Sept 13 • this side UP Artists’ Reception • Depot Gallery & Bookstore

PressYess, the artistic duo of Meg Pohlod and Anna Newman, is committed to creating community-focused, accessible art using repurposed materials. Their practice prominently features discarded objects such as shipping cartons, found photographs, and textiles, each embodying a rich history through wear and tear. This attention to the life cycle of materials informs their creative process, resulting in art that connects viewers to both the present and the past.

The duo’s practice is influenced by Pohlod’s experience with site-specific community collages and Newman’s ongoing film and photo documentation of local communities. PressYess’ art is both conceptually rich and physically accessible. For instance, “JoyIn” is tailored for inclusivity, with a lower hanging height to accommodate wheelchair users and seated participants, and repositionable elements secured with velcro for ease of manipulation. Through their work, PressYess creates meaningful, engaging experiences that are open to all.

PressYess, the artistic duo of Meg Pohlod and Anna Newman, creates community-focused, accessible art using repurposed materials. Their practice emphasizes sustainability, collaboration, and the idea that even the most humble materials can carry deep meaning when reimagined with care. The exhibition, this side UP, focuses on the artistic potential of cardboard, a material often considered mundane and utilitarian, but which holds aesthetic and conceptual possibilities. The exhibition showcases a diverse range of works—2D art, sculpture, and installation—that emphasize cardboard’s versatility and significance in contemporary art practices. Artists invited to make work for this side UP explore the material’s inherent qualities—its texture, flexibility, and durability—as well as its cultural and environmental connotations. By featuring works that utilize cardboard in innovative ways, we aim to challenge traditional perceptions of the material, revealing its potential to convey complex narratives and stimulate intellectual engagement.