Local (Minneapolis and Minnesota) and national artistic events particularly photographic in nature by dates.
Locally Grown: Documentary Photography of Minnesota Communities
November 19, – April 23, 2023
This winter, the Weisman is pleased to present Locally Grown: Documentary Photography of Minnesota Communities, an exhibition of documentary photographs by Minnesota artists, drawn from museum’s permanent collection, curated by 2019-20 O’Brien Curatorial Fellow Ashley Cope. Documentary photography published in magazines and books has seen a decline in recent years, with the advent of television, digital media, and infinite online content. But it was once an indispensable window on the world, granting the public a view of historic events, far-off locations, and unfamiliar scenes. Unlike photojournalism, a form of photography that focuses on breaking news stories and current events , documentary photography favors long-term projects, ongoing social issues, and stories that are better understood through a series of photographs featuring related subjects. Though documentary photography has undoubtedly captured historic events and locations, everyday life has always been tied to the practice as well.
Though an everyday scene can appear unimportant at first blush, the intimacy of a day-in-the-life photograph can evoke an array of emotions, depending on the present-day context and viewers’ personal experiences. The selected photographs in this exhibition invite closer inspection of daily life in Minnesota and meditation on the cross-section of the state’s communities pictured. All six of the featured photographers are from or currently based in Minnesota: Joseph Allen, Laura Migliorino, Tom Arndt, David L. Parker, Wing Young Huie, and Michael Dvorak. Their work spans five decades and highlights family, friendship, culture, religion, sexuality, work, inequality, hardship, and joy among other broad topics. We hope these works spark curiosity and an urge to genuinely connect with Minnesota and its diverse people, the beating heart of the state.
English