Gary Wiseman: Tinderbox
In Partnership with Signal Fire and Bark
Exhibition Dates: October 1- November 21, 2015
Tinderbox highlights Portland-based artist Gary Wiseman’s work while “embedded” with environmental group Bark, the guardians of Mt. Hood National Forest. From June through October 2015, Wiseman has worked from Bark’s Portland office, creating work in response to their ongoing campaigns defending the land and water of the region.
Maps of fire perimeters drawn with handmade ink sourced from the charcoal of the fires themselves, iconic glyphs inspired by the routes of Bark’s Portland canvassers, and strange figurative targets salvaged from the site of 2014’s 36 Pit fire populate the gallery.Each series is united by Wiseman’s curiosity to identify the systems that shape our understanding of the city’s wild backyard.
Tinderbox is an initiative of Signal Fire, which facilitates opportunities for artists in wild places and on public land.
Image Credit: Gary Wiseman
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Gary Wiseman was born in Portland, OR where he continues to live and work. He is a multimedia artist whose repertoire includes curating, drawing, painting, food, video, photography, installation, performance, large scale event production, publishing, writing, and interviews. Most recently he collaborated with an iOS developer to create a mobile app (B-View) that allows the user to peer under the surface of the B-Paintings, a recently completed body of work.
Wiseman has performed and exhibited at Flux Factory (NYC), The 2007 PICA TBA festival, The Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Gallery, Milepost 5, Reed College Arts Week, Gallery Homeland, Appendix Project Space, Open Engagement, PNCA, Nuit Blanche (Canada), The Housatonic Museum of Art (CT), and The Regional Arts and Culture Council.
Wiseman co-founded Place Gallery with Gabe Flores in 2010 and formed the art collective Kitchen Sink PDX (2005-2007) with Alicia Eggert. Wiseman has held residencies at Milepost 5, the YAMS residency program in Brooklyn, and Flux Factory. He has received honorariums from the Regional Arts and Culture Council, Gallery Homeland, PICA, Open Engagement, PNCA, and The Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Gallery.
More info at garywiseman.tumblr.com/