Corn Zone

With fragile glass corn suspended from the museum's ceiling carefully with rope, Corn Zone shows Figge visitors the potential danger of genetic modification. Its message covers contemporary issues in farming with bright and cheerful colors that do not entirely mask the risks that come with modifying nature. The art shows a farming story, both fruitful and dangerous, and underscores the significance of human manipulation in modern farming.

Because of artist Michael Meilahn's two careers, farming and art, an ear of corn became the point of convergence for him. "An ear of corn, in my world, is the point of convergence. That point just happened to my careers, farming and art. Corn is not the usual tool to convergence. Lines, rows, numbers, higher prices, lower prices, color spectrums, mapping, information technology, air masses, hybrids, and species commonly lead to convergence; but, corn has unwittingly been the catalyst" says Meilahn.

Corn Zone was purchased in honor of the late Tom Gildehaus, museum trustee, board president and museum supporter. The exhibition will be exhibited in memory of Tom and Mary Waterman Gildehaus.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website