This October, Blackfish Gallery presents an exhibition entitled The Love Politik: One World, Indivisible, featuring juried and members’ works of visual art and the Be About Love Festival, a virtual stream of curated musical acts in jazz, blues, and indie rock, and includes performance art, theater, poetry and dance as well as immersive and interactive works. This project takes its inspiration from such figures as Gandhi, Dr. King, Coretta Scott King, Nelson Mandela, Mr. Rogers, Greta Thunberg, Jane Goodall, César Chávez, Dolores Huerta, Mother Teresa, and many others. Blackfish organizers are invoking these and others from the international arts scene in a call to loving arms on behalf of an urgently felt need to present works that celebrates all love.
Our gallery members share concern over current philosophical and political divisions which can leave us feeling hopeless, powerless, and alone. Because of its stature and experience, the gallery is in an excellent position to provide a platform for a wide variety of artists to speak out, to question, to share and to educate. By including voices from all corners of the globe giving expression to diverse backgrounds/perspectives/beliefs—this visual show and allied performances present a unique opportunity to encourage dialogue, challenge notions, and draw audiences into a cross-fertilization of new understanding and creative actions. The theme of love is intentionally being brought to the public in an election month when people will need supportive community and creative outlets, regardless of outcomes. As an artist-run gallery, we take our responsibility to mediate and celebrate connection between the arts and our larger community seriously. Our programming is funded, in part, by the Regional Arts & Culture Council, the Wilsonville Arts & Culture Council, and private donors
Gallery patrons and visitors are encouraged to visit our gofundme page for more info and to make a contribution.
Every Friday we will feature curated musical acts (in jazz, blues, folk, and indie genres) along with performance art, theater, poetry, and dance. See the full schedule of events below in the flip book, or download the pdf here. Every Wednesday, on our Facebook page, we will feature an Interview with the Artists. Blackfish Gallery director Kristin Solomon will interview a panel of artists consisting of two of our Friday night performers, and two visual artists from the Love Politik art exhibition — a guest artist and one of our Blackfish members.
You can view the YouTube premiere performances of our Be About Love Festival here on our home page, using the video player below. Or, tune in to our YourTube channel for premieres of this month's exclusive content.