Escape to the Loony Bin
Mackenzie Kouba
4 March - 17 April
Member Preview 4 March 6:30-8:30pm
Opening Reception 6 March 1:00-5:00pm with artist talk at 2:00pm
Member Preview 4 March 6:30-8:30pm
Opening Reception 6 March 1:00-5:00pm with artist talk at 2:00pm
Escape to the Loony Bin is Satirically Social and Political Art inspired by Local and Global Subject Matter presented in Bright Colors and Patterns to whimsically deliver a sometimes Heavy Message while asking why Madness has become the New Normal.
Biography
Mackenzie Kouba
Born and raised in Fargo-Moorhead, making or decorating my world was my “job” even before I could see clearly. A quirky combination of ADD and blind as a bat; it seemed rather obvious that I should be a painter. While attending Moorhead Senior High School and under the instruction of Mr. Michael Dunn, I was presented a “No Bull Shit” perspective of what to expect in a life perusing art; ups, downs and few moment in the middle. After graduating in 2003, I began college at UND as part of the art program; after 2 years I transferred to North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND, where I finished my Baccalaureate degree. In 2009, I moved into the Roberts Street Art Studio where I continued to produce art while assisting in the curating of shows in the attached space, The Upfront Gallery and eventually, the Art Connection down the block. Odd jobs and teaching opportunities made up most of my work aside from art up until 2012, when I began full time as a shop foreman for a replacement window company. Working within the construction industry expanded my understanding of materials but also presented a unique perspective of being a women working in the industry. In the past few years I have participated in community events supporting civil rights campaigns and the general growth and direction of our community in positive and constructive directions; supporting moving our community forward without losing touch with the humility that makes us “Midwest Nice”.
Artist Statement
Mackenzie Kouba
The images and objects that I create are a series of investigations to further my understanding of myself, the world, our history and what kind of future we have ahead of us; visual manifestations of what I believe is of importance, urgency, or introspectively insightful.
“Escape to the Loony Bin” is an intentional play on words and local relevance; the very loaded question of mental health and how our society has responded to it, and the Minnesota state bird and how public/private art effects and represents our community. This collection of works reflects socially and or psychologically significant events: parts of our society and reality that are complicated or controversial, the parts that inform us a great deal about being human and the time sensitive matter of the environment we live in. Figurative character representations that are meant to be identifiably relatable to people who make up the majority of our community; these juxtaposed portrayals are meant to put a familial face on unfamiliar adversity.
Materials and objects included in the assemblage and mixed media works are meant to add another element or perspective to consider, reflecting the complexity of the subject matter while also reflecting my personal values and preference of re-adapting or reusing; vintage materials and parts create a foreign familiarity that with the analog nature of the materials, communicates time and is meant to promote the understanding of our history to better inform our future.
Sideshow characters from the early 1900’s inspired the series of works “Divine Oddities”; iconic portrayals of people who embodied the idea of overcoming adversity, while creating a community of complete acceptance. These individuals represent a world before modern prosthetics, surgical procedures or social assistance programs; the differences they came into this world with, they lived with and embraced, informing and inspiring countless others to be comfortable in their own skin.
Through the work I create, I hope to provoke constructive thought and dialogue in the viewer; reaffirming that the presents of adversity doesn’t mean the absence of hope.
Mackenzie Kouba
Born and raised in Fargo-Moorhead, making or decorating my world was my “job” even before I could see clearly. A quirky combination of ADD and blind as a bat; it seemed rather obvious that I should be a painter. While attending Moorhead Senior High School and under the instruction of Mr. Michael Dunn, I was presented a “No Bull Shit” perspective of what to expect in a life perusing art; ups, downs and few moment in the middle. After graduating in 2003, I began college at UND as part of the art program; after 2 years I transferred to North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND, where I finished my Baccalaureate degree. In 2009, I moved into the Roberts Street Art Studio where I continued to produce art while assisting in the curating of shows in the attached space, The Upfront Gallery and eventually, the Art Connection down the block. Odd jobs and teaching opportunities made up most of my work aside from art up until 2012, when I began full time as a shop foreman for a replacement window company. Working within the construction industry expanded my understanding of materials but also presented a unique perspective of being a women working in the industry. In the past few years I have participated in community events supporting civil rights campaigns and the general growth and direction of our community in positive and constructive directions; supporting moving our community forward without losing touch with the humility that makes us “Midwest Nice”.
Artist Statement
Mackenzie Kouba
The images and objects that I create are a series of investigations to further my understanding of myself, the world, our history and what kind of future we have ahead of us; visual manifestations of what I believe is of importance, urgency, or introspectively insightful.
“Escape to the Loony Bin” is an intentional play on words and local relevance; the very loaded question of mental health and how our society has responded to it, and the Minnesota state bird and how public/private art effects and represents our community. This collection of works reflects socially and or psychologically significant events: parts of our society and reality that are complicated or controversial, the parts that inform us a great deal about being human and the time sensitive matter of the environment we live in. Figurative character representations that are meant to be identifiably relatable to people who make up the majority of our community; these juxtaposed portrayals are meant to put a familial face on unfamiliar adversity.
Materials and objects included in the assemblage and mixed media works are meant to add another element or perspective to consider, reflecting the complexity of the subject matter while also reflecting my personal values and preference of re-adapting or reusing; vintage materials and parts create a foreign familiarity that with the analog nature of the materials, communicates time and is meant to promote the understanding of our history to better inform our future.
Sideshow characters from the early 1900’s inspired the series of works “Divine Oddities”; iconic portrayals of people who embodied the idea of overcoming adversity, while creating a community of complete acceptance. These individuals represent a world before modern prosthetics, surgical procedures or social assistance programs; the differences they came into this world with, they lived with and embraced, informing and inspiring countless others to be comfortable in their own skin.
Through the work I create, I hope to provoke constructive thought and dialogue in the viewer; reaffirming that the presents of adversity doesn’t mean the absence of hope.
