February 12 Know What I'm Sayin?

Atelier Yaffe hosts a showing of movie Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat and a discussion.

The movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5zCOoWCwuQ traces the history of the Belgian Congo using historical footage on the cusp between colony and independence in 1960. It did not go well.

At the time was a great game for influence between the Soviet Union and the United States.

In the lead up to independence rival groups, funded by Western interests, struggled for control of the mineral-rich country. In June 1960, Patrice Lumumba was selected prime minister by the new elected parliament. In September, he was overthrown by Mobutu Sese Seko in a military coup. In January 1961, he was executed and his body disappeared.

The struggle between East and West played out in the UN, shown in the movie, and with American cultural diplomacy. America sent Lous Armstrong in October 1960 to perform to great acclaim. Armstrong later questioned his involvement while the CIA throughout worked to remove Lumumba. There is a short segment with Larry Devlin.

The film includes many scenes of black musicians of the time who were leaders in the ultimately successful civil rights movement. Is there more work to do? Absolutely. What is the role today of black music in that?

"Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat explores how Black music, culture, and global politics intersect — revealing who controls culture, whose voices are amplified, and what histories are erased or reclaimed. This gathering invites community into reflection, conversation, and collective learning drawing from African and Diasporic wisdom, Sankofa, and Ubuntu to look within and move forward together."

Strongly recommended.

Reservations may or may not be required, their socials are unclear. At Atelier Yaffe https://www.atelieryaffe.com/ 111 NE Martin Luther King Blvd, enter on Couch 6:30-9 Free

End notes:

Movie Lumumba (2020) by the great director Raoul Peck reenacts the story with contemporary actors, color and all

The story of Congo continues. The Rwandan War 1994 overflowed into Eastern Congo where it is still happening in the form of warlords mining tantalum, gold, tin, and tungsten. The tantalum is known to be illegally exported to China. That is depicted in movie When Elephants Fight, the Grass Gets Trampled (2016)

Book King Leopold's Ghost (1998), later movie, tells the dark story of Congo leading up to 1960

Book Fate of Africa summaries each African country's decolonization

Movie When We Were Kings (1996) has the story of the Muhammad Ali's 1974 boxing fight in Mobutu's Congo

Book In the Footsteps of Mr Kurtz 2002 tells the story of Mobutu Sese Seko

Book The Poisonwood Bible tells the story of a Western family in the Congo outback in the voice of each character, Devlin is a small character

February 7 Northside Art Openings+

Many of the Pearl Westside galleries continue viewing of their openings Thursday


The Cascade Festival of African Films opened yesterday. Today's matine is documentary Ernest Cole: Lost and Found. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzS95TW6edU His photojournalism in South Africa from about 1958 to 1966 and in the US and Sweden until his death in 1990, captures eras with no filters. After this festival showing, the film is available on several streaming outlets for a small fee.

He published one book, House of Bondage, at age 27. It played a role in the ultimately successful end of apartheid 27 years later. He died of cancer at age 49 in poverty, his nagatives lost, and few prints ever made. In 2017 his nagatives, recordings, and papers, were mysteriosly found, are preservied at Wits, managed by his family. This film is the result.

The film is narrated from his diaries and the picture from his still and movie archives, supplemented by contemporaneous material by other photographers.

A later group of photographers, Kevin Carter, Greg Marinovich, Ken Oosterbroek, and João Silva, documented the lead up to the 1994 elections in South Africa. That was the first election in which all South Africans could vote, with voters going from 5 million to 25 million. The country almost devolved into civil war. Photographer Oosterbroek perished in a crossfire. I credit that moment with motivating a withdrawal from the brink of civil war and the IFP rebels joining the election. Those photographers were documented in film The Bang Bang Club. Sadly some want to take us into a "papers / passbook, please," no is not an answer world in the US today.

Ernest Cole: Lost and Found https://www.africanfilmfestival.org/2026/festival/films/ernest-cole-lost-found/ at PCC Cascade Moriarty Arts and Humanities Building, Room 104 705 N Killingsworth. 2PM Free


Kahil El’Zabar has lead the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble for 52 years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgaCqJcOAdc. His work has been melding African music with African American music. He is special guest tonight with host Meg Samples at Mono Space for a listening session.

Kahil El’Zabar and Meg Samples https://mono-space.org/blogs/events/an-evening-with-kahil-el-zabar-hosted-by-meg-samples at Mono Space 7PM-9 $30? Waiting list https://www.tickettailor.com/events/monospacestratafoundation/2045333


The Schnitzer collection is a vast archive of mostly multiples. They assemble vast shows from that. What's Not to Love is primarily portraits, local, national, and international.

At the Schnitzer Family Collection https://www.jordanschnitzer.org/schnitzer-collection/ 3033 NW Yeon Noon-6 Free


Rain, pfft. Katherine Aungier, Pat Boas, Agatha Jaquiss and Rebecca Shippee bring paintings, Sticky.

