Alberta pioneer galleries indulged in outsider art exclusively. Nothing wrong with that, it's just very rarely a successful artistic track in America. Europe is more curious and Raw Vision is an oracle.
Now Alberta is diversifying and this is an example. The Alicia Blue Gallery presents contemporary Vietnamese artists Le Hong Thai and Nguyen Van Cuong. Vietnam is in an economic renaissance, feeding an art renaissance, following by a few years China and Korea. Portland has strong Vietnamese ties, immigration, imports and manufacturing. In particular Dinh Q. Le has been practicing shuttle artmaking. The way of the world.
Both artists' works are a view into what is going on in Vietnam now, but universal. They are visiting Portland soon as resident artists. Curated by Beth Gates, longtime curator from the East Bay and expert on contemporary Southeast Asian art, now Portland-based. At the Alicia Blue Gallery aliciabluegallery.com 1468 NE Alberta 6PM-8 Free
