The View From Here: Pictures from Central Europe and the American Midwest

If the Midwestern inferiority complex has a lot to do with our location in flyover country, imagine what it must be like to live in Poland, traditional butt of the “dumb” jokes of nations thousands of miles away. But there are other similiarities, too—the wide expanses of plains, for instance, or the starkly utilitarian architecture of our cities. The View From Here, a touring exhibit put together by the Columbus Museum of Art, aims to find the spirit connecting those of us living in the heartlands of the Old and New Worlds. That’s probably most apparent in the pairing of eight photos, four each, by Krzystof Zielinski of Poland and Ohio’s Andrew Borowiec; they are clearly kindred spirits in documenting their respective working-class hometowns. Three Minnesotan photographers are part of the American contingent, including a couple shots from Paul Shambroom’s terrific series of portraits depicting small-town city councils. MCP, 711 W. Lake St., (612) 824-5500, www.partsphoto.org