First Thursday is becoming simpler. DeSoto Block, Everett Block, NW 5th x Couch art megaplex. Here are some notes:
In the DeSoto Block check all the spaces, though the exhibit in the Contemporary Crafts Museum, free anytime, deserves more than a quick scan.
At Blue Sky, there are some great pieces in a group show in the Nine Gallery conceptual space. There is also a reprieve of the Rephotographic Survey Project. The government trained photographers to document the Civil War. After, it sent them West. At the time, there was a strong transcendental movement and a belief that dramatic natural vistas, then unspoiled, were proof positive of the hand of a creator. The landscape photographs captured by these expeditionary photographers were also used by the government to market the West to settlers. These first photographers transported glass plates up to 24 inches square, coated them on site, exposed the glass negative, developed them in a tent darkroom, then carried them back, all by pack animal. The first Rephotographic Survey Project was conceived in 1977 by East Coast photography students in Rochester, NY, Mark Klett, trained as a geologist, Ellen Manchester, JoAnn Verburg and others. They journeyed West to photograph the classic landscape images of the mid-late 1800's from exactly the same vantage point. The resulting photographs were displayed side by side with the originals. The results of mining, erosion, logging and diminished water are plainly visible. Klett returns with a third view show of recent photos at Blue Sky now. Something to think about.
Klett himself will speak at the gallery Saturday September 1 at 3PM, free.
Blue Sky Gallery in the DeSoto building, NW Broadway and Davis
The Everett Station Lofts are always recommended for your viewing pleasure. Bounded by NW Broadway, Everett, 6th and Flanders.
You may have noticed there is some construction along 5th and 6th downtown. Hopefully you have not fallen down the rabbit hole because it is max treach. To celebrate the almost finishedness of the Old Town section, the City is throwing a free block party at 5th and Couch.
See the photo show at upper playground by Ricky Powell, "illy funksters", documenting the 80's hip hop scene in NY where it began. Powell also presents a slide show 4PM Saturday at the Gallery Upper Playground 23 NW 5th
At Compound, it's Bliss E*press: Illustrating Happiness. Artists Ogushi, Aya Kondo, Marcos Chin, Rain and Fuco Ueda show. Just Be Megaplex 107 NW 5th
Stop into the Portland Art Center which never disappoints. 32 NW 5th
Somewhere along the Portland Tranist Mall - 5th and 6th the Music Population Orchestra:PDX will play new chamber music. This is part of a series of performances held simultaneously in Oslo.
Just look for a small chamber orchestra with music stands and classical instruments. The plan, subject to improvisation is to begin at 7:00 at NW 4th and Flanders and continue South towards Burnside for a performance near the Chinatown Gateway Arch.
At 7:30, from the arch the orchestra will head West on Burnside and NW Couch until they reach the Park Blocks West of Broadway.
At 8:00 they will continue West a bit for as long as their weary legs will hold them, offering more of our "urban guerrilla chamber music" along the way.
Pushdot are some of the few local masters of putting digital photography to print. To do so is actually harder than with wet processing film and paper. That is pretty complicated in itself! The once mighty Kodak spent over 120 years getting film just right. There is a pile of color science including studies of what colors are found in nature, the inexact color temperature concept, CIE and Munsen mapping, multi primaries, the complexity of RGB-CMYK mapping and handling our uber-sensitivity to skin tone.
Pushdot helps photographers through the process. For select art photographers they mount exhibitions. Past work is available for sale on their website, a virtual gallery. This month they mount a 5 year retrospective group show. Soon they will move to the East side, reopening in a few months.
Pushdot Studio 830 NW 14th
Design Within Reach shows blown glass including lighting by local Esque Studio – Andi Kovel and Justin Parker. This small art studio has blazed a trail with projects for Donna Karan, Martha Stewart, Doug Fir, Skylab and W Hotels. They are also somewhat locally infamous for turning their studio into a kitchen with food baked for seconds at over 1000 degrees in their glass fires of Mordor. DWR 1200 NW 12th
The Art Institute of Portland is adapting to a cozy niche training industrial clothing designers and animators, as it should, because there are Portland jobs for them. There are also plenty of one person fashion units here turning out clothing you should wear. A world, national and local vector in clothing is sustainability. One look at the mountains of fabric never used, clothing never sold, rarely worn then sadly discarded and you get the idea. In the gallery, the AI shows clothing by local designers using sustainable materials including Emily Katz, Entermodal, Anna Cohen, Sameunderneath, Blairwear, Knot Ugly Designs, Faith Jennings and Flood Clothing.
AI Portland 1122 NW Davis until 8
The Portland City Hall has been doing early art openings every First Thursday. They run on narrow rails between populist and multicultural and that is fine. Tonight the theme is skate related. It's a perfect opportunity to collar your commissioner and tell them what you think. You can bring your board too, or better, go by board. Board of Art: A Historical Perspective of Stumptown Skate City Hall 1221 SW 4th 5-8PM
Self taught artist Joe Thurston shows new abstract work at Elizabeth Leach. Thurston previously produced glowering portraits that were strangely affecting. For this show he continues with wood as a canvas which has been meticulously incised with a hand chisel. See it at Elizabeth Leach Gallery 417 NW 9th
PDX presents a varied group show "True Bearing" with work by Sam Beebe, Christophe Berhault, Nick Blosser, Harrell Fletcher, Lucas Foglia, Justine Kurland, Raymond Meeks, Megan Murphy, Barbara Stafford, and Nell Warren. PDX Contemporary Art 925 NW Flanders until 8
Monday, July 30, 2007
July 31 Bikes and Cars - Friends or Foes?
I like the Bus Project. They put fun into politics. If it is fun, people will vote. That's one way to change the world. I've put a lot of energy into elections, sometimes at great personal risk. If you doubt the importance of voting, check the recent supreme court decisions. A few more thoughtful votes in Florida and we wouldn't be in Iraq. The list goes on.
One way the Bus Project makes it fun are some light hearted debates. Tonight's is on the relationship between gas powered and people powered transport. Cars v bikes. An upbeat atmosphere. Plenty of drinks and conversation all around. Moderated by Sam Adams, who is responsible for Portland's City Transport Department.
The bike team is Johnathan Maus founder of the excellent bikeportland.org blog and Johnathan Bricker, Policy Director and Executive Director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance.
The car team is Mel Zucker of the Oregon Transportation Institute and Sreya Sarkar of the Cascade Policy Institute. The Cascade Policy Institute is a conservative think tank responsible for policy innovations such as counting hatchery fish to determine if wild salmon are threatened with extinction under the Endangered Species Act. (hatchery fish = no extinction) They are very effective at what they do.
Arrive early, for the last debate, the billion bikes engulfed every bike rack around.
At Rontoms 600 E Burnside 7PM Free
One way the Bus Project makes it fun are some light hearted debates. Tonight's is on the relationship between gas powered and people powered transport. Cars v bikes. An upbeat atmosphere. Plenty of drinks and conversation all around. Moderated by Sam Adams, who is responsible for Portland's City Transport Department.
The bike team is Johnathan Maus founder of the excellent bikeportland.org blog and Johnathan Bricker, Policy Director and Executive Director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance.
The car team is Mel Zucker of the Oregon Transportation Institute and Sreya Sarkar of the Cascade Policy Institute. The Cascade Policy Institute is a conservative think tank responsible for policy innovations such as counting hatchery fish to determine if wild salmon are threatened with extinction under the Endangered Species Act. (hatchery fish = no extinction) They are very effective at what they do.
Arrive early, for the last debate, the billion bikes engulfed every bike rack around.
At Rontoms 600 E Burnside 7PM Free
Saturday, July 21, 2007
July 29 Water in the Desert (and July 24,27,28)
Butoh is a very modern dance form of sorts, originated in Japan, and unlike any other movement form you have seen. Usually improvised, it ranges from beautiful ritual performances by large international touring companies with a budget such as Dairakudakan and Sankai Juku to intimate living room performances. Of course you can do your own butoh anytime in the park or wherever you are so inspired. Especially true as many performers draw their improvisational inspiration from nature.
Butoh has experienced a diaspora from its origins in Japan. Seattle is one center as the result of butoh artist Joan Laage's work there. The late Doranne Crable worked in Olympia, influencing generations of Evergreen College artists. San Francisco is a center, anchored by the craziest sushi bar owner of the late Country Station Sushi, Koichi Tamano, an early collaborator in Japan with butoh's founder. Portland is also a center as a result of interchanges with San Francisco, Olympia and Seattle as well as an active workshop program at Portland State University.
Butoh artist Mizu Desierto, (water in Japanese+desert in Spanish), was once bitten by a rattlesnake in the Arizona desert. She survived, but it left an imprint. She has collaborated, studied and performed with Mexican butoh artist Diego Piñón, Kazuo and Yohsito Ohno and the Tamano's.
She presents for your pleasure, consideration and meditation Water in the Desert, a festival of art, ritual performance ecology and consciousness. In the day, musicians perform and there will be a variety of talks and workshops. In the evening, the river itself will become part of a performance, the performers lit by the full moon.
There is also a series of butoh workshops as part of the festival by visiting artists Syzygy Butoh (July 24 6-9) & Harupin-Ha Butoh Theatre (July 27 6-9), and an intensive with Harupin-Ha (July 28 3-7)at very reasonable prices. See the website for details.
At Cathedral Park, under the St Johns Bridge. Art, music, workshops 2-9PM. Performance 9-11PM Free
Butoh has experienced a diaspora from its origins in Japan. Seattle is one center as the result of butoh artist Joan Laage's work there. The late Doranne Crable worked in Olympia, influencing generations of Evergreen College artists. San Francisco is a center, anchored by the craziest sushi bar owner of the late Country Station Sushi, Koichi Tamano, an early collaborator in Japan with butoh's founder. Portland is also a center as a result of interchanges with San Francisco, Olympia and Seattle as well as an active workshop program at Portland State University.
Butoh artist Mizu Desierto, (water in Japanese+desert in Spanish), was once bitten by a rattlesnake in the Arizona desert. She survived, but it left an imprint. She has collaborated, studied and performed with Mexican butoh artist Diego Piñón, Kazuo and Yohsito Ohno and the Tamano's.
She presents for your pleasure, consideration and meditation Water in the Desert, a festival of art, ritual performance ecology and consciousness. In the day, musicians perform and there will be a variety of talks and workshops. In the evening, the river itself will become part of a performance, the performers lit by the full moon.
There is also a series of butoh workshops as part of the festival by visiting artists Syzygy Butoh (July 24 6-9) & Harupin-Ha Butoh Theatre (July 27 6-9), and an intensive with Harupin-Ha (July 28 3-7)at very reasonable prices. See the website for details.
At Cathedral Park, under the St Johns Bridge. Art, music, workshops 2-9PM. Performance 9-11PM Free
July 28 - August 3
Portland flamenco artist Laurena Marone is a force of nature. She is responsible for flamenco in Portland. Flamenco here has reached sufficient critical mass to host a festival which brings artists from flamenco's traditional home in Spain's Jerez de la Frontera.
The Flamenco Festival hosts flamenco artists from Spain for performances and workshops; for adults and children. Details at Portland Flamenco Festival
The Flamenco Festival hosts flamenco artists from Spain for performances and workshops; for adults and children. Details at Portland Flamenco Festival
Monday, July 16, 2007
July 22 Kristof on Darfur
"He did not think of himself as a tourist; he was a traveler.
The difference is partly one of time, he would explain. Whereas the tourist generally hurries back home at the end of a few weeks or months, the traveler, belonging no more to one place than to the next, moves slowly, over periods of years, from one part of the earth to another. Indeed, he would have found it difficult to tell, among the many places he had lived, precisely where it was he had felt most at home. ... another important difference between tourist and traveler is that the former accepts his own civilization without question; not so the traveler, who compares it with the others, and rejects those elements he finds not to his liking."
- The Sheltering Sky Paul Bowles (c) Harper Collins
Beyond the traveler is the world changer. NY Times journalist Nicholas Kristof is one.
He won his first Pulitzer for reporting on the ground the Chinese Democracy Movement. Those 1989 events are the reason that search engines in China are censored today.
Reporting on human rights issues worldwide, Kristof has been an early and consistent voice on the tragedy in Darfur, Sudan, for which he won his second Pulitzer.
Sponsored by Amnesty International, Kristof speaks at the Temple Beth Israel 1972 NW Flanders 7PM Free
The difference is partly one of time, he would explain. Whereas the tourist generally hurries back home at the end of a few weeks or months, the traveler, belonging no more to one place than to the next, moves slowly, over periods of years, from one part of the earth to another. Indeed, he would have found it difficult to tell, among the many places he had lived, precisely where it was he had felt most at home. ... another important difference between tourist and traveler is that the former accepts his own civilization without question; not so the traveler, who compares it with the others, and rejects those elements he finds not to his liking."
- The Sheltering Sky Paul Bowles (c) Harper Collins
Beyond the traveler is the world changer. NY Times journalist Nicholas Kristof is one.
He won his first Pulitzer for reporting on the ground the Chinese Democracy Movement. Those 1989 events are the reason that search engines in China are censored today.
Reporting on human rights issues worldwide, Kristof has been an early and consistent voice on the tragedy in Darfur, Sudan, for which he won his second Pulitzer.
Sponsored by Amnesty International, Kristof speaks at the Temple Beth Israel 1972 NW Flanders 7PM Free
July 22 Carton Service Movement Project
The Carton Service is where you get cardboard boxes for moving. Ken Unkeles, the owner, also owns many artist friendly warehouses where your friends create. Tonight movement artists, musicians, space shapers and lighting makers take over the Carton Service Warehouse.
