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WATER:NFS | Natalie Ball with collaborator Annelia Hillman pue‑leek‑la’
The following description was submitted by the event organizer.
WATER: NFS is the first exhibition in our new large-scale program Site, replacing our 2021 Biennial for pandemic safety. Site was created to utilize Oregon Contemporary’s strength as a large-scale venue in order to provide a new way of supporting Oregon artists at this time, giving them an opportunity for a solo exhibition and the ability to make new work as they expand and grow their creative practices.
For the Site exhibition at Oregon Contemporary, Natalie Ball will collaborate with artist Annelia Hillman pue-leek-la' (Yurok) to bring you into their worlds of resistance. They will create a space that challenges viewers and highlights Oregon – California’s water wars, drought, and land rights that affect and connect the two as Matriarchs, artists, and Mothers.
The two artists are connected by the water source that runs starting at the Head of the Wood River in Ball’s Territory to the Mouth of the Klamath River, Hillman’s Tribal Territory. Their Tribal communities in Oregon and California are affected by severe drought and resulting water issues including toxic algae, a dying Klamath Lake, and dam removal resulting in traditional food extinction. 98% of the juvenile Salmon died this year from parasites caused by poor water quality directly caused by the dams. For over 100 years, Klamath Tribes no longer have Salmon in their waters because the dams block their ancient return home.
Natalie Ball will also use the gallery space to show the development of an accompanying Klamath Land Back Tours PSA (www.klamathlandback.com) with invited performers and speakers over the course of the show. The exhibition will combine activism, artmaking, video production, and in-person performances in one location.