Art Hounds: A Capitol celebration for all Minnesotans

This week, Art Hounds recommend the grand reopening of the state Capitol, an art exhibit about medication and "Steel Magnolias."

American Swedish Institute's Chelsea Bowen says you should exercise your right to visit "the people's house" this weekend as the Minnesota Capitol throws a three-day celebration to mark the end of its four-year renovation. Bowen says the building never got a big party when it first opened in 1905. So, the state is making up for it in a grand way with performances by over 20 cultural organizations, yoga on the lawn, special tours and more.

Author and journalist Marya Hornbacher has written extensively about mental health issues, and she's impressed by the new exhibition "To Really See" at the Minneapolis Central Library. The show is about the role of medication in mental health, and Hornbacher says it conveys the experience visually in a way that words simply can't. The show opens tonight, runs through September, and then moves to St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth.

Lanesboro Arts intern Martha Hall was charmed by Commonweal Theatre Company's production of "Steel Magnolias." She says the show — which is about six female friends — pays tribute to the resilience of women without stooping to stereotypes. She says it's a family friendly play that's entertaining for any gender. The show runs through Oct. 23.