"It's alive!" shouted the mad scientist in "Frankenstein" when his creature came to life, and so did I upon entering Mia's exhibition of lifelike clay objects by a dozen female Japanese artists. Giant seashells, rocks, flowers, leaves, cosmic plants, and even some non-organic objects such as a crumpled newspaper, a case of Japanese beer and some gold paper, appear lifelike in this dimly lit show. The versatility of clay is a focus of this show, but don't miss a signature 1967 painting by Yayoi Kusama of many variously colored, patterned polka dots, which she describes as "a way to infinity." (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Wed. & Sat.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thu.-Fri.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. Ends Dec. 8. Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Av. S., Mpls. Free. 612-870-3000 or new.artsmia.org)
alicia eler
