Megita Denton 2024.

Abstract

The Gathering Project Megita Denton, Thesis Abstract

At its core, The Gathering Project is an inclusive reimagining of the public art process through holistic, conceptual, and philosophical designs that are rooted in Indigenous philosophies, in pursuit of transformative change. Such philosophies honor that all beings “have a seat at the table,” which denies human exceptionalism, and provides sacred ways of recognizing the land as the connector of all beings. How we steward land, interact with her, and live alongside her directly sculpts the physical, spiritual, and metaphysical realities of our existence. This way of being with the land is the antithesis of capitalism. I am trying to “gather” all of these factors, elements and beings together to reconceptualize how we engage, finance, view, design, and allow public art in common spaces. The Gathering Project is shedding light on public land art processes for the artist, viewer, and gatekeepers of public art. My arrow is pointing to the resculpting of this process in pursuit of an evolution of public art accessibility for all stakeholders. All elements of my thesis, The Gathering Project, were created at Camp Colton and at my home studio, Able Farms PDX, due to unfortunate inadequacies of PNCA resources and facilities.

This project presents a temporary installation as an artistic concept which suggests alternative ways of engaging with the public art process and design. The four tangible elements are:

The Four 🗝Elements Wind/Air - Schematic Diagram Earth - Bio-Anchors (ecologically informed sculptures) Water - Living Thesis Document Fire - Manifesto, ⇺Outside of Art⍈

The Gathering Project explores how an independent artist navigates the public art process and encourages viewers to rethink the design and production of public art in this city’s current system.