The Koger Center for the Arts has housed the work of Jaime Misenheimer since late September in their Upstairs Gallery. Misenheimer’s latest exhibit, Moon Crush, is a collection of paintings that are not only inspired by her life growing up in Oklahoma, but also by her time on the set of Killers of the Flower Moon, the new Martin Scorsese film based on the eponymous nonfiction novel. Misenheimer helped with set design for several scenes in the film and worked as a background actress. On November 1, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., the Koger Center will host an exhibit reception to celebrate the work of Misenheimer and to commemorate the first day of National Native American Heritage Month.
A graduate of the Hoffberger School of Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, and the University of South Carolina, Misenheimer creates multi-disciplinary works, often from her memory. She is a native Oklahoman and member of the Choctaw Nation; her experiences working across cultures and disciplines continue to lead her to new questions and practices. The exhibition includes over 50 of Misenheimer’s pieces from 2019 to the present, ranging from small waterscapes like her piece Tvshkahomma to the massive Blizzard, a 98” tall, abstracted piece on linen. Misenheimer also created a mural exclusive to this exhibit on the glass windows of the Upstairs Gallery, evoking a different sense of place in the viewer depending on the time of day they look at it.
The reception is free and open to the public. Light fare and drinks will be available during the event, and Misenheimer will be present for all interested parties to talk to about her portfolio, intentions behind this collection, and other artistic endeavors. For more information, contact the Koger Center at (803) 777-7500.
"Moon Crush” artist statement: Moon Crush is a love letter to my home, featuring local flora and fauna like deer, catfish, and roadrunners. My work often explores the contrast between the inner and outer worlds we inhabit. In this collection, my focus is on the outer world, and sensory memories of it, capturing careful moments such as moonrise or heat, a particular bend in a tree, or the cool shapes around a sleeping dog. As a Choctaw citizen living in present day Oklahoma, my identity is deeply intertwined with the land. "Moon Crush" is a collection of paintings that also explores my relationship with nature through careful observations. Working from life and outside, each brushstroke captures a moment that is both personal and universal. Through this collection, I hope to share my connection to the land and honor the Choctaw people's legacy of reverence for our relatives, animals, and the natural world. With each painting, I endeavored to evoke the experience of being in nature - the sounds, smells, and colors that surround us in everyday life.
