New Photography: McKnight Fellows 2004/2005

November 15, 2005 through December 17, 2005

View our calendar of events for a complete listing of dates and times.

The Exhibition

Exhibition and Programs at the Nash Gallery, November/December 2005

An exhibition featuring work by four McKnight Photography Fellows opens at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery on November 15 and runs through December 17. The four artists—Beth Dow, Alec Soth, Tobechi Tobechukwu, and JoAnn Verburg—each received a $25,000 award from the University of Minnesota/McKnight Foundation Artist Fellowships for Photographers Program in spring 2004. Examples of their work during the ensuing months will be presented in the exhibition and featured in an accompanying catalogue. A public reception at the gallery is scheduled for Friday, November 18, from 6-8:30 p.m.

Beth Dow, of northeast Minneapolis, expanded her work with formal gardens in a series of richly tonal platinum prints that explore the sensory impressions of cultivated landscapes.
Alec Soth, also of northeast Minneapolis, dedicated himself to a site-specific exploration of the life and mythology of Niagara Falls, a storied place with real-life articulations that range from sublime to decrepit.
Tobechi Tobechukwu, of south Minneapolis, continued his explorations of containment, utilizing a Plexiglas box to serve as a succinct and powerful symbol within his portraits. He also developed his series “Genocide Moms” about women whose children have died as a result of crime-related violence.
JoAnn Verburg (Summit Hill neighborhood, St. Paul) concentrated her efforts on contemplating and reevaluating photographic portraiture, considering scale, proximity, and the significance of background and physical props as elements within her direct engagements with subjects.

Three evening presentations are scheduled in conjunction with New Photography: McKnight Fellows 2004/2005. All take place in the InFlux room adjoining the gallery on the first floor of the Regis Center for Art. The programs begin at 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Program Director George Slade will introduce each program.

Thursday, November 17 – Review Panelist Presentation: Christopher Rauschenberg

Rauschenberg, a photographer from Portland, Oregon, was one of three panelists who reviewed the applications for the 2004 Fellowships. He will speak about his own work, which considers impressions of place. Rauschenberg has exhibited widely, and was a founder of the still-active Blue Sky Gallery in Portland.

Thursday, December 8 – Fellows Talk I: Beth Dow/Alec Soth
Thursday, December 15 – Fellows Talk II: Tobechi Tobechukwu/JoAnn Verburg

The Fellows Talks allow the artists to offer their voices and personal observations to supplement and explicate the work on the gallery walls. The artists will present slides and walk through the galleries during these events, which provide ample opportunity for dialogue with each other and audience members.

The McKnight Foundation, of Minneapolis, awards artist fellowships in twelve disciplines through nine arts organizations. The photography awards serve Minnesota-resident artists whose creative, personal work has progressed to mid-career status. More information about the University of Minnesota/McKnight Artist Fellowships for Photographers program can be found at the program's web site, www.mcknightphoto.org, or by calling 612-626-9640.

Also at the Nash: Work by Department of Art Faculty Lynn A. Gray (The Sun and the Oil) and Diane Katsiaficas (Travel Readings).

The Katherine E. Nash Gallery is located on the first floor of the Regis Center for Art at the heart of the West Bank Arts Quarter, 21st Avenue South and Fourth Street on the University of Minnesota's west bank campus. All events at the Nash are free and open to the general public.

Gallery hours:
Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.