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Arts Playlist: ‘Circle of Truth’ at the Biggs Museum of American Art

Shane Goffogg's entry in the "Circle of Truth" exhibit coming to the Biggs Museum of American Art.
Shane Goffogg
/
Biggs Museum of American Art
Shane Goffogg's entry in the "Circle of Truth" exhibit coming to the Biggs Museum of American Art.

The question ‘What is truth?’ is no longer simply a philosophical debate; it’s an increasingly daily ask in a polarized society that consistently grapples with questions about the nature of truth.

In that spirit, the Biggs Museum of American Art is rolling out the new exhibition ‘Circle of Truth: 49 Paintings Ending with Ed Ruscha,’ which unpacks the concept of truth and how our perceptions, biases, and interpretations shape our understanding of reality.

In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media’s Kyle McKinnon is joined by Biggs curator Laura Fravel to explore the ‘Circle of Truth.’

Biggs Museum of American Art curator Laura Fravel previews the ‘Circle of Truth exhibit with DPM's Kyle McKinnon

The Biggs Museum of American Art’s newest exhibition explores the meaning of truth and how individual interpretations and perceptions shape our understanding of reality.

"Circle of Truth: 49 Paintings Ending with Ed Ruscha" took nine years to complete and features 49 contemporary artists who worked in isolation and secrecy.

Together, Biggs curator Laura Fravel says, they developed the exhibit the way the childhood game known to most as Telephone is played.

“The first artist in this series mailed their work to the next one with a blank canvas in the same crate, same size,” Fravel said. “That artist, then, in this little crate designed for two pieces, would mail their piece and a blank canvas to the next artist. So, nobody knew who came before them in the series.”

Fravel adds that the exhibit's methodology is as unique as it is daring.

“Exhibitions are organized by intuitions… that they’re often already existing work, curators are selecting from things they know about,” Fravel said. "But to start a show not knowing where to go or what people will respond to along the way, and just let the work morph organically, that is a very brave thing to do.”

"Circle of Truth" is on view at the Biggs until September. 22.

Delaware Public Media's arts coverage is made possible, in part, by support from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Kyle McKinnon is the Senior Producer for The Green with a passion for storytelling and connecting with people.