At Helen's Costume https://www.costumeintl.com/ 7706 SE Yamhill Street Opening today. 2PM-5 Free


Notes, Notes, Notes are notes of the late artist D. E. May. A show of them opens his afternoon. https://pdxcontemporaryart.com/notes-notes-notes

At PDX Contemporary Art www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 1825 NW Vaughn Map 3PM-5 Free RSVP by email to info at pdxcontemporaryart.com


Felicia Chiao from the SF Bay Area brings her illustrations.

At Nucleus gallery https://www.nucleusportland.com/blogs/future-exhibitions/chiao2026 http://www.nucleusportland.com 2916 NE Alberta 4PM-6 Free


Jeremy Le Grand brings Simple Knots, digital pattern making inspired by woven textiles. The cover photo looks like kente cloth. The Northwest is rich in craft and there is a small Portland revival in loom weaving by artists.

At Well Well Projects www.wellwellprojects.com in the Disjecta building 8371 N. Interstate Map  5PM-8 Free


Lost Lake by Chris Lael Larson is his trademark colorful photography, painting, and sculpture, upped a notch.

At www.carnationcontemporary.com in the Disjecta building 8371 N Interstate. 5PM-8 Free


The Ursula Le Guin show A Larger Reality closes tomorrow. There are some films scheduled this evening and tomorrow. At Oregon Contemporary.


Yes we can have a house how in a gallery attic. At least 45 artists are doing it. It's a house party.

At One Grand Gallery www.onegrandgallery.com 1000 E Burnside 6PM-10 Free


Hans Hickerson brings vintage Portland images made on film.

At Franklin Foto https://www.franklinfoto.org/ 8953 N Lombard 5PM-8 Free 5-8


Dear Portland is a show organized by Humans for Housing documenting homelessness at Stelo. They have a reception at 11, free tickets requested at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dear-portland-exhibition-tickets-1976990401510?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp at Stelo Arts https://www.steloarts.org 412 NW 8th 11AM-5 Free

February 6 - March 7 African Films for Free

The 36th annual Cascade Festival of African Films begins tonight. Films show Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Most are in the PCC Cascade auditorium. The opening film and one February 20 are at the Hollywood Theater, and the colsing film is at the PAM Cut Tomorrow Theater on Division March 7. Saturdays have a 2PM matinee suited for children. The schedule and film synopses are at https://www.africanfilmfestival.org/. Some films, like the Tommorow Theater may benefit from advance free ticketing. All the films are free

February 6 Eastside Art Openings+

For your +1 on the Westside After | Time opens Whispering Flight, a group show.

At After/Time Collective https://www.aftertimecollective 735 SW 9th Ave #110 6PM-9 Free


All the Eastside events are at http://firstfridaypdx.org/ and their socials which list many shows and their times.

February 6 - 14 Lights On Sky Off

The Portland Winter Light festival is light art, concentrated downtown, and near OMSI. It is also throughout the city. It is popular with all ages, including families, and it is free! It is all explained at https://pdxwlf.com/.

February 5 Westside Art Openings+

Illy2, Industry One, Fine Art Fruit, The Black Gallery, Elizabeth Leach, and Adams and Ollman, who posted a nice interview, https://adamsandollman.com/Lynne-Woods-Turner-and-Sidony-O-Neal, continue.


For your +1, there is a timely online talk, Lessons from Minneapolis: Legal, safety and ethical considerations for photographers. It is organized by Photographic Center Northwest in Seattle. The panelists are solid. It is free online to view.

Lessons from Minneapolis. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lessons-from-minneapolis-tickets-1982249035225?aff=oddtdtcreator 6PM - 7 Free.


For your +2, The Portland Art Museum free all day. There is programming all day in collaboration of the Cascade Festival of African Films which begins tomorrow in full. Https://portlandartmuseum.org/event/free-first-thursday-feb2026/ at the Portland Art Museum 1219 SW Park 10AM-7 Free


For your +3, in the North. Paragon Gallery has Thanatopsis: A Meditation on Grief, Death, and Transition by Shelly Chamberlin, Dardinelle Troen, and Marne Lucas. There are workshops in January and a closing reception and talk February 14. At the PCC Cascade Paragon Gallery https://www.pcc.edu/galleries/cascade/ 815 N. Killingsworth Noon - 7 Free


For your +4 in Northeast. You can experience Flamenco music with guitarist Brenna McDonald and guitarist/vocalist Yeshe Wingerd. A project of Espacio Flamenco, it repeats on first Thursdays. At Bar Botellón 606 NE Davis 7PM-9 Free


Native artist Don Bailey brings paintings Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance. Signs of Dissent is a group show by gallery artists Mae Al-Jiboori, Justin Auld, Don Bailey, Carol Benson, Clint Brown, Paula Bullwinkel, Myra Clark, Jana Demartini, Angennette Escobar, Ellen Goldschmidt, Anastasiya Gutnik, Aaron Johanson, Michael Knutson, Dede Lucia, Benjamin Mefford, Christa Nye, Pomegranate Doyle, Eddie Reed, Ruri, Robert Shepard, Christopher Shotola-Hardt, Noah Alexander Isaac Stein, and Philip Stork. Ellen Goldschmidt has paintings Pardon My Paradoxes.

