Alberta pioneer galleries indulged in outsider art exclusively. Nothing wrong with that, it's just very rarely a successful artistic track in America. Europe is more curious and Raw Vision is an oracle.
Now Alberta is diversifying and this is an example. The Alicia Blue Gallery presents contemporary Vietnamese artists Le Hong Thai and Nguyen Van Cuong. Vietnam is in an economic renaissance, feeding an art renaissance, following by a few years China and Korea. Portland has strong Vietnamese ties, immigration, imports and manufacturing. In particular Dinh Q. Le has been practicing shuttle artmaking. The way of the world.
Both artists' works are a view into what is going on in Vietnam now, but universal. They are visiting Portland soon as resident artists. Curated by Beth Gates, longtime curator from the East Bay and expert on contemporary Southeast Asian art, now Portland-based. At the Alicia Blue Gallery aliciabluegallery.com 1468 NE Alberta 6PM-8 Free
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
May 15 World's Smallest Postal Service
This weekend is Portland's sprawling Alberta Art Hop, organized by Art on Alberta, 11Am-6PM and free.
One participant is the World's Smallest Postal Service. They are setting up their post office at Green Bean Books, 1600 NE Alberta from noon-4
One participant is the World's Smallest Postal Service. They are setting up their post office at Green Bean Books, 1600 NE Alberta from noon-4
May 14-16 Uncanny Valley
Uncanny Vally is the latest work in progress by Portland's Hand2Mouth Theater. They are one of Portland's smallest, yet they consistently produce modern theater, perform in Europe and do it all on the most efficient of budgets.
Uncanny Vally continues a Hand2Mouth theme of developing performances based on the life experiences of the performers themselves. We all have deep sensory memories. The smells, sights, sounds and touch of our lives.
The Uncanny Valley is the place where one performer experiences their sensory memories related by a different performer. It's an audience moving experience. We have all had those experiences.
Further the piece is constructed around a conceit of travel to some outer space in which the characters explore memory and its dangers.
The piece recalls Dumb Type's Memorandum.
Hand2Mouth presents the current evolution of the continuing Uncanny Valley project at Reed in the theater. Leave extra time to find it if you are not familiar with the campus academic.reed.edu/theatre/productions/directions.html. More information at www.hand2mouththeatre.org Friday - Sunday 7:30PM, and Sunday 4. $8
Uncanny Vally continues a Hand2Mouth theme of developing performances based on the life experiences of the performers themselves. We all have deep sensory memories. The smells, sights, sounds and touch of our lives.
The Uncanny Valley is the place where one performer experiences their sensory memories related by a different performer. It's an audience moving experience. We have all had those experiences.
Further the piece is constructed around a conceit of travel to some outer space in which the characters explore memory and its dangers.
The piece recalls Dumb Type's Memorandum.
Hand2Mouth presents the current evolution of the continuing Uncanny Valley project at Reed in the theater. Leave extra time to find it if you are not familiar with the campus academic.reed.edu/theatre/productions/directions.html. More information at www.hand2mouththeatre.org Friday - Sunday 7:30PM, and Sunday 4. $8
May 14-17 Open Engagement Event
Art moves forward continuously, expanding its definition. An interesting branch is social practice art. Descriptions of social practice art in criticism and theory quickly get off the track into art speak, and I'm not interested in going there. But if you are interested in what social practice art is today, you can meet and compare experiences with many of the world's practitioners. All at the Open Engagement conference happening in Portland Friday through Monday.
Their website www.openengagement.info has all the information and is refreshingly plainspeak.
Portland State University is a center in this art direction. PSU's Harrell Fletcher is well known for projects like Learning To Love You More. The PSU social practice artists have organized this conference as a project drawing participants from social practice centers. There are talks, discussions, gallery installations, participatory events, free, and open to you.
I'm particularly interested in what I call socially conscious social practice art, in which the artists work in the community almost like social workers. Examples would be the Future Farmers Victory Gardens, Natasha Wheat's Dreams Can Come True and Project Grow.
A common comment is "that is not art". This has been the historic nature of art. Radical forms emerge and they either succeed in being accepted (usually gradually and grudgingly) as art or not. No one but the viewer can make that decision, and each is right.
