Friday, August 29, 2014

August 30 Art Not Surplus

Tori Abernathy, Anna Gray, Ryan Wilson Paulsen and Jabari Jordan-Walker present work about unrecognized work. That's a lot of work! The FOuRT Collective also guest curates another part of the space which is a home. At Surplus Space www.surplusspace.org 3726 NE 7th 6PM Free

August 29 Dawg Rock Nativity

It's August and late August so everyone is out of town. But if you are in town, you can see a show Scenario Of Work, paintings by Eric W. Mast. https://www.facebook.com/events/373005752856184/ At S1, formerly Multiplex, www.s1portland.com 4148 NE Hancock Map All Ages 6PM-10pm Free



The art collective FOuRT is also doing Neo's Nativity. https://www.facebook.com/events/351252978357725/ at 8, see their FB for details.

Friday, August 22, 2014

August 24 Pure Art Book

Delaney Allen, Ty Ennis, and Jaik Faulk, artists, are contextualized in a new book by Matthew Kyba. The book is published by Publication Studio and presented tonight by Nationale. At Nationale www.nationale.us 811 E Burnside Map 4PM-6 Free



Modern dance. Some hate it. Some don't get it. Me, I love it, the result of a modern dance girlfrend, and I don't try to get it. An easy audience entre is just to let the watching create whatever impression. Don't try to force meaning, or impose narrative. Another approach is to imagine you making those moves. Be in that body.

Modern is upswinging in Portland. The Pure Surface events at Valentines are modern dance, literary and video -creator collaborations. They are free, and filled with interesting creative people.

This month is Danielle Ross/movement, Brandi Katherine Herrera/speaking and Andrew Glei/video. So you can has it all!

Pure Surface www.puresurface.info at Valentines valentinespdx.com 232 SW Ankeny


August 23 Pit Beast Cypher

A cypher is a code. It hides high information content in lower information content. Sometime I have to look up the etymology of the word's use in hip hop dance. Because by design, or by accident, it captures something beautiful, and something profound.

Preserving identity is a common source of conflict. I, you, we each, all accrete and construct identity by cognition which results in action. When others threaten that identity, we defend it. We express it in our lives. It is important. Critically. It is existence.

It's playing out in the news, and the news is not over.

In this case, a cypher is a circle of b-boys/b-girls expressing their identity from the sum of their past, and in relation to one another, by a competitive and playful competition. Each all of their experience is encoded in their moves, and adapted to the reaction to those moves, by their competitors, and by their audience.

The Pit | One Cypher | One Beast is a b-boy/b-girl battle with identities Lord Tummi, NeffSaid, Juan, Victor, Skrilla, Kyle, Merk, Zesty, Bao, Fligh, Dawn, Deondre Castro, Chucks, King Vrep, Jayswiss, Scooter, Hero, Fluurd, Blazii, Matt, Classique, Johnny Dont Ly, David, Andy Manivong, Tombo, Leap, Fern C Jiminez and Madeinmanilla Motorman as well as 2on2 crews with Project Mayhem, Deviant Munkees crew, Last Samurai's, Tru Roots, Chucks in da house, STC, Tru Roots Zero, HoodValley, Kyojins, Original Kid, #2on, Misguided Formula , Real Family, Soulbreakerz Krew, Yayonaise, Fresh from the 90s, SPLASH SQUAD, Mo money Juan problem, Oly Rockers, DoggPound, Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz, DRS, Jokers, Salem's Only Boys, Dance Broomz and Shibal Tribe.

The seemingly freeform rules require some heavy strategy. Like life.

Hosted by Brian Mightymoves Baker and Tonyy Tang. On the wheels of steel Mighty Moves from Def Con 5. Judges Boogie-Moon Patrol, Boxcutta-Fraggle Rock and DialTone-Art of Movement.

You can see this cypher unfold at the Ballroom Parkrose 4848 NE 105th. 6PM $10

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

August 19 - September 28 Nature Sound City

This blog revolves home in Portland, Oregon, USA, with occasional forays to Seattle and the Bay Area. But note this item in Portland's sister city Sapporo. It is the first international art festival there www.sapporo-internationalartfestival.jp, themed City and Nature and the artistic director is Ryuichi Sakamoto, one of our favorite soundscape composers. If you go we want to know because it will be cool. The Sapporo International Art Festival, Sapporo, Japan.

August 18-23 Forest for the Trees

Forest for the Trees began because Portland gallerist and Japan-Portland ambassador Matt Wagner invited graffiti artists from both countries to paint walls. This is the second year, adding Brazil. It's revolutionary, really, given Portland's history with the Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal, and its past Portland artistic expression outdoors based on interpretation of the Oregon bill of rights. Let's just say that the subconscious art of graffiti removal, like the subconscious art of cultural removal is in the news and a constant concern, worldwide.

