100 Years and Counting
December 2, 2018 through February 17, 2019
Minnesota Museum of American Art’s (“the M,” for short) signature exhibition in December is a choice sampling of the museum’s remarkable collection of American art, featuring dozens of works from 100 years ago to today. Explore the depth and breadth of the M’s collection, including early 20th-century paintings, photographs, sculptures by George Morrison and Paul Manship, incredible drawings, mid-century studio craft, sculpture, prints, collages, and up-to-the-minute recent acquisitions by outstanding American artists.
100 Years and Counting is organized for stunning visual impact and arresting moments of comparison and conversation among artworks from differing eras, genres, media, and perspectives. Like the juxtaposition of Patrick DesJarlait’s striking watercolor Red Lake Fishermen and Wendy Red Star’s Hoop in the Cloud, or Margaret Bourke-White’s Gold Miners and Alec Soth’s oil field worker, Brian, Williston, North Dakota. The exhibition brings out old favorites that haven’t been seen in years, like Jerome Hill’s 1965 The Striped Skirt, and brand-new acquisitions, like Sonya Clark’s powerful Triangle Trade from 2011.
This exhibition proves the point that this museum has been around a while—over 100 years, in fact—and its American art collection reflects that visual trajectory. It also shows that the new M, in this incredible new building and home, is likewise continuing to grow, to thrive, to build—indeed, counting our years and our way into a new era of significance, art, and visual engagement.
This exhibition is made possible, in part, thanks to a generous donation by Philip Rickey.
Exhibition-related programs and tours:
Public programs and tours are on-site at the M unless otherwise noted.
Conversation: (Un)Natural Landscapes
Saturday, December 15, 2 p.m.
Free and open to the public
Join artists David Bowen, Teo Nguyen, and poet G.E. Patterson for a discussion of their work and how the American landscape has been interpreted, transmitted, and mined for inspiration as well as natural resources.
Conversation: Native Futures
Thursday, January 24, 6:30 p.m.
Free and open to the public
Artist Dakota Hoska and curator Joe Horse Capture will weigh in on the past, present, and future of Native American identity, as seen in works by Frank Big Bear (below), Edward S. Curtis, Patrick DesJarlait, and Wendy Red Star.
Flash Talks
Fridays and Sundays at noon
Free and open to the public
Bite-sized 10- to 15-minute chats about the exhibitions and new museum facility, offered twice each week by M volunteers.
Director Tours
Exclusively for M members | Free
Take a tour through 100 Years and Counting with Executive Director Kristin Makholm. Reservations required. Email
ksmith-flores@mmaa.org to save your spot.
Thursday, December 6, 6 p.m. 
Wednesday, February 13, noon
Curator Tours
Free and open to the public
Dig deeper into what’s on view in the galleries in tours led by the M’s curators: Curator of Exhibitions Christopher Atkins, Curator of Learning and Engagement Courtney Gerber, and Curatorial Assistant Mia Laufer.
Thursday, December 20, 6 p.m. • Courtney Gerber
Thursday, January 3, 6 p.m. • Christopher Atkins
Sunday, January 13, 2 p.m. • Mia Laufer
Wednesday, January 16, noon • Christopher Atkins
Saturday, February 2, 2 p.m. • Courtney Gerber
ASL interpretation is available for some tours.
