USAO's Jordan Vinyard shines on global art stage with exhibitions
From the Baltics to the West Coast and back to Chickasha, Jordan Vinyard, professor, art director and dean of the School of Visual & Performing Arts at the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma, has traveled the globe this year, showcasing her innovative artistic practices. Her most recent solo exhibition, "CTRL + ALT + REPEAT," in Narva, Estonia, marks her first overseas solo show. This multi-installation kinetic work delves into the intricacies of relationships shaped by digital identities. Capitalizing on Estonia’s digital prevalence, the show playfully examines the region’s complex identities as a border country.
“During my time in Estonia, I became reliant on digital translation to communicate, which ironically magnified lost interpretation through media,” said Vinyard. Her work humorously navigates the paradoxes of social media, texts and direct messages, emphasizing a loss of presence and meaning. The exhibition will be on display at the Narva Art Residency until October.
On Aug. 2, Vinyard debuted two simultaneous exhibitions in Los Angeles and Tulsa. The first, a digital showcase, is presented by The Not Real Art Foundation, where Vinyard was one of six national grant recipients. Vinyard’s work will be highlighted on their platform, and she will also be featured on their podcast Sept. 18, 2024, at 10 a.m.
In Tulsa, Vinyard's solo exhibition, "Command + C, Command + C, Command + C," is available for viewing at the Tulsa Artists’ Coalition Gallery. This exhibition explores themes of technological mimicry and the erosion of authenticity through digital replication. The exhibition runs until Aug. 25, with an artist talk scheduled for Aug. 16 at 7 p.m.
Vinyard's work, known for its satirical take on society’s overreliance on technology, includes kinetic sculptures, installations and performances. Since earning her MFA from Florida State University, Vinyard has exhibited her work globally at prestigious venues such as the International Symposium of Electronic Arts in Dubai, The Czong Institute for Contemporary Art Museum in South Korea, and The Museum of Contemporary Art in Tucson, Arizona. Her accolades include the Thrive Community Projects Grant, Not Real Art Grant, Oklahoma Artist Fellowship Award, and nominations for the Joan Mitchell Award.
At USAO, Vinyard oversees the university’s expanded media program, which includes kinetics, bio art, installation and performance. She is also the director of Art Wrecker, an experimental art space dedicated to socially engaged and dialogical art forms.
Check out all USAO’s art program has to offer at usao.edu/art.
About the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
As Oklahoma’s liberal arts college, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma provides a distinctive education in the liberal arts and sciences, supporting both its interdisciplinary core curriculum and major fields of study with superior teaching. USAO fosters diversity of thought and practice to help students realize meaningful, purposeful and productive lives as global citizens in a rapidly-changing world.