Deep End

Our eighth Summer Exhibition, Deep End, draws inspiration from J. G. Ballard’s post-apocalyptic short story of Earth’s last remaining men fighting to hold onto love, life, and their humanity. The exhibition explores the strange, the dystopian, and the supernatural while showcasing the work of more than 60 emerging artists — over 90% of whom are former artists-in-residence.

Deep End features five full-room installations by artists Ghost of a Dream, Elias Hansen, Holden Brown, Sarah Hardesty, and Corina Reynolds. Holden Brown has transformed the mechanics room of the Maxon Mills into a suburban-American dream nightmare using imagery of mausoleums and sunken houses. Brown explores the literal and conceptual notion of what belongs above and under ground. Elias Hansen has created a darkly glowing laboratory of nefarious nature, while Sarah Hardesty offers an installation of safety, hazard, and precaution with her vibrant orange branches and twine looming just overhead. Ghost of a Dream’s multimedia installation better is THE END sources ending scenes from westerns to create a continuous horizon line, encircling the room with an endless ending. And on the top floor, Corina Reynolds has crafted a bleak office space that highlights the comical attempts to inspire workers with motivational imagery but results in a soulless and haunting environment.