Fleisher Art Memorial is pleased to present their 2022 Wind Challenge Exhibition Series with two consecutive shows featuring the work of six contemporary artists from the region. Wind Challenge 2, on view from February 12 through March 12, 2022 in the Dene M. Louchheim Galleries at Fleisher, showcases the work of Christina P. Day, Evgenia Kim, and Natalie Kuenzi. Wind Challenge 3 will follow from March 26 through April 23, 2022, featuring the work of Hratch Babikian, Mostafa Darwish, and Kathleen Eastwood-Riaño.

Established in 1978, the Wind Challenge is an annual juried competition committed to featuring the work of exceptional artists in the region. Since its inception, the series has introduced contemporary works from over three hundred artists to a broad audience and has helped emerging artists advance their professional careers. Selected artists from the most recent competition, juried by Maria Dumlao and Atif Sheikh, explore a dynamic range of themes in their work, from displacement and consumer culture to intergenerational memory and the relationship between humans and nature.

In Wind Challenge 2, Christina P. Day’s architectural and pattern-based work explores time through found objects, while multidisciplinary artist Evgenia Kim also uses patterns and images from the Korean diaspora to raise questions of identity and investigate ideas related to displacement. Natalie Kuenzi embraces the role of both artist and viewer as agents for change, challenging how we make and consume through reclamation and material innovation.

The theme of relationships, while explored in distinctive ways, unifies the work of Wind Challenge 3 artists Hratch Babikian, Mostafa Darwish, and Kathleen Eastwood-Riaño. From Eastwood-Riaño’s layered paintings investigating intergenerational memory to Darwish’s synthesis of contrasting cultures as an Egyptian-American, each offers a compelling perspective on the experience of place and time. Hratch Babikian focuses on the relationship between mediums as a metalsmith drawn to points of intersection between jewelry and sculpture.

Opening receptions for the Wind Challenge 2 and Wind Challenge 3 exhibitions will be held on Friday, February 18 and Saturday, March 26, respectively. Each opening reception, scheduled for 6:00 – 8:00 pm, will be preceded by an Artist Exchange Gallery Discussion—a panel discussion led by the artists delving into their work and creative process—from 5:00 – 6:00 pm.

“The Wind Challenge continues to be an important intersection between art and community in our region, with each exhibition bringing three talented individuals into one shared space,” explains Gerard Silva, Director of Exhibitions and Community Outreach. “Fleisher recognizes that it has been two very difficult years, but it has also been a time of exploration, change, and new ideas for artists. These new perspectives are part of our 2022 series, as the Wind Challenge artists come together to install their exhibitions and offer the public insights into their practice through the Artist Exchange presentation.”

Fleisher also recently announced the 2023 call for entries for the 45th season of the Wind Challenge Exhibition Series. Six selected artists will have their featured in two exhibitions—each featuring a trio of artists—and related programming, as well as a $750 honorarium. Submissions will be juried by Victoria Ahmadizadeh Melendez and Yolanda Wisher, with applications due by May 1, 2022. Visit fleisher.org or Submittable for more information and submission guidelines.

The Wind Challenge Exhibition Series is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Wind Foundation.

About Fleisher Art Memorial

Founded by industrialist Samuel S. Fleisher in 1898 as one of the nation’s first community-based art centers, Fleisher Art Memorial is renowned for its long-standing mission of making art accessible regardless of economic means, background, or artistic experience. Fleisher provides free and low-cost studio art classes along with opportunities for emerging and seasoned artists to exhibit their work. Extensive arts education and community-based programming also reflects the organization’s commitment to strengthening communities by developing, sharing, and promoting creative resources.