I AM PLODDING THROUGH MUD
I AM PLODDING THROUGH MUD brings together thirteen artists who turn to the fundamental and unglamorous material at our feet: the earth. Working with clay means manipulating geological time—shaping a material formed through the weathering of the planet itself. In this show, clay is liberated from the pedestal and returned to its roots.
The artists in the show use these raw materials in unconventional, experimental ways. The clay manifests as a mound of dirt and metal armatures binding raw clay; it hangs overhead in suspended sculptures; it is printed and pressed into paper; it mimics a ceramic topographical map and even invites visitors to crawl into a dirt cave to draw.
Clay marks the transition from nomadic lifestyles to settled civilizations, anchoring us to place. The exhibition space is staged to mimic a metaphorical town square—a historic site of collective gathering and shared human experience. This square functions as an active laboratory for slowness and solidarity, featuring installation-based works that invite the audience to directly engage.
To plod is to move slowly, heavily, and with deliberate effort. In our contemporary moment, this labor feels universal. We find ourselves wading through the dense realities of societal fatigue, systemic struggle, and individual precarity. Mud is a site of struggle, yes—it slows us down. But mud is also where things take root. It represents a radical return to basics, a humbling reminder of our interdependence, and a testament to human resilience. We do not want to plod alone. We want to gather, sustain one another, and keep moving—achieving this solidarity through workshops, readings, shared dining, making, conversing, or simply taking a pause to hang out in the square.
Building 5, Portland, OR
July 9–July 26, 2026
Opening Reception: July 9, 6–9 p.m.
Participating artists:
ahuva sz
Alice Christine Walker
Ansley Gwin
Cassie Tompkins
Elizabeth Arzani
Emily Ginsburg
Jessica Joner
Kaitlyn Carr
Linda Wysong
Luke Armitstead
Maya Vivas
Ryan Kitson
TarynTomasello