There is a lot of somnambul in shows this month for various reasons. First, people spend less on art in December. Second, gallerists and collectors may be sunning at Art Basel Miami. Third, laziness. If they had something to say, we would say. But otherwise:
Many galleries are continuing November shows. They are in our November post.
An early kick off is at Downtown Stumptowm. Amy Bernstein is an abstract oil painter making colorful, minimal works. She is also a great writer, bringing a poetic tone to critical art writing. She is the latest Stumptown Artist Fellow, and the show of her work opens tonight. It's a great early start to First Thursday's gallery happenings. At Stumptown www.stumptowncoffee.com 128 SW 3rd 5PM-7 Free
Portland-made painter Molly Vidor is always worth a look. At PDX Contemporary Art www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 925 NW Flanders Map early close 8PM Free
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
Everett Lofts are recommended as always. It's easier for you to see them all than for me to write suggestions. But Dolphin Midwives may be interesting at Variform. 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-10ish Free
The Precipice Fund is a program of small grants to small art spaces, publications and arts collectives funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation and the Furlotti Family Foundation. The grants have been running from about one thousand to five thousand dollars. Awardees can only reapply in 2 year cycles. The total amount in 2018 was about $75,000 - an efficient bargain for the impact!
The 2019 selectees will be announced tonight with a short description of their projects. These events are a great networking event for Portland contemporary artists. And there is a party after, though its intensity has been diminishing over the years. The scheduling is also problematic, competing with First Thursday gallery openings.
Precipice Fund Award announcement, 15 NE Hancock. Awards 6PM, party 8. Free