July embodies themes of land and national identity in America. Events in Portland challenge perceptions of fire and climate change through various exhibitions. PICA's exhibition, Who by Fire, emphasizes fire's historical significance and its erasure in contemporary contexts. Artist Ray Anthony Barrett reintroduces fire practices from Black and Indigenous cultures through a communal dining experience. Other exhibitions explore the symbolism of water, nature's resilience against climate change, and how identity intertwines with perception and history.
Fire was once the most fundamental resource for human survival. Now in the twenty-first century, people are completely disconnected from fire's role in the natural world. Colonialism is at least partially responsible for this amnesia; Black and Indigenous peoples' fire practices have been continually erased.
Who by Fire by Los Angeles-based artist Ray Anthony Barrett returns to fire through a decolonial lens. Barrett employed field studies of the American landscapes and repurposed reclaimed materials to create a communal food and dining area dedicated to fire-based cooking.
Scalehouse in Bend features a mirrored floor that invites viewers to consider how identity is shaped by place, perception, and history.
Discover how water has been used as symbolism for queerness throughout history with Adams and Ollman.
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