Wright State Stein Galleries presenting two photo exhibitions through Nov. 2

“Pressing Against Looking, Movement,” by Gina Osterloh

Wright State University’s Robert and Elaine Stein Galleries opens the fall semester with photography exhibitions exploring storytelling and elementary schools in Toledo.

“ReWritten: Photographers Reshaping the Narrative” and “Elementary: Photographs by Daniel McInnis” will be on display from Aug. 27 to Nov. 2 in the Stein Galleries, 160 Creative Arts Center on Wright State’s Dayton Campus.

‘ReWritten: Photographers Reshaping the Narrative’

“ReWritten: Photographers Reshaping the Narrative” is an exploration of contemporary photography’s transformative power.

Curated by Marcella Hackbardt, professor of studio art at Kenyon College, the exhibition invites viewers to reconsider the medium’s storytelling potential.

The exhibition features artists who pioneer New Genre Narrative photography, which challenges conventions through projects that explore power dynamics, social justice and personal identity. From tintypes to artificial intelligence, a range of photographic methods are employed to redefine visual narratives with both urgency and contemplative depth.

In an era saturated with social media imagery, “ReWritten” invites reflection on how photographs shape collective memory and understanding. The artists engage with diverse perspectives, reclaiming overlooked histories and illuminating social issues with profound sensitivity.

“ReWritten” features works by Jacqueline Arias, Jen Everett, Amber N. Ford, Ellen Garvens, Emily Hanako Momohara, Gina Osterloh, Leonard Suryajaya, Raymond Thompson Jr., Jonathan Vega, Carmen Winant, Jacqueline Woods and Emily Zeller.

“It’s Hard to Stop Rebels That Time Travel,” by Raymond Thompson Jr.

The following events are free and open to the public:

• Thursday, Sept. 12, 6 p.m.: Curator talk with Marcella Hackbardt and opening reception, Stein Galleries
• Wednesday, Sept. 18: Film screening of “Namba” by Emily Momohara, 4 p.m., 280 Creative Arts Center; and reception, 5:30 p.m., Stein Galleries
• Thursday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m.: Artist talk with Gina Osterloh and reception, Stein Galleries

‘Elementary: Photographs by Daniel McInnis’

In 2022, Daniel McInnis began a photographic survey of elementary schools in the Toledo metropolitan area, documenting teachers, staff and administrators and the spaces they inhabit.

The project fosters a greater appreciation for the individual sacrifices made by elementary educators, as teachers continue to struggle with what American communities have come to expect: low salaries, long hours, limited resources and degraded facilities.

“Woodland Elementary Library (two weeks before classes began), Perrysburg, Ohio,” 2022, by Dennis McInnis (Courtesy of the artist.)

“Elementary” brings visuality and voice to an often-unseen world where young people experience profound developmental growth.

“It is my purpose to bring about greater appreciation for the individual sacrifices elementary educators make and the profession as a whole,” McInnis said.

The exhibition is curated by Tracy Longley-Cook, associate professor of art at Wright State.

McInnis is a documentary photographer who uses portraiture as a primary focus and an associate professor in photography and digital design at the University of Toledo. He has also taught photographic practice and history at Ithaca College, The American University of Dubai, John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY), the School of Visual Arts, Wittenberg University and Bowling Green State University.

He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film, Photography and the Visual Arts from Ithaca College and a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from Savannah College of Art and Design.

Artist talk and educators panel

The Stein Galleries will host the following on Saturday, Oct. 19:

• 1 p.m.: Artist talk
• 2 p.m.: Reception
• 3–4:30 p.m.: Panel discussion with Dayton-area education professionals

“ReWritten” and “Elementary” are part of the 2024 FotoFocus Biennial: backstories. Now in its seventh iteration, the biennial supports more 100 projects at museums, galleries, universities and public spaces throughout Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Northern Kentucky in October.

Support for both exhibitions was provided in part by FotoFocus, a nonprofit organization in Cincinnati that celebrates photography.

The Stein Galleries at Wright State are open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and gallery events are free.

For more information, contact the Stein Galleries at 937-775-2973 or artgalleries@wright.edu or visit wright.edu/artgalleries.