extra/ordinary: The American Swedish Institute. At Play.

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extra/ordinary: The American Swedish Institute. At Play is an imaginative new exhibition produced by the American Swedish Institute that explores 29 objects from ASI’s collection and the stories behind them.

Visitors are invited to not only discover the wonder of the featured objects and newly opened rooms in the Turnblad Mansion, but also encounter such surprises as a kitchen ceiling lined with colored wooden spoons, a ballroom full of balls and a giant masked dala horse.

Curator Curt vs The Masked Dala Horse

Watch as Curator Curt (re)inflates our giant dala horse, now sporting a brand new mask! Which of these indomitable forces will prevail in this new short saga? (Re)meet the horse as part of ASI's "extra/ordinary" exhibition, and snap a Dala Horse Mask Selfie when you visit!

Tara Sweeney and the A to Z Book

extra/ordinary was inspired by the picture book A to Zäåö: Playing with History at the American Swedish Institute (University of Minnesota Press, 2019) which features original watercolor paintings and ink illustrations by the Minnesota mother-son team of Tara Sweeney and Nate Christopherson.

A to Zåäö: A Romp Through the Swedish Alphabet with ASI & U of MN Press

The Pronunciation Guide video offers a romp through the Swedish alphabet and words from the book along with highlights from the exhibition's First Look party. Filmed and directed by Francis Sampah and produced by ASI and the University of Minnesota Press.