Prototypes

Northwest
This event has passed. Sorry you missed it!
When
Aug. 25–Oct. 9, 2021
Daily, 6 p.m.–8 p.m.
Free
Where
1010 NW Flanders
1010 NW Flanders St
Portland, OR 97209

The following description was submitted by the event organizer.

Prototypes is a physical container for the discussions, debates, reflections, and questions posed by Converge 45’s Portland’s Monuments & Memorials Project (PMMP) which for the past eight months has brought people together to consider the conditions and impacts of public monuments, including those that have been removed and those that should be built.

Gathered into a 5,000-square-foot space in Northwest Portland, this exhibition assembles over 40 artists, displaying a mixture of artworks, projects, and proposals. Prototypes highlights Oregon artists engaged in the national reckoning of our markers of history that compound racial injustice and social inequity. The exhibition contextualizes their work within past reflections on critical history within our shifting relationship to the violence of the American experiment. Also included in Prototypes is a selection of ideas shared with Converge 45 through its Open Call, which collected ideas for new and re-envisioned monuments and memorials. We asked respondents: What is an appropriate monument or memorial for this time and place? What monument or memorial would you want in your neighborhood?

A broad cross-section of the community has submitted ideas and proposals: Indigenous tribal communities, artists, disabilities rights activists, neighborhood associations, and other groups and individual community members.

During the six-week exhibition there will be online and public events that dive deeper into specific topics and perspectives regarding civic memory and the markers of the past, present, and future. Including, a virtual film festival from August 27–September 6, 2021, organized by Roland Dahwen: artist, filmmaker, and the Cooley Gallery at Reed College 2020–21 artist-in-residence, presented in collaboration with the Cooley Gallery and Converge 45.  

Artists include: Natalie Ball, Lisa Bates & Roshani Thakore, Sandow Birk, Jodie Cavalier, Roland Dahwen, Misha Davydov, Tannaz Farsi, Steph Littlebird Fogel, Linda Hutchins, Garrick Imatani, Baseera Khan, Malia Jensen, Jaleesa Johnston, Nate Lewis, Malik Lovette, rubén garcía marrufo, Alan Michelson, Raul J. Mendez, Tabitha Nikolai, Deborah Oropallo and Andy Rappaport, Jess Perlitz, Trevino Brings Plenty, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Gregory Sholette, Sara Siestreem, Melanie Stevens, Vanport Mosaic with Laura Lo Forti & Linda Wysong, Vo Vo, Marie Watt, Paula Wilson, Linda Wysong with Angela Moos in collaboration with Kenton Community, Linda Wysong with Christy Gifford, Lynn Yarne, anonymous.  

Prototypes is sponsored by The Specht Companies.