Five at the forefront

Last update: September 25, 2007 - 11:30 PM

When new directors start Jan. 1 at the Institute of Arts and the Walker, five of the Twin Cities' leading museums will be headed by women:

KAYWIN FELDMAN

Minneapolis Institute of Arts

She successfully balanced crowd-pleasing and high-art shows at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, personally organizing a photo exhibit called "Elvis Is in the Building" for this year's 30th anniversary of Presley's death. Above, she posed Tuesday at the MIA with "Dog of Your Childhood," by Japanese sculptor Nara.

OLGA VISO

Walker Art Center

An expert in Latin American art and regarded as a rising star, she worked closely with contemporary artists to develop shows -- and reach out to new audiences -- for the Hirshhorn Museum of Art in Washington, D.C.

LYNDEL KING

Weisman Art Museum

A savvy fund-raiser, she oversaw construction of the Weisman's saucy U of M building, where students and the public take in scholarly and populist shows from Old Master drawings to Bob Dylan memorabilia.

NINA ARCHABAL

Minnesota Historical Society

More than 1 million people each year visit 26 historic sites, museums and libraries managed by the society, including Fort Snelling, Split Rock Light House and the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul.

JUDI DUTCHER,

Museum of Russian Art

Lawyer and one-time DFL candidate for lieutenant governor, she abandoned politics for art earlier this year, taking over the fledgling museum of Soviet-era socialist realist art that is housed in a former church.

Five in the forefront

When new directors start Jan. 1 at the Institute of Arts and the Walker, five of the Twin Cities' leading museums will be headed by women: