There’s a sliding scale between representation and abstraction, and though art itself isn't geographical, why not test out a theory that art from the center of the country—the Midwest—should fall in the middle of that sliding scale. That’s what curator Benjamin Gardner did with "Middle States," his new exhibit at the Anderson Gallery in Des Moines, Iowa. It features work from Midwestern artists that represents both the real and unreal—abstraction as a process.

The artists in "Middle States" construct abstraction from reality, giving the viewer an anchor that exists in the real world, not just on canvas. Gardner says artists like Pollock give viewers very little to connect with. But for this collection, he asked each of the six artists to make art based on reference shots—photos of nature, cities, and blueprints. From those photos, the artists built their own representations. The result is a smorgasbord of contemporary art that tells a story about the Midwest.

Matt Pulford paints flying quilt squares, artwork that conveys the imaginary adventures of his daughter and the characters of Richard Adams’ Watership Down—one of Pulford’s favorite books. His art is free and serene. The most consistent and profound inspiration comes from the great open plains of the Midwest. It’s his home, his escape, and the canvas for his art. He tried city life, but left concrete-filled Chicago and returned to Eastern Iowa. Pulford frequently drives through fields and woods just to get away and to be inspired.

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