Fredericton-based artist opens new exhibit in Eastport, Maine.
media release
SARDINIA by Janice Wright Cheney from ryan o’toole on Vimeo.
Janice Wright Cheney’s Sardinia is a multimedia exhibition currently on display at the Free Will North Church in Eastport, Maine. An immersive experience for the visitor with its use of sound, film and sculptural elements, the work is inspired by the history of the sardine industry in Eastport, John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, and notions of plenty and scarcity in natural resources such as Herring.
Wright Cheney, a Fredericton-based artist, assembled and installed the work during her recent residency at the Tides Institute and Museum of Art in Eastport.
Sardinia refers to the past, to the sardine canning industry that was once the lifeblood of Eastport, and indeed, many of the small communities of New Brunswick and Maine. In keeping with several of her latest works, the artist explores issues pertaining to wilderness and loss. Here, an abundance of sardines has been conjured; thousands of fish are projected swimming across the beautiful vaulted ceiling of the historic building.
The artist brought together many components and worked collaboratively with others to create the finished project. Fishing nets, lace textiles, a school of fish created by many hand-made individual sardines, a mesmerizing film projection by Ryan O’Toole and a haunting original sound composition by Charles Harding (Property//) and David Cheney work together to provide an otherworldly experience for the viewer.
Sardinia can be viewed at the Free Will North Church in Eastport Maine :
- Sunday, July 10, 8-9 pm
- Friday, July 15, 8-9 pm
- Saturday, July 16, 8-9 pm
- Friday, July 22, 8-9 pm
Learn more at www.janicewrightcheney.com
