In a world driven by tight schedules, impatience, and the pursuit of instant gratification, slowing down can feel counterproductive. But that's exactly what artist Kate Oberreich chose to embrace during the creation of her show Liminal. Through slow, tactile processes and a deep passion for making, Liminal offers a fresh perspective on the world—one shaped by time, attention, and care.

When Oberreich began working on the show, she was in what she calls "a bit of an artistic funk." Maintaining a creative mindset isn't always easy, even for professional artists. But a friend's introduction to a new "souping" Polaroid process, with memories of her father's photography, sparked an old interest in her. Slowly, she began to wonder what photography-based work might look like through her own lens.

This wondering of what could be is always present in Oberreich, even in moments of creative stillness. Art is an anchor for her. She balances it with everything else "because it's that important." With a sketchbook always nearby, she anticipates moments of inspiration. There's faith in her approach, a belief that something will emerge. "It's important to just get started on something," Oberreich reflects. "It always builds to something better."

Liminal came together through practices and materials that resist the pace of speed. Blending cyanotype and Polaroid photography with embroidery and beading, creating Liminal demanded Oberreich's patience. She even re-learned the process of Polaroid transfers (something that didn't come without trial and error along the way), but she's drawn to these "slow and finicky" mediums. The act of making is just as meaningful as the final artwork. She enjoys, and even welcomes, slowing down.

Although the works in Liminal can stand alone, Oberreich imagines the conversations they might have together, asking one another about their origins. One might ask, Where did you begin? How did that shape what you've become? Some would speak of real places, the landscapes of Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. Others might recall homes or gardens. But all of them would find connection in their shared roots, grounded in the familiar spaces of the Midwest.

So, I invite you to follow Oberreich's lead: slow. down. Take a moment to really look. Pause. Linger with these pieces. Notice the small details and allow yourself to wonder as you step into Kate Oberreich's Liminal.