Saturday, December 21, 2024

December 21-? NTVTY XII

The Xhurch NTVTY XII is actvated as a series of stations of Nativity at Virtua Gallery in the mall.

The first artist NTVTY was a collaboration by artists at the Xhurch in 2010. Jesus, of course was an alien, a birthright citizen of homeless Jewish undocumented parent migrants, in Bethlehem.

That is all current and rich material for artist interpretation. To me, in past years, the mirror tunnel with MSHR, and the virtual reality baptism were highlights.

Like last year, many of stations are nativity scenes with computers or technology as the baby messiah.

Check their socials for hours ongoing, more interactive art, and more experimental music into the new year.

NTVTY XII at Virtua_Gal at Lloyd Mall Suite B216. It is in the former Lady Foot Locker, second level, above Zumiez and Hot Topic. For now, check their socials for open times. Free

December 21 Stone Field

It is the end of the year, family time, and vacation time. So art will take a rest. There are many crafts and small artworks events you can find.

The Lumber Room has a group show from their collection, and are open this afternoon. Otherwise check their website and make an appointment to see it.

A Stone in a Field includes Jo Baer, Lynda Benglis, Louise Bourgeois, Sarah Braman, Mary Corse, Moira Dryer, Suzan Frecon, Luchita Hurtado, On Kawara, Yves Klein, Yayoi Kusama, Robert Mangold, Anna Maria Maiolino, Agnes Martin, John McCracken, K.R.M. Mooney, Betty Parsons, Sarah Rapson, Dorothea Rockburne, Michelle Stuart, Stefanie Victor, Erika Vogt and Evelyn Taocheng Wang.

At The Lumber Room https://lumberroom.com/exhibitions/2024/549 419 SW 9th, above Liz Leach Map  Noon-3 Free

Sunday, December 15, 2024

December 15 Time Cards

Happy wall of text Sunday.

PPSTMM closes It’s About Time by Leslie Hickey and Jesse England with a reception, a reading from Hickey, and new works from England.

"It’s about time is composed of two, multi-faceted projects, one each from Hickey and England. The works on display dovetail into their past exploits, where through the use of photography, storytelling, and mad scientistry they observe, consider, then act to capture that which needed drawing out, or at times hiding in plain sight. Shedding light on the peculiarities of everyday life. The casual viewer may take their images and devices as longings for bygone occasions, however, upon further review, we see Hickey and England eschewing nostalgic and doughy eyed notions, in favor of the ardent, hard-boiled stare of the artist as social critic raptor.

In their own ways, the artists bring to It’s about time reflections on eras vis-à-vis a technological tool of communication. These instruments and the moments they facilitate are simultaneously of the past, as well as our present. I care not to make too many assumptions on our future at this moment. Hickey’s sensibilities provide a reverence to pedestrian stories, overgrown lawns, and the corners of empty houses that surround us. While England deploys a dry wit upon the phenomenological media tools of our lives. This dual-project exhibition weaves together their unique approaches and invites viewers to examine the delicate interplay between nostalgia and contemporary existence we all encounter."

At PPSTMM 323 NE Wygant #203. 11AM Free


Nucleus House has a vast stable of illustration-style artists spanning the world. They have a California branch and two on Alberta in Portland. They do solo shows and have inexpensive prints and objects available year-around. One of their big shows of small works opens tonight. All are 5"x7" and priced at $110 cash and carry.