This program is an opportunity to look at what artists are up to on the front edge of culture, or what cultural workers are up to on the front edge of art.
At PSU and locations around Portland. Details at www.openengagement.info Free
Their website www.openengagement.info has all the information and is refreshingly plainspeak.
Portland State University is a center in this art direction. PSU's Harrell Fletcher is well known for projects like Learning To Love You More. The PSU social practice artists have organized this conference as a project drawing participants from social practice centers. There are talks, discussions, gallery installations, participatory events, free, and open to you.
I'm particularly interested in what I call socially conscious social practice art, in which the artists work in the community almost like social workers. Examples would be the Future Farmers Victory Gardens, Natasha Wheat's Dreams Can Come True and Project Grow.
A common comment is "that is not art". This has been the historic nature of art. Radical forms emerge and they either succeed in being accepted (usually gradually and grudgingly) as art or not. No one but the viewer can make that decision, and each is right.
This program is an opportunity to look at what artists are up to on the front edge of culture, or what cultural workers are up to on the front edge of art.
At PSU and locations around Portland. Details at www.openengagement.info Free
May 14 Natascha Snellman
Natascha Snellman, partially raised and schooled in Portland visits her work from Los Angeles. That recent work has been on the human gaze in zoos, always a rich vein, and celebrity identity, which itself is defined by gaze. Recommended. At Fourteen30 Gallery www.fourteen30.com 1430 SE 3rd Opening 6PM-9
May 13 Arty Words
Local artist, critic, curator and organizer, Jeff Jahn is the presenter this month in the Art Museum's Artist Talks series. In this program, Jahn opines on two favorite pieces from the collection, Dan Flavin's Untitled 2 and Anne Truitt’s Bonne. After, the group retires for wine and discussion. At the Portland Art Museum www.pam.org 1219 SW Park 6PM-8 Free members, otherwise regular admission and tour the Museum before
Portland's Tin House Books presents readings and music at Disjecta. Author Kieth Lee Morris discusses his book Call it What You Want with Lee Montgomery chief editor at Tin House. Ages and Ages preforms abstract choral music with a percussion background. disjecta.org/events/artywords-tinhouse-v4.php At Disjecta in the Templeton Building 5 SE 3rd, by the skatepark. Park carefully, the lot under the bridge is notorious for towing. 7:30PM 21 and over. $7, or $20 with books by Montgomery and Morris
Portland's Tin House Books presents readings and music at Disjecta. Author Kieth Lee Morris discusses his book Call it What You Want with Lee Montgomery chief editor at Tin House. Ages and Ages preforms abstract choral music with a percussion background. disjecta.org/events/artywords-tinhouse-v4.php At Disjecta in the Templeton Building 5 SE 3rd, by the skatepark. Park carefully, the lot under the bridge is notorious for towing. 7:30PM 21 and over. $7, or $20 with books by Montgomery and Morris
Sunday, May 09, 2010
May 9 Video on Making Video Art
Bill Viola is a favorite video artist. He has been at it for some time and has refined, refined, refined. Portland cinematographer Harry Dawson has worked with Viola for many of those years and he has made a documentary about the process. There is a Viola piece in the current museum show Disquieted, Quintet of the Astonished, which is a very long running study of human emotion shot with a hight speed camera, then reduced to slow motion. It's part of The Passions series developed while Viola was resident artist at the Getty, and Dawson was the collaborating cinematographer.
