Art Walk Central sheds light on contemporary issues through installations
This year, local contest Art Walk Central is exhibiting race struggles, violence and nation-wide conflict through its installations.
Art Walk Central is a month-long event hosted by Art Reach of Mid-Michigan in August and began in 2012. Art is exhibited throughout downtown Mount Pleasant, the Central Michigan University Art Gallery and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe's Ziibiwing Center.
Artists featured in the competition presented their work at Central's Art Gallery on Aug. 28.
Contemporary issues took three-dimensional form designed by competitors Corby Blem, Edward Evans and Kim Kleinhardt.
Kleinhardt, a Clare resident and owner of 515 Gallery in downtown Clare, titled her installation "Oh Say Can You See."
It stood as a large, metallic flag hung from a clear pipe of empty bullet shells and was tarnished by plexiglass shards and chainsaw use.
Kleinhardt served as a high school art teacher at Clare High School for 27 years. Her experiences have shaped her art. Her inspiration came from family, students, the community and how all can be affected by gun violence.
"I'm talking about the whole package (in regard) to what guns have been to our society and what they are to our society."
She said she hopes her piece, designed to be obnoxious and isolating, can start a discussion, not an argument.
Edward Evans of Farwell created a similar piece titled "First Day of School." It depicted a holster hanging from a desk held up by crates of ammo.
Evans studied sculpture and ceramics at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver British Columbia, Canada. He said his artistic style is made by taking objects and "(breaking) them down until their essence creates meaning."
An event that inspired Evan's piece took place this past April. A 31-year-old man conducted an armed robbery at Buccilli's Pizza in Farwell. After the perpetrator attained $1,431.17, he was found hiding outside of Farwell Elementary School, the same school Evan's daughter attends.
He said his product was created by taking something physically disgusting and crafting it into art.
He said the empty holster hangs as a new responsibility for children in America, that may feel "expected to defend and protect themselves."
Corby Blem of Mount Pleasant captured those already demonstrating this responsibility.
His installation was a carnival booth titled "Eeny, Meeny, Miny Crow." It had "Make America Great Again!" presented in large letters and small, red cannonballs with "M.A.G.A" painted on them. Behind the game were the targets: three African Americans.
"The phrase ‘Make America Great Again’ sounded that they were picking and choosing who it was that they wanted to be included in making America great again," Blem said.
The three figures represent:
- Rashon Nelson, arrested outside a Starbucks for attempting to use the restroom prior to making a purchase.
- Lolade Siyonbola, a Yale student interrogated by police for falling asleep on campus.
- Jordan Austin, an eight-year-old girl frightened by a white woman who became frustrated by the child selling water to raise money for Disneyland tickets.
"They stood their ground, they took their chance and were bold. They were unafraid," Blem said. "They have defended themselves elegantly and it’s an honor for me to be able to represent them."
Despite experiencing discomfort while creating the piece, Blem said it is a reminder that America has "not come as far as we think it has."
