At age 15 Sadie Benning revieved the gift of a camera from her father James Benning, a noted experimental filmmaker.
With the Fisher Price PXL-2000, the Pixelvision, she made movies about her queer experience. The 1989 camera records lo-fi black and white video on audio cassettes.
Benning was acknowledged at a young age my the movie and art world. Later she founded Le Tigre.
Many artist movies are archived by the Video Data Bank. vdb.org. They are connected to SAIC and are having financial problems. Tonight the Hollywood Theater shows a program of Benning's movies. Get those videos circulating!
The program covers 1989 to 1998 with Living Inside (5 mins, 1989), If Every Girl Had a Diary (8 mins, 1990), Me and Rubyfruit (5 mins, 1990), Jollies (11 mins, 1990), A New Year (6 mins, 1990), A Place Called Lovely (14 mins, 1991), It Wasn’t Love (20 mins, 1992), Girl Power (15 mins, 1992), German Song (5 mins, 1995), The Judy Spots (5 mins, 1995), and Flat Is Beautiful (50 mins, 1998.)
The early movies of Sadie Benning https://hollywoodtheatre.org/show/the-films-of-sadie-benning/ at the Hollywood Theater 4122 NE Sandy 7:30PM $12
Friday, July 31, 2026
August 2 Electronics in Nature
Modular on the Spot is an international network of outdoor synth concerts. Here it is sponsored by the Portland Synth Library.
This month brings Stuart Frederich-Smith, Demodex, Production Unit Xero, Matthew Rempes, Ivan Jan, and Hemadaxis.
At Cathedral Park 6PM-9 Free
This month brings Stuart Frederich-Smith, Demodex, Production Unit Xero, Matthew Rempes, Ivan Jan, and Hemadaxis.
At Cathedral Park 6PM-9 Free
August 1 Northside Art Openings+
Omari Jazz curates a listening session.
That's https://mono-space.org/blogs/events/gallery-hours-curated-by-omari-jazz-1 at Mono Space https://mono-space.org/ 608 NW 13th Ave Ste 102. Noon-5 Free
The Emergent Field of Becoming is an installation by Jessie Rose Vala on the themes of "climate change, industry-made chemicals, mytho-historical migration narratives, and pop-esoteric imagery."
At Well Well Projects www.wellwellprojects.com in the Disjecta building 8371 N. Interstate Map 5PM-8 Free
Sewing Seeds is a show of mixed media worls by Alexandria Saleem, Amirra Malak, Ara Manoogian, Bint Bandora, Jenna Saadeh, ‘Rah Sabino, Rodia Banaei, Sarah Farahat, and Zeinab Saab.
At www.carnationcontemporary.com in the Disjecta building 8371 N Interstate. 5PM-8 Free
Oregon Contemporary is on break until the end of August. Then opens Converge45.
Franklin Foto 5-8 celebrates their second anniversery.
At Franklin Foto https://www.franklinfoto.org/ 8953 N Lombard 5PM-8 Free
That's https://mono-space.org/blogs/events/gallery-hours-curated-by-omari-jazz-1 at Mono Space https://mono-space.org/ 608 NW 13th Ave Ste 102. Noon-5 Free
The Emergent Field of Becoming is an installation by Jessie Rose Vala on the themes of "climate change, industry-made chemicals, mytho-historical migration narratives, and pop-esoteric imagery."
At Well Well Projects www.wellwellprojects.com in the Disjecta building 8371 N. Interstate Map 5PM-8 Free
Sewing Seeds is a show of mixed media worls by Alexandria Saleem, Amirra Malak, Ara Manoogian, Bint Bandora, Jenna Saadeh, ‘Rah Sabino, Rodia Banaei, Sarah Farahat, and Zeinab Saab.
At www.carnationcontemporary.com in the Disjecta building 8371 N Interstate. 5PM-8 Free
Oregon Contemporary is on break until the end of August. Then opens Converge45.
Franklin Foto 5-8 celebrates their second anniversery.
At Franklin Foto https://www.franklinfoto.org/ 8953 N Lombard 5PM-8 Free
July 31 Space - A Meditation
The Archive as a Mirror is a show and a library by Matthew Damato. He shows his work and a collection of printed matter by Ambulatory Archives.
