Seeing an art show outside of the frame of a traditional gallery is always something I look forward to. While galleries and public art spaces are essential, of course, site-specific exhibitions can often push the relationship between the space and the pieces themselves.
Dion Smith-Dokkie’s recently opened show, “sunbeams softer forever” uses its setting in a rural Langley barn to boost the overall sentiment of the show to fantastic effect. Staged as the first mobile pop-up from Fort Gallery (which previously had a spot in Fort Langley), this show is a wonderful return for the artist-run-centre.
Inside the contemporary design of the barn loft at Swallowfield Farm, Smith-Dokkie’s painted textiles and meditative video works hang through the natural light from the vaulting skylights and flutter in the cross breeze between open windows. With the crisp beams of sun shining through, there’s an almost cathedral effect to the show, a feeling that’s both pensive and celebratory at once.
That isn’t to say that Smith-Dokkie’s art isn’t the main draw here, each piece is a gorgeous exploration of self, identity, and sexuality. Using large pieces of hanging paper and fabric, it seems like Smith-Dokkie is retracing the journey he took to arrive at this moment.
Vibrant markings and scribbled colours cover the paper pieces that, with the crumbled texture of each one, at times resemble the braille-like topography of a classroom globe. The fabric pieces created with marker and watercolour, are dotted with iridescent beads and gems and give the impression of points of interest along the way, or maybe particularly pivotal times. With the video pieces, mounted to the wooden walls of the space, Smith-Dokkie creates digital mirages, ambient pieces that resemble seeing the natural colours of the sun through the softness of your own eyelashes.
As you can see, this show conjures many different interpretations. What’s constant, I think, is the sense of appreciating the natural depth and colour that appears in light. In this sense, experiencing Smith-Dokkie’s work surrounded by natural light, is a bit like refracting the sun in a prism. Light may give life, but you need to appreciate all angles to get its full bloom. Contemplating the show as a celebration of queerness and resilience, it made me think of the Leonard Cohen lyric, from his song, Anthem.
There is a crack,
a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
sunbeams softer forever runs until Saturday, June 24, and the space is open from 12 pm – 5 pm
The artist will be giving an open to the public talk from 2 pm-3 pm on the afternoon of the 24th
It’s an extremely short run! Definitely get there soon if you can!
For more information, visit fortgallery.ca
Swallowfield Farm 7296 Telegraph Trail, Langley
From Surrecy Central Station, take the #501 Langley Centre bus to Langley Centre, transfer to the #562 Walnut Grove via TWU bus and exit at 96 Ave and Glover Road. From there, you’ll likely have to take a cab or an Uber a little bit further- it’s not too far though!
