active through 2026—no need to renew!

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October 2025

Dear Friends,

The air outside is so fresh now, with the snap of chill and the faint tang of leaves beginning their decomposition. I love autumn. There’s a relief to summer’s end, in addition to the sadness. The days are shorter, it’s true, but the colors are vibrant, the apple cider ever so tasty, and one’s coziest sweaters a joy to wear.

This season is perfect for gathering with friends—and Friends—and we have many opportunities for you to do so! First up, you won’t want to miss our Friends outing to the Purcell Cutts House on October 11. Places are limited, so sign up quickly.

Our lecturer this month is Jane Kallir, a renowned scholar of German and Austrian Expressionism and an expert on Egon Schiele. Come hear her fascinating lecture and then join us for our annual Fall Luncheon. Tickets for the luncheon must be purchased by September 30, so don’t delay!

After lunch, be sure to take in Mia’s exhibition “Timber! Art and Woodwork at the Fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.” It’s small but mighty, with a rarely seen Egon Schiele work as its centerpiece.

Of course, our popular book club meets again this month. Reserve your spot for October 17 or 18 to discuss Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. Afterward, you can participate in a guide-led tour inspired by the book.

The Friends organization is here for you. We are your people within Mia, a gathering spot, a place to make friends. Come join us as we build community over our love of art, learning, and people.

I hope to see you soon!

Liz Short
President, Friends of the Institute

Important September Dates:

• October 12, 2025: Mia Family Day Volunteer Opportunity
• October 16, 2025: Coffee & Scones
• October 16, 2025: Friends Lecture: Jane Kallir, “Egon Schiele: Life and Art”
• October 16, 2025: Fall Luncheon
• October 17 and 18, 2025: Friends Book Club: Hello Beautiful 

October Friends Lecture: Jane Kallir, “Egon Schiele: Life and Art”

• Thursday, October 16, 2025, 11 a.m.
• Pillsbury Auditorium
• Free; registration required

Please join us Thursday, October 16 at 11 a.m. for a fascinating lecture by Jane Kallir, world-renowned scholar of Egon Schiele. Kallir will delve deeply into Schiele’s life and art, with a special emphasis on works in Mia’s collection. 

In 1990, Kallir issued the first catalogue raisonné of Egon Schiele’s work in all media. In 1997, she gave her grandfather’s files on a stolen Schiele painting, Portrait of Wally, then on view at the Museum of Modern Art, to the New York Times. The resulting outcry prompted Austria to revise its restitution laws in 1998. 

Kallir has remained a staunch advocate of responsible provenance research and has curated or co-curated exhibitions for dozens of museums worldwide. We are honored to have her as our October speaker.

Reserve your free lecture tickets now.

Friends Fall Luncheon

• Thursday, October 16, 2025, noon
• Target Reception Hall
• Ticket price: $45 per person

The Friends invite you to our annual Fall Luncheon, held after the October lecture with Jane Kallir.

The menu features stuffed acorn squash drizzled with balsamic reduction and topped with fresh parmesan, accompanied by a mixed green salad with pomegranate seeds, candied walnuts, and a maple Dijon vinaigrette. To complete the meal, we’ll enjoy assorted breads as well as a seasonal fruit tartlet with vanilla cream.

Don’t miss this chance to reconnect with old friends and learn more about Friends events and activities this season. Purchase your tickets by September 30.

Volunteer Opportunity: Lecture Ushers Needed

This is our second lecture of the season, and we can’t wait to see you there. The lecture kicks off on Thursday, October 16, at 11 a.m., followed by our famous luncheon.

We’re always looking for friendly faces to help usher all of these events. It’s a great way to meet fellow Friends and be part of the action. If you’d like to volunteer, email us.

October Friends Book Club: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

• Friday, October 17, and Saturday, October 18, 2025, 10 a.m.
• Museum Tour, 11 a.m.
• Friends Office
• Free; registration required

Join us in October as we read Ann Napolitano’s novel, Hello Beautiful. The New York Times Book Review states, “Radiant and brilliantly crafted…Napolitano’s [work] resists the easy satisfactions of the sentimental and never settles for simple answers to emotional predicaments faced by her characters.”

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 12 participants. If you’ve been curious about our book club, join us. All are welcome! Reserve your spot by calling the Friends Office at 612-870-3045 or emailing us.  

Looking ahead to November, we’ll read Where Rivers Part: A Story of My Mother’s Life by Kao Kalia Yang, with discussions scheduled for November 21 and 22.

Volunteer Opportunity: Mia Family Day

• Sunday, October 12, 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 Family Day.

Friends Fundraiser: Meet 75 Friendly Angels

• Save the date: Thursday, November 20, 2025

In 1997, the Friends got creative for our 75th anniversary when members needlepointed 75 beautiful angel ornaments that decorated Mia’s Christmas tree for decades. On November 20, join us for a festive evening to revisit that special era, the angel project, and the women who created these works of art.

The angels are too precious to remain tucked away in tissue, and at this fundraiser you’ll have the chance to acquire one to treasure or to gift. There’s even more planned for the evening, including wine and appetizers.

Friends Member Outings 2025–2026: Treasure Hunting

Get ready for an exciting year of exploration and enrichment as we unveil our Friends Member Treasure Hunting series. We’re thrilled to offer a range of outings designed to delight and inspire throughout the year.

Sign up for one—or all! Just be sure to RSVP before the deadlines and before spots fill up. Email Lezlie Pinske to RSVP for Friends Member Outings.

We look forward to having you join us to explore the treasures of art, architecture, and history around our community.

Meet New Friends: Coffee & Scones

• Thursday, October 16, 2025, 9:30 a.m.
• Friends Office

Curious about the Friends of the Institute? Join us on Thursday, October 16, at 9:30 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.

Look Ahead: November Friends Lecture: Kao Kalia Young, Author of Where Rivers Part

• Sunday, November 16, 2025, 2 p.m.
• Free; registration required

Kao Kalia Yang is a Hmong American teacher, speaker, and writer. Her work crosses audiences and genres. She is the award-winning author of the memoirs The Latehomecomer, The Song Poet, Somewhere in the Unknown World, and Where Rivers Part.

She was the Minnesota Star Tribune’s 2024 Artist of the Year, and she won three Minnesota Book Awards in 2025 for her work. Her book, Where Rivers Part, is Mia’s featured book for November. As a Friends member, you can get your lecture tickets on October 15, with tickets open to the general public on October 17.

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September 2025

Dear Friends,

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!