OPENING FRIDAY
Minnesota Nice poster show
Minnesotans are short on nothing if not Minnesotan pride, as evidenced by an abundance of Minnesota-themed poster shows. The latest, Minnesota Nice, celebrates the city's musical heritage as well as its distinctive skyline, with proceeds benefiting Second Harvest Heartland. It will feature prints for sale by some of the Twin Cities' best-known poster artists, including Adam Turman, Amy Jo and Lonny Unitus, plus up-and-comers Kyle Coughlin, Jessica Hall Burns and Erik Hamline. Foodshelf items or a $5 donation are suggested. (Free opening reception 7-10 p.m. Fri. Through Jan. 12. Gallery 122 at Hang It, 122 SE. 8th St., Mpls. 612-874-7222. www.hangitinc.com.)JAHNA PELOQUIN
cOntinuing
'Indian First: Identity, Appropriation and Reclamation'
At first glance Tom Jones' photos look like big black flags punctuated with bright designs: three feathers, yellow cross-hatchings, red and white dots, blue and green birds sailing in a dark sky. Scrutinize the designs and you'll spy little imprinted words: "Made in China," or "BergenToy & Nov. Co., Inc." The colorful blobs and marks are the bottoms of toy Indians and canoes, and the cross-hatchings are tiny plastic fences that he has turned into huge graphic designs. An assistant professor of photography at the University of Wisconsin, Jones plays clever games with scale, design and American Indian lore in 10 dramatic images. In 11 more photos, he documents Indian imagery used to market the Wisconsin Dells as a vacation getaway. Though the Dells were the traditional home of his tribe, the Ho-Chunk Nation, no authentic trace of his people can be found in the eagle-feather headdresses of the Indians emblazoned on the area's motels and trinket shops. Jones' keen eye and graphic design skills enhance the visual punch of his photos and effectively amplify his critique of how Indian imagery has been appropriated for commercial gain. (11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. Through Jan. 26. Free. All My Relations Gallery, 1414 E. Franklin Av., Mpls. 612-235-4970 or www.allmyrelationsarts.com.)MARY ABBE
