Loosely defined as the area that stretches from the Dakotas in the west along the Great Lakes to Michigan and Ohio in the east and from the north in Minnesota adjacent to the Mississippi River through Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, the Midwest is a construct bounded by geography as well as shared social and cultural legacies.
I look forward to the unique experiences of the work that each venue will present and the dialogue that they will surely inspire related to both shared and individual experiences within the Midwest.” It has been energizing to see how the artists respond to these themes in their practices. “Working with artists based in the region and understanding the cultural landscape of America’s heartland brings ideas of self, community, and purpose to the forefront. “The intersections that emerge between artists working all across the Midwest in this exhibition are truly exciting,” said Jade Powers, Assistant Curator at Kemper Museum. Centering largely on the generative nature of the artist’s studio, the exhibition offers a constellation of themes that weave together to reveal new artistic directions for our shared future,” says Courtenay Finn, Chief Curator at moCa Cleveland. With vitality, energy, and exciting promise, the artists explore our current moment in time, one marked by dramatic change and a demand for new narratives, voices, and actions.
“Covering a full range of practices, the artists in The Regional foreground the Midwest as a location of conflict and possibility. At a time when the concerns of the middle of the country are ever more visible and urgent, this exhibition is a chance to spark dialogue and connection, providing audiences a deeper understanding of the historical foundation and contemporary concerns that ultimately unite us." "The exhibition offers audiences a long glance into the heart of America, which is as complex, varied, and evolving as the artists and works on view in this show. “The Regional is a testament to the range of creative practices and rich cultural heritage alive in the Midwest and is an important opportunity to support and celebrate local artists," commented Amara Antilla, Senior Curator at the CAC. A parallel program of conversations and performances is being organized at each venue. The exhibition premieres at moCa from July 8 through Novembefore traveling to the CAC Decemthrough and then to Kemper Museum from Jthrough September 11, 2022. The Regional is co-curated by Amara Antilla, Senior Curator at the CAC Courtenay Finn, Chief Curator at moCa and Jade Powers, Assistant Curator at Kemper Museum. Ingrid Olson, Devan Shimoyama, Alice Tippit, and Jordan Weber-The Regional celebrates the artistic and cultural complexity of the Midwest, offering audiences a more comprehensive understanding of this moment in America’s heartland. Showcasing artists that represent a wide variety of backgrounds, concerns, and approaches-including Conrad Egyir, Matthew Angelo Harrison, Gisela McDaniel, B. The Regional is the first major multi-museum survey dedicated to contemporary artists based in the Midwest and will feature new and recent work, including several site-responsive commissions, by more than 20 artists working across painting, photography, installation, and performance.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa), the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) in Cincinnati, and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art (Kemper Museum) in Kansas City, MO are co-organizing a major exhibition dedicated to artists living and working throughout Midwestern America. Featuring New and Recent Work by Artists Working Across Disciplines, The Regional Explores the Cultural Complexities of America’s Heartland – Exhibition Premieres at moCa in July 2021, Then Travels to the CAC and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art