There’s something a bit odd about these works, collectively titled Lunch Break Installation, “Duane Hanson: Sculptures of Life.” Can you put your finger on it?

Sharon Lockhart, Los Angeles, Lunch Break Installation, “Duane Hanson: Sculptures of Life,” 14 December 2002–23 February 2003, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 2003. Four chromogenic prints. Courtesy of the Broad Art Foundation

Need a hint? Here’s one: not all the figures are as life-like as they appear…

Read more about the work of Sharon Lockhart here.

Visit “More Real? Art in the Age of Truthiness” for more works of art that play tricks on the mind and tiptoe between fact and fiction. Closes June 9th!

Follow the list below and take a photo that relates to the daily theme. It can be an object from a Minnesota museum collection or something you find elsewhere. Get creative!

Then, share your photo on Instagram and/or Twitter with #mnmuseums and with a hashtag of the day’s theme (e.g. #MississippiRiver).

George Morrison (American (Ojibwe), 1919-2000), Collage IX: Landscape, 1974, wood. The Francis E. Andrews Fund, 75.24

Photo-A-Day Celebration of Minnesota

1. 1. Mississippi River
2. 2. Iron
3. 3. Lakes
4. 4. Sled
5. 5. State Fair
6. 6. Minnesota Nice
7. 7. Wildlife
8. 8. Viking
9. 9. Snow
10. 10. Hockey
11. 11. Lumber
12. 12. Moms
13. 13. Equality
14. 14. Agriculture
15. 15. Hunting
16. 16. You Betcha!
17. 17. Up North
18. 18. Twins
19. 19. Hot Dish
20. 20. Mall of America
21. 21. Lefse
22. 22. Lutefisk
23. 23. Prairie
24. 24. Bob Dylan
25. 25. The letter “M”
26. 26. Judy Garland/Wizard of Oz
27. 27. Uffdah!
28. 28. Biking
29. 29. Boats
30. 30. Ski
31. 31. Lighthouse

Out of the many wonderful images, MIA staff picked their favorite photos. The top three are featured here! The photographer of the top decadent dessert received a dual membership to the MIA. Thanks to all who participated!

“Shakespeare’s Sweets and Other Treats” Winner: Flickr user @lstorm83

“Shakespeare’s Sweets and Other Treats” Runners Up

Flickr user Sheila Weidendorf

Flickr user Kurt Laitenberger

Folding Roundback Armchair

One of the oldest in existence, this folding chair has been called a “drawing in space.” Its elegant design combines the opposing forces of pulling and pushing to support weight. Reserved for persons of high rank, folding chairs were used as portable thrones for emperors. They represent the high point of the Chinese hardwood furniture tradition—which used neither glue nor nails.

This futuristic car is one of the finest examples of aerodynamic design ever produced. With a 75-horsepower rear-mounted engine, it could travel at speeds of 100 m.p.h. Its rear dorsal fin was both purposeful and distinctive; without it, a crosswind would cause the tapered body to waver at high speeds. Named after the Slovakian mountain range where it was tested, the Tatra T87 clearly influenced the 1938 VW Beetle design. This vehicle is one of only 3,000 Tatras ever built; production was cut short by World War II. Its original paint—found to be highly flammable— is long gone, though the leather interior remains intact. With only 58,424 kilometers on the odometer, it’s in drive-away condition (good luck finding parts).

Amour; Keri Pickett, Hug in Bed at Night

Argo; Thomas F. Arndt, American Flags, Freed Iranian Hostage Celebration, New York City, January 30, 1981

Beasts of the Southern Wild; Edgar Degas, Woman in a Bathtub

Django Unchained; Artist Unknown (Bamana or Dogon), Horse and Rider, early 20th century, iron, The Christina N. and Swan J. Turnblad Memorial Fund, 98.204a,b

Les Misérables; Jean Baptiste Stouf, Saint Vincent de Paul

Life of Pi; Unknown Artist, Tiger

Lincoln; John Frederick Peto, Reminiscences of 1865

Silver Linings Playbook; David B. Tait, Untitled

Zero Dark Thirty; Earl L. Mohr, Menace

Keri Pickett, Hug in Bed at Night, 1991, photo, Gift of B. J. French, 98.259

Thomas F. Arndt, American Flags, Freed Iranian Hostage Celebration, New York City, January 30, 1981, 1981, photo, Gift of Lora  and Martin G. Weinstein, 84.125.10

