MICHAEL C. MCMILLEN'S RED TRAILER MOTEL

August 29 – December 29, 2005
Des Moines Art Center Downtown

Exhibition Opening
Friday, August 26 5 – 7 pm
Music by Mr. Baber's Neighbors
$5; Members Free

Pass through a rickety screen door and enter into the mysterious and captivating environment of the Red Trailer Motel, Los Angeles assemblage artist Michael C. McMillen’s large-scale installation of a dilapidated roadside motel in the middle of nowhere at night. The visitor undergoes a full range of sensory experiences—gravel crunches underfoot on approach to the shabby corrugated metal structure, an unseen radio emits intermittent static and haunting blues music, and peculiar inner worlds are revealed by peering through the peepholes in the three locked motel room doors. A trek to the American wasteland of the Red Trailer Motel promises a surreal experience not soon forgotten.

This exhibition is organized by Patricia Hickson, curator and downtown gallery manager.

Des Moines Art Center Downtown
800 Walnut Street, corner of 9th & Walnut Streets
Street level in the Wells Fargo Financial Building

This exhibition is sponsored by Allied Nationwide and American Republic Insurance with media support from Cityview.

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EXHIBITION RELATED PROGRAMS

Exhibition Opening
Friday, August 26 5 – 7 pm

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Artist Lecture Michael C. McMillen
Thursday, October 20, 7 pm
Des Moines Art Center Downtown

“Since 1973, I have been working in the medium of installation art as a means of directly involving the viewer in the art experience,” McMillen says. Combining his experience as a model-builder for Hollywood movies and an interest in the refuse of American society, McMillen’s intricate installations transport the viewer from a refined art space to mysterious and unexpected environments. Join us for a talk by the artist about his installation Red Trailer Motel and other projects.

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Guided Tours
We are pleased to offer free guided tours of Michael C. McMillen: Red Trailer Motel. Please schedule at least three weeks in advance. Contact Jennifer Cooley at 515.271.0328 or jcooley@desmoinesartcenter.org.