2024 Summer County Fair Lineup

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TheMinnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) awarded me a FY2024 Creative Support for Individuals Grant for $10,000. I am especially grateful for the support.

I look forward to engaging with county fairs across greater Minnesota through agricultural photography exhibitions, storytelling experiences, and tintype demonstrations. Each time I photograph at county fairs, my project continues to grow and evolve, largely because of the interactions I have with the subjects of my photos and participants that attend my workshops and exhibitions.

I hope to see you at the fair!

2024 Next Step Fund Grant {recipient}

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With support of the McKnight Foundation and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, I’m pleased to announce I am FY24 Next Step Fund grant recipient. The Next Step Fund provides project grants up to $5,000 to artists in any arts discipline. My application was one of 36 selected from pool of 370 artists. With the funding, I will acquire digital printing supplies and photography framing equipment to bring in-house production, plus digital projector and speaker to support traveling storytelling shows.

R. J. Kern is a FY2024 recipient of the Next Step Fund grant, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council.

fotoMAGAZIN feature

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On German newstands: a feature in fotoMAGAZIN with essay by Manfred Zollner. I’m feeling grateful for this outcome from Fotofest Meeting Place 2024. My son loved finding his likeness in this “Where’s Waldo” world.

Excerpt (translated):

“THE VILLAGE IDYLL DISAPPEARS

The American "County Fair" is today a curious mixture of regional agricultural fair, village fair, performance show of local animal breeders and beer tent marquees. A place where heavy-weight giant rabbits, cattle and sheep are awarded with colorful pennants, children are plucked on cotton candy with sticky fingers and teenagers cheer the "Demolition Derby". At the County Fair, a remnant of that picture can still be seen that the painter Norman Rockwell painted on canvas throughout his life as a healing world version of the USA. However, the future of the County Fairs seems questionable.

The everyday life of the US large farms is today light years away from that farm idyll of the legendary TV series "Our Little Farm" from the 1970s.”

Artist Talk {Blanden Art Museum}

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I cringe at the thought of me on video… especially giving an artist talk. However, I realize for everyone I photograph, they are equally as vulnerable. I share my heart and inspiration and answer lots of audience questions behind my work in this live artist talk recorded on May 4, 2024 (Star Wars Fans: “May the 4th Be With You”) at the Blanden Art Museum in Fort Dodge, Iowa. No Holds Barred.

Special thank you to Eric Anderson, Director at the Blanden Art Museum, for making this event happen and sharing it with the world.

Blanden Museum of Art {Acquisition}

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The Blanden Museum of Art acquired two photographs from my series The Unchosen Ones and Out to Pasture to be enjoyed by the public in its permanent collection, courtesy of Olson-Larsen Galleries. Special thanks to Eric Anderson to making this happen. These two photographs have special meaning to me— they are among my first exhibited photographs from personal projects:

  • (LEFT): Anna and Helen, Blue Earth County Fair, Minnesota, USA, 2016 from the series The Unchosen Ones was the portrait exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery (London, England) in 2017 as part of the "Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize Exhibition.” This photograph from the series The Unchosen Ones (Published in The Unchosen Ones: Portraits of an American Pastoral, MW Editions, 2021).

  • (RIGHT): Stella, Isanti County, Minnesota, USA (right) was exhibited as part of my first solo exhibition of photography at Central Lakes College (2017) and exhibited in a solo exhibition at Gallery 360 in Minneapolis (2017). This photograph from the series Out to Pasture was published in The Sheep and the Goats (Kehrer Verlag, 2017).

Blanden Art Museum Director Eric Anderson (left) with R. J. Kern (artist) and Alyss Vernon, Gallery Director at Olson-Larsen Galleries, (right) holding newly acquired photographs by the museum at the reception of The Unchosen Ones on May 4, 2024 in Fort Doge, Iowa.

Stella, Isanti County, Minnesota, USA (2016) from the series Out to Pasture (published in The Sheep and the Goats, Kehrer Verlag, 2017), archival pigment print, 20 x 24 inch sheet size, Edition 1/10 + 2AP, courtesy Olson-Larsen Galleries.

