July 28 Deep Wallz

Deep is a monthly hiphop dance battle. Tonight they break it down a little differently. All competitors register as individuals. There are about 80. They will be randomly combined into four massive groups. The groups battle, and the surviving groups are then randomly combined into two large crews. That process continues until the last 1 on 1 battle. All battles crowd judged. Exhibitions by Paint Dance, Durante Lambert's Queen, Def Con 5 and The Beat Bangerz. All ages, adult beverages available for adults. At The Slate, 2001 NW 19th #104 6PM-10 $10



We'll be honest, we're more central city-focused. But that doesn't mean there is not cultural innovation further out where larger space is more easily available. St Johns has an art renaissance starting with the Modern Zoo show in the old Columbia Sportswear building, made possible when Columbia moved to Beaverton. Beaverton has Parkour. Portland hiphop dance is highly suburban, same for Maker robot culture. 82nd has a pioneer spot in the Milepost5 plex. Another example is the Lumberyard indoor MBX bike course. It is a training ground for the next extreme sports olympians and a place to ride dry inside. The Wallz is a new space connected with the Lumberyard dedicated to graf art. They will have standalone work for sale and pieces covering the large wall that will evolve. This little art and play complex also has yoga, beer and food. Opening tonight, The Wallz 2700 NE 82nd All ages. 7PM-10 Free

July 26-28 Sound+Vision

May at Nationale has put together a series of three nights of collaboration between musicians and filmmakers.


Thursday is New Skin for the Old Ceremony, eleven shorts about the music of Leonard Cohen. It includes a work by Lucky Dragons. After the film, musicians Neal Morgan (Joanna Newsome, Bill Callahan) + Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) Katie Bernstein (Houndstooth, The Hunnies) + John Gnorski (Houndstooth, Inside Voices) Davis Hooker (A John Henry Memorial, ...Worms) + Laurel Knapp (Privacy) perform their own Cohen-inspired material.


Friday is Primordial Visions:Musical Projections. Rachel Blumberg, Neal Morgan (Joanna Newsome, Bill Callahan), Graeme Gibson (Fruit Bats), Marisa Anderson, and Jason Leonard (Loch Lomond), improvise live scores to the works of filmmaker Sean Pecknold.


Saturday is Beautiful Information, a project of science writer and musician Claire Evans. She has selected science films to be scored live by Jeffrey Jerusalem and Golden Retriever. Included are the films of Jean Painlevé, which were scored a few years ago by Yo la Tengo, who toured them live in dreamy late night performances. You will also see films of insects by Stan Brackhage. Films from NASA and films of mold. This should be a stunning program.


All at the Hollywood Theater www.hollywoodtheatre.org 4122 NE Sandy Boulevard 8PM $8 each night, $15 for all three nights

July 26 Eastern Arts

Goodfoot opens a show of illustration-style work by artists Brin Levinson, Heidi Elise Wirz, Jason Graham and Kendra Binney. Levinson paints post apocalyptic industrial urban landscapes, sometimes with Portland landmarks in the scene. Heidi Elise Wirz works dream-myth themes with figures and animals. Jason Graham is a tattoo artist, so he taps into the images that people also wear on their dermis. Kendra Binney composes an imaginary world of her own making with animals and her trademark wide-eyed figures. Images of the individual works will be up Sunday at www.thegoodfoot.com/gallery/exhibit/84/ At the Goodfoot www.thegoodfoot.com/gallery 2845 SE Stark Map Starts 5PM



Appendix opens S,M,L,XL by Bea Fremderman. It is work inspired by cubicle land. The artist is a recent BFA grad from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. At Appendix Project Space www.appendixspace.com On the alley between 26th and 27th, South of Alberta. Map 7-10ish Free



Ampersand has B-Sides, a group photography show by Corey Arnold, Clayton Cotterell, Todd Hido, Ron Jude, Raymond Meeks, Shawn Records, Tatum Shaw and Alec Soth. At Ampersand Vintage Printed Material www.ampersandvintage.com 2916 NE Alberta, Ste B. Map 6PM-10 Free



Kalina Torino opens a show, Alchemy, her illustration art, tonight. At Screaming Sky www.screamingskygallery.com 1416 NE Alberta Free

