Past Friends Newsletters

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.

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December 2025

The dark is here. It always comes as a jolt. Certainly, the days have been shrinking for months now, noticeable in half hour chunks. The first sunset at 8 p.m. seems so early, but a few weeks later I’m startled to see it at 7:30. Then comes the shock of setting the clocks back. And suddenly, the whole day looks different. The lovely golden glow of 4 p.m. on a Sunday looks so wrong when it abruptly occurs at 3 p.m. on a Monday. It’s amazing to me how finely attuned we are to the light, its gradations and subtleties.

Have you seen the light in the Velasco exhibition, shimmering on the rocks, glowing through the trees, dancing on water? It’s a treat to behold, a promise that the circle will turn and we’ll one day glory in the sun’s rays again. It’s beautiful. Come see.

And please come see Friends in the museum and out! We have a wonderful Friends Member Outing to Norway House and Kaffebar on December 3. See below for more details. Also not to be missed is our annual Holiday Luncheon. Tickets must be purchased by November 30, so do not hesitate! The menu sounds outstanding, and the company with Friends will be even better! This will follow our lecture by Olivia Lonetti on the history of American jewelry. You won’t want to miss this enlightening and entertaining day with Friends.

You can find all these events and more below. As you see, we have a new look this month. We hope you like it.

May this month treat you well, in its long nights and brief chilly days. See you at the museum!

Liz Short
President, Friends of the Institute

Important December Dates:

• December 11, 2025: Friends Lecture and Winter Luncheon
• December 11, 2025: Coffee & Scones
• December 14, 2025: Mia Family Day Volunteer Opportunity
• December 19 and 20, 2025: Friends Book Club: Wolf Hall

December Friends Lecture and Winter Luncheon

• Thursday, December 11, 2025, 11 a.m.; Winter Luncheon to follow
• Pillsbury Auditorium and Target Reception Hall
• Lecture: free; registration required
• Luncheon: $45 per person; registration required

Join us on Thursday, December 11, for our lecture, “Lustrous Legacy: The History of American Jewelry,” presented by Olivia Lonetti of Revere Auctions.

Lonetti will take us through more than 250 years of American jewelry design, tracing the artistry and innovation that shaped each era, from the allure of the Gold Rush and the organic elegance of Art Nouveau to the bold geometry of Art Deco.

She’ll explore how social change, cultural ideals, and technological advances influenced Americans’ tastes in adornment. You’ll learn to recognize hallmark motifs and craftsmanship across the centuries and discover the stories behind the designers, ateliers, and movements that helped turn jewelry into wearable art.

Following the lecture, please join us for our Friends Holiday Luncheon in the Target Reception Hall. This year’s menu features apricot, fig, and gorgonzola stuffed pork tenderloin with apple cider reduction, served with root vegetable mash, roasted carrots, and assorted breads. Dessert is a festive grasshopper pie, with coffee and tea provided. A vegetarian entrée of polenta cake with mushroom ragu and roasted carrots is also available.

Tickets are $45 per person, and registration is required by midnight on November 30. Register now so you won’t miss this special event.

Volunteer Opportunity: Lecture Ushers Needed

As we celebrate the end of another wonderful year, we’re also looking for volunteers to assist as lecture ushers on December 11.

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, December 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 Family Day.

December Friends Book Club: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

• Friday, December 19, and Saturday, December 20, 2025, 10 a.m.
• Museum Tour, 11 a.m.
• Friends Office
• Free; registration required

Join us in December as we read Wolf Hall (2009), the first book in Hilary Mantel’s trilogy series.

Goodreads describes the novel: “England in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the king dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of 20 years and marry Anne Boleyn. The pope and most of Europe opposes him. Into this impasse steps Thomas Cromwell: a wholly original man, a charmer and a bully, both idealist and opportunist, astute in reading people, and implacable in his ambition. But Henry is volatile: one day tender, one day murderous. Cromwell helps him break the opposition, but what will be the price of his triumph?”

We will 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 January, we’ll read The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann, with discussions scheduled for January 16 and 17.

Friends Member Outings: Join Us for Winter 2026 Treasure Hunting

It may be cold outside but inside the Treasure Hunt continues with winter outings to the Minnesota State Capitol, The M (Minnesota Museum of American Art), the Weisman Art Museum, and more! Each outing promises to offer a unique experience and an opportunity to connect with fellow members. We look forward to discovering the cultural treasures of the Twin Cities with you!

See the full schedule of outings. RSVP for all Friends Member Outings directly to Lezlie Pinske.

Meet New Friends: Coffee & Scones

• Thursday, December 11, 2025, 9:30 a.m.
• Friends Office

Curious about the Friends of the Institute? Join us on Thursday, December 11, at 9:30 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.

On the Road with Friends: Milwaukee

By Maryam Marne Zafar and Lyn Osgood

We came. We saw. We thoroughly enjoyed! The first Art & Architecture Friends trip created by Lisa Mayotte, Lyn Osgood, and Marne Zafar had Friends, both new and familiar, coming together to explore Milwaukee.

Discover Milwaukee. That’s what the Friends were determined to do. We found that this
is truly a city worth visiting. The arts are vibrant. The architecture is noteworthy. A walkable city, Milwaukee allows its visitors to tour neighborhoods where the past is clearly present with museums that enlighten with their impressive contemporary collections. So where did we start?

