One of the Twin Cities' primary dealers in African art, Mhiripiri Gallery, has closed its Edina shop and plans to reopen this summer at 9001 Penn Av. S., Bloomington.

Gallery owner Rex Mhiripiri has purchased a former gas station at the intersection of Penn Av. and 90th St. that he plans to gut, remodel and convert into a much-enlarged showroom for the contemporary African sculpture that he imports primarily from Zimbabwe, his homeland.

Plans call for an Aug. 1 reopening, but Mhiripiri is hoping for an earlier debut. "I want to give myself the keys for my 70th birthday on July 23," he said recently.

Meanwhile the gallery has moved its heavyweight stock into an expansive, temporary gallery-cum-storage space at 10525 Florida Av. S. in Bloomington. Until the new space is finished, the gallery remains open by appointment: 952-285-9684.