The traditional art fair weekend in Minneapolis is approaching—but less frenetic this year, since Loring Park held its art festival last weekend. Uptown Art Fair, the progenitor of our local art fair bounty, begins its 53rd annual run this weekend. Opening Friday at noon and running through Sunday at 5 p.m., this year’s fair includes more than 350 artists—working in media ranging from painting to photography to ceramics, glass, and wood.
But the Uptown has evolved from art fair into weekend-long celebration of art in many forms. In additional to shopping baubles for your body and one-of-kind treasures for your home, see local bands on stage in Salsa a La Salsa parking lot, the Culinary Arts Competition outside Kitchen Window on Hennepin Avenue, and “The Wizard of Oz,” outside under the stars on Friday evening. There’s plenty of food and drink to be had as well, including the outdoor beer garden.
If your art-fair weekend isn’t complete without hitting at least two of them, head on over to the Powderhorn Art Festival. A welcome respite from the overheated Uptown, here 184 artists’ booths ring the shoreline of the lake. There’s also music, puppet shows, demonstrations, and hands-on experiences.
By Chris Lee