The aboriginal people of Australia have been there since 50,000BC ±10,000 years. They developed a rich land-based philosophy. The earliest surviving aboriginal art is 30,000 years ago. From that time there is an unbroken tradition. In the 1970s, the work started to become known by the Western art world. The Australian aboriginal culture came into my view with Herzog's Where the Green Ants Dream and Bruce Chatwin's The Songlines. There have been rare exhibitions of Australian aboriginal art in Portland.
No Boundaries is a show of Australian artists Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri (1958-), Paddy Bedford (1922–2007), Jananggoo Butcher Cherel (1918–2009), Tommy Mitchell (1943–2013), Ngarra (1920–2008), Prince of Wales, Midpul (1938–2002), Billy Joongoora Thomas (1920–2012), Boxer Milner Tjampitjin (1935–2009),and Tjumpo Tjapanangka (1929–2007). The works were gathered by a sole collector couple from Miami and trace years of each artist's painting.
This is the art price machine at work; we are waiting for the US to adopt a droit de suite law to allow artists to benefit.
If you would like to know more about the artists, there is a hardbound catalog available at book outlets and a monograph on academia.edu.
No Boundaries, six Australian aboriginal artists. Opening tonight. Until August 20 Thursdays & Fridays noon-6:30, Saturday & Sunday noon-4. At 467 NW Davis 7PM-9 Free
Portland painter Arvie Smith who attended PNCA and taught there is known for bright bold portraits influenced by his experiences in New Orleans and Africa. He has a show at the Woolley gallery. There is an artist talk at 1 then a reception at 5.
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 1PM, 5-9 Free
Albina is one of Portland's oldest neighborhoods and was an independent city at one time. It's been thoroughly destroyed by highways, railroads and access to the river blocked by large industrial facilities and ruins. There are a few old buildings in the neighborhood for a sense of what was: the old Widmer building, Beam and Anchor, some buildings on Russell, the old Ripe Family Dinner building, and some are artist work spaces. The North Coast Seed Building is one, a complex of artist studios in Albina. Tonight is their annual open studios, most of the artists open their studios tonight. They also have a large solar array on the roof! Strongly recommended. May not be wheel chair accessible. 2127 N. Albina 4PM-10 Free
