Portland State University opens a new video gallery tonight. Video in art is approaching 50, so no need to wait longer. Our lives are flooded with moving images from infancy, which makes us sophisticated in our aesthetics. Video art is its own beast, distancing itself from commercial cinematic modes while slyly referencing them.
Tonight the gallery opens with a show of video projects by Harrell Fletcher. Fletcher is a well known proponent of social practice art, art with roots in Joseph Beuys' social sculpture. Fletcher was included in the 2004 Whitney with Blot Out the Sun, an open source Ulysses by Joyce which took place at Jay's Garage, the first Portland fueling station for B99 biodiesel.
In the PSU art building lobby, 2000 SW 5th. Inside hours M-F 10AM-5PM. Opening 5PM-6. Projections ongoing evenings visible from the street.
Meanwhile the mid-cycle PSU MFA candidates Lori Gilbert, Anna Gray & Ryan Wilson Paulsen, Constance Hockaday, Ariana Jacob, Hannah Jickling, Michelle Liccardo, Motoya Nakamura, Ralph Pugay, Helen Reed, Miles Sprietsma, Zach Springer and Jason Zimmerman present Reply All. It is in the Autzen Gallery, Neuberger Hall (2nd Floor) PSU 725 SW Harrison. Opening 5PM-6
Compound presents Three Pins on a Map work by Krista Huot from BC, Jeni Yang from SF and Ana Ohtsuki from Kyoto. All very cute! At Compound Gallery www.compoundgallery.com 107 NW 5th
Coniferous is a show celebrating Bark, a public interest group working to preserve Mt Hood forest. Bark is 10. Native Oregon artists Olivia Bolles and Nicole Mark spent time in the woods and this work represents that inspiration. Opening 6PM-8. Reception for Bark Saturday October 3rd 6:30PM-8:30 At Stumptown www.stumptowncoffee.com 128 SW 3rd
Tom Prochaska is a master Portland printmaker and painter. He creates sensitive impressionistic figurative and landscape work. At Froelick Gallery www.froelickgallery.com 714 NW Davis
Tom Cramer, a PNCA graduate, has been a carver of totems and infinitely detailed abstract panels, panels pigmented with seductive color. They are beautiful meditations. See for yourself. At Laura Russo Gallery www.laurarusso.com 805 NW 21st
Dina Kantor shows portraits of the Finnish Jewish community. Thomas Michael Alleman shows Los Angeles urban landscapes made with Holga toy cameras. Vanessa Renwick shows found film from 1938, portraits of children from Britton, South Dakota. At Blue Sky Gallery www.blueskygallery.org 122 NW 8th
Chambers presents works on paper and a video installation by Chang-Ae Song. Very dreamy but with and idea behind them. At Chambers Gallery www.chambersgallery.com 916 NW Flanders
Good Herb is a show of illustration by Jess Hirsch. Fascinated by the wide world of healing modalities, Hirsch has made drawings of traditional healers, particularly in the Native US culture and in Mexico. Their healing incorporates herbal medicine with history extending for millennia. At Fontanelle www.fontanellegallery.com 205 SW Pine
The Everett Lofts and associated spaces, bounded by NW Broadway, Everett, 6th and Flanders are always recommended for your viewing pleasure.
PNCA, the Pacific Northwest College of Art is 100. To celebrate, over 20 Portland galleries show work by faculty and alumni. The list is here. The galleries cover the East and West sides.