At Riso Studio Arts https://pdx.risostudioarts.com/ 1327 SE Division 5PM-8 Free
An essential resource for Portland artists is studio space. The Unkeles family rents several buildings with the impossible beauty that the rent is stable until the artist moves.
Moviemaker David Poulshock shows documentary Space - A Meditation On The Meaning Of Art in an Unkeles building.
"It was supposed to be a simple documentary about a Portland landlord Ken Unkeles' quest to convert the run-down NW Marine Iron Works complex into a thriving art space. But when eccentric artist, Tim Stapleton who is diagnosed with ALS, moves into one of the new studios - on his own quest to paint until his dying breath - everything changes."
Space at NW Marine Art Works https://www.nwmarineartworks.com/ Building5 https://www.buildingfive.org/ 2516 NW 29th Tickets https://www.eventbrite.com/e/space-a-meditation-on-the-meaning-of-art-tickets-1991575168942 7PM-10 $15
At Riso Studio Arts https://pdx.risostudioarts.com/ 1327 SE Division 5PM-8 Free
An essential resource for Portland artists is studio space. The Unkeles family rents several buildings with the impossible beauty that the rent is stable until the artist moves.
Moviemaker David Poulshock shows documentary Space - A Meditation On The Meaning Of Art in an Unkeles building.
"It was supposed to be a simple documentary about a Portland landlord Ken Unkeles' quest to convert the run-down NW Marine Iron Works complex into a thriving art space. But when eccentric artist, Tim Stapleton who is diagnosed with ALS, moves into one of the new studios - on his own quest to paint until his dying breath - everything changes."
Space at NW Marine Art Works https://www.nwmarineartworks.com/ Building5 https://www.buildingfive.org/ 2516 NW 29th Tickets https://www.eventbrite.com/e/space-a-meditation-on-the-meaning-of-art-tickets-1991575168942 7PM-10 $15
July 31 - August 2 Salish
The Salish Sea Butoh Festival makes a home in Port Townsend. This year has performances by movers who studied with Hijikata and Ohno. Earlier in the week they had workshops.
Performers are Emiko Agatsuma, Tokyo/Nagano, Iván-Daniel Espinosa & Company, Chicago/Seattle/Los Angeles, Yumiko Yoshioka, Berlin, Mōe Yamamoto & Kei Shirasaka of Kanazawa Butoh-Kan, Kanazawa, Akira Kasai of Tenshi-Kan, Tokyo, Joan Laage Kogut Butoh, Seattle, Mitsutake Kasai, Tokyo, and Kota Yamazaki & Mina Nishimura, New York/Tokyo.
The Salish Sea Butoh Festival at Fort Worden Park American Legion Hall, 209 Monroe St, Port Townsend. https://www.salishseabutoh.com/2026-performances Tickets https://givebutter.com/salishseabutoh2026 8PM $25 each night
Performers are Emiko Agatsuma, Tokyo/Nagano, Iván-Daniel Espinosa & Company, Chicago/Seattle/Los Angeles, Yumiko Yoshioka, Berlin, Mōe Yamamoto & Kei Shirasaka of Kanazawa Butoh-Kan, Kanazawa, Akira Kasai of Tenshi-Kan, Tokyo, Joan Laage Kogut Butoh, Seattle, Mitsutake Kasai, Tokyo, and Kota Yamazaki & Mina Nishimura, New York/Tokyo.
The Salish Sea Butoh Festival at Fort Worden Park American Legion Hall, 209 Monroe St, Port Townsend. https://www.salishseabutoh.com/2026-performances Tickets https://givebutter.com/salishseabutoh2026 8PM $25 each night
Sunday, July 26, 2026
July 26 Realistic Idle Wondering
The Daipan Butoh Collective in Seattle present their annual outdoor, Wandering & Wondering, in Seattle's Kubota Gardens.
Kubota is the original family home and nursery of Fujitaro Kubota. https://kubotagarden.org/fujitaroremembered.html It is now a city park and free. If you are in Portland, the Portland Japanese Garden curator has been advising them and his rock work is identifiable by sytle.