July 21 Angels and Crater Places

The YU Contemporary Art center sponsors a tour of the Mt Angel Abbey library. The building and furnishings were designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, it is one of his last works. Details on their website. yucontemporary.org/construction-begins-monday-all-obstacles-overcome-america-will-have-beautiful-aalto/ $10



Caldera is a regional art resource. In Summer, it's an art camp for kids. In Winter, a retreat where artists can operate without distractions. It's also a think tank for big issues. This weekend they offer one of their rare tours. Details at www.calderaarts.org/caldera/july-public-camp-tour/



Place opens collaborative work by Katie Dunbar and Elizabeth J. Armstrong. Shows by Wynde Dyer and a group show of video and photography curated by Mariana Tres continue. At Place, placepdx.tumblr.com a gallery on the 3rd floor of the Pioneer Place Mall along with the People's art of Portland and the Woolley Gallery. If the mall appears closed, enter the film theater building adjacent, travel through the tunnel to the Place mall, and take the elevator to the 3rd floor, sometimes the bridge on the 3rd floor is open too. 700 SW Fifth. 5PM-9 Free

There will likely be shows at Mark Woolley Gallery and The People's Art of Portland opening.

July 20 Sharks in the Balance

In the Balance is a show by Portland artist Jodie Cavalier. She makes minimal sculptures of everyday materials. There is a reception for the show tonight. At the Lodge Gallery in Allied Works, 1532 SW Morrison. Open weekdays 9AM-5PM until July 30. Opening reception tonight 7PM-9 Free



Sharks get a bad rap. They are primitive, curious and sensitive. They are also under pressure for their fins. Caught, fins removed, thrown back to die. Significant populations are endangered, and that problem is growing, growing along with sea depopulation by overfishing we have noted in some previous posts. It really recalls tragic hunting practices of the past such as hunting buffaloes for their tongues, elephants for their tusks and rhinos for their horns.

The PangeaSeed Project and the Beneath the Waves Film Project team to present The Great West Coast Migration. It's a collection of shark-themed art and sea-themed films traveling outsider art spaces to raise awareness. Tonight it is at Grass Hut. Here is the art link: www.pangeaseed.org/2012/07/pangeaseed-presents-the-great-west-coast-migration-art-benefit-for-sharks-and-oceans/ and the film project link: www.beneaththewavesfilmfest.org/2012-festival/. Here is more shark news: www.virgin.com/people-and-planet/blog/say-no-to-shark-fin-soup. It is probably not the greatest fish to eat, many varieties are climax species, so they accumulate mercury in the food chain. A drink and a raffle chance included in the admission tonight. The show continues free Saturday and Sunday only. Saturday is the film festival and bring some vegies to BBQ 7PM-10. At Grass Hut in Floating World. www.grasshutcorp.com 400 NE Couch 6PM-9 $5-10

July 19 Insert Change Starts Here

Insert Change Here is an installation by W+K12 in support of the Portland November levy for arts education. The interaction of state and local education funding, budgets, demographics and a decline an the ability of Americans to read, write and do math have resulted in the elimination of arts education in the Portland area public schools. In November everyone will have an opportunity to vote to bring it back. Participants in the W+K ad agency educational think tank, W+K12, have built an art installation based on coinop vending machines to create a dialog about arts funding.

www.insertchangehere.com Until July 27. At W+K www.wk.com 224 NW 13th Map 5:30-9PM Free

July 17-30 Appendix Online

Appendix Project Space has a new online art program. It allows them to reach an international audience. Rare Earth Sculptures - Cerium is a project by Iain Ball.

Usually we write all original material for these posts. But we are not going to do that for this. I have a science background, so I'm really not a supporter of loosely curated scientific mysticism. There is plenty of great science that can be connected with art.

"Rare Earth Sculptures b. 2011 - a subset of Energy Pangea - is an ongoing project which uses the seventeen rare earth elements as access points for environmental thinking.

In [Rare Earth Sculptures] - Cerium, Ball uses a Hydroshearing (geothermal energy) project taking place within a dormant volcano in Oregon, conceiving of the show as mind space which creates metaphysical undercurrents directed towards hyperobjects distributed through various technological apparatus, minerals and weather patterns. [RES] Cerium becomes a piece of ‘inverted land art’ and the gallery's invitation for a web release is turned into a exploration of nonlocality that points both toward and away from the exhibition space/information space and their wider geological parameters. Cerium uses detritus associated with filtration, transformation and a composite formula resulting in carbon dioxide to create a kind of homeopathic remedy, filtering escalating climate-anxiety as a catalyst towards the ecological thought."

