Maryville College Design Professor Morgan Manning muses on middle age, millennialism in March art exhibit
March 14, 2024
It can’t be categorized as a midlife crisis, exactly, but a milestone birthday for Morgan Manning certainly caused the Maryville College associate professor of design an existential moment or two.
Those musings have culminated in “Middle-Aged Millennials: 20 Years in the Wild,” a faculty exhibit of Manning’s work now on display in the Blackberry Farm and William “Ed” Harmon galleries of the Clayton Center for the Arts on the MC campus through March 28.
“The series is rooted in my journey as a millennial navigating these defining decades,” Manning said. “Turning 40 last fall sparked a period of reflection for me, not just on a personal level, but in contemplating our collective generational experience. The inspiration came from a convergence of factors: my birthday, a sense of amusement at the millennial generation reaching middle age, and a fascination with the subtle yet profound changes that have characterized the last 20 years.
“Reading Jean M. Twenge’s work on generational differences furthered fueled my curiosity. I wanted to see if I could distill the essence of our recent past into a visual format, using typography and color to explore and express the unique zeitgeist of our times.”
After obtaining his associate’s degree in painting and drawing from Chattanooga State Community College, Manning went on to earn his bachelor’s in graphic design from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a master’s in graphic design from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he began his career as an educator. He joined the Maryville College Division of Fine Arts in 2017 after working nine years as a graphic designer and creative director for the Chattanooga Zoo and served as a freelance design consultant for cultural institutions and social organizations in the Chattanooga area.
“Middle-Aged Millennials,” he added, is a poster series that aims to capture each year with a distinctive Pantone color that sets a visual tone “that resonates with the mood and spirit of the times.” It works congruently with the carefully considered typography, selected to reflect the design aesthetics of those years as well as a voice for millennials who came of age in the early 2000s.
“While my own journey kickstarted this project, the inspiration quickly broadened to encompass the collective millennial experience,” he said. “I was intrigued by the challenge of finding a visual language for an era that lacks the distinct aesthetic identities of past decades. This series became an endeavor to document our times through the nuanced use of typography and color, aiming to encapsulate the complexities of our shared experiences.”
In chronicling the evolution of a generation “that has navigated the wilds of technological revolutions, social upheavals and global milestones, all while defining the ethos of age and experience,” Manning hopes his works will speak to art lovers of all ages. It’s a glimpse into the uniqueness that defines one generation, but shared global experiences, he pointed out, can be a touchstone of familiarity that leads to greater insight by anyone who seeks a greater understanding — of millennials, and of themselves.
“The series evolved into something edgier than I initially envisioned,” he said. “This wasn’t just about my personal outlook, but a reflection of the times we’ve lived through — marked by significant global challenges. My aim was to capture the sort of worldwide experiences most people could relate to, even if it meant presenting things through my lens. This approach, while subjective, allows for a genuine portrayal of our era, inviting viewers to connect with the narrative on a personal level.”
Each poster, according to his artistic statement, stands as a testament to “reliance and adaptation, embracing the minimalist elegance of modernism while acknowledging the digital and organic complexities of our current era.” At its core, it’s a narrative tapestry that examines the human spirit through nostalgia, growth and endurance … something Manning, like his Maryville College peers, hopes to engender in his students through the liberal arts approach to education at MC.
“Balancing my creative work with teaching is indeed challenging, but both are rewarding and inspire each other,” he said. “My classes are a source of inspiration, where the energy and ideas of my students fuel my creativity. This dynamic balance enriches both my teaching and my art and design, allowing me to engage meaningfully with both.”
Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Clayton Center, and admission is free. A reception for Manning will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, March 22, in the galleries themselves, and the public is invited to attend.
For more information, visit Manning’s website at www.morganryanmanning.com.