A new exhibition by Catharyne Ward and Eric Wright
Destiny Manifest is a body of work inspired by a 7500 mile journey that traced the wagon roads of pioneer America. This journey was precipitated by a long-standing interest in the tragic Donner Party story. With over 3000 photos and 6 hours of film, we traced the trail from North Platte, Nebraska across Wyoming, Utah, The Great Salt Desert, then over Nevada, finally exploring the California and Oregon destinations of the hopeful emigrants.
Along the way we visited the landmarks that guided the 19th century travellers such as: The Platte River, Chimney Rock, Independence Rock, Signature Cliff, Pilots Peak, Skull Valley and Donner Lake. We stood in wagon ruts carved through the rock of the trail as we tried to imagine the unimaginable journey into an unknown vastness. What we discovered was a historical parable of the legacy of American expansionist ideals expressed as the doctrine of Manifest Destiny. This parable being that of the unfortunate Donner Party and how they faced the ultimate consequences of their drive westward to claim the riches of the new world. The words of John O’Sullivan, who coined the phrase Manifest Destiny in 1839 show their truth daily on the pages of any current newspaper.
“…. and that claim is by the right of our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federative development of self government entrusted to us. It is a right such as that of the tree to the space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and destiny of growth.”
The first phase of Destiny Manifest is a pair of films featuring hundreds of photos taken on the journey by Cathy Ward, recitation of historical text and text written by Ward. This phase premiered at P.S.1/MoMA, New York in October 2004 and is currently touring the UK. Phase Two is a full-scale solo exhibition opening 10 July 2005 at Cafe Gallery Projects, Southwark Park, London and is currently in production. For directions, opening times and information on events surrounding this exhibition please contact Gallery by the Lake, Cafe Gallery Projects.
Mark Pilkington has written a piece of ext for the exhibition here
More info here
