“I believe in magick, I believe in you” – Jen DeNike

“Magicians have catalogued and explored ten different levels of what is known as reality, and then produced a map of this terrain. That map now goes by the name of the Tree of Life. Magicians also studied and mapped out the path through these levels of reality that divine energy takes as it manifests on the physical plane, and that path has been configured to have the numerological value of 777.” – Damien Echols

PARTICIPANT INC is pleased to present 777, a two- person exhibition by New York-based artists Jen DeNike and Damien Echols. Seven discreet site-specific installations evolved and are mapped according to the Tree of Life drawing by Echols, including individual artworks by each artist as well as collaborative, interactive, and time-based work. Seven vinyl vector drawings of red sigils derived from this drawing float on the walls, connecting the passage through the Tree of Life realms of Kether, Binah, Chochma, Geburah, Chesed, Hod, and Netzach. Central to the exhibition is a large-scale handmade tent, which the artists will inhabit for one-on-one encounters with the tarot. As well, a collection of collaged books from the their library will be available for study inside. A series by DeNike of silent video works form two pillars, a gateway of initiation outside the tent, depicting her and Echols in meditative states. A third single-channel video features Participant Director Lia Gangitano walking in and out of frame repeatedly in a ritual act of cyclic motion – she becomes the Chariot Card in the tarot, moving not in a direct line but rather a circular motion in time. DeNike, in collaboration with sound artist Scott Haggart, incorporated reel-to-reel location recordings of the East River and Hudson River, which were then processed and manipulated into a final two-channel composition sound work. East and West specific markers in the psychogeography of New York are also important in the performative workings of elemental and ritual magick.

Sunday, Oct 15, 5-7pm
Special guest, Klaus Mettig lecture performance
with music by Orson (VERSION)