“ “ DOWNSTREAMDOWNSTREAM ””TWO RIVERSTWO RIVERS

MISSOURI YELLOWSTONEJODY MENGE ROBERT SPANNRING

A PROPOSAL BY TWO MONTANA ARTISTS

The Exhibit is a Visual OperaThe Exhibit is a Visual Opera

A narrative epic from our past to our present which explores the changing river landscape.

The artists present two distinct styles and ideasdesigned to

challenging our perceptions to accept challenging our perceptions to accept or deny what we hold sacred.or deny what we hold sacred.

Exhibit StructureExhibit Structure

PAINTINGS • POEMS • SCULPTURESPAINTINGS • POEMS • SCULPTURES

“a Libretto”“a Libretto”

Three elements work together to weave a story of notes about our presence…

a reflection of the interconnectedness of all things.

WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?

The first libretto begins with two The first libretto begins with two rivers as untouched, natural, free rivers as untouched, natural, free

flowing…flowing…

the large paintings resonate the larger notes.

UNTOUCHED

VAST SPACE

We then move downstreamWe then move downstream to medium and smaller, more to medium and smaller, more

intimate paintings…intimate paintings…

these paintings are the delicate tones and passages.

RIVER BOTTOMS

LANDMARKS

WILDLIFE

The second element is Poetry.The second element is Poetry.Poems as large as paintings make us think.

WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?

What of River WildlifeWhat of River Wildlife

A world apart, not our time, A world apart, not our time, not by our clock,not by our clock,they gather.they gather.Branches break, deer stand still.Branches break, deer stand still.

Rush, rush, heavy are wings, break the air,Rush, rush, heavy are wings, break the air,pass over us, we stare.pass over us, we stare.Wings, if we had wings,Wings, if we had wings,we don’t.we don’t.

What of River Wildlife What of River Wildlife

What of River PoisonWhat of River Poison

Bones of maze, maze of bones,Bones of maze, maze of bones,featherless, silent, bare with no care.featherless, silent, bare with no care.What happened?What happened?

I spray my mixture, plant a seed,I spray my mixture, plant a seed,germinate my convenience upon the land.germinate my convenience upon the land.I was careful, wasn’t I?I was careful, wasn’t I?

The skeleton listens, but no reply.The skeleton listens, but no reply.

What of River PoisonWhat of River Poison

The poems serve as a bridge,The poems serve as a bridge,

carrying us from the face of the painted images to a deeper awareness via word and

the intellectual mind…

The third element is sculpture.The third element is sculpture.Sacred ceramic vessels Sacred ceramic vessels mounted upon symbolicmounted upon symbolic

church steeples. church steeples.

WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?

The pedestals are The pedestals are black with white black with white

plastic tops,plastic tops,

lit from the base, which illuminates both the bottom of the vessel and the pedestal’s gold

leaf interior.

The sacred The sacred ceramicceramic

vessels are vessels are symbolic symbolic chalices.chalices.

The colors mirror sand and water.

The vessels are the deepest level The vessels are the deepest level of meaning for each trio, for they of meaning for each trio, for they

open us to the mystery…open us to the mystery…

that moment of uncertainty, peering into the vessel, when the eye grasps what is held

within the pedestal’s sacred space.

A circular hole exists in the A circular hole exists in the bottom of each vessel…bottom of each vessel…

““WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?”WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?”

Each Libretto represents a turn in Each Libretto represents a turn in the river…the river…

as we make our way downstream through the exhibit. This chorus then repeats itself on the

inevitable journey toward civilization.

The artists explore themes:The artists explore themes:

history, space, sensory experiences, positive and negative human influence, land-use issues, power, and freedom…

WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?

ANCIENT LAYERS

SWITCH

SERENITY

LOCKED

WHITE CLIFFS MONUMENT

THE COMING

SPILLWAY

As we move downstream toward As we move downstream toward a more civilized, more convenient, a more civilized, more convenient,

more groomed land; and more perfect more groomed land; and more perfect lives, consider...lives, consider...

WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?

DIVIDED

SUSTAIN

PRIVATE

““WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?”WHAT DO WE HOLD SACRED?”

ILLUMINATIONILLUMINATION

Process of seeing something, intellectually understanding

what it is,

feeling it in your heart.feeling it in your heart.