I have just joined Blackfish Gallery. Its a co-op gallery that I and about 15 other artists founded back in 1979, thirty years ago. I left the gallery in 1983 after four years as I was young and needed more, different experiences. Besides numerous group exhibitions, I had three major one/two person exhibitions there. I say major because these were some of the most ambitious and best shows that I held. After returning from Japan, I have felt that rejoining Blackfish seems like the right thing to do at this point of life.
Why this co-op gallery instead of other commercial galleries, especially now that unlike 1979 there are many fine galleries in Portland? From my previous experience the advantage of this co-op gallery is that members are at the same time co-owners so that there is more freedom to exhibit work than in a regular commercial gallery;that is, there is no one to tell you what type of work he/she wants out of artist for a commercial reason. My work, and my personality I feel demands a good deal of this creative freedom. While artist is allowed considerable freedom at Blackfish, yet the gallery is administered professionally. Also Blackfish as I recall is a place to meet and work with fellow artists so that it becomes a place to communicate, interchange ideas and thoughts, and this interaction creates a great deal of energy.
Though I am not 25 as I was when Blackfish was founded, the gallery also matured as I matured. I hope though to interject as much energy as I did in my youth in coming years at Blackfish. And I hope to add new, spicy flavors to Blackfish that stores of life 's experience that I have gained in these last thirty years will provide.
Above: Wall pieces shown in the exhibition at Blackfish in 1983
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