There are 396 artists: A.M.Sartor, Aaron Robert Baker, Adèle Verlinden, Alex Cabal, Alexia Novella, Alexis Marga, Alvaro Escobar-Fuentes, Amber Aki Huang, Amber Skye Alcock, Amelia Hofsteede, Amelia Rozear, ameru, Amy Earles, Anaïs FLOGNY, Anastasiia Platoshyna, Andi Soto, Andrea Bell, Andrea du Plessis, Andrea Kang, Andrea Offermann, Andrei Sitari, Andrew Brandou, Andrew Ghrist, Andrew Rae, Angela Ramones, Angie Duran, Anuj Shrestha, Art of Yayu, Ashley Dreyfus, Ashly Lovett, Athena Parella, Aunia Kahn, Authan Chen, Ayuna, Azhimova Anastasia, Bags43, Barbara Malagoli Martino, beachghost, Bekah Zeimetz, Ben McEntee, Berta Vallo, Beverly Arce, Billy Fowler, Bird Cvlt, birdfingers, Blanca Gómez, Bo Myles, Bob Doucette, Brianna Miller, Brooks Shane Salzwedel, Bryce Wymer, Burrito Breath, Caia Koopman, Caleb Sinchok, Camila Rosa, Camille Whitcher, Candace McKay, Candie Bolton, Carolin Leary Prinn, Carolina T. Godina, Caroline Frumento, Chad J. Keith, Charlotte Dumortier, Chelsea Beck, Chi Ngo, Chizu Wada, Chloe Niclas, Choimago, Christelle Diale, Christina Zhang, Cleonique Hilsaca, Coco Glez, Cody Jimenez, Cogumeli, Colin Jack, Creature Creature, Crimsoooo, Cris James, Crisselle, Cristal Ortiz, Crystal Barbre, Cuddly Rigor Mortis, Daifei, Dale Raines, Dan Tavis, Dani Spickermann, Daniel Lacalle, Daniel Locke, Danielle Bennett, Danielle Chenette, Danny Malboeuf, Daria Solak, Defectivepudding, Diana Ling, Diego Andrade, Diego Penuela, Dillie Pickles, Dimitris Pantazis, Dozergirl, Dracko Velasco, Dusty Ray, Edward Cao, Egene Koo, elevatorteeth, Elisa Escalera Aguilera, ellievsbear, Elliott wells, Em Randall, evelmiina, Eri Aikawa, Erica Williams (HookieDuke), Erika Kosmatka, Erikas, eureka, Evie May Adams, FARTSYLEE, Faunwood, Federico Tobon, Felipe Rodriguez, Florence Solis, Francesco Simone Savi, Franco Zacha, fulltimefish, Gabriel Gomez, Gemma Correll, Gemma Román, Gizem Vural, Goblinbutter, Grace Cho, Grace Poole, Graham Annable, Graham Franciose, Grey Chen, Grimbytes, Guillaume Josué, Guno Park, Gus Sanchez, Haley Manchon, HAMADARAKA, Hanna Jaeun, Hannah Tjia, Haylee Morice, Hazel Ang, Heartslob, Heather Lee Birdsong, Heather Sundquist Hall, Heidi Moreno, Hélène Lenoble, Helice Wen, Hollie Mengert, Hugo Beaurepere, ileanadraws, Irene Martino, Iryna Khymych, Isamar Medina, Ivardi Ahau, Izzy Abreu, Jacquelin de Leon, James Lipnickas, James Thistlethwaite, Jamie Green, Jana Heidersdorf, Janice Chu, January Sun, Jason Mowry, Javier Pinto, Jaya Nicely, Jen Tong, Jen Yoon, Jenia Cher, Jenn Woodall, Jenna Gibson, Jenna Wing-Hu, Jennifer Allnutt, Jeremy Gdalia, Jessica Hess, Jesssdraws, Jez Tuya, Jim Chen-Hsiang Hu, JJ ZAMORANOS, Joanna Viheria, JObe , Johanna Springer, John F. Malta, John Rego, Jon Fox, Jon Lam, Jonathan Djob-Nkondo, Joon the Goon, Joseph Dragunas, Joseph Iovescu, Joyblivion, JUHWA, Julia Lundman, Julia