Anna and Helen, Blue Earth County Fair, Minnesota, USA, 2016 (2016) from the series The Unchosen Ones (Published in The Unchosen Ones: Portraits of an American Pastoral, MW Editions, 2021), archival pigment print, 20 x 24 inch sheet size, Edition 3/10 + 2AP, courtesy Olson-Larsen Galleries.

Blanden Museum of Art {solo exhibition}

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OPENS MAY 4: The Unchosen Ones at the Blanden Art Museum (Fort Dodge, IA) through July 20 featuring work from the touring photography exhibition, The Unchosen Ones (2015-2021). Reception May 4 starts at 2pm, artist talk begins at 3pm. 

2:00 - 3:00 pm - Reception and Book Signing with R. J. Kern

3:00 - 4:00 pm - Artist Talk: The Unchosen Ones: Portraits of an American Pastoral

Blanden Memorial Art Museum, 920 3rd Ave S, Fort Dodge, IA 50501

Eric and R. J., Pastoral Study, Minnesota, USA, 2020 by R. J. Kern, archival pigment print, editions available

The Unchosen Ones, solo exhibition at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum of Art in Fort Dodge, Iowa (May 4 - July 20, 2024) featuring twenty 43 x 53 inch archival inkjet prints.

The Unchosen Ones, solo exhibition at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum of Art in Fort Dodge, Iowa (May 4 - July 20, 2024) featuring twenty 43 x 53 inch archival inkjet prints.

The Unchosen Ones, solo exhibition at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum of Art in Fort Dodge, Iowa (May 4 - July 20, 2024) featuring twenty 43 x 53 inch archival inkjet prints.

North Dakota Museum of Art {Acquisition}

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North Dakota Museum of Art acquired two works currently in Divine Animals at Veronique Wantz Gallery up through April 13, 2024. I am excited for these handmade works from my series The Best of the Best to be enjoyed by the public in its permanent collection thanks to patron Bruce Gjovig and curator Matt Wallace.

VIEW THE ENTIRE SERIES >>

Installation view: Divine Animals at Veronique Wantz Gallery, salt print over archival pigment prints added to the permanent collection of the North Dakota Museum of Art (Grand Forks, ND).

Supreme Champion Chicken Male / Female Pairing, 2018 Minnesota State Fair, salt print over archival pigment print, 2019, Edition 2/5, 20 x 24 inches, from the series The Best of the Best.

Supreme Champion Llama Male / Female Pair, 2018 Minnesota State Fair, salt print over archival pigment print, 2019, Edition 2/5, 20 x 24 inches, from the series The Best of the Best.

Divine Animals at Veronique Wantz Gallery

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I’m excited to share work at the debut photography exhibition at Veronique Wantz Gallery (Minneapolis, MN), running March 8 - April 13, 2024. I’ll present highlights in a mini-retrospective format since 2012 with projects including: Divine Animals: The Bovidae; The Unchosen Ones; The Best of the Best; and my newest series, The Last Fair.

OPENING RECEPTION Friday, March 8th, 4-7PM, free and open to the public.

2024 MSAB Creative Support for Individuals Grant {Awarded}

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Minnesota is the best state to live in as an artist!

Yesterday, I learned that the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) awarded me a FY2024 Creative Support for Individuals Grant for $10,000. I am especially grateful for the support.

I look forward to engaging with county fairs across greater Minnesota through agricultural photography exhibitions, storytelling experiences, and tintype demonstrations. Each time I photograph at county fairs, my project continues to grow and evolve, largely because of the interactions I have with the subjects of my photos and participants that attend my workshops and exhibitions.

This grant will allow me to grow as an artist and teacher of art in two ways:

First, the grant will increase awareness and visibility of my work, but will also shine a light on the life and work of people in the Minnesota. I look forward to deepening my on-going relationships with the greater Minnesota communities I’ve been working with since 2015. Meeting new people in these communities allows for genuine exchanges between me and my subjects as we collaborate together to create photographs reflecting their lived reality.

Secondly, by sharing my enthusiasm for agricultural photography, I will engage and hopefully inspire the next generation of photographers. Photography is one of the most popular activities in 4-H county fairs as measured by exhibitor participation. Many 4-H leaders encourage me to share tips and my journey in becoming an artist.

