Colorado Photographic Arts Center {Acquisition}
The COLLECTOR'S EDITION: The Unchosen Ones: Portraits of an American Pastoral (MW Editions, 2021) with a pair of prints found a new home in the permanent collection of the Colorado Photographic Art Center (CPAC) in Denver, CO this year, thanks to the support of Executive Director Samantha Johnston. In January 2024, I offered a talk as part of PHOTOVOX, "Get the Show on the Road! Tips for Creating and Booking Traveling Exhibitions,” and afterwards as part of my follow-up with Samantha I offered a direct donation to their collection. The CPAC permanent collection contains more than 800 prints donated by 180 photographers, a resource for the Colorado community to view, study, and learn about nuances of fine art photography.
2024 Summer County Fair Lineup
TheMinnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) awarded me a FY2024 Creative Support for Individuals Grant for $10,000. I am especially grateful for the support.
I look forward to engaging with county fairs across greater Minnesota through agricultural photography exhibitions, storytelling experiences, and tintype demonstrations. Each time I photograph at county fairs, my project continues to grow and evolve, largely because of the interactions I have with the subjects of my photos and participants that attend my workshops and exhibitions.
I hope to see you at the fair!
Blanden Museum of Art {Acquisition}
The Blanden Museum of Art acquired two photographs from my series The Unchosen Ones and Out to Pasture to be enjoyed by the public in its permanent collection, courtesy of Olson-Larsen Galleries. Special thanks to Eric Anderson to making this happen. These two photographs have special meaning to me— they are among my first exhibited photographs from personal projects:
(LEFT): Anna and Helen, Blue Earth County Fair, Minnesota, USA, 2016 from the series The Unchosen Ones was the portrait exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery (London, England) in 2017 as part of the "Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize Exhibition.” This photograph from the series The Unchosen Ones (Published in The Unchosen Ones: Portraits of an American Pastoral, MW Editions, 2021).
(RIGHT): Stella, Isanti County, Minnesota, USA (right) was exhibited as part of my first solo exhibition of photography at Central Lakes College (2017) and exhibited in a solo exhibition at Gallery 360 in Minneapolis (2017). This photograph from the series Out to Pasture was published in The Sheep and the Goats (Kehrer Verlag, 2017).
Blanden Art Museum Director Eric Anderson (left) with R. J. Kern (artist) and Alyss Vernon, Gallery Director at Olson-Larsen Galleries, (right) holding newly acquired photographs by the museum at the reception of The Unchosen Ones on May 4, 2024 in Fort Doge, Iowa.
Stella, Isanti County, Minnesota, USA (2016) from the series Out to Pasture (published in The Sheep and the Goats, Kehrer Verlag, 2017), archival pigment print, 20 x 24 inch sheet size, Edition 1/10 + 2AP, courtesy Olson-Larsen Galleries.
Anna and Helen, Blue Earth County Fair, Minnesota, USA, 2016 (2016) from the series The Unchosen Ones (Published in The Unchosen Ones: Portraits of an American Pastoral, MW Editions, 2021), archival pigment print, 20 x 24 inch sheet size, Edition 3/10 + 2AP, courtesy Olson-Larsen Galleries.
Medium Photo Community Pop-up Fair 2024
Join me April 25, 2024 from 6:30-9:30pm in Old Town San Diego for Medium Photo’s Community Pop-Up Fair. I’ll have books and prints available to view and acquire. Free to the public.
Marriott Courtyard Old Town
2435 Jefferson St, Old Town San Diego, CA
R. J. Kern will attend Medium Festival Community Pop-Up, April 25, 2024 from 6:30-9:30pm.
North Dakota Museum of Art {Acquisition}
North Dakota Museum of Art acquired two works currently in Divine Animals at Veronique Wantz Gallery up through April 13, 2024. I am excited for these handmade works from my series The Best of the Best to be enjoyed by the public in its permanent collection thanks to patron Bruce Gjovig and curator Matt Wallace.
Installation view: Divine Animals at Veronique Wantz Gallery, salt print over archival pigment prints added to the permanent collection of the North Dakota Museum of Art (Grand Forks, ND).
