ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
EXHIBITION OBJECTIVE
Call and response exhibition between contemporary ceramic artists and commercially produced historic ceramic plates, figurines, and objects placed in conversation with one another. The exhibition can be modified by location to address regional issues relevant to the local communities in which it’s displayed.
EXHIBITION DESCRIPTION
Our America/Whose America? presents a dialogue between contemporary artists and a collection of commercially produced ceramics. This collection of historical objects, collected across the span of several years by Founding Director Leslie Ferrin, is in the form of plates, souvenirs, and figurines from the early 19th through mid-20th centuries. The items were produced in England, Occupied Japan, and various factories in the USA. The exhibition title is chosen from a series of plates produced by Vernon Kiln that features illustrations of American scenes by the painter Rockwell Kent.
In response to this historical collection, contemporary works by participating artists provide new context and interpretation of these profoundly powerful objects. Seen now, decades and in some cases centuries later, the narratives they deliver through image, characterization, and stereotype, whether overt and bombastic or subtle and cunning, form a collective memory that continues to impact the way people see themselves and others today.
EXHIBITION SPECS
EXHIBITION TYPE
- Group exhibition
- 15-20 artists
KEY TOPICS
- American history
- Call-and-response
- Critique
TARGET INSTITUTION
- Historic Institution/home
- Museums with historic collection
PAST LOCATIONS
- Ferrin Contemporary, North Adams, MA
- The Wickham House at the Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA
DURATION | DISPLAY | COSTS & FEES
DURATION OPTIONS
- RUN TIME 3–12 months
- ARTIST CONTRACT DURATION (length of loan): 5-15 months
SPACE/DISPLAY REQUIREMENTS
- REQUIRED DISPLAY TOOLS dependent on location
COSTS & FEES
- EXHIBITION FEES variable by exhibition location
- SHIPPING/LENDING FEES variable by exhibition location
- INSURANCE COVERAGE The exhibition is fully insured by Ferrin Contemporary at no additional expense to the partner institution, both while installed and during transit.
EVENT OPPORTUNITIES
- OPENING/CLOSING RECEPTIONS – select artist/curator talks
- MEET THE ARTISTS – select artists from the exhibition available on site to speak about their work and how it relates to historic content in conversation.
- GUIDED TOURS from Ferrin Contemporary staff on the history of our historic collection and the contemporary artworks responding to it. 45-60 minute tours.
PRESS
“Works in the show are not confined to ceramic dishes or porcelain plates, although many do use the mediums to spark conversations about colonialism, colonization, racism and sexism.”
Our America/Whose America? at Ferrin Contemporary, North Adams | Ceramics Now | September 19, 2022
“In response to this historical collection, contemporary works by participating artists will provide new context and interpretation of these profoundly powerful objects. Seen now, decades and in some cases centuries later, the narratives they deliver through image, characterization, and stereotype, whether overt and bombastic or subtle and cunning, form a collective memory that continues to impact the way people see themselves and others today.”
RECENT LOCATIONS
The Wickham House at The Valentine Museum
1015 East Clay Street
Richmond, VA 23219
February 20 – April 21, 2024
FEATURED ARTISTS IN RICHMOND, VA
*courtesy Lucy Lacoste Gallery
FEATURED ARTISTS IN NORTH ADAMS, MA
*courtesy Jack Shainman Gallery
**courtesy Lucy Lacoste Gallery
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
ADDITIONAL INSTALLATION PHOTOS BY LOCATION
TESTIMONIALS
“The response was beyond what we imagined; both in the setting, curation, and content, guests were impressed and in awe of the conversation between historical techniques/ideas and contemporary recontextualizations in a deeply historic space. The Valentine staff, which was on-site to tell the history of the historic Wickham House alongside the exhibition, reported over 2,000 recorded attendees during the 3 day NCECA conference.
Having shown a version of the exhibition in our white-box gallery in 2022, we were excited to hear such positive feedback during and after our tours. It proved to us that Our America/Whose America? could be modified by location to address regional issues relevant to the local communities in which it’s displayed.”
-Isabel Twanmo, Associate Director, Ferrin Contemporary | Our America/Whose America?, Wickham House, The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA
DOWNLOADS & RESOURCES
- DOWNLOAD EXHIBITION PDF
- VIEW HISTORICAL COLLECTION
INQUIRE
If you’d like to open the conversation to show Our America/Whose America? at your institution, please fill out this form to begin the process. We look forward to working with you!