Chicken Sh@#

It is no secret that I’m a huge fan of local artist Gabriel Brown. Gabriel is part of a growing handful of young locals (without university employment or a large commercial following) who shows his work outside the greater Spokane area. Most recently his Great Tasting Goodness exhibit was displayed at the Mt. Hood Visual Arts Center in October.

Yes, that is a Spovangelist worm!

Now the purpose of hauling one’s work across state lines is not simply to add more notches to the artist’s exhibit belt, it is also to reach out to new audiences, encounter new perspectives, and discover opportunities for collaboration, inspiration and partnership. Gabriel’s next foray outside Eastern Washington will be to participate in PSU’s Open Engagement conference in Portland this May.

The artists involved in Open Engagement challenge our traditional ideas of what art is and does. These artist’s projects mediate the contemporary frameworks of art as service, as social space, as activism, as interactions, and as relationships, and tackle subject matter ranging from urban planning, alternative pedagogy, play, fiction, sustainability, political conflict and the social role of the artist.

This free conference will include “A variety of transportation that draws on Portland’s bike culture and takes advantage of its excellent public transportation. Contributors will be housed in Portland homes, paired with a host based on common interests. Several meals during the conference will be provided that emphasize slow food, community cooking and underground cafes. Other meals will highlight Portland’s food cart culture. Nightlife and social activities will be integrated into local businesses, using local pubs and cafes as conference hubs.”

As if that weren’t enough, the conference will also feature presentations by three internationally renowned artists: Mark Dion, Amy Franceschini and Nils Norman.

Despite all of our technology and money, when we destroy a natural system it’s virtually impossible to get it back. In a sense we’re building a failure. -Mark Dion

First, imagine if the arts community in Spokane had the social infrastructure to pull something like this off. Second, imagine the impression that would be made if a couple dozen Spokane artists stormed the conference to represent the 509. People would be scratching their heads saying “I had no idea Spokane has such a dynamic art scene. I’ve got to go over there and check it out!”

As with many things, however, leaving Spokane is not a prerequisite for finding what creative people seek. Gabriel stumbled across Rimas Simaitis, his upcoming show partner, while bringing vegetables to the Youth Sustainability Council’s PARK(ing) Day display. Remis was busy making grass cut outs and web-like cradles in front of the Saranac Art Projects gallery on Main.

So come on down to the Saranac next Thursday to feed the chickens (yes, there will be live chickens in the gallery) and plant a seed in a bottle that you can take home. This will be worth braving the elements to learn a thing or two about urban farming, and to think about the ways in which our consumption impacts the ecosystems around us.