Online at www.appendixspace.com Free

July 13 Hello Spatial Personality

Spatial Personality is a group show of San Francisco and Portland artists Brynda Glazier, Lacy Davis, Lydia Rosenberg, Judith Sturdevant, Julia Sackett, Kara Cadwell, Michelle Ramin and Kevin Champoux. At Worksound www.worksoundpdx.com 820 SE Alder Map 6PM-9



Jaik Falk is an impressionistic painter. The inspiration for this show, Hello Darlin', is the cowboy icon. At Nationale thenewnationale.com 811 E Burnside Map 6PM-9



As you can see over on Portlandart.net, Recess Gallery is sure to have something exciting this evening too!

July 12 Animal Rock

Neil M. Perry is an illustrator of anthropomorphic animals. So that is perfect material to show at a children's toy store. His work Saccharine Lands II, opens at Black Wagon tonight. Perry writes: "Sugar is my biggest vice, it has been since I was a kid. It is the perfect accompaniment to most of my experiences and enhances my enjoyment of everything. Seaside vacations, trips to the cinema, soccer games, all night painting sessions and every date I've ever had would have been less fun without the inevitable sugar fix. In fact the only formative moments in my life where candy wasn't intrinsically involved seem to be those which occurred in 'the wild'. The animal kingdom is infinitely fascinating but like everything else, it's better sugar-coated." His earlier series, Saccharine Lands, has been collected by Salt and Straw, where you can see it. At Black Wagon blackwagon.com 3964 N Mississippi Map 5PM-7



Once upon a time on the pop culture mountain Olympia, Washington, humble gods of rock made history. A big factor was a storage company that didn't object to bands practicing in the storage units. Love Rock Revolution: K Records and the Rise of Independent Music is a book about that period, the early 1980's to the 1990's. K, started by Calvin Johnson, along with fellow label Kill Rock Stars, launched noted and influential artists representing major movements in music of the time. Mark Baumgarten reads from his book at Powells, then later many Portland musicians interpret tunes from the era that influenced them at Valentines. At Powells Books 1005 West Burnside 7:30PM Free and Valentines 232 SW Ankeny 9PM $3?

(there is also a photography opening at Valentines 6PM-8 by Teresa Christiansen, Kaija Cornett, Melanie Flood and Christine Taylor)

July 11 What's Going on in China

China has a significant middle class that is growing. There is a rapid cultural evolution of the Internet-connected generations. In a huge population of only children, the desire to express individuality is strong. By 2015, China will have 500 million people under 30. The family bond is still paramount in Chinese society, so each of those individuals operate in relation to the expectations of parents and grandparents. Tonight is a discussion, All Eyes East, by consumer researcher Mary Bergstrom from Shanghai and Nick Barham from W+K who share their insights on youth marketing in China today. At the UO White Stag Building auditorium, 70 NW Couch. Register in advance at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=4vgbozbab&oeidk=a07e616o61a68776a0 6PM Free

July 10 Delta Chop Shop

Delta Chop Shop is Brian Mitchell building motorcycles by hand with all American parts, one at a time, one of a kind. He will bring one of his bikes tonight and explain the process and his philosophy. A presentation of the Curiosity Club, you can tune into the free live webcast off the Core77 site or visit the talk and demonstration in person at Hand Eye Supply www.handeyesupply.com/pages/curiosity-club 23 NW 4th 6PM Free

July 7 Mural Flies at Aerie #3256

Chris Haberman celebrates his new mural at the Hawthorne Eagles Lodge, otherwise known as the East Portland Eagles Aerie #3256. The otherwise plain building of zero architectural significance needs some help. Haberman's mural is a group portrait of sorts, with Portlanders who have had a connection with the neighborhood's history. Celebration the afternoon. Haberman's work also in view inside the lodge. All ages, refreshments and music. At the East Portland Eagles, SE 50th and Hawthorne Noon-3PM Free

