Art Subcommittee

Communications

Communications includes items such as meeting agendas and summaries, presentations, budgets and correspondence.

Most documents have been converted to PDFs. The number of pages is noted for larger files. If you have difficulties with accessibility, please email us.

Art Subcommittee Meetings and Communications

Aug 15, 2016 - Preservation Commission Meeting

• Final Report of the Subcommittee on Capitol Art (PDF, 67 pages)

Member Statements

• Supreme Court Justice Paul H. Anderson retired (Inver Grove Heights)
• Peter Hilger AIA, Faculty Director, Construction and Facility Management Program , University of Minnesota (Minneapolis)
• Rep. Diane Loeffler (DFL-Minneapolis)
• Anton Treuer Executive Director, American Indian Resource Center, Bemidji State University
• Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City)
• Gwen Westerman PhD, Minnesota State University, Dakota educator (Mankato)

Jun 17, 2016 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Draft Agenda (PDF)
• Room data for possible art locations
• Floor maps of possible key areas for art
• Leftover recommendations from the June 3 meeting
• Refined recommendations from the June 3 meeting
• Additional space recommendations to consider
• Elevations Report

Jun 3, 2016 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Agenda (PDF)
• Capitol Arts Management in other States (PDF)
• Proposed Appendix for Final Report (PDF)
• Results of Member Survey on Possible Recommendations (PDF)
• Meeting Summary (PDF)

May 6, 2016 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Agenda (PDF)
• Photos of Basement, 3-D Architectural Model (PDF)
• Photos of Third Floor, East Wing, 3-D Architectural Model (PDF)
• Broad General Policies for New Art Discussion (PDF)
• Input from Capitol Art Work Group - Overview (PDF)
• Assessment of Current Visual Art in the Capitol (PDF)
• Capitol Art WorkGroup Draft Notes (PDF, 12 pages)
• Meeting Summary (PDF)

Apr 1, 2016 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Agenda (PDF)
• National Register of Historic Places (PDF, 10 pages) - Minnesota Historical Society 
• Building Consensus for Next Set of Recommendations (PDF)
• Meeting Summary (PDF)

Mar 4, 2016 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Agenda (PDF)
• Meeting Summary (PDF)

Feb 23, 2016 - Preservation Commission Meeting

• Preliminary Report of the Subcommittee on Capitol Art (PDF, 45 pages)

Feb 5, 2016 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• Proposed Meeting Schedule, Feb-Aug 2016 (PDF)
• Draft-Facilitator Findings Report Updated (PDF, 6 pages) 
• Preliminary Report of the Subcommittee on Capitol Art (PDF, 45 pages)
• Meeting Summary (PDF)

Jan 11, 2016 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• Meeting Summary (PDF)

Jan 4, 2016 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• Proposed Appendix for Preliminary Report (PDF)
• Facilitator Findings for Preliminary Report (PDF, 4 pages), Mariah Levison, Bureau of Mediation Services 
• 'Art in the Capitol' Online Survey - Questions 1 through 5 Results (PDF)
• Meeting Summary

Dec 7, 2015 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• Consensus Building Update (PDF 38 pages) Mariah Levison, Bureau of Mediation Services
• Policy for Works of Art in the Capitol (PDF, 10 pages), Capitol Area and Architectural Planning Board 
• Major General Rick Nash transcript on Military Art in the Capitol (PDF, 27 pages) 
• Meeting Summary (PDF, 6 pages)

Nov 2, 2015 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• Options for Governors' Portraits Pros/Cons (PDF, 13 pages) Peter Hilger
• Meeting Summary

Oct 12, 2015 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• Public Engagement Process Design (PDF) Mariah Levison, Bureau of Mediation Services
  
• Draft - 'Art in the Capitol' Online Survey (PDF) 
• Meeting Summary (PDF, 4 pages)

Sep 14, 2015 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• Artists' Search for Historical Accuracy (PDF) - Minnesota Historical Society
• Art Zone Study by Floor (PDF)
• Room Data for Possible Art Locations (PDF)
  
• Governors' Portraits in other State Capitols (PDF) 
  
