York: Terra Incognita
Portland’s Monuments & Memorials inaugural discussion is York: Terra Incognita.
Presented by Converge 45 and Lewis & Clark College Art Department
As we think about the conditions and impacts of the public monuments in Portland, including those that have been removed, those that should be built, and how events and people are memorialized, we turn to Alison Saar’s sculpture York: Terra Incognita, dedicated in May 2010 on the Lewis & Clark College campus. York, enslaved by William Clark, was crucial to the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s survival but shared in none of the fame, fortune, or freedom enjoyed by other members of the corps. Saar’s sculpture commemorates an important historical figure and at the same time reckons with the complications of memorializing historical narratives. This panel discussion will explore the vulnerability of public art and begin a conversation about transgressive, liberatory, and reflective modes of monument making and public commemoration. Please join artist Alison Saar in conversation with Reiko Hillyer, Associate Professor of History at Lewis & Clark College, and Jess Perlitz, Associate Professor of Art at Lewis & Clark College, to discuss and reimagine historical narratives and possibilities and how they might be given form.
RSVP HereAccessibility
The Portland Art Museum is pleased to offer accommodations to ensure that our programs are accessible and inclusive. All spaces for this program are accessible by wheelchair. Assistive listening devices are also available for lectures. All restrooms have accessible stalls but no power doors. There are single-stall all-gender bathrooms available. Please ask staff for directions.
We will do our best to accommodate your needs when you arrive, however, we need 2-3 weeks advance notice for some specific requests. Please email requests to access@pam.org, or call 503-226-2811.