Whittier Artists in Storefronts

Minneapolis' Whittier neighborhood is home to artists, designers, chefs, great restaurants, an art college, an art museum and a bunch of empty storefronts left by businesses hit hard in the recession. The storefronts are about to blossom with six weeks of interventions by poets, textile artists, photographers, font designers, sign painters and muralists. More than 25 artists, including many neighborhood residents, have signed on to create murals, sculptures and window displays that will be lit until 11 p.m. each evening. Projects include a "moss mural" on the facade of Rainbow Chinese at 2739 Nicollet Av. S., yarn-bomb sculptures around the City of Lakes Waldorf School at 2344 Nicollet, and a "Before I Die" wall on the facade of the Fallout Gallery, 2609 Stevens Av. S. Conceived by freelance storefront designer Joan Vorderbruggen, the "Artists in Storefronts" project aims to reanimate the streets, spur the economy and have fun. -Mary Abbe

'Vital Flesh'

The Twin Cities area has seen a rebirth in the figurative painting genre, as young artists have taken up the brush to match the strokes of the masters, while adding a modern, slightly subversive touch. A dynamic group of emerging Minneapolis figurative painters including Caitlin Karolczak, Luke Tromiczak, JM Culver, Luke Hillestad and Jamie Cook are coming together for a group show at Cult Status Gallery. Tied together with the theme of "flesh," each painter will attempt to convey the beauty, strength and frailty of a timeless subject through the vibrant colors and transparencies of oil painting. -Jahna Peloquin

St. Paul Art Crawl

Why are these gigs called "crawls?" Nobody crawls. This is a weekend-long movable feast of art that sprawls through 300 studios and galleries in more than 25 buildings throughout St. Paul. Expect to find paintings, photos, pottery, handmade fashions, jewelry and sculpture for sale or for gawking at. Musicians and performers will be out. Restaurants and coffeeshops abound. The McNally Smith Sound Crawl Hybrid Marching Band will hit the streets Friday night. Ballet Minnesota and the St. Paul City Ballet will rehearse and perform. Anticipate fire dancing. Wear comfortable shoes. Plan to sprint. There's no time for slowpokes. -Mary Abbe

Art in Bloom

One of the Twin Cities' most popular spring rituals, Art in Bloom, flourishes again at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. The notion of flower arrangements inspired by paintings, sculpture and other museum objects is charmingly simple and a bit old-fashioned but beautifully executed year after year. The amateur gardeners and professional florists who take up the challenge are wonderfully inventive in translating the shapes, colors, designs and mood of the art into fragile displays. Their vases range from beautiful to really wacky, and the scent of spring wafts through the building. Theodore Wendel's impressionist painting "The Butterfly Catchers" inspired this year's AIB theme, "Art in the Garden." Now in its 29th year, AIB has raised $2.9 million over the years to support the museum's educational programs, exhibitions and collection. The money comes from special lectures, workshops and sponsorships, so the event is still free to the public. Such a sweet deal. -Mary Abbe