Parking can be fierce, so share those rides. Secure valuables in vehicles out of sight.
Daipan Butoh presents Wandering and Wondering https://www.daipanbutohcollective.com/ https://www.kubotagarden.org/event-details/wandering-wondering-a-butoh-performance 55th Avenue South, Seattle, WA Map Noon-4 Free
Realistic Moment is a Summer music series. They have concerts at the Leach Botanical Garden. The gardens need money or they will close. Consider becoming a member, then visit often. This afternoon is a benefit concert.
Cosmic Tones Research Trio, Foote & Dickow, Patricia Wolf, Pete Swanson and Ilyas Ahmed, and Carly Barton perform.
Experience it on the tree bridge with blankets, chairs, a picnic.
Realistic Moment at Leach Botanical Garden 6704 SE 122nd 4:30PM-8:30 $30 Sold Out
Old Fashioned Garage Gallery guests Elbow Room artists for a sale.
It is a residence. They don't want their address published. Look them up and follow the directions to message them for the address, or go with a friend already going, or later message them for an appointment.
Old Fashioned Garage Gallery opening show 10AM-3 Free
Ceramicist Nick Norman brings work themed on automobiles, in this case rough mugs with autos as a base in show Idler.
At Lowell https://www.lowellshopgallery.com/ 2136 E Burnside 3PM-5 Free
Kubota is the original family home and nursery of Fujitaro Kubota. https://kubotagarden.org/fujitaroremembered.html It is now a city park and free. If you are in Portland, the Portland Japanese Garden curator has been advising them and his rock work is identifiable by sytle.
Parking can be fierce, so share those rides. Secure valuables in vehicles out of sight.
Daipan Butoh presents Wandering and Wondering https://www.daipanbutohcollective.com/ https://www.kubotagarden.org/event-details/wandering-wondering-a-butoh-performance 55th Avenue South, Seattle, WA Map Noon-4 Free
Realistic Moment is a Summer music series. They have concerts at the Leach Botanical Garden. The gardens need money or they will close. Consider becoming a member, then visit often. This afternoon is a benefit concert.
Cosmic Tones Research Trio, Foote & Dickow, Patricia Wolf, Pete Swanson and Ilyas Ahmed, and Carly Barton perform.
Experience it on the tree bridge with blankets, chairs, a picnic.
Realistic Moment at Leach Botanical Garden 6704 SE 122nd 4:30PM-8:30 $30 Sold Out
Old Fashioned Garage Gallery guests Elbow Room artists for a sale.
It is a residence. They don't want their address published. Look them up and follow the directions to message them for the address, or go with a friend already going, or later message them for an appointment.
Old Fashioned Garage Gallery opening show 10AM-3 Free
Ceramicist Nick Norman brings work themed on automobiles, in this case rough mugs with autos as a base in show Idler.
At Lowell https://www.lowellshopgallery.com/ 2136 E Burnside 3PM-5 Free
Saturday, July 25, 2026
July 25 Machine Garden
We are amidst a great discussion of artificial intelligence in the US. The discussion has not yet deeply engaged job loss and its tax subsidies for capital spending on robots. Artists are working with AI and others reject it.
Apropos, Hannah Newman brings her installation An Optimized Garden.
"In a world increasingly powered by artificial intelligences, An Optimized Garden expands the conversation into the open air. Transforming the backyard space of Gallery 1122 into a landscape teeming with digital and natural plant hybrids, the exhibition invites viewers to move through an environment where digital and organic systems collide and co-evolve.
As AI companies present AI as inevitable, the next stage of our human evolution, An Optimized Garden considers the ecological and human toll of a planet merged with AI. Throughout the exhibition, hand-built sculptures and paintings coexist with AI-generated imagery, combining natural and technological materials, including dried plant matter, silicon rocks, wires, circuit boards, and electronic debris. At the heart of the exhibition, an AI-generated voice narrates both the promises and the risks of AI’s entanglement with human and ecological systems.