• Meeting Summary (PDF, 4 pages)

Aug 24, 2015 - Art Subcommittee Report at Capitol Preservation Commission Meeting

• Art Subcommittee Report to Preservation Commission (PDF)

Aug 3, 2015 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• Potential Art Zones by Floor (PDF) Ted Lentz
• Presentation for Art Zone Planning and Discussion (PDF, 58 pages) Ted Lentz
• Meeting Summary (PDF, 6 pages)

Jul 6, 2015 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• Proposed Meeting Schedule July 2015 - January 2016 
• Meeting Summary (PDF, 5 pages)

Apr 6, 2015 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• Overview of Minnesota Demographic Changes (State Demographic Center) (PDF, 31 pages)
• Meeting Summary (PDF, 4 pages)

Mar 27, 2015 - Art Subcommittee Report at Capitol Preservation Commission Meeting

• Art Subcommittee Report to the Capitol Preservation Commission (PDF) 
• Capitol Artwork Presentation - Minnesota Historical Society (PDF, 31 pages) 

Mar 23, 2015 - Art Subcommittee Meeting

• Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• Overview of Fine Art in the Capitol (PDF, 58 pages) - Minnesota Historical Society

Artwork

There are 148 total pieces of artwork in the Capitol. 

(49 murals, 10 paintings, 38 governor's portraits, 6 "other" portraits, 13 statues, 17 busts, 15 plaques)

• Minnesota State Capitol: Overview of the Fine Art (PDF, 57 pages), Minnesota Historical Society
  
• Full inventory of art in the Minnesota State Capitol (PDF, 7 pages), Minnesota Historical Society
  

ART IN THE CAPITOL BY LOCATION

Below is a list of the major works of art in the Capitol.

Governor's Reception Room

Painting | "Father Hennepin at the Falls of St. Anthony" (1905), by Stephen A. Douglas Volk

Painting | "The Treaty of Traverse des Sioux" (1905), by David Francis Millet

Painting | "The Battle of Gettysburg" (1906), by Rufus F. Zogbaum

Painting | "The Battle of Nashville" (1906), by Howard Pyle

Painting | "The Second Minnesota Regiment at Missionary Ridge" (1906), by Stephen A. Douglas Volk

Painting | "The Third Minnesota Entering Little Rock" (1910), by Stanley M. Arthurs

Painting | "The Fourth Minnesota Entering Vicksburg" (1904), by David Francis Millet

Painting | "The Fifth Minnesota at Corinth" (1912), by Edwin H. Blashfield

East Grand Staircase

Mural | "Contemplative Spirit of the East" (1904), by Kenyon Cox

Mural | Lunettes (1904), six allegorical murals of Minnesota economic activities and industries by Authur Willett - Commerce, Winnowing, Stonecutting, Milling, Mining, Navigation

West Grand Staircase

Mural | "The Sacred Flame (Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow)" (1903), by Henry Oliver Walker

Mural | Lunettes (1904), six allegorical murals of Minnesota economic activities and industries by Authur Willett - The Logger, Horticulture, Huntress, Pioneer, Sowing, Dairy

Supreme Court Chamber

Mural | "Moral and Divine Law" (1903), by John La Farge

Mural | "Recording of the Precedents" (1904), by John La Farge

Mural | "The Adjustment of Conflicting Interests" (1905), by John La Farge

Mural | "The Relation of the Individual to the State" (1905), by John La Farge

Senate Chamber

Mural | "Discoverers and Civilizers Led to the Source of the Mississippi" (1905), by Edwin H. Blashfield

Mural | "Minnesota: Granary of the World" (1905), by Edwin H. Blashfield

Rotunda

Mural | "Civilization of the Northwest" (1904), southwest corner, by Edward Simmons

Mural | "Civilization of the Northwest" (1904), northwest corner, by Edward Simmons

Mural | "Civilization of the Northwest" (1904), northeast corner, by Edward Simmons

Mural | "Civilization of the Northwest" (1905), southeast corner, by Edward Simmons