Sculptor Dana Lynn Louis; lighting designer Malina Rodriguez; choreographers, Daniel Addy, Linda K. Johnson, Carla Mann; musicians, Tim DuRoche, Heather Perkins, Luke Wyland; dancers, Daniel Addy, Katie Arrants, Margretta Hansen, Linda K. Johnson, Carla Mann, Neena Marks, Jim McGinn, Sy Parrish, technical director Demetri Pavlatosmake and event planner Elise Bartow make a performance in the buildings odd spaces. Your guide, as the audience, through the warehouse's warrens, Ken Unkeles.
Reservations required for performances 4:30, 6, 7:30 & 9 PM, with plenty of time for socializing betwixt. Reservations by phone or e-mail through July 21: 503-774-0043 or cartonserviceproject@fastmail.fm.
When making a reservation, please let them know:
Your name
Which performance 4:30, 6, 7:30 or 9pm
How many tickets
Your phone number or e-mail address
They will contact you only if there is a question about your reservation. Otherwise, please assume your reservation is confirmed. Pay at the door by cash or check when you arrive. $20 general; $15 student, senior, artist
2211 NW Front Ave. (Naito Parkway) 1/4 mile North of the Fremont bridge - a large brick building with "Carton Service"
Sculptor Dana Lynn Louis; lighting designer Malina Rodriguez; choreographers, Daniel Addy, Linda K. Johnson, Carla Mann; musicians, Tim DuRoche, Heather Perkins, Luke Wyland; dancers, Daniel Addy, Katie Arrants, Margretta Hansen, Linda K. Johnson, Carla Mann, Neena Marks, Jim McGinn, Sy Parrish, technical director Demetri Pavlatosmake and event planner Elise Bartow make a performance in the buildings odd spaces. Your guide, as the audience, through the warehouse's warrens, Ken Unkeles.
Reservations required for performances 4:30, 6, 7:30 & 9 PM, with plenty of time for socializing betwixt. Reservations by phone or e-mail through July 21: 503-774-0043 or cartonserviceproject@fastmail.fm.
When making a reservation, please let them know:
Your name
Which performance 4:30, 6, 7:30 or 9pm
How many tickets
Your phone number or e-mail address
They will contact you only if there is a question about your reservation. Otherwise, please assume your reservation is confirmed. Pay at the door by cash or check when you arrive. $20 general; $15 student, senior, artist
2211 NW Front Ave. (Naito Parkway) 1/4 mile North of the Fremont bridge - a large brick building with "Carton Service"
Jul 22 DeSoto Art Block Party
Once upon a time, there were many car companies. That would be in contrast to today's FordLincolnMercuryMazdaVolvoJaguarLandRover and GMBuickCadillacHoldenHummerOpelPontiacSaabSaturnVauxhall- DaewooGoodwrenchDelcoOnStarGMAC. One of those companies was DeSoto, whose faded sign graces the old brick building bounded by NW Broadway, Couch, Davis and Park. That building is now the super art block. The Contemporary Crafts Museum, the Blue Sky Gallery, Augen, Froelick and Hartman Fine Art.
To celebrate its opening there are tours and a block party. A variety of talks, crafts demonstrations, kids things and musical events span the afternoon. The full schedule is at http://www.contemporarycrafts.org/pdf/2007_07_22_Craft_PDX.pdf.
DeSoto Art Block Party Contemporary Crafts Museum Opening. Noon-7 Free
To celebrate its opening there are tours and a block party. A variety of talks, crafts demonstrations, kids things and musical events span the afternoon. The full schedule is at http://www.contemporarycrafts.org/pdf/2007_07_22_Craft_PDX.pdf.
DeSoto Art Block Party Contemporary Crafts Museum Opening. Noon-7 Free
July 21-22 Expdoc Films of Mark LaPore
The late Mark LaPore (1952-2005) combined field footage shot in Sudan, Sri Lanka, India, Burma, Thailand and Europe into experimental documentaries. Sometimes American footage was intermixed. Curator and friend of the filmmaker Mark McElhatten will present the work.
Saturday
A Depression in the Bay of Bengal [1996, 16mm, color, sound, 28 min]
The Five Bad Elements [1998, 16mm, b&w, sound, 32 min]
The Glass System [2000, 16mm, color, sound, 20 min]
Untitled (Camera Rolls) [2005, 16mm, b&w, silent, 5 min]
Sunday
Lunatic Princess [2005, video, b&w, sound, 4 min ]
Kolkata [2005, 16mm, b&w, sound, 35 min]
The Sleepers [1989, 16mm, color, sound, 16 min]
The Glass System [2000 16mm, color, sound, 20 min]
Untitled (for David Gatten) (with Phil Solomon) [2005, video, color, sound, 5 min]
Details at http://cinemaproject.org/screenings.html At New American Art Union 922 SE Ankeny 7:30PM $6
Saturday
A Depression in the Bay of Bengal [1996, 16mm, color, sound, 28 min]
The Five Bad Elements [1998, 16mm, b&w, sound, 32 min]
The Glass System [2000, 16mm, color, sound, 20 min]
Untitled (Camera Rolls) [2005, 16mm, b&w, silent, 5 min]
Sunday
Lunatic Princess [2005, video, b&w, sound, 4 min ]
Kolkata [2005, 16mm, b&w, sound, 35 min]
The Sleepers [1989, 16mm, color, sound, 16 min]
The Glass System [2000 16mm, color, sound, 20 min]
Untitled (for David Gatten) (with Phil Solomon) [2005, video, color, sound, 5 min]
Details at http://cinemaproject.org/screenings.html At New American Art Union 922 SE Ankeny 7:30PM $6
July 21 Rose City Rollers v Denver Rocky Mt Roller Girls 5280 Fight Club
The Rose City Rollers play with Denver's Rocky Mountain Roller Girls 5280 Fight Club rather than just playing with themselves. That means the Portland Team, made up of the all star members of the 4 component teams, are playing. Also on the bill, Portland's farm team faces off with Olympia's team. At the Expo Center. Go By Train.
http://rosecityrollers.com/rosecityrollersevents.php Doors 5PM, roll 6. Tickets $15-25 often sell out.
http://rosecityrollers.com/rosecityrollersevents.php Doors 5PM, roll 6. Tickets $15-25 often sell out.
July 21 Anoushka Shankar + Karsh Kale
India's centuries old classical music has been passed from guru to disciple through apprenticeships which begin in childhood. An essential part of the music, and the teaching, is spiritual. It is not uncommon for the teaching relationship to span generations in families. Difficult to imagine from the experience of our independent upbringing, schooling and institutionalized rebellion.
Thus imagine the relationship between musician father, teacher, guru Ravi Shankar and musician daughter Anoushka Shankar. A friend went to high school with her and relates the challenges she faced traversing that complex relationship in the context of a California upbringing. Now 26, Anoushka Shankar is a musical force of nature. She performs classical music regularly, sometimes sharing the stage with her father. Tonight though, she performs with Karsh Kale. Kale is a renowned Asian fusion DJ, producer and collaborator in Tabla Beat Science.
They perform Saturday on Whidbey at the Island Festival, in its first year, and also in San Francisco at the Stern Grove event Sunday. Details http://www.islandfestival.com/
Thus imagine the relationship between musician father, teacher, guru Ravi Shankar and musician daughter Anoushka Shankar. A friend went to high school with her and relates the challenges she faced traversing that complex relationship in the context of a California upbringing. Now 26, Anoushka Shankar is a musical force of nature. She performs classical music regularly, sometimes sharing the stage with her father. Tonight though, she performs with Karsh Kale. Kale is a renowned Asian fusion DJ, producer and collaborator in Tabla Beat Science.
They perform Saturday on Whidbey at the Island Festival, in its first year, and also in San Francisco at the Stern Grove event Sunday. Details http://www.islandfestival.com/
July 21 Free Geek Recyclery
Is Portland geekier than other cities? We do have a large open source community. Linus Torvalds, Mr Linux himself, lives here. Groups like Personal Telco install WiFi in cafes here for free. People spend career years without vacations designing a single chip here. Circuit benders are creating quiet mayhem. You could argue that the Sprockettes and Zoobombers are pretty geeky. How about those tall bikers? The Rebuilding Center, SCRAP, crafters....
One of Portland's geekiest brilliant useful things is Free Geek. They accept donations of old computers. They teach you how to Frankenstein the pieces into a new computer body, load an open source software brain into it, teach you how to use the interwebs and control the monster, and send you home with it. Free. They also set up non profit computer environments and recycle old computer bodies properly.
Every year they celebrate with a street fair. It's for kids, grown up kids and adults. Music, games, puppets, magic, talks, a dunk tank, even more! Details are here: http://www.freegeek.org/geekfair/.
At Free Geek. 1731 SE 10th 1-7PM Free
That same day, the Recyclery, a few blocks away are having a bike swap. The Recyclery isn't a non profit, but it has some of the Free Geek feel for a bike shop.
The Recyclery 1417 SE 9th & Madison
One of Portland's geekiest brilliant useful things is Free Geek. They accept donations of old computers. They teach you how to Frankenstein the pieces into a new computer body, load an open source software brain into it, teach you how to use the interwebs and control the monster, and send you home with it. Free. They also set up non profit computer environments and recycle old computer bodies properly.
Every year they celebrate with a street fair. It's for kids, grown up kids and adults. Music, games, puppets, magic, talks, a dunk tank, even more! Details are here: http://www.freegeek.org/geekfair/.
At Free Geek. 1731 SE 10th 1-7PM Free
That same day, the Recyclery, a few blocks away are having a bike swap. The Recyclery isn't a non profit, but it has some of the Free Geek feel for a bike shop.
The Recyclery 1417 SE 9th & Madison
July 19 - 21 Ashes 2 Ashes Battle
Ashes 2 Ashes is a locally based b-boy-girl battle drawin' national talents. They are ampin' it up this year with some venues to respect. Fits.
Thursday the preparty is at Someday Lounge. DJ's Forrest Getumgump (NYC), Waajeed, Rev Shines (Lifesavas-PDX), Ohmega Watts (Lightheaded-PDX), Kez (360 Vinyl-PDX) and Dundiggy (RockBox-PDX) spin for open cipers. Sorry kids, 21+
Friday battle it. This is a full crew event. You got 5, 10 in your crew? Bring em. 32 crews will battle down to 8 finalists. Friday'z at the Wonder Ballroom.
Saturday it'z King of the Hill. Who's goin to be it? The 8 crews will battle it out with 10 supastars - Kid David (Renegades - San Francisco, CA); Ryoma (Mortal Kombat - Osaka, Japan); Tells-1 the Rebirth(Street Masters - Miami, FL); So (Gamblers - Seoul, Korea); Kareem (Rock Force - Sacramento, CA); Luigi (Rock Steady Crew - Worldwide); Albert (Knuckle Headz - Los Angeles, CA); Dyzee (Supernaturalz - Toronto, CAN); Casper (Boogie Brats - Vancouver, CAN); Marlon (Havikoro - Houston, TX).
The wordz of the judges - Free (Circle of Fire), Nabil (Killafornia) and Waak (Breaks Kru) - iz final.
Skeme Richards (Philadelphia) and Forrest Getumgump (NYC) be layin' down fresh beats.
Ther'z an afta' party at the Doug Fir. Skeme Richards, Ohmega Watts, Reverend Shines. 21+ again.
Check the fine prints at Amplified Techniques or the Myspace.
Thursday Someday 21+ 9PM-2:30AM $5
Friday Wonder Ballroom all ages 7PM $15
Saturday Newmark Theater (!!) all ages 7PM prompt $22.50/$27.50
Saturday Doug Fir 21+ 9?PM-2:30AM $10
Thursday the preparty is at Someday Lounge. DJ's Forrest Getumgump (NYC), Waajeed, Rev Shines (Lifesavas-PDX), Ohmega Watts (Lightheaded-PDX), Kez (360 Vinyl-PDX) and Dundiggy (RockBox-PDX) spin for open cipers. Sorry kids, 21+
Friday battle it. This is a full crew event. You got 5, 10 in your crew? Bring em. 32 crews will battle down to 8 finalists. Friday'z at the Wonder Ballroom.
Saturday it'z King of the Hill. Who's goin to be it? The 8 crews will battle it out with 10 supastars - Kid David (Renegades - San Francisco, CA); Ryoma (Mortal Kombat - Osaka, Japan); Tells-1 the Rebirth(Street Masters - Miami, FL); So (Gamblers - Seoul, Korea); Kareem (Rock Force - Sacramento, CA); Luigi (Rock Steady Crew - Worldwide); Albert (Knuckle Headz - Los Angeles, CA); Dyzee (Supernaturalz - Toronto, CAN); Casper (Boogie Brats - Vancouver, CAN); Marlon (Havikoro - Houston, TX).
The wordz of the judges - Free (Circle of Fire), Nabil (Killafornia) and Waak (Breaks Kru) - iz final.
Skeme Richards (Philadelphia) and Forrest Getumgump (NYC) be layin' down fresh beats.
Ther'z an afta' party at the Doug Fir. Skeme Richards, Ohmega Watts, Reverend Shines. 21+ again.
Check the fine prints at Amplified Techniques or the Myspace.
