Special Exhibit | Divergent Paths
As I come upon graduation, I struggle with what to do after, like many people in my situation. I am unsure of where to spend my time in the future; the busy and chaotic life of the city offers more opportunities, but rural settings represent an idea of calm and restoration. Each place has significance for me personally, and this exhibition acts as a study of these two opposing relationships to society.
The human interactions that take place in the city versus the country differ drastically and are impacted by personal experience. Many of the pieces chosen for the show depict city life to be bright and colorful, but also busy. Some of the pieces can be visually overwhelming, making an attempt to capture the essence of urban bustle. On the other hand, many of the pieces depicting life in the country utilize vibrant blues and greens, alluding to the openness and freedom that can be found there. Each of the selected works, when contextualized by each other, forces you to consider how the sense of place in the work makes you feel. The combination of the two settings appeals to most anyone, bringing up unlimited potential for interaction. In mid-Missouri many people have experienced both environments, and my intention with the exhibition is to create an opportunity for self-reflection.
Another less prominent objective of the show is to look into the way that humans impact nature and wildlife. Humans are innately connected to nature, and we behave in ways that displace it. We create our own confusion and chaos and we deflect that upon our environments, regardless of where we live. Nature is impacted in each setting differently as well; pieces that depict city life have an absence of greenery while the opposite is true of the rural pieces. However, many of the pieces that directly connect humans to animals emphasize the significance of a harmonious relationship. Figures in pieces featuring both animals and humans seem to be the most peaceful, an important underlying theme of the exhibition.
The comparison of opposing environments acts as a way for me to process my thoughts and my feelings about where to live. It is also important to understand the differences between the two settings. They offer very different lives for the people that inhabit both places, which impacts the overall take-away from the exhibition. In addition, the show highlights the incompatibilities that are apparent between humans and nature. It is an underlying subject that ties the show together. The show in its entirety aims to encourage the audience to question their opinions of their surroundings and to consider the positives and the negatives of another type of living situation.
The show is located in Suite B, a short distance from the Sager Braudis Gallery. It is in the alley behind and underneath the Orr Street Lofts, across from the Orr Street Studios. The exhibition will be open on the following dates between November 13th – 27th;
Wednesday, November 13th from 3 pm – 6 pm
Friday, November 15th & 22nd from 4 pm – 6 pm
Saturday, November 16th & 23rd from 11 am – 2 pm
Wednesday, November 27th from 11 am – 1 pm