Hap Gallery presents the doer of great deeds and the speaker of great words, a group show curated by Iris Williamson. the doer of great deeds and the speaker of great words features digital media, 2-D, and 3-D work by Danielle Dean, Tessa Heck, Dawn Kim, Nicole Reber, Anja Salonen, Leslie Vigeant, and Marisa Williamson. The opening reception is held in conjunction with Portland's First Thursdays in the Pearl District, May 5, 2016, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Exhibiting hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. The exhibit will run through May 28, 2016.

In the doer of great deeds and the speaker of great words, seven artists examine how a person’s private life influences their public perception. The exhibition recognizes that the complexity of self is often disregarded due to the limited range of representation and respectability, specifically for—but not limited to—those who identify as female, femme, non-binary, and/or people of color. In a way, succinct, performative elements—like a debate, gesture, or tweet—are more effective at negotiating public power, backgrounding complicated personal stories. These personal stories often become reduced to a sound bite on which to place a judgment, devoid of context. 

Artists in the doer of great deeds and the speaker of great words take different approaches in navigating the perceptions of the self. Painters Tessa Heck and Anja Salonen identify the humor and awkwardness that occur while in mundane social situations. In Danielle Dean’s video/sculpture, her performers use slogans from Ebony, Essence, and Vogue, alongside political speeches, to discuss covert plans. Artist and writer Nicole Reber poeticizes the speech of the pseudo-celebrity. Both Dawn Kim’s postcards of used wedding dresses, and the magazine covers on Leslie Vigeant’s cake, remind the viewer of social ideals at odds with every-day life. In her talk-show video, Marisa Williamson plays Sally Hemings (Thomas Jefferson’s slave and mistress), leading discussions with 20th century icons about representation and an individual’s loss of context in the public life.

Hap has also released an accompanying publication, titled the doer of great deeds and the speaker of great words, as this month's Hap Edition. The book includes written works by Carmen Denison, Alley Pezanoski-Browne, and Nicole Reber.