The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art opened a new exhibit on Tuesday. “Indie Folk: New Art and Sounds from the Pacific Northwest” features various artwork from artists around the region and will be accompanied by playlists curated by PNW-based musicians. 

Debby Stinson, marketing and press relations manager for the WSU art museum, said the inspiration for the exhibit came from the unique characteristics the Pacific Northwest has to offer. 

“The Pacific Northwest is really unusual in that it’s sort of this unique, artistic ecosystem,” she said. “There’s all these crafts, traditions, Indigenous and settler histories, and they all involve making things by hand.”

Stinson said visitors can expect to see a wide variety of artwork, such as ceramics, prints (woodblock and lithograph), woodwork and paintings. A new and unconventional aspect added to the exhibit is the musical playlist. 

“There is a playlist of indie folk music that’s been selected by Portland’s Mississippi Records and will accompany the exhibition. Everywhere that we have the exhibition, those sounds will be filling the galleries,” she said. 

Stinson said playing music in an art gallery is not very common, as listening to music while trying to consume other art forms can be overstimulating. 

Ryan Hardesty, executive director and curator of exhibitions and collections, said he worked closely with independent curator Melissa Feldman to bring this exhibit to the university.

“She [Feldman] reached out to me about a year ago, just talking about the exhibition concept, and I immediately felt like it was the right project for WSU Pullman,” he said. 

Feldman was in charge of reaching out to the artists, and Hardesty aided in loan contracts and logistics to bring the vision into reality. 

Stinson said there are over a dozen artists participating in this exhibit, and all have some sort of ties to the PNW. 

The exhibit will be open for viewing until May 21, with the exception of Spring Break 2022. The museum’s hours of operation are 1-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The exhibit is free for those who wish to visit, Stinson said. 

Hardesty said Feldman will be giving a gallery talk on the Indie Folk exhibit 4-6 p.m. on Jan. 20. Feldman will be speaking on her connection to the Pacific Northwest, her concept for the exhibition and why she chose particular works of art to display. 

“This exhibition has glass, wood carving, sculptures and paintings in a tremendous variety of approaches,” Hardesty said. “I think it is going to be really rewarding to our visitors.”