After living outside of the United States for several years in Germany and Canada, I made it back to Wisconsin, the state of my birth, and found myself fascinated by an upper Midwest I had forgotten. I was captivated by how much things had changed. In some ways, I felt I was a foreigner in my home state. The series Nort began as a recalling and facilitator for me to work through ideas and feelings I couldn’t explain about how my memories of this place did not match the reality I was observing being back.

I believe many people, when faced with change, rely on a standard they’ve set based on their own memories (accurate or otherwise) that allow them to look to the future.

One of the most recurring themes within Nort is my personal humor. I use humor as a vehicle to highlight truths and realistic solutions. My hope is for visitors to pause and question their own perceptions while seeing the humor in my work.

MEMBERS:

Join a TMA Talk with artist John Swartwout where he discusses his exhibition, Nort. TMA Talks are free to members.  Become a member for as little as $15 for the year. Membership includes unlimited access to exhibitions, discounts on classes and in the TMA Store, and perks like free admission to TMA Talks. Also open to day-of exhibit admissions.