The Towne Courier, East Lansing, MI, 2005
Carnival Images and Video

Scene Metrospace opens new exhibit: Circus/Carnival

By CHRISTOPHER A. WARDELL
Staff Writer

EAST LANSING — Scene Metrospace Director and Curator Emma Kruch said there will be no clowns featured in the new exhibit "Circus/Carnival," which opened Nov. 18 and will be on display until Jan. 8.

Kruch got the idea from watching HBO's "Carnivale" series. The exhibit will feature 11 artists who will interpret what the circus has meant to them through painting, photography and other forms of multi-media art.

"Circus/Carnival" explores the imagination, oddities, animals, wonder, excitement, and misfortunes of the events that have become a cultural tradition: the circus.

"'Carnivale' kind of gives a backstage look into the lives of carnival employees," Kruch said. "It intrigued me. Then, one of my artists, Amanda Miller, submitted an idea to display her freak show series paintings, and everything just kind of fell into place. I built the show up around her work."

Miller, who is based in Ann Arbor, is just one of many who will be on display. Other highlights include Lansing artist John Kroneman, who will explore the circus roots of his ancestors through his paintings. Highland- and Detroit-based artists Chris Sandon and Jason Lee Starin will team up to make humorous psychedelic folk art that illustrates the stranger side of events.

New Jersey photographer Melanie Heinrich, who has spent more than 30 years documenting behind the scenes of the carnival, will display her prints and a documentary.

"Circus/Carnival" will also be the first exhibit under the direction of Kruch who took over the leadership of Scene Metrospace after original director Leslie Donaldson left to pursue other interests.

Scene Metrospace is located at 303 Abbott Road at the Albert Street intersection. The gallery is open Fridays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. during scheduled exhibits.