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John Montague, one of 250 still photos taken at the same site from 2017 through 2023

John T. Montague: Willamette Greenway 45.52951° N, 122.67341° W

Northwest

When

Oct. 3–Nov. 2, 2024

Days Vary, Times vary

Free

Where

Nine Gallery at Blue Sky

122 NW 8th Avenue
Portland, OR 97210

The following description was submitted by the event organizer.

This posthumous video installation compiles over 250 still and moving images of a singular view along the Willamette River that John T. Montague shot by iPhone during his regular walks from 2017 through 2023. Montague’s close framing at the river’s edge centers the remains of a man-made structure within the water’s shimmering reflection of the sky. Changing weather and water levels alter the scene from one take to the next. Montague’s shadow appears on occasion, and his sniffles mingle with the ambient sounds of trains, sirens, runners’ footsteps, and snippets of conversation. By quietly capturing this particular view over multiple years, Montague offers viewers a many-layered experience in which moments, days, and seasons collapse with historical, geological, and celestial time, drawing attention to mortality.

Linda Hutchins, Montague’s widow and a member of Nine Gallery, presents the installation, with Stephen Slappe providing video editing and technical assistance.

On the final day of the show, Hutchins and Slappe will lead a 20-minute walk from Nine Gallery to the site of Montague’s videos, leaving the gallery at 1:00 and returning to the gallery by 2:00-2:30. The route crosses the train tracks via an overpass at Union Station, accessible by elevator on the west and ramp on the east.

First Thursday Reception October 3, 5:00–8:00 pm
Site walk from Nine Gallery: Saturday, November 2, 1:00–2:30 PM