Rachel Peterson Schmerge Portable Parks Cuated by Recess part of the IN(ter)DEPENDENCE exhibition
Description Are parks an escape to nature or an extension of urban confinement? In this installation, Schmerge explores the relationship between the natural and the man-made within the urban landscape. She conceived of the portable parks as an entertaining way to insert living green space into a predominantly architectonic environment. However, her attempts to recreate a “natural” environment through tiny fabricated parks emphasized the inherent artificiality of such a project. The plywood walls and interior environment are meant to highlight the grass’s unnatural confinement, raising questions about the role of parks as a place to encounter “nature.” At the same time, parks encourage leisure and recreation, and this is no exception. Schmerge encouraged visitors to freely interact with the boxes- roll them around, pet them, decorate them, sit on them, kick them, or reconfigure them. www.recessart.com
Exhibition Description The IN(ter)DEPENDENCE exhibition points to the emergence, in and around Portland over the last 5 years, of small, independently operated, and self-funded cultural hubs. These creative centers have sprung from garages, sheds, old store fronts, unusual gallery situations, above creeks, and within vacant retail spaces. The cross section of these centers represented in IN(ter)DEPENDENCE have introduced exciting new levels of refinement, fresh inspiration, and consistency into the familiar DIY sensibility the Northwest is known for.
Each space or curator participating was asked to nominate an artist or collaborative group to represent them in them in the IN(ter)DEPENDENCE exhibition.
