What is a curator? A curator is someone who sees a lot of art and is unafraid to fit the work and the artists into their own very brainy catalog system of interests and subjective quality. Then they do the reverse, carefully unpacking selected artists and works from that catalog into a show. Portland artist Chris Johanson, then in San Francisco, was curated into the Whitney as curator Rinder, scanning for new artists and movements reached down from the heavens, in a deus et machina move, and selected Johanson in 2002. There is no rule that artists can't be curators. So now Johansen is up to same, but with a Johanson vibe. He has selected works for "I Found This, This That Had Already Been Found" from submitted work by PSU grads, of any major, for a show at PSU. Artist reception in the Autzen Gallery, Second Floor of PSU Neuberger Hall, Room 205, 724 SW Harrison 5PM-9 Free
On a related note, the weekend long Society for Photographic Education conference hosts a talk "Photographic Practice as Social Tool With and Without a Camera" by Harrell Fletcher at Blue Sky. Not sure on admission, contact Newspace 503-963-1935. At Blue Sky 7PM-8 Reception follows.
Lyrik opens drawings and sculpture by Erik White & Adrian Melnick. This is one of the few cafes we note because they have had a well thought out art program from the beginning. At Lyrik Cafe www.lyrikpdx.com 2035 SE 39th at Lincoln Map 7PM-10
Filmed by Bike is a Portland-grown bicycle film festival. (Mark your calendars, the next one is April 15-17, 2011, at the Clinton Street) The Festival shows the best submissions each year, and some go on to their DVD series, which are shown in other cities. To find the best bike films, the organizers have to go through some of the worst films ever. This is painful, and they want everyone to know the agony and the ecstasy of that. And because they want potential filmmakers to make more "best" rather than "worst" films, they host a "best and worst" night tonight. It's a film showing discussion of why the best are best are best and the worst, worst. Interspersed are many short how-to make a bike film talks, by filmmakers who have done it, and the first showing of the 2011 festival trailer. And there may be food and beer for sale to fuel your further evening bike on adventures. At the Art Department www.artdeptpdx.com 1315 SE 9th Avenue 8PM-10:30 $5 Cash money only
All ages 2on2 and 1on1 battle tonight! It's a Bboy/Bgirl event with live music by Sam Omeechevarria and Fogatron beatboxing. At Center Space 420 SE 6th. Doors 6PM, starts 7. $5