The film, Art of Collaboration, shows this afternoon. Admission includes admission to the museum to see the Disquieted show. Films at the Art Museum Whitsell Auditorium, www.nwfilm.org 1219 SW Park, 2PM $12, $5 members
The film, Art of Collaboration, shows this afternoon. Admission includes admission to the museum to see the Disquieted show. Films at the Art Museum Whitsell Auditorium, www.nwfilm.org 1219 SW Park, 2PM $12, $5 members
Friday, May 07, 2010
May 8 Jungle Jam
Hip hop dancing is a global phenomena. In Portland there is a heavy presence in the suburbs. That would be pretty global with respect to Portland. Jungle Jam is a 1 on 1 competition with a $200 cash money prize, in Gresham. The night will proceed from four way preliminaries to two way finals. Limited to 64 competitors. Wheels of steel: DJ Fish Boogie-Misguided Steps. Judges: Junior-Art of Movement, Rybonix-Misguided Steps/20th Century Boyz, Thomas Origami-Soul Felons. There is also an underground family friendly bboy-bgirl performance jam at Salmon Street Studios Friday. Jungle Jam at Centennial High School, 3505 SE 182nd, Gresham. Doors 6PM, Battles 7-10 $7
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
May 7 Eastside Art Openings
Artist curator Jess Hirsch presents Folk Feng Shui. My Chinese friend describes her grandfather's explanation of feng shui. It can be translated as windows and doors. Before window glass, windows and doors were covered with heavy curtains to keep the wind out. It was necessary to orient the windows and doors in relation to the sun and prevailing winds to keep those heating bills down. That is feng shui. He explained that years later people in Hong Kong got a hold of the idea and made up layers of mysticism to make money. Some major Hong Kong commercial buildings are even sited on "land meridians". So there you have it. Artist Hirsch has playfully sampled the idea and is also responsible for the new Nationale's auspicious feng shui. Her unique contribution is considering bodies in the space as part of and aligned with its feng shui. Nationale has a new series of multiple performances and events in the space, you are invited for a small member fee, it's a great bargain (click on members in the link). Opening at NATIONALE nationaleportland.blogspot.com 811 E Burnside in back. 6PM-9
House Arrest is a show by artists Nan Curtis, Ianthe Jackson, Rachel Peddersen and Tyler Wallace. It should be a fun show of loosely domestic themed work. At Worksound www.worksoundpdx.com 820 SE Alder 6PM-10
Photographer Liz Haley is known for ambiguous psychological portraits resembling motion picture stills. She has been expanding on this idea with constructed composites, in still form and as short videos. This show continues the constructed theme with SAME SPHERE: never meeting. She also wins the copywriting award of the month: "Perhaps now, comfort is in the privacy of your own virtual identity. In a time where life is performed in front of a camera broadcasting the minute details of daily personal activities, are people revealing more or less? Is the increased fervor for virtual connection a somber echo in the skies of an increasingly ailing society or is the need satiating a long overdue reminder that people the world over are strikingly similar? With technology so pervasive, this unique era brings to light many questions of community, isolation, authenticity and 'connection'. Are these imagined structures of community an invasion or complement to the natural world?" At Pushdot Studio www.pushdotstudio.com 1021 SE Caruthers 6PM-9
Portland sculptor Sanna-Lisa Gesang-Gottowt has a show of intimate sculptures at salon Primp. Included are her snow eggs. 4335 SE Division 7PM-9
America Beautiful Possibility is a show by visiting Homeland resident artist Alison Pebworth. She is traveling America's byways, sampling stories of communities she visits and presenting her work, Chautauqua-style. It's part of her recontextualization of American culture through folk style painting resembling historical advertising before the capability to print photographic images cheaply. One theme are some aspects of history not entirely honorable we often glance over. Another is a fascinating history of psychiatry, pre-DSM. In 1869, American neurologist George M. Beard proposed a condition Neurasthenia, "the exhaustion of the central nervous system's energy reserves attributed to the stresses of life in the fast-paced industrial age of America" (from the artist). This would be pre-Freud. Other American psychologists dubbed it "Americanitis". Artist Pebworth invites your opinion of Americanitis, has it disappeared? The show is a fascinating artistic interpretation of history. Strongly recommended. At Gallery Homeland www.galleryhomeland.org 2505 SE 11th x Division 6PM-9
Illustrator Nicomi "Nix" Turner and painter Justin Barry present a collaboration Nocturnal: Life in Darkness - Skulls, Botany and Bats, a Journey Through Nature's Darkness. Bats get a bad rap. They are champion mosquito eaters. See these artists' thoughts on nightlife. At Redux www.reduxpdx.com 811 E Burnside 6PM-10
Sound is art too. This is a student sound performance at PNCA, the result of Seth Nehil’s Intermediate Sound class. Sound artists presenting include Hill Hudson, Tuna Poanessa, Kayla Martin, Nina “Buenos” Diaz, Missy Canez, Alex Smith, Thomas Himes, Tana Becker, Devvin Trainer, Kyle Raquipiso, Kristen Smallwood, Rbrt Burns, Gabi Villasenor, Darja Bajagic and Nehil himself. Hear the Hubbub at PNCA www.pnca.edu 1241 NW Johnson 7PM-9
Portland illustrator Andrea Benson has an unusual amalgam of drawing and encaustic. You can see it at 23Sandy www.23sandy.com 623 NE 23 at Sandy 5PM-8
Activist artist Gabe Flores has an installation, Greener than you at Milepost 5 in the lobby of the modern loft building.
