The Morning Papers: a Guardian feature, museum updates and love for Troy Gua
- ecbalazs
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
They could contemplate the entire universe
Or just one star
Oh just how far was the walk for the morning papers — Prince, The Morning Papers, 1992
The Guardian just published a piece about my journey to Prince's Minneapolis in the wake of his passing. How his death in 2016 sent me stumbling backwards against a subway wall, how it eventually led me to upend my life and move to Minneapolis, and how that led to this museum. It's part of their My Cultural Awakening series, and it captures something I've been trying to articulate for years. I figured if I'm inviting everyone else to share their Prince story, I should offer mine too. I hope you enjoy it.
Around the 10th anniversary of Prince Roger Nelson's passing, the museum was also featured in two beautiful pieces closer to home. Minnesota Monthly published a generous portrait of the museum featuring participating artists Peyton Scott Russell and Troy Gua — their histories, their art, their enduring connection to Prince. And North News, the community paper of record for this neighbourhood, covered our roots here with care. I'm grateful to all three journalists for their time, their generosity, and for capturing the spirit of this project so beautifully. A special thanks for featuring some wonderful artworks from our participating artists.
Submissions are now closed. 81 stories, artworks, films, poems, and artifacts have arrived from 9 countries — from Minneapolis to Melbourne, Sweden to Armenia, Germany to the UK. Visual artists, writers, musicians, collectors, a Superbowl stage crew member, a teenager in Hamburg who just found Prince through a TV show and is suddenly obsessed, an artist who suffered deep childhood trauma and draws lifelong solace and ongoing healing through Prince's music, a Minnesotan drag king performing a sublime roller skating tribute.
We're now entering the final curatorial phase — reading, considering, arranging, planning the installation, shaping the programs and events that will bring this collection to life. It's an honor to be entrusted with these precious stories and artworks, and we are looking forward to preparing for a beautiful community celebration in June. For participating artists and story sharers — thank you. If you haven't heard from us yet, stand by for next steps on delivering your work and preparing final materials.
We are also planning a special June evening of screenings, readings and performance — and some additional events. More soon.
The People's Museum for Prince opens June 7, 2026 at Roberts Gallery, 2400 Plymouth Ave N, North Minneapolis — free and open to all.
And in some exciting news, we'll be announcing a special additional partner venue with its own deep ties to Prince's Minneapolis shortly — we can't wait to share it.
Finally-
A special note of love, care and healing for participating artist Troy Gua who is recovering from surgery. Troy is the artist who created the extraordinary and deeply beloved Le Petit Prince project, an active ongoing tribute to Prince. If you have the means, please support Troy, either directly through patreon, or by purchasing his work - beautiful calendars, books, posters and pins await your daily enjoyment. Troy, our hearts are with you.
💜
Emma
Curator
The People's Museum for Prince
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