By Kyle Smelter

The 22nd annual Art-A-Whirl will blanket Northeast Minneapolis in a kaleidoscope of color May 19-21. All throughout the neighborhood, talented and local artists will be showing off their latest and greatest creations at breweries, studios, galleries and various brick-and-mortar establishments, and we here at Visit Twin Cities thought it would be a good idea to provide some background into the lives and histories of each of these art-filled stops so visitors and enthusiasts alike can immerse themselves in the city’s history and creative genius all at the same time.

The Solar Arts Building is one of, if not the most, appropriately named stops on our guide to Art-A-Whirl 2017. Why you might ask? Because not only does it house more than a dozen artists and creative professionals, it also boasts 109 solar panels on its rooftop. These panels were the literal cherry on top when the owners decided to update the building to be more environmentally friendly and to better reflect its true purpose—a hub for Minneapolis’ creative community.

One of the Solar Arts Building’s favorite tenants among locals and visitors alike is of the sudsy variety—Indeed Brewing Company. Aside from crafting award-winning brew (and having some of the best can art to ever grace a piece of aluminum), this neighborhood philanthropist also partners with local nonprofits through their “Indeed We Can” initiative. Through the initiative, Indeed opens their taproom every Wednesday night and donates the night’s net proceeds to a nonprofit sponsored by an Indeed employee.

The final piece of the Solar Arts Building puzzle is the 6,500-square-foot event space on the third floor managed and run by the award-winning Chowgirls Killer Catering. This women-owned catering company is dedicated to providing beautiful and handcrafted fare with sustainability as their main focus. And their venue is pretty easy on the eyes, too—exposed brick, iconic factory doors, wooden beams and maple flooring. The centerpiece of it all, however, is an 8-foot long, carved wooden bar once owned by the man in black himself—Johnny Cash.

During Art-A-Whirl, this jack-of-all-trades will house works from more than 10 artists, including paintings from Nelson Cain, owner of Pootie Art Smackdown, culturally-infused jewelry by Melissa Martinez, one-of-a-kind glasswork by Mousework Glass and more. For a complete guide to every stop and artist, Art-A-Whirl’s artist directory will have everything you’re looking for. And be sure to check out our profiles on the whimsical Betty Danger’s Country Club, fare-filled Food Building and artist haven Jackson Flats.

Solar Arts Building
711 15th Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, 55413

More info on the Solar Arts Building