Peng, Julian Callos, Julian Miholics, Juliana Loomer, Kamryn Tulare, Karen Remsen, Kate Paints, Katharine Henry, Kazune Shintaku, kEda Gomes, Kelly Belter, Kelly Sux, Kelly Thorn, Kelly Yamagishi, Kelsey Oseid, Kevan Hom, Kevin Jay Stanton, Kim Thai Nguyen, Kim Yeon Jeong, Kima Lenaghan, Kimera Wachna, Kristina Sabaite, Kyle Fewell, Lana Jay, Laura Guglielmo, Leah Artwick, Lena Fridman, Lettie Jane, Lianne Pflug, LIFO, Lilblueorchid, Lily Qian, Linnea Strid, Little Paper Forest, Lizzy Gass, Look for the Hunter, Loretta Lizzio, Luhan Wang, Luisa Rivera, Luna Ana, Luke Alarcon, Lydia Ramsey, MadebyEnger, Madi Harper, Madison Safer, Maggie Chiang, Maggie Ivy, Mall, Marc Majewski, Marie-Eve Proteau, Marika Paz, Marina Caro, Mario Maplé, Marisa Aragón Ware, Mark Conlan, Mark Seabrook, Marlowe (Odd Rabbits), Maryanna Hollomon, Matt Schu, Matthew Aceves, Matthew Crumpton, Maya Ruiz, Mayuko Iwata, Mayumi INOHA, McMonster, Meadow & Fawn, Megguran, Melissa Grisancich, Michael Powers Tarantelli, Michael York Gilreath, Mike Howat, Minh Myler, Miranda Sofroniou, Miranda Tacchia, Missupacey, Mizucat, Mocculere, muertosruz, Muna Abdirahman, Nadhir Nor, NAN4SAN, Nana Williams, Nando von Arb, Nano Abia, Naoshi, Nicole Bustamante, Nicomi Nix Turner, Niemo, Niky Motekallem, Novalina Raya, Olga Wieszczyk, Owlyjules, Paige Reynolds, Paper Puffin, Parakid, Paralilac, Patrick Leger, Paulette Jo, Perrilla, Petra Frankova, pngianne, Po Yan Leung, Pony Ma, Poopikat, Quathryn, Raahat Kaduji, Rachael Pease, Rachel Bensimon, Rachel Hayden, Rachel Ivanyi, Rachel Maves, Raf Sarmento, Rafaela Pascotto, Raid71, Randy Vargas, Ray Dak Lam, Riccardo Pagni, Rim Baudey, Risa Kshida, Rita Chen, Rose Wong, Rozenn, Rupy Kaloti, Ryan Alexander Lee, Ryan Harris, Ryo Shibata, Sandra Yagi, Sara Wilson, Sarah Cliff, Sarah Jamison, Sarah Kieley, Sara Nilsson, Sarah Whang, Saskia Huitema, Scion Illustration, Scott Mills, Scott Santee, Sean Keeton, Sean Whelan, Sena Adjovi, Shannon Knight Shannon Knight, Shee Liu, Shelly Swann, Shimhaq, Shoko Ishida, Sibylline Meynet, Simon J. Curd, Song Chuaynukoon, Song Kang, Sophia Du, Sophia Kiuchi, Sophie Robin, Squid Vishuss, Steve Kim, Steven Russell Black, Stevie Shao, Strijboll, Sunny Eckerle, Sylvia Ji, Taegan Treichel, Tallboy, tarakeet, Taryn Knight, Tassy, tbeardraws, Tena Galović, Tess Smith-Roberts, Tete Garcia, Thao Tran, Thinh Dinh, Tidawan, Tiffany Wei, Tim Romanowsky, tintist, Tom Christophersen, Toshiki Nakamura, Trashkitty, Tristan Poulain, Tuan Nini, Ty Goodwin, Vahe Yefremian, Valérie Bastille, Vanessa Morales, Varvara Nedilska, Veronica Steiner, Vicky Xie, Victor Bizar Gómez, Victoria Gedvillas, Victoria Skellan, Victoria V Nunley, Wenting Li, William Darkdrac, Wina Obake, Yohan Sacré, Yuckie, Yujia Wang, Yulong Lli, Yumi Yamazaki, Zach Meyer, Zachary Oldenkamp, Zoe Lunar, Zoe Persico, and Zozo Jhen.

