Kindred Futures: Through Our Eyes

A New Exhibition from Waterfall Arts Invites Viewers to Create Space for Solidarity

Belfast —January 3, 2023 — Waterfall Arts is proud to present the captivating exhibition Kindred Futures: Through Our Eyes, on view at the Clifford Gallery from January 26th to March 1st, 2024. The exhibition features sculptures, videos, and digital collages by four talented Maine-based artists: Ashley Page, Eli Kao, Lokotah Sanborn, and Shane Charles.

This exhibition invites viewers to see the world through the artists’ eyes, and envision a kindred future. The conversation generated between the artists’ works reckons with historical and present harm, while inviting visitors to imagine spaces of solidarity moving forward. As Eli Kao states, “Kindred Futures highlights the experience of historically marginalized people in Maine and the U.S., including multiple topics that relate directly to social studies and history curricula.” The artworks offer unique ways to promote discussion and engagement with others.The Maine-based artists represent Penobscot, Black, Asian and multiracial perspectives. 

Kindred Futures: Through Our Eyes delves into themes of language, land, environment and memory through embodied experience and site-based processes. The exhibition showcases the artists' creative placemaking considerations, sifting through layers of time to allow the invisible to emerge into view.

The exhibition is co-curated by artists Ashley Page and Eli Kao, bringing together diverse perspectives and artistic approaches.

Location:

Clifford Gallery, Waterfall Arts, 256 High Street, Belfast, ME 04925

On View:

Friday, January 26th, through Friday, March 1st.

Artist Talk & Reception:

Saturday, February 10th, 4 pm - 6 pm

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Ashley Page:

An interdisciplinary artist based in Portland, ME, Ashley Page explores the vulnerability, grace, and complexities of the Black experience through mixed media sculptural basketry forms. She is the Studio and Programs Manager at Indigo Arts Alliance, engaging at the intersection of art and activism.

"I utilize textile/fiber techniques to create mixed media sculptural basketry forms, metaphorically representing the body and acting as a vessel for memory, portraiture, and storytelling."

ashleypagestudio.com

Eli Kao:

A filmmaker and media worker based in midcoast Maine, Eli Kao's work navigates complexity and contradictions, creating experiences that re-contextualize human/non-human relations. His video installation Heritable is supported by the American Rescue Plan Maine Project Grants.

"I utilize ideas of 'between-ness,' (mis)translation, and parallel channels of communication to create experiences that seek to re-contextualize human/non-human relations."

Lokotah Sanborn:

Penobscot interdisciplinary artist Lokotah Sanborn's work challenges the colonial gaze by showcasing Wabanaki history, contextualizing the present, and inspiring futurisms. His art is informed by years of community organizing for Wabanaki rights and environmental justice.

"My work explores the byproducts of capitalist systems through themes of alienation and the surreal, foregrounding the perseverance and adaptation of Wabanaki people."

lokotahsanborn.com

Shane Charles:

Shane Charles, an accomplished artist with installations, sculptures, and performances, engages in U.S. histories that run along his familial lines. His work explores the missing body from the Northeastern-most American landscape, particularly Maine, his home.

"I push the boundaries of craft into the performative while straddling traditional themes of portraiture and landscape, inspired by Dadaism, collages, and Fluxus social actions."

Instagram: @_shanecharles

ABOUT WATERFALL ARTS

Launched in 2000, Waterfall Arts is a community arts center that offers resources to arts enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. We welcome the public to engage in the arts through classes, exhibitions, art events, performances, public art projects, open studios (in clay, glass, print, and darkroom photography) and more.For more information, visit waterfallarts.org, follow us @waterfallarts, or call 207-338-2222.