Edgar Degas, Woman in a Bathtub, 1889 modeled (cast 1920-21), bronze sculpture, Gift of Ruth and Bruce Dayton, 89.99

Artist Unknown (Bamana or Dogon), Horse and Rider, early 20th century, iron, The Christina N. and Swan J. Turnblad Memorial Fund, 98.204a,b

Jean Baptiste Stouf, Saint Vincent de Paul, 1787, terracotta sculpture, The John R. Van Derlip Fund, 70.15

Unknown Artist, Tiger, 1966, textile, Gift of Cowtan & Tout, Inc. 99.1.1057.3

John Frederick Peto, Reminiscences of 1865, after 1900, oil on canvas, The Julia B. Bigelow Fund by John Bigelow, 44.25

David B. Tait, Untitled,  1976, photo, The Christina N. and Swan J. Turnblad Memorial Fund, 78.55.4

Earl L. Mohr, Menace,  1934, photo, Gift of Earl L. Mohr, 83.56

China, Tiger pillow, 12th century, Tz’u-chou ware, Gift of Ruth and Bruce Dayton

Fancy a catnap? Slumberers of ancient China would have been lucky to curl up with this ceramic pillow, modeled in the form of a crouching tiger, with head upturned and fangs bared. A central painted medallion encircles a butterfly hovering above an orchid and lotus leaf, no doubt to usher users to the land of nod. Tiger-form pillows date from the Chin dynasty (1115–1234); their artists were likely inspired by a popular theme of ferocious felines in paintings. Exceptionally well preserved, this marvelous example offers a delight to the eyes—though, one suspects, a pain in the neck.

More at artsconnected.org

Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE), terracotta, H. 180 cm (70 7⁄8 in), Qin Shihuang tomb complex, 1977, Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Shaanxi 02531

Giddy-up! You can tell my job by my short armor and pleated skirt, designed for easy riding. My right hand once clasped my horse’s reins; I likely held a crossbow in my left hand. The imperial Qin cavalry was a revolutionary shift in early warfare. I saw my chance and jumped on it.

Origin: Pit 2
Quantity: 116 horses/cavalrymen excavated
Position: In neat formation
Weapon: Crossbow, likely
Features: Short armor, pleated skirt

Meet the Cavalryman in person, plus seven other Terracotta Warriors at “China’s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor’s Legacy.”

Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE), terracotta, H. 198 cm (7715⁄16 in), Qin Shihuang tomb complex, 1980, Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Shaanxi 000847

Call me top brass. I’m larger than my men, and my garb reflects my rank. In real life, my cap would have had tail feathers from a pheasant known as he, the bravest bird around. My hands once rested on a sword. A moustache and muttonchops add to my dignity—and authority.

Rank: Alpha dog
Origin: Pit 1
Quantity: 9 excavated
Position: Standing, left of a chariot
Features: Ribbons, cap, moustache

Meet the Armored general in person, plus seven other Terracotta Warriors at “China’s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor’s Legacy.”

To highlight these objects, we present to you Treasures from the Emperor’s Tomb.

Suit of Armour; Qin dynasty (221?06 BCE); Limestone; Height 77cm, Width 50cm; Excavated from Pit K9801 in Qin Shihuang’s tomb complex, 1999; Shaanxi provincial institute of archaeology 007094; The image is produced with kind permission from the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre.

This limestone body armor and the helmet were reconstructed from fragments found in a pit thought to be the armory, not far from the tomb mound. The armor consists of more than six hundred stone plaques laced together with copper wire. Excavation is ongoing, with over 130 stone suits of armor with helmets discovered to date. Stone armor was too heavy to wear into battle; it was made for burial. Combat armor was made of leather or metal.

Visit “China’s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor’s Legacy” to see this object (and many more!) in person. Pick up a copy of the exhibition catalogue to learn more about the First Emperor and his captivating mausoleum.