Disjecta has an early batch of graduating artist thesis shows. This one is MFA graduates from the University of Oregon. Included are Jared Davis-Haug, John Paul Gardner, Christian Harger, Lori Heagle, Eugenia Kroik, Sandee McGee, Tim Meyer, Oran Miller, Scott Nieradka, Carly Piccarello, Rob Smith, Jesse Sugarmann, and Ashley Brooke Taylor. At Disjecta www.disjecta.org 8371 N. Interstate 6PM-9
House Arrest is a show by artists Nan Curtis, Ianthe Jackson, Rachel Peddersen and Tyler Wallace. It should be a fun show of loosely domestic themed work. At Worksound www.worksoundpdx.com 820 SE Alder 6PM-10
Photographer Liz Haley is known for ambiguous psychological portraits resembling motion picture stills. She has been expanding on this idea with constructed composites, in still form and as short videos. This show continues the constructed theme with SAME SPHERE: never meeting. She also wins the copywriting award of the month: "Perhaps now, comfort is in the privacy of your own virtual identity. In a time where life is performed in front of a camera broadcasting the minute details of daily personal activities, are people revealing more or less? Is the increased fervor for virtual connection a somber echo in the skies of an increasingly ailing society or is the need satiating a long overdue reminder that people the world over are strikingly similar? With technology so pervasive, this unique era brings to light many questions of community, isolation, authenticity and 'connection'. Are these imagined structures of community an invasion or complement to the natural world?" At Pushdot Studio www.pushdotstudio.com 1021 SE Caruthers 6PM-9
Portland sculptor Sanna-Lisa Gesang-Gottowt has a show of intimate sculptures at salon Primp. Included are her snow eggs. 4335 SE Division 7PM-9
America Beautiful Possibility is a show by visiting Homeland resident artist Alison Pebworth. She is traveling America's byways, sampling stories of communities she visits and presenting her work, Chautauqua-style. It's part of her recontextualization of American culture through folk style painting resembling historical advertising before the capability to print photographic images cheaply. One theme are some aspects of history not entirely honorable we often glance over. Another is a fascinating history of psychiatry, pre-DSM. In 1869, American neurologist George M. Beard proposed a condition Neurasthenia, "the exhaustion of the central nervous system's energy reserves attributed to the stresses of life in the fast-paced industrial age of America" (from the artist). This would be pre-Freud. Other American psychologists dubbed it "Americanitis". Artist Pebworth invites your opinion of Americanitis, has it disappeared? The show is a fascinating artistic interpretation of history. Strongly recommended. At Gallery Homeland www.galleryhomeland.org 2505 SE 11th x Division 6PM-9
Illustrator Nicomi "Nix" Turner and painter Justin Barry present a collaboration Nocturnal: Life in Darkness - Skulls, Botany and Bats, a Journey Through Nature's Darkness. Bats get a bad rap. They are champion mosquito eaters. See these artists' thoughts on nightlife. At Redux www.reduxpdx.com 811 E Burnside 6PM-10
Sound is art too. This is a student sound performance at PNCA, the result of Seth Nehil’s Intermediate Sound class. Sound artists presenting include Hill Hudson, Tuna Poanessa, Kayla Martin, Nina “Buenos” Diaz, Missy Canez, Alex Smith, Thomas Himes, Tana Becker, Devvin Trainer, Kyle Raquipiso, Kristen Smallwood, Rbrt Burns, Gabi Villasenor, Darja Bajagic and Nehil himself. Hear the Hubbub at PNCA www.pnca.edu 1241 NW Johnson 7PM-9
Portland illustrator Andrea Benson has an unusual amalgam of drawing and encaustic. You can see it at 23Sandy www.23sandy.com 623 NE 23 at Sandy 5PM-8
Activist artist Gabe Flores has an installation, Greener than you at Milepost 5 in the lobby of the modern loft building.