Check their socials for Signs of Dissent events this month.

All at Blackfish Gallery https://www.blackfish.com/ 938 NW Everett Map 5PM-8 Early Close Free



Blue Sky has 1985 - 1995: The Third Decade is a show. They have work from 78 of the 215 shows of that era, new work paired with the historic images.

Just the Essentials, abstracts by Scott Malbaurn and Petra Sairanen, is in the Nine Gallery.

At Blue Sky Gallery www.blueskygallery.org Map 122 NW 8th 5PM-9 Free


Fans Only shows its residents. That is along with a large group curated from PSU departments, Lola Hayes, Anya Talbert, Ella Peterson, Rain Le, Anders Larson, Jovan Lagrotta, Zoe Lodahl, James Brady, Adalia Rendon, Lucy Asadorian-Myers, Keller Armour, Yakelin Echeverria, Mila Russell, and Mia Potenza-Parsons.

At Fans Only https://www.fansonly.studio/ 1010 SW 11th 5PM-8 Free


Augen has a show by the late Tony Fitzpatrick, https://www.augengallery.com/exhibitions/tony-fitzpatrick-1958-2025-in-memoriam-prints-and-drawings/.

At Augen Gallery www.augengallery.com 716 NW Davis 5PM-7:45 Free


Laura Vincent Design has Treelines, abstract landscape paintings by Alexandra Boyden https://www.alexandraboyden.com/.

At Laura Vincent Design and Gallery www.lvdesignandgallery.com/ 824 NW Davis 5PM-8 Free



Russo-Lee Gallery has paintings and ceramics Magnificent Malaise by Dirk Staschke. In Search of Cascadia is paintings by late career regional artist Michael Paul Miller. Think dark landscapes and portraits to disturb.

At Laura Russo Lee Gallery www.russoleegallery.com 805 NW 21st 5PM-7 Early Close Free


Waterstone has a group show Layered Surfaces by James Alby, Paul Gadsden, Leonard Harmon, Yuji Hiratsuka, Marcel M. Johansen, Kanani Miyamoto, and Kyra Watkins.

At Waterstone Gallery www.waterstonegallery.com 124 NW 9th 5PM-8 Free


Life Lessons is a group show by gallery artists listed on their website https://froelickgallery.com/exhibitions/143-life-lessons-winter-2026-group-show/overview/.

At Froelick Gallery www.froelickgallery.com 714 NW Davis early close 5PM-8 Free


PNCA Willamette has many visual shows tonight.

At PNCA | Willamette University www.pnca.willamette.edu 511 NW Broadway Map 5PM-8 Free

February 5 Lessons from Minneapolis

Photographer-videographer journalists, professional or doing it because they love it are artists. They can and do change the world.

Lessons from Minneapolis: Legal, safety and ethical considerations for photographers is a free online talk today. It is organized by Photographic Center Northwest in Seattle. The panelists are solid. It is free online to view.

Lessons from Minneapolis. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lessons-from-minneapolis-tickets-1982249035225?aff=oddtdtcreator 6PM - 7 Pacific Time Free.

February 5 - 26 Botanical Superfund

It has been said "the solution to pollution is dilution." And for eons that included throwing it into rivers and the ocean.

While the ocean is big, humans are not immune to ocean pollution as demonstrated by Minamata Disease and mercury bioaccumulation in seafood. An estimated 45% of mercury pollution is caused by burning coal. Then, of course, plastics, dramatized by Seattle artist https://www.chrisjordan.com/ including his film Alabatros. Micro- and nano-plastics are in our bodies.

I worked in a laboratory studying sewage and I can guarantee poop flows downhill.

Once upon a time, as little Portland grew, we dumped many bad things into the Willamette River. President Nixon famously created the EPA in the long arc from Walden, to Silent Spring, and Earth Day.

We owe a lot to Silent Spring, which influenced the thinking of President Kennedy. The author was a force of nature and her life story fascinating.

In 1976 toxic waste was discovered at the Love Canal in Niagra Falls.

In response at the end of 1980, President Carter signed into law the Superfund Program as a result of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. That was passed in the House 351–23, and the Senate by a voice vote.