Other Areas

Painting | "Attack on New Ulm" (1904), by Anton Gag, Room 118

Painting | "Eighth Minnesota at the Battle of Ta-Ha-Kouty (Killdeer Mountain)" (1910), by Carl L. Boeckmann, Room 317

Mural | "Flora of Minnesota" (1904), House Retiring Room

Mural | "Old Fort Charlotte on the Pigeon River" (1935), by an unknown SERA (State Emergency Relief Administration) artist, Governor's Dining Room

Mural | "Untitled (River Fishing Scene)" (1936), by Carl Olson, Justices' Dining Room

Mural | Lunettes (1904), 12 zodiacs signs, Rotunda dome

Public Input Meetings

In fall 2015, Minnesotans were invited to help shape policies regarding art in the newly renovated and preserved Minnesota Capitol. A series of public input meetings were held throughout the state, where citizens had the opportunity to share their opinions with policymakers on how Minnesota should be conveyed through art.

The scheduled included Rochester, North Minneapolis, Willmar, Mankato, South Minneapolis, Duluth, Bemidji, St. Paul, Hutchinson, Bloomington, and Minnetonka.

In order by date

Rochester
Date: Tuesday, November 10
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: Rochester Area Foundation Community Room
12 Elton Hills Dr NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Directions (Google Maps)

NE, North and SE Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs
Date: Thursday, November 12
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Location: Minneapolis Park Administration Building
2nd floor Board Room
2117 West River Rd N, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Directions (Google Maps) 

Willmar
Date: Monday, November 16
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: Ridgewater College 
Student Center, Upper Level
2101 15th Avenue NW, Willmar, MN 56201

Mankato
Date: Monday, November 23
Time: 6-8 pm
Location: Ostrander Auditorium
Minnesota State University, Centennial Student Union
620 South Road, Mankato, MN 56001
Directions

South Minneapolis
Date: Monday, November 23
Time: 5:30-7:30 pm
Location: Augsburg College
Oren Gateway Center, Room 100
2211 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis MN 55454
Directions

Duluth
Date: Tuesday, November 24
Time: 6-8 pm
Location: Underground Theater
Saint Louis County Heritage and Arts Center (The Depot)
506 West Michigan St, Duluth MN 55802
Directions (Google Maps)

Bemidji
Date: Monday, November 30
Time: 6-8 pm
Location: American Indian Resource Center
Bemidji State University
1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Bemidji, MN 56601
Directions

St. Paul
Date: Tuesday, December 1
Time: 6-8 pm
Location: Hamline University
Anderson Center, Rooms 304-5
(corner of Snelling Ave. N. and Englewood Ave.)
774 Snelling Avenue N, St. Paul, MN 55104 
Directions (Google Maps) Parking: On street, free. Underground $1/hour

Hutchinson
Date: Sunday, December 6
Time: 2-4 pm
Location: McLeod County Historical Society
380 School Rd NW, Hutchinson, MN 55350
Directions (Google Maps)

Bloomington
Date: Tuesday, December 8
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: Bloomington Center for the Arts
Council Chambers
1800 W Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington, MN 55431
Directions (Google Maps)

Minnetonka
Date: Wednesday, December 9
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: Minnetonka Community Center
Community Room
14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
Directions (Google Maps)

In the News

Twin Cities

Mar 1, 2016 - Debate Continues over art at the Capitol, Radio interview (Audio 34:34) Minnesota Public Radio, Tom Weber

Feb 24, 2016 - Dayton miffed at plans for Capitol roof, artwork, Finance & Commerce, Chris Steller

Feb 24, 2016 - Battle rages over racist paintings in the Minnesota State Capitol, City Pages, Sheila Dickinson

Feb 4, 2016 - Panel debates where to hang historically inaccurate art in Capitol (Audio 6:57), Minnesota Public Radio, Phil Picardi

Jan 14, 2016 - Committee weighs how to ‘keep’ Capitol’s controversial artwork, Finance & Commerce, Chris Steller

Jan 13, 2016 - Capitol restoration: It depends on what 'keep the art' means (PDF), Politics in Minnesota Capitol Report, Chris Steller

