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Katrina Daniels | Curating Roots, Sept – Oct 2015

Artist Spotlight: Katrina M. Daniels discusses Curating Roots | Sept. – Oct. 2015

Poster Design: Emma Foley
Poster Design: Emma Foley

Curating Roots: The Art of the Local Movement in Lansing was a multi-media exhibit that used visual art to celebrate the vibrant local food movement in the Greater Lansing Community. This exhibit was curated by MICA Director Katrina M. Daniels with assistance from intern Emma Foley, this was on display from Sept. 4 – Oct. 31, 2015.

As the Director of MICA, Daniels also curates exhibits and develops corresponding mission-based programming. The idea for this exhibit came from reflecting on the fact that September and October is a time of harvest and members of the Greater Lansing community would be harvesting locally grown food from their urban farms, shopping at one of the many farmers markets in the area or perhaps enjoying a meal at one of the areas farm to table restaurants. The local food movement is in Lansing is rich with community gardens, workshops, and sustainable food focused non-profits. Daniels wanted to use art to celebrate this beautiful and unique aspect of Lansing, MI, thus Curating Roots: The Art of the Local Food Movement in Lansing was developed.

This is a broad topic to discuss and Daniels knew that she wouldn’t be able to fully explore every aspect of this movement, however, the exhibit could still be used to create awareness, start conversations and lead the community to other resources and information. For this exhibit Daniels decided to use art work to represent the connection between food and community, non-profit organizations such as the Allen Neighborhood Center, the Roots Farm, the Hunter Park Garden House as well as some of the individuals who are involved. Included was a series of work from artist Amanda Greishop who used photography to document a year long cycle of a family owned and run Urban Farm and a CSA (community supported agriculture) program.

#ShareAMealWithMICAHistorically food has been a common subject of art; it is possible to argue that “food art” (the representation of food in art) is as old as art itself. In order to further engage with the community inside and outside of the gallery space, Daniels chose to utilize technology and social media; specifically Instagram. Since it’s inception in 2010 images of food and meals have been a prominent feature. In the 21st Century technology has allowed us to capture images of our food and share them publicly. Daniels asked the community to take pictures of their meals and use the hashtag #ShareAMealWithMICA, resulting in an Instagram wall of printed photos in the gallery. The utilization of this hashtag allowed the community to actively contribute to this dialogue of food and art.

In addition to the physical exhibit, Daniels also developed programming that celebrated the same themes. The robust and innovative programming began at the opening reception. The opening was a multi-sensory experience that celebrated the connection between food, art and music. Musician Chelsea Koziatek and band played a repertoire of chamber music while custom made tapas dishes from the farm to table restaurant Soup Spoon Cafe which had been created based on the music, were served.

Listen to a podcast from Current State here that includes interviews and sound bites from the opening reception.

"Roots" Dance Performance
“Roots” Dance Performance

Each month MICA Gallery hosts a dance performance at the gallery, the dancers show that contemporary movement is often inspired by contemporary art. In October, the performers of DANCE Lansing choreographed a performance entitled Roots. This performance used movement to address the themes of agriculture, harvest, gathering and community – some of the subjects that ground us to our planet. The photograph to the right shows dancers performing a ballet inspired by the traditions of harvest and gathering.

An important element of the local food movement that Daniels also wanted to showcase was the fact that it is a circle that includes a market for the food and goods to be purchased, this movement doesn’t end with the harvest. In that vain, Daniels partnered with Bloom, a local coffee roaster for two tasting events that offered the community an opportunity to taste artisanal coffee and locally sourced food pairings. The proceeds from these events were then given to the Cristo Rey Community Center a basic needs center to help support their food justice programs.

Curating Roots: The Art of the Local Food Movement used art and programming to engage with the community, create awareness about food justice and the local food movement all while supporting our local farms and businesses. Daniels feels strongly that art is a powerful tool to create conversation and community engagement.

The Lansing Public Media covered the opening reception of Curating Roots and created a video with interviews and more, please watch below:

CLIP Curating Roots @ MICA Gallery from Lansing Public Media on Vimeo.

Katie Short | Forward Moving Fire, June 2015

Artist Spotlight: Katie Short | Forward Moving Fire

There’s always been a contradiction between dream and reality that most people would consider to be surreal. Sculptor Katie Short is no stranger to this notion, and, in fact, has an open conversation with curator and Director Katrina M. Daniels about it. As Katie was installing her show, she talked about the driving force of surrealism that is so richly poured into her work.

As Katie is creating a piece right in front of me with spray paint and a large white cloth that will be shown in the gallery, I ask her if this is something she does/creates at all of her exhibitions. 

Katie: “I did it right on the wall (before). I have the elements and I like to play around. Add to it, take away, rearrange and it makes it (the piece) completely different.”

"I did it right on the wall (before). I have the elements and I like to play around. Add to it, take away, rearrange and it makes it (the piece) completely different."

 

And The opportunity to create something site specific and manipulate for each show is interesting as well

Katie: “Yes. Its better I think. Keeps it more interesting and playful. And Knowing that its okay that I don’t know exactly whats going to happen.”

 

Conversations with the curator

You were talking previously about surrealism and about how it is an influence for your work…

Katie: Yes. One of my earliest memories of art was Salvador Dali ‘The Persistence of Memory’ with the melting clocks. I liked it because I didn’t have to learn about it to understand it. I was attracted to it as a seven year old because it was weird and dreamy.”

Conversations with the curator

I can absolutely see that playfulness in your work.

Katie: “Exactly. It’s funny, weird, and has its dark side, but they’re allowed to exist at the same time. I think that’s important and it comes in contact with absurdity. Everybody goes through moments of hopelessness and when you’re in the moment something feels like its forever and later on it’s a completely different world.”

Conversations with the curator

I asked Katie to elaborate on this idea she was speaking of

Katie: “The idea of material phenomenon…I really wanted to see that clock melted in the Salvador Dali painting. And I’m not trying to pull the wool over your eyes, I just want to show you something you’ve seen before in a different away. I think that’s what surrealism is about. I wanted to see what it was like to destroy an object and make something new out of it and see what those things reflect in our lives. ” 

Conversations with the curator

Did you essentially start playing with objects and see how they work into your personal work?

Katie: “I’ve always been sentimental to objects. Even more so now since we’re on computers all the time. I want to see what happens if I put two objects together and put different processes to them. It’s almost like a third element to subjecting these things. Its the unknown.”

Conversations with the curato

Its interesting to have a conversation about objects because we are on computers a lot but there’s an interesting juxtaposition with the handmade and artisanal glorification again.

Katie: “Yeah you’re right. Its a really important thing that there are people that are still pinning things physically in the world and not just having an idea and paying someone to make it.”

Conversations with the curator

As I agree, Katie continues to elaborate on the loss and importance  of hands on learning and the need for physical artistic expression

Katie: “As far as your sense go sight has been lifted up to the most intellectual level and touch is considered more primal but realistically there’s things you can learn that way that you cant learn in other ways. We stopped doing that and there’s a whole language that is lost because of it. “

Conversations with the curator

 

Instagram Workshop with IgersLansing

Join us at MICA Gallery for an Instagram Workshop with Instagramers Lansing! This mobile photography workshop will teach participants about Instagram, igerslansing, and online professional photography media. The workshop will also discuss framing a shot, posting and editing your images and much more!

The workshop will also have a hands on section that gives participants an opportunity to edit a photo and learn about options that make your photos unique. Bring your walking shoes because the workshop will wrap up with a photo walk around Old Town Lansing!

You can follow MICA on instagram at: artinmichigan

You can follow IgersLansing on instagram at: igerslansing

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