New Catalogue
Big Ten Co-Ed With Ski Mask No. 5, 2003
digital C-print
Courtesy of
Bodybuilder & Sportsman Gallery, Chicago

The work of 25 contemporary artists based in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio will be featured in the inaugural edition of the 2005 DePauw Biennial: Contemporary Art in the Midwest, an exhibition that will be on view at the Richard E. Peeler Art Center at DePauw University from February 16 through May 8, 2005.

Curated by Kaytie Johnson, Director and Curator of University Galleries, Museums and Collections at DePauw, the show features approximately 50 works, several created specifically for the Biennial, by artists based in the three-state region of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. The 25 artists selected to participate in the 2005 DePauw Biennial - a group that includes one artist collective - were chosen because their work confirms an awareness of, and participation in, global contemporary art practice.

As Johnson states: "My curatorial prerogative in organizing this exhibition was not to seek out work that expressed any sort of geographic style or sensibility. My selection of artists was primarily driven by curatorial intuition and critical response. A major goal was to avoid propagating or perpetuating a sub-genre of contemporary art - that is, a "Midwest style" - one that would suggest stylistic homogeneity or encourage a one-dimensional reading of work in the region."

Although the show was not organized based upon specific thematic or formal concerns, the work showcased does reflect a number of overlapping tendencies, such as diverse approaches to process, narrative, materiality, abstraction, conceptual strategies, technology, and place. The diversity extends to the wide range of materials, processes and media represented, including sound, web-based art, video, site-specific installation and performance, as well as painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and digital art.

The artists invited to participate in the 2005 DePauw Biennial are: Noelle Allen (Illinois), Jimmy Baker (Ohio), Conrad Bakker (Illinois), Keith Benjamin (Ohio), Denise Burge (Ohio), Tammy Burke (Indiana), Jennifer Danos (Illinois), Carrie Dickason (Ohio), Katy Fischer (Illinois), Warren Fry (Ohio), Linda Gall (Ohio), Emily Kennerk (Indiana), Chip Kohrman (Ohio), Anthony Luensman (Ohio), Lori Miles (Indiana), New Catalogue (Illinois), Melissa Oresky (Illinois), Brian Presnell (Indiana), Scott Roberts (Illinois), Jason Salavon (Illinois), Dana Sperry (Indiana), Steve Stelling (Ohio), Jeremy Tubbs (Indiana), Heidi van Wieren (Illinois), and Ryan Woods (Indiana).

A brochure will accompany the exhibition, with an essay written by curator Kaytie Johnson.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Opening Reception
Thursday, March 3, 2005
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Lower level, University Gallery
With a performance by Toy Band

For more information about special events associated with this exhibition, please call the gallery information line at 765.658.4882