University Letter

UND's faculty and staff newsletter

May 23: ‘Pure War’ exhibition opening at North Dakota Museum of Art features John Rogers

John Rogers will speak about his exhibition, “Pure War,” at the North Dakota Museum of Art on Thursday, May 23, at 7 p.m.

The exhibition continues through July 7 as part of the large Power : Empower exhibition

John Colle Rogers, son of the beloved founding dean of the UND College of Fine Arts, the late John Rogers, is speaking about his artwork in the current exhibition at the North Dakota Museum of Art. His art explores the American obsession with acceleration, aggression, and adrenal pursuits. The sculptures range from fantastic creatures made of decommissioned firearms to intimate textile maps of North Dakota’s abandoned missile silos.

The art at the entry to the east Mezzanine Gallery is homage to the missile fields of eastern North Dakota and the giant pyramid in Nekoma, a fixed radar array built in the early part of the 1970’s as a defense against incoming nuclear missiles. The ghostly visage of the Nekoma Pyramid still rises above the surrounding fields as a reminder of the ominous chess game played out on the Great Plains.

The rest of the work takes cues from strategy gaming, the history of arms and armor, and the fetishization of firearms. Several of the artworks were made from guns seized in violent crimes. Others from a combination of surplus weapons and common building materials. All hold a mix of allure and horror.

Rogers currently resides in Oakland, California where he makes high-end architectural ironwork.

Admission to The North Dakota Museum of Art is free. Donations accepted. Free parking available for this event.

Hours: Weekdays, 9 – 5; Weekends, 1 – 5 p.m.