Exhibition 鈥楶ots鈥 symbolizes transition in a Rust Belt town
Photo courtesy of: Andrew Musil鈥淎luminum Goods Mfg. Co.,鈥 carbon print on aluminum, 2018, by Andrew Musil.
The 帝王会所 School of Art + Design presents an exhibition of new work by M.F.A. candidate Andrew Musil on view March 20鈥揗arch 24 in 帝王会所鈥檚 Art Gallery on the fifth floor in Seigfred Hall. The public opening reception for 鈥淧ots鈥 will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22, with refreshments provided.
This exhibition features historic photographic prints, carbon prints on aluminum plates and aluminum cookware. The work is meant to reflect, as symbols, on the economic transitioning of a Rust Belt town.
The Mirro Aluminum Company was at one time the world鈥檚 largest producer of aluminum bake ware. Their largest factory complex, Plant 2, was located in the heart of downtown Manitowoc, Wisc. In 2003, the building was closed when the company鈥檚 operations relocated outside of Manitowoc. The building sat vacant, attracted vandalism and was labeled as an eyesore by the local newspaper. The city began demolishing the factory in late 2017.
The photographs in Pots are appropriated from community members鈥 public photographs of Mirro鈥檚 flagship factory complex, as well as advertisements from the company鈥檚 heyday that celebrate its employees and their labor. Also shown are photographs of the site, captured after the demolition.
Musil said he thinks about an applicable statement found in the 2008 PBS documentary 鈥淥bjects and Memory:鈥 鈥淲ithout the objects, the stories would lack vibrancy; without the stories, the objects would lack significance.鈥