Watercolor artist Judy Thompson and her daughter, poet Kristin Gifford, have launched a collaborative exhibition titled “Becoming Midwest: Life Between” at the Washington Pavilion Visual Arts Center in Sioux Falls. The show features 27 artworks and 12 poems that explore shared themes of motherhood, the natural landscape of the Great Plains, and the complexities of regional identity. The project marks the first formal partnership between the pair, blending Thompson’s established watercolor practice with Gifford’s contemporary poetry.
This exhibition highlights the growing trend of interdisciplinary and intergenerational collaborations within regional art scenes. By placing visual art and literature in direct conversation, the show examines how different mediums can interpret the same geographical and emotional terrain. It also underscores the significance of local institutions like the Washington Pavilion in providing a platform for Midwestern artists to explore nuanced narratives of rural and domestic life.