I Pledge Allegiance | Annette Sabater
Annette Sabater, Tapestry
Curated by Thiến Mùi Easland
Exhibition: December 5th, 2020 – March 2021
Virtual Reception: December 5, 2020 from 6:30 – 7:30pm
Show Statement
Annette Sabater is an artist who resides in Portland Oregon. She began exhibiting her work through group art exhibits beginning in 2011. Her first solo exhibit, An Iris Stands Tall: a mother’s journey, a daughter’s transition, was first exhibited in 2017 at Cerimon House in Portland. This exhibit received grant support through Regional Arts and Culture Council and the Puffin Foundation. It was further exhibited at the Multnomah Arts Center in Portland, and The Arts Center in Corvallis Oregon. A smaller exhibit version was shown at the Portland State University White Gallery. The I Pledge Allegiance Exhibit began in 2017 and was completed in summer of 2020.
Artist Statement - Ashly Sypherd
I began I Pledge Allegiance in fall of 2017 in response to the Take a Knee movement. I had just heard the news of the Trump administration defining the Take a Knee movement within the NFL as disrespectful and unpatriotic. I thought back to the takeover of the Malheur Wildlife Sanctuary in Oregon where many defined this as an act of patriotism. The image of the white man on a horse with a gun and American flag riding through the small town to take over federal property in contrast to the Black man on one knee in a peaceful pose highlighted for me the division and judgements of this country. And so, with this, I completed my first piece called Knee for Justice. I chose to represent the Black man on one knee being embraced by the American flag as a symbolic gesture, to represent the need to support and listen to his voice.
I completed I Pledge Allegiance as a response to the current difficulties our country is facing. The respect and empathy many of us feel as necessary to reunite our country, seems forgotten and lost in the shadows of highly divisive words and behaviors. My exhibit features 21 oil pastel/graphite pieces that represent various themes of division, unity, and feelings of empathy and support for others. Eight collage works made from prints of my original pieces are included to further emphasize unity.
I give thanks to the Puffin Foundation for their grant support.
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