New Exhibitions Showcase Minneapolis Artists

In the main gallery, “The Motion of the Crowd” brings together the work of Gregory Rick and Ryan Fontaine. Rick’s large-scale narrative paintings explore individual experience through far-reaching references to the history of racial oppression in the United States. The sounds and atmospheric effects of Fontaine’s kinetic installation provide multisensory layers to the dynamic scenes and capture the energy of a crowd on the verge of revolt. Rick grew up in Minneapolis and recently completed his MFA at Stanford University. Fontaine is a self-taught artist, musician and co-director of HAIR + NAILS Gallery in Minneapolis, with whom this exhibition was organized.

In the Charlyn Gallery, “DrumRoll” is the premiere of a new immersive audio-visual installation by Minneapolis-based composer and artist Mary Ellen Childs. The five-channel installation uses video to capture the point of view of four performing percussionists on wheels, exploring the relation between aural, visual and mobile experience. This interdisciplinary exhibition is taking place in collaboration with Truman’s North Star Music Festival organized by the Department of Music and the Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity, Oct. 21-22.

An artist talk with Fontaine and Rick will take place in the gallery from 5-6 p.m. Oct. 30, followed by a reception to celebrate the opening of both exhibitions with refreshments from 6-7 p.m.

In addition, several related events are also taking place. Childs will premiere a new work with Truman’s Percussion Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. Fontaine and Kristin van Loon will give an online talk about running their gallery HAIR + NAILS from 5-6 p.m. Nov. 3. For more information and link to the talk visit gallery.arttruman.com.

The University Art Gallery is located in Ophelia Parrish 1114. Reception and events are free and open to the public.