Thursday Someday 21+ 9PM-2:30AM $5
Friday Wonder Ballroom all ages 7PM $15
Saturday Newmark Theater (!!) all ages 7PM prompt $22.50/$27.50
Saturday Doug Fir 21+ 9?PM-2:30AM $10
July 19 911 VJ Night with Epiphanous
911's VJ night continues with guest Epiphanous, VJ to performers AmonTobin and BassNectar. VJ's sometimes, called visualists, mix video samples live. Their work is much more difficult, combining hundreds of samples per minute and often 3 or more layers. Collecting samples is a challenge too, even more so, to produce original material. These nights are a chance to explore the process and the results. At 911 Media Arts 402 9th Ave N. Seattle 7:30 PM $5
July 19 Strayer Iosca at Chambers Gallery
Jenny Strayer's photo collages recall Lynnn Hershman and early surrealists. Philip Iosca makes elegant minimalist sculptures, often with a conceptual edge. At www.chambersgallery.org 207 SW Pine 5:30-8:30PM
July 17 The Birds
PSU professor of art, Sue Taylor, deconstructs Hitchcock's seminal film, The Birds. Taylor is known as one of the few nationally published arts writers in Portland. She often pursues a psychoanalytic approach to the work of artists including Jackson Pollock, Eve Hesse, Hans Belmer, and, for an upcoming book, Grant Wood. This is a nice pairing with the Grass Hut birds show, profiled July 6 below.
PSU Art Building 5th and SW Jackson Room 200, Noon, Free
PSU Art Building 5th and SW Jackson Room 200, Noon, Free
July 16 Back Room Party
Portland has almost too many literary subcultures, many overlapping, to count. Perhaps it is the rainy winters making readers of us. And writers. Or the cafe culture of Portland's left and right bank. Powell's, fair brother to the Strand, with its intimate connection to our senior senator. The Tin House, the IPRC, literary lecture series for which which 2000 people will pay to sit and listen. Even Dark Horse.
One of those is the Back Room. The Back Room prepared a magical admixture of writers and artists speaking of their work, music by some of Portland's sweetest musicians, participants in a long standing word of mouth invite only underground cultural salon and tasty meals prepared family style by some of Portland's internationally noted noted culinary artists.
The writings of many of the guest artists have been collected in a book - the back room: an anthology. Tonight marks the release of the book. All 500 pages of it. There will be live music, a lively crowd, creative talk. No food tonight and BYOB if you like.
At Podkrepa Hall, 2116 North Killingsworth. 6:30PM $8 admission, $16 includes the excellent anthology itself, of the same value.
One of those is the Back Room. The Back Room prepared a magical admixture of writers and artists speaking of their work, music by some of Portland's sweetest musicians, participants in a long standing word of mouth invite only underground cultural salon and tasty meals prepared family style by some of Portland's internationally noted noted culinary artists.
The writings of many of the guest artists have been collected in a book - the back room: an anthology. Tonight marks the release of the book. All 500 pages of it. There will be live music, a lively crowd, creative talk. No food tonight and BYOB if you like.
At Podkrepa Hall, 2116 North Killingsworth. 6:30PM $8 admission, $16 includes the excellent anthology itself, of the same value.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
July 11,21,29 August 2 New Music in New Places: Can You Hear It
The Music Population Orchestra plays new music on old instruments in new places. That would be in contrast to old music on old instruments in old places - classic classical; new music on new instruments in new places - pop, or no music on no instruments in new places - noise; and so forth.
Translation: The Music Population Project, founded in Portland by Brede Rørstad, now operating out of Portland and Oslo, Norway, plays new compositions, sometimes including electronic parts, on classical music instruments, in non traditional venues, for cheap or free. Breaking and remaking today's classical music into something perhaps like its OG origins, when chamber music was pop.
Each of the Music Porpulation Orchestras - mpo:portland and mpo:oslo unfold parallel concerts:
OSLO
Wednesday, July 11th, 7pm - Ibsenkvartalet
Saturday, July 21st, 2pm – Vaterlandsparken
Sunday, July 29th, 4pm – Tullinløkka
Thursday, August 2nd, 7pm – Fridtjof Nansens Plass
PORTLAND
Wednesday, July 11th, 7pm - Gerding Theater at the Armory
Saturday, July 21st, 7pm - South Waterfront
Sunday, July 29th, 2pm - Bridgeport Village
Thursday, August 2nd, 7pm - The Portland Bus Mall
The project is an exploration of the interplay between the instantaneous vibrational passing of live music and the long lived built architecture surrounding its echoes. The project will ultimately result in a documentary.
More information is available at the Oslo::PDX sister city blog.
Note: from the performance last evening... I met several filmographers working on documenting the performances, so stay tuned for the final cut. It was fun seeing street passersby ignore, scan or become involved in the outdoor performance. A rent-a -cop threatened to arrest the musicians but for the organizers' cultural cred, passed by. The musicianship was excellent, judged by my experience making hundreds of recordings at one of America's top music conservatories.
Translation: The Music Population Project, founded in Portland by Brede Rørstad, now operating out of Portland and Oslo, Norway, plays new compositions, sometimes including electronic parts, on classical music instruments, in non traditional venues, for cheap or free. Breaking and remaking today's classical music into something perhaps like its OG origins, when chamber music was pop.
Each of the Music Porpulation Orchestras - mpo:portland and mpo:oslo unfold parallel concerts:
OSLO
Wednesday, July 11th, 7pm - Ibsenkvartalet
Saturday, July 21st, 2pm – Vaterlandsparken
Sunday, July 29th, 4pm – Tullinløkka
Thursday, August 2nd, 7pm – Fridtjof Nansens Plass
PORTLAND
Wednesday, July 11th, 7pm - Gerding Theater at the Armory
Saturday, July 21st, 7pm - South Waterfront
Sunday, July 29th, 2pm - Bridgeport Village
Thursday, August 2nd, 7pm - The Portland Bus Mall
The project is an exploration of the interplay between the instantaneous vibrational passing of live music and the long lived built architecture surrounding its echoes. The project will ultimately result in a documentary.
More information is available at the Oslo::PDX sister city blog.
Note: from the performance last evening... I met several filmographers working on documenting the performances, so stay tuned for the final cut. It was fun seeing street passersby ignore, scan or become involved in the outdoor performance. A rent-a -cop threatened to arrest the musicians but for the organizers' cultural cred, passed by. The musicianship was excellent, judged by my experience making hundreds of recordings at one of America's top music conservatories.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
July 12 Graphic Design and Branding in the Early Television Era POSTPONED
Mr Dorfsman, 87 on the advice of his physician, is postponing his trip. Hopefully it can be rescheduled in the fall. Best wishes for good health!
Many artists look askance at branding. Yet they are doing it every minute. Likewise, beginning in the 1940's, television made decisions on graphics and design which became their brand. In the 1990's branding gained explicit momentum. Seemingly simple, branding is external identity, but to do it well is a challenge.
Lou Dorfsman was a graphic designer who became the creative director for the CBS television network from the late 1940's through the 1980's. Back when television was a cultural force. CBS was William S Paley, Edward R Murrow, Walter Cronkite, the eye logo.
Dorfsman had influence beyond the CBS graphic identity, laying the groundwork for the network's advertising, marketing, ratings and the design of the headquarters building (Saarinen!). Branding. For a flavor of Dorsfman's work, see "Dorfsman and CBS".
Lou Dorfsman speaks at W+K. 224 NW 13th 4:30 Free CANCELED
Many artists look askance at branding. Yet they are doing it every minute. Likewise, beginning in the 1940's, television made decisions on graphics and design which became their brand. In the 1990's branding gained explicit momentum. Seemingly simple, branding is external identity, but to do it well is a challenge.
Lou Dorfsman was a graphic designer who became the creative director for the CBS television network from the late 1940's through the 1980's. Back when television was a cultural force. CBS was William S Paley, Edward R Murrow, Walter Cronkite, the eye logo.
Dorfsman had influence beyond the CBS graphic identity, laying the groundwork for the network's advertising, marketing, ratings and the design of the headquarters building (Saarinen!). Branding. For a flavor of Dorsfman's work, see "Dorfsman and CBS".
Lou Dorfsman speaks at W+K. 224 NW 13th 4:30 Free CANCELED
July 7 Gallery Homeland Shebang
Gallery Homeland throws a launch party presentation. Homeland has a global reach, with curator-artist Paul Middendorf hitting the Euro art season hot spots and generally agitating on the behalf of Portland artists at international art fairs in the Hamptons and Miami. If you saw the art projects by the Willamette River on the esplanade last year (and in the river upon occasion) - that was Homeland's "Scratching the Surface". Tonight artists Sean Healy and Jesse Hayward discuss their experience of Portland art in the international context. Homeland will also review plans for this year's "Scratching the Surface" which will hopefully not involve the maintenance guy carting away the art just before the show thinking it refuse (which actually happened last year). After the talks, there will be plenty of time for socializing, a BBQ, drinks and a dance party. At Mark Woolley Gallery 128 NE Russell 7PM $10 (includes food! and there is something about prizes in the announcement??)
July 6 Eastside Art Openings
811 Block
Birds are everywhere, but for how long? The industrial revolution fueled by rapacious resource extraction generated massive new wealth. For some benefiting, the incorporation of bird feathers and even complete bird carcases into hats became the fashion rage.
In addition, mass production placed firearms within the reach of many Americans, in turn, placing birds within the reach of gunowners. Many species were literally driven into extinction by hunting. The massive depopulation of birds in the late 1800's alarmed many, fueling the founding of the National Audubon Society and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in England and their rapid growth. The movement to save birds was one of the earliest environmental movements.
There is a revival of plumassier today, so if you see their displays in public you might inquire how sustainable their source.
"The New Birds" is an art show to benefit the local Audubon Society. Artists Apak, Evan Harris, Martin Ontiveros, Bwana Spoons, Scrappers, Keith Shore, Amy Ruppel, Katy Horan, Matthew Feyld, Stefanie Choi, Tripper, Steve Mathews, Meredith Mathews, Brett Superstar, J.Otto, Cyrus Smith, Ryan Berkley, Adain Koch, David Neevel, Mr. Pinks, Shawn Creeden, Amy Morrison, Nick Robins, Jon Izen, Reverend Benny Bob, David Wein, Betsy Walton, Keith Greiman, Klutch, Matthew di Leo, Phoneticontrol, Mama Morgan and Maxwell Loren Holyoke-hirsch, Shayla Hason, more even, contribute their artistic meditations on bird.
At the Grass Hut http://www.grasshutcorp.blogspot.com/
Kendra Binney creates kawaii-styled work [1,2], but it is the eyes that get you. Her figures have preternaturally large eyes. They are dreamers and her paintings, their maybe dreams, hued in a subtle blue palate. Excellent. At Moshi Moshi http://www.moshi-moshi.com/
Joseph Valentino shows multiple exposure Polaroid (how did he do that?!) that have been modded up by collage at Redux http://www.reduxpdx.com/
All 811 E Burnside
Artist David Eckard makes strange sculptures which could be imagined the fabrications, in steel, canvas, fur and leather, of farm animal prosthetics by a mad Finnish farmer. Perhaps they the prototypes of primitive agricultural machines. He also performs in his contraptions, combining physical risk with maybe masochism. Example include "Tournament" and "Widow's Walk", floating the River in a candle lit skeletal podium for Gallery Homeland's "Scratching the Surface" art project. His work is disturbing but much more subtle, though less endorphin-fueled, than the hook suspensionists. He shows drawings and sculptures at Mark Woolley Gallery http://markwoolley.com/ 128 NW Russell
The Rocket building is at 11th and Burnside. It is covered in sliding ply shutters, painted by artists curated by Ruthann Brown. The building is also green certified by the LEED program. Sustainability is yet at an early stage. That means what it means is not completely clear yet. So people are experimenting with a myriad of sustainability vectors. Here is a chance to see a fancy building where people thought about that in design and selection of materials. Rocket Building 1101 E Burnside
Artist Auditions creates fun in the usually painful dance between artists seeking representation and galleries seeking cold hard sales. Banishing that junior prom-like angst, the artist audition process is more a game. The first phase of selection involved a quest for golden tickets which contained the location of a secret event and the password. At the event the art-gamers were challenged to create an artist trading card. Following instructions to find the "woman in hot pink fishnets" at the next event, the artists exchanged their trading card for an envelope containing a white square stamped with a star. Their challenge was to create something with the star square using a Sharpie. Each phase also included a challenging Internet competitions for artists worldwide. Those artists who made it through these challenges show tonight. They are Aaliyah Gupta (WA, Aaron Morgan Brown (KS), Brynn Dizack (MA), Chris Miller (NY), Christian Rex van Minnen (CO), Jaime Lakatos (CA), Lisa Nersesova (TX), Matthew Broussard (Italy) and Naomi Falk (MI). This show is quite excellent, validating the Artist Auditions process. See it.
If you want in on the fun in the future, check http://www.artistauditions.org/
http://brianmarki.com/ 2236 NE Broadway
Brian Elliott makes ray guns and robots. Not transformer style, more 1950's sci-fi. What a great job! He shows some at 12x16 8235 SE 13th Ave., Suite 5, 432-3513
AMONG US AND CURIOUS is a national juried photo show. With 2000 images submitted, 32 Photographers and were selected including 3 Oregonians. To me the unfigured landscapes are not very interesting. The portraits and peopled landscapes are a pleasant and unique surprise. At Newspace http://www.newspacephoto.org/gallery/ 1632 SE 10th
Portland's Telegraph Arts presents the One Minute Film Festival tonight. Only slightly longer than a blipvert, these films tell a story in the manner of a television commercial. Short enough to guarantee you won't have time to get bored, but still leaving a residual impression of quality or not. At Holocene http://www.holocene.org $3-10 sliding scale
Birds are everywhere, but for how long? The industrial revolution fueled by rapacious resource extraction generated massive new wealth. For some benefiting, the incorporation of bird feathers and even complete bird carcases into hats became the fashion rage.
