Woman Made Gallery (WMG) is pleased to present “5th Midwest Open,” a group exhibition juried by Alison Wong featuring the work of 33 women and non-binary artists residing in the 12 Midwestern states. As a demonstration of the artistic excellence from the Midwest, this exhibition puts forth the vibrancy, diversity, and strong feminist voice right here in the Heartland.
In her jurors’ statement, Alison Wong writes: “Born in Chicago and based in Detroit, I am embedded with a deep affinity for the Midwest and was honored to be invited by Woman Made Gallery to jury their 5th Midwest Open. From the initial review of over 300 submitted artworks, I was impressed by the wide-ranging mix of mediums, styles, and perspectives presented by the women in our region.
Making the selections for the exhibition was a daunting task but I relied on the work to inform the curatorial vision. As a practicing artist and curator, I think of the artworks and artists behind them as the material to craft a larger work in and of itself. I’m searching for deeper connections to reveal themselves, narratives to become interwoven, and new interpretations to emerge.
I wish to acknowledge all the tremendous works that were not included as the final selections were dependent on all the other works and with consideration to Woman Made Gallery’s space. The placement and way in which the viewer navigates and absorbs the work is equally critical. As such, my curatorial selections are not a reflection solely on the merit of each individual artwork but the role they play in the exhibition as well as our cultural and creative community.”
Exhibiting Artists:
Lisa Alberts, Eleanor Anderson, Nikki Anderson, Zoe Beaudry, Riley Brady, Bridgette Bramlage, Julia Callis, Marcelyn Bennett Carpenter, Mary Climes, Candace Compton Pappas, Shahrbanoo Hamzeh, Sharon Harper, Trisha Holt, Margaret Hull, Jessica Jokhi, Kira Keck, JoAnn Kennedy, Violet Luczak, Miriam Martincic, Meredith Morrison, Ahavani Mullen, Sara Nishikawa, Megan Roethler, Leslie Rogers, Erin Schmidt, Ashley Allen Short, Kaitlin Shulman, Dolores Slowinski, Nalani Stolz, Michele Thrane, Katie Vota, Zhaozhao Wang, and Hannah Zimmerman.
About the Juror:
Alison Wong is first-generation Chinese American artist, curator, and educator born in Illinois and based in Detroit, MI since 2004. Wong received her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, MI and her BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD. Primarily working in the field of painting and drawing, Wong takes inspiration from her personal histories and her professional practice as Director and Curator of Wasserman Projects, founder of Butter Projects, and Adjunct Faculty at College for Creative Studies.
Banner Image: Sara Nishikawa, Untitled (Medium Laundry Basket) (2019), stoneware, 14 x 18 x 8 in.
