Lucy Raven's Film 'Murderers Bar' Documents Klamath River Dam Removal as Part of Trilogy

Artist Lucy Raven has completed her film trilogy 'The Drumfire' with the 2025 work 'Murderers Bar,' a 42-minute piece documenting the removal of a dam along the Klamath River in the Pacific Northwest. The film captures the dramatic release of water as it flows from Oregon through Northern California to the Pacific Ocean, forming what Raven describes as a 'newly born river.' This final installment follows 'Ready Mix' (2021), which examined concrete production in Idaho, and 'Demolition of a Wall' (2022), focusing on shockwaves at a New Mexico explosives testing range. Raven explains the trilogy explores matter under various states of pressure and release, with 'Murderers Bar' specifically addressing fluid dynamics and the complex process of infrastructure removal. The film is currently exhibited at the Power Plant in Toronto until March 22, 2025, with future showings scheduled at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston beginning May 20. Previous presentations occurred at the Vancouver Art Gallery and London's Barbican. Raven collaborated with director of photography Yancey Caldwell across all three films, employing innovative aerial techniques including modified drone footage that intentionally destabilizes the horizon to create tension. The artist drew inspiration from 19th-century photographic experiments by Étienne-Jules Marey, as well as cinematic references ranging from 'The Shining' and 'Apocalypse Now' to 'Mad Max: Fury Road.' Raven noted the dam removal project represents the largest such undertaking ever attempted, involving four structures along the Klamath River, and highlighted the linguistic challenge of describing infrastructure dismantling compared to construction.