Native Species, 2020, 30x40, inch archival pigment print of native prairie species installation, edition of 5
Feel Fell Fellow, 2020, 13x19, archival pigment print, edition of 10
Material Encounter, 2020, 17x21, archival pigment print, edition of 5

whitespace presents Stephanie Dowda DeMer for her second solo exhibition

Whitespace Gallery

Featuring work by: Stephanie Dowda DeMer

Stephanie Dowda DeMer returns to whitespace for her second solo exhibition, Sandbagging (a field manual for care) opening on Saturday, October 24, 2020. Since her last exhibition at whitespace in 2017, DeMer earned her MFA from VCU. She has taught photography at VCU, ASU and is currently the Iowa Idea Visiting Artist.

Sandbags are the vernacular for coercive compliance. This utility object both conceals the impact of flood from avoidable environmental devastation and lulls us into acceptance of continued environmental harm through progress. The pervasive use of the sandbag reveals a longer history of environmental alteration by deteriorating wetlands, decrease of native plant habitats, and continual pollution. In this work, acts of kindness and care engender a duty of attention needed to imagine kinship with the current and future environment. Through various lens-based processes and a polytemporal sense of narrative, Sandbagging works to disentangle our compliance with care. 

In-Person: Exhibition Oct 24 - Dec 05

Sandbagging (a field manual for care) by Stephanie Dowda DeMer
Exhibition dates: October 24 through December 5, 2020

Sandbags are the vernacular for coercive compliance. This utility object both conceals the impact of flood from avoidable environmental devastation and lulls us into acceptance of continued environmental harm through progress. The pervasive use of the sandbag reveals a longer history of environmental alteration by deteriorating wetlands, decrease of native plant habitats, and continual pollution. In this work, acts of kindness and care engender a duty of attention needed to imagine kinship with the current and future environment. Through various lens-based processes and a polytemporal sense of narrative, Sandbagging works to disentangle our compliance with care. 

In-Person: Opening Reception Oct 24 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

whitespace will host an all day opening for the exhibition Sandbagging (a field guide to care) by Stephanie Dowda DeMer on Saturday, October 24 from 11 am to 5 pm. We will be adhering to our safety guidelines below:

1. All visitors and employees must wear masks while inside the gallery.
 Hand sanitizer will be provided for anyone who wishes to use it. A limited number of disposable masks will be available, therefore, we ask that you please wear your own.

2. No more than four visitors will be permitted in the gallery at one time. Only one visitor at a time will be allowed in whitespec and shedspace.

3. Wednesday and Thursday will remain open by appointment only. Please contact gallery@whitespace814.com to make an appointment.

4. Friday and Saturday we will resume our regular business hours of 11 am to 5 pm and welcome visitors. Visitors may wait their turn in the gallery's courtyard or garden.


Whitespace Gallery

Wednesday and Thursday: by appointment
Friday and Saturday: 11AM – 5PM

1. All visitors and employees must wear masks while inside the gallery.
 Hand sanitizer will be provided for anyone who wishes to use it. A limited number of disposable masks will be available, therefore, we ask that you please wear your own.

2. No more than four visitors will be permitted in the gallery at one time. Only one visitor at a time will be allowed in whitespec and shedspace.

3. Wednesday and Thursday will remain open by appointment only. Please contact gallery@whitespace814.com to make an appointment.

4. Friday and Saturday we will resume our regular business hours of 11 am to 5 pm and welcome visitors. Visitors may wait their turn in the gallery's courtyard or garden.