Disjecta has an early batch of graduating artist thesis shows. This one is MFA graduates from the University of Oregon. Included are Jared Davis-Haug, John Paul Gardner, Christian Harger, Lori Heagle, Eugenia Kroik, Sandee McGee, Tim Meyer, Oran Miller, Scott Nieradka, Carly Piccarello, Rob Smith, Jesse Sugarmann, and Ashley Brooke Taylor. At Disjecta www.disjecta.org 8371 N. Interstate 6PM-9
May 6 Westside Art Openings+
The Everett Lofts are always changing and the planets have aligned to create quite a few of them producing consistently well curated shows. See them all and choose your favorites! NW Broadway and Everett
Portland filmmaker Gus Van Sandt has remixed his collection of Polaroid portraits with digital scissors for this show, Cut-ups. Many of the images were characters in his films. It's odd psychological work. At PDX Contemporary Gallery www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 925 NW Flanders
Printmaker and illustrator Sarah Horowitz, master of expressive detail in primarily botanical subject matter shows Archaelogies. At www.froelickgallery.com 714 NW Davis
Blue Sky Gallery contrasts East with West and North with South this month. Korean photographer Suk Kuhn Oh has made masks of well known Korean children's book characters then photographed friends wearing them in everyday situations. Livia Corona has made a study of Enanitos Toreros, dwarf bullfighters of Mexico. Within Blue Sky is the Nines Gallery, home to installation art by its founders and their invitees. This month is a clattering installation of coffee and teapots. It's by Portland artist Bill Will. Please Northwest coffee or tea purveyor buy it! At Blue Sky Gallery www.blueskygallery.org 122 NW 8th
Olympia artist Nikki McClure shows her intricate paper stencil work which became the illustrations for her children's book Mama, Is It Summer Yet? At Powell's Basil Hayward Gallery, 3rd floor. www.powells.com. 10th and W Burnside
Reading Frenzy is home to very reasonably priced artwork, in addition to many other unique books, zines, media, stationary and mode. This month they have a show themed on Awards! Artists include Jen Davison Wick, Jason Blackheart, Elsa Chaves, Aaron Draplin, Jennifer Armbrust, BT Livermore, Amy Ruppel, Sean Tejaratchi, Briar Levit, Mike Novak, Bethany Ng, Ryan Jacob Smith, Julianna Bright, Thomas Cobb, Kate Madden and Mary Kate McDevitt. In our world, they range from truly awesome, to touching, to sadly ironic. This is the artists' view. At Reading Frenzy www.readingfrenzy.com 921 SW Oak
Chicago's Visibility Arts is a program for developmentally disabled artists as are Portland's Project Grow, Creative Growth in Oakland and others. This evening the Lizard Lounge, a sustainably focused clothing store hosts an art show from Visibility Arts. At Lizard Lounge 1323 NW Irving 7PM-10
Outsider exponents Hungry Eyeball have organized a show at Tender Loving Empire by Brendan Newell, Tripper Dungan, Santiago Uceda, Brett Superstar, Jason Graham, Sam Guerrero, BT Livermore, Ryan Berkley, Aidan Koch and Eatcho. Music 8:30. www.tenderlovingempire.com 412 SW 10th
PNCA students have organized a benefit art sale of 8x8 inch panels for Sisters of the Road. On the loading dock outside the Manuel Izquerdo gallery. www.pnca.edu 5PM-8
Grass Hut has Joel Trussell at their new location in Floating World. www.grasshutcorp.com 20 NW 5th
Laura Russo gallery has sculpture by noted artist and professor Michihiro Kosuge. His work will be recognizable to all as public sculpture in Portland. This work is carved and polished stone. At Laura Russo http://www.laurarusso.com/ 805 NW 21
The PNCA+OCAC joint MFA in design craft open their studios. Eastside 421 NE 10th 5PM-8 Free
