"Present / Tense" Opening Reception
Sat, Aug 10
|Blanden Memorial Art Museum
Works by Tom and Malayka Gormally Artist Talk at 4:00pm
Time & Location
Aug 10, 2019, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Blanden Memorial Art Museum, 920 3rd Ave S, Fort Dodge, IA 50501, USA
About The Event
Opening Reception
"Present / Tense"
Works by Tom and Malayka Gormally
3:00-5:00pm with an Artist Talk at 4:00pm
Refreshments and light hors d'oeuvres provided
Come and go event, Free to attend, All ages welcome
On view: June 22 - September 14, 2019
Artist Statements
Present / Tense is both a meditation on our extended family and an exploration of the contemporary challenges of human connection in this cultural moment.
In the East Gallery, three of Tom’s sculptures memorialize the passing of his father, William “Bud” Gormally, a native of Fort Dodge. Bud was a powerful person - the leader of the Gormally family tribe. These sculptures pay homage to his initial anxiety and subsequent acceptance, dignity, and bravery in his final journey. Several of Malayka’s paintings focus on Gormally family reunions, particularly the family’s front-lawn farewell ritual. The scattered clusters of family members remind the artist of the broader meaning of the family in the historical art canon.
In the 2nd Floor Gallery, Tom’s Fox Series addresses the ever-increasing divisiveness and level of vitriol in American society; with this series, he aims to inspire dialogue and help bridge the widening gap in our culture. Tom approaches the issue in a way similar to how he imagines a shaman would deal with this disturbance, by creating effigies to dispel the negative influences. He combines this effigy representation with a folk-like carving style, original fabrications, and inviting light elements to create apt idioms for the current moment.
Alongside Tom’s work in the 2nd Floor Gallery, Malayka’s portraits focus on two groups of immigrants, the first being members of the Ethiopian Community in Seattle, a nonprofit, community organization. The second group was inspired by Malayka’s visit to an office of the International Rescue Committee during a day-long event for immigrants to apply for U.S. citizenship. Malayka’s father was an immigrant, and she was inspired to develop this project as a counter-statement to anti-immigrant policy and sentiment.