Waseca County Pioneer {Feature}
Thank you to Deb Bently for attending my shows at Waseca County fair and writing her article, “Photographer R. J. Kern records rural fair culture,” in the Waseca County Pioneer, page 14, July 19. After the feature was published in the weekly newspaper (yes, an actual newspaper in 2024!), she called and asked for my mailing address to mail me two copies. How sweet! Proof of engaging “underserved audiences” remains an important part of grant funding by the Minnesota State Arts Board (Creative Support for Artists), which supported my efforts to attend the fair as well as the Waseca County Agricultural Society. I’m grateful for the support.
“Photographer R. J. Kern records rural fair culture,” by Deb Bently, Waseca County Pioneer, page 14, July 19
KSTP / ABC Twin Cities Live (featured work)
It's always a great feeling to have your work showcased on a platform like television, especially when it's done by someone as skilled and dedicated as Margot Rosenstein (gallery director at Veronique Wantz Gallery). It's clear that she and the team at Veronique Wantz Gallery are passionate about promoting and supporting artists they represent. Margot appeared on KSTP Twin Cities Live with Elizabeth Ries and Kristin Haubrich on June 13 and featured my work along with Wendy Westlake and Jim Hillegass. View the segment below:
Being in front of the camera, especially on live TV, can be nerve-wracking. I’m appreciative to work with a gallery like Veronique Wantz Gallery that supports and promotes my work in such a public way, allowing my art to reach a wider audience. I love having advocates like Margot Rosenstein and Joanne Jaensch-Rosenstein (Gallery Consultant) who believe in talent and are willing to showcase it to the world. Keep creating and shining bright!
Featured photographs by R. J. Kern include: Dumb and Dumber, Freeborn County, MN (2016), Counting Sheep, Hennepin County, MN (2017), and Live Action Role Players, Blue Earth County Fair, Minnesota (2022), archival pigment prints, 20 x 24 inches, edition of 10 + 2AP.
fotoMAGAZIN feature
On German newstands: a feature in fotoMAGAZIN with essay by Manfred Zollner. I’m feeling grateful for this outcome from Fotofest Meeting Place 2024. My son loved finding his likeness in this “Where’s Waldo” world.
Excerpt (translated):
“THE VILLAGE IDYLL DISAPPEARS
The American "County Fair" is today a curious mixture of regional agricultural fair, village fair, performance show of local animal breeders and beer tent marquees. A place where heavy-weight giant rabbits, cattle and sheep are awarded with colorful pennants, children are plucked on cotton candy with sticky fingers and teenagers cheer the "Demolition Derby". At the County Fair, a remnant of that picture can still be seen that the painter Norman Rockwell painted on canvas throughout his life as a healing world version of the USA. However, the future of the County Fairs seems questionable.
The everyday life of the US large farms is today light years away from that farm idyll of the legendary TV series "Our Little Farm" from the 1970s.”
Divine Animals (Star Tribune)
Thank you to Alicia Eler for her mention in the March 22, 2024 issue of the Star Tribune for the exhibition, Divine Animals, at Veronique Wantz Gallery in Minneapolis.
The Observer {feature}
In support of the touring exhibition, The Unchosen Ones, at Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA), Lee Beck writes “The Unchosen Ones: An Exploration of Empathy, Resilience and Sustainability,” in The Observer published Feb 2, 2024.
It's the People {Commission}
I’m excited to be a part of Hennepin Theatre Trust's #ItsThePeople 2023 in collaboration with Minnesota Tamil Sangam, celebrating those who represent our city in motion. This Public Art project, made in collaboration with highlights members of our community in the theme of “Network of Mutuality.” The “It’s the People” portraits will be displayed on billboards and large-scale banners across Minneapolis through June 2024. Special thanks to Brooke Robison and Mary Jane Mansfield, Tanya Gravening and staff @HennepinTheatreTrust for their support.
