Exhibition - Ann Wolff: The Art of Living

Join us for a self-guided tour of glass artist Ann Wolff's exhibition at the American Swedish Institute followed by break-out group discussions over coffee and dessert at Fika.

Ann Wolff: The Art of Living explores identity, transformation and the art of aging in recent work by one of Sweden's greatest glass artists. There is a strong feminist undercurrent to her work. The main show is accompanied by exhibitions of works by local artists Nancy Randall and Laurie Van Wieren.

Location: ASI is located at 2600 Park Avenue in Minneapolis.
Fika is the Institute's cafe specializing in New Nordic cuisine.
FREE: admission to the galleries is free on Thursdays.
Parking: There is ample parking in the ASI lot as well as street parking.

Meeting place: We will meet in front of the main desk at 6 pm and our member Claire S. will be hosting this event.
She will be wearing a yellow U of M sweatshirt with “Minnesota” emblazoned across the front and matching yellow eyeglasses.

Claire will make some introductory remarks before we start the tour. She has done curatorial work and research for the American Swedish Institute. You are encouraged to tour the exhibition at your own pace and then gather in Fika afterwards for snacks and discussion.

All our meetups have a minimum of 5 in order to run. Please change your RSVP if you are not able to make it for any reason.

Ann Wolff was born in Lübeck Germany in 1937. After graduating from the Ulm School of Design she began working as a glass designer for Kosta Boda in Sweden. Wolff has dedicated over six decades to her craft, working in a variety of media including glass, bronze, aluminum, stone, photography and drawing. She continues to push the boundaries of self-expression reflecting on themes of identity and the interplay between inner and outer selves.
As the artist notes "The question 'who am I' is not as important anymore when you are 85. The question if more: what is the universe, how does everything fit together?" Together her pieces form a sort of autobiography as she revisits her memories and invites the viewers into her thoughts. There is a strong feminist undercurrent in her work reflected in certain recurring themes. She often explores the role of women in society and their liberation from the patriarchy. Houses, for example, become a symbol of the domestic sphere. Masks represent the external image we present do others, while hiding the inner, emotional self. Ravens reflect the artist's strong connection between self-identity and the animal world. In one particular piece, Andante, there are two female forms. One is trapped in the glass mass, the other is outward facing, symbolizing the inner self and the public self.