Sidle House Gallery presents “things we lost in the,” a captivating art exhibition set within a unique historical narrative, curated by mid-coast Maine poet, artist and musician Colin Cheney. The exhibition runs Oct. 3 to Nov. 1. An opening reception was held on Oct. 1.
The show invites visitors to explore a blend of contemporary artwork and thought-provoking historic artifacts inspired by the fictional St. Amelia’s College of Speculative Timbre. A number of connected artist talks, musical events and performances are scheduled throughout the show’s tenure.
Inspired by works such as Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Primitive and The Museum of Jurassic Technology, guest curator Cheney creates a superfictional space where reality and fiction complicate each other. The fictional St. Amelia’s College, which was destroyed in a fire in 1996 in rural Vermont, was a sanctuary for artists exploring unconventional art, sound and ecological studies.
“Things we lost in the” features a wide variety of artworks, including paintings, photography, sculpture, and time-based video and sound art. The exhibition highlights the talents of nineteen local and international artists, including Khaila Batts, Rita Bernstein, Jordan Carey, Aminata Conteh, Epiphany Couch, Maung Day, Fadl Fakhouri, Shaina Gates, Dana Guth, Jenny Ibsen, Marcus Jackson, Lokotah Sanborn, Adam Rosenblatt, Kalyn Pavliniç, Martin Pavliniç, Kenny Shapiro, Juria Toramae, Andrew Tosiello and Ziyao Zou.
Each artwork will be accompanied by text providing lyric insights into the artist’s vision and their connection to the myth of St. Amelia’s. Additionally, the exhibition includes “artifacts” from the college, such as a disassembled pump organ, burnt timbers, archival files, and scientific apparatuses. While some artifacts will be identified, others will invite visitors to contribute their own stories.
An accompanying Instagram project with narrative posts from within the St. Amelia’s world, plus information about the artists, is at instagram.com/things_we_lost_in_the.
Events:
Artist Talk: Aminata Conteh, Juria Toramae, & Kenny Shapiro — 2 to 3 p.m. Oct. 5 (suggested donation $10)
Zona Höst: An Evening of Timbral Contemplations, Vibrant Matter, and Some Slowcore, featuring rev.web, Ron Harrity, Patrick Carey, Asha Tamirisa, and Sad Bird Band with special guest Lokotah Sanborn. — 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 5
Note: Zona Höst was an annual “sound feeling” festival held each autumn at St. Amelia’s College of Speculative Timbre from 1923 through the college’s destruction in 1996. $15 suggested donation, space and parking is limited, pre-registration required.
Artist Talk: Lokotah Sanborn & Jenny Ibsen — 2 to 3 p.m. Oct. 12 (suggested donation $10)
The Living Room: a Salon & Performance of Writers and Artists — 5 to 6 p.m. Oct. 19
Closing Reception + Curator Talk — 6 p.m. Nov. 1
Find Sidle House one mile from town at 20 Bartol Island Road in Freeport. Look for the small pink sign under the mailbox, come up the driveway, and park anywhere behind the barn. Ride-sharing and barn/field-appropriate footwear is always a great idea. Admission is free.
Tags: art, performance, Sidle House Gallery, writers
