Abigail Doan: Prairie’s inaugural exhibition, Tender Meeting, offers a realm of connectivity in a world that views ‘placelessness’ as an opportunity for rediscovering or locating one another on shared sensorial ground.

Tell us more about your vision for this latest exhibition as well as Prairie’s evolving community?

Jillian Solotes: The vision was to create something that plays with the senses — it is a film, an exhibition and an entirely collaborative piece of art. This community, along with the show, is a tapestry of sounds and images centered around the emotion of connection. Music, 3D animation and film are often very separate from the fine art world so it is about establishing that connection ground — the point at which pathways meet. It was important to create an exhibition about the feeling rather than the physical. This is very much true for the entire community… You feel more than you see.

AD: Creating a constellation of makers, near and far, is a dreamy way of describing the formation of a gallery that highlights the expanse of multi-disciplinary projects. Tell us more about your dialogue with 3D digital designer and animator, Derek Elliott, and the space that you ultimately architected. Does a virtual experience create possibilities for showing work in ways that traditional viewing spaces might not?

JS: Derek and I have dreamed up working together for many years. With this exhibition we wanted to create a warm inviting space where natural glowing light leaks in from above. We started exploring qualities of cave like structures — deep echoing vibrating sound and dim light. Cisterns and grain silos came to mind and we thought how similar feelings could be translated into 3D. The idea was to create that immersive sensation without physically being there and entering that kind of space.

The virtual experience allowed us to be imaginative in every single aspect. We could play with everything, there was nothing that was off limits, that gave us tremendous freedom. The artwork could reside in an intangible invented realm that was not a traditional white cube gallery.

AD: In a fusion of original soundscapes, film, 2D and 3D works, artists were encouraged to articulate and narrate from a personal vantage point and memory of place. Collectively, the exhibited work is installed in the rendered gallery as an expression of terrain that is both personal and uncharted, but with a flow that lures the viewer beyond each soft node. How did you approach curation for the show and decide upon how to navigate the installation?

JS: The curation process was a very organic one. I really enjoy looking for threads between artists especially with such different mediums. When thinking of artists many came to mind because they have either physically traversed this terrain to create their images or their materials/the work come directly from it. All of the artists inspire me in my own personal art and many I have worked with in the past. Derek created the appropriate feeling — the pace and panning of the camera. He also designed each room as well as where each piece was placed.

AD: Do you feel that Tender Meeting is perhaps a way of making the impending metaverse more tactile, human, and/or relatable in some way? It is inspiring to think that documentary images and craft can exist in a meaningful digitized realm and also preserve sensations of openness and discovery.

JS: There were some challenges in finding ways to experience deep listening and deep feeling digitally but very quickly I saw that it was possible. I think of what digital has done for photography, filmmaking and music so exhibitions should be no different. Dreams can be enabled by technology. I believe through ‘Tender Meeting’ that possibilities and doors opened especially for connection and communication. We were able to establish an audience beyond usual visitors of spaces dedicated to art. Everyone and anyone around the world could see the show and be a part of it. My hope is that the exhibition reached people who never get the chance to visit a gallery or museum.

AD: What were some of the conceptual and/or historical inspirations for Tender Meeting? In the exhibit’s statement you refer to meditative light/space projects like Rothko’s Chapel as well as the open plains of the American West as vast spaces for stillness and permeating silence.

JS: There were many influences musically, visually and conceptually. Sound came first which allowed me to visualize an atmosphere. I created a playlist that included Rothko’s Chapel by Morton Feldman and Pauline Oliveros cistern recordings. I then began thinking about the prairie as a non-place — how a prairie can exist anywhere — and what an exhibition would be like in a placeless place. “Matrix” by artist Rei Naito and architect Ryue Nishizawa at Teshima Art Museum inspired the design and feeling. The dome like shell has two oval openings that allow motion, sound, nature, art, and architecture to interconnect with limitless harmony. I hoped these same meditative and peaceful qualities could come across through rendered animation. I also looked at the work of garden designer Piet Oudolf for the wild plants peaking through at times in the film.

AD: Tell us more about what is on the horizon for Prairie? Will you continue to partner with Artsy and gather work that explore new realms of connection collectively as well as at a personal level for artists? Your idea of fostering ‘neighborly kindness with others’ while pursuing one’s craft is so needed and forward-thinking during these times.

JS: We will continue to partner with Artsy as it has been a great experience to connect virtually. We are also in the process of creating a physical home/gallery for Prairie that will be by appointment only and opening late summer. The space will focus on art and design and antiques in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. Artists are invited to share studio space, exhibit works and host popup workshops. Prairie will always be an arts and community project so we will continue establishing strong connections in the work, in nature and with one another.

View the film

Tapestry of Sounds and Images