Forewords, Afterwords & Editorials

Collage and Assemblage by Gregg Harper

The 31 artworks included in this exhibition of collages and assemblages by Portland artist Gregg Harper focus on words. The written forms they relate to are poetry, words that accompany a visualized and re-imagined Tarot deck, and opinion – in line with editorial “cartoons”.

Forewords is a series of seven illustrations for a seven-verse poem written by Harper in 2016 entitled Raven’s Retort. Afterwords relates to the questions for reflection that were written after the completion of the thirteen card Shard Suit of his Broken Vessel Cartomancy series. And the Editorials consist of collages and assemblages that comment on contemporary society.

This exhibition will be on view at the Chalkboard Gallery at Mechanics Hall (second floor), 519 Congress Street, Portland. It opens on First Friday, June 3rd , 5-8pm, and runs through June 9th . Walk-in visits are also available Saturday and Sunday, Noon – 4pm, Monday by appointment, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 1pm-4pm.

Please note our in-person Covid safety policies: To ensure the safety of our staff, guests, and community, and under the direction of our Board, Mechanics’ Hall requires proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 (or an appropriately time-stamped negative COVID-19 test) for all persons attending our events until further notice. All persons must masked for the duration of their time in the Hall, regardless of vaccination status in accordance with our current Masking Policies. This decision was made to help keep our community safe and our doors open.

All attendees must either:

• Present a physical copy or a photo of their COVID-19 vaccine card along with a valid photo ID (state, government, or school ID); or
• Provide a time-stamped printout, photo, or email of a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of the event or a negative Rapid Antigen Test taken within 36 hours of the event, along with a valid photo ID (state, government, or school ID).

Images:
Raven’s Retort, Verse Six Illustration, Soul and Cosmos, Gregg Harper, Mixed Media, 2018
Five of Shards, Broken Vessel Cartomancy Series, Gregg Harper, Mixed Media, 2017
Beguiled and Divested, (Pilgrim’s Progress), Gregg Harper, Mixed Media, 2019