Twin Cities' 5 must-see art shows this weekend

The other day, I thought summer was over. On this day of fleeting cold,I had to run home and grab my fall coat, which is gray and warm and made of wool. I enjoyed the coat for a day, and then this morning summer returned, and everything went back to normal. Now the weekend is upon us. Catch summer at its best with outdoor festivals in Uptown and Powderhorn, a hot metal pour at Franconia Sculpture Park, and a political wall being built in Prospect Park Community Gardens. This and more await. Happy weekend!

Above: Image via Soap Factory

The Wall: Opening Ceremony

Hosted by the Soap Factory

Saturday, August 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Prospect Park Community Gardens

"Build the wall" is now a phrase that stands on its own. No explanation necessary. In this troubling political time, artists have taken a stand. This weekend, Lamia Abukhadra and Leila Awadallah as part of Rethinking Public Spaces in collaboration with Martin Gonzalesand the Soap Factory host the opening ceremony of "The Wall," a new installation and performance piece. This wall will be built, interacted with, and eventually broken down. What is a wall, but a divide that can also be subversively dismantled? Join everyone for the opening this weekend, and stick around for subsequent interactions with and dismantlings of in the weeks to come.

2017 Community Collaboration Hot Metal Pour

Franconia Sculpture Park (29836 St. Croix Trail, Shafer, MN)

Saturday, August 5

Noon to 8 p.m.

Take a break from the summer heat with a few flames? No really, there's nothing like lighting things up on an already hot day, as artists will be doing this weekend that the annual hot metal pour! Just take 4,000 pounds of molten iron and simply mold it using a many-centuries-old technique. Visitors can hang out and watch, get a tour of the park while music from Savage Aural Hotbed performs live. Only artists will be messing with the metal, though -- not visitors.

Uptown and Powderhorn Art Fairs

Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6

Slide on some sandals and hit the pavement for two art fairs in the Twin Cities this weekend. The Uptown Art Fair runs Friday-Sunday and the Powderhorn Art Fair happens Saturday-Sunday. Now in its 54th year, Uptown boasts work by more than 350 artists working across media, as well as tons of food options, lots of musical entertainment and a culinary art competition. The Powderhorn Art Fair is set in the neighborhood's city park, with vendors setting up shop around the lake. Combine an art-viewing experience with a calming lake walk, and make it the most pleasant summer weekend ever. (uptownartfair.com and powderhornartfair.com)

Above: Image via poorfarmexperiment.org.

"Lazy River, Show Me Your Raft, Canned Edition"

Saturday, August 5

Get out of town for the weekend and float down the river on a raft in rural Wisconsin at the Poor Farm. This year's annual Little Wolf River float takes place on Saturday, August 5, and is organized by artists Richard Galling and John Riepenhoff. Awards are given for rafts that are most waterlogged, wabi-sabi, wet and wild, and Waupacan. Limited edition koozies will be given away for free. Founded in 2009 by Chicago artist and writer Michelle Grabner and Brad Killiam to facilitate artist's projects and also host yearlong exhibitions, Poor Farm is located in Little Wolf, Wisconsin. It is located at the former Waupaca County Poor Farm, built in 1876.

Above: "Black Queen" by Christopher E. Harrison. Courtesy of the artist.

"Monsterlands" by Christopher E. Harrison

Nemeth Art Center (301 Court Avenue, Park Rapids, MN 56470)