Sprouting from the anxiety and unstable terrain of our contemporary moment, An Optimized Garden questions just what will take root from our new relationship with AI. Will the fruit of our gardens taste sweeter when everything is optimized?"
At 1122 Outside Gallery www.1122gallery.com 7629 SE Harrison 6PM-9 Free
Apropos, Hannah Newman brings her installation An Optimized Garden.
"In a world increasingly powered by artificial intelligences, An Optimized Garden expands the conversation into the open air. Transforming the backyard space of Gallery 1122 into a landscape teeming with digital and natural plant hybrids, the exhibition invites viewers to move through an environment where digital and organic systems collide and co-evolve.
As AI companies present AI as inevitable, the next stage of our human evolution, An Optimized Garden considers the ecological and human toll of a planet merged with AI. Throughout the exhibition, hand-built sculptures and paintings coexist with AI-generated imagery, combining natural and technological materials, including dried plant matter, silicon rocks, wires, circuit boards, and electronic debris. At the heart of the exhibition, an AI-generated voice narrates both the promises and the risks of AI’s entanglement with human and ecological systems.
Sprouting from the anxiety and unstable terrain of our contemporary moment, An Optimized Garden questions just what will take root from our new relationship with AI. Will the fruit of our gardens taste sweeter when everything is optimized?"
At 1122 Outside Gallery www.1122gallery.com 7629 SE Harrison 6PM-9 Free
Thursday, July 23, 2026
July 24 Astral Uncertainty
Jessie Weitzel Le Grand opens mixed media sculptures Astral Accessories.
At Stephanie Chefas Gallery www.stephaniechefas.com 134 SE Taylor, Ste 203. Map. 5PM-8 Free
At Stephanie Chefas Gallery www.stephaniechefas.com 134 SE Taylor, Ste 203. Map. 5PM-8 Free
Friday, July 17, 2026
July 18 Soft Country Decay
Cori McCullough https://www.iamcorii.com/ presents Soft Decay.
At False Front Studio www.falsefrontstudio.com 4518 NE 32nd Map 6PM-9 Free
Jeffrey Silverstein https://www.jeffreylewissilverstein.com/ is a NW progressive country musician. For your listening pleasure, he brings cosmic country.
That's https://mono-space.org/blogs/events/gallery-hours-cosmic-country-curated-by-jeffrey-silverstein at Mono Space https://mono-space.org/ 608 NW 13th Ave Ste 102. Noon-5 Free
At False Front Studio www.falsefrontstudio.com 4518 NE 32nd Map 6PM-9 Free
Jeffrey Silverstein https://www.jeffreylewissilverstein.com/ is a NW progressive country musician. For your listening pleasure, he brings cosmic country.
That's https://mono-space.org/blogs/events/gallery-hours-cosmic-country-curated-by-jeffrey-silverstein at Mono Space https://mono-space.org/ 608 NW 13th Ave Ste 102. Noon-5 Free
Thursday, July 16, 2026
July 17 Cavity
Helen's Costume opens its 2026 season. Jackie Stewart, Ju Suk Reet Meate, Cody Brandt, Lena Lutz, and Chanel Conklin show work.
At Helen's Costume https://www.costumeintl.com/ 7706 SE Yamhill Street Opening today. 5PM-8 Free
At Helen's Costume https://www.costumeintl.com/ 7706 SE Yamhill Street Opening today. 5PM-8 Free
Sunday, July 12, 2026
July 12 Nature
Public Nature is an improvised collaboration between a mover/dancer, a musician, and a word artist. Tonight Takahiro Yamamoto featuring Brandon Conway, performance, Judy Nahum, poetry, and Ari lynn, sound. It is an ongroing series by Danielle Ross https://www.daniellerossperformance.com/blog.
The performance is in a bookshop on the upper floor of a building filled with studios. Doors open at 7:30 and will absolutely close before the performance, no late arrival.
At Passages Bookshop, 1801 NW Upshur, Suite 660 8PM $10-15
The performance is in a bookshop on the upper floor of a building filled with studios. Doors open at 7:30 and will absolutely close before the performance, no late arrival.
At Passages Bookshop, 1801 NW Upshur, Suite 660 8PM $10-15
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