PORTLAND, Maine - The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) is pleased to announce its 2020 Faculty Triennial, …to unravel the bind, featuring the work of 13 Maine College of Art & Design faculty. On view from January 17 – March 1, 2020, with a public opening reception on Friday, January 17, 2020 from 5:00–7:00pm.
“In 2020, we will weather the swells and tensions of subterfuge, irreversible change, and societal forces that tend toward self-destruction. Now more than ever, we need the thinking, making, and imagining that drives artists to make work both because of and in spite of these challenges, ” says Boston-based art historian and independent curator Ellen Y. Tani, who juried the exhibition. “The artists in …to unravel the bind navigate shifting grounds one step at a time, adapting to uncertainty both provisionally and purposefully. Some pursue processes of dismantling, yielding new spaces and material configurations. Others take up forms, materials and design once intended to visually obscure or physically confine, transforming or repurposing them into new tools and structures for generative exploration. In doing so they explore the increasingly evanescent contours of truth, knowledge, and fact, reading the world as it presents itself—in all its complexity and imbalance—even when it does not make sense.”
The exhibition includes ceramics, painting, drawing, woodworking, photography, textiles, and sculpture. “We are delighted to welcome Ellen Tani’s voice and discernment to jury the faculty triennial this year,” says Exhibitions Director, Julie Poitras Santos. “Her exemplary curatorial practice, and deep analysis when thinking through artistic practice has been exciting to witness. It’s a real honor to work with her on this exhibition.”
The selected group of work speaks to the generative nature of art to navigate the shifting experience of daily life and propose transformation and inventive exploration as a means to explore the world as it presents itself.
In conjunction with the exhibition, the ICA will host gallery talks from selected artists.
Thursday, January 30, 2020: 10:00am
Artist Gallery Talk featuring Michel Droge, Honour Mack, & Ling-Wen Tsai
Friday, February 21, 2020: 10:00am
Artist Gallery Talk featuring Marian Baker and Adrian King
Friday, February 28, 2020: 12:30pm
Artist Gallery Talk featuring Alysha Kupferer and John P. Gardiner
Artists:
Marian Baker, Stephen Benenson, Michel Droge (MFA ’10), Annika Earley (MFA ’16), John P. Gardiner (’07, MFA ’14) Kate Greene, Adrian King (’12), Alysha Kupferer, Alex Lukas, Honour Mack, Kelly McConnell, Rachel Eleni Somerville, Ling-Wen Tsai
Image folder: 2020 Maine College of Art & Design Faculty Triennial: IMAGES
About the Institute Of Contemporary Art at MECA&D (ICA at MECA&D):
The Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design (ICA), features innovative exhibitions and public programs that showcase new perspectives and trends in contemporary art. Located in stunning galleries in our landmark Porteous Building in Portland, Maine, the ICA at MECA&D presents cutting edge work by local, national, and international artists. A lively schedule of programming includes public lectures, workshops, performances, pop-up shows, events and other interventions. The ICA is a unique resource for the MECA&D community, offering insight into contemporary artistic practice, and first-hand experience with visiting artists.
Open Wednesday–Sunday, 11:00am–5:00pm, the galleries regularly remain open until 7:00pm on Thursdays and until 8:00pm for Portland First Friday Art Walks. The ICA at MECA&D is always free.
meca.edu/ica - instagram.com/icaatmeca - facebook.com/mainecollegeofart
About Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D):
Founded in 1882, Maine College of Art & Design is located in the heart of downtown Portland's thriving Arts District. MECA&D offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 11 studio majors (including Animation & Game Art), Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art, Master of Arts in Teaching, Continuing Studies and Pre-College. Institutes at MECA&D include the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies, which offers a graduate certificate, and the Institute for Contemporary Art, which is free and open to the public Wednesday – Sunday.
Contact: Leah Igo Brooks, Director of Marketing & Communications; 207.699.5010, ligo@meca.edu
Page Banner: Michel Droge, Not Yet Titled (cropped), oil on canvas, 75"x 108", 2019