Not the World We Used to Know

abstract painting with dabs of bright blue, pink, yellow, orange, white, and pale pink. illegible text is inscribed through the paint layer onto a charcoal layer below

in front of the stars of the US Flag, a man's hand points straight up to the left

two green paneled apartment buildings in winter, at night, in snow. a basement apartment emits a pink glow

a print with a tan and grey lace background and a large black widow spider block-printed on top

a highly realistic oil painting of the sink from the third floor of the Fine Arts building. green tile, white sink, paper towel dispensor

pink red and purple background with green leafy bundles and dogwood blossoms on branches

zen doodle style illustration beginning in shades of red and yellow on the left changing to greens and blues on the right.

a girl partly in shadow looks upward at the camera, purple lights flaring behind her and reflected in her eyes, while an orange light glows on the right side of her face

painting and drawing on a piece of cardboard, image is of the right side of a woman's face sketched over a grey background, the left is obscured by white brushmarks and red squares that drip paint. bottom text reads girl unfinished

digital painting with backdrop in deep teal, framed in yellow and deep red in an indigenous pattern. five tribal figures face left, three only outlined and two at the forefront filled in with red and yellow and also wearing masks

Juried Show

UM Gallery Presents ‘Not the World We Used to Know’ – The University Center Gallery at the University of Montana will explore the impact of change with a new juried exhibit titled “Not the World We Used to Know.”

With works by students, staff, faculty and alumni of UM and Missoula College, the show opens Monday, Feb. 28, with an awards reception to be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 4. The exhibition will be displayed through April 8.

Artists were given the following prompt: Each day we find ourselves living in unprecedented times. This show asks artists to explore the idea of the before and after – whether that be on a large scale such as pre- and post- COVID-19 or on a more personal, intimate scale such as graduation, popping a bubble or learning a new song. We are always growing and changing, moving forward through time. Positive and negative, this isn’t the world we used to know. What does that look like to you?

A wide array of works are included. Master of Fine Arts candidate Lexie Loader created a hyper-realistic oil painting of the Fine Art Building’s third floor restroom sink, which speaks of both quiet, mundane, passing moments and the importance of cleanliness during COVID-19. Student Autumn Harris created “One Year on Estrogen” out of a modified sharps box representing her time on hormone replacement therapy during her transition. Artists deal with themes that range from highly personal to socio-political through mediums such as printmaking, photography, ceramic, sculpture, mixed media, painting and illustration.

“Not the World We Used to Know” was juried by UC Gallery Director Amanda Barr, University Center Director Adrianne Smith and Montana 10 Academic Adviser and activist Joseph Grady. Awards to be presented include Director’s Choice, Jurors’ Choice, Best in Show, Honorable Mention and Public Choice. Voting for Public Choice will be available online and in-gallery from Feb. 28 to 5 p.m. March 4.

The UC Gallery is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is located on the second floor of the UC on the north side. Nearby hourly pay parking is available in Lot V. Masks are required. For more information and accessibility options, email Amanda Barr at amanda.barr@umontana.edu.