ART FAIR

Austin Swearengin, Eben Haines, Benjamin Cook, Beth Dow, BiaFra inc., Bikini Press, Brian Willmont, Casey Gray, Chris Groth, Clark Goolsby, Cyrille Conan, Diane Katsiaficas, Dillon Rapp, Erik Benson, Geoffrey Todd Smith, Jack Byers, Michael Gaughan, Michael Velliquette, Oakley Tapola, Pat Falco, Preston Drum, Ryan Travis Christian, Sarah Nelson, Seneca Weintraut

The Porch Gallery
June 2 - July 14, 2018

Raina Belleau
Response > Minneapolis, Minnesota

On a busy, tree lined street in South Minneapolis, one house stands out. On the lawn is a sculpture of a line drawing of large a white cube; welcoming passers by on to the front porch of the old victorian home, after which The Porch Gallery takes its name. Housed in the living room picture window is the exhibition Art Fair. The window has hosted a variety of exhibitions which, in some way shape or form, have inhabited the front room of Mark Schoening and Dawn England’s home since the galley opened three years ago. Art Fair, however, is unique in its scale, both figuratively and physically.

For the window installation, Mark reached out to 24 artists from Minneapolis and the rest of the country. He sent them each a one foot cube art fair booth of his own fabrication. Each artist was tasked with creating their own solo exhibition on a 1:12 scale, and returned the cube back to Mark for lighting and installation in the window. The result is a whimsical and humorous critique at the spectacle that is the contemporary art fair. When taken together the booths create a cohesive and playful whole, while maintaining the individual voices presented.

Installation, Art Fair, The Porch Gallery

The 24 booths, laid out in a three by six grid, come together as their own kind of spectacle. Like looking at an aquarium of exotic fish, the viewer is pulled from one cube to the next, each eye-catching its own way. The amount of detail, thought and content packed into such a tight space forces an attention to detail. The overall effect is almost overwhelming. But the effect it has is also magnetic, and the gallery’s reputation as a neighborhood highlight brings an interesting mix to the porch. On my first visit, I met a jogger who had stopped by to rest and take in the current exhibit. He amiably helped me locate booths as we interrogated the gallery guides visual map linking spaces to artists.

This intermingling of artists, art lovers, random passers-by or even neighbors bring their guest over on an after dinner stroll has become part of The Porch Gallery’s identity. The gallery occupies a new niche in which galleries that are neither commercial nor nonprofit have grown. The gallery operates during the summer months when the porch is easily accessible, and it too occupies a kind of grey area between public and private space.

“The goals of the gallery continue to be stretching the definition of an art space and creating an unique opportunity for artist to present their work,” Schoening tells me. “ I can't think of a commercial space that could continue to exist on this model, or a non profit gathering more donors.  Not having the simple question of commercial viability enter into the curatorial process is incredibly empowering.”

Art Fair brings with it Porch’s interest in expanding boundaries and existing between and around established models. While the art fairs of New York, Miami and Los Angeles are like peacocks fanning colorful displays at wealthy collectors, for Schoening and many of the artists, the concept of commercial viability is so far from their minds, the salability of the work in Art Fair often came as an afterthought. However, some artists cheekily tipped their hats at the art market, including Michael Gaughan who is selling his entire booth for a juvenile $69 or Beth Dow whose booth is not for sale yet has red sold dots on the miniature labels of some of her booth’s photographs. Jack Byers took a much more pointed approach; his booth includes an installation of the Berlin Wall and the possibility of its purchase is a statement about the commodification of modes of division.

Michael Gaughan

Beth Dow

Jack Byers

The welcoming and boundary-pushing exhibition space has given the artists represented in Art Fair a seemingly simple directive that became an expansive jumping off point. Many of the artists used the opportunity to create and curate their own scaled-down solo shows to make original works. Benjamin Cook borrowed from his full-sized work but recognised the way scale changed the effects of his mark making, both on an emotional and aesthetic level.

The dollhouse-like proportion gave many artists an unexpected freedom. The limitation of scale became liberating. Casey Gray used the opportunity to take his painting practice digital. He taught himself animation software and used the files to create 3D prints.  “I was excited about the challenge of working at such a small scale for a change, and doing something unique in a city where I had not shown before. Presenting experimental work to an audience that was largely unfamiliar with my history was a welcome opportunity to get honest, insightful feedback without preconceived expectations,” Gray said of the experience.

Casey Gray

The Porch Gallery and its current show are inviting explorations into the possibility of exhibiting and viewing art. The gallery opens up new dialogues for audiences with all levels of art engagement and encourages a sense of creativity in the everyday. A visit to this unique space becomes more than a casual stop on an afternoon walk around the neighborhood. It is a chance to expand the boundaries of private, public and how art is shared with a community.

 Seneca Weintraut

Sarah Nelson

Ryan Travis Christian

Preston Drum

Pat Falco

Oakley Tapola

Michael Velliquette

Geoffrey Todd Smith

Eben Haines

Dillon Rapp

Diane Katsiaficas

Cyrille Conan

Clark Goolsby

Chris Groth

Brian Willmont

Bikini Press International

Biafra Inc.

Benjamin Cook

Austin Swearengin

Many thanks to the artists who shared their insights with me: Biafra Inc., Erik Benson, Jack Byers, Benjamin Cook, Beth Dow, Preston Drum, Casey Gray, and Jenny Schmid (Bikini Press). Your time and thoughtfulness was of immense help! And to Mark Schoening for his generosity and curatorial inspiration.

The Porch Gallery is run by Los Angeles transplants Dawn England and Mark Schoening. Full time security staff include Sharky, Ozzie and Eggs the cat. The Gallery seeks to create a space and an experience that makes contemporary art accessible to anyone. Month long exhibitions are held June - October and include contemporary painting, sculpture and installation

theporchgallery.com
3306 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407

Raina Belleau is an artist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 
rainabelleau.com

All photos courtesy of Mark Schoening.

RESPONSE
A feature of project reviews experienced in person. Response will provide artists with much needed critical response to their work. Response is opinion-based but is not an op-ed.