Art is truly, universally found all around our world, in every imaginable place, on every continent. Here in Borderland, our newest gallery is located at Frame U.P. & Art Supplies at 809 Carpenter Ave. in Iron Mountain (in the Hairlines Building). Karen Kunesh, a long-time employee of Stevens Decorating & Framing, purchased the business from Joe Stevens this year and moved the store a few blocks away. With considerably more space, she added a gallery. The exhibits include works of around a dozen local and regional artists, many of whom are Borderland Arts members. Additionally, there are regular creative classes at Frame U.P; some students’ art works are also exhibited in the gallery.
Now, I can hear some readers murmuring – with righteous indignation – something like “You said art is on every continent. Antarctica is an uninhabited continent. So there.”
Well, you may be surprised to learn that one of the biggest events in contemporary art will be taking place on that sprawling, frozen wasteland unpopulated by humans that we know as the seventh continent, Antarctica. The viewing audience will be limited for sure, but there are research stations and other scientific facilities whose employees will welcome the 2016 Antarctic Biennale. Initiated by a curator from Venice and Russian artist Alexander Ponomarev, the show will be held aboard research ships. Over 100 artists are expected to display environmentally friendly pieces that are portable and stand up to the harsh weather conditions. At each stop, artists will make and display objects, installations and performances. This show is planned to take place every two years with the aim to present itself as a “floating laboratory of ideas about humanity”.