Art spotlight: MNDN 150: Beyond statehood

Opening today: Minnesotans have been celebrating the state's sesquicentennial all year, but it's been a mixed-emotion season for the American Indian population, which was displaced, herded onto reservations, sometimes cheated and killed in the process of establishing Minnesota.
Thinking "beyond statehood," Indian artists are exhibiting paintings and photos and staging spoken-word performances at two Minneapolis galleries, while the University of Minnesota's departments of American Indian Studies and Art and the Institute for Advanced Studies are weighing in with a symposium, "MNdn 150: Beyond Statehood," at 4 p.m. today (131 Nolte Center, Room 125, 315 Pillsbury Dr. SE., www.ias.umn.edu).
The show "States, Dates and Place," opening today at Ancient Traders, includes the painting "New World Scream" by Gordon Coons, shown here. (Reception 5-9 p.m. today. Free. Noon-6 p.m. Wed.-Fri., noon-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Ends Jan 24. 1113 Franklin Av. E., Mpls. 612-870-6115). In the Minneapolis Warehouse District, Form + Content is showing "Mnisota Dakota Home," featuring photos and a video installation by Joseph Allen and Mona Smith. (Reception 6-9 p.m. today. Free. Noon-6 p.m. Thu.-Sat. Ends Dec. 27. 210 N. 2nd St. 612-436-1151 or www.formandcontent.org.)