The inaugural edition of the Medina Triennial, an expansive yet meticulously organized exhibition, reimagines art as essential infrastructure. Bringing together over 100 artworks by 39 artists across ten locations, this community-wide show explores maintenance as a vital social and environmental act through works that delve into labor, regulation, extraction, and repair.

Co-Artistic Directors Kari Conte and Karin Laansoo commissioned projects that blend art, ecology, architecture, and rural culture. Their curatorial approach highlights the interconnectedness of these fields, suggesting that maintaining our shared systems is a collective responsibility.

In contrast to the Venice Biennale’s grandeur, Medina offered a sense of relief and restoration. This sprawling yet rigorously organized exhibition in Western New York, bisected by the Erie Canal, aligns with historical site-responsive shows focused on sustainability. It demonstrates that even in times of global crisis, local communities can come together to create solutions through art.

The exhibition’s exploration of labor, regulation, extraction, and repair resonates with current challenges faced by society. By examining these themes, the Medina Triennial offers a critical perspective on how our systems are maintained and suggests that art can play an essential role in this process.