9th annual postcard show https://nucleusportland.com/blogs/future-exhibitions/p-s-9th-annual-postcard-show at Nucleus House Gallery 1137 NE Alberta Noon-4 Free

Saturday, December 14, 2024

December 14 Secret Nucleus Fountain

Nucleus brings a show of paintings by Kristin Kwan all the way from Nebraska.

At Nucleus Portland http://www.nucleusportland.com 2916 NE Alberta


A Secret Room Press is a Risograph studio. Today is an unusual one, they show 8 and 16mm vintage and modern films themed on dogs, including Houndsville. Houndsville started as a comic by Amanda Berlind out of Ashland https://www.amandaberlind.com/bio. Then she made it into an 8mm film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCW2UwJEsmU The artist-filmmaker is also a composer. A Secret Room Press drops the coundtrack on cassette tonight too.

Films at A Secret Room Press 3225 SE Division 7:30PM $6


The Schnitzer Collection has a retrospective of the Fountain Gallery at the Oregon Historical Society.

While the Museum and Museum Art School were strong contemporary forces, the Fountain Gallery, 1961-1986 was arguably the first contemporary gallery in Portland. The Fountain Gallery stable was continued by Laura Russo, 1943-2010, who worked at the Fountain, and her gallery, now Russo-Lee. Curator Bruce Guenther, a strong contemporary curator for the Portland Art Museum, worked at the Fountain.

You can see a time capsule of an era in art in this show with parallels to the Portland Art Museum collection of works.

Reception https://www.ohs.org/events/a-fountain-of-creativity-open-house.cfm at the Oregon Historical Society Noon-5 Free for Multnomah County residents RSVP requested

Friday, December 13, 2024

December 14, 15, 18 Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat

Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat is a documentary about the four month term in 1960 of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of Congo. It is presented by the Camas Independent Film Festival.

It weaves the great game between the US and then USSR for control of Africa, with African American musician performances in Africa sponsored by the State Department. Lumumba was deposed in a coup led by Mobutu Sese Seko at the behest of the CIA. He was later killed by separatists amidst conflicts between factions competing to rule the country. Later Mobutu gained control of Congo, ruling from 1965-1997.

The film cuts archival footage with American musicians performing and text excerpts from writings of the time, intelligence sources, news, historians, and even a play. It is a nonfiction exploration on film of emotion, idealism, and realpolitik.

The film has a short blip about mining for tantalum, coltan, in Eastern Congo by warlords - to make electronic devices, including mobile phones. The minerals are smuggled to China where the electronic parts are made. That is subject to responsible source tracing which doesn't work. Unfortunately the filmmaker does not close the loop on the Rwandan Genocide of 1994 as the cause of the warlord economy of Eastern Congo. That one would have been easy to curtail. I spoke to Susan Rice about it after a talk. It was discussed, but there was no appetite to become involved after Black Hawk Down. Rwanda and Burundi were a Belgian colonies, along with South Sudan.

Other films on the theme are Lumumba: The Death of a Prophet (1991) and Lumumba (2000). There are many books, and it is a minor part of The Poisonwood Bible. For more about Mobutu, the film When We Were Kings (1996) is excellent.

I was in Congo just after the Rwandan Genocide and there was gunfire in the distance. I am a student of the history and current events of the region. The film was aclaimed at Sundance and picked up distribution at Cannes. The film does not seem to have any other showings booked here. I think it is in the festival circuit, maybe it will be booked in Portland in general release. It is on the shortlist for documentary at the Academy Awards.

Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat https://www.camasliberty.com/movies/297231-soundtrack-to-a-coup-detat/ at the Liberty Theater 315 N.E. 4th Ave., Camas, WA Saturday 11AM, Sunday 12:55PM, Wednesday 6 $10

December 13 Playful Drama

Chess Club is a new art and culture perodicals store which hosts events. Tonight they host the drop of local journal Berm #6. It includes writing by artists you may recognize.

There will be a play/movement piece with live music written by Midori Hirose, The Peculiar Parade of Playful Interactions, at 7. It has many collaborators you know and is described as "Gödel, Escher, Bach meets Alice in Wonderland." DJ Lite Drama fills out the evening.