Jan 6, 2016 - Panel nears decision on Capitol art (PDF), Politics in Minnesota Capitol Report, Chris Steller

Jan 4, 2016 - Some paintings considered offensive or inaccurate might be removed from the Capitol, KMSP-TV, Johnathan Choe 

Dec 18, 2015 - State Capitol art: In Brown County, we prefer to keep our history in view, StarTribune, Commentary, Anne Earl and Bob Burgess 

Dec 7, 2015 - Minnesota Military Leader Defending Civil War Art At Capitol, WCCO-TV, Pat Kessler

Dec 2, 2015 - Minnesota's historical palette (PDF), Politics in Minnesota Capitol Report, Chris Steller

Dec 2, 2015 - With Capitol under renovation, debate begins on which art is appropriate when it reopens, StarTribune, Jon Tevlin

Nov 28, 2015 - Minnesota: The art of the Capitol, Pioneer Press editorial 

Nov 15, 2015 - Should Art In The State Capitol Be Saved, Shelved or Created New?, WCCO-TV, Pat Kessler

Nov 2, 2015 - What do YOU think should be done with State Capitol's art?, TwinCities.com Pioneer Press, David Montgomery

Oct 12, 2015 - On Columbus/Indigenous People's Day, a Debate about Depictions of American Indians in Capitol Art, StarTribune, J. Patrick Coolican 

Oct 12, 2015 - Scholar argues art depicting American Indians in Capitol is 'problematic', StarTribune, Patrick Coolican

Oct 11, 2105 - Capitol art debate turns to Native American images, Minnesota Public Radio News, Tim Pugmire

Sep 16, 2015 - Finding balance with the Capitol's art (PDF), Politics in Minnesota Capitol Report, Mike Mullen

Jul 27, 2015 - Wrestling with Dark History, this time in Minnesota's Capitol, Governing magazine, Daniel C. Vock

Jul 13, 2015 - What art should be displayed in the Minnesota Capitol? Radio interview (32:37) Minnesota Public Radio, Tom Weber

Jul 6, 2015 - After state Capitol remodel, where should the art go? TwinCities.com Pioneer Press, Brian Baskt (AP)

Jul 6, 2015 - Too many governor portraits? State Capitol art panel to hear from public Minnesota Public Radio, Tim Pugmire

Jul 4, 2015 - Minnesota is at the intersection of history, sensitivity StarTribune, Lori Sturdevant

May 2, 2015 - Rosenblum: Capitol would gain with statue of Nellie Stone Johnson, StarTribune, Gail Rosenblum

Apr 6, 2015 - The other debate at the state Capitol: What to do with the building's most controversial art? MinnPost, Briana Bierschbach

Bemidji

Dec 1, 2015 - Minnesota State Capitol Input Session in Bemidji, Lakeland Public Television, Mary Kielar 

Hutchinson

Dec 10, 2015 - Public weighs in on Capitol art, Hutchinson Leader, Kay Johnson  

Mankato

Jan 5, 2016 - Historical paintings at Capitol, unfair, untrue, Mankato Free Press, Opinion, Bill Durbahn

Dec 26, 2015 - At State Capitol, compromise is an art, Mankato Free Press, Dan Linehan

Dec 12, 2015 - Our View: Telling the story completely is key, Mankato Free Press, OpEd

Dec 11, 2015 - Poll: Capitol art deemed offensive should stay, Mankato Free Press, Dan Linehan

New Ulm

Dec 21, 2015 - Local historians urge Capitol keep art depicting U.S.-Dakota Conflict (PDF), New Ulm Journal, Clay Schuldt

Nov 24, 2015 - Capitol Art meeting focuses on what to show at Capitol (PDF), New Ulm Journal, Fritz Busch 

Nov 20, 2015 - MSU prof questions Gag’s ‘Attack on New Ulm' painting, New Ulm Journal, Fritz Busch

Rochester

Nov 11, 2015 - What is the role of art at the Capitol?, Rochester Post Bulletin, Heather J. Carlson

Nov 7, 2015 - Our View: What art should be in the 'people's house'?, Rochester Post Bulletin, editorial

About the Art Subcommittee