Now You See Me . . .

If one looks closely and listens carefully, works of art can ask important questions that elicit understanding of our world. For example, what societal factors influence how an artist depicts another person? What role does photography play in transforming individuals into icons? Or, what does it mean when people talk about being a “real” man? Sometimes, artworks ask the viewer self-referential questions. For example, can a “painting” be made on a computer? When you remove craftsmanship, in what other ways can we determine if a work of art is “good”? This year’s permanent collection exhibition looks at portraits and abstractions – their “human-ness” or mechanical nature – and more importantly, the spectrum of questions that one can derive from the work. What questions or responses do you have? We invite you to join the conversation through this exhibition curated by Plains Art Museum Director Andrew Maus and Associate Curator Tasha Kubesh, with assistance from the Museum’s Curatorial Team members and installation staff.   

Plains Art Museum is home to over 4,000 diverse national, regional, and local works of art. Since the Museum’s incorporation in 1975, it has focused primarily on collecting American modern and contemporary art in a variety of styles with special emphasis in regional artwork, Native American work, and Modern Masters. This current exhibition also acknowledges donations to the collection from private collectors and businesses that are making Fargo-Moorhead the cultural center of the Upper Midwest.