DigitalCommons@RISD

October 1 - 31, 2010

As residents of the United States, our identities are shaped by American lifestyles and culture - for better or for worse. Reflecting on our home inspires both critique and celebration. Even the most cynical moments are rendered with a certain amount of tenderness, and the heaviest nostalgia is tinged with an acknowledgment that it's never as good as it's made it out to be.

The artists in America, America address the exhibition's premise from a few common vantage points. Dustin Sohn is one of several artists speaking to the importance of industry in America through his manufactured drawing Assembly Line. The suburban experience and material culture loom large in the show, as in Colin Williams's The Empire. In her video Are You Popular? Lynn Kiang exemplifies an interest in both the politics and popular culture of America.

The work in this exhibition directs a critical eye on the country, questioning and critiquing it, but it also reveals a dedication to making the country better. The artists here share a commitment to exercising free speech, expressing their concerns to inspire viewers to consider the nation's trajectory. This sort of critique reflects a distinctly American Individualism. Whether we acknowledge it or not, the national is personal because the identity of this country is so deeply rooted in individual identity.

Curated by Isaac Wingfield, MFA Photography 2010