Art Installation by Portland Cherokee Artist Brenda Mallory
The Armory will host Recurring Chapters in the Book of Inevitable Outcomes, an art installation by Brenda Mallory, a local artist and member of the Cherokee Nation.
Jan. 11 - May 18, 2018
In 1838, the Cherokee People were forcibly and illegally removed from their homelands in the southeast United States and resettled in northeastern Oklahoma. Some remained in the original lands (either by returning or hiding during the round up). Created in response to the removal of the Cherokee people, Brenda Mallory’s installation entitled Recurring Chapters in the Book of Inevitable Outcomes consists of tall shapes made of waxed cloth and steel that resemble charred timbers or skeletal plant stalks surrounded by colorful, lively spore-like forms. The ruin-like floor pieces speak to what was left behind, but the resilience and hope shows in the spore-like forms that scatter across the walls and floor like blowing seeds. Her work is inspired by a rereading of Cherokee history, and addresses ideas of disruption, repair and renewal.
Recurring Chapters in the Book of Inevitable Outcomes is installed on the Lower Level of The Armory, and accessible any time the building is open. The installation will remain through the run of And So We Walked.
About the Artist
 | Brenda Mallory (Cherokee Nation) is a Portland-based artist whose work ranges from individual wall-hangings and sculptures to large-scale installations. She works with mixed media, mining natural and found materials to create multiple forms that are joined with crude hardware or mechanical devices to imply tenuous connections and aberration. She is interested in ideas of interference and disruptions in systems of nature and human cultures. A resident of Portland for many years, Mallory grew up in Oklahoma and is a member of the Cherokee Nation. She has a BA in Linguistics & English from UCLA and a BFA from Pacific Northwest College of Art. Mallory has received awards from the Oregon Arts Commission, Ford Family Foundation, and Regional Arts & Culture Council and Crow’s Shadows Institute of Art. She was a 2015 Eiteljorg Contemporary Native Artist Fellow, was awarded a 2016 Native Arts and Culture Foundation Fellow in Visual Arts, and is a Mentor in the MFA Applied Craft and Design Program at PNCA+OCAC. brendamallory.com |
We at The Armory humbly acknowledge that the Portland metropolitan area rests on the traditional village sites of the Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Bands of Chinook, Tualatin Kalapuya, Molalla and many other Tribes who made their homes along the Columbia (Wimahl) and Willamette (Whilamut) rivers. Today, Portland’s diverse and vibrant Native communities are 70,000 strong, descended from more than 380 tribes, both local and distant. We take this opportunity to offer respectful recognition to the Native communities in our region today, and to those who have stewarded this land throughout the generations.
Reviews of "Astoria: Part Two"
"Astoria is a great way to learn the history behind the place we all call home. It reminds us to be grateful to the people who sacrificed their lives, as well as recognize the cultures that had been here long before Astor conceived his plan.”
A Family History Unfolds On Stage
In 1811, Alexander McKay and his son Thomas arrived at the mouth of the Columbia River aboard the Tonquin ship as members of the Pacific Fur Company. 206 years later, in 2017, Alexander’s great-great-great-great-grandson, Bob Nelson, settled into a seat at The Armory to watch Astoria: Part One.
The Astor Expedition Ale
In celebration of Astoria: Part Two, we've partnered with the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce and five Astoria brewers to create a limited edition beer to commemorate the 19th century expedition.
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From the French Canadian voyaguer songs to traditional American folk songs, explore the music in Astoria.
Reviews of "Astoria: Part Two"
"Astoria is a great way to learn the history behind the place we all call home. It reminds us to be grateful to the people who sacrificed their lives, as well as recognize the cultures that had been here long before Astor conceived his plan.”
Specialty Cocktails Inspired by "Astoria: Part Two"
Resident Mixologist and The Armory Bar Supervisor Melissa Larrabee writes about creating the delicious specialty cocktails inspired by Astoria: Part Two.
A Family History Unfolds On Stage
In 1811, Alexander McKay and his son Thomas arrived at the mouth of the Columbia River aboard the Tonquin ship as members of the Pacific Fur Company. 206 years later, in 2017, Alexander’s great-great-great-great-grandson, Bob Nelson, settled into a seat at The Armory to watch Astoria: Part One.
The Astor Expedition Ale
In celebration of Astoria: Part Two, we've partnered with the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce and five Astoria brewers to create a limited edition beer to commemorate the 19th century expedition.
Specialty Cocktails for "Major Barbara" and "And So We Walked"
From Pimm's to an earl grey simple, Bar Supervisor (and resident mixologist) Melissa Larrabee introduces the delicious specialty cocktails inspired by Major Barbara and And So We Walked.
From the Playwright: DeLanna Studi
"This play is a testament to the spirit of gadugi." And So We Walked playwright DeLanna Studi on her journey as a playwright and the journey of The Cherokee people.
"And So We Walked" Cultural Resources
Explore the world of the play through history, our playwright and recommended reading materials.
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