Winnie van der Rijn and Ryan Bock present ‘NIGHTMERICA’
a collaborative, interactive exhibition featuring selected works from both artists.

Opening: 6-9pm November 1st, 2024 Running: November 1st-3rd, 2024

MOONCALF NYC
332 E 4th St

Snatching up the last moments before the climax of the 2024 presidential election in the United States, van der Rijn and Bock take full advantage of a genuine moment of uncertainty within our country to examine what nationalism truly means in this time of polarization.

Through van der Rijn’s process of physically dismantling and reassembling the American flag, she searches for meaning – examining the flag’s
inherent symbolism and questioning what aspects are worth keeping, and what might be replaced with something better. Half archival and half destructive, her work exists in a small overlapping space where patriotism and anarchy meet.

Bock, similarly sampling the old
stars and stripes, presents new works on paper, as well as interactive puppets depicting American characters and archetypes. Rich with allusions to old

Americana, the circus and comparisons between the entertainment industry and our political system, Bock uses absurdity and whimsy to critique a deeply flawed culture that has lead us to this collective moment.

Though contrasting in process and material, both artists believe strongly in the under appreciated value and power of imagination as a tool to reshape our political system and, in turn, our country. After all, our current entrapments were imagined and generated by humanity. So they can be reimagined by that same humanity into policies that benefit the many as opposed to the few. Rather than directly advocating for any particular candidate or political party, both Bock and van der Rijn hope to catapult their audience towards open discussion, critical thinking and imaginings of a new, brighter future.