SMAC Features the Photography of JOHN SALGADO MALDONADO “Willmar, What comes to your mind?”-Marshall

JOHN SALGADO MALDONADO

“Willmar, What comes to your mind?”

Exhibit runs May 7 – June 26, 2026

Check out this exhibit either in-person or virtually*

The SMAC GALLERY is located at 509 West Main Street, Marshall

Regular office hours: Monday – Friday 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm

Willmar, What comes to your mind?! This exhibition is a critical view to our society, to our way of thinking about variety, and diversity, a sort of awareness of what we have been taught to value and what’s not. This exhibition calls out the viewer to a self reflection through a “cognitive dissonance”.

Willmar, ¡¿Qué se te viene a la mente?! Esta exposición es una mirada crítica a nuestra sociedad, a nuestra forma de pensar sobre la variedad y la diversidad, una especie de toma de conciencia sobre lo que nos han enseñado a valorar y lo que no. Esta exposición llama al espectador a una autorreflexión a través de una «disonancia cognitiva».

Gallery /Galería
How important is it to have different options, perspectives, and experiences as a human being? Have you thought about how much you value diversity or variety in your daily life?

Truth is we do value diversity in different measures, on a daily basis, and it seems that we enjoy life like this; the more diverse, the richer experiences we have.

¿Hasta qué punto es importante tener diferentes opciones, perspectivas y experiencias como ser humano? ¿Has pensado cuánto valoras la diversidad o la variedad en tu vida cotidiana?

La verdad es que valoramos la diversidad en diferentes medidas, a diario, y parece que disfrutamos así de la vida; cuanto más diversos, más ricas son nuestras experiencias.

When we look at gardens, creativity gives way to diversity and vice versa. When we experiences on our bodies and skin the nature and all seasons, when in simple activities, like going to the grocery store, finding colors and shapes (options) in most of the items, we experience diversity…and we appreciate it.

So the question – reflection comes to the mind…Why is so hard with human beings? To embrace the otherness? Not just tolerating, or accepting, but even furthermore, seeking it, because as we experience in our daily life, this is richer in that way. And therein lies the cognitive dissonance.

Cuando vemos los jardines, la creatividad da paso a la diversidad y viceversa. Cuando experimentamos en nuestros cuerpos y piel la naturaleza y todas las estaciones, cuando en actividades sencillas, como ir al supermercado, encontramos colores y formas (opciones) en la mayoría de los artículos, experimentamos la diversidad… y la apreciamos.

Así que la pregunta – reflexión viene a la mente… ¿Por qué es tan difícil con los seres humanos? ¿Aceptar la alteridad? No sólo tolerarla, o aceptarla, sino más aún, buscarla, porque asi como experimentamos en nuestra vida cotidiana, ésta es más rica de ese modo. Y ahí radica la disonancia cognitiva.

Join an IN-PERSON artist reception on

Thursday, May 7, 2026

from 5-7pm

at the SMAC Gallery, 509 West Main Street, Marshall

*Enjoy community drumming led by
PURPOSE ARTISANS
during this reception*

Join a VIRTUAL artist talk via Zoom on

Thursday, June 11 2026

at 5:30 pm.

Please email SMAC staff [info@swmnarts.org] for the ZOOM link to join this Artist Talk.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Funding provided by the McKnight Foundation. Minnesota thrives when its artists thrive. The McKnight Foundation supports working artists to create and contribute to vibrant communities.

Southwest Minnesota Arts Council
509 West Main Street,
Marshall, MN 56258
507-537-1471