CHICAGO––Woman Made Gallery (WMG) is proud to present the 7th Midwest Open, a group exhibition with work by 40 artists. Juried by Pamela Callahan, The Midwest Open is an annual exhibition at WMG that highlights the achievements of women and nonbinary artists living in the American Midwest. Included were artists from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and South Dakota.
Juror Statement: “In preparing to view the artwork submitted for Woman Made Gallery’s 7th Midwest Open, I was curious: What’s happening, visual-art-wise, in mid-America, America, the World in 2024? I pledged to be open to the answer. Open to art that spanned genres, materials and motivations. And to find what opened further.
The breadth of concerns explored here, with such wit and intensity, whimsy and rigor, was thrilling. Here is expanse and intimacy. Here are the questions that flower questions. And what’s best—here is humor. I am most thrilled by the force and the freedom of that! What came together for this exhibition is the wide view that comes when one is focused on well-crafted work. These artists regard themselves and the world with compassion and scrutiny. They bring their findings to bear in paint and cloth and all the ways we make our light. It’s a hope-filled exhibition. It’s good to know these artists are working out in the world, working through it all, and responding with joy.” -Pamela Callahan
Exhibiting Artists: Colette Wright Adams, Reevah Agarwaal, Kristin Anderson, Allison Baker, Lisa Marie Barber, Chelsey Becker, Nora Benjamin, Bridgette Bogle, Anna F Brown, Melissa English Campbell, Marisol Cervantes, Debra Balchen, Ellen Mahaffy, Katie Fountain, Christine Gaffney, Jasmine Elizabeth, Elizabeth Joo, Annaleigh Kimes, Madison King, Epiphany Knedler, K Daphnae Koop, Anne Marquette, Wendi Napoli, Diana Noh, Laura O’Connor, Of Thousands, Colleen O’Rourke, Joan Painter-Jones, Madeline Penzel, Schetauna Powell, Sameena Jabeen Rao, Melody Reyes, Meg Roethler, Magdalena Rose Marie Saliba, Alli Smith, Shannon Twohy, Emma Xhaxho, Judith Yourman, Erica Zhan, Xingyi Zhao
About the Juror: Pamela Callahan is an artist and poet who lives and works in Wisconsin. Supporter of Woman Made Gallery since 1993, she has juried exhibitions, curated literary programs and advised and advocated for WMG throughout the years. She is the co-creator of Otter Creek Arts, a full-time studio located in the Driftless region. Hand in hand with creating artwork is its stewardship of the surrounding woods and wetlands. Pamela has exhibited her work throughout the Midwest and parts beyond. Her studio is part of the annual Fall Art Tour, which happens each 3rd weekend in October, together with 50 other artist studios from Baraboo to Spring Green, Dodgeville to Mineral Point.
For more information about Pamela and her art visit https://www.pamelacallahan.com/
Award Winners: 1st: Erica Zhan, Teeth Gymnastics | 2nd: Marisol Cervantes, Tomboy | 3rd: Emma Xhaxho, Vera | 4th: Alli Smith, Accept Me As I Am Your Object
Image: Artwork by Nora Benjamin
Gallery Hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 12–5 PM CST | WMG is closed between exhibitions.
Woman Made Gallery is supported in part by grants from The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; The Illinois Arts Council Agency; the Arts Midwest GIG Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. the Puffin Foundation, a major anonymous donor; and the generosity of its members and contributors.
