'Midnight Party' opens at the Walker Art Center

Kitchen (detail); Kiki Smith, 2005

​The Walker Art Center's newest exhibit, "Midnight Party," has all the makings of a great shindig--or the telltale signs that one has already happened. The furniture is messed up; Nari Ward's mangled chair-like sculpture rests twisted and angular on a throw rug. There's a giant hole in the drywall serving as an entrance to Kari Smith's kitchen area. And there is a starlet hanging upside down while black and white movies flicker images of exposed breasts onto the walls.

If you're hesitant about the show, perhaps you should make a beeline to the hallucination room to get in the mood for the rest of the party. It's a trip.

Galleries 4, 5, and 6 in the Walker have been transformed into a sort of ersatz house for "Midnight Party," which is guest curated by Joan Rothfuss. While roaming about the large gallery spaces, as well as smaller, cozier theme rooms built especially for the exhibit, one gets the eerie feeling that the party's hosts aren't home--but it is most certainly open for a celebration.

Oddities on display include a wunderkammer (wonder-room) filled with treasures, including a meat dress made out of 60 pounds of meat and 60 pounds of salt, Kranky Klaus masks exploring the darker side of Santa by Cameron Jamie, a time capsule, and other fascinating items.

"Midnight Party" will be on display beginning March 19 and will run through February 23, 2014. There will be a gallery tour for the exhibit starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 24. Some pieces in this exhibit will be swapped out for others throughout the run. Visit the Walker Art Center for gallery hours and admission prices.

Kitchen; Kiki Smith 2005

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