BANNED

Minneapolis based artists Harriet Bart and Jon Neuse spend a lot of time thinking about the topic of banned books. Inspired by the unprecedented quantity of books being removed or restricted from libraries, schools, and bookstores across the world they’ve organized a group of multi-disciplinary artists to address the subject. An original BANNED exhibition was shown in 2023 at Traffic Zone Center for visual Art in Minneapolis. This Metro State exhibition, also titled BANNED, will coincide with Banned Book Week (September 22–28 to again explore current and historical attempts to censor reading material and the voices that they contain.

From photographs to altered books, and from letterpress printing to sculptural objects, this exhibition includes a rich assortment of responses to the banning of books. Exhibiting artists include: Harriet Bart, Minneapolis; Doug Beube, Brooklyn, New York; Vesna Kittelson, Minneapolis; Joyce Lyon, Saint Paul; Steven McCarthy, Falcon Heights; Laura Migliorino, Minneapolis; Jon Neuse, Minneapolis; Cathy Ryan, Minneapolis; CB Sherlock, Minneapolis; Richard Stephens, St. Louis Park; Mickey Smith, Auckland, New Zealand, Elysa Voshell, Minneapolis; and Karen Wirth, Minneapolis.

The opening reception takes place 5–7:30 p.m., Thursday, September 12, with curatorial remarks at 7. Gallery hours are 1–7 p.m., Monday to Thursday, September 16 to October 17. The gallery is located at the university’s Saint Paul Campus on the first floor of the Library and Learning Center, 645 East Seventh Street.