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Minnesota galleries to host Prince tribute art shows

by Jay Gabler

May 24, 2016

Minneapolis artists Erin Sayer and Louisa Greenstock have announced an art show that will build on the overwhelming success of a Prince tribute exhibit that was on display this past weekend for Art-a-Whirl. (Update: A #57Princes closing reception has been announced for June 4.) Their new exhibit will be on display from June 30 to July 2 at Gamut Gallery, and submissions are now open via a Facebook event. Two other Minnesota venues are also planning Prince-themed art shows.

57Princes, an exhibit at Studio A in Northeast Minneapolis, featured the work of about 20 artists who paid tribute to Prince with everything from tender portraits to needlepoint to a wall-sized mural featuring 57 images of the music icon — the number reflecting the number of years Prince lived. Prints of Sayer's mural image sold out by Saturday, and the exhibit hosted crowds of visitors all weekend long.

According to the call for art submissions for the Gamut exhibit, "we will activate the outdoor space of Gamut as well, so live painting and big panel pieces are encouraged!" Sayer, who is co-curating the new exhibit with Greenstock, was among the local artists who painted the giant Bob Dylan mural in downtown Minneapolis last year.

Meanwhile, the gallery at the U's Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) in North Minneapolis is also accepting submissions for an exhibit to be called Where Purple Reigns: Minnesota Artists on Prince. That show's opening on June 7 will also feature a reading of poetry about Prince — as well as readings of his lyrics, culminating in a group reading of "Purple Rain." The show will run through July 17.

But wait — there's more! The Franklin Arts Center, in Brainerd, is accepting submissions for a show to be called When Doves Cry | A Party for Prince Rogers Nelson. That show will open on Aug. 5, and run through Aug. 27.

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.