In addition, mass production placed firearms within the reach of many Americans, in turn, placing birds within the reach of gunowners. Many species were literally driven into extinction by hunting. The massive depopulation of birds in the late 1800's alarmed many, fueling the founding of the National Audubon Society and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in England and their rapid growth. The movement to save birds was one of the earliest environmental movements.
There is a revival of plumassier today, so if you see their displays in public you might inquire how sustainable their source.
"The New Birds" is an art show to benefit the local Audubon Society. Artists Apak, Evan Harris, Martin Ontiveros, Bwana Spoons, Scrappers, Keith Shore, Amy Ruppel, Katy Horan, Matthew Feyld, Stefanie Choi, Tripper, Steve Mathews, Meredith Mathews, Brett Superstar, J.Otto, Cyrus Smith, Ryan Berkley, Adain Koch, David Neevel, Mr. Pinks, Shawn Creeden, Amy Morrison, Nick Robins, Jon Izen, Reverend Benny Bob, David Wein, Betsy Walton, Keith Greiman, Klutch, Matthew di Leo, Phoneticontrol, Mama Morgan and Maxwell Loren Holyoke-hirsch, Shayla Hason, more even, contribute their artistic meditations on bird.
At the Grass Hut http://www.grasshutcorp.blogspot.com/
Kendra Binney creates kawaii-styled work [1,2], but it is the eyes that get you. Her figures have preternaturally large eyes. They are dreamers and her paintings, their maybe dreams, hued in a subtle blue palate. Excellent. At Moshi Moshi http://www.moshi-moshi.com/
Joseph Valentino shows multiple exposure Polaroid (how did he do that?!) that have been modded up by collage at Redux http://www.reduxpdx.com/
All 811 E Burnside
Artist David Eckard makes strange sculptures which could be imagined the fabrications, in steel, canvas, fur and leather, of farm animal prosthetics by a mad Finnish farmer. Perhaps they the prototypes of primitive agricultural machines. He also performs in his contraptions, combining physical risk with maybe masochism. Example include "Tournament" and "Widow's Walk", floating the River in a candle lit skeletal podium for Gallery Homeland's "Scratching the Surface" art project. His work is disturbing but much more subtle, though less endorphin-fueled, than the hook suspensionists. He shows drawings and sculptures at Mark Woolley Gallery http://markwoolley.com/ 128 NW Russell
The Rocket building is at 11th and Burnside. It is covered in sliding ply shutters, painted by artists curated by Ruthann Brown. The building is also green certified by the LEED program. Sustainability is yet at an early stage. That means what it means is not completely clear yet. So people are experimenting with a myriad of sustainability vectors. Here is a chance to see a fancy building where people thought about that in design and selection of materials. Rocket Building 1101 E Burnside
Artist Auditions creates fun in the usually painful dance between artists seeking representation and galleries seeking cold hard sales. Banishing that junior prom-like angst, the artist audition process is more a game. The first phase of selection involved a quest for golden tickets which contained the location of a secret event and the password. At the event the art-gamers were challenged to create an artist trading card. Following instructions to find the "woman in hot pink fishnets" at the next event, the artists exchanged their trading card for an envelope containing a white square stamped with a star. Their challenge was to create something with the star square using a Sharpie. Each phase also included a challenging Internet competitions for artists worldwide. Those artists who made it through these challenges show tonight. They are Aaliyah Gupta (WA, Aaron Morgan Brown (KS), Brynn Dizack (MA), Chris Miller (NY), Christian Rex van Minnen (CO), Jaime Lakatos (CA), Lisa Nersesova (TX), Matthew Broussard (Italy) and Naomi Falk (MI). This show is quite excellent, validating the Artist Auditions process. See it.
If you want in on the fun in the future, check http://www.artistauditions.org/
http://brianmarki.com/ 2236 NE Broadway
Brian Elliott makes ray guns and robots. Not transformer style, more 1950's sci-fi. What a great job! He shows some at 12x16 8235 SE 13th Ave., Suite 5, 432-3513
AMONG US AND CURIOUS is a national juried photo show. With 2000 images submitted, 32 Photographers and were selected including 3 Oregonians. To me the unfigured landscapes are not very interesting. The portraits and peopled landscapes are a pleasant and unique surprise. At Newspace http://www.newspacephoto.org/gallery/ 1632 SE 10th
Portland's Telegraph Arts presents the One Minute Film Festival tonight. Only slightly longer than a blipvert, these films tell a story in the manner of a television commercial. Short enough to guarantee you won't have time to get bored, but still leaving a residual impression of quality or not. At Holocene http://www.holocene.org $3-10 sliding scale
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
July 5 Westside Art Openings
The Portland Art Center opens several shows including something from John Mace, known for large installations such as one with water raining at filling the Nine Gallery and one with blood-like liquid pumped through a network of tubes at the old Art Center space, now Jace Gace. One of the other shows is Portland Modern #5: Environmentalists. In the connected building up the funky elevator are individual artist studios some open for a look at work in progress.
http://www.portlandart.org 32 NW 5th
Installationist, painter, photographer Paige Saez takes over the downtown Stumptown with bright painting-collages. 128 SW 3rd
Photographer Krista K. Wheeler is known for candid portraits of creative Portland at play and photographing her own family. Her photos of Portland 1990's nightlife are at Ogle http://www.ogleinc.com/ 310 NW Broadway until 8:30
Sculptor and installationist Brenda Mallory is known for unitized sculptures, each element just a little different, one to another. Handmade, her work reminds of nature's infinite variation, organized by pattern, be they plant or microorganism. At Nine Gallery in Blue Sky 1231 NW Hoyt (it's also good news that the Nine Gallery space will continue in Blue Sky's fancy new digs when they move later in the month)
P:ear pairs Portland artists and street kids working on art. Hundreds of local artists have participated. It costs money to run such a program and now P:ear has attracted the attention of a local pop radio station with the ability to reach a broad audience beyond the art making community. This is a good thing. Tonight they partner for a sale of encaustic painting at a local salon. If people buy it, it's good all around. Urbaca Salon http://www.urbacahairsalon.com http://www.pearmentor.org 120 NW 9th
Painter Gabriel Macca shows impressionistic landscapes at Froelick Gallery http://www.froelickgallery.com/ 817 SW 2nd
The Laura Russo gallery mounts a summer group show. Galleries are channels, connecting a group of artists to a group of art buyers through an aesthetic theme. Akin to the old television model. The channel which is Motel Gallery has the same concept, just a different aesthetic. Pick any other gallery, it is the same. It can be instructive however to see what the established galleries are programming, in other words what they are selling, which, in turn, pays the artists' rent.
Laura Russo Gallery http://www.laurarusso.com/ 805 NW 21st until 8
Deborah Oropallo shows "Guise" unusual digital photographs of women composited onto pre-20th century style formal painted portraits of royals and military men. The artist has an impressive resume, this work is more captivating than the paintings on her website. It's also an example of cultural vectors of acting-costuming employed by many current photographers and sampling, which is everywhere. Pulliam Deffenbaugh http://www.pulliamdeffenbaugh.com/ 929 NW Flanders until 8
Compound shows Fracture: illustrators Jason Shawn Alexander and Andrew Hem. This is a little rougher non-kawaii, non transformer illustration show than Compound's usual. At Compound/Just Be Toys 107 NW 5th
The Everett lofts are recommended as always, including Soft at Tilt curated by Kristan Kennedy.
http://www.portlandart.org 32 NW 5th
Installationist, painter, photographer Paige Saez takes over the downtown Stumptown with bright painting-collages. 128 SW 3rd
Photographer Krista K. Wheeler is known for candid portraits of creative Portland at play and photographing her own family. Her photos of Portland 1990's nightlife are at Ogle http://www.ogleinc.com/ 310 NW Broadway until 8:30
Sculptor and installationist Brenda Mallory is known for unitized sculptures, each element just a little different, one to another. Handmade, her work reminds of nature's infinite variation, organized by pattern, be they plant or microorganism. At Nine Gallery in Blue Sky 1231 NW Hoyt (it's also good news that the Nine Gallery space will continue in Blue Sky's fancy new digs when they move later in the month)
P:ear pairs Portland artists and street kids working on art. Hundreds of local artists have participated. It costs money to run such a program and now P:ear has attracted the attention of a local pop radio station with the ability to reach a broad audience beyond the art making community. This is a good thing. Tonight they partner for a sale of encaustic painting at a local salon. If people buy it, it's good all around. Urbaca Salon http://www.urbacahairsalon.com http://www.pearmentor.org 120 NW 9th
Painter Gabriel Macca shows impressionistic landscapes at Froelick Gallery http://www.froelickgallery.com/ 817 SW 2nd
The Laura Russo gallery mounts a summer group show. Galleries are channels, connecting a group of artists to a group of art buyers through an aesthetic theme. Akin to the old television model. The channel which is Motel Gallery has the same concept, just a different aesthetic. Pick any other gallery, it is the same. It can be instructive however to see what the established galleries are programming, in other words what they are selling, which, in turn, pays the artists' rent.
Laura Russo Gallery http://www.laurarusso.com/ 805 NW 21st until 8
Deborah Oropallo shows "Guise" unusual digital photographs of women composited onto pre-20th century style formal painted portraits of royals and military men. The artist has an impressive resume, this work is more captivating than the paintings on her website. It's also an example of cultural vectors of acting-costuming employed by many current photographers and sampling, which is everywhere. Pulliam Deffenbaugh http://www.pulliamdeffenbaugh.com/ 929 NW Flanders until 8
Compound shows Fracture: illustrators Jason Shawn Alexander and Andrew Hem. This is a little rougher non-kawaii, non transformer illustration show than Compound's usual. At Compound/Just Be Toys 107 NW 5th
The Everett lofts are recommended as always, including Soft at Tilt curated by Kristan Kennedy.
July 4-August 12 ROCK'SBOX says "Portland? Fuck Portland"
The ROCK'SBOX is a storefront exhibition space on N Interstate that has come under the control of evil genius artist Patrick Rock. Transforming a burglar alarm company building, redundant due to internet technology and falling North Portland crime rates, Rock exists between the Arco gas station and the gas pump repair service, near a electrical substation and backing a charming chain link alley. In other words, a dream. Rock is a unit of the posse of artists who have relocated from SF to Portland. His Portland splash was the giant inflatable hot dog that, after removing your shoes, you could get inside and bounce around or do whatever, shown at the Fresh Trouble warehouse show, curated by Jeff Jahn, now of Organism.
For this show, subtitled "The Influence of Oregon on Oregonians... (or native born crackers contemplate the contemporary)", Rock has tapped past and present Portlander's: Katherine Bovee/PDX, Brenden Clenaghen/PDX, Tim Colley/PDX, Alex Hubbard/NYC, Jeanine Jablonski/PDX, Malia Jensen/NYC, Joey Macca/PDX, Donald Morgan/LAX, Chelsea Mosher/PDX, P J Risse/NYC, Natascha Snellman/LAX, Storm Tharp/PDX and Molly Vidor/PDX.
This is an adventurous opening show, presaging future viewer rabble rousing at the space, Rock's style. At ROCK'SBOX 6540 N Interstate x Rosa Parks Portland Boulevard Way and you can go by MAX! Opens 7-11PM; otherwise Friday and Saturdays 12-6PM Free
For this show, subtitled "The Influence of Oregon on Oregonians... (or native born crackers contemplate the contemporary)", Rock has tapped past and present Portlander's: Katherine Bovee/PDX, Brenden Clenaghen/PDX, Tim Colley/PDX, Alex Hubbard/NYC, Jeanine Jablonski/PDX, Malia Jensen/NYC, Joey Macca/PDX, Donald Morgan/LAX, Chelsea Mosher/PDX, P J Risse/NYC, Natascha Snellman/LAX, Storm Tharp/PDX and Molly Vidor/PDX.
This is an adventurous opening show, presaging future viewer rabble rousing at the space, Rock's style. At ROCK'SBOX 6540 N Interstate x Rosa Parks Portland Boulevard Way and you can go by MAX! Opens 7-11PM; otherwise Friday and Saturdays 12-6PM Free
Friday, June 15, 2007
June 17 The Music Population Orchestra
The Music Population Orchestra brings newly composed music played on classical instruments to non traditional spaces. It revives the OG energy that chamber music had in its time - it was avant pop then. Tonight the play at the DF. Details Music Population Orchestra Doug Fir Lounge 830 E Burnside 9PM $6
June now-23 Pink Pedalpalooza
We noted Pedalpalooza earlier; now it's up to full cadence. There's all the info at shift2bikes. One special grace note: Pink, the love factory, is now open until the 23rd. Write a note at the love factory where it will be typed (or you can color it) tagged and bottled. Then it will be delivered by bike messenger. It's the project of some artists from Austin. Free. Yes!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
June 13 VJ Throwdown Seattle
Battles amp the creative pressure as artists improv their best moves. It might be b-boys/girls, Photoshop battles, here it's Opticlash 2, VJ's mixing live motion visuals to DJ sets. The VJ phenom is more developed in the UK and Japan. It will evolve, as DJing, to the point that it seems like everyone is a bedroom VJ. Especially true with the emergence of TrakAx, an entry level free AV mix tool which also operates on mobile platforms. Tonight's battle pits VJ's Pixelflip, Peter Rand, Porchlight Star, Killingfrenzy (the Opticlash 1 champion), James Drage, Epiphanous, VJ Scobot and Xiayu. Accompanying DJ's are J-Justice, Aaron Simpson and Swank. The event is part of Seattle's International Film Festival; Opticlash 2 benefits Reelgrrls. At Capitol Hills Art Center 1621 12th Ave x Pine 6-10PM $15 Advance
Monday, June 04, 2007
June 7 Westside Art Openings
All these are up all month in case there is a rainy Saturday. Note however this Saturday, when it usually rains on the Rose Parade, the parade will fully occupy downtown with strangeness.