July 6 Eastside Art Openings

Artists are the shock troops of gentrification in its residential and commercial dimensions. Their work done, they have largely vacated the neighborhoods West of the Willamette. Some of the most interesting shows have been happening on the East side for some time. The dynamic, energetic, and shifting central East side spaces which show art are organizing and branding as 1F, replacing previous unmaintained or uncurated efforts. It's a collaboration between ADX and Union|Pine. Accompanying the launch is a show at Union|Pine by Kat Bauman, Kate Bingaman-Burt, Will Bryant, Nicolle Clemetson, Alexandria Cummings, Charlie Haughey, Nicole Lavelle, Chloe Miller, Jon Staton and Keegan Wenkman. There is also a show, DesignPartyProgram, at ADX proper. 1F covers SE Grand to 12th and Division to Burnside. At Union/Pine www.unionpine.com 525 SE Pine 7Pm-late Free



Still Life: Objects of Wonder is a group show of still life photographs curated by Todd Johnson. At Black Box Gallery www.blackboxgallery.com 811 E Burnside, Suite 212 upstairs 5PM-8:30 Free


Susan Sage self taught portrait artist working on reused materials. Gifted and a welcome break from Portland's outsider style. At Redux www.reduxpdx.com 811 E Burnside


American Anthology is a show of landscape photographs shot by Christine Taylor. The people in the frame activate otherwise normal landscapes. At Customary Clothing Suite 222


Photographer Jon Duenas, who does a lot of wedding work shows photography at Haunt which is also known for elegant wedding dresses. At Haunt hauntstudio.blogspot.com Suite 113.


All at 811 East Burnside Map



Dialog is the 8th Annual Juried Exhibition at Newspace. This year it was curated by Laura Moya director of Photolucida. Photographers selected are Aaron Blum, Jenny Riffle, Almae Larson, Robert Warren, S. Gayle Stevens, Dick Simon, Alex Potter, Randi Beach, Samantha VanDeman, Pablo Gimenez-Zapiola, Lara Shipley, Lewis Francis, Julie Verdini, Michael Sherwin, Nathan Lee, Megan Roche, Amanda Boe, Kerry Mansfield, Lizz Stringfield, Josef Jacques, Christopher Capozziello, Allyson Klutenkamper, Richard Boutwell, Joni Kabana, Noel Worden, Adam Smith, Joyelle West, Brett Henrikson, Charles Shotwell, Danny Polidori, Jim Leisy, Melanie Howe, Stacie Turner, Chris Gibson, Stepanka Peterka, Nathan Lee Smith, Robert Tomlinson, J.J. Hastings, Reathel Geary and Clarke Galusha. At Newspace Photo www.newspacephoto.org 1632 SE 10th Map 6PM-9



Welcome to the Art World is a show of work by developmentally disabled adults and people with brain injuries. Project Grow has been establishing a Portland foothold in this art world with good results. In Europe and the Bay Area, the work is well established. There is a good argument that the outsider art movement out of Atlanta in the 1980's, a reaction to New York's financial industry-driven art market, tapped some of this material as well. By the Ash Street Arts Program at Boom Bap! 640 SE Stark 5:30PM



A little different show is a show of posters and fliers, an area we rarely cover. It's The Politics of Punk: a Visual History compiled by David Ensminger and Nathan Moore. It's connected to a book, Visual Vitriol, published by Ensminger. At the Red and Black Cafe 400 SE 12 7PM-10



There are also shows at the IPRC, Good Gallery, Land and RedE. Enjoy!

July 5 Westside Art Openings

Augen has a whole stock of minimalist prints. This they make a show of some including from Joself Albers, Donald Judd, Sol Lewitt, Robert Mangold, Frank Stella & others. An art history lesson, for free! At Augen Gallery www.augengallery.com 716 NW Davis early close 8



The Nine Gallery has an installation by Ellen George and Jerry Mayer, Spine. It is entirely of paper, so apropos with trees and paper mills surrounding us. At the Nine Gallery inside Blue Sky.

