north dakota museum of art

Art from the plains, New York and China highlight the University of North Dakota Museum of Art in Grand Forks.The museum, housed in a former women’s gymnasium, was built in 1907. The building was converted to the museum in 1985.The museum is currently home to a visiting exhibition featuring 101 blue and white painted porcelain vases from China. The vases were part of “The Vase Project: Made in China – Landscape in Blue.”The exhibit was a collaboration between Professor Barbara Diduk and Chinese artists. She asked the first artist to paint a vase featuring the city’s landscape, including its kiln stacks.Once the first vase was painted, she showed it to the next artist and asked them to paint their interpretation. She did this with each subsequent artist until she had the 101 vases as part of a “chain letter.”The vases’ containers even appear as art in the exhibit. The red boxes used to ship the vases created a tower near the center of the exhibit.An ongoing exhibition includes the apartment contents and artwork of Barton Lidice Benes. The New York-based artist was commissioned to create a large art piece about the 1997 flood, featuring remnants from area residents. That piece is supposed to be displayed in the museum soon.Benes allegedly developed a fondness for UND and decided to bequeath part of his collection to the school. That gift included the contents of his New York apartment.His desk had an interesting piece – a blood-stained wooden knife.Some of his art pieces left us wondering about his personality. It seemed he used bits and pieces of items he obtained from celebrities and other famous people he knew for his art. He created shadow boxes and displayed small artwork. Among the “art” included were Larry Hagman’s gallstones. Hagman was the leading actor in the TV series “I Dream of Jeannie” and “Dallas.” He used water from actor Dick Van Dyke’s swimming pool to paint in water color. Among other famous people he had pieces of “art” from included artist Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol.Benes took a hate letter from someone he had apparently wronged and made into a large column, topped with dollar bills.He had some beautiful pieces of display – African art, among the pieces.The museum has a gallery featuring the work of regional artists. One of the pieces I really liked highlighted human shapes with relationships above them, such as “Daughter,” “Father,” and “Father becomes Son,” etc.Another piece reminded me of huts.The museum has an outdoor sculpture garden, featuring a Native American piece called “Raindrops.” The 1999 sculpture features a young Native American girl and a pet lamb.In addition to the university’s art museum on campus, the school has more of its permanent collection on display at the Empire Art Center in downtown Grand Forks.I recommend visiting the campus museum. I wish we would have had more time in the area to check out the Empire center’s collection.

the Museum has many exhibits and live concerts in the summer outdoors. They have had Buddhist Monks doing fantastic sand art which was really the kind of thing I like. The Cafe in the basement has really exceptional food on their menus.

This is a cared-for museum which always seems to have something interesting on display. Exhibits are well presented, usually have local connections and span conservative to more challenging styles of art.There's a small shop with very well-designed items that you won't find elsewhere in the city. The cafe is small but pleasant.There's no entrance fee but you are offered the chance to contribute. Bring a few coins so you can pay for your meter parking, though!

A bit difficult to locate in the middle of the UND campus, but nevertheless a fine venue for the state's artists. Spacious rooms with skylights and a meticulously decorated loft duplicating artist Barton Ludice Benice's New York apartment deserve a visit. The latter is a permanent exhibit and will undoubtedly inspire any one considering creating their own man cave. Hint: stuffed exotic animals and primitive sculptures are in abundance.

The ND Museum of Art, located on the campus of the University of North Dakota, is a real treasure for Grand Forks. Laurel Reuter is the curator and director of the museum and always has an interesting collection to view. The museum hosts monthly outdoor concerts during the summer. It is great fun to attend one of the openings or benefit functions at the museum. The small café serves unique and delicious food.

This a free attraction, though donations are welcome. I feel bad being critical about the museum, but I was expecting more. I walked in and looked around, and wondered where the rest of the museum was. You should know that I am not very artistic, and perhaps do not have a great eye, so maybe the stuff there was great, and I just did not recognize it! About half of the exhibit was pottery and half photography. No paintings. Shouldn't an art museum have paintings? The gift shop was cute, but tiny. My advice would be to visit here when you are in Grand Forks, but don't expect a large museum with many items displayed.

We always enjoy going to here to see what they have on display and to top it off they have a funky little place to eat downstairs. They always have great choices for lunch.

The NDMA is not just a great museum for its size, it is a great museum. There are not only first class exhibits (for example, Xu Bing, one of the best known and respected artists in China had an exhibit here and The Disappeared was another outstanding exhibit) but there are also outstanding musical performances of all types and activities for children. This museum is a must-visit if you find yourself in Grand Forks, North Dakota!

Its like a breath of fresh air for North Dakota...difficult to find artistic culture here in the state.And this would be one of them...small but effective with a great place to have lunch..

The leadership of the Museum provides cultural leadership for the entire state. The setting is just right for the exhibits, the exhibits themselves are absolutely first class. The Museum is a must-visit.

This free museum with it's changing exhibits, inviting coffee shop and gifts is a wonderful place to visit. Both young and old will enjoy all that the museum has to offer and it is in the middle of the beautiful UND campus.

Pretty little museum, with a very small and eccentric collection. It's only three rooms, but the pieces were nice enough. If you are an art lover and find yourself in Grand Forks, it's a pleasant enough 45 minute diversion. The little cafe was surprisingly good

The museum has some neat attractions, lots of interaction with the community, good programs for kids and families.

For a little art museum in North Dakota, this place has been able to mount some amazing exhibitions, including the photography of Alberto Korda and the "desaparecidos" of Argentina. It's a worthwhile visit.

Sometimes quite good others not so much. It must depend on who is in the kitchen. I've had great food and mediocre food. For what it is worth the tables are too small and bistro chairs uncomfortable.