While the number of retirement-age farmers increases in Minnesota, census data show the number of new farmers is declining. This concerns me, raising issues associated with food source / agricultural production issues. I wish to elevate this mindset, showcasing efforts in the best possible light, and offer an opportunity for reflection, respect and deeper understanding of an endangered way of life.

Artist Talk (CWU Museum of Culture & Environment)

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On Thursday Jan. 25 at 4:00 pm PT, I will offer an artist talk hosted by CWU Museum of Culture & Environment (MCE) discussing the process of composing the portraits for the exhibition of photography, The Unchosen Ones: Portraits of an American Pastoral, and what we can learn by paying attention to the shifting landscapes of rural life. I promise a few photo bombs by chickens and barn cats.

I'll appear virtually but the talk will be held virtually and in-person. To attend, in person, come to room 104 in Dean Hall on the CWU campus (1200 Wildcat Way) and to attend virtually, register HERE >>

For questions, email museum@cwu.edu or call (509) 963-2313. The MCE is open Wednesday – Saturday from 10:00am - 4:00 PM.

Mable, Pastoral Study, 2020 from the series The Unchosen Ones.

Mable and Stella, Isanti County, Minnesota, 2020 from the series The Unchosen Ones.

Mable and Stella, Isanti County Fair, Minnesota, 2016 from the series The Unchosen Ones.

WEBINAR: Tips for Creating and Booking Traveling Exhibitions | Jan 10 @ CPAC

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To kick off the new year, I'll share all the nuts and bolts of how I booked (in a matter of months) over 12 exhibitions for my photographic project, The Unchosen Ones. Traveling exhibitions support my creative practice, keep my books alive, and create predicable income.

Hosted by the Colorado Photographic Arts Center (CPAC), I’ll be presenting at PhotoVox January 2024, sharing answers to the following questions and more during this virtual event: Once your solo exhibition comes down, how do you keep the show on the road? What practical constraints make it easier to earn a “yes?” What does an exhibition proposal look like? What does a written agreement look like? What factors go into the decisions of exhibiting completed work in a space (framing, mounting, transporting)?

Webinar Fee: $10 (Free for CPAC members)

Preview of custom framing for touring exhibition.

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Happy Winter Solstice 2023

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Tonight is the longest night of the year in our home. Each day will bring more light until summer. I love this metaphor as I move through the remaining days of 2023, a time for rejuvenation and reflection. I appreciate health, friends, and family… and a good dose of humor. Cheers to 2024!

Year 13 of the Tomte series has arrived, offering a glimpse of our family antics. In this “lucky 13” year, an odd event occurred while traveling in Norway. We received a phone call after visiting a real tomte house: my wallet had been found before I knew I lost it! The location? In a bed with a dozen tomtes! The watchful creatures have picked up a few creative tricks: watching how to make culture boxes, embracing a Santa wishlist, battles with Lego Star Wars, football battles with the Pumpkin People (while embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion), while indulging in Mema’s holiday cookies! Ruby the beta fish— our newest edition to the family— tends to the alpha side when confronted by tomte. And even one has learned to fly! 

CLICK TO VIEW POST >>

Masur Museum of Art {solo exhibition}

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Juried exhibitions— while expensive and time-consuming— can pay off. I just never thought it would lead to a paid solo exhibition.

Here’s that story: in 2019, prints from The Unchosen Ones series were exhibited as part of the 56th Annual Juried Competition Exhibition at the Masur Museum of Art, juried by Catherine Futter (Director of Curatorial Affairs, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art), where I received Honorable Mention. I kept in touch, starting with a little thank you note (handwritten). Fast forward a few months, I offered to donate a print for their collection that was published in National Geographic (Kol and Annabelle). The print was unanimously approved by both the collections committee and Board of Trustees and became part of their permanent collection.

Four years later— as a direct outcome of conversations which began with a juried exhibition— The Unchosen Ones touring exhibition hangs on the same walls.

Artists: never underestimate the power of your projects and how patience and persistence can make dreams come true!

