Minnesota landscape comes alive in 'Still Life' at Minneapolis Institute of Art

As far back as Dutch painters of the 1600s, artists have found ways to liven up the venerable still-life genre. Artist Tamsie Ringler takes it a step further, transforming the entire gallery into a sculptural still life. She takes everyday objects, such as a car and a fiberglass grain silo, and places them among forms she's recast, such as a Mississippi River watershed cast in iron. The work connects directly to Minnesota's natural landscape. "If you grew up on a farm, it wouldn't be out of place to see a car rusting out in the pasture," says curator Nicole Soukup. "You drove by grain bins more times than you can count." (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 Feb. 24. Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Av. S., Mpls. Free. 612-870-3000 or artsmia.org)