Between Spaces

Curated by Raquel Mullins & Rachael Zur

April 1 - April 30, 2023

Opening Reception

Saturday, April 1 5-8 pm

Open Hours

Sat-Sun 12-5pm
drop in or by appointment 

Email Info@carnationcontemporary.com
to schedule a visit

Exhibition Statement

Between Spaces is an exhibition taking place in two different art galleries on opposite sides of the country, born from an interest in understanding similarities and differences across the vast cultural, geographical, and socio-political landscape divides that are unique to American life.  Raquel Mullins, founder of Wavelength Space in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has curated a selection of artists with ties to the Southeastern United States—or who self-identify as “Southern” or “Southeastern” artists—to exhibit at Carnation Contemporary this April.  Concurrent to this exhibition, a group of artists from Carnation Contemporary’s membership—curated by Rachael Zur—will exhibit work at Wavelength Space in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

Curator

This exchange between Wavelength Space and Carnation Contemporary stems from an interest in understanding similarities and differences across the vast cultural, geographical, and socio-political landscape divides that are unique to American life. We hope that this communal expansion allows us to find connections and commonality outside of the contents of our respective regional influences. In this case, between the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast. How are our identities, journeys, and challenges tied together?

The artists being shown at Carnation Contemporary for Between Spaces all have ties to the Southeastern United States or self-identify as “Southern” or “Southeastern” artists. They share in inquiries regarding our relationships to land, storytelling, the outdoors, family, and the things we leave behind. Olivia Tawzer, Taylor Loftin, and Claire Whitehurst ask questions regarding Southern identity; Ayo Janeen Jackson uses language and text to confront Southern stereotypes and mythologies; Carlie Trosclair is influenced by architecture and interiors of the South; and Katie Hargrave and Meredith Laura Lynn work collaboratively to investigate our relationship with public lands. Several artists, such as Eleanor Anderson and Ayo Jackson, now reside outside of the South but acknowledge the imprint of the South’s traditions and histories within their work. This show is a kind of portal to find oneself both stranger and relative to the voices and visual stereotypes of a minute taste of contemporary art rooted in the South. Through it, you might just find a slice of something like home.

Concurrently with this exhibition, a group of artists from Carnation Contemporary’s membership—curated by Rachael Zur—will exhibit work at Wavelength Space in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Wavelength is an artist-run curatorial collective and gallery located just steps from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The Wavelength collective would like to thank Carnation Contemporary members for their friendship and collaboration. We are so appreciative of your trust and for creating this time and space for artists that we hold dear - to come together in Portland.

Warmly,
Raquel Mullins - director/curator of Wavelength Space

Artists

Ayo Janeen Jackson
Claire Downes Whitehurst
Eleanor Anderson 
Katie Hargrave and Meredith Laura Lynn
Taylor Loftin
Carlie Trosclair

Panel

Carnation and Wavelength Space will host a panel discussion for Between Spaces on Sunday, April 16 at 10 am PST / 1 pm EST. Grab a mimosa and your favorite brunch entrée and join us! Rachael Zur and Raque Mullins, curators for the exhibitions, and artists participating in the exhibitions will be in conversation with moderator Jennie Castle.

Join us on Sunday, April 16 through this Zoom link

Jennie Castle 
Jennie J. Castle is a photographic artist exploring the correlations between history, identity and place.
Jennie earned a MFA in photography in 2017 from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Her work has been shown in the Blue Sky Gallery's viewing drawers, Bush Barn Center for the Arts, Small Talk Collective's Light Conversations Vol 2 at Oregon Contemporary. She is formerly the Rose Center for the Arts Gallery Director at Lower Columbia College. Jennie is currently the Curator and
Public Programs Manager at The Art Center in Corvallis, OR.