American Midwest photography

Online information about American photography from sources other than Resource Library

 

(above: Iowa River at Amana Colonies, 2022, Photo by John Hazeltine)

 

A Piece of Dust in the Great Sea of Matter: Photographs by Melissa Borman is a 2020 exhibit at the Eide-Dalrymple Gallery which says: " Borman's work addresses the interconnected relationship between human figures and landscapes. She explores how landscape elements become metaphors to depict our human stories, and how these depictions shape our ideas of our surroundings."  Accessed 12/20

Joe Deal: West and West and Locating Landscape  is a 2010 exhibit at the Center for Creative Photography - University of Arizona which says: "Drawing on the remarkable history of 19th-century survey photography of the Great Plains, West and West was also inspired by the landscapes Joe Deal saw as a child while driving west from his home in Topeka, Kansas, to visit relatives in Great Bend." Accessed 10/18 

Matt Steinhausen: The Least Interesting Place is a 2021 exhibit at the Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art which says: "Author/photographer Matt Steinhausen will feature selections from his sell-out book The Least Interesting Place (2020) at the museum. The coffee table book with a clever title explores many facets of life in Nebraska. The museum's selections focus on rural livelihoods and the unique landscape of the state."  Also see the website of the artist. Accessed 9/22

Midwest Visions: Photography from the Heartland is a 2023 exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. Grok 3.0 says:

Exhibit Narrative: A detailed overview of the exhibition, exploring the role of photography in documenting Midwest rural and urban life from the 19th century to today.
 
Online Catalogue (.pdf): A downloadable catalogue with essays on Midwest photography and artist profiles
.
Artwork Images with Enhanced Object Labels: 30 high-resolution images of photographs by artists like Walker Evans and lesser-known regional photographers, each with detailed labels including artist, title, date, medium, and interpretive text.
 
Virtual Tour: A 360-degree tour featuring 80% of the exhibited artworks (40 out of 50) with hotspots. Hotspots allow 3x magnification, and accompanying labels and wall texts are readable at 100% zoom.
 
Artist Biographies: Profiles of 10 featured photographers, including their Midwest connections.
 
Notes: The virtual tour includes hotspots for most artworks, with clear labels and wall texts optimized for readability. The catalogue is in .pdf format, accessible without charge. Please validate the URL for HTTP 200 status and confirm the presence of these materials.

Accessed 8/25

Fields and Factories: Midwest Photography, 1900-1950 is a 2022 exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art Grok 3.0 says:

Exhibit Narrative: A webpage describing the exhibition's focus on industrial and agricultural photography in the Midwest during the early 20th century.
 
Press Release (.pdf): A downloadable press release detailing the exhibition's themes and key artworks.
 
Artwork Images with Enhanced Object Labels: 25 images of photographs with labels providing historical context, artist details, and technical information.
 
Teacher Guide (.pdf): A guide for educators with lesson plans tied to Midwest history and photography.
 
Two-Camera Video: A recorded curator lecture discussing the exhibition's historical significance.
 
·Notes: The virtual tour, if available, would need to be checked for hotspot coverage (e.g., 70% of artworks) and magnification details. Please validate the URL for HTTP 200 status and confirm the presence of these materials.
 

Accessed 8/25

Contemporary Midwest: New Photography is a 2024 exhibit at the University of Michigan Museum of Art according to 2025 research by Grok 3 AI, which says the museum's online materials for the exhibit include:

Exhibit Narrative: An online description of the exhibition, highlighting contemporary photographers from Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
 
Online Gallery Guide (flip book): A digital flip book (via Issuu) with images and curatorial notes, freely accessible.
 
Artwork Images with Enhanced Object Labels: 20 photographs with detailed labels, including artist statements and technical details.
 
Virtual Tour: A tour covering 90% of the 30 artworks, with hotspots offering 2x magnification and readable labels/wall texts.
 
Artist Biographies: Biographies of five contemporary photographers.

Accessed 8/25

In Our Hands: Native Photography, 1890 to Now is a 2024 exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)  according to 2025 research by Grok 3 AI, which says the museum's online materials for the exhibit include:

Exhibition Overview: The page provides a clear and engaging summary of the exhibition's scope, which presents over 150 photographs created by, of, and for Indigenous people, tracing the history of Native photography from 1890 to the present.   
 
Curatorial Information: The museum details the collaborative curatorial process, which involved a council composed primarily of Native artists, scholars, and knowledge sharers working in partnership with Mia curators. This information highlights the exhibition's commitment to authentic representation. 
 
Multimedia Audio Guide: A significant interpretive resource is provided in the form of an online audio guide. It features commentary from artists, curators, and organizers, who discuss the context and themes of the artworks.   
 
Educational Resources: A downloadable PDF "Teachers Guide" is available. This guide is designed to facilitate classroom learning before a museum tour or to be used by chaperones during visits, representing a key piece of high-value educational material.    ·
Public Programming Information: The page provides detailed information on both in-person and virtual public tours that were offered during the exhibition's run, documenting the museum's active educational outreach efforts.

Accessed 8/25

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