At Chess Club Art https://chessclub.art/ 435 NW 6th 6PM-9:30 Free

Saturday, December 07, 2024

December 7 Northside Art Openings+

+1 Volt Divers has an itinerant night of modular synth music accompanied by visuals. Musicians are Terror Apart, XLV, Ahpook, Chaos Soahc, ZAaGAaRah, Pr0xima, cult group 1 of Spines, Solenoid, Casual Decay, and Rise of Necropolis, and finally cult group 2 of Greyjoy, Psydrith, Uri Thrall, Arkham Sunset.

At the Coffin Club early start 7PM-10 Free!


+2 Iván Carmona has a show of glass and ceramic sculptures, Trozos. At PDX Contemporary Art www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 1825 NW Vaughn Map 3PM-5 Free RSVP by email to info at pdxcontemporaryart.com


+3 Checkmate is a large group show themed on chess. They will have some boards set up too.

Chess show https://www.nationale.us/checkmate-2024 at Nationale www.nationale.us 15 SE 22nd Map 5PM-9 Free


The Reprintery combines quilting, printed fabric, and printmaking by Charlotte Flory and Michelle Freedman At Well Well Projects www.wellwellprojects.com in the Disjecta building 8371 N. Interstate Map  5PM-8 Free


Carnation continues its exchange with Soil Gallery in Seattle. The artists are on the Carnation insta. Soil is always a great stop visiting Seattle. At www.carnationcontemporary.com in the Disjecta building 8371 N Interstate. Noon - 5 or 8 Free


Oregon Contemporary continues Sea of Vapors by Emily Counts. They have a one day craft sale from OCAC refuges.

At Oregon Contemporary nee Disjecta, in the shadow of Paul Bunyan www.oregoncontemporary.org 8371 N. Interstate Map Noon-8 Free


And the Precipice Fund makes small art grants. It is funded by the Warhol Foundation and juried by PICA from calls. This is the 13th grant cycle. The calls shift in focus. In the past they kept small experimental galleries open. Then it shifted to art collectives and individual artists. Not sure what the cycle is now.

The grantees are https://pica.org/blog/pf13grantees

The grantees, their friends, and everyone they know will be there. It will be a mix and a party, though I have never understood them scheduling it in conflict with other gallery openings.

Precipice Fund drop at 15 NE Hancock Doors 6:30PM, Party 8 Free

Friday, December 06, 2024

December 7-8 Marine Breeze

The Unkles family is one of Portland unsung art patrons. They rent space for artist studios. They parlayed the family business into buying warehouses. In the 1990s warehouses were plentiful and inexpensive. But city regulation, and the lust by tech for warehouse offices, ended that. The Unkles family maintains the tradition, only raising the rent when the studio changes artist.

Today is a rare opportunity to look inside one, the NW Marine Art Works. For these events, the artists usually straighten their studios. And, for this one, guest artists will bring work from the Seed Building, River Studios, the Boathouse, and Carton services deemed not suited for large events by the City. They have also invited artists and crafters from outside the Unkles family studios.

The big list of some of the participating artists, fod, drink, and music is https://www.nwmarineartworks.com/winter24.

Of course you are encouraged to buy art direct and experience the narratives of each artist. It's family friendly with live music, food and drink. Open studios at NW Marine Art Works 2516 NW 29th. 10AM-4PM Free

December 6 Eastside Art openings

Info at http://firstfridaypdx.org/ and their socials which list many shows and their times.


Tonight is the once a year treat, the Falcon Art Community open studios. The Falcon Art Community occupies the basement of a large apartment building. Artists are curated in; many do large realistic landscapes and portraits in oil. Other artists include graphic novelists, musicians, and theater performers. Once a year they open their studios. Open studios at the Falcon Art Community 5415 N Albina 6PM-9 Free


Chefas Projects brings group show, Abstract Thought, by Bobby Adams, Jordan Clark, Nate Ethington, Cody Hudson, Erik Railton, and John Vitale.

