Pop Up Goes West: An Exit Gallery Exhibit

ASMSU’s Exit Gallery just wrapped up its first exhibition of the spring semester: “Communities West V.” This was the fifth of a series of exhibits — hence the V — that take place every other year to showcase the work of printmakers and their connections to the western U.S. This exhibit was curated by printmakers Andrew Rice (@purplehat on Instagram) and Bozeman local Sukha Worob (@sukhaworob). 

The gallery featured a number of smaller framed works by a variety of artists. Most of these appeared to have been made in 2021, which gave the exhibit a refreshing feel reflective of a modern lens through which the western U.S. can be observed. The relatively equal dimensions of the pieces allowed for a cohesive feel among all their differing themes, and made great use of the limited space the tiny exhibit has to work with. The Exit Gallery is a great place for busy students and faculty to explore a piece of campus and community culture. To the smaller space’s benefit, viewers are able to soak in a lot of art in as much or as little time as they have.

The art pieces in “Communities West V” were certainly small, yet displayed a great deal of creative license, proving that you don’t need a huge canvas to make a big impact. A number of the prints were on the nose with the exhibit’s main theme, whereas others had more implicit messages suggestive of emotions associated with the western image. One black and white print, “Will it be Enough to Love” by Emmalea Chan, showed a young child lying on the ground looking toward a huge television surrounded by not-to-scale VHS tapes. This piece seemed to be representative of the nostalgia for growing up in an age before technology felt all-consuming — a great example of the exhibit's simplistic and simultaneously emotive atmosphere. 

Another particularly striking piece was named “It Has Never Yet Melted,” by Nathaneal Read. Including etching, digital print, screenprint and cyanotype on paper and fabric, I think the piece can best be described as a collage work. It displayed much of the cowboy-spaghetti-Western aesthetic most often associated with the Wild West, and also presented an etched image of a much less heroic man lifelessly sprawled out on a couch. These combined elements suggested the detrimental nature of the notions and expectations surrounding traditional masculinity. Again, another great example of the modernity the exhibit brought to light.   

The Exit Gallery is located in room 212 of the SUB. Check out its next exhibit featuring MSU alumna Elizabeth Salacinski from Monday, Feb.14, to Friday, March 4. The Exit Gallery is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m during the school year.