Of course today the EPA is under corrupt top management. Their bad decisions are only starting https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/epa-will-no-longer-consider-health-related-monetary-benefits-of-reducing-air-pollution/.

The Superfund program cleans up severely polluted places. The Willamette River is a Superfund site https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.cleanup&id=1002155#:~:text=We%20selected%20Alternative%20F%20Modified,Part%203%20of%20the%20ROD.&text=Note:%20This%20is%20a%20special,from%20the%20larger%20Administrative%20Record. The sedements are polluted.

The former McCormick & Baxter plant that treated utility poles and railroad ties with wood preservatives is its own special superfunt site, predating the Willamette Harbor one. The preservers left hazmat, went bankrupt, and left their problems for us.

That location has a completed Superfund cleanup remediation with a sealed cap and will now be transformed into a garden park by the river.

There is an exhibit open throughout the month and many public talks about the project. https://portlandbg.org/2026/01/14/design-portland-2026/

Talks are on February 4, 8, & 15. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/pdx-design-collaborative-105537641091

Visioning the Portland Botanical Gardens at the JK Gill Building at 426 SW Harvey Milk. The month open hours are yet unknown. Opening party First Thursday 5:30PM - 8:30 Free

February 4-6 Sifting Sand

Maitripa College invites you to observe and process the creation of a Tibetan sand mandala over 3 days. It is a Buddha of Medicine (Menla) mandala created by the Gaden Shartse Monks. It is created as part of their Sacred Harmony 2026 World Peace Tour.

Portland is home to many Tibetan families from the Tibetan Resettlement Project enabled by 1000 visas set aside in the Immigration Act of 1990 signed by President George H W Bush. Each Tibetan had a host family and a job in Portland or 22 other US cities.

At Maitripa College https://maitripa.org 1632 SE 11th 10AM - 4 Free

January 31 Diasporic

Mono Space hosts listening hours with Alisa Wilbon, bringing neo-Soul, alternative, R&B and Afro-diasporic.

At Mono Space https://mono-space.org/ 608 NW 13th Ave Ste 102. Noon-5 Free

January 30 Initial Mundus

International travel is world changing and mind changing. Time slows down. The Jaunt https://www.thejaunt.net/ arranges artist travel fellowships, then the artists produce silk screen prints to support future travelers. They have an art archive of the project.

Stephanie Chefas Gallery guests Jaunt artists Jillian Evelyn, Georgia Hill, Elléna Lourens, and Keya Tama, in show Mundus. Some of the artists may be found in the project archive. https://www.thejaunt.net/printarchive

Mundus https://www.stephaniechefas.com/mundus-group-exhibit at Stephanie Chefas Gallery www.stephaniechefas.com 134 SE Taylor, Ste 203. Map. 5PM-8 Free


Initial is a new publication for Portland art writing launching tonight.

Contributors include Jaydra Johnson, Martha Daghlian, Kaya Noteboom, Edy Guy, Ash Yang-Thompson, Alex Wilson, Stephanie Simek, and Amy Bay.

Mother Foucault Bookshop will be open for the event. If you want to buy a copy of Initial, it is $10-20 cash only. Initial at Mother Foucault's Bookshop 715 SE Grand 7PM Free

January 30 - February 1 CineVox

Portland has two [modern] dance movie festivals. Company BodyVox has collaborated often with moviemakers mixing it in to live performance. And they do this annual CineVox Dance Film Festival.

The entire schedule is https://bodyvox.org/cinevox-2026-film-guide.

The CineVox Dance Film Festival https://bodyvox.org/2025-2026-season/cinevox-film-fest is at BodyVox Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 1201 NW 17th 7:30PM $25

January 29 Mapping Vegetable Love and Bird Outsiders

Mapping Familiar Territories, Charting New Paths is a group show curated by Alexandra Terry from New Mexico. The artists are Michael Boonstra, Enrique Chagoya, Epiphany Couch, Karen Hampton, Colin Ives, Brenda Mallory, Nathalie Miebach, Tatiana Parcero, Rick Silva, Rirkrit Tiravanija, and Clarissa Tossin.

At 4PM there is a conversation between the curator and 2 local artists.

The reception is 5PM-7, RSVP requested at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/opening-reception-of-mapping-familiar-territories-charting-new-paths-tickets-1976667009235?aff=oddtdtcreator

Mapping Familiar Territories, Charting New Paths https://sites.google.com/pdx.edu/jsma-at-psu/mapping-familiar-territories-charting-new-paths?authuser=0 at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University https://www.pdx.edu/museum-of-art/ 1855 SW Broadway 4PM-7 Free

January 27 Termites!

Society show Experiment on Yourselves has a talk by the artist Charles Stobbs III entitled Apparitions from the Termite Castle. The Society website has a Zoom.

At https://societysocietysociety.com/ 711 SE Grand upstairs above Mother Foucault’s. 7PM Free