I went to the opening of Doris Purchase's The Ribs of a Place at the
Heliconian Hall today. People loved the show. I met some students
visiting from Singapore. I love what Doris said about the show.
So here's her description:
"My exhibition titled The Ribs of a Place, is an installation of large
"frame ribs" suspended along the walls like an echo from the stage in
a former church now transformed into a women’s club, where
architecture, body, and community converge.
The ribs function as both structure and metaphor: they are the bars
of the heart, suggesting that the true heart of any place lies in its
people. Like a rib cage, the space is not fixed but adaptive—its
many joints expanding and contracting with breath, with sound,
with presence. The Gothic frame of the building—its arches,
stained glass, and vaulted ceilings—echoes this anatomy, turning
the architecture itself into a body that holds and protects.
In moments of singing, dancing, and gathering, the ribs expand
outward, amplifying breath and voice, creating a shared resonance
that moves like an echo through the space.
Drawing on the biblical origin of Eve, formed from Adam’s rib,
the work reflects themes of partnership, equality, and mutual
support, reimagined within a women-centered space built upon
the legacy of those who came before. Ribs, as both frame and
protector, symbolize continuity and regeneration; to build within
this structure is to honour those foundations while allowing the
space—and its community—to grow, breathe, and feel at home."
The huge sculptural arched frames or "ribs" extend along the
north wall of the building, while smaller frames and Doris's
beautiful drawings are along the south wall.
The show runs from June 6 - 24. The next opening is Wednesday,
June 10 from 4 - 7:30 p.m.
Have a loving your life day!
