Hera Gallery is pleased to present The Secret Rooms of the Dirt Palace, an exhibition featuring the collaborative work of the artists from the Dirt Palace. Comprised of seven members, the Dirt Palace is a feminist art collective including Alex Goldberg, Kate Gronner, Natalja Kent, Xander Marro, Samantha Pierce, Arley Rose Torsone, and Pippi Zornoza. Founded in 2000 in Olneyville, RI, the Dirt Palace has grown in an organic manner, but has continued to foster independent, strong, socially conscious women since its conception. The exhibition will be on view from August 25 through August 22, with a reception open to the public Saturday, August 25th from 6 – 8 pm.
The women that comprise the Dirt Palace work in a variety of media, including painting, printmaking, audio, film, performance, installation, writing, and more. Through their collaborative efforts, they create a visual patchwork of material and content. The women from the Dirt Palace work in concert with one another to conceive works of art that inundate the senses. The intricacies and details of the works reflect the collective efforts that enabled the creation of the pieces. As the seven different artists work together in one cohesive voice, the result is a visual symphony that reflects each individual effort as well as the whole of the Dirt Palace.
The art work that the artists from the Dirt Palace yield are deeply rooted in traditional methods of making, yet the content reflects contemporary issues present in the Olneyville culture as well as societal currents present on a broader scale. A sense of whimsy is paired with the subject matter, creating visual riddles that await the viewers’ participation. The traditional handmade quality of work is always present in these pieces, and in a technologically driven age this overwhelming presence of the handmade inspires awe.
The collaboration between Hera Gallery and the Dirt Palace was born out of a mutual appreciation for community, the proliferation of art, progressive creativity, and feminist ideals. As a result of these similarities, Hera Gallery has offered its exhibition space to the Dirt Palace, allowing for the visiting artists to exercise total control over the 1170 sq. ft. gallery space. The blank canvas of the gallery will be utterly transformed by the Olneyville collective, creating a truly vibrant and unique atmosphere. The Secret Rooms of the Dirt Palace will offer viewers the chance to abandon themselves to their surroundings and explore the exhibit and experience an uncommon method of art making.
In conjunction with the gallery show, Hera Gallery will also be hosting a night of performance arts that will include both current and past members of the Dirt Palace. The performance pieces will occur at the gallery on September 14th from 7:00 – 10:00 pm. This form of artistic expression is unique and not to be missed.
Oh holy hole-filled walls,
oh swiss cheese entertainment!
the spirits rush in,
the spirits rush out,
a channel with no containment.
Seven sisters sweep these halls,
mixing craft with mystery,
uncovering the future,
cov’ring few others,
but always minding true history.
Oh, this way, this way in!
Knock knock and a door might open,
whisper a word,
tap your toes,
and put on your animal mask again!
Epilogue:
Blurb, blurb balsam herb
pins and shiney buttons,
we mix and match
and patch our things
until we git some new ‘uns.
Spackle, spackle witchy cackle
we break and build it t’gether
borrowed or blue
crooked or true
with the help o’ little familiars
Oh, this is how it all gets done
This is our own secret way
of keeping a place
for our own private grace
and blessing each challenging day
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