An Artist's Abstract Response to Rural Experiences
New paintings by regional artist, Heidi Jeub, will be on exhibit at the Gallery St. Germain, beginning January 8, 2020. “Remote: An Abstract Response to Rural Flight” is a series of paintings and interdisciplinary pieces that address the complexities of rural life, and a response to the oversimplification of a not so simple story.
The work, created between 2017 - 2019 is a response to Rural Flight, an issue that faces small-town America, where young people and families leave their communities for larger cities, higher-paying jobs, and educational opportunities. Jeub has been researching concepts around rural issues as part of her graduate studies at the University of Minnesota, where she studied arts and cultural leadership and nonprofit management, rather than the traditional fine arts master’s degree. Her research looked closely at how small towns function and how it impacts their growth in population, resource development, and political dynamics.
“The issue of Rural Flight came up often in my research,” she says, “and I noticed how complex the issue is, and what the long term impact such deficit thinking can imply.” One of the main issues she saw was that the rural is seen as both positive (with the rural idyllic landscape) and the negative (economic hardship and cultural blight).
“I felt that I needed to find new ways to speak of being a rural artist besides images of landscapes and run-down houses because we have all seen this portrayal of the rural. I want to frame the exhibit as a conversation about the issues facing rural America, and how we, as the viewer, may be placed in those relationships. I use shapes, colors, and line as a way to explain relationships, so that the viewer can make a decision where they may land in that composition.”
To accompany the abstract paintings and drawings, Jeub will also share her writings, from her research to her randomized thoughts on the rural experience. She also encourages participants to reflect on their rural experiences.
The paintings will be on exhibit at the Gallery St. Germain, across from the Paramount Center for the Arts in downtown St. Cloud from January 8 - February 22, 2020. An artist's reception will be held on Thursday, January 9, from 5:30-7:30 pm, which is free and open to the public.
A daytime artist talk will be held at the closing of the exhibition, on February 21, from 2 - 4pm, free and open to the public. Jeub will speak of the process and research around the work.
Where: Gallery St. Germaine, 912 W. St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, MN 56303
More Information: Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/735193406981796/
Contact:
320-828-1437
About Heidi Jeub:
Heidi Jeub is a multi-disciplinary visual artist from Little Falls, Minnesota, working as a painter, bookbinder, and public artist. She received a B.A. in Studio Art (1999) and a Masters of Professional Studios in Arts & Cultural Leadership(2017), both at the University of Minnesota. She has shared her art form with schools and communities as a teaching artist since 2003 and has been selected to be on teaching rosters with Compas (Saint Paul) and Lifetime Arts (New York). She has received several grants for her professional growth, as well as the Emerging Artist Award (Central Minnesota Arts Board) and the Outstanding Contributor to the Arts of Morrison County with Five Wings Arts Council. With over 12 years of experience in nonprofit administration, she has run several juried exhibits, designed new art programs, and facilitated community conversations around the arts. Jeub was recently awarded the Creative Community Fellowship through National Arts Strategies for 2019 - 2020. She is a mother of three children, Charlie, Anastahja, and Jackson.