Perhaps the Walker’s best people-watching event of the year, Rock the Garden 2013 offered us the perfect opportunity to launch a new feature on Walker Seen — The Visitors.  In the spirit of projects like The Sartorialist, Humans of New York, and others, we’re taking a camera and notepad out into the wide world of the Walker, capturing images and stories of the visitors who animate our galleries and green spaces. First stop: Saturday’s alternately rain-soaked and sunshiny annual outdoor music festival. At Rock the Garden, we found cute kids, fashionistas, global vistors, and photobombers (in this case, Doomtree’s POS) alike. And neon.

“What brought you out to the festivities today?”

“Came from Spain for the beer, stayed for the people. They’re alright, too.”

“How are you liking the crazy commotion today?”

“It’s like Woodstock with less hippies and more hipsters!”

“What’s your favorite thing about Rock the Garden?”

“Beer and boys! What’s not to like!?”

“Can I take a picture of you and your sister?”

“Of course! She’s my daughter!”

“Having fun today? Love your outfit!”

“So much fun. Thanks! It’s not very Minnesotan, but my boyfriend is!”

“Davee! Can I get a smile?”

“Yeah! Should I stand right here?”

“Yes. Perfect.”

“Can I snap a pic of you ladies?”

“Sure! Should we stand in order from lightest denim shorts to darkest?”

“You survived the rain!”

“My track jacket has superpowers.”

“Where’s the rest of your Parisian group?”

“My sister’s here somewhere wearing the same thing. We also look the same!”

“Can I take your guys’ picture?”

“Only if you get my good side. Also, is this going on the Internet?”

“You ladies having fun today?”

“Yes! …Wait, can we do that again?”

“Love the color of your dress! Can I get a pic?”

“Yeah! And thanks — It’s pretty blinding. Needed shades!”

“Are you guys having fun?”

“Woooooooooooooooooooooo!!!”

Be a Sculpture. Photo: Susanne Dehnhard Carpenter

When we’re not at the Walker working as interns in the Performing Arts department, Nicola Carpenter and I make miniature golf holes. For this year’s Artist-Designed Mini Golf in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, we collaborated with Nicola’s parents on a piece called Be a Sculpture! On the course, players are encouraged to stand on the various scattered footprints of the green to become a sculpture as their friends play. In the spirit of “being a sculpture,” we decided to create a necklace for each of us to wear for opening night. It’s a fitting homage to both our hole and the reason for the the mini golf course in the first place: the Sculpture Garden’s 25th anniversary.

Untitled by Jim Hodges; necklace. Photo: Kevin and Sean Donovan

Front of Snowwoman by Gary Hume ; necklace. Photo: Sean Donovan and Nicola Carpenter

Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen ; necklace. Photo: Nicola Carpenter and Susanne Dehnhard Carpenter

Double Curve by Ellsworth Kelly ; necklace. Photo: Nicola Carpenter and Susanne Dehnhard Carpenter

(Left to Right) Caroline Kent, Walker Executive Director Olga Viso, Maria Jose Lopez, and Angela Robins

Up in the tower that is (literally) under construction, Malamanya got everyone,  including the artist and exhibition curator, moving:

Adriana Rimpel of Malamanya

Abraham Cruzvillegas dancing with his wife Alejandra

Shaun Regen and Walker Senior Curator Clara Kim

Bobby Wilson and Natasha Hilt

In the Art Lab, party-goers tried their hand at autoconstrucción. Check out this homage to the original Aeropuerto Alterno on view in the galleries:

After the galleries, art making, and dancing there was always a good drink to be had:

(L to R) Blaire Moliter, Brandon Cotton, Mimi Jamaleldin, Brady Cotton, Lauren Villareal, and Kai Bawkol.

Amalia Nicholson and Hannah Haugberg

(L to R) Paige Mathews, Paul Bochan, Emma Berg, and Rae Spencer

Abraham Cruzvillegas: The Autoconstrucción Suites is on view at the Walker Art Center March 23–September 22, 2013.

