Room to Breathe

Themed Portfolio Exchange organized by Thuong Hoai Tran and Maddie May

Description

In recent years, we have faced tremendous grief, injustice, and consistent tribulations. These events have led to conversations of space, community care, and growth being re-centered and emphasized across America’s political and cultural landscape. “Room to breathe” is a phrase commonly used to reference personal autonomy. This print exchange invites applicants to consider what breathing room means to themselves and their communities.

America is ingrained with histories of colonization, violence, theft, and exploitation. How do we begin to affirm the impact of our histories and strategize individual and collective growth moving forward? Room to breathe could mean creation or reclamation of physical space, ideas for community building, an emphasis on making space for oneself, or an effort to allow for mourning or celebration. We invite applicants to consider these issues.

Apart from an invitation to create work for the portfolio, a print from each participant will be included in a virtual exhibition showcasing the exchange through Bend Gallery’s online viewing room. Two of the portfolios will join permanent collections: one will be gifted to the print department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, another will be dedicated to Bend Gallery’s permanent collection of prints.

About the organizers

Thuong Hoai Tran and Maddie May are interdisciplinary artists based in Chicago, IL. Working in print, fiber, sculpture, and installation methods, Tran and May’s practices explore themes of memory, place, comfort, and familial histories. Tran recreates and archives family photographs to excavate lost histories, pay homage, and fill in the gaps of generational disconnect and displacement. May embodies and personifies everyday objects which evaluate intimacy, domesticity, turbulent histories, and discomfort through uncanny materials and soft visual optics. Together, they have a collaborative curatorial practice organizing print exchanges and exhibitions which address a variety of themes related to their work. Tran received her BFA from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. May received her BFA from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago as MFA Printmedia candidates and are expected to graduate in May, 2022.

Participants

Jaquelee Chit Yu Chau, Izzy Ukyung Cho, Sally Clegg, Chenxi Gao, Christian Gutierrez, Kevin Haas, Marylu Herrera, Nilou Kazemzadeh, Haley Kean, Janhavi Khemka, Peri Law, Jin Lee, Heather Leier, Maddie May, Reham Mohamed, Michael Mosher, Megan Sterling, Xu Tan, Thuong Tran

Hours
11am-4pm Tuesday through Saturday

Closed Sunday and Monday

Reception

6-8pm Thursday October 13

Location

4th floor hallway

Cummings Center

University of Akron

Wearing face coverings and being up-to-date on Covid-19 vaccinations are strongly recommended at this location.