ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Two intertwined themes run through Joel Ross’s practice: the roadside’s role in American culture, and the slipperiness of language. His interests lie in how context and form shape the way stories are understood and re-interpreted over time, and how storytelling shapes beliefs. In this way, his works can be seen as physical manifestations of true, sometimes poetic, often unflattering, and frequently heartbreaking accounts of pieces of lives lived. In the artist’s words, “We survive the day, and then we sit around telling stories about it. It is how we make sense of the world.” Instagram: @pleasechaseme
Nekita Thomas is a designer and researcher committed to design's power to address complex social issues and foster change. Her research develops frameworks, artifacts, and interventions facilitating critical thinking, creative collaboration, and futuring among diverse stakeholders at the intersection of race, well-being, and the built environment. This work manifests as placemaking solutions, public installations, and design workshops combining art, design, and social practice to empower people toward healthy environments and futures. Her work frequently explores the specific histories and futures of American Blackness on Chicago's south and west sides. nekitathomas.com
Another Place: Storymaking the Entangled Prairie is made possible with support from the Campus Research Board and Frances P. Rohlen Visiting Artists Fund, College of Fine and Applied Arts. Krannert Art Museum acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.
**Parking nearby is free after 5 pm and on weekends.**
Image detail: Brooke C. White, Oceans of Grass series, 2025.