The Portland Art Museum reopens after remodeling, re-hanging the collection, and joining the two buildings with the Rothko Pavilion. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are free for all. Advance tickets are required, with a limited number of walkups subject to capacity.
Mark Rothko came to Portland as an immigrant from Latvia at age 10. No ICE in those days. He graduated from Lincoln, then went to Yale. He had an arc of painting styles before settling into his abstract colorfields. The museum has an arrangement with the Rothko family to borrow a rotating set of paintings. They have their own gallery and the work shows his arc.
By the Whitsell there is a new very large LED screen for digital works. Now is a very surreal maximalist fantasy a la Bosch. Several galleries mix eras in a theme, like the Seattle Asian did, very different from the previous Mark building chronologiclal layout. They have on loan a video installation by Swiss artst Pipilotti Rist. Some favorites are in storage for now and the currators will continue rearranging the collection.
The Rothko Pavilian is all windows, so it has light-proof sculptures, and innumerable couches and chairs. It would be a great place for a date-day, and the galleries throughout have ample seating. The pavilion has some outdoor patios, facing East and West, There is also a cafe which, with its own entrance, no ticket needed, and both indoor and outdoor seating.
First Thursday free days are on break, so now would be a great time to join the museum and make it your own. They have a sale on membership 15% off, one year, 30% off two years.
Full details https://portlandartmuseum.org/event/grand-opening-free-days/. At the Portland Art Museum www.pam.org 1219 SW Park. 1PM-9 Thursday, 10-5 Friday and Saturday Free with advance tickets