Kristine Potter: Dark Waters  

“Again and again, her photographs capture both isolation and the beauty of the rural South.” —Margaret Renkl, New York Times

The exhibition Dark Waters, created by artist Kristine Potter, uses photography, video, and immersive sound design to delve into the pervasive cultural narratives surrounding the victimization of women. Drawing upon the haunting tradition of nineteenth- and twentieth-century murder ballads—a genre of popular music characterized by tales of betrayal and violence, often against women—the exhibition critiques and reimagines these narratives.

Dark Waters presents a series of seductive, intricately detailed black-and-white photographs that capture atmospheric settings and enigmatic characters. These landscapes are not direct illustrations from the ballads but rather visual interpretations filtered through the lens of the artist who has absorbed a lifetime of stories about the victimization of women. Through these visuals, Potter interweaves landscapes with evocative portraits, bringing to life the often-unnamed women central to these stories, restoring agency and individuality to figures traditionally marginalized by history.

In acknowledging the history of violent storytelling in the American South, the exhibition touches upon Southern gothic themes without fully embodying the genre. The riverscape emerges as a recurring backdrop and a symbolic place where narratives of crime and consequence unfold. Locations like Murder Creek, Bloody Fork, and Deadman’s Pond are inhabited by both victims and perpetrators, illustrating the ingrained glamorization of violence against women within cultural narratives—a theme that persists in today’s media landscape.

Potter observes a tradition of violent exhibitionism threading through early murder ballads, Wild West shows, and modern cinema and television that suggests a “through line” of cultural need, or appetite. Dark Waters critiques this tradition, offering a space to evoke and exorcise the threats and foreboding women navigate daily. By giving these women agency and ferocity, the exhibition invites viewers to reconsider the narratives that shape our cultural consciousness.

Dark Waters is a reflection on historical narratives and an urgent dialogue with the present, prompting introspection and critical engagement with issues of gender, power, and representation. As viewers engage with the work, haunting sounds of instrumentation and vocalizations follow them, creating a powerfully immersive experience that deepens the impact of the visual and narrative elements.

Kristine Potter (born in Dallas, 1977) is an artist based in Nashville. She holds an MFA from Yale University, and her awards include a Guggenheim Fellowship (2018) and the Grand Prix Images Vevey (2019–20). Potter is an assistant professor of photography at Middle Tennessee State University and is represented by Sasha Wolf Projects.

The Momentary is an extension of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, founded by Alice Walton. Opened in February of 2020 in Downtown Bentonville, The Momentary is a platform for the art, food, and music of our time. It is a catalyst for creativity and economic vitality, and a welcoming hub that gathers and celebrates local heroes and international stars. The Momentary was founded by the Walton family and is based on the vision of Tom, Olivia, and Steuart Walton.

Curated by Sarah Meister, Executive Director at Aperture; Alejo Benedetti, Curator, Contemporary Art at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and The Momentary; and Elise Raborg, Curatorial Associate, Contemporary Art at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and The Momentary.