“American Sublime: Epic Landscapes of Our Nation 1820-1880”

Church, Bierstadt, Kensett. These were the superstars of their era, painters already a part of our budding national mythology from the early 19th century. The 10 men who authored the 90-plus paintings here did as much to create the American sense of self as nearly any writer or political leader of the day. What they saw—and then translated to canvas—was to many nothing less than God’s declaration that this land was the culmination of his creation. An exhibit of a single frontier painting by Albert Bierstadt would have people lined up for blocks in New York. Whatever our attitude today about such grandeur—or grandiosity—these depictions of the landscape were certainly nothing less than inspired. Ironically, it took the Tate Gallery of Britain to pull together a show about America’s gilded age of landscape. Lucky for us, the result is perhaps the best exhibit of its kind in over 50 years. Call the MIA for tickets, but check out the Tate’s super-comprehensive website to learn more about the show. MIA (612) 870-3200