Forest for the Trees invites artists Blaine Fontana, Blakely Dadson, Brendan Monroe, Curiot, DALeast, Faith47, Gage Hamilton, J.Shea, Mary Iverson, Maryanna Hoggatt, Mateu Velasco, Never Satisfied, NoseGo, OGI, Paige Wright, Souther Salazar, Spencer Keeton Cunningham, Rather Severe, The Lost Cause and Zachary Yarrington.

You can stop by any painting location listed on the website to see the live action this week, and the finished results after. Forest for the Trees www.forestforthetreesnw.com at various locations in Portland. Free


Sunday, August 17, 2014

August 17 Held by Light and Cloud

What's today? It's ambient Sunday! In church (Xhurch!)!

Musicians are Puff Puff Give, Misty Montane (Ian Gorman Weiland) and Pulse Emitter with resident DJs Mike Jedlicka and Elias Foley and visuals by Ritzy Sheens. Sanctuary Sunday at Xhurch 4550 NE 20th. 7PM or 8 to 10 or 11. Free

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

August 16 Pandering Interactive Music Movement

Art families are always interesting. Jacob and Arnold Pander, brothers, and sons of painter Henk Pander, are an example. They have connection in LA and PDX. Their work has spanned film, graphic novels, live illustration. Tonight they present velvet paintings - Arnold and photographs - Jacob, with a talk at 7.

At the Mark Woolley Gallery www.markwoolley.com a gallery on the 3rd floor of the Pioneer Place Mall. 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



Together is an electronic art show in a new space and coinciding with the Portland baby copy of SXSW sponsored by a newspaper. But it might be interesting. Artists include Alisa Akay, Chris Arth, Lindsey Bacon, Jey Biddulf, John Brown, Surya Buchwald, Robert Linnemann, Bill McKessy, Josh Michaels, Dimitrii Pokrovskii, Daniel Tankersley and Libbey White. There is something on their website about requiring free tickets, because it will be so popular, like SXSW. At Diode Gallery for Electronic Art www.diodegallery.com 514 NW Couch 4PM–8 Free



LAPDX may seem dissociated. This event resolves it. Dance movement artists and musicians collaborate from both places here. That's Jmy James Kidd + Tara Jane ONeil (LAX), Takahiro Yamamoto (LAX + PDX) and Heather Treadway + Lisa Schonberg (PDX). Plus dancey party Alex Norman DJ and clothing by James Kidd Studio (LAX). Deets https://www.facebook.com/events/1445690412382231/ At S1, formerly Multiplex, www.s1portland.com 4148 NE Hancock Map $10 All Ages 7:30pm



The Everett Lofts throw their 10th annual courtyard show - upstairs. At Everett Stations Lofts 328 NW Broadway Street, entry on Everett. 4PM-10 Free

August 15 Prison Photography

The American culture is particular and certain economic phenomenon thrive in it. One is the criminal justice system and the larger justice system. Certainly there are worse on the planet, some much worse. But the expense of it is out of calibration with the macro economy. To put a story to that, Pete Brook has curated a collection of current and historic photographers lensing individuals in prison in his www.prisonphotography.org. It is part of the always excellent Creative Mornings. Tickets are no longer available for the talk. At Ziba Design Auditorium www.ziba.com 810 NW Marshall Map Doors 8:30AM, talk 9. Free



August 14 Cannot Decode Anniversary

First, we are suspicious of sampling commercial pop culture. Second we cannot understand what is proposed for this show from the announcement. Maybe you can decode their https://www.facebook.com/events/1489212924657398/. At the PSU Littman Gallery in Smith Union. www.pdx.edu/littmanandwhite Littman Gallery, PSU Smith Hall, Room 250, 1825 SW Broadway 7PM-9 Free



Black Wagon, a children's store with an art curator has an anniversary with art, snow cones and a photo booth. It's coincident with several businesses having art shows on Mississippi on the second Thursday of the month. Albina Press, Backtalk, Flutter, Good, Optik, Mississippi Chiropractic and Paxton Gate participate. At Black Wagon blackwagon.com 3964 N Mississippi Map 6PM-9 Free6PM-9 Free

Monday, August 11, 2014

August 11 You View

Getting to Know You(Tube) has collections by Jamalieh Haley, B. Frayn Masters and Jay Winebrenner. At Getting to Know You(Tube) www.gettingtoknowyoutube.com at the Hollywood Theater www.hollywoodtheatre.org 4122 NE Sandy Boulevard. 7:30PM $5

Saturday, August 09, 2014

August 10 Free Family

The Art Museum has free admission once a month Friday Evenings. Today they have a free day, all day, with hands-on family activities. There is a free outdoor film, Gigi 1958, France at 8:30. At the Portland Art Museum www.pam.org 1219 SW Park 10AM-5PM, 8:30 Film Free

