“HERE IS MY MOM. SHE’S DEAD.” by Portland Artist, Wiley, and curated by Sabrina Spurlock, premieres virtually on November 20.

Wiley (b. 1995, she/her) will host a viewing of her performance piece, HERE IS MY MOM. SHE'S DEAD. Curated by Sabrina Spurlock (b. 1998, they/them), the performance will include Wiley viewing over 40 VHS tapes of her mother, Lorrie Macanas Wiley, in real time. This will be the first time these videos have been viewed by Wiley and the first time Wiley has seen her mother since being killed by a drunk driver in 2001. As an artist, this project is an extension of Wiley’s work exploring durational performance; physical and emotional marathons are a cornerstone of Wiley’s past and current work.

The performance will begin at 10 AM PST on Saturday, November 20, 2021 and run approximately 8 hours.

"I know she’s dead. She's been dead for 21 years. I’ve waited long enough. It’s time for me to dig up those memories that I’ve kept buried, and meet my mom.

Her name is Lorrie Ann Macanas Wiley.

A loved friend, mother, wife, sister, and daughter.

I miss her every day.

It’s my hope that during this showing those who loved her will remember her. And this time around, I’m taking her with me everywhere I go."

-Wiley

Please join Wiley in meeting her mother for the first time, and celebrating what would have been Lorrie's 53rd birthday by registering at bit.ly/shesdeadtickets. Viewers are encouraged to interact with the work by typing in the chat and commenting on Wiley and Lorrie’s similarities and mannerisms. 

This project was funded thanks to the generous donors of the fundraiser “Keeping My Mom’s Legacy Alive” found here.

ALT Text: In VCR text, the image reads "Here is my mom. She's Dead. 10 AM - 6 PM. November 20, 2021. bit.ly/shesdeadtickets." Below there is a color photograph of two cars parked with the ocean horizon in the background. The bottom of the image has "Sabrina Spurlock" and "Wiley" in the corner.