Art: Fall's big five, from Delacroix masterpieces to 'Hippie Modernism'

▲ 'Delacroix's Influence: The Rise of Modern Art From Cézanne to Van Gogh'

The most influential French artist of the Romantic era, Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863) introduced exotic subjects (lions, dervishes, contemporary atrocities), expressive color and a passionate style that echoes in the paintings of generations of followers. Organized by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, "Dela­croix's Influence" is the first in-depth survey of his work and its impact in a half-century. With loans from 45 museums and private collections, the show unites 30 signature paintings by Delacroix with important pictures by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Matisse, Gauguin, Van Gogh and others whose work was shaped by his style and character. After its Minneapolis debut, the show travels to the National Gallery in London. (Oct. 18-Jan. 10. Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Av. S., Mpls. 612-870-3000 or artsmia.org)

▲ 'Hippie Modernism: The Struggle for Utopia'

Mostly remembered as the mantra of 1960s drug culture, Timothy Leary's phrase "Turn on, tune in, drop out" returns as the organizing principle of Walker Art Center's extravaganza of 1960s and '70s experimental furniture, buildings, media, publishing and film. Transformed by the colorful iconoclasm of the time, art, architecture and design embraced pop culture, psychedelia, environmentalism and dreams of a more perfect universe. Geodesic domes, carpeting, aqua appliances, beanbag chairs, and omnipresent synthetics — plastics, Naugahyde, polyester — marked a time when American aspirations and know-how shaped world culture. (Oct. 24-Feb. 28, Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. 612-375-7600 or walkerart.org)

'Faces of War: Russia in World War I'

Of the many countries shattered in the 20th century, Russia arguably suffered the most, starting with World War I (1914-18) and the 1917 revolution. A multimedia exhibition, "Faces of War" presents those century-old events via films and photos from Russian archives, military history societies, public and private collections in Armenia, Ukraine, Belarus, Serbia, Germany and the United States, along with posters, maps, documents and artifacts. (Sept. 26-March 13, Museum of Russian Art, 5500 Stevens Av S., Mpls. 612-821-9045 or tmora.org)

20th-Century Japanese Prints

Although 18th- and 19th-century Japanese woodblock prints famously influenced European and American artists of their era, that influence seemed to cease in the 20th century. As Japan modernized and adopted Western technology, its artists responded with prints that presented modern imagery in traditional formats. Milling heir Frederick Wells gave the Minneapolis Institute of Art more than 250 of these revelatory images including 112 depictions, by seven key artists, of landscapes, beautiful women and Kabuki actors. (Sept. 26-March 13, Minneapolis Institute of Art.)

▲ Japanese and Korean art from Mary Griggs Burke

This St. Paul-born, New York-based art connoisseur saluted her Midwestern roots with an extraordinary bequest to the Minneapolis Institute of Art of nearly 700 Japanese and Korean objects dating from prehistoric to contemporary times. A choice selection of about 175 pieces — ink paintings, scrolls, vases, folding screens, baskets, lacquerware, tea ceremony accouterments — will be showcased in 16 newly installed galleries. A virtual museum-within-the-museum, the expanded Japanese collection and galleries boost the Minneapolis museum into the field's top league nationally. (Sept. 27-May 8, Minneapolis Institute of Art, artsmia.org)

AND FIVE MORE

"Suburbia": In 1950, 70 percent of people in the Twin Cities lived in the core cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Nowadays, most call the surrounding suburbs their home. A hands-on exhibit explores this mass migration in search of the "American dream." (Oct. 10-March 20, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul. mnhs.org)

4th Midwest Biennial: New work by 17 artists picked from five Midwest states, including such stalwart talents as Alexa Horochowski and Andrea Carlson. (Sept. 12-Nov. 8, Soap Factory, Mpls. soapfactory.org)

Films of Ana Mendieta: Best known for her drawings, installations, performances and sculptures, the Cuban-born feminist (1948-1985) also produced films and videos, 21 of which will be featured with 26 related photos in the first full-scale retrospective of her cinematic work. (Sept. 15-Dec. 12, Katherine E. Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, Mpls. art.umn.edu/nash)

Paolo Ventura: Haunting emptiness marks the poetic paintings that the Italian artist Ventura produced as set designs for a Chicago production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Carousel." (Oct. 2-Nov. 14, Weinstein Gallery, Mpls. weinstein-gallery.com)

Michael Thomsen: Ancient symbols, reliquaries and myths seep into the colorful baroque assemblages of this Minneapolis-based sculptor. (Oct. 3-31. Public Functionary, Mpls. publicfunctionary.org)