ROBERTA’S ART GALLERY PRESENTS VIBRANT TEXTILE ARTWORK OF HMONG AMERICAN ARTIST GER XIONG/NTXAWG XYOOJ
Explore colorful Hmong textile artwork at Roberta’s Art Gallery with “Re/connections” by artist Ger Xiong/Ntxawg Xyoo. This is a must-see exhibit for anyone interested in contemporary art, Hmong culture, or beautiful works of art that hold deep meaning. “Re/connections” is on display from August 17 to September 15, with a reception on Thursday, September 14. The reception will feature a guest panel discussion at 6:30 p.m. in collaboration with the Southeast Asian Organization and the Office of Global Experiences. The discussion will cover topics such as how artwork and design play a role in the preservation of culture. There will also be an open house during the reception from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., where guests can meet the artist and enjoy complimentary refreshments.
“Re/connections,” by Xiong/Xyooj, is a unique exhibit that utilizes processes and patterns from both Hmong and American iconography. He explores themes of resilience, displacement, and adaptation through the lens of a mother raising her eight children in an unknown land in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Despite statelessness, the Hmong culture and identity have been preserved through artwork and design. Xiong/Xyooj says, “My artwork explores how stateless and displaced people can reconnect to their culture and history.” He says, “This exhibit helps to show how stateless and displaced people navigate identity within dominant spaces.”
Xiong/Xyooj is a Hmong refugee who immigrated to the United States from Thailand during the Vietnam War. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Metals and Jewelry from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and his Master of Fine Arts from New Mexico State University. His work has been exhibited nationally throughout the United States and published internationally in Australia. He is a Fulbright Scholar who researched and collaborated with Hmong artisans in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from 2019 to 2020.
Roberta’s Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the James R. Connor University Center at 800 W. Main Street, Whitewater, Wis. The gallery collaborates with campus departments, student organizations, and community artists in coordinating and sponsoring exhibits. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday, and is closed on Saturday and Sunday during the summer. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and is closed on Saturday and Sunday during the academic year, which starts on September 5.
At Roberta’s Art Gallery, we pride ourselves in providing free and open exhibits to the public, and attending certain events can earn students class credit. If you are interested in being featured in the gallery, please contact us for a proposal request. Reach us at ucart@uww.edu or 262-472-3193 or visit our website for any questions or inquiries and be sure to follow our Instagram at uww_rag.
Editor’s note: The above press release was received from UW-Whitewater. Those needing a parking permit may wish to view this information.
