DRAWING WITH SCISSORS

Kids still try their hand at psaligraphy, though probably not with that big label attached. Leave it to the American Swedish Institute to explain that "psaligraphy" is the ancient art of drawing with scissors or, more simply, papercutting. The occasion is two shows of contemporary cut-paper art. Both involve delicate paper fantasies on the scale of old-fashioned lace tablecloths but with more conceptual bite. Danish-Norwegian artist Karen Bit Vejle is seen here with a circular piece that includes flowers, vines and branches festooned with birds, nests, cages, dancing girls, cars, a wanderer and even a teapot or two. Minnesota's own Sonja Peterson has previously created cut-paper scenes from American history and, more recently, tropical-paradise sculptures arranged like folding screens. Vejle's 30-piece "Papercut!" show runs through May 25. Peterson's "Entangled Introductions" continues through April 26. (Noon-5 p.m. Fri., Sun., Tue. & Thu.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; noon-8 p.m. Wed. $9 adults. American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Av. S., Mpls. 612-871-4907 or www.ASImn.org)