The exhibition at the Masur Museum of Art in Monroe, LA runs November 1- December 22, 2023, features twenty 43 x 53 inch archival inkjet prints with handmade artist frames. Thank you to the support of the Museum staff Lindsay McLean, Evelyn Stewart, and Stefan Nodarse, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions. It’s been a joy working with you all! 

Virtual Artist Talk by R. J. Kern at the Masur Museum of Art, November 16, 2023.

The Unchosen Ones exhibition at the Masur Museum of Art in Monroe, LA runs November 1- December 22, 2023, features twenty 43 x 53 inch archival inkjet prints with handmade artist frames. Image courtesy Stefan Nodarse.

The Unchosen Ones exhibition at the Masur Museum of Art in Lafayette, LA runs November 1- December 22, 2023, features twenty 43 x 53 inch archival inkjet prints with handmade artist frames. Image courtesy Stefan Nodarse.

It's the People {Commission}

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I’m excited to be a part of Hennepin Theatre Trust's #ItsThePeople 2023 in collaboration with Minnesota Tamil Sangam, celebrating those who represent our city in motion. This Public Art project, made in collaboration with highlights members of our community in the theme of “Network of Mutuality.” The “It’s the People” portraits will be displayed on billboards and large-scale banners across Minneapolis through June 2024. Special thanks to Brooke Robison and Mary Jane Mansfield, Tanya Gravening and staff @HennepinTheatreTrust for their support.

In this portrait, R. J. highlights the work of 14 performing artists from the Minnesota Tamil Sangam organization who keep Tamil arts, culture and heritage from Southern India and Sri Lanka alive in Minnesota. The artists celebrated in the portrait are Aditya Nandhiyar, Kamatchi Sureshkumar, Manigandan Jayaraman, Nirmal Sundhar, Prasanna Gajavarathan, Rohini Balamurugan, Sanjay Govindasamy, Saravanan Durairajan, Shanker Narayan, Tamil Kadir Rajavel, Trisha Sebastin, Velmurugan Marimuthu, Vijaya manikandan Mohana Vijayan and Vijayalakshmi Sridhar. This photograph was inspired by "the inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny” metaphor shared by Martin Luther King Jr. Blue fabric connects each artist, flowing like a river of color and honoring “wakpa,” the Dakota word for “river.” Traditional Tamil community performances occur by the river edge, and flowing blue fabric remains meaningful and symbolic.

Minnesota Tamil Sangam, installation view on Hennepin Ave / 9th Ave in Minneapolis by R. J. Kern, 2023

Manigandan Jayaraman showcasing Therukkoothu art form depicting Tamil king, Kaari.

Installation view on Hennepin Ave / 9th Ave in Minneapolis by R. J. Kern, 2023



Rourke Art Museum {acquisition}

While I’m not at Paris Photo this year (boo), I thought I’d share a little story to help other photographers get work into a museum collection— while still getting paid (yea).

The triangle is my favorite shape in the art world, inspired by the relationship between artist, curator, and institution. If an artist donates their work to a museum in the US, according to the IRS, they can write-off cost of goods, not market value (boo). My strategy, which has worked more than once, is:

1. Get the head nod from the curator once acquisition policies are known.
2. Present a case to a patron benefactor, explaining the value of the relationship you are helping to create.
3. Don’t be afraid to be clear what you want, in this case for the patron to acquire the work from the artist then donate to a museum.

It's not a difficult as you might imagine— produce good work and be genuine/enthusiastic about finding a good home for it.

Worse case: You get a No.

Best case: You get PAID and your work may be enjoyed by the public for years to come. And patrons are helping artists build relationships with institutions via the artist. And patrons can write off market value of the work to reduce taxable income.

Win. Win. Win.

While a gallery can be apart of this process, it adds complexity to an already complex process for living artists.

Special thank you to Bruce Gjovig, curator Jonathan Rutter, and Rourke Art Museum and for helping to make this happen.

“Anna and Helen, Blue Earth County Fair, MN, 2016” exhibition print from the #taylorwessingportraitprize.

Rourke Art Museum Executive Director & Curator Jonathan Rutter (left) and R. J. Kern with Anna and Helen, Blue Earth County Fair, MN, 2016 (Artist Proof) from the project The Unchosen Ones at the Rourke Art Museum (Moorhead, MN).