August 9 Tin Voltage Folk

The Art Museum walks a meandering line in selecting large shows. A percentage must be crowd pleasers which draw new audiences. Their current show is an example. Today as part of that show you can have a tintype portrait made in a portable wet plate photography studio in the outdoor sculpture court between the museum buildings. At the Portland Art Museum 1219 SW Park 11AM-4PM $40



Control Voltage is two. To celebrate they are having a BBQ and music. Bring grillables and BYOB. All ages. At Control Voltage www.controlvoltage.net 3742 NE Mississippi BBQ 6PM, Music 7:30PM-10 Free



Lonnie Bradley Holley vibes with Portland Museum of Modern Art tonight. He is a self-taught artist from the Southeast and is represented in Portland by Liz Leach. The work of self-taught artists and folk artists, birthing Raw Vision and Juxtapoz, was a rebellion against questionable work questionably priced in New York. That New York art was funded by stock market speculation of the time. PMOMA has followed the self-taught artist theme including work from the Mission Art School.

Holley makes paintings and drawings. For this show, he makes an installation from found materials. That's a nice pair with show at Disjecta, Glean. At the Portland Museum of Modern Art inside Mississippi Records www.portlandmuseumofmodernart.com 5202 N Albina Map Early start 5PM-8 Free


Friday, August 08, 2014

August 8 Glean

We are a tube, and our material life is a tube. Ideally we can be efficient in out use of those materials. And when our use is complete, some go to the Metro waste facility. They are transported to Arlington, Oregon and they are buried in the earth.

In a project called Glean, the waste people invite artists to make work from the materials passing through the waste facility. The project is gaining momentum with the arrival in the Metro area by waste hauler Recology, which has supported artists in residence sampling the waste stream in the Bay Area. Portland has its own Urban Ore: Cracked Pots Reclaim It!

The work is on display this evening by artists Sarah Bernstein, Francesca Berrini, Alyssa Kail, Michelle Licardo and Whitney Nye.

At Disjecta, in the shadow of Paul Bunyan www.disjecta.org 8371 N. Interstate Map 6PM-10 Free

Thursday, August 07, 2014

August 7 Westside Art Openings

Dog days of August, blame me not.



James Lavadour is an abstract landscape painter bringing a Native American eye on land. The work is gorgeous and he is celebrated. See why. At PDX Contemporary Art www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 925 NW Flanders Map early close 8PM



We do not cover indigenous art, music art, sports art or glass art. Each has their own aesthetic and collector base, into none of which we shall intrude. Except rarely, in a glass art show by Emily Nachison. She has steered the Bullseye to make The Realms of Unquantifiable Truth. At Bullseye Glass Gallery www.bullseyegallery.com 300 NW 13th



Korean artist Goseong Choi, schooled at Pratt, presents At the End of Winter, a meditation on generational passing in his family. Laura Larson has curated a show of rephotographed 19th Century tintypes of children. At Blue Sky Gallery www.blueskygallery.org map 122 NW 8th 6PM-9



We like academic galleries, especially when they are local-accessible. The University of Oregon Portland White Box is one. They open Immiscible Edges by Whitman prof Michelle Acuff, her take on new landscape, sampling graphics into landscape, or was it the reverse? At the University of Oregon White Stag Building, http://whitebox.uoregon.edu/ 70 NW Couch 6PM-9 Free



Upfor does not shy digital. They have Jack Featherly with analog paintings referencing ASCII text. At UpFor Gallery www.upforgallery.com 929 NW Flanders 6PM-9 Free



David Keller presents Free Portraits, a project to consume last exposures on limited length film rolls in camera. #antique problem when that was a problem. At Duplex Collective www.duplexcollective.com 219 NW Couch 6PM-9



You can put a bird on (in) it or you can put a fur on it. Animal Battles is a show by Maryanne Hoggatt that gets at it. 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



Compound has a large group show, Pushing Weight. Artists include Risk MSK, Ed Haskell, Kick MSK, Kodak Kidd, Jase Ba, Holyshit, Kevin Russ, Con Ba, Poorboy, Menso, Bench Reporter, Wooden Axle, Myke Rids, Clawhamr, Lamps, Mike Glory, Zane WCA, Chris Burney, Leaf, Xxvism, Lerdy Drown, Savage Land, Smokin Joe, Victor Koast, El Gringo Chivo, High Ball, Janky Lean to, Gone Fishin, Boxcar Jiem, Big Dipper, Faves, 3 Fall, Hellaphant, Sunflower Seed Kid, Ginger Rails and Graham Nastrom. At Compound Gallery www.compoundgallery.com 107 NW 5th 6PM-10



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