The exception is a one night book release event by Ann Ploeger and it is on the East side. Ploeger is known for large photographic portraits of local luminaries in their homes, often barefoot and in nostalgic rich Kodacolor film tones. The book: "Portraits". At No Fish Go Fish 3962 SE Hawthorne 8-11PM Free
The 333 Hancock (333 NE Hancock, above Dunes) studios are also having a one night open studio to view the work of some of the new artists creating there. 6-10PM
I don't know much about the art, paintings by Cheyenne Sawyer, but the place - jàce gàce - is an "art construction collective working with glass, wood, metal, paint, music, and futuristic restorations" and eatery featuring art, waffles and beer. (!!) Waffles and chicken are an old Harlem tradition, is this a new Portland one? 2045 SE Belmont 6PM-midnight
Anna Fidler shows new works. A PSU MFA grad, Fidler continues to evolve her fantastic colorful maybe landscape painting-collages. She is known for outdoor installations and performances on the landscape, and indoor installations of similar feel to her paintings. Her magical realism is real though. Pulliam Deffenbaugh Gallery 925 NW Flanders until 8PM only
New York artist Kenny Scharf is responsible for the totem pole trolley cable supports in the NW district around Jameson Square. He is probably one of the most successful lowbrow artists. His pop aesthetics may be in full play for his role in curating this show in support of the Platform Animation Festival. This part of Platform focuses on Basil Wolverton and Robby Cooper.
Wolverton (1909-1978)is an influential illustrator, well known for comic book work. His distorted caricatures influenced later illustrators such as R Crumb. Working outside established comic publishers, Crumb was the taproot of the independent comic explosion, which later grew along with the 'zine movement. Interestingly Platform now picks up independent animation as the next wave replacing paper-based independent publishing.
Robby Cooper shows photographs themed "Alter Ego:Avatars and their Creators". Avatars are folk art that represent characters in the online world of networked games and environments. In the short term, they are more lightweight than real time motion video representations of players; but they can carry the heavy weight of identity dreams. They are likely a generational change in the online world.
The Art Center hosts a reception for the show on June 29 as well.
The Art Center also shows Mapping Meg Ryan by Samantha DiRosa from Pullman in the Light and Sound Gallery.
Portland Art Center 32 NW 5th until 10
Electric Garden is a show of the works of Apak, Peter Hamlin and Betsy Walton. Their styles are complementary and perfect in energy for the spring to summer flux. Compound Gallery upstairs at Just Be Toys 107 NW 5th
PNCA's BFA thesis show is installed in the now clean and neat senior studios. NW 15th Johnson. Dryden Goodwin shows in the Feldman Gallery in the main building NW 13th and Johnson
PSU's MFA students close their thesis work at 2000 SW 5th on the third floor
The Everett Station lofts and the Rake and Ogle galleries anchoring their diagonals are recommended for your exploratory viewing pleasure. The block bounded by NW 5th, Broadway, Everett, Flanders.
Seattle artist Anna Siems was an early regional worker in wax based mediums, often making work on scrap paper, archival by virtue of the wax. Her work has added more figures glimpsing a psychological landscape. Laura Russo Gallery 805 NW 21st Ave
Jessica Bronk shows dark ochre, yellow and umber impressionistic landscapes at Vino Paradiso 417 NW 10
We spend a lifetime understanding ourselves, but rush to generalize that others' internal processes are the same. No. Now imagine a complete break in your own internals. That is what newspaper photographer John Trotter experienced when he was beaten almost to death. With severe brain injuries, he had to relearn everything. Finally resuming photography, Trotter returned to document the hospital, with new internal processes. “Having been attacked because I was a photographer I needed, as much as anything else, to learn to be a photographer again. But I had taken pictures there [at the hospital] for about a year before I understood that I was trying to understand my own completely altered experience of life.” *
Nathan Baker's "People At Work" combines digitally composited multiple exposures, Gursky-like, documenting the not so quotidian details of the work world. The wonder of our adaptability and ability to work together spans to even the most ordinary of occupations. Both photographers also speak Friday June 8 at 7 st the gallery. Free
* For another take of the work of disabled artists, see the ANP Quarterly #6 article on Oakland's Creative Growth center.
At Blue Sky Gallery 1231 NW Hoyt
An interesting contrast to Trotter's show are illustration style paintings by Elizabeth Huey. Huey is responsible for organizing the myspace art show noted in portlandorusnow in February, 2007. Huey's Chronophobia explores the history of mental difference and its still primitive treatment. Her paintings include figures, structures, and fantastic landscapes in a dreamlike melange. Stuart Hawkins also continues her surreal Nepal work, previously noted and recommended. Quality Pictures 916 NW Hoyt
Joe and Annette Thurston show their work developed with the kids at P:ear. P:ear 809 SW Alder
Architecture is art. It's drawings too have a specific impressionistic flavor. In this unusual show, architects drawings, realized, and not, are presented. Brad Cloepfil, the principal of Allied Works Architecture, is known internationally for his designs, particularly of museums. Locally he is responsible for the design of the Wieden and Kennedy advertising agency within the historical shell of an ice warehouse. Most recently his Seattle Art Museum annex within a new office tower has opened. PDX Contemporary 925 NW Flanders until 8
The exception is a one night book release event by Ann Ploeger and it is on the East side. Ploeger is known for large photographic portraits of local luminaries in their homes, often barefoot and in nostalgic rich Kodacolor film tones. The book: "Portraits". At No Fish Go Fish 3962 SE Hawthorne 8-11PM Free
The 333 Hancock (333 NE Hancock, above Dunes) studios are also having a one night open studio to view the work of some of the new artists creating there. 6-10PM
I don't know much about the art, paintings by Cheyenne Sawyer, but the place - jàce gàce - is an "art construction collective working with glass, wood, metal, paint, music, and futuristic restorations" and eatery featuring art, waffles and beer. (!!) Waffles and chicken are an old Harlem tradition, is this a new Portland one? 2045 SE Belmont 6PM-midnight
Anna Fidler shows new works. A PSU MFA grad, Fidler continues to evolve her fantastic colorful maybe landscape painting-collages. She is known for outdoor installations and performances on the landscape, and indoor installations of similar feel to her paintings. Her magical realism is real though. Pulliam Deffenbaugh Gallery 925 NW Flanders until 8PM only
New York artist Kenny Scharf is responsible for the totem pole trolley cable supports in the NW district around Jameson Square. He is probably one of the most successful lowbrow artists. His pop aesthetics may be in full play for his role in curating this show in support of the Platform Animation Festival. This part of Platform focuses on Basil Wolverton and Robby Cooper.
Wolverton (1909-1978)is an influential illustrator, well known for comic book work. His distorted caricatures influenced later illustrators such as R Crumb. Working outside established comic publishers, Crumb was the taproot of the independent comic explosion, which later grew along with the 'zine movement. Interestingly Platform now picks up independent animation as the next wave replacing paper-based independent publishing.
Robby Cooper shows photographs themed "Alter Ego:Avatars and their Creators". Avatars are folk art that represent characters in the online world of networked games and environments. In the short term, they are more lightweight than real time motion video representations of players; but they can carry the heavy weight of identity dreams. They are likely a generational change in the online world.
The Art Center hosts a reception for the show on June 29 as well.
The Art Center also shows Mapping Meg Ryan by Samantha DiRosa from Pullman in the Light and Sound Gallery.
Portland Art Center 32 NW 5th until 10
Electric Garden is a show of the works of Apak, Peter Hamlin and Betsy Walton. Their styles are complementary and perfect in energy for the spring to summer flux. Compound Gallery upstairs at Just Be Toys 107 NW 5th
PNCA's BFA thesis show is installed in the now clean and neat senior studios. NW 15th Johnson. Dryden Goodwin shows in the Feldman Gallery in the main building NW 13th and Johnson
PSU's MFA students close their thesis work at 2000 SW 5th on the third floor
The Everett Station lofts and the Rake and Ogle galleries anchoring their diagonals are recommended for your exploratory viewing pleasure. The block bounded by NW 5th, Broadway, Everett, Flanders.
Seattle artist Anna Siems was an early regional worker in wax based mediums, often making work on scrap paper, archival by virtue of the wax. Her work has added more figures glimpsing a psychological landscape. Laura Russo Gallery 805 NW 21st Ave
Jessica Bronk shows dark ochre, yellow and umber impressionistic landscapes at Vino Paradiso 417 NW 10
We spend a lifetime understanding ourselves, but rush to generalize that others' internal processes are the same. No. Now imagine a complete break in your own internals. That is what newspaper photographer John Trotter experienced when he was beaten almost to death. With severe brain injuries, he had to relearn everything. Finally resuming photography, Trotter returned to document the hospital, with new internal processes. “Having been attacked because I was a photographer I needed, as much as anything else, to learn to be a photographer again. But I had taken pictures there [at the hospital] for about a year before I understood that I was trying to understand my own completely altered experience of life.” *
Nathan Baker's "People At Work" combines digitally composited multiple exposures, Gursky-like, documenting the not so quotidian details of the work world. The wonder of our adaptability and ability to work together spans to even the most ordinary of occupations. Both photographers also speak Friday June 8 at 7 st the gallery. Free
* For another take of the work of disabled artists, see the ANP Quarterly #6 article on Oakland's Creative Growth center.
At Blue Sky Gallery 1231 NW Hoyt
An interesting contrast to Trotter's show are illustration style paintings by Elizabeth Huey. Huey is responsible for organizing the myspace art show noted in portlandorusnow in February, 2007. Huey's Chronophobia explores the history of mental difference and its still primitive treatment. Her paintings include figures, structures, and fantastic landscapes in a dreamlike melange. Stuart Hawkins also continues her surreal Nepal work, previously noted and recommended. Quality Pictures 916 NW Hoyt
Joe and Annette Thurston show their work developed with the kids at P:ear. P:ear 809 SW Alder
Architecture is art. It's drawings too have a specific impressionistic flavor. In this unusual show, architects drawings, realized, and not, are presented. Brad Cloepfil, the principal of Allied Works Architecture, is known internationally for his designs, particularly of museums. Locally he is responsible for the design of the Wieden and Kennedy advertising agency within the historical shell of an ice warehouse. Most recently his Seattle Art Museum annex within a new office tower has opened. PDX Contemporary 925 NW Flanders until 8
June 6 Whither Alberta Street?
UofO architecture students are not only in Eugene, there is a branch campus here. That has allowed them to examine and envision the future here of Alberta Street. They present their ideas tonight.
Students from 5 studios studied the social history of the neighborhood and how that resulted in today's built and lived environment. They then developed models, renderings and social visions for the neighborhoods evolution. They present their findings tonight for discussion, the event will be moderated by Brian Libbey, local and national architecture writer and creator of the Portland Architecture Blog
At Office PDX NE 22nd and Alberta 7-9PM Free
Students from 5 studios studied the social history of the neighborhood and how that resulted in today's built and lived environment. They then developed models, renderings and social visions for the neighborhoods evolution. They present their findings tonight for discussion, the event will be moderated by Brian Libbey, local and national architecture writer and creator of the Portland Architecture Blog
At Office PDX NE 22nd and Alberta 7-9PM Free
June 6 Pinhole Photos
Surveillance is everywhere. I have my doubts to its effectiveness, it seems primarily a tool to assuage the viewers paranoia while creating paranoia in the viewed. All of us. Nonetheless, baring a change in history, it seems with us for the foreseeable future. Surveillance is also the theme for a show of photographs by Audim Culver. Culver employs pinhole photography in which a tiny hole is the lens. Just air! These first lenses were known to the ancient Chinese and Greeks, long before the models of diffraction and refraction in optics were conceived. Physics has evolved some too since - recently materials with a negative index of diffraction have been demonstrated, the "left handed materials". At the Albina Press 4637 N. Albina 8-10PM Free
Friday, June 01, 2007
June 4 Dan Graham
Dan Graham makes art. Installation, sculpture, video, architecture. He speaks free, here, tonight. PSU Hall Street Cinema 515 SW Hall x5th 8:15PM Free
June 3 Love.li Crafting
The Crafty Wonderland has now a beautiful sister in the form of a crafty sale, hangout and DIY church of craft. It's 11-4 at Rontoms 6th and E Burnside and they has a sweet spacious deck too. Free
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
June 2 Rock 4 Rights
The most powerful force on the planet is optimism. That is why the work of Amnesty International is critical. The individual optimism created by writing a letter, post card or email cascades into a great social force which moves governments. In turn, when the weight is lifted from those imprisoned, constrained or oppressed, they can get back to creating a better world. The news of Amnesty's work and their many successes is an inspiration in itself. It's an exponential cascade of world changing.
Tonight you can participate in Amnesty's world changing and have fun! The Ausie chapter of Amnesty launched a Rock 4 Rights music series. It's spread to the US, the first Rock 4 Rights outside AU/NZ is right here in Portland!
Ancient tribal distinctions could be a positive source of identity and pride, could be the starting point for compassion and collaboration. Too often though, they are the source of conflict. Thus is the case in the Darfur region of Sudan where the conflict is also affecting the neighboring CAR and Chad. My experience in Africa has been that there is much less starvation than I thought. It is the result of drought, but more often is the result of displacement and the concentration of refugees beyond the the land's sustainability. In the Darfur, an estimated 2.5 million have been displaced. They are dieing.
Portland Amnesty's Rock 4 Rights is rocking for Amnesty's Darfur programs and for its womens' programs worldwide. The Retrofits, The Young Immortals, The Antecedents and Sexton Blake play - you can check their samples on the Portland Amnesty Myspace. Advance tickets, $10 (cheap!!) are linked off the Myspace. World changing has never been more fun!
