August 28 – October 3, 2026
The “map view” that we are all so familiar with – seeing the world from an aerial perspective – has become an increasingly common way to interact with our environment. While ubiquitous, such a view can encourage a false sense of separation between ourselves and our environment, reducing it to a concept, making it ripe for objectification, manipulation, and control. From this perspective, we assume a position of authority, looking down, all seeing, in-control, as if we were God.
This work is an invitation to shift perspective from an aerial view to one of grounding and connection, becoming witness to our surroundings once again. Map-inspired pieces on the wall tell a story of environmental exploitation, whereas hand-made ceramic vessels draw viewers to the floor, encouraging a sense of connection and grounding. Through this dropping down, I hope that we can begin to dissolve the sense of separation between ourselves and all things, encouraging an attitude of care, connection, and love for the places in which we live.
Saturday Guided Meditation
Join us for a series of guided meditations in the gallery led by artist and yoga teacher Matt Dooley. We will begin with a grounding ceremony, followed by a half-hour sit intended to drop us into the present moment and become witness to our surroundings and who we truly are. Please arrive at least ten minutes early to get settled in. Cushions and chairs will be provided.
Matt Dooley is an artist, professor, and yoga teacher living in River Falls, Wisconsin. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska and currently works as a professor of Geography at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Over ten years ago, he began studying art and pottery and continues making hand-built ceramic vessels that reference ancient pottery traditions of Asia and the Americas. Through this work, his cartography began to move into the artistic space, creating maps from black powder and clay that highlight the importance of river systems and the destructive nature of humans.
