This first Friday has a split personality. Owing the July 4th holiday, some galleries are opening Friday the 9th.
Portland artist Megan Scheminske is a smart Portland painter, most recently making location-based work from the large search company's maps. She sometimes rephotographs the work at the map point, or draws participation from people at the location, in her series: You are Here and Wish You Were Here. This show, I Want To Feel At Home Here, is a show spanning (states) including John Berry (IN), Joey Borovicka (MO), Michelle Daly (OR), Rachel Eckstein (NY), Jaik Faulk (OR), Jason Greene (OR), Grant Hottle (OR), Julienne Hsu (CA), Steve Kim (CA), Chris Knight (OR), Elizabeth Malaska (OR), Jane Mount (NY), Nathan Orton (OR), James Olley (ON), Shannon Rankin (ME), Chris Russell (CA), Allyson Smith (IN), William Swanson (CA) and Amy Talluto (NY). Home is where the heart is, so the show should resonate. It's at Milepost5 www.milepostfive.com 900 NE 81st (go by MAX) 6PM-9 Free
Art polymath Jeff Jahn has a show, Vection. Jahn has a good knowledge of contemporary art and has curated a series of notable shows. His curatorial practice is ready to expand beyond Portland. This is his personal art work, entwined with words, another Jahn forte; he is the motive force behind Portland art blog PORT:portlandart.net. The space is always challenging to fill, it's medium large. Looking forward to seeing how this artist does so. At New American Art Union www.newamericanartunion.com 922 SE Ankeny Free
Sarah Gottesdiner is also an art polymath and cultural activist. For this show she takes a step into performance. Four artist friends provided Gottesdiner a week's worth of instruction for living her life. The work on display is her response to each. She also throws and art dance party afterwards, just ask for the details. Nationale runs a performance and talk series for a very reasonable monthly subscription, ask in the store. Recommended. At Nationale thenewnationale.com 811 E Burnside Free
Next door, Redux has collage artist Staphanie Meininger. At Redux www.reduxpdx.com 811 E Burnside Free
Newspace Photo has an annual international juried show, with any art form, seeing more is eye training. It's curated by Darren Ching of Klompching Gallery. Such outside influence keeps Portland fresh. At Newspace Photo www.newspacephoto.org 1632 SE 10th Free
23 Sandy, Portland champions of photography, book arts and mystical or romantic flavored mixed media constructions, has a mixed media show, Bowing to Paradox, by Diane Jacobs involving poems laser cut into magnolia leaves and other work. The artist is the gallery's annual installation artist. At 23Sandy www.23sandy.com 623 NE 23 at Sandy 5PM-8 Free
Merge Studio Lab, architecture and design studio, takes over the bSIDE6 project room with an installation involving lumber and bicycle tubes. 524 East Burnside 6PM-10 Free
