“What Is America . . . Chants Democratic” to Be Featured in Baker National 2024
I’m thrilled to announce that my piece, What Is America . . . Chants Democratic, from the America Is . . . series, has been accepted into the Baker University National 2024 Exhibition! The exhibition will be held from February 13 to April 5, 2024, at the Holt-Russell Gallery on the Baker University campus in Kansas. I am honored to have my work selected for such a prestigious show, and I look forward to sharing it with a new audience.
About My Accepted Piece: What Is America . . . Chants Democratic
What Is America . . . Chants Democratic is a 22 x 22 mixed media weaving, created in 2023 using shredded pages from Walt Whitman’s iconic poems. Whitman’s poetry has long been a reflection of the American spirit, grappling with democracy, freedom, and the complexities of our nation. This piece is part of my larger America Is . . . series, where I weave together the words of literary giants to explore what America means to me and how their voices continue to resonate in today’s cultural landscape.
This particular weaving, inspired by Whitman’s “Chants Democratic,” is a meditation on the democratic ideals that have shaped America and the tensions between those ideals and our lived realities. Whitman’s expansive vision of America as a democratic experiment remains as powerful and thought-provoking today as it was when he first penned his poems.
Exhibition Reception: Join Me on February 20th
The reception for the Baker University National 2024 Exhibition will be held on Tuesday, February 20th, from 5-7pm at the Holt-Russell Gallery. I would love to meet you there and discuss What Is America . . . Chants Democratic and the other amazing works on display. The reception will be a great opportunity to engage with fellow artists, art lovers, and the community as we celebrate the art that reflects storytelling through various media.
About the America Is . . . Series
The America Is . . . series is an ongoing exploration of America’s identity through the words of its authors. Using shredded pages from books by Walt Whitman, Maya Angelou, Elizabeth Bishop, and other literary figures, I’ve woven intricate pieces that reflect on the diverse and multifaceted nature of this country. The act of weaving these pages together becomes a symbolic gesture—intertwining voices that have shaped our national consciousness and inviting viewers to reflect on the meanings of their words.
Each piece in the series is an homage to the literary giants who have written about America, offering a space for viewers to consider how these authors grappled with questions of democracy, identity, and freedom. The series is also a personal reflection on what America represents today, filtered through the lens of the authors whose works have shaped my own understanding of this nation.
About the Baker University National 2024 Exhibition
The Baker University National 2024 Exhibition brings together artists from across the country, showcasing works in a variety of mediums. Hosted in the Holt-Russell Gallery, this annual juried exhibition is a prestigious opportunity for national artists to display their work in a gallery setting, engaging both the Baker University Art Program and the Douglas County community. The gallery serves as a space for education, creativity, and artistic exchange, offering both students and the public access to contemporary art.
I’m honored to have What Is America . . . Chants Democratic included in this year’s exhibition, alongside other talented artists from across the U.S.
About the Juror: Ron Michael
This year’s exhibition will be juried by Ron Michael, director of the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery in Lindsborg, Kansas. With an extensive background in both ceramics and art curation, Michael has exhibited nationally, taught art courses at the collegiate level, and juried numerous art competitions. His experience and expertise make him an ideal juror for the Baker University National 2024 Exhibition.
Final Thoughts
I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to share my work at the Baker University National 2024 Exhibition. What Is America . . . Chants Democratic reflects my ongoing exploration of America’s identity and the democratic ideals that continue to shape our society. I look forward to seeing how this piece resonates with the gallery’s audience and other participating artists.
If you’re in Kansas during the exhibition dates or at the reception on February 20th, I’d love for you to stop by the Holt-Russell Gallery to experience the full range of works on display. Stay tuned for updates and more details as the exhibition approaches!
Thank you for your support, and a special thanks to Baker University and Ron Michael for this incredible opportunity.
