The Seven Sisters:
An Exploration of Time and Place

Carolee Jakes
Curated by Gaby Mizes

Wednesday, August 30th through Saturday, September 23rd, 2023

The Seven Sisters, more formally called the Pleiades, is an open star cluster. Perhaps because of its relative proximity to earth, it has been noted by cultures around the world for centuries. It is mentioned in the Bible multiple times, and has featured in the legends of Australian aborigines, Ancient Chinese, and Native American cultures, as well as the Greek Myth that gives this show its name, almost always as a group of sisters. This show celebrates their presence as part of the universal experience of life on earth. At the same time, it recognizes the individuality of our personal perspectives. Though the stars remain the same, the legends themselves are specific to each culture.

The sound installation in the front room of the gallery includes seven globes that represent each of the seven sisters. A thread of music plays through each globe and interacts with threads of music coming from the other globes to create shifting harmonies. The music you hear is determined by both time and place. Each thread cycles through its melody independently, so that the complete composition repeats itself rarely during the show. Where you stand determines which globes you will hear, which will dominate, which will be quiet or inaudible. The woodblock prints in the rest of the gallery, and the prints from which the globes were made, are all expressions of the constant passing of time and the shifting experiences of who and where we are.

This show is a collaboration between Ellie Jakes, who composed the music and engineered the sound, and Carolee Jakes who created the prints and built the globes. The show is curated by Gaby Mizes.