Machete Factory

November 4 - November 26, 2023

Symbol. Tool. Weapon.
By any means necessary.

Machete Factory opens at One Grand Gallery with a group exhibition fundraiser named after its benefitting party. This show will host the work of 40 artists, each of whom has created a unique design for a personalized machete, which has then been laser etched to their specifications. The lineup of participating artists is staggering in its capacity and talent, bringing a wide range of artistry to the wall of work installed in the gallery.

While the machete has gained mainstream popularity as a result of its association and proximity to violence, its primary and rudimentary use has always been for agriculture. The Machete gathers. The Machete gives. The Machete provides. The Machete nurtures. Machetes are not a tool of the bourgeois. They are a tool of the people. Machete Factory wants to exist outside of the common structure of individualism and focus on community and accessibility.

This fundraiser is aimed to generate support for Machete Factory Tattoo - a cultural, educational, and social hub that will house the most influential and sought-after tattoo artists in the United States. It provides artists the best venue and support and provides tattoo clientele the highest level of professionalism and artistry. Inclusivity and representation are at the forefront of the vision for both the forthcoming Machete Factory Tattoo as well as this group exhibition. While the main focus at Machete Factory Tattoo will be on tattooing to keep the lights on, the collective will stay malleable and open to new concepts of how a space can be used - as a rotating merchandise pop-up shop, a gallery space, and an accessible tattoo school - to feed the greater needs of the community. Decolonization will be a priority, especially in the realm of tattooing within Portland. The tattoo school aspect of Machete Factory will prioritize giving opportunities to marginalized groups that haven’t customarily had access to tattooing thus far in Oregon. Creating careers and accessible education is a solid foundation for reparations as opposed to capitalizing on the high demand of a sacred practice.




@machetefactory

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