Supreme Champion Chicken Male / Female Pairing, 2018 Minnesota State Fair, salt print over archival pigment print, 2019, Edition 2/5, 20 x 24 inches, from the series The Best of the Best.
Supreme Champion Llama Male / Female Pair, 2018 Minnesota State Fair, salt print over archival pigment print, 2019, Edition 2/5, 20 x 24 inches, from the series The Best of the Best.
Divine Animals at Veronique Wantz Gallery
I’m excited to share work at the debut photography exhibition at Veronique Wantz Gallery (Minneapolis, MN), running March 8 - April 13, 2024. I’ll present highlights in a mini-retrospective format since 2012 with projects including: Divine Animals: The Bovidae; The Unchosen Ones; The Best of the Best; and my newest series, The Last Fair.
OPENING RECEPTION Friday, March 8th, 4-7PM, free and open to the public.
Artist Talk (CWU Museum of Culture & Environment)
On Thursday Jan. 25 at 4:00 pm PT, I will offer an artist talk hosted by CWU Museum of Culture & Environment (MCE) discussing the process of composing the portraits for the exhibition of photography, The Unchosen Ones: Portraits of an American Pastoral, and what we can learn by paying attention to the shifting landscapes of rural life. I promise a few photo bombs by chickens and barn cats.
I'll appear virtually but the talk will be held virtually and in-person. To attend, in person, come to room 104 in Dean Hall on the CWU campus (1200 Wildcat Way) and to attend virtually, register HERE >>
For questions, email museum@cwu.edu or call (509) 963-2313. The MCE is open Wednesday – Saturday from 10:00am - 4:00 PM.
Mable, Pastoral Study, 2020 from the series The Unchosen Ones.
Mable and Stella, Isanti County, Minnesota, 2020 from the series The Unchosen Ones.
Mable and Stella, Isanti County Fair, Minnesota, 2016 from the series The Unchosen Ones.
WEBINAR: Tips for Creating and Booking Traveling Exhibitions | Jan 10 @ CPAC
To kick off the new year, I'll share all the nuts and bolts of how I booked (in a matter of months) over 12 exhibitions for my photographic project, The Unchosen Ones. Traveling exhibitions support my creative practice, keep my books alive, and create predicable income.
Hosted by the Colorado Photographic Arts Center (CPAC), I’ll be presenting at PhotoVox January 2024, sharing answers to the following questions and more during this virtual event: Once your solo exhibition comes down, how do you keep the show on the road? What practical constraints make it easier to earn a “yes?” What does an exhibition proposal look like? What does a written agreement look like? What factors go into the decisions of exhibiting completed work in a space (framing, mounting, transporting)?
Webinar Fee: $10 (Free for CPAC members)
Preview of custom framing for touring exhibition.
Happy Winter Solstice 2023
Tonight is the longest night of the year in our home. Each day will bring more light until summer. I love this metaphor as I move through the remaining days of 2023, a time for rejuvenation and reflection. I appreciate health, friends, and family… and a good dose of humor. Cheers to 2024!
Year 13 of the Tomte series has arrived, offering a glimpse of our family antics. In this “lucky 13” year, an odd event occurred while traveling in Norway. We received a phone call after visiting a real tomte house: my wallet had been found before I knew I lost it! The location? In a bed with a dozen tomtes! The watchful creatures have picked up a few creative tricks: watching how to make culture boxes, embracing a Santa wishlist, battles with Lego Star Wars, football battles with the Pumpkin People (while embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion), while indulging in Mema’s holiday cookies! Ruby the beta fish— our newest edition to the family— tends to the alpha side when confronted by tomte. And even one has learned to fly!
$99 Print Sale - The Last Fair project
From November 17-27, 2023, I will make available new work from my series, The Last Fair (read about the series here >>) Prints sized 9 x 11.5 inches are individually signed on verso, accompanied by a unique certificate of authenticity. For $50, you can include a hand-made polio by R. J. Kern!
Limited time to acquire prints from The Last Fair series— starting at $99!