Deborah Oropallo and Michael Goldin: American Gothic
Catharine Clark Gallery announces American Gothic, a collaborative exhibition of sculpture, mixed media, and video by Deborah Oropallo and Michael Goldin. On view May 25 – July 15, 2023 in the South Gallery and Media Room, the exhibition pays tribute to the life cycle of a working farm, and the impact of climate change on local and global ecologies.
The title of the exhibition refers to an art style that emerged in the United States during the early 20th century. This style is characterized by a dark and foreboding atmosphere, often depicting rural settings as sites of isolation and the macabre. Grant Wood, the painter who popularized this style, created the iconic 1930 painting American Gothic: his painting portrays a stern-looking farmer and his daughter standing in front of a farmhouse with a distinctive Gothic-style window. Although Wood's intention was to pay tribute to the rural population of the Midwest and their political history, the painting is often misunderstood as a satirical comment on Midwesterners being out of touch with the modern world.
Drawing upon the pathos and parody inherent in this juxtaposition, the showcased works combine the gravity of American Gothic with the humor of Looney Tunes, two genres that emerged in American popular culture during the early 1930s. Oropallo and Goldin crafted their sculptures using materials sourced from their farm in Northern California, including sheep's wool, trees, bones, buckets, and boots. The resulting sculptures are exquisitely crafted and possess a darkly absurdist quality, exploring the tensions between the farmer and the farmed, as well as predators and prey.
Moreover, the exhibited works poignantly commemorate Milk Made, Oropallo and Goldin's working farm, which has faced increasing challenges due to drought conditions and climate change. In their own words, Oropallo and Goldin express the underlying sentiment behind American Gothic: "Our work in the exhibition stems from sadness and a sense of loss. We grappled with contradictions while creating the artwork, aiming to reflect this precarious moment in time while simultaneously celebrating the beauty of the incredible nature and environment we have been fortunate enough to experience on our farm."
"In our work, fairy tales continue to serve as cautionary stories about the environment, industrialization, and threats to sustainability in our political climate. By reimagining stories that have captivated and frightened children for over 200 years, we approach our work as both humorous and elegiac—a tribute to the land, stewardship, and a reminder of the stakes involved in the ongoing climate crisis."
Join us for an opening celebration on Saturday, May 27, 2023, from 3 – 5pm, with artists’ talks at 4pm. American Gothic is presented simultaneously with Jen Bervin’s Source, which is on view in our North Gallery though June 10, 2023.
