UT Department of Art showcases midwest regional culture
September 20, 2016
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Midwest Mindset pays homage to the once-thriving Midwestern region. During the Industrial Age, this demographic provided opportunities that helped mold the Midwest into what it is today. Now, some of those remains are the tarnished facets, but remembrance also resides in each landmark that is still in existence.
Midwest Mindset is a group exhibition at the University of Toledo Center for Visual Arts. Featured in the main gallery, artists working and residing in Cincinnati, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Chicago and Findlay, this exhibit hones in on the rise and decline of the Midwestern culture. It is presented by the UT Department of Art and produced by Austin Radcliffe and Brian Carpenter.
Artist Clara Degalan says the foundational facets that once depicted our region have now become disconnected due to a loss of self-esteem. She calls it an ‘economic identity crisis.’
“Now in the 21st century we’re finding ourselves in this economic identity crisis,” Degalan said. “I think as a region we’ve always been in a cultural identity crisis. However, now all of the industries that once supported our city, glass and Toledo, cars and Detroit, have pretty much shifted overseas and become obsolete or disappeared altogether. Now we have to stop and ask ourselves, ‘Why are we here?’”
This exhibit allows people to remember the past as it was, as well as to be moved in one’s new measures, according to curator Brain Carpenter.
“The exhibition touches on the spirit of Midwest artists,” Carpenter said. “The work highlights and suggests a ‘high’ and ‘low’ tension inspired by a shared history of this region and understanding of craft practices. In turn, the exhibition gives us an opportunity to reflect on our current cultural tensions and inspire new avenues of thought.”
The artists and curators of the exhibit want visitors to view the artwork and take time to reflect back on the past. Curator Austin Radcliffe expects people to have strong emotional relations to the pieces.
“I hope they can relate to different elements from a small detail or whether they recognize some quilt patterns or towel or retan chair, something nostalgic,” Radcliffe said.
Artists from around the region have brought a variety of styles to this art exhibition, enabling people to have a taste of the variety of Midwestern culture.
“These are all artists working and living in the Midwest; most of the work was made in the last five years and the show is kind of about the current state of the Midwest and sort of the rustbelt and reinvention what became of the American dream,” Radcliffe said.
As natives to the Midwest, these artists are able to depict it in its rawest form. They experienced life here and are able to draw on those experiences to create a visual piece.
“Well, I grew up in the Midwest, so I feel that the art that is produced here is a little different than what is produced elsewhere,” said artist Nathaniel Foley. “I feel the sensibility of Midwestern artists tends to lean towards the handmade. I feel my work relates to that working-class sensibility of wanting to use your hands and going in and fabricating and trying to take pride in the work that is being produced.”
Degalan is also able to render the Midwestern feel through her art because of the experiences she has faced.
“One thing that really interests me about being a Midwestern artist and making work in the Midwest from my experience having my identity routed here is that we are what has historically been known as provincial: ‘We’re the provinces; we are the far flung colony,’” Degalan said.
Both Foley and Degalan are able to reminisce on instances that helped morph their creations. Foley, originator of One and Three Wings (made from wood, bird bones, wire and drawings, 2016) says his childhood experiences are a key impact in his work.
“Flight and my father’s influence of always having airplane models or toys around me, so always pretending to fly or actually flying with him in a small airplane and military objects, it is really flight, materials of flight and how they can relate and play with one another in space,” Foley said.
Degalan, creator of Grand dad (oil on canvas, 2016) and Birch (oil on canvas, 2016), says that both pieces were created with her grandfather in mind.
“Both of those pieces were made in northern Michigan on a tiny lake called Rainy Lake…” Degalan said. “My whole lifetime experiences in the absolutely magical northern Michigan woods really went into both of these painting, and one is titled Granddad because every time I’m there I feel like that is the place he chose for his eternal rest because to him it was heaven…”
This exhibit allows viewers to get a glimpse of what Midwestern culture really is in the eyes of curators Radcliff and Carpenter.
“I think Midwest Mindset is a powerful gauntlet being thrown down with that exact claim that we have this population of makers here who are deeply devoted to craft who have raised their hand-skills to a high level, which is a really rare thing these days,” Degalan said.
Artists for this event include TODT (art collective), Cudelice Brazelton, Erin K. Drew, Dan Gunn, Clara Degalan and Nathaniel Foley.
Midwest Mindset will be open now until Oct. 30 at is free to the public. Access to the museum is free.
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