Portland Rock 4 Rights Hawthorne Theater 1507 SE 39th all ages $10 advance
Tonight you can participate in Amnesty's world changing and have fun! The Ausie chapter of Amnesty launched a Rock 4 Rights music series. It's spread to the US, the first Rock 4 Rights outside AU/NZ is right here in Portland!
Ancient tribal distinctions could be a positive source of identity and pride, could be the starting point for compassion and collaboration. Too often though, they are the source of conflict. Thus is the case in the Darfur region of Sudan where the conflict is also affecting the neighboring CAR and Chad. My experience in Africa has been that there is much less starvation than I thought. It is the result of drought, but more often is the result of displacement and the concentration of refugees beyond the the land's sustainability. In the Darfur, an estimated 2.5 million have been displaced. They are dieing.
Portland Amnesty's Rock 4 Rights is rocking for Amnesty's Darfur programs and for its womens' programs worldwide. The Retrofits, The Young Immortals, The Antecedents and Sexton Blake play - you can check their samples on the Portland Amnesty Myspace. Advance tickets, $10 (cheap!!) are linked off the Myspace. World changing has never been more fun!
Portland Rock 4 Rights Hawthorne Theater 1507 SE 39th all ages $10 advance
June 2 Buddhist Festival
One thing about Buddhists is that they don't try to convert you. Never heard of a fundamentalist Buddhist either. But they do like to have fun and an example is the Portland Buddhist Festival. The varied Portland Buddhist entities will be present, you can have your pet blessed and there are a bunch of kid things. All the details are here. Noon to 5:30 Colonel Summers Park, SE 17th and Taylor (Belmont) Free
June 2 Artists' Films Outdoors
Tonight see films by some seminal artists, outside. Showing will be Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson, Railroad Turnbridge by Richard Serra and Sun Tunnels by Nancy Holt. It is no accident that these these films were made in the West with its grand landscapes which resist human alteration.
Sera is known for large steel sculptures of minimal form. They are fabricated with a steel formulated to develop a uniform patina of plain old rust. One public piece, "tilted arc" was removed and destroyed because people didn't like it, or like walking around it. It was a success in every dimension. Railroad Turnbridge documents the machinery that can reverse a locomotive. It was filmed in Portland. I must admit that a kinetic Sera could be quite dangerous, so I'm glad the artist stopped his exploration of movement with this film
Smithson's most famous piece, Spiral Jetty, is exactly that in a remote corner of the Great Salt Lake. Holt's Sun Tunnels are in an even remoter spot as noted by Portland filmmaker Matt McCormick
The Portland environs are ripe for outside art. The old Horsehead series had a nice run completing with about 10 invited works a year on a wooded and meadowed tract in Duvall, Washington. One summer day, artists visited to picnic and explore the new pieces and some old ones decaying into the landscape. There was no map, just word of mouth and the joy of discovery and exploration. (One year there was a side project raffle by disgruntled artists with the prize the opportunity to smash a Chihuly) Scott Wayne Indiana did a great show at Mt Scott Park last year - let's see more!
Tonight's films are 16mm analog, with that rich tonal range. The site a sweet urban garden. Music by J.P. Jenkins + Bird Costumes. A Cinema Project project. Music at 8:30, films 9
Artemisia Garden & Gallery 110 SE 28th Avenue xAnkeny $6
Sera is known for large steel sculptures of minimal form. They are fabricated with a steel formulated to develop a uniform patina of plain old rust. One public piece, "tilted arc" was removed and destroyed because people didn't like it, or like walking around it. It was a success in every dimension. Railroad Turnbridge documents the machinery that can reverse a locomotive. It was filmed in Portland. I must admit that a kinetic Sera could be quite dangerous, so I'm glad the artist stopped his exploration of movement with this film
Smithson's most famous piece, Spiral Jetty, is exactly that in a remote corner of the Great Salt Lake. Holt's Sun Tunnels are in an even remoter spot as noted by Portland filmmaker Matt McCormick
The Portland environs are ripe for outside art. The old Horsehead series had a nice run completing with about 10 invited works a year on a wooded and meadowed tract in Duvall, Washington. One summer day, artists visited to picnic and explore the new pieces and some old ones decaying into the landscape. There was no map, just word of mouth and the joy of discovery and exploration. (One year there was a side project raffle by disgruntled artists with the prize the opportunity to smash a Chihuly) Scott Wayne Indiana did a great show at Mt Scott Park last year - let's see more!
Tonight's films are 16mm analog, with that rich tonal range. The site a sweet urban garden. Music by J.P. Jenkins + Bird Costumes. A Cinema Project project. Music at 8:30, films 9
Artemisia Garden & Gallery 110 SE 28th Avenue xAnkeny $6
June 1 Eastside Art Openings
All the usual spots will be open. These shows will be up all month for your considered pleasure. Recommended -
In the 811 Block
Moshi-Moshi mounts very special show of ray guns by Ray Horneau. There is en extensive explanation with pictures by curator Brian Elliot at http://kushitan.blogspot.com/2007/05/rayguns-at-moshi-moshi-portland-or.html. Horneau's rayguns are complemented by Portland artists' responses, including a felt raygun. Moshi-Moshi
The Grass Hut shows very poppy psych by the Hiberts! That would be family Snaggs H., her husband Arbito H., and his two cousins Oliver H. and Spencer H.. Bright felt work sits beside glossy painting. This work will make you happy. Buy some now for the pick me up you will need next mid winter. Details at http://grasshutcorp.blogspot.com/2007/05/hiberts.html
Redux shows Vinyl Killers, paintings on old vinyl disks.
There is also a party out back behind 811 for a new Moss-like retail store opening in the building.
811 E Burnside 6-9+ish
Jessie Hayward presents THE HOOK UP at New American Art Union. It includes artists you should see if you don't know their work including Brenden Clenaghen, Jacqueline Ehlis, Ellen George, Sean Healy, Jenene Nagy, Jeff Jahn, TJ Norris and Stephanie Robison. At New American Art Union 922 SE Ankeny
In the 811 Block
Moshi-Moshi mounts very special show of ray guns by Ray Horneau. There is en extensive explanation with pictures by curator Brian Elliot at http://kushitan.blogspot.com/2007/05/rayguns-at-moshi-moshi-portland-or.html. Horneau's rayguns are complemented by Portland artists' responses, including a felt raygun. Moshi-Moshi
The Grass Hut shows very poppy psych by the Hiberts! That would be family Snaggs H., her husband Arbito H., and his two cousins Oliver H. and Spencer H.. Bright felt work sits beside glossy painting. This work will make you happy. Buy some now for the pick me up you will need next mid winter. Details at http://grasshutcorp.blogspot.com/2007/05/hiberts.html
Redux shows Vinyl Killers, paintings on old vinyl disks.
There is also a party out back behind 811 for a new Moss-like retail store opening in the building.
811 E Burnside 6-9+ish
Jessie Hayward presents THE HOOK UP at New American Art Union. It includes artists you should see if you don't know their work including Brenden Clenaghen, Jacqueline Ehlis, Ellen George, Sean Healy, Jenene Nagy, Jeff Jahn, TJ Norris and Stephanie Robison. At New American Art Union 922 SE Ankeny
June 1 East Meets West
East Meets West is an evening that happens rarely of some of the most beautiful belly dancing you will see. The ancient Eastern traditions of belly dancing رقص شرقي meets our West Coast sensibility for innovation and evolution on the tectonic ring of fire. At any moment the world could end, so we live life maximally. You can get an idea from the Myspace. 722 SE Burnside Prompt 9 start 10 advance, 13 door.
May 31-June 3, 7-23 Bikemania!
We love the diversity of Portland bike cultures. PedalPalooza is a two week gear jammin' (fixies welcome) festival of bike! June 7-23. PedalPalooza includes bike birding, scavenger hunts, midnight rides, nekkid rides, bike jousting, foreign langiage rides, various food and drink rides, bike polo, bike karaoke, bike in movies, a bike swap, bike photo expeditions, bike washes, a 24 hour zombie hunt and a bike wedding. Pedalpalooza culminates in the family frendly officially sponsored Multnomah County Bike Fair on June 23.
The Sprockettes, perhaps inspired by the full moon, can't wait, so they celebrate the First Quarterly Moon Castle Ballyhoo! May 31-June 3. Yea!! Thursday is Family Fun Day! beginning at 5 at 20th and NE Alberta. Free grills for grillin' your bringin's, a watermelon seed spitting contest, ice cream sundae making, fort building, hula hoops and blindfolded face painting. At 8:30 there is an animal costume marching band parade to the mystery movie location. Bring blankies and things for sittin' on.
Friday is Crafty Day! Bikemeetup at the warehouse at 5040 SE Milwaulkie at 5. This involves hopscotching, various eating contests, random letter writing mail art, wacky haircutting, head shaving and crazy dye jobs. Pot luck dinner at 6. Then it's a bike parade to the waterfront to see the fireworks, fininshing with a bike in movie at the Recyclery at about 10:30.
Sunday is Kooky Competition Day! Beginning at Peninsula Park at 10, it's a donut hole breakfast. That's just eating donuts before a ride. Then strong prople will compete in an all out whipped cream whipping contest, a crepe batter beating contest, broom acrobatic races in tests of balance and a 5 legged obstacle race. Are we tired yet? Then lunch on crepes! After that it's a ride to Alberta Park at 2 where you can decorate your bike. Also on the agenda are chin to handlebars races, tall bike jousting, a 3 bike+2 person race, mini bike polo and team bike riding style contest - that's 2 people on one bike. Are we tired yet? Noooo!! At 7:30 the bikes parade to the 5040 SE Milwaulkie warehouse for a BBQ and bike in movies Quicksilver and Breaking Away. Bring yer grillin's to the BBQ.
Sunday is Decompression Day! Are we tired yet? This is the easy day. Meet at the Mount Tabor base camp IV aka the bottom reservoir. Bring mountaineering 'quipment - that's ropes, ice axen, carabiners, down jacket, glacier glasses, mittens and the like. Conquer Mt Tabor. It's a walk up as they say. Be sure yo keep your climbin' pardners on belay. Plant your special flag at the top and take a photo op. After, regroup at the Hawthorne Hostel's pot luck brunch at 11:30. From thence depart with pencil and paper by bike at 2 for sketch and bike.
Wow! The Ballyhoo is FREE!
PedalPalooza has a huge calendar at Shift2Bikes.
The Sprockettes, perhaps inspired by the full moon, can't wait, so they celebrate the First Quarterly Moon Castle Ballyhoo! May 31-June 3. Yea!! Thursday is Family Fun Day! beginning at 5 at 20th and NE Alberta. Free grills for grillin' your bringin's, a watermelon seed spitting contest, ice cream sundae making, fort building, hula hoops and blindfolded face painting. At 8:30 there is an animal costume marching band parade to the mystery movie location. Bring blankies and things for sittin' on.
Friday is Crafty Day! Bikemeetup at the warehouse at 5040 SE Milwaulkie at 5. This involves hopscotching, various eating contests, random letter writing mail art, wacky haircutting, head shaving and crazy dye jobs. Pot luck dinner at 6. Then it's a bike parade to the waterfront to see the fireworks, fininshing with a bike in movie at the Recyclery at about 10:30.
Sunday is Kooky Competition Day! Beginning at Peninsula Park at 10, it's a donut hole breakfast. That's just eating donuts before a ride. Then strong prople will compete in an all out whipped cream whipping contest, a crepe batter beating contest, broom acrobatic races in tests of balance and a 5 legged obstacle race. Are we tired yet? Then lunch on crepes! After that it's a ride to Alberta Park at 2 where you can decorate your bike. Also on the agenda are chin to handlebars races, tall bike jousting, a 3 bike+2 person race, mini bike polo and team bike riding style contest - that's 2 people on one bike. Are we tired yet? Noooo!! At 7:30 the bikes parade to the 5040 SE Milwaulkie warehouse for a BBQ and bike in movies Quicksilver and Breaking Away. Bring yer grillin's to the BBQ.
Sunday is Decompression Day! Are we tired yet? This is the easy day. Meet at the Mount Tabor base camp IV aka the bottom reservoir. Bring mountaineering 'quipment - that's ropes, ice axen, carabiners, down jacket, glacier glasses, mittens and the like. Conquer Mt Tabor. It's a walk up as they say. Be sure yo keep your climbin' pardners on belay. Plant your special flag at the top and take a photo op. After, regroup at the Hawthorne Hostel's pot luck brunch at 11:30. From thence depart with pencil and paper by bike at 2 for sketch and bike.
Wow! The Ballyhoo is FREE!
PedalPalooza has a huge calendar at Shift2Bikes.
Friday, May 25, 2007
May 30 Lead Pencil Studios Art and Architecture
Amalgam Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo are Lead Pencil Studio, an art and architecture super duo.
As Lead Pencil, they are equally at home making buildings, designing interior spaces and creating site specific conceptual art. Their aesthetic is clear and elegant, practicing conservation of material and form.
Han and Mihalyo met at UofO in architecture school. After school they traveled the West, photographing the abandoned hulks that once made fortunes grinding trees into wood. One result was Mihalyo's 1997 book "Wood Burners", photographs of giant furnaces for burning lumbering leftovers, and a show at Blue Sky Gallery. Another result: those giant scale ruins have informed their use of space in making installations today.
Tonight they show their work and talk about it.
