This past week I spent some time in Minneapolis. I love
visiting my sister and her amazing family. We went to The Art Academy in which
I was able to talk to the upcoming artists and the Atelier’s master instructors
Sarah Howard and Jim Robison. I also experienced the wonderful baristas and
coffee at Spyhouse Coffee Roasting Company.
One of the highlights of my trip was the galleries and
Museums of Minneapolis. I had the opportunity to go to the opening at the
Minneapolis Institute of Art of “At Home With Monsters”, a new exhibit from the
collection of Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. The exhibition is incredible and was packed
with lines all weekend. Del Toro has created a timeless horrific visions of the
past and future.
Del Toro had some incredible insight and quotes about
current events in the United States and around the world. He talked about how
current society has dismantled the difference between “truth and lie” which has
caused society to lose sight of our compass as humans. He also talked about the
idea of Imaginative realism and fantasy.
He said, “For me fantasy is a way to make peace with a whole side of our
existence and our cosmos that any other sane thing does not deal with. We have
many dimensions in our lives. One is social, one is political. We have to be
involved in that. One is as a citizen and another is as an artist.”
The exhibition features hundreds of items from his personal
treasure trove which included many of my fellow friends and artist. Tom
Kuebler, E. M. Gist, Travis Louie, Bernie Wrightson and Edward Gorey. The
paintings, drawings, sculptures and books are from different time periods of
the World of macabre works. Some are inspired by imaginative realism, Kitsch
art, Surrealist, animators, illustrators, dark art noir films, classic movies, and
literature that have inspired Del Toro’s journey. It was nice to see the
Minneapolis Museum exhibit works of fantastic and imaginative figurative art in
a major showcase event.
If you get the chance, try to see this exhibition or by the
catalogue which is well worth the price. I have included some pictures from the
event.
Caniglia
