Hellion has a show themed around the Portland collection of artists curated into the book Tall Trees of Portland. Matt Wagner, gallery principal, summarizes his curatorial philosophy in a Creative Mornings video. He is too humble. One of his projects is to uncover the tall trees: artists in select cities who are taking risks beyond others, and taking risks that reward. The meme comes from Japan where taking those risks is highly discouraged. He has found artistic risk takers in Tokyo, now Portland, in progress, Rio. Tonight is the Portland book debut with artists AJ Fosik, JShea, Zach Johnsen, Meredith Dittmar, Souther Salazar, Jennifer Parks, Amy Ruppel, Keith Carter, Peter Gronquist, Bradley Delay, Blaine Fontana, Tripper Dungan, Stephanie Buer, Brett Superstar, Brin Levinson, Cole Gerst, Craig Thompson, Ryan Bubnis, Josh Keyes, Ren Sakurai, Jason Graham, Jen Lobo, Martin Ontiveros, Keegan Onefoot, Maryanna Hoggat, Morgaine Faye, APAK, Neil Perry, Susannah Kelly and Jon MacNair, all featured in the book. Tall Trees at Hellion Gallery www.helliongallery.com through the lobby of the arched brick entry, up the stairs and to the back. Very upper floor Japan-style. 19 NW 5th Suite 208. Map 7PM-10 Free
Eva Lake is the artist's artist and accomplished cultural explorer with a solid geometric painting practice and stunning collages. She also propels smart discussion of Portland art in a radio show podcast. Augen has represented her geometric op art paintings using vibratory color contrasts, and now they dip into her collage. There are two bodies, Targets and Anonymous Woman. I did suggest she take some of her work into commercial reuse, and she declined that cup, wisely. But just saying, buy now. At Augen Gallery www.augengallery.com 716 NW Davis early close 8
Tom Prochaska is a printmaker and painter. His impressionistic figures have a resonance hard to describe. See if you agree. At Froelick Gallery www.froelickgallery.com 714 NW Davis
Lee Kelly is a long time Portland sculptor. Sculpture you can store outside for eons is less popular currently in an era of ephemera. Welding stainless is not for the feint of heart but Kelly is not feint of heart. Nonetheless worth contemplating his era, what comes and what lasts. At Elizabeth Leach Gallery www.elizabethleach.com 417 NW 9th Map 6PM-9
Patricia Galagan has Objects of Desire, portraits in Havana 2011 of individuals situated with items they selected as being their most meaningful. In many cases that was people not things. Shows with Craig Hickman. At Blue Sky Gallery www.blueskygallery.org map 122 NW 8th 6PM-9
We cast a jaundiced eye on pop culture sampling in art. So the frame of this listing is keep Portland weird. Floating World has invited artists to sample an early 1990's network television series, Twin Peaks, set in Northwest, USA, planet earth. You can see how weird at Floating World Comics www.floatingworldcomics.com 400 NW Couch 6PM-9 Free
Shohei Takasak has a show of energistic illustration-style work. At W+K www.wk.com 224 NW 13th Map 5PM-9 Free
Portland is living on the fault line. The big one is a few miles out to sea, but it will destroy us. The other is our volcanic bud Hood which could erupt and destroy us. So the show, Dig: A Tectonic Art Show, may be relevant. Don't recognize any, but as always have your own experience. At Pond Gallery pondpdx.com 920 W Burnside 5PM-11
Some say that the journey of a thousand miles (li) begins with a single step. That was the philosophy of John Muir who walked from Indiana to Florida, from San Francisco to Yosemite, and in the Sierras. Migrations and documented explorations on foot, supported and not, have been equally epic. And so is the experience of Arthur Hitchcock who walked over 170 days from California to Maine. You can see photographs of opening tonight. At The Good Mod 1313 W Burnside 4th floor. 7PM-9 Free i
Upfor has Tim Flowers and Rebecca Ripple. At UpFor Gallery www.upforgallery.com 929 NW Flanders 6PM-9 Free
Expanse is a new installation by Marissa Green of cut paper geometries. At Duplex Collective www.duplexcollective.com 219 NW Couch 6PM-9
Fight clubs gained name from a novel, but boxing clubs and variants go back; way. Photographer Jim Lommasson has traveled around the country photographing them. He shows American Fight Clubs at a private business Cargill Communications 819 NW Glisan. It is open tonight, but otherwise by appointment only in the month of April (503 939-1939). 6PM-8 Free
Grace Weston makes miniature scenes and photographs them with lensbaby-angles. Her latest is Unfamiliar Faces from a series Neo Noir. The work is inspired by film genres noir, pulp and spy. She speaks at the gallery April 13, 11AM. Grace Weston at Waterstone Gallery www.waterstonegallery.com 424 NW 12th 6PM-9 Free
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 closing ranges from 9PM-10:30ish