"The language of abstract art has always relied on tenets of shape, color, gesture, and composition as its core vocabulary, and each artist who takes on the task of communicating through abstraction inevitably wrestles with how to transform these elements into something of their own. This is what makes abstraction so rich and thrilling – it offers an exciting glimpse into the mind of the artist, a snapshot of how they translate the world around them into their own vibrant visual language."

At Stephanie Chefas gallery www.stephaniechefas.com 134 SE Taylor, Ste 203. Map. 5PM-8 Free


Dream House is the offspring of Beech Street Parlor. It is a bar in an old house with nightly DJs. They have a wide music network. Tonight they open an art show by Alex Bettini, Sierra Fortune, Lo Gonsalves, Sirena, Murio, Anthony Smith, Benjamin Serrano, Alex Stone, and Charles Richards. At Dream House www.dreamhousepdx.com 412 NE Beach Street 8PM-midnight Free


Ori Art Gallery is usually by appointment, but tonight they open Wiri Wiri Bird’s Eye, by Zoë Gamell Brown. More information at www.oriartgallery.com, Ori Gallery, little with a big vision 4038 N Mississippi 3PM-7 Free

Thursday, December 05, 2024

December 5 Westside Art Openings+

First Thursday also includes the Saturday following in the afternoon.


After/Time, ILY2, Adams & Ollman, Elizabeth Leach, Laura Vincent Design, Augen, Blue Sky, and The Black Gallery continue. Some galleries, ILY2, A&O, and Antler are in Miami.


For your +1 you can experience Flamenco music with guitarist Brenna McDonald and guitarist/vocalist Yeshe Wingerd. A project of Espacio Flamenco, it repeats on first Thursdays. At Bar Botellón 606 NE Davis 7PM-9 Free


+2 The Portland Art Museum, through a private grant, is open free first Thursdays. They are free the whole day 10AM-8PM.


+3 The Schnitzer Collection is open First Thursday and other limited hours. They have long running theme shows and occasional events. The current show is curated from Fountain Gallery artists. The Fountain Gallery is also the subject of a retrospective at the Oregon Historical Society https://www.ohs.org/museum/exhibits/a-fountain-of-creativity.cfm.

While the Museum and Museum Art School were strong contemporary forces, the Fountain Gallery, 1961-1986 was arguably the first contemporary gallery in Portland. The Fountain Gallery stable was continued by Laura Russo, 1943-2010, who worked at the Fountain, and her gallery, now Russo-Lee. Curator Bruce Guenther, a strong contemporary curator for the Portland Art Museum, worked at the Fountain.

You can see a time capsule of an era in art in this show with parallels to the Portland Art Museum collection of works.

At the Schnitzer Family Collection https://www.jordanschnitzer.org/schnitzer-collection/ 3033 NW Yeon 3PM-8 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-fountain-of-creativity-first-thursday-tickets-1041699219407?aff=oddtdtcreator Free


PSU has open studios tonight. 2000 SW 5th 5PM-7 Free


In the Nine Gallery, Christopher Rauschenberg brings urban landscapes in Extramural Artmaking. Inside Blue Sky Gallery www.blueskygallery.org Map 122 NW 8th 5PM-8 Early Close Free


PNCA has a myriad of shows. It is easier for you to just go than to list them all. At PNCA | Willamette University www.pnca.wilamette.edu 511 NW Broadway Map 5PM-8 Free


Blackfish has a large show of 32 artists spanning 45 years. Details on their website.

At Blackfish Gallery https://www.blackfish.com/ 938 NW Everett Map 5PM-8 Early Close Free


Milk Central is a group show of 10 inch square works by 40 artists in the gallery's circle. At the Portland Arts Collective https://www.portlandartscollective.org/ 120 SW Harvey Milk 6PM-9 Free


There is a multishow including crafts. At Writers Block. 818 NW Flanders 5PM-8 Early Close Free


Works by the late Rick Bartow accompany minimalist painter Yoshihiro Kitai. At Froelick Gallery www.froelickgallery.com 714 NW Davis early close 5PM-8 Free


The Little Big Show is a cash and carry small works show at Waterstone Gallery www.waterstonegallery.com 124 NW 9th 5PM-8 Free