Saint Paul — A new art exhibit is now on display in the third floor Gallery (Rooms 320 and 321) at the newly restored Minnesota State Capitol. Seeds of Change: A Portrait of the Hmong American Farmers Association is presented in collaboration with the Minnesota Museum of American Art and the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA), and will run from January 27 through May 26, 2017.

This exhibit features photographs by Mike Hazard, documenting a year in the life of a farm run by the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) in Vermillion Township, Minnesota. Hazard’s photographs bring to light the rich culture and heritage of Minnesota’s Hmong community and spotlights their efforts to cultivate success among first, second, and third generation American immigrants.

The expanded public space in the restored Capitol provided an opportunity to highlight more of Minnesota’s culturally diverse stories, and to celebrate the shared differences that bring our communities together. Accompanying the Seeds of Change photo exhibit at the Capitol are a number of culturally rich exhibits honoring the stories of those who have helped to make Minnesota the state that it is today.

Other exhibits now on display at the Capitol include:

• Tracks in the Snow: The Minnesota Muslim Experience Since 1880, presented by the Islamic Resource Group (IRG) gives positive insight on the state's growing Muslim population and their rich contributions to Minnesota's social landscape.
• The Life and Works of Cass Gilbert, presented by the Cass Gilbert Society recognizes the defining moments of Gilbert’s life with much of his success coming from his first major public building, the Minnesota State Capitol.
• Restoration Workers: The Men and Women that Made the Capitol Grand Again, by Senate Photographer Tom Olmscheid celebrates the diverse workforce that came together to play an integral part in transforming the State Capitol.
• Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nation, presented in collaboration with the Minnesota Indians Affairs Council, the Minnesota Humanities Center, and the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian shares the story of Native nations within Minnesota and how their story is that of making treaties. 

These exhibits are on display during the Capitol's regular hours of operation, and are free to the public. For more information on exhibits currently on display at the State Capitol, please visit us online at: http://mn.gov/admin/citizen/public-events/exhibits.jsp. To reserve public space for a meeting or event, visit our new Capitol Complex Reservations webpage at: http://fmd-inquiry.state.mn.us/.

For additional information, contact:

Julie Nelsen at (651) 201-2565 or Julie.J.Nelsen@state.mn.usa.com