Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

1091

Date

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Art History

Concentration

General Art History

Committee Chair

Leslie L Luebbers

Committee Member

Earnestine L Jenkins

Committee Member

Todd M Richardson

Committee Member

Richard A Lou

Abstract

In this research, the 2013 exhibition Present Tense: The Art of Memphis, 2001-Now hosted at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens is used as a case study to identify conventions in Memphis visual culture. The Dixon's history makes it an icon of wealth, power, and prestige and an influence on the mainstream art community of the city. Present Tense sought to introduce the traditional audiences to current, local artworks which created an interesting juxtaposition between conventional space and contemporary art. The paper argues the unequal demographics of artists in Present Tense are due in large part to a history of racial segregation and the marginalization of women artists in institutions. Reactionary exhibitions attempted to examine ideas of exclusionary curating, but demographic analysis proves the seemingly inescapable grasp of conventions of exclusion. Nonetheless, the Dixon continues its attempts to relax engrained traditions to become a more inclusive organization.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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