The Ruth and Seymour Landfield Atrium and Xcel Energy Gallery
Over the past two decades, Smith has documented significant cultural shifts in academic and public libraries, primarily across the United States, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Her work highlights the library’s role in knowledge stewardship, capturing the evolution from traditional card catalogs and stacks to digitization and artificial intelligence. Morphologies features Smith’s acclaimed projects—VOLUME, Denudation, and As You Will: Carnegie Libraries of the South Pacific—alongside new mixed-media installations made from deaccessioned library materials, donated to the project by local academic libraries. This exhibition explores the dynamic nature of library lifecycles with striking imagery, including the historic chained library at Hereford Cathedral in England and Smith’s trademark—captures of bound periodicals. Smith’s work considers the ways the book is revered, as well as how libraries adapt to changes like transitioning from physical books to online resources.
Mickey Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Photography from Minnesota State University Moorhead (1994) and a Diploma in Jewelry Design from Hungry Creek Art & Craft School in New Zealand (2019). Mickey is an advocate and spokesperson for Harbour HoSpice Auckland. Since 2003, Smith’s work has been included in numerous exhibitions throughout the United States, in New Zealand, China, and Russia. Her works belong to numerous public and private collections, including the Museum of Modern Art Library, Sheldon Museum of Art, and Weisman Art Museum. She has received grants and awards from the McKnight Foundation, CEC ArtsLink, Americans for the Arts, and Creative New Zealand.
Plains Art Museum thanks our generous PlainsArt4All members, donors, and Organizational Partners for their support. Additional support provided by The McKnight Foundation; FM Area Foundation; The Arts Partnership with support from the cities of Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo; The FUNd at Plains Art Museum; and the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funds from the North Dakota Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.
Exhibition Tour
Thursday, January 30, 6-6:45 PM, Free
Explore Morphologies, a captivating exhibition that documents the transformation of libraries in the digital age.
