The Artworks in MMoCA’s First Teen Art Exhibition Are Inspired by Themes of Isolation and Solitude

Alone Together: Perspectives on Isolation features artwork by Dane County teens selected by the MMoCA Teen Forum

On View April 3 through June 6, 2021

Alone Together: Perspectives on Isolation Teen Art Exhibition Press

MADISON, WI—The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) is pleased to announce its first-ever Teen Art Exhibition, Alone Together: Perspectives on Isolation, organized by MMoCA’s newly created Teen Forum and featuring artwork from select Dane County teenagers. The Teen Forum asked teens to submit their artwork, in any form, inspired by themes of isolation and solitude, in or out of quarantine. The results were an amazing array of work that displays resilience and creativity in the face of the pandemic and the stay-at-home orders. The Teen Forum members described the exhibition this way: “It is critical that our youth have a platform to express the pain, the beauty, and everything in between that we find in solitude. Isolation isn’t always synonymous with loneliness, and here in this space we can be united in our isolation.”

Join Us! Virtual Opening Celebration Friday, April 2, 5-6 PM Live via Zoom from MMoCA’s Lobby

The Teen Forum was formed in the Fall of 2020 and will become a permanent, teen-focused component of MMoCA programming. The 2021 Forum is led by six innovative members: Keomali Johnston, Thavida Johnston, Sophie Kuntsman, Josie Schoen, Ransom Stalker-Herron, and Z Winchester.

Mentored by MMoCA’s Curatorial and Educational staff, the Teen Forum worked together to conceive, plan, organize, and implement this exhibition. After reviewing submissions, the Teen Forum selected 19 works by 14 local teen artists. The artwork includes various mediums, including collage, crochet, mural, and poetry.

Teen Forum member Sophie Kunstman reflected, “Creating an experience where we can authenticate the voices of youth, with the voices of youth, has been extremely important to me. We’ve been able to create a cohesive space as a group to curate in a seemingly isolated environment, which seems relevant to the theme.”

The Teen Forum chose which of the submitted works to include in the exhibition based on the criteria of: gut reaction, popular consensus, quality, relevance to the theme, and concept strength. The forum members were able to connect with teen artists throughout Dane County while reviewing their work. Josie Schoen says, “I feel very lucky to have experienced the behind-the-scenes process of curating a show, which is an opportunity I don’t think enough young people are given. This was my first time feeling like I contributed to something artistically, but not as an artist myself. It has been really interesting to see other teens’ perspectives of isolation, which I think has been a very common feeling for young people over the past year. I know that my mind and art have been dealing with what it means to be isolated, and I was surprised at how different everyone approached the topic.”

Visitors may attend the opening celebration for Perspectives on Isolation: Alone together, on April 2 virtually via Zoom. Find a link to the Zoom opening at: mmoca.org/art/alone-together-perspectives-on-isolation for a link.

Contact:
Marni McEntee
Director of Communications
Cell: 608.515.0137
[email protected]

About MMoCA

The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is always admission-free. Its vision is to be an organization that fosters the exchange of ideas and creates experiences that will inspire a wide audience; be a nexus for the work of emerging and established regional, national, and international artists; serve as a catalyst for the continued development of a vigorous community of artists; and provide a forum that will encourage people to be challenged by, reflect on, and make connections between art and the world around them.

The Museum includes four galleries and The Shop, a recently opened space to provide interactive contemporary art experiences and educational workshops to the community. The Museum’s Rooftop Sculpture Garden provides an urban oasis with an incredible view which serves as a lovely venue for weddings, art openings, dining, and cinema.

The Museum is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, noon-6 PM. MMoCA also has a slate of online events, including wellness activities, education workshops, and virtual tours. Please visit mmoca.org to learn more.