In this portrait, R. J. highlights the work of 14 performing artists from the Minnesota Tamil Sangam organization who keep Tamil arts, culture and heritage from Southern India and Sri Lanka alive in Minnesota. The artists celebrated in the portrait are Aditya Nandhiyar, Kamatchi Sureshkumar, Manigandan Jayaraman, Nirmal Sundhar, Prasanna Gajavarathan, Rohini Balamurugan, Sanjay Govindasamy, Saravanan Durairajan, Shanker Narayan, Tamil Kadir Rajavel, Trisha Sebastin, Velmurugan Marimuthu, Vijaya manikandan Mohana Vijayan and Vijayalakshmi Sridhar. This photograph was inspired by "the inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny” metaphor shared by Martin Luther King Jr. Blue fabric connects each artist, flowing like a river of color and honoring “wakpa,” the Dakota word for “river.” Traditional Tamil community performances occur by the river edge, and flowing blue fabric remains meaningful and symbolic.
Minnesota Tamil Sangam, installation view on Hennepin Ave / 9th Ave in Minneapolis by R. J. Kern, 2023
Manigandan Jayaraman showcasing Therukkoothu art form depicting Tamil king, Kaari.
Installation view on Hennepin Ave / 9th Ave in Minneapolis by R. J. Kern, 2023
Midwest Messenger {feature}
Thank you to Kristen Sindelar at the Midwest Messenger for her article highlighting “The Unchosen Ones” project, on exhibit at the Elkhorn Valley Museum in Norfolk, NE through October 28. VIEW ARTICLE >>
Sauk Rapids Herald & Benton County News {feature}
Tim Hennagir profiled my work in his article, "Award-winning photographer keeps Benton County Fair in focus,” in the Sauk Rapids Herald & Benton County News on July 25, 2023. Photos b Natasha Barber. Special thanks to Benton County Agricultural Society president Ted Prom and Mary Otsby, Executive Director, Benton County Historical Society for their support. The fair acquired a signed 20 x 24 inch print, Santa on Vacation, Benton County Fair, Minnesota, 2022, from the project The Last Fair.
Santa on Vacation, Benton County Fair, Minnesota, 2022
The Making of an Exhibit
Curious about the making of an art exhibit? Sue Bruns highlights advice about how I prepare for an exhibit (ARTICLE HERE >>), sharing the exhibit process from the Watermark Art Center, from start to finish, including how an exhibit is selected, exceptions to rules, a glimpse into the installation process, and programming ideas appreciated by grant funders (with photos by Annalise Braught).
Preview of New Work
I mentioned to several friends this week the importance of showing ACTUAL artwork, with the object framed, hanging on a wall. I chose to hold my photograph. The sense of scale of my hands gives the viewer a glimpse into output decisions made by the artist…. aka, how the object is presented. The installation view offers a potential ‘collector’ precise information for what they might expect to see hang on their wall… the size of the mat (4”), the type of glazing (museum glass), frame (simple white), etc.
Big Bird’s Tricycle, Redwood County Fair, Minnesota, 2022, archival pigment print, Ed of 10 + 2AP, 29 x 33 inches framed
This print heads to a new home at the Redwood County Fair, looking sharp thanks to Jim Ross at Ross Frame shop, Minneapolis. He does great framing, reasonable prices, local. I pay him a little extra to paint the corners of the frame. I much prefer “closed corner frames” which do not have four diagonal lines in each corner which I find distracting. Art is 90% presentation. Most never pick up on those details.
Now, to the artwork. Last summer, I began setting up large-scale photographs with 4-H kids, animals, and symbols of Americana— a typical county fair with carnival rides, food booths.. the stuff kids love, all over-priced, unnecessary, yet joy-filled for the kid at heart. I wasn’t sure what this effort would become but enjoyed the process. This summer, I’ve up for more like commissions.
Recognize the tricycle? It was the one in the 2014 movie, I am Big Bird, now a fair mainstay. I’ll let Jeff Potter, a long-time county fair supporter, share the story of how it ended up at the fair for another time. He’s been a supporter of my work, even lifted me up on the front of a fork lift to create this photograph.
This work is apart of a new series, The Last Fair. Joy often isn’t fully appreciated until gone.