Fresh Cut: An International Exhibition of the American Society of Botanical Artists

Sure, we’re all on the lookout for self-flagellating nekkid artists rolling in paint or chocolate–but isn’t it nice, sometimes, to be able to take your grandmother to an art show? Botanical art has been used for centuries to illustrate field guides to foreign lands, medicinal and herbal guides, and provide decoration on tombs, buildings, and clothing. Exacting and informational, these paintings and drawings take an unromantic inventory of our natural world. But there’s plenty of romance in the subject matter. Vascular systems, reproductive organs, ripe fruit, and gorgeous blooms, all rendered in stunning detail, are vivid reminders that the kingdom of flora is more complex and mysterious than we’ll ever know. 333 East River Rd., Minneapolis; 612-625-9494; www.weisman.umn.edu