|
Pulse of the Twin Cities Login |
|
If you do not have an account yet
Create One.
|
|
|
Twin Town High (vol. 8) |
|
|
|
|
Unprepared @ MIA MN Artist Gallery
Tuesday 27 January @ 20:20:54 |
 by Valerie Valentine
Faye Passow and Jenny Schmid are showing some serious work. The printmaking exhibit, Unprepared, at the MIA’s Minnesota Artist gallery represents thousands of hours of physical labor. Printmaking requires huge precision, and the personal-political topics make it even more powerful. Yet, a humor shines through to ease the viewer into contemplating difficult subjects. This art is the fruit of neo-feminism.
Both artists have studied their craft for decades, and in so doing, they have nearly mastered the lithography process. The richness of detail and skillfully layered surfaces echo past masters of this rigorous art form, certainly dominated by men since its birth in the late 1700s. These women artists today are referencing history while recontextualizing Old World media.
“The Curse of the Older Man” by Jenny Schmid
There is pressure from many sources to make light of these representations. Status quo happy old-timers who’ve lived through the ‘70s want to believe that we’ve gotten beyond the tattered psyche of the female in United States’ society. But to recognize inherent sexism in our world does not mean we have cured it. We are steeped in harmful media that hypersexualize young girls, glorify violence and promote various vices. Our brains are thusly saturated and socialized. The art in this show mocks those tattoos on our awareness and shows them for the bruises they are.
Schmid’s series, ‘The Downfall of Young Girls’ are tongue-in-cheek, incredibly intricate lithographs that tell familiar stories. The artist incorporates medieval print details through digital media, a delightful blend of old and new. From “Druggie Gal” to “The Curse of the Older Man,” each woman’s identity is shaped by an outside factor. The girls all gaze with glazed eyes, sufficiently numbed, so they can deal with their vapid realities.
Passow addresses similar themes in her ‘Dark Series.’ The truth rings sharply due to the personal nature of the work; you could not fake these feelings. “Young Girls’ Anger Suppression Classes” shows pretty little girls learning to apologize, cry, sulk, make busy, laugh and disappear. What woman has not funneled her anger in such ways?
Using a technique called Maniere Noir, where she scratches the image out of the black with a razor blade, Passow has come into her own style. Her newer work is breathtaking in texture and complexity: “Mobile Home” and “The Old Future Meets the New Future.” These images help reflect the theme of Unprepared with darkly comic accidents, floods, invasions and other disasters.
The richness of the show’s premise lies in youth unprepared for life in a damaged world. Schmid and Passow represent the anxiety of adolescence with clarity; they reveal the whole psychological training of children for the painful farce that it is. And yet we’re powerless to stop it. Perhaps this artwork will inspire people to show sympathy and understanding towards young people.
Unprepared runs through Feb. 8. A panel discussion about the exhibition featuring critics Clea Felien, Valerie Valentine and Amanda Vail, with artists Faye Passow and Jenny Schmid will be held at the MAEP Gallery at the MIA Sunday February 8 at 2 p.m. Free and open to the public. Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2400 3rd Ave. S., Mpls. 612-870-3173.
|
|
 |
|
|
Comments -
Post Comment |
|
The comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for its content.
NO comments yet! Be the first!
|
|
|
