It is easy to see pictures of art exhibits and think that it was creation of the art that was the difficult part, that all the exhibit is, is placing of the art on walls or on the ground. That finding space for the art is all that needs to be done in an exhibit. But in many ways art exhibits are just as much a piece of art as the individual pieces that make up the exhibit, and just as much work too.
A variety of dead trees presented in Maya Lin's Ghost Forest in Madison Square Park https://madisonsquarepark.org/art/exhibitions/maya-lin-ghost-forest
In many ways what exhibits do, is to deconstruct our society, to acknowledge its successes but more importantly they challenge its ideologies and fixed ideas. In other words, they create a critique of our society and by extension us; while highlighting a way to take action. This is the case in so many of the most notable exhibits of this and past years. In Manhattan Maya Lin’s Ghost Forest exhibit demonstrated the increasingly harsh effects of climate change with the brandishing of 49 Atlantic Cedar trees, all dead, and all victims of a changing climate. In other cases, exhibits highlight the long history of racism and violence against marginalized communities, a history which is alive and well today. In exhibit and museum Greenwood Rising, a culmination of artistic pieces and historical documents recreate the atmosphere of Tulsa prior to the race riots of 1921 and walk visitors through that tragic event.
A display in Greenwood Rising of an old barbershop prior to its destruction
There may be no better local example of the work put into exhibits both small and large, and the synergy between the pieces which creates an experience, than the art exhibit constructed by the CSUMB VPA department at CSUMB. In this local exhibit art pieces are arranged to show a myriad of ways that COVID has affected the local landscape. In one art piece, by artist Jessica Wimbley, an African American holds up a mask to his face which on one side depicts the California Poppy and on the other a sign that reads “Everyday is your chance to make this city a little better.” As if to say that everything is in their hands, and consequently if they are not successful not healthy etc. it is their fault, with no consideration for how much this society has tried to hold that community down. Jessica Wimbley's piece demonstrates the inequity in how some Communities are treated in and around COVID, but she’s not the only one, her piece seamlessly moves to another piece which depicts farm workers with masked faces looking exhausted working in a field. Again, showing that for many whom this society largely relegates to hard labor, the restrictions we put in place are an even heavier burden. In both of these cases and more, we use art and more specially the exhibits art is placed in to show a moving theme, a theme which reflects and evaluates our own existence and our lives, and what we need to do better to live in a more equitable and ideal society. Perhaps said more succinctly, exhibits are the mouthpieces of society, they tell us loud and clear what we need to do to better the world in which we live.
One part of Jessica Wimbley's Masking Series which was present at CSUMB's recent gallery
Other sources
Madison Square Park. “Maya Lin: Ghost Forest.” Madison Square Park Conservancy, 23 Nov. 2021, https://madisonsquarepark.org/art/exhibitions/maya-lin-ghost-forest/. - Ghost Forest Picture
Bay, California State University Monterey. “VPA Gallery Exhibit: Art, Solidarity, and the Power of Image.” Art, Solidarity & The Power of Image Exhibit | California State University Monterey Bay, https://csumb.edu/cahss/news-listing/art-solidarity--the-power-of-image-exhibit/. – Jessica Wimbley Picture
Cotter, Holland, and Roberta Smith. “Best Art Exhibitions of 2021.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 Dec. 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/07/arts/design/best-art-2021.html.
Greenwood Rising. “The Greenwood Spirit.” GREENWOOD RISING, https://www.greenwoodrising.org/experience.
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