Exhibit at Saint Mary’s to make statement about industrialism

WINONA, Minn. — Oklahoma artist Matt Boonstra will display his sculptures March 11 through April 6 at Saint Mary’s University’s Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries. His work is an investigation into how socioeconomic circumstances impact our natural environment.

 Ideas for “Running to Conclusions” are developed from research he has collected from interviewing generations of industrial workers, tours of factories, and visits to industrial wastelands. Boonstra is originally from the Detroit, Mich., area.

“My observations of the changing relationship between people, industry, and environment are then refocused and juxtaposed in order to motivate social change,” Boonstra said. For example, he explained that his recent piece “Have You Tried Walking?” captures the transformation of a human figure into a gasoline funnel and signifies the dizzying physical and psychological relationship with oil.

A reception for the show will be held 4:30 to 6 on Thursday, March 21. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and the show is free and open to the public.