Spotlight: Nature in art, across the generations

Opening Saturday: Conventional wildlife art has a bad rep in art schools, where it is presumed to be clichéd and lowbrow. The University of Minnesota's Bell Museum of Natural History is the antidote to such prejudices, especially its splendid dioramas by Minnesota's own Frances Lee Jaques, one of the country's premier wildlife painters and a legendary naturalist. Eighty of Jacques' paintings, sketches and sculptures are featured along with books, photos and artifacts from his life and work. Although undeniably sentimental, Jaques' lovely "The Cloud," shown here, is suffused with the sort of genuine wonder and sincerity that gives his work such timeless dignity. Three recent graduates of Minneapolis College of Art and Design -- John Bell, Ginny Maki and Branden Martz -- weigh in with their own interpretations of the museum's dioramas and collections. Called "An Archive, a Forest: An Exhibition," the MCAD show includes paintings, photos, drawings, installations and sculptures inspired by the Bell's resources. (Reception, tour and discussion, 6 p.m. Thu., $5 adults. Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 SE. Church St., University of Minnesota, Mpls. Exhibits end Sept. 5. 612-624-7083 or www.bellmuseum.org.) MARY ABBE