Portland filmmaker Gus Van Sandt has remixed his collection of Polaroid portraits with digital scissors for this show, Cut-ups. Many of the images were characters in his films. It's odd psychological work. At PDX Contemporary Gallery www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 925 NW Flanders
Printmaker and illustrator Sarah Horowitz, master of expressive detail in primarily botanical subject matter shows Archaelogies. At www.froelickgallery.com 714 NW Davis
Blue Sky Gallery contrasts East with West and North with South this month. Korean photographer Suk Kuhn Oh has made masks of well known Korean children's book characters then photographed friends wearing them in everyday situations. Livia Corona has made a study of Enanitos Toreros, dwarf bullfighters of Mexico. Within Blue Sky is the Nines Gallery, home to installation art by its founders and their invitees. This month is a clattering installation of coffee and teapots. It's by Portland artist Bill Will. Please Northwest coffee or tea purveyor buy it! At Blue Sky Gallery www.blueskygallery.org 122 NW 8th
Olympia artist Nikki McClure shows her intricate paper stencil work which became the illustrations for her children's book Mama, Is It Summer Yet? At Powell's Basil Hayward Gallery, 3rd floor. www.powells.com. 10th and W Burnside
Reading Frenzy is home to very reasonably priced artwork, in addition to many other unique books, zines, media, stationary and mode. This month they have a show themed on Awards! Artists include Jen Davison Wick, Jason Blackheart, Elsa Chaves, Aaron Draplin, Jennifer Armbrust, BT Livermore, Amy Ruppel, Sean Tejaratchi, Briar Levit, Mike Novak, Bethany Ng, Ryan Jacob Smith, Julianna Bright, Thomas Cobb, Kate Madden and Mary Kate McDevitt. In our world, they range from truly awesome, to touching, to sadly ironic. This is the artists' view. At Reading Frenzy www.readingfrenzy.com 921 SW Oak
Chicago's Visibility Arts is a program for developmentally disabled artists as are Portland's Project Grow, Creative Growth in Oakland and others. This evening the Lizard Lounge, a sustainably focused clothing store hosts an art show from Visibility Arts. At Lizard Lounge 1323 NW Irving 7PM-10
Outsider exponents Hungry Eyeball have organized a show at Tender Loving Empire by Brendan Newell, Tripper Dungan, Santiago Uceda, Brett Superstar, Jason Graham, Sam Guerrero, BT Livermore, Ryan Berkley, Aidan Koch and Eatcho. Music 8:30. www.tenderlovingempire.com 412 SW 10th
PNCA students have organized a benefit art sale of 8x8 inch panels for Sisters of the Road. On the loading dock outside the Manuel Izquerdo gallery. www.pnca.edu 5PM-8
Grass Hut has Joel Trussell at their new location in Floating World. www.grasshutcorp.com 20 NW 5th
Laura Russo gallery has sculpture by noted artist and professor Michihiro Kosuge. His work will be recognizable to all as public sculpture in Portland. This work is carved and polished stone. At Laura Russo http://www.laurarusso.com/ 805 NW 21
The PNCA+OCAC joint MFA in design craft open their studios. Eastside 421 NE 10th 5PM-8 Free
Saturday, May 01, 2010
May 1 is Mayday
May 1-2 is a social practice art instance. For free you can make something yourself. Build Something Together ranges sandwich making to Zoobombing. It's at Sea Change Gallery, an Everett Lofts standout. On Everett between Broadway and 6th.
Ditto both days is Crafty Wonderland, a DIY business venue for craft creatives. They have moved bigtime to take over the Portland Convention Center Saturday and Sunday.
Ditto both days is Crafty Wonderland, a DIY business venue for craft creatives. They have moved bigtime to take over the Portland Convention Center Saturday and Sunday.
