Pictured above | Rachel Cox, “God’s Wheelhouse I and III,” gum bichromate print, 2022
The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery at Augustana University opens “Rachel Cox: Exercises for Control: Part I (an end and a beginning),” which will be on view from Friday, Oct. 6, through Wednesday, Nov. 8. A gallery reception will take place on Friday, Oct. 13, from 5-7 p.m., with an artist talk at 6 p.m.
Rachel Cox has created a body of work that examines the personal and cultural stigmas associated with female infertility and assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The artist brings to light her journey with multiple years of miscarriage, in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles and eventual egg adoption, which led to the birth of her daughter. Her photographs capture self- and partner-administered injections, repurposed microscopic photographs of embryos and ultrasound imagery of her body. Combined with this subject matter, she uses historical photographic processes to reflect on broader issues associated with bodily autonomy, power and control.
"This exhibit allows our students to engage the important health care topic of in vitro fertilization through the visual images of Rachel Cox's photographs. Her work is evocative, powerful, intimate and inspiring,” noted Rev. Dr. Ann Milliken Pederson, professor of religion and program coordinator of medical humanities & society at Augustana. “We are encouraging anyone interested in embodiment and medical humanities to attend this exhibit.”
“This is a very powerful body of work that illuminates issues that are often kept hidden,” noted Eide/Dalrymple Gallery Director Dr. Lindsay Twa. “The artist has captured herself at her most vulnerable, opening up a space to talk about these experiences.”
Cox earned a Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) from the University of Texas, Denton, and Master of Fine Art (MFA) from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Her work has been featured widely in the U.S. and abroad, including the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, Des Moines Art Center, Southeast Museum of Photography in Daytona, Florida, The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center and The Houston Center for Photography. Her international exhibition credits include the Belfast International Photography Festival, Musée de l'Elysée in Lausanne, Switzerland, Museo Amparo in Pueblo, Mexico, and Photo London.
Her work has recently been published in GUP International Photography Magazine, TIME, Vice Magazine, The Huffington Post, Feature Shoot Magazine, Dodho Magazine, British Journal of Photography and The Guardian. Her work is included in the collections of Southeast Museum of Photography, the Des Moines Art Center, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Musée de l'Elysée, University of North Texas Special Collections Library, as well as in the libraries of the Amon Carter Museum of Art, Maryland Institute of Art, Pier24 and School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Cox lives in Iowa City, Iowa, where she is an assistant professor of photography at the University of Iowa.
**Please note, this exhibition contains imagery depicting medical injections and nudity; this subject matter may not be appropriate for some viewers.
About the Eide/Dalrymple Gallery
As a part of Augustana University, the mission of the Eide/Dalrymple Gallery is to contribute to the educational and cultural vitality of the university, surrounding community and state of South Dakota. The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery inspires the artists of today and tomorrow, and serves as a resource for teaching and promoting life-long learning through its permanent collection and temporary exhibition program with accompanying artist visits, gallery talks and educational materials.
The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery is named after Palmer Eide and Ogden Dalrymple, pioneering Augustana University professors emeriti of art. Many of their collaborative works are spread throughout the campus.
The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery is located at 30th Street and Grange Avenue, in the Center for Visual Arts at Augustana University. The gallery is open to the public and free of charge. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 1-4 p.m.