Spotlight: Last call for Eero Saarinen

Ends Jan. 4: Confidence in the future seemed boundless in the 1950s as the world recovered from decades of economic depression and devastating wars. As American industry turned out new materials and products, Finnish-born architect Saarinen (1910-61) was there to adapt them to practical use. The show "Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future," now in its final days at Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, celebrates the innovative genius of the man who invented the pedestal chair, shaped Yale University's campus, designed St. Louis' Gateway Arch and made concrete soar in New York's iconic TWA terminal. The Walker's portion of the exhibit includes furnishings and photos of Saarinen-designed residences, churches, academic and corporate campuses. At the institute are images and large-scale models for his airports, memorials and embassies. (Walker: 1750 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tue.-Wed. & Fri.- Sun., Closed Jan. 1. $10 adults. 612-375-7600 or Walkerart.org. Institute: 2400 3rd Av. S., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Wed., noon-5 p.m. Thu., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Free. 612-870-3131 or ArtsMIA.org)