Minneapolis is known for many things. Our winters can get colder than most places on earth, we have a plucky yet unlucky history of sports franchises and there is a giant cherry on a giant spoon that makes it on every postcard.
While we are prouder of some of these things than others, one of the enduring gems that has come out of the Mill City is music. Prince is the most notable example of this, but there were a plethora of other artists that made up the scene and sound of the 80s and 90s that still make waves in music across the globe today.
As patrons of the arts, and as stewards of the city that we live in and love, Hennepin Arts is proud to feature the Music On Hennepin exhibit in our Jack Link's Legend Lounge and Best Buy Foundation Gallery. This exhibit has been put on by Tim Carroll, the Preservation Society Manager and Archivist for Hennepin Arts. Working with the University of Minnesota, as well as a collection of nonprofits and archives from across Minneapolis and the greater Twin Cities area, this exhibit highlights the Minneapolis scene of the 80s and 90s that produced some of the most iconic musical acts of that time.
“The Music On Hennepin exhibit takes a look at all the bands of the 80s and 90s that played mostly through First Avenue. And it's the scene that Prince came up and out of, along with The Time, Sheila E., and Wendy and Lisa. But we look a little deeper than Prince and review what else was happening really with all the other bands.” Carroll says.
The exhibit itself features videos, albums, photographs and other artifacts from the Minneapolis Music scene in the 1980s and 1990s, with special listening and viewing stations throughout. These exhibits show the fashion, mindset and commitment to culture that built the Minneapolis sound. While there are many familiar faces throughout the exhibit, Carroll says it’s the bands people don’t know about or aren’t as familiar with that the exhibit hopes to highlight.
“So Minneapolis has always been important to rock and roll. We've been in the music scene for decades. First Avenue is worldwide famous, and one of the things we're known for is that the Minneapolis sound is a distinctive sound. And you know it when you hear it. And in this exhibit we're exploring - Where did that sound come from? How did it develop?” Carroll says.
As a world-renowned venue, First Avenue is known now for its fantastic variety of acts and performers that have come through and continue to visit. Back in the 80s and 90s, though, it was an important place for Minneapolis bands to perform and build their following.
In the Music On Hennepin exhibit, photography from this time period is captured by Daniel Corrigan, who was a photographer at First Avenue for 30 years. His work capturing some of the most historic moments, as well as some of the lesser-known, is critical to understanding the development of the Minneapolis scene. His work is featured throughout the exhibit.
Another piece of the Minneapolis sound’s legacy is fashion and gender nonconformity. Many of the styles and sounds that were developed and made popular went against mainstream conventions. This is apparent in Prince’s style, but so much of the punk and grunge scene in Minneapolis helped to influence this style.
“When I think about Babes in Toyland and Têtes Noires, The Clams - they were all-women bands. All the members were women, and they could rock a lot harder than half the guys they were playing up against and are pretty important to the whole riot girl idea. That comes later in the 90s. It's a much different take on women in rock than, say, the 60s.” Carroll says.
With the arrival of the pre-Broadway world premiere Purple Rain this fall at the State Theatre, understanding the rich musical and cultural scene that flourished in the 80s and 90s is critical to understanding Prince. Music On Hennepin is a small slice of that culture. Hennepin Arts hopes that these artifacts highlighting some of the unique and critical contributions by Minneapolis artists help to enrich the conversation surrounding the Minneapolis arts scene. This exhibit is available to view in the Jack Link's Legend Lounge and the Best Buy Foundation Gallery before Broadway performances. For more information on availability email Info@HennepinArts.org.