Ate dinner at Moto-I (she ate ALL of the chicken wings and sake and sashimi)
Visited with local designers during a reception (aka Design Sundays) at a historic Frank Lloyd Wright house on Cedar Lake
Gave a video interview on Conditional Design in an eastbound minivan on Interstate 94
Addressed designers during the concluding lecture of Insights 2013
Grabbed a copy of Felix Gonzales Torres’ poster “Untitled” (1991) in the Walker galleries
Engaged in a Walker Design Studio ritual, the obligatory trip to the Mall of America, which included a ride down the Log Chute and lunch at Kokomo’s Island Cafe

Attended a reception with local designers at the home of Brent Stickels and Jane Johnson
Visited the Mall of America (not pictured: lunch at the Rainforest Cafe) to buy a gift for son Midas
Rode the Spongebob Squarepants roller coaster at Nickelodeon Universe
Ate dinner at Barbette
Enjoyed beers with fellow designers at the CC Club and The Local
Tried out Famous Dave’s barbecue
Gave a lettering demonstration for visiting MCAD students

Visited the Guthrie Theater
Pointed at things with Walker web designer Eric Price
Was made over using the Walking Dead iPhone app
Bought Girl Scout cookies
Attended a reception with local designers at Andrew Blauvelt and Scott Winter’s home
Dined beneath a large nude at Barbette
Got a portrait taken in the Walker photography studio
Stocked up at the Uptown Apple Store
Paid homage to Bryant Lake Bowl
Spoke at MCAD (not pictured)
Ate sushi at Origami with the CSA Design crew
Witnessed the Mall of America (not pictured: beer at Hooter’s; pictured: Spongebob Squarepants roller coaster)
Hung out at the Walker Design Studio
Drank beer with Non-Format
Documented it all on Instagram

Andy Messerschmidt. All photos by Olga A Ivanova

Andy Messerschmidt has been at the Walker all week installing Friend Me/Follow Me: Graze Anatomy (2012), a mixed-media installation inside the main entrance. The work uses the Ely, Minn.–based artist’s trademark layering technique in which imagery from various religious traditions, pop cultural references, and ornamentation styles are overlaid in often symmetrical patterns. The piece is the second–following Elizabeth Simonson’s bead-based Instar, installed in late 2011–commissioned for “the oculus,” the notch in the ceiling between the Walker Shop and Gather, the Walker’s second-floor restaurant. Overseen by curator Elizabeth Carpenter and commissioned with support from the McKnight Foundation, the installation took four days, during which Messerschmidt wrangled 63 plastic Nativity scene sheep lamps, a projected animation, Christmas wrapping paper, plastic shepherd’s crooks, and an audio piece (featuring equally layered samples, with sources ranging from Indonesian bird calls and audio of an exorcism to music from the 11th Century). Look for more on the project in coming weeks on the Walker homepage, or view the just-completed project during regular Walker hours.

Site fence design as seen from Hennepin Avenue

Selected figures from site fence design

McFetridge checking out the exhibition Dance Works III: Merce Cunningham/Rei Kawakubo.

Abbot Downey hosted the Walker’s Collector’s Council Monday night for an informal presentation on McFetridge’s work.

McFetridge chatting with Development Associate Masami Kawazato and Walker Chief Curator Darsie Alexander

Geoff McFetridge’s iconic glasses

Spotted in the Performing Arts office today: Assistant Curator Michèle Steinwald wearing her passion for dance on her chest. The LIFE/DEATH/DANCE Venn diagram was screenprinted on a donated sweater, she says, during the American Realness Festival.

“I start every collection with one word.” —Rei Kawakubo

Fashion designer Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons reportedly gives a single word as instruction to her pattern makers as they begin working on a new collection. In this spirit, Walker members gave one word (or two) in response to Friday’s A Think & A Drink: Member Event, which included a private tour of Dance Works III: Merce Cunningham/Rei Kawakubo with curator Betsy Carpenter, Walker Cunningham Research Fellow Abi Sebaly, fashion designer Emma Berg, and choreographer, curator, performer, and producer Laurie Van Wieren, followed by drinks and small bites in the Garden Terrace Room.

(L to R) Chris: FERTILE; Michon: BEAUTIFUL/UGLY; David: LUMPY; Rae: METAMORPHOSIS

Diane: UNCONVENTIONAL and Jackie: AUSTERITY

Laurie Van Wieren: DANCE ON DEMAND; Betsy Carpenter: BULGE; Abi Sebaly: DYNAMICS OF STRENGTH AND LINE

Emma Berg: INSPIRING

Kathy: ADULT PLAYDATE

Laurie: BULBOUS

Leah: BODY CURVES and Shana: ABANDON (“The way in which Cunningham and Kawakubo went into the collaboration is inspiring since I tend to over think. Maybe if I didn’t over think, things would turn out better.”)

A Think & A Drink: Member Events provide intimate looks at exhibitions, performing arts, and film followed by drinks and conversation.