Scott Johnson + Ethan Jackson

"Light  |  Drift"

Scott Johnson and Ethan Jackson's Light  /  Drift is a collection of experimental, site-specific interactions designed to create an intimate perceptual experience between viewer and space.

The history of the RMCAD campus, a former sanatorium and medical research site, provides a rich context for the artists to explore the themes of observation, transformation and physical change. At the center of the exhibition is a large installation in which the Rotunda Pavilion will be transformed into a giant camera obscura that blankets the ceiling and floor with projected imagery from the outdoor surroundings. The space’s original function as a sunroom for patients will be reflected in the furnishings available to viewers. Visitors will be able to recline or even move around on wheeled chairs as they become accustomed to the light and lose themselves in the dreamlike lightscapes that surround them.

Light  /  Drift will also feature two solo exhibitions by the artists. In the West Steele gallery, Jackson will present an interactive video installation that invites viewers to experiment with their own reflections as they move through the space. In the East Steele gallery, Johnson will create a sculptural installation using glass, ink residue, light and other materials to evoke an imaginary landscape reminiscent of the quarantined environment of the tuberculosis patients.

Smaller satellite exhibitions, designed specifically for the particular spaces they will occupy, will help complete Light  /  Drift’s goal of engaging the viewer in a total sensory experience. Join us as we explore RMCAD’s unique history through the creative works of Jackson and Johnson.

These projects were supported in part by funding from the Regional Arts and Culture Council of Portland, Oregon and the Oregon Arts Commission.

Opening Reception
Friday, October 15, 5 - 8 pm
Rotunda Pavilion

Public Lecture
Friday, December 3, 6 pm
Mary Harris Auditorium