Brenna Murphy presents a floor installation, Axis Spread, with daily reconfiguration. It is made of her signature cutout shapes, reminding ancient Mayan or Chinese architecture, and digitally printed blankets. In both, color abounds. Her nightly reconfigurations are a way of adjusting the relationship of ideas embedded in the secret language of the components. There is also a preopening Wednesday. She and collaborator in the MSHR project have decamped to NYC, illustrating if you have talent you don't need an MFA, but you might want to get out of little Portland on your journey. Strongly Recommended. At UpFor Gallery www.upforgallery.com 929 NW Flanders early close 6PM-8 Free
Whitney Nye and Anna Siems, longtime Russo Lee artists, open paintings tonight. Nye has Midst, detailed component paintings representing change in Portland in an abstract way. Siems has Essence. It's figurative, with pre-Renaissance faces, adding a focus on more abstract surroundings than her previous work. Both mid-career artists are recommended. At the same gallery is Farbenkugel: New Variations on a Theme by Narangkar Glover. At Laura Russo Lee Gallery www.russoleegallery.com 805 NW 21st early close 5PM-8 early close Free
PDX has a sprawling Summer group show, Dislocation. The selection is excellent, and an excellent opportunity to see the range of the gallerist's interests. It includes Anna Gray + Ryan Wilson Paulsen, Amjad Faur, Bean Finneran, Ellen George, Johannes Girardoni, Elizabeth Knight, James Lavadour, D.E. May, Kristen Miller, Wes Mills, Megan Murphy, Vanessa Renwick, Tad Savinar, Adam Sorensen, Barbara Stafford, Storm Tharp, Terry Toedtemeier, Gus Van Sant, Molly Vidor, Nell Warren, Marie Watt and Masao Yamamoto. At PDX Contemporary Art www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 925 NW Flanders Map early close 8PM Free
Portrait photographer Sage Sohier has worked for many years perfecting her Arbus gaze. Her mother, Wendy Morgan, now 89, was an in-demand fashion model in the late 1940's. Photographer In this show, Witness to Beauty, Sage has updated fashion shots with her mother, her self and her sister, Laine, as models. The work spans the first decade of the millennium and includes family photographs in the 1950's and '60's. It's generational relationship work.
Between Sheets and Seamless is an exploration in staged portraits and still lifes by Nakeya Brown of the intersection of female beauty ritual, consumer culture and identity as a black woman.
At Blue Sky Gallery www.blueskygallery.org Map 122 NW 8th 6PM-9 Free
Christine Clark opens Give. It combines her long running wire chain work with other contrasting materials. Recommended. At the Nine Gallery inside Blue Sky 122 NW 8th
Anna Fidler continues at Hartman, reprising the stacked paper cutouts of her debut work, now combining it with complementary painting. At Charles Hartman Fine Art www.hartmanfineart.net 134 NW 8th early close 8PM Free
You can get a free early-century modern history lesson with Augen's Picasso and Miro print show. At Augen Gallery www.augengallery.com 716 NW Davis early close 8PM Free
The Urban Art Project programs NW 13th Street where throngs gather for a curated but not gallery-curated show of art and crafts. Meanwhile all the cool kids will be at Upper Playground, Floating World, Compound and Sticks & Stones.
The Jewish Museum has a permanent collection and traveling shows. They will be open until 8 on First Thursday in the previous Contemporary Craft Museum space.
Everett Lofts are recommended as always. It is always evolving and there are many strong spaces. 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
PNCA is recommended to stop in. They have long time cycle shows and pop ups distributed throughout the building. PNCA www.pnca.edu 511 NW Broadway Map 6PM-9 Free