North Portland Polaroids is a show by Bobby Abrahamson. A new resident of the Portland neighborhood St Johns, Abrahamson shot portraits of neighbors. The original images were made on Polaroid 55 which has been discontinued for a few years. It's a slow film with the equivalent of over 370 megapixels per frame. The monochrome images, with subjects straight posed and no smiles, lends the work and Arbus to Lange feel. I'm not sure about how I feel about the work, I hope it has created enduring positive relationships with neighbors and not the reverse. Here is also hoping some narratives in the subjects' own words accompany the work. Also photos of Philadelphia by Daniel Traub. At Blue Sky Gallery www.blueskygallery.org map 122 NW 8th 6PM-9



Maybe It Takes a Loud Noise? is a new collection of gallery work by Anna Gray & Ryan Wilson Paulsen. At PDX Contemporary Art www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 925 NW Flanders Map early close 8PM



Get Your Flag On is a group show in honor of July Fourth. At Grass Hut in Floating World. www.grasshutcorp.com 400 NE Couch



Graeter is known for lively openings of often urban edge-influenced work. This month's show is a richly themed motorcycle show. Well known urban illustrator collagist Dan Ness and photographer Corey Smith join Anthony-Michel Mautemps, David DeLong and Randell Swann showing bike theme art. The space will also be filled with vintage machines, cycle clothes and a photo booth where you are encouraged to dress 'bike. Events continue throughout the month. At Graeter Art Gallery www.graeterartgallery.com 131 NW 2nd Map 5PM-midnight



Lisa Gronseth has a show, Dubai - دبي, landscape paintings of the new city's skyscrapers. She captures an impression of the light, the promise and the facade of a city built on an ancient civilization and even more ancient fossil energy deposits, modernizing in some ways and in some ways not. At Chambers Gallery www.chambersgallery.com 916 NW Flanders Early close 8:30PM



Too Far Gone is a show of individual and collaborative works by Kenji Nakayama & Dana Woulfe, sign painter and abstract painter respectively. They make their home in Boston. At Hellion Gallery www.helliongallery.com 19 NW 5th Suite 208. Through the lobby of the arched brick entry, up the stairs and to the back. Very upper floor Japan-style.
Map 6PM-10



Reading Frenzy has The Axiom Absurd by Harlan Mahaffy. The gallery describes it better than I: "Inspired by tacky wallpaper from the Victorian era, and its modern digital resurrection, Harlan Mahaffy humbly presents a new take on a familiar aesthetic. At first glance, one's eye is simply pleased to see a nicely matching color palette in this symmetrical, easy-to-swallow format. Yet upon any length of inspection we see that things are not entirely as they should be. There is a malicious hand behind these seemingly decorative patterns. Narratives begin to unfold, symmetrically around the center, then expanding outward across the page with strange implication." At Reading Frenzy www.readingfrenzy.com 921 SW Oak



Cuba can be photogenic, so why not take advantage of that? Portland photographer Jeff Amram has. His show Cuba Architecture Now is at the American Institute of Architects-AIA 403 NW 11th 5:30PM-8:30



The Everett Lofts are recommended as always. It's easier for you to see them all than for me to write suggestions. Some close as early as 9PM. At the Everett Lofts 625 NW Everett. Bounded by NW Everett, Broadway, Flanders and 6th Map

July 4 Born on the 4th of July

RocksBox was born on the 4th of July 5 years ago. This gallery in a house specializes is visual and occasional performance art aimed at challenging the viewer. Rough, raw, offensive in a good way. Many of the artists are from the San Francisco Bay Area where Rock was schooled. Tonight it is Son of a Son Son of a Son Born on the Fourth of July by David Johnson, Joshua Pieper, Ian Treasure and Brian Wasson. The RocksBox openings are always good conversation and the work can be seen otherwise hours on the website and by appointment. At Rocksbox Fine Art www.rocksboxfineart.com 6540 N Interstate 7PM-11 Free



Foco was born on the 4th of July 1 year ago. It's self organized by PNCA students. They continue their show tonight and are in a perfect spot for watching fireworks without a crowd and nasty blues music. At Foco Gallery focogallery.wordpress.com 211 SE Madison 6PM-midnight Free

July 3 Designer Road Trip

The Curiosity Club hosts a special visit tonight by Dave Seliger. Seliger is spending five weeks on an East-West-East road trip visiting design cities to find the country's greatest design innovators. He talks about the journey tonight. And he is writing about it for Core77. A presentation of the Curiosity Club, you can tune into the free live webcast off the Core77 site or visit the talk and demonstration in person at Hand Eye Supply www.handeyesupply.com/pages/curiosity-club 23 NW 4th 6PM Free