Priscilla Briggs, “Old and New II (Wenzhou)”
In coordination with the first MidCity Fest, IFP Minnesota Center for Media Arts presents “China in Transition,” an exhibit by photographers Dan Dennehy and Priscilla Briggs, running August 6 through September 24, 2010 at 2446 University Ave. West, Suite 100, St. Paul, Minn. A free opening reception will be held Friday, August 6, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The reception will also feature a sneak preview of the short film, “Jerry Schwingle and the Happiness Well” at 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. The film is the work of rising indie filmmaker Sarah Jean Kruchowski, winner of IFP’s Fresh Filmmaker Production Grant.
The economic phenomenon of China, the world’s fastest growing economy, has been accomplished by the blurring of the ideological boundaries between communism and capitalism. This financial might has put the Chinese people on the fast track to modern consumerism, leaving ethnic and agrarian identities behind.
Photographer Priscilla Briggs explores China’s values and identity as they are shaped and reflected within the context of economic systems. Her work in this exhibition addresses China’s consumer explosion as evidenced by its giant shopping malls and modern advertising.
She also briefly shows us a facet of China’s export manufacturing and marketing. Her study of the brassiere district illustrates how manufacturing shapes the social landscape of China.
This visible surface of the new China is starkly contrasted with Dan Dennehy’s photographs from remote regions of southwestern China. As head photographer at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, he was part of the Asian Arts research group that traveled here to study and record the extraordinary handcrafted textiles and jewelry of the Miao people.
Their way of life is steadily being eroded by the explosive growth and spread of modernization.
IFP Media Arts’ participation in the MidCity Fest will continue on Saturday, August 7 from noon to 6:00 will sample classes and screenings of films from our youth media program.
Gallery hours are Monday, and Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information visit www.ifpmn.org or call 651-644-1912.
Very cool pictures!