The Hook Experiment in Oxford is currently hosting "Tender Ground," a lens-based exhibition featuring the work of four regional women artists: Lynda Schmid, Sarah R. Bloom, Marnie Ellen Hertzler, and Jonna McKone. Curated by Constance McBride and Lisa Baird, the show utilizes photography and found objects to explore themes of environmental instability, physical vulnerability, and the fragility of place. The works range from disjointed equine photography and nude self-portraiture in decaying spaces to documentation of the disappearing Tangier Island.
This exhibition highlights the mission of The Hook Experiment as an artist-run gallery dedicated to supporting under-represented and experimental creators through a collaborative, artist-first approach. By focusing on the "unstable footing" of the current environmental and social climate, the show reflects a growing trend of hyper-local, community-driven art spaces that prioritize thematic depth and regional connectivity over commercial traditionalism.