YOU REMEMBER< YOU FORGET
2019 - commissioned for The 2019 Oregon Biennial
Curated by Yaelle S. Amir, Elisheba Johnson and Ashley Stull Meyers. Photographed by Mario Gallucci
window film, paint, light cookie, lighting gels, candles, vases, fresh flowers, zines, fliers, donation box
synopsis:
“You Remember, You Forget”
The children are in cages right now.
Separated from their parents.
I move about my day, brushing my teeth,
my hair, researching, working, eating,
laughing with my son, going to a movie.
I speak with others
how we are being like so many of the Germans
when the Nazis
were rounding up the Jews.
(I'm part German, now living on
Chinookan Peoples stolen lands.)
They agree.
And we then talk about something else,
Dogs, parents declining, babies being born,
addictions, auto body work, human body work.
The children are in cages right now.
These six we know have died in the cages since September 2019
Darlyn Cristabel Cordova-Valle, 10, El Salvador
Jakelin Caal Maquín, 7, Guatemala
Felipe Gomez Alonzo, 8, Guatemala
Juan de León Gutiérrez, 16, Guatemala
Wilmer Josué Ramírez Vásquez, 21⁄2, Guatemala
Carlos Hernandez Vásquez, 16, Guatemala
Angels submerged.
The knowledge floats
to the surface of my spirit
and dissipates again.
As we go about our days.
Rankin Renwick, 2019
Many thanks to all who have helped me to create this work.
Joshua Berger, PLAZM - graphic design
Anthony Brisson - vinyl and installation of
Dina No- vase maker
Ariadne Garden - flower donations
Flower replenishers - Rankin Renwick, Anne Greenwood, Moe Bowstern and Dwayne Hedstrom
Sarah Mirk - “BAIL THEM OUT” zine maker
Brian Jennings - electrician
Rob Bardel + Dwayne Hedstrom - paint and wood donations
Katherine Lance - intern
Erika Wanenmacher and Allegra Love steered me to The Innovation Law Lab
Dustin Williams - preparator extraordinaire