Lead Pencil has been selected for residencies at the Center for Land Use Interpretation, Wendover, Utah; the SF Exploratorium; and the Headlands Center for the Arts, Marin. Shows include the Henry; COCA, both Seattle; the SF Exploratorium; Miami Aqua; Disjecta in the Columbia Gorge, Art in General, NYC; and SF MOMA. They have also received The Stranger Genius Award, the Architecture League of NY Emerging Voice Award, Artists' Trust and Creative Capital Awards, Seattle and NYC respectively.
See their show too themed on "light" at the Lawrimore Project in Seattle May 3- June 30.
W+K Atrium 224 NW 13th 7PM Free
As Lead Pencil, they are equally at home making buildings, designing interior spaces and creating site specific conceptual art. Their aesthetic is clear and elegant, practicing conservation of material and form.
Han and Mihalyo met at UofO in architecture school. After school they traveled the West, photographing the abandoned hulks that once made fortunes grinding trees into wood. One result was Mihalyo's 1997 book "Wood Burners", photographs of giant furnaces for burning lumbering leftovers, and a show at Blue Sky Gallery. Another result: those giant scale ruins have informed their use of space in making installations today.
Tonight they show their work and talk about it.
Lead Pencil has been selected for residencies at the Center for Land Use Interpretation, Wendover, Utah; the SF Exploratorium; and the Headlands Center for the Arts, Marin. Shows include the Henry; COCA, both Seattle; the SF Exploratorium; Miami Aqua; Disjecta in the Columbia Gorge, Art in General, NYC; and SF MOMA. They have also received The Stranger Genius Award, the Architecture League of NY Emerging Voice Award, Artists' Trust and Creative Capital Awards, Seattle and NYC respectively.
See their show too themed on "light" at the Lawrimore Project in Seattle May 3- June 30.
W+K Atrium 224 NW 13th 7PM Free
May 27 Ten Tiny Dances
Dance and ballet thrives on the expanse of the stage, sort of like playing as a child on the park's infinite lawn. Ten Tiny Dances takes modern dance's aesthetic and shrinks it onto a stage 4 feet square. That in itself allows the performance to happen in a bar or restaurant; it also challenges the dancers. This performance, the 13th in the series includes movers Michael Shoehorn Conley, Robyn Conroy, Anne Furfey, Jenn Gierada, Margretta Hansen, Agnieszka Laska, Tere Mathern, Summer Morgan, Katrina O'Brien, and Cydney Wilkes + Mike Barber. Each performance is short of like a short film, so you don't even need to be enamored of each. At Bluehour 250 NW 13th 7:30PM $15
Thursday, May 24, 2007
May 25 Zoe Keating Cello
The cello. Its body scale proportion fashioned in woods such as ebony, maple and spruce produce a tone which cannot help but move the listener. Cellist Zoe Keating extends the cello aesthetic into the current age of sampling, now. Using a loop sampler, she lays down live plucked and bowed phrases upon which larger compositions evolve. (For an unusual early pre digital sampling example of the possibilities of this idea, look up flutist Paul Horn's recordings in the Taj Mahal, where natural echo of the space allowed Horn to accompany himself.)
Tonight Keating plays an intimate livingroom-style performance at the Mississippi Studios. 3939 N Mississippi http://www.mississippistudios.com 10PM $10
Tonight Keating plays an intimate livingroom-style performance at the Mississippi Studios. 3939 N Mississippi http://www.mississippistudios.com 10PM $10
May 24 The Village Building Convergence
The Village Building Convergence is the annual conference of the City Repair Project, created right here in Portland. Architect Mark Lakeman, living and developing his architectural and urban planning theories in a garage in Sellwood, created a creative community around serving tea for free and sharing desert potlucks in a dreamy environment constructed of recycled materials and decorated by artists. Each week the creative people of Portland gathered to converse and play music in a sort of Ewok Village. The City Repair grew up into the Rebuilding Center and all those rounded benches and structures constructed of adobe around town. I'm a confirmed modernist, but concrete is much too energy intensive to use to build a structure intended for less than a 5 year lifespan. The Village Building Convergence allows volunteers to learn to collaborate in creating experimental structures, in the physical realm, perhaps in the social realm too.
In the evening, the Village Building Convergence transforms the former Disjecta space, in perhaps its most successful instance, into a sort of Oregon Country Fair filled with nice people who are trying to change the world.
Tonight one of their speakers is rabbi Michael Lerner. Psychotherapist an author Lerner has good insights into how to get down to actual world changing. He often extends his ideas one step beyond their natural application, but that is more a problem of the pace of change in society. So you might find his ideas filtered through your world view a source of hope that, yes, the world can be changed, sustainably, for the better.
VBC Disjecta SE 2nd and Burnside 7PM $15
In the evening, the Village Building Convergence transforms the former Disjecta space, in perhaps its most successful instance, into a sort of Oregon Country Fair filled with nice people who are trying to change the world.
Tonight one of their speakers is rabbi Michael Lerner. Psychotherapist an author Lerner has good insights into how to get down to actual world changing. He often extends his ideas one step beyond their natural application, but that is more a problem of the pace of change in society. So you might find his ideas filtered through your world view a source of hope that, yes, the world can be changed, sustainably, for the better.
VBC Disjecta SE 2nd and Burnside 7PM $15
Sunday, May 20, 2007
May 21 Lynn Marie Kirby Impressionistic Video Artist
Lynn Marie Kirby is a film and video artist known for many years for impressionistic slices of everyday life. Now teaching at CCA, she has added video installation to her palette. Some work exploits the boundaries of the media itself. She has exposed film without a lens, used outdated analog video tools and produced works with unexpected freezes and time reversals. You will have to judge for yourself if her aesthetic impacts your perception - the emotional content of everyday media repurposed to art rests on individual responses to novelty and familiarity. Don't miss giant Dan Graham June 4 in the same series.
PSU Hall Street Cinema 510 SW Hall 8:15PM Free
PSU Hall Street Cinema 510 SW Hall 8:15PM Free
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
May 18 Miranda July
Miranda July used to live here. Between Olympia and LA. She wove punk club performances, recordings on Kill Rock Stars, a video chain letter, college film screenings, short fiction, screen writing, collaborative open source art, museum installations, small films and stage performances into a beautiful dream. That is what her work is about and that is how it affects the audience. She deftly navigates identity, the black holes surrounding us and love to make something magical.
Even as she imagined and performed her stage pieces here, a full length film was outlining itself. Perhaps you have seen it, "Me, You and Everyone We know", interwoven stories of improbable love.
July is a writer and a storyteller. Her seemingly casual and geeky performances are crafted for months in written form, then memorized. So her performances, films and writings form a creative continuity. Her short stories have been published in the Paris Review, McSweeny's, the New Yorker, Harpers and elsewhere.
Tonight she reads from a new book of them. "No One Belongs Here More Than You".
Tickets, which will sell out, online at http://www.ticketweb.com/user?region=oregon&query=schedule&venue=congregational
First Congregational Church 1126 SW Park 7PM $13
Even as she imagined and performed her stage pieces here, a full length film was outlining itself. Perhaps you have seen it, "Me, You and Everyone We know", interwoven stories of improbable love.
July is a writer and a storyteller. Her seemingly casual and geeky performances are crafted for months in written form, then memorized. So her performances, films and writings form a creative continuity. Her short stories have been published in the Paris Review, McSweeny's, the New Yorker, Harpers and elsewhere.
Tonight she reads from a new book of them. "No One Belongs Here More Than You".
Tickets, which will sell out, online at http://www.ticketweb.com/user?region=oregon&query=schedule&venue=congregational
First Congregational Church 1126 SW Park 7PM $13
May 18 Ellen Johnson Surleaf Speaks
African politics is one of my interests, I've been involved in it. Tonight the president of
May 18-19 Alien Abductions
Dr David Jacobs, who operates the International Center for Abduction Research, speaks about alien abductions. Afterwards there is a bluegrass show by Jackstraw and a performnce by Kirby Swatosh and The Moonrock Patrol. That's Friday evening. Saturday there will be a UFO costume parade, and alien pet costume contest and an alien costume ball. I am not making this up. All the "facts" may be found at http://www.ufofest.com/ $7 for talk. 7PM
Monday, May 14, 2007
May 15 How is Politics Being Transformed by the Internet?
If you know me you know I have an interest in politics. It is a complicated thing with a large number of small working parts, my specialty. I follow it for sport, closely enough to maybe find the small lever with the large effect. A few times I have. When I did I used it. But it is not an all consuming pastime for me.
If you have an interest in politics, the Bus Project is a band of merry pranks-, I mean politicos, who register voters and put the fun in politics. Tonight they put on stage "Digital Politics - How Technology is Transforming the Political Playing Field". Featured will be a huge figure in the field David Sirota, who is a progressive political strategist, consultant, and blogger too.
Are the days of door to door hand shaking and baby kissing over? Blue plate dinners replaced by PayPal? More raver fliers than campaign literature in your mailbox? Will the hundreds of millions spent on repetitive television ads be replaced by slow as mud Flash-y web sites? Is an unholy alliance between web 2.0 and politics emerging? Do MySpacer's, YouTuber's and Second Lifer's actually vote in the default world?
This is strictly and upbeat, fun event - no crying in your beer(s) over the sad state of politics - it can only get better! Maybe your tools to make it so will emerge tonight.
Note that the mail-in election ends tonight at 8PM. You can drop your ballot at the Multnomah County elections office which less than 10 short blocks from ACME until 8PM. Voting? Yes, that is part of politics too.
Tuesday, May 15th, 7pm
Acme Food & Drink
1305 SE 8th Ave (SE 8th and Main)
FREE
If you have an interest in politics, the Bus Project is a band of merry pranks-, I mean politicos, who register voters and put the fun in politics. Tonight they put on stage "Digital Politics - How Technology is Transforming the Political Playing Field". Featured will be a huge figure in the field David Sirota, who is a progressive political strategist, consultant, and blogger too.
Are the days of door to door hand shaking and baby kissing over? Blue plate dinners replaced by PayPal? More raver fliers than campaign literature in your mailbox? Will the hundreds of millions spent on repetitive television ads be replaced by slow as mud Flash-y web sites? Is an unholy alliance between web 2.0 and politics emerging? Do MySpacer's, YouTuber's and Second Lifer's actually vote in the default world?
This is strictly and upbeat, fun event - no crying in your beer(s) over the sad state of politics - it can only get better! Maybe your tools to make it so will emerge tonight.
Note that the mail-in election ends tonight at 8PM. You can drop your ballot at the Multnomah County elections office which less than 10 short blocks from ACME until 8PM. Voting? Yes, that is part of politics too.
Tuesday, May 15th, 7pm
Acme Food & Drink
1305 SE 8th Ave (SE 8th and Main)
FREE
Thursday, May 10, 2007
May 10 Talks Which are not Boring
Perhaps unknowingly referencing the Lab's Lecture Series, in which artists collaborated to produce spectacular multimedia lectures, only slightly sub-museum quality displays, audience participation, beer, and DJ's in an illegal warehouse studio...this would be Lecture Series 2.0.
Urban Honking, Portland and beyond's creative eye on, well, Portland and beyond, is starting a yet to be named lecture series. (Lecture Series 2.0?)
Tonight Claire Evans discusses mid century design, it is as earnestly referenced as it is inevitably approaching antiquity, and shows some of the films of Charles and Ray Eames films, big designers and thinkers of the time. Greg Borenstein opines on art history for non-art historians. Aaron Flint Jamison, editor of Veneer Magazine speaks on media. Mathew Stadler, local writer, publisher and interpersonal mediaist lays down his thoughts as well.
All this talk happens at the Mississippi Ballroom, N Mississippi and Shaver. 7PM. Free.
Urban Honking, Portland and beyond's creative eye on, well, Portland and beyond, is starting a yet to be named lecture series. (Lecture Series 2.0?)
Tonight Claire Evans discusses mid century design, it is as earnestly referenced as it is inevitably approaching antiquity, and shows some of the films of Charles and Ray Eames films, big designers and thinkers of the time. Greg Borenstein opines on art history for non-art historians. Aaron Flint Jamison, editor of Veneer Magazine speaks on media. Mathew Stadler, local writer, publisher and interpersonal mediaist lays down his thoughts as well.
All this talk happens at the Mississippi Ballroom, N Mississippi and Shaver. 7PM. Free.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
May 8 Rock Paper Scissors Redux
Our favorite sinners at the Florida Room host the church of Rock Paper Scissors. Its conception lost in mythical pasts, the game is thought to have been originated in Japan in the 19th century where it is known as Janken. This is serious business, and anecdotal reports claim major multibillion dollar business decisions have been made by RPS. The Florida Room's annual RPS Championship starts with registration at 6:30 and game on at 7 or so. With the briefest of innings, it is unlikely to last late. Best of all, the money raised goes to the Humane Society.
At the Florida Room 435 N Killingsworth 7PM
At the Florida Room 435 N Killingsworth 7PM
Friday, May 04, 2007
May 4 Eastside Art Openings
In the 811 Block...
