On June 4, 2013, Joseph Gallivan interviews artist Merridawn Duckler about her and her brother Geordie Duckler's current show at Blackfish Gallery called Ritual, The Show. It is a group exhibit by Blackfish Gallery Artists, running from June 4 to June 29, 2013
In “Ritual, The Show” a transformed gallery space created by Blackfish
member Merridawn Duckler and guest artist Geordie Duckler invites
visitors to partake in three separate experiences that combine ritual and art.
The first involves sitting in silence for four minutes 33 seconds in a tent in
the gallery, a reference to experimental composer John Cage’s famous piece
(titled 4:33) composed mostly of silence.
Next, visitors are invited to construct the figure 5 out of sticks according to instructions mounted on the
gallery walls.
Finally, visitors can rearrange texts printed on matzoh according to a prescribed timetable.
The artists will talk about involving viewers in an exploration and
expansion of the connections between art and ritual
Merridawn Duckler is a writer, conceptual artist and playwright, whose work has
appeared in Carolina Quarterly and Isotope, among other publications. Visual art
installations include LACMA, the Phoenix Art Museum, Marylhurst Art Gym and
Blackfish Gallery. Duckler is a Senior Fellow at The Attic Institute and an Associate
Editor at Narrative Magazine.
Geordie Duckler heads The Animal Law Practice, a unique private law practice in
Portland, Oregon for animal-related disputes and injuries at the state and federal levels,
nationwide. Duckler holds a JD from Lewis and Clark Law School and a doctorate in
biology from UCLA. His art practice encompasses paint, metal constructions and chalk
and he often incorporates poetry with visual imagery.
In the companion group show “Ritual,” Blackfish Gallery members present
artwork in various mediums that explore ideas about ritual.
Participating artists:
Rita Alves, Carol Benson, Barbara Black, Greg Conyne, Jana Demartini,
Kanetaka Ikeda, Michael Knutson, Paul Missal, Angela Passalacqua, Theresa
Redinger, Sandra Roumagoux, David Selleck,
Mandy Stigant, Steve Tilden, Judith Wyss.
Blackfish Gallery: 420 NW 9th Ave., Portland, OR 97209
503-224-2634 www.blackfish.com
Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm
- KBOO