Epiphany Knedler and Tim Rickett both grew up in the Midwest – in Vermillion and Nebraska respectively – and their backgrounds helped them connect when they first met while attending grad school at East Carolina University. Rickett noticed one of Knedler’s 4H photos of a bison, and the two of them connected while reminiscing of Midwest staples like Menard’s and Runza.
After graduation, the two of them moved to Sioux Falls in 2020. Like many others, Knedler and Rickett found it hard to find a sense of community during the pandemic, especially as outsiders coming in. In 2022, Rickett accepted a teaching position at Northern State University, and soon after they launched Midwest Nice.
Midwest Nice was their response to the lack of access to contemporary art.
“There is a vibrant art scene here, but there aren’t as many places to show it off,” Knedler said. “We want to show off Midwest art without having a gallery space.”
Knedler also teaches at NSU, but before that, she dedicated much of her time to Midwest Nice.
“I wanted to teach, and I wanted to make something that wasn’t promoting myself, but something that helped others,” she said. “It is very fulfilling.”
Midwest Nice focuses on rural areas and equity in those spaces, and virtual spaces have helped make that a reality for many artists. Their website hosts virtual art galleries, juried art shows, and also provides resources for aspiring artists.
After posting their first call for art, they quickly received over 100 submissions.
“We had low expectations, but that proved that there was a need,” Rickett said.
Submitting pieces to art shows can be expensive. During the pandemic, some shows saw submission fees that reached $50. Part of Midwest Nice’s mission is to help make art shows more accessible, especially for emerging, underrepresented, and rural artists.. For a five-dollar fee, artists can submit up to three pieces of art to a Midwest Nice exhibition, and students can submit their art for free.
There are six Midwest Nice shows each year, including an in-person show at NSU each summer. Each show runs for about two months, and all of the submissions are archived on their website. They accept around 50 submissions for each show.
“Anything more than that is a lot to manage,” Rickett said. “Epiphany shares each artist’s work, their profile, the show, and she posts every day on our website, Instagram, Facebook, and our personal pages.”
There is no limit as to which mediums artists can submit – as long as a piece of art can be shown through a photo, video, or a sound, it can be included.
When it comes to their in-person show, the only limit tends to be size.
“One big piece can exclude around three small or medium pieces,” Rickett said.
Even though there is an emphasis on artists from smaller communities, the interest in Midwest Nice shows has gone global. Artists from other countries have submitted their art, and their last show collected entries from over 800 artists.
A majority of the artists that submit their work fall into the 20-45 year age range, but they’ve received entries from artists as young as 16 and as old as 60. Their students are also encouraged to apply.
“Even high schoolers apply, which is great,” Rickett said. “It can be discouraging to get rejections, but that’s why we do so many shows a year.”
Providing feedback for entries is a staple for the project. Knedler and Rickett ask their jurors to write statements to the artists who are not accepted into a show. Those statements contain advice for the artists, and instead of a rejection, artists are left with a learning experience.
“Having a background in education helps us do that,” Rickett said.
Midwest Nice has been growing along with its shows. Knedler and Rickett have been staffing the project on their own, but they will be hiring an intern for the next college semester. Midwest Nice also provides opportunities for those looking to judge shows, and Rickett said that they have been able to bring on bigger names for the jury. Danielle Krysa, who created the art website The Jealous Curator, will be judging an upcoming show.
Running this project has been a way for Rickett and Knedler to give back to their community.
“It’s about creating your own opportunities,” Rickett said.
“Some artists get caught up in their own creative process and get frustrated,” Knedler said. “No one wants to make the show or gallery. It’s a lot of work, but that comes naturally to us.”
“I went to USD and I was lucky to have instructors that showed us the way,” Knedler said. “Some college and grad students didn’t know how to get into shows. We want to help with those kinds of needs that are not being met.”
For more information, visit their website at midwestnice.art.
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