While Stumptown has Swallow, the Grass Hut has Drifters. These drifters are not just any drifters. No, they are Dawn Riddle, Driftwould and The Reverend Benny Bob. Riddle makes drawing style paintings, only a little rough and folky, themed on sea creatures. Driftwould-Matthew Feyld lives in Canada where he creates clean cartoony figures. The Rev lives out in the woodsy woods and for this show paints wildlife on wood. The Grass Hut
Moshi-moshi shows Synthetic Down Comforter, paintings by Sean Christiansen and Stefan Salto. The flier shows a super odd watercolor-y portrait of two people and a teddy bear asleep. Moshi Moshi
Redux shows wall pieces by Faryn Davis. Davis is a painter, constructs mixed media wall pieces and makes jewelery. Redux
All 811 E Burnside
The New American Art Union mounts an artists' book show. 922 SE Ankeny
The Office hosts the 511 show, a group of studiomates - Forgash, British Sarah, Neir, Scotty, Emily, Coyle, Dan, Shelby and maybe some other gravity hounds, that have toiled all gray winter and are now busting out with "photos, carcasses, paint, found art, print media, rock music, and social awkwardness". OK. Massive bike arrival encouraged. At Office Skate and Snow 2136 East Burnside
Sarah Boss shows abstract photographs of familiar surfaces in macro. The fusion of our touch and visual experiences, perhaps even as babies, informs our sense of textural pleasure, for a lifetime. (Spoiler: many of the photos in this show are of Play-Doh shapes.) Photographer Boss and her partner are the masterminds of the max-awesome Artists' Audition Project. At Brian Marki 2236 NE Broadway
Newspace shows "Defining Identities: Three Young Adults with Cancer" - portraits and "Columbia River Portfolio" - landscapes. http://www.newspacephoto.org/gallery/ 1632 SE 10th
Small A shows art by SF collaborators Bob Linder and Will Rogan - photos, drawing and video inspired by Murakami's Hear the Wind Sing. Rogan speaks Monday at the PSU lecture series. http://smallaprojects.com/ 1430 SE 3rd
The cozyultra Press Club shows artist Rebecca Haack 2621 SE Clinton St til 10
For completeness, but without editorial review, other possibilities include, Center Space 420 SE 6th; Tiny's coffee 12th and Hawthorne (often quite good shows) - maybe something too at their MLK spot; the Night Light 2100 SE Clinton (last time I was in they had some fairy fantasy paintings, so you are on your own there); 12x16 gallery in Sellwood (Zeb Andrews - Pinscapes); Moxie - George Perrou casual tiki style paintings; and the Mark Woolley Gallery 128 NE Russell; possibly some Mississippi Street spots.
While Stumptown has Swallow, the Grass Hut has Drifters. These drifters are not just any drifters. No, they are Dawn Riddle, Driftwould and The Reverend Benny Bob. Riddle makes drawing style paintings, only a little rough and folky, themed on sea creatures. Driftwould-Matthew Feyld lives in Canada where he creates clean cartoony figures. The Rev lives out in the woodsy woods and for this show paints wildlife on wood. The Grass Hut
Moshi-moshi shows Synthetic Down Comforter, paintings by Sean Christiansen and Stefan Salto. The flier shows a super odd watercolor-y portrait of two people and a teddy bear asleep. Moshi Moshi
Redux shows wall pieces by Faryn Davis. Davis is a painter, constructs mixed media wall pieces and makes jewelery. Redux
All 811 E Burnside
The New American Art Union mounts an artists' book show. 922 SE Ankeny
The Office hosts the 511 show, a group of studiomates - Forgash, British Sarah, Neir, Scotty, Emily, Coyle, Dan, Shelby and maybe some other gravity hounds, that have toiled all gray winter and are now busting out with "photos, carcasses, paint, found art, print media, rock music, and social awkwardness". OK. Massive bike arrival encouraged. At Office Skate and Snow 2136 East Burnside
Sarah Boss shows abstract photographs of familiar surfaces in macro. The fusion of our touch and visual experiences, perhaps even as babies, informs our sense of textural pleasure, for a lifetime. (Spoiler: many of the photos in this show are of Play-Doh shapes.) Photographer Boss and her partner are the masterminds of the max-awesome Artists' Audition Project. At Brian Marki 2236 NE Broadway
Newspace shows "Defining Identities: Three Young Adults with Cancer" - portraits and "Columbia River Portfolio" - landscapes. http://www.newspacephoto.org/gallery/ 1632 SE 10th
Small A shows art by SF collaborators Bob Linder and Will Rogan - photos, drawing and video inspired by Murakami's Hear the Wind Sing. Rogan speaks Monday at the PSU lecture series. http://smallaprojects.com/ 1430 SE 3rd
The cozyultra Press Club shows artist Rebecca Haack 2621 SE Clinton St til 10
For completeness, but without editorial review, other possibilities include, Center Space 420 SE 6th; Tiny's coffee 12th and Hawthorne (often quite good shows) - maybe something too at their MLK spot; the Night Light 2100 SE Clinton (last time I was in they had some fairy fantasy paintings, so you are on your own there); 12x16 gallery in Sellwood (Zeb Andrews - Pinscapes); Moxie - George Perrou casual tiki style paintings; and the Mark Woolley Gallery 128 NE Russell; possibly some Mississippi Street spots.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
May 3 Westside Art Openings
Photographs and Video by Dinh Q. Lê
The most potentially engaging opening this evening are the works of Dinh Q. Lê. Born in
He also shows a two channel video piece "From Father to Son: A Rite of Passage", closely matching action between Vietnam War films Platoon, staring Charlie Sheen; and Apocalypse Now, staring Martin Sheen. The multi dimensional and generational parallels between the unspeakably brutal Belgian colonialism in the Congo, the disaster of the Vietnam War, blind self destruction, moral crux and Iraq are inescapable.*
Lê's work is in the permanent collection of the NY and SF Museums of Modern Art, LACMA and the Norton Family Collection. He has shown extensively in Asia and
On Saturday, Lê and art historian Moira Roth from Mills speak at 11AM. Between 1 and 5PM Lê shows a three channel video "The Farmers and the Helicopters" juxtaposing the dreams of self taught mechanics who build their own helicopter for humanitarian aims and historical war helicopter footage.
www.elizabethleach.com 417 NW 9th
*Filmmaker Oliver Stone resented that privilege bought deferments from the Vietnam-era military draft (Cheney, Bush), so he dropped out of Yale to enlist in the Army at age 21. He served in
Photographs of Tourism Lost and Found
Quality Pictures overlaps J Bennett Fitts "No Lifeguard on Duty", images of sadly abandonded motel swimming pools, with Stuart Hawkins "Customs", "Appearing In" and video "Souvenir". Hawkins lives in
Quality Pictures www.qpca.com 916 NW Hoyt
Sculptor, painter and installationist Marty Schnapf shows at Stumptown downtown. Schnapf last showed large paintings there themed on landmine explosions. He has worked extensively with Monster Squad creating environments for their modern dance works. Stumpown 126 SW 3rd
PNCA
PNCA shows "Portland Collects" and a juried show of art made by the school's students. The value of "Collects" is that it demonstrates that key collectors here are able to take aesthetic risks. Next year, PNCA launches their MFA program. Several of the students in the program chose PNCA over top art schools elsewhere. www.pnca.edu
Real Superheros
Bright and Odd
PDX Window Project shows bright constructions of spray foam by Midori Hirose. See it 24x7. www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 925 NW Flanders Street
If you are out, the Everett Lofts and Compound are recommended. Trish Grantham shows at Genuine Imitation.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Yang and Yin. After heavy dude Le, it gives great joy to discover the things lost so easily, like childlike optimism. That is exactly what you will find in the bold show this month at Valentines.
Valentines shows art by Rose Gibian and Oscar Radon-Kimball.
Gibian "presents an elaborate, whimsical universe of her own invention. Populated with flying cats, costumed animals, and so-called "mixed-up creatures", this world is host to a range of unlikely scenarios: Delirious hippos gorge themselves on landscapes of junk food. Kitty scientists perform experiments in laboratories of gurgling test tubes. Birthday parties are plagued by Raccoon bandits. Rose began making art in preschool, and since then has been extremely prolific, often generating several drawings a day. She produces work in a variety of formats, including paintings, short books, comics, and dioramas."
Radon-Kimbell "is a multimedia artist and writer who has been working in various media for the past 13 years. He has studied filmmaking at the Northwest Film Center and through Project Youth Doc. In 2005, Oskar sold out of many of his comics at the Stumptown Comic Fest. He's worked on many comics for the past five years although he made his first hero, Star Man, when he was six. His main characters are the hero, Sock Man and his witty assistant, Bootie. Currently he is writing a novel called Gemelle. He enjoys reading, writing, myspace, and awesome."
Best thing: Rose is 8 and Oscar 13. Don't lose that youthful enthusiasm!
Valentines 232 SW Ankeny Kids until 9.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
April 28 A Concert of Indian Classical Music
India's cultural chaos is really comprised of simple vectors. One is the dynamic between tradition and making new tradition. This concert of classical Indian music is emblematic of how that dynamic has played out.
The santoor is a folk instrument from Kashmir, it is a hammered string instrument, known in the West as a hammer dulcimer. Father Pandit Uma Dutt Sharma, and now son, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, pioneered adapting the instrument to classical music, creating a new tradition.
Zakir Hussain is the son of Alla Rakha, one of the greatest tabla players of all time. Beginning in his early 20's, Zakir blazed a trail of tradition breaking and making collaborations. That would be with the Beatles, George Harrison, John McLaughlin, Bill Laswell, Tito Puente, Jack Bruce, Micky Hart, Pharoah Sanders, Manfred Eicher and, of course, the most emanent Indian classical musicians of today. Plus any instrument, tuned by a hammer while being played in time, rocks.
Now each, having firmly established new tradition, perform together for the last of a 20 year series of Indian classical music in Portland. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and Ustad Zakir Hussain, santoor and tabla.
www.kalakendra.org First Confregational Church 1126 SW Park $25 advance (indogram.com or Tickets West) $30 door 7:30PM
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
April 25-29 PDX Experimental and Documentary Film Festival
What began as informal showings by local filmmakers in nightclubs has morphed into an actual festival with a six year run. There are video installations and art at the AudioCinema. The fun "Championship of Experimental Cinema", in which the audience votes for their favorite shorts filmmaker. Fierce Vladamir won 2 years, with her Viewmaster shows. She was unseated last year by PNCA grad Julie Orser, now teaching at UCLA. There is a film made by Lynn Hershman about artist Steve Kurtz who was arrested by the FBI and threatened with indictment for bioterrorism as a result of his artworks on biotechnology. Seattle's Sublime Frequencies present images and field sound experienced on travels in the world. The whole schedule is too fascinating to cover here, but you can take a look at the schedule, press release, workshops (including MAKE-style direct animation). The films are at the Hollywood Theater, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd. Installations and receptions at AudioCinema. Side events at the Moon and Sixpence, Rotture and the Film Center. Tickets are $7 or $40 for a festival pass.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
April 22 Flamenco, Chocolate, Fashion and Recycling
El Cuadro Solo Flamenco performs hot flamenco surrounded by intoxicating chocolate at Pix Patisserie North. Info at 503-972-1178. Advance tickets may be a good idea with the small space. 3901 N Williams $12 advance $15 door 7:30PM
Fashion shows are iconic cultural events. But they are really just a party and a chance for the audience to transmit subtle semaphores with more advanced visual coding than summer's enigmatic fireflies. Like sign language, communication at a distance. Tonight the local weekly the Portland Mercury presents Linea, Becky Johnson, Allium, Leanimal, Open Clothed, Daniel McCall, Hazel Cox, Safe Sax, Elspeth Stanley, Ese Carnal, Kerry-Ann Kimbrell, Frocky Jack Morgan, Gretchen Jones, In Love and Memory, and Genevieve Dellinger. At the Wonder Ballroom 128 NE Russell. Advance tickets $8 Doors 7PM
Recycle your electronics free 9AM-4PM at the Tigard Home Depot, 14800 SW Sequia Parkway, courtesy of e-Tech Recycling. This includes computers, monitors, faxes, telephones, printers, scanners, copiers, servers, you get the idea. Do not throw this stuff in the landfill! TV's and CRT screens, which contain lead and rare earth elements, require special disposal. At this event computer monitor disposal is free, but TV's require a $1 per diagonal inch fee. Year round, computers may also be recycled at Free Geek.
April 21 Earth Rollers Tribal Son
Today is Earth Day. Education precedes action. But the link between the two is getting from what to how. I have a theory that activism is cyclical, activists are more likely to emerge from relatively good economic cycles, survivalists from poor economic cycles. I recently read Silent Spring, written by naturalist Rachel Carson. The post WWII economic jag seeded American culture with great optimism in technology. This included large scale use of chemical pesticides and herbicides which were derived from chemical weapons research in
Algerian Berber tribal fusion DJ Cheb i Sabbah was one of the first producers to mix world samples into dance music. In the late 1970's! His tracks, in turn, have been remixed by major world fusion DJ's and also DJ's in the samples' originating Asian, African and Arab climes. Local heartful diva Jen Folker has collaborated with Sabbah on vocals. He will DJ at Pi-Rem (11-2) and at a more intimate, shoes off, non alcohol event at the NIA Space, 918 SW Yamhill, above Art Media. Not sure if his slot at the NIA event is pre or after hours. Details: http://www.pi-rem.com/ http://www.tribalmatrix.info/
Cana Son throws a Cuban dance music party. Sounds at http://www.myspace.com/canason At the Mambo Lounge in Imago 17 SE 8th 10PM $10
The Rose City Rollers has it's regular four teams, the Heartless Heathers, Guns and Roses, Break Neck Betties and the High Rollers. Tonight though it's their all star unit, the Wheels of Justice, formed of rollers from the four teams verses the Las Vegas' Sin City Neader Dolls. Also competing is the Rose City Rollers b-unit, Axles of Annihilation, junior rollers clawing their way to the top. They face
April 20 B-boy=B-girl 2v2 Battle in Hood River
Hip hop dance is everywhere including
April 19 911 VJ Now Device Spaceboat TV in Seattle
Saturday, April 14, 2007
April 15 Crafty Wonderland
The Crafty Wonderland instantiates at the Doug Fir lounge. There you can spend your tax refund on cool stuff. 11-4 Free
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