Spring 2019 Exhibitions
MOCA Tucson is pleased to present our Spring 2019 Exhibitions: GROPING in the DARK by Curator-in-Residence Alex Young, Selections from the University of Arizona School of Art, and New Histories: an Arizona Juried Youth Exhibition.
GROPING in the DARK addresses human land use and the effects of the modification of Earthly matter upon interdependent ecologies of mind, society, and environment. The exhibition serves as an experimental presentational platform for artist-researchers whose ecological practices are informed by and actively agglomerate a diverse array of disciplines and media in examining world systems and developing new models of being-in-the-world. Spanning an array of inquiries into planetary scaled networks, agricultural engineering, multi-species entanglements, and the simultaneous expansion and collapse of anthropogenic space, the works collected for this exhibition take the form of in-depth ecological open works wherein their subjects are continuously observed, reexamined, acknowledged as far from fully knowable, and the assumed whole is always less than the sum of its parts. GROPING in the DARK is presented in response to our ecological moment and present reactionary political climate. In stark contrast to a backdrop of manifest anti-egalitarianism, hetero/cis-normative gender constructs, xenophobia, and speciesism, GROPING in the DARK gathers artist-researchers actively exploring plausible worlds through social ecology and multi-species intersectionality, migration, placemaking, and resilience.
The title of this exhibition is borrowed from the 1982 publication Groping in the Dark: The first decade of global modelling—produced as the conference proceedings for the Sixth International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis Symposium on Global Modelling—collaboratively authored by Donella Meadows, John Richardson, and Gerhart Bruckmann. Released ten years after Meadows co-authored The Limits to Growth—the foundational report on the findings of the World3 systems dynamics computer model simulating interactions between human population, industrial and economic growth, food resources, and the limits of earth ecosystems—Groping in the Dark was created as an experimental guide for the production of new world models and the modelling of new worlds. Constructed as a patchwork of disparate-yet-interconnected texts ranging from reports on major works and methodologies in global modelling, to ruminations on the contradictions and limitations of the burgeoning field, to a list of the editors’ respective biases—Groping in the Dark provided an abundance of entry points into then-current attempts to understand and create change within complex social and environmental systems. In a manner akin to its namesake, this exhibition joins practitioners and projects that employ diverse modes of thinking in the examination of how humans modify Earth systems and how we might better model new worlds.
Exhibiting Artists:
Epicurean Endocrinology (Liz Flyntz + Byron Rich), Ryan Griffis and Sarah Ross, Mary Maggic, Jumana Manna, J. Eric Simpson and Caleb Lightfoot , and SPURSE
From Here to Eternity: Selections from the University of Arizona School of Art features the work of seven 2019 BFA graduates and twelve MFA students. Selected by MOCA Tucson Executive Director and Chief Curator, the art on view represents a diversity of work created by students exploring a range of topics from the traumas of war to an exploration of self, from capitalism to religion and beyond. Says Porcella: “MOCA Tucson took this opportunity to highlight the work from current art and design students at the University of Arizona. It gives our audiences a chance to explore new, contemporary work that is being created right here in Tucson by the next generation of rising art stars.” Colin Blakely, Director of the School of Art at the University of Arizona states: “MOCA presents an incredible platform to engage the communities of Southern Arizona in a broad range of contemporary practices. They have been an amazing partner for the school, and we are delighted for the opportunity to provide exposure and a professional experience for our students that extends beyond the borders of campus.”
Exhibiting Artists:
Catherine Aguilar, Cori Cummings, Ashley Dahlke, Andrew Holt Frazier, Maxwell Lukas Mijnlieff Gay, Benjamin Hoste, Tamrin Ingram, Laura Kassman, Marisa Lewon, Claire Mandel, Dominique Martinez, Nassem Navab, Trent Pechon, Kennady Maison Schneider, Marina Shaltout, Kaitlyn Jo Smith, Alex Turner, Bella Varela, Kenzie Wells
New Histories, an inaugural statewide juried youth art exhibition features over 65 works created by K-12 youth that were selected by a panel of curators and educators for the exhibition which highlights the creative work of students across the state including painting, drawing, sculpture, collage and animation.
Exhibiting Artists:
Lucia Alday (BASIS Tucson North, 9th Grade), Julian Avilez (BASIS Tucson Primary, 3rd Grade), Jimmy Basonga (Safford K-8, 8th Grade), Lauren Becher (Marana High School, 10th Grade), Jasper Boner (Augustus H. Shaw Montessori, 1st Grade), Diego Buchanan (BASIS Tucson Primary, 2nd Grade), Sophia Buchanan (BASIS Tucson North, 9th Grade), Anderson Burke (Borton Magnet Elementary, Kindergarten), Everett Burke (Borton Magnet Elementary, Kindergarten), Rita Cai (BASIS Tucson Primary, 2nd Grade), Olmo Cioni (BASIS Tucson Primary, Kindergarten), Oliver Clark (Tucson High School, 9th Grade), Cashlynn Claxton (Morgan Maxwell K-8, 8th Grade), Cason Claxton (Safford K-8, 6th Grade), Kyler Crow (Ironwood Ridge High School, 10th Grade), Angelina Davidson (Canyon del Oro High School, 12th Grade), Jordan Demler (Marana High School, 10th Grade), Itzel Duran (Safford K-8, 8th Grade), Zoey Flores (Marana High School, 10th Grade), Pablo Gaudard-Castillo (Hermosa Montessori, 7th Grade), Kameo Hahn (Amphitheater Middle School, 8th Grade), Kierra Harrison (The Gregory School, 6th Grade), Mason Hashim (Manzanita Elementary, 4th Grade), Leah Hoefner (Marana High School, 10th Grade), Frank Howard (City High School, 10th Grade), Kylie Hughes (Marana High School, 11th Grade), Ellen Kim (BASIS Tucson Primary, 4th Grade), Emma Kim (BASIS Oro Valley, 6th Grade), Daniela Levy (BASIS Tucson North, 6th Grade), Genesis Mazon (Safford K-8, 8th Grade), Riley McCormick (The Gregory School, 8th Grade), Raine Millan (Whitmore Elementary, 5th Grade), Elyse Miller & Hannah Atwater (Flowing Wells High School, 10th Grade), Chet Oreck (University High School, 12th Grade), Javier Orta (Safford K-8, 7th Grade), Bella Pearson (Kyrene Middle School, 6th Grade), Lilliana Pearson (Kyrene Middle School, 7th Grade), Sol Porras (Safford K-8, 7th Grade), Judit Robles Torres (Safford K-8, 7th Grade), Samirah Rodriguez (Safford K-8, 7th Grade), Emma Roche & Madyson Skwatt (Marana High School, 10th Grade), Mia Trinh (Legacy Traditional School, 2nd Grade), Olivia Swensrud (The Gregory School, 7th Grade), Nisbeth Verdugo Guerrero (Flowing Wells High School, 12th Grade), Melody Waters (Flowing Wells High School, 10th Grade), Graham Yaggy (BASIS Tucson Primary, 2nd Grade), Allison Zepeda (BASIS Tucson North, 5th Grade), Alva Zhao (BASIS Tucson Primary, 3rd Grade), Marina Zhao (BASIS Tucson Primary, 1st Grade)