An artistic Monday

"Hidden in Plain Sight" photo exhibit

Charles had some errands to run in Missoula on Monday and when he was done he took advantage of the opportunity to visit the Missoula Art Museum (MAM).  The MAM is a traditional looking museum which showcases contemporary art work which is in itself an interesting juxtaposition of old and new.

Two exhibits were of particular interest to Charles in light of his exposure to different artistic expressions at the university.

In one, "Hidden in Plain Sight," photographer Jill Brody explored the ways in which the Mennonite communities in Montana see themselves and how the larger secular community sees this minority.  What made this a contemporary expression and not merely another photography exhibit was the exploration of what it means to not see someone who is present.


Another contemporary exhibit explored the juxtapostion of quirky images and a "random stream of consciousness" that yields a playful work.  Patricia Thornton's "Misfits, Monsters, and Pretty Things - Daydreams and Dalliances" was interesting becuase it showed that contemporary art can be fun.  It seems that for the most part the contemporary art scene is trying too hard to prove something, in this exhibit what is done is a blending of a vast array of mediums and pattern/design.