Watch Me Break It Down is a show of four video pieces by artist filmmaker Julie Perini. Perini has been working in social practice and some films document that. Others are idea driven meditations. There is even lighter pop culture sampling work. See it all along with musical accompaniment by the Blue Cranes at PSU's MK Gallery. Upstairs at 2000 SW 5th. 6PM-8 Free
Disaster Capitalism is a show about capitalizing on unanticipated disasters in art making. It happens. Materials have their limits and artists are driven to experiment with the new. That is the perfect recipe for disaster. The trick is to transform the disaster. Artists Gordon Barnes and Mandee Schroer present their disaster-driven collaboration which will likely be lovely. At Gallery Homeland www.galleryhomeland.org 2505 SE 11th x Division 6PM-9 Free
The Fine Grind Art Cafe opens Handcrafted, work by Portland artists Lesley Reppeteaux, Blaine Fontana, Tim Karpinski, Byron Schroeder, Jason Brown, Chris Habberman, Jessie Reno, Chris Wellock, Tom Keating, Ryan Bubnis, Christofer Ross, Mike Fields and J. Shea. At 2035 SE 39th 6PM-10 Free
In C may have been the first minimalist composition. Built upon 20th century composition and some branches of musique concrète, it also leaves to the musicians many choices in its playing and can be played by a variable number of musicians as in this performance by 124 musicians. Composer Terry Riley has gone on to a deep study of Indian classical music and occasionally performs in Portland. Dress in white, bring a sitting implement and refreshments. At the Lightbar. 7:30ish
Portland's Japanese Garden is widely considered the most authentic public garden outside Japan. Carved from forest in the mid 1960's, for the first 30 years it has had a series of gardeners from Japan, each placing their imprint, building and rebuilding. For the last about 10 years, the garden curator has been an international scale Portland designer born in Japan. It is possible for a small fee which pays for itself with only a few visits to be a member of the garden. Today the members gather to hear the new garden curator Sadafumi Uchiyama share his thoughts on the garden. Uchiyami learned Japanese landscape design from his grandfather, father and uncles, achieving certification in Japan at age 21, the youngest in his region. Studying Western design at University of Illinois, he now consults on design projects worldwide. At the Portland Japanese Garden www.japanesegarden.com 1PM
If you are in San Francisco tonight is the Chinese New Year Parade. There is also the seriously puzzling fun of the Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt!