One would think we would fly to Milwaukee. But no, we made the decision to be carbon friendly and travel by train! This translates to being comfortable and relaxed with a lunch to enjoy and great conversation, all while watching the scenery as we sped through the countryside of Minnesota and Wisconsin via the Amtrak Borealis.

And where did we make our “home away from home”? The Pfister Hotel.

The Pfister

One of the U.S.’s top 10 historic hotels and more than 130 years old, The Pfister was ideal for those of us who want to surround ourselves with art. Its Romanesque Revival style, which blends Victorian-inspired and Art Nouveau elements, translates into luxurious, ornate details. It also houses the largest Victorian art collection anywhere.

What keeps this hotel thoroughly in the here-and-now? It celebrates contemporary art through its artist-in-residence yearly program for a local artist to connect with a guest community and with its hallways filled with art from throughout the country.

After a refreshing evening where all FRIENDS enjoyed a welcome dinner, the next morning saw us walking (yes, only a 7-minute walk) to our first stop.

Milwaukee Art Museum

As one of the Midwest’s premier art museums, MAM (as the Milwaukee Art Museum is affectionately called) does not disappoint! This museum is an architectural landmark, designed by three legendary architects: Eero Saarinen, David Kahler, and Santiago Calatrava. In 2001, the visionary Calatrava designed the cathedral-like Quadracci Pavilion, with vaulted 90-foot ceilings; the pedestrian suspension Reiman Bridge connecting the museum to the city; and the incredibly impressive Burke Brise Soleil—its “wings” that unfold and fold twice a day. Breathtaking!

As eye-opening as the wings were, the Friends were there to see “The Bradley Collection of Modern Art: A Bold Vision for Milwaukee.” Donated 50 years ago by Mrs. Harry Lynde “Peg” Bradley, her extraordinary collection comprises more than 400 20th-century masterpieces that have shaped the museum’s overall collection.

This exhibition showcased nearly 100 works by many of that century’s greats, including U.S. artists Georgia O’Keeffe, Mark Rothko, Helen Frankenthaler, Morris Louis, and Richard Diebenkorn and European artists such as Maurice de Vlaminck, Barbara Hepworth, Gabriele Munter, and Wassily Kandisky. Whew! We were spellbound by the art and also by the lecture tour given by Margaret Andera, senior curator of contemporary art. Our visit was made even more memorable by the attention to detail by Amy Kirschke, MAM’s Barbara Brown Lee Chief Learning & Engagement Officer.

After a short lunch at MAM, our bus picked us up and took us to our next stop: The Burnham Block Homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Burnham Block

As one who studied architecture at Cornell University, Frank Lloyd Wright is legendary for many reasons. What we and many others were not aware of was this beautiful street lined with homes he designed for the working-class and low-income families. These American System-Built homes were to be efficient, economical, and life-enhancing works of art. Wright asserted that his homes would save material waste and be erected for a fraction of the cost, since they used precut lumber and materials assembled at a factory.

He produced more than 900 working drawings. Truly small masterpieces, each home is about 800 square feet and seamlessly connects to nature. Back when they were built, this part of Milwaukee was the “seedier” edge of town, yet close to the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company’s interurban and city streetcar lines. Unfortunately, World War I halted the sale of these homes, preventing his vision of filling Milwaukee with low-cost, affordable housing from moving forward.

Bustling back onto our bus, we traveled to our next stop, which was a complete 180 in terms of art and architecture.

St. Joan of Arc Chapel

The St. Joan of Arc Chapel is the heart and spirit of Marquette University, symbolized in the life of St. Joan of Arc. This is an authentic, 15th-century medieval chapel and the only one on the American continent. The chapel is a place of community. A site of emotional candlelit vigils. A spot to gather for political protest.

This chapel draws people from all backgrounds, faiths, and cultures. It’s an active, spiritual center, a place of discovery of Christian faith, of longing and suffering. It tells the story of real people through the centuries, as represented by the graffiti carved by pilgrims and seen on the original chapel stone.

The chapel is open 24/7 for those who hear the call or want to connect in silent prayer. With its daily masses, it tests the capacity of its small structure. It shares its small footprint with the deeply affecting Grotto of The Blessed Virgin, designed to offer a sheltered place for the statue of the Virgin Mary and for contemplation.

Our day was capped by dinner at La Merenda, a small, local restaurant that featured tapas spanning the globe—from Indonesia to Spain to Columbia and more. By breaking bread and having lively conversation, by gathering and sharing our thoughts, the meal made our about-the-arts trip one that was all about friends.

We did a bit of sightseeing in Milwaukee on our final Friday morning. Some traveled via the Hop (the local, free trolley) to the historic Third Ward district, which is filled with warehouses now repurposed for small businesses, arts organizations and residents. This unique neighborhood was once the industrial hub and first stop for immigrants in the city. Others visited the seed collection at Saint Kate Arts Hotel, which features art of all materials from local, regional, national, and international artists. A few went back for another look at “The Bradley Collection” at MAM.

What else can one say? Our visit was filled with laughter and joy. Our visit had us exploring beyond our arts knowledge base. Our visit was all about Friends being friends!

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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!