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Design Directions

Valued Vessels

In the Red Wing Retro exhibit, the Minnesota Historical Society displays the evolution of Red Wing Potteries’ signature designs from shortly after its 1870 founding through the twentieth century. Highlights include the bestselling Bob White line, as well as the anticipated display of 40-, 50-, and 60-gallon crocks that top the scales at 250 pounds and feature ornately detailed lids worth more than $2,000. The exhibit runs through the end of the year. Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, 612-296-6126, www.mnhs.org.

For the Birds

Chanhassen artist Julie Kelly melds copper and stained glass to create bird feeders that are more than snack counters for winged visitors. Her one-of-a-kind creations also make striking garden ornaments. Kelly uses mouth-blown antique glass and decadent baubles, such as Czechoslovakian jewels, to craft her squirrel- and nuisance bird-resistant feeders. This tray-style option, $600, can sit outside all year. See a larger selection at the Loring Park Art Fair, August 5 and 6, or contact the artist directly at 952-934-5534, www.juliekellyglass.com.

College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture

The University of Minnesota’s College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture has finally merged with the Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel—as former architecture dean Ralph Rapson proposed in the 1950s. The newly named College of Design promises to be one of the most diverse design schools in the country, offering unprecedented cooperation among disciplines—graphic design, apparel design, retail merchandising, interior design, housing studies, architecture, and landscape architecture. New study programs, such as a product design degree, also are in the offing. www.cala.umn.edu

Blu Dot Burst

Blu Dot has rolled out its biggest furniture collection to date, including its first foray into upholstered pieces. Most of the Minneapolis firm’s 35 new products expand existing lines—new console, occasional, and coffee tables added to its popular Strut series, for example, and the iconic Buttercup chair repurposed as a rocker. But the chubby Dodu bed upholstered in wool felt and the Couchoid sofa upholstered in faux leather represent a dramatic departure for a company that built its fame with flat-packed storage pieces. Blu Dot, 612-782-1844,