SALLY DESKINS
REGION > MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA
AUGUST 1, 2018

Artists are working to push limits and open minds in Morgantown, West Virginia. This is no easy feat in a town with a fluctuating college population and an absence of city-wide support for art. But more and more, artists are working collaboratively (and sometimes competitively) to experiment.

With less than a handful of traditional arts and crafts venues, the current arts scene is abundant with artists, potentia, and resources, the city, though fluctuating, has the highest per capita income in the state which could equal potential patronage; this is alongside the resources of the largest educational institution in the state. However, there is want for cohesion and innovative structure as the arts community is seemingly continuously in flux. Three collectives, Morgantown Art Party, Artist Collective of West Virginia and The Bench, exemplify this population, each exuding an  open-mindedness and constant mix of passion, will, and grit in creating an innovative and cohesive art scene in this town one hour south of Pittsburgh.

The city’s newest collective is Morgantown Art Party, a nonprofit initiated by local retro shop owner and artist Jillian Kelly after she recognized an “overwhelming need” for affordable venues for artists to show and perform their work. MAP’s mission is to make it “easier and more affordable for local, independent artists to succeed.” The foundation is its space and is run “co-op” style. This method is not new to most cities, but hasn’t been offered in Morgantown for some time. MAP will host visual and performing artists, sell art, and offer workshops. A successful co-operative model can only mean more activity, patronage and potential venues. Recently MAP held a multi-genre all day flea market with live music, painting, and local art for sale.

“Morgantown's art community deserves a better opportunity at flourishing,” says Kelly.

Originally MAP was formed in partnership with the five-year-old collective, The Artist Collective of West Virginia, though they recently parted official ways. With a similar but evolving intent, the ACW is a collective of passionate volunteers. ACW has developed edgy, themed exhibits around town with hundreds of artists since its formulation, and their promotion achieves well attended exhibits, as they work to expand and travel exhibits outside of Morgantown. Said founding director and artist John Michael Barone, “We truly want to serve our community and bring thought provoking exhibitions that challenge the artist and the viewer.”

The Bench exhibit in Brooklyn, September 2017

The Bench is another collective, but one that thinks beyond the space, beyond just promoting artists but challenging the way we view and interact art on a larger scale. The community-driven, student-run collective formed in 2014 by artists who felt disaffected with the disconnected nature of the University Art Student Project. The group wanted “to transform the community space into an art-space,” according to director and artist Ineke Knudsen.

The Bench hosts open meetings to share ideas, collaborate in developing them, have open critiques, show films, run poetry workshops and host lectures.“This format started… to get further rigorous, in-depth feedback than what we were able to experience anywhere else,” says Knudsen.

The Bench hosts art events inside and outside of Morgantown to give artists exposure and guide them on presentation. They’ve partnered with Mountaineer Boys and Girls Club to teach art and contemporary installation, and host annual “salons,” juried multi-genre showcases, providing an authentic community happening.

“Our events promote student and Appalachian artists, groups which often get little recognition in the public eye,” explains Knudsen, “We want our success to show that Appalachian artists are the equals of our colleagues in New York City, and across the globe.”

Last fall, the group took an exhibit to Brooklyn as a part of Bushwick Open Studios, connecting them with artist peers, collectors, and curators internationally. The Bench currently promotes their work mostly through word of mouth. They’re trying to achieve nonprofit status to establish residency and publication programs. As Knudsen notes, “our community is currently still seeking adequate resources and support to connect with communal artistic production occurring outside the boundaries the University institution.”

Indeed, challenges from maneuvering between, with, and amongst West Virginia University are often heard complaints around these parts. But sharing resources - including visionary and entrepreneurial patrons - can be a tremendous opportunity. Substantial and visual community support for contemporary, experimental art ignites the broader community. Cities across the nation can attest that the arts bring real positive change (such as nearby cities like Columbus, Ohio and Pittsburgh).  Morgantown needs a leader, and to have a leader, they need forward-thinking partners and investors.

Sally Deskins is an artist, writer and curator based in Morgantown, West Virginia.

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REGION
A comprehensive feature on any state, area, or city that lacks mainstream coverage. Region considers the various factors that influence a particular art scene or art-making community, and how it sustains itself. Region also includes profiles of individuals influencing the area (be they curators, writers, artists, professors, etc.), and is always written by people familiar with the topography of the region’s art community. It can include interviews, op-eds, or dialogue in man other forms. Region aims to demystify specific art scenes for interested artists, educators, dealers, curators, advocates, and everything in-between.