MINNEAPOLIS, MN.- The Minneapolis Institute of Art presents “State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now,” a one-of-a-kind exhibition offering a snapshot of what contemporary American art looks like today. Showcasing 134 works—including paintings, photographs, videos, sculptures, works on paper, installations and performances—by 52 under-recognized artists from nearly every U.S. region, the exhibition examines how today’s artists are informed by the past, innovate with materials old and new, and engage deeply with issues relevant to their communities. On view February 18 to May 29, 2016, “State of the Art” was organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, where it debuted to critical and popular acclaim.
The “State of the Art” exhibition culminated a year-long process in which Crystal Bridges’ curatorial team crossed the country, logging over 100,000 miles, to visit nearly 1,000 artists in rural communities and urban centers—many of them unknown outside of their region. The artists selected for the exhibition had to fill three criteria: virtuosity, engagement, and appeal. The exhibition not only reflects what is happening in studios and creative communities across the nation, it introduces these artists to a broader audience.
In addition to Mia’s presentation, additional versions of “State of the Art” are traveling to Telfair Museums, Savannah, Georgia, February 19 through September 4, 2016, and Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, Tennessee, January 29 through March 26, 2017.
As with the original version, the artists included in “State of the Art” at Mia offer different world views, styles, mediums, and narratives reflecting the diversity and talent currently in America. Of the 52 artists in Mia’s installation, 27 are female and 25 are male and their ages range from 24 to 87. The regional split is also balanced.
Three Minnesota artists are featured in the exhibition: Chris Larson, Andy Ducett, and Cameron Gainer. Larson’s video Heavy Rotation (2011), explores the creation, destruction, and process in an artist’s studio and was screened as part of the 2014 Whitney Biennial in New York City. Ducett’s interactive installation Mom Booth (2013) is a take on the museum information desk and is staffed by volunteers. It premiered at Mia’s “More Real” opening in 2013. Gainer’s video Eternal Hour (2014) is a one-second loop from the opening credits of the Days of Our Lives TV program that plays with the idea of time and how we experience it. Other artists include:
• Mequitta Ahuja, from Baltimore, MD, casts herself in the guise of mythic warriors and epic heroes descending from traditions across cultures in her multi-layered works.
• Joel S. Allen, a mixed media artist from Steamboat Springs, CO creates objects that look to both the past and future. • Jimmy Baker, from Cincinnati, OH, whose series Arrangements blends textile patterns, floral still lifes, and news images of the death of Muammar al-Gaddafi.
• Mary Ann Currier, Louisville, KY, renders still-life objects meticulously in colored pencil.
• Kirk Crippens, a photographer from Emeryville, CA, who documents the physical manifestation of the financial crisis—the loss of homes and businesses—in Stockton, CA.
• Laurel Roth Hope, from San Francisco, CA, whose works transform ordinary objects into elaborate animal sculptures.
• Nathalie Miebach, a Boston-based artist, translates weather data into complex sculptures and musical scores.
• Fahamu Pecou, from Atlanta, GA, whose drawings address concerns around contemporary representations of Black masculinity.
“We’re excited to offer Mia visitors the opportunity to explore the breadth of American contemporary art, beyond what is typically presented in the art world,” said Dennis Jon, Associate Curator of Prints and Drawings at Mia, “The engaging nature of these diverse works are bound to connect with our audiences in new ways.”
The journey to discover artists across the U.S. and the resulting exhibition are highlighted in a short video, a precursor to a documentary film debuting in 2016.