Friday, April 30, 2010
April 30 Grass Hut Moving Event
The Grass Hut is moving from 811 East Burnside to Floating World Comics in Old Town. So this is closing party for the entertaining Balls Out show, and an opportunity to help Bwana slim down his inventory of originals, prints, zines, tees and toys. At 811 E Burnside 6-9ish
Thursday, April 29, 2010
April 29 Alberta
The Alberta neighborhood adjacent to and extending South of Almeda was at one time German. The destruction of Vanport by flood brought African Americans. Low prices brought artists. Artists brought the mix we have today. A few of those artists hew to contemporary art vectors - idea driven, conceptual, minimal, illustration, video art, installation. Prime exponents of art with direction are two small spaces, Appendix Project Space and Little Field Gallery, ally garages with smart curation. They are cooperating now in their programming. See the shows on the alley between 26th and 27th, South of Alberta and between 28th and 29th North of Alberta. www.appendixspace.com 6-10ish Free
The False Front Studio also does great programming. It's 4518 NE 32nd 7-10 Free
And over on Killingsworth, the other Alberta, Melody Owen has curated a show around the artwork in her book The Disappearing Book. How appropriate as oil threatens Gulf estuaries. At the Container Corps containercorps.com 1322 N Killingsworth 7PM Free
The False Front Studio also does great programming. It's 4518 NE 32nd 7-10 Free
And over on Killingsworth, the other Alberta, Melody Owen has curated a show around the artwork in her book The Disappearing Book. How appropriate as oil threatens Gulf estuaries. At the Container Corps containercorps.com 1322 N Killingsworth 7PM Free
Monday, April 26, 2010
April 28 Damali Ayo
Damali Ayo asks questions and pushes buttons with her identity-based art: installation, performance, writing and speaking. After Brown, she was here, now she operates from LA's larger platform. Her newest book is Obamistan! Land without Racism; she reads from it tonight. It's a serious work of humor, an au courant entrée into discussion of things not quite right in politics and society. Think Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert, except better, in a more socially active way, real, did I say funny? She is also a gifted clothing designer with a progressive business model. Highly recommended, see her speak at Powell's Burnside www.powells.com 1005 W. Burnside 7:30PM Free
April 27, 28 Cinema of Leonard Retel Helmrich
Indonesian filmmaker Leonard Retel Helmrich creates documentaries of everyday life in Indonesia. For a time, everyday life included political crisis surrounding a long ruling undemocratic government. Those threads are woven in long takes gathered over years with the same families. Shot and shown on 35. Tuesday is The Eye of the Day, Wednesday, Shape of the Moon. The filmmaker will present his films in person. Films at the Art Museum Whitsell Auditorium, www.nwfilm.org-cinemaproject.org 1219 SW Park, 7PM $8
April 27 Up for Grabs
Dance, improv, non-traditional venues, collaboration, film, sound. Yes. This experimental event has all. It is a periodic evening curated by Danielle Ross, which tonight includes Lena Munday (sound), David Bryant (film), Tim Duroche and Reed Wallsmith (sound), Danielle Ross and Jean Paul Jenkins (sound/movement), Karl Lind (video), Nathan Warner (movement), and Future Death Toll (sound). All this at Valentines 232 SW Ankeny. 9PM Free
April 26 Tuvan Throat Singing
Chirgilchin comprises Aidysmaa Koshkendey, Igor Koshkendey, Mongun-ool Ondar and Aldar Tamdyn, Tuvan throat singers, performing for over 13 years. We have written about Tuvan throat singing.
Chirgilchin's musicians are recent arrivals, maintining close connections to their mountain homeland where music carries a long mystical connection to the landscape. They are master collaborators and bring fellow musicians to visit. Their speciality is subtle ensemble work and melodic instrumental accompaniment of ethereal vocalization across several Tuvan traditions. You can listen to some samples of their work on Myspace, and see some YouTubes on the main ensemble website. Their Song for Goats About People project is humorous and brilliant.
Tonight Portland throat singer Soriah joins Chirilchin, some of his teachers, on the bill.
An intimate performance at the Mississippi Studios. 3939 N Mississippi http://www.mississippistudios.com Early, doors 7PM, show 8. $15
Chirgilchin's musicians are recent arrivals, maintining close connections to their mountain homeland where music carries a long mystical connection to the landscape. They are master collaborators and bring fellow musicians to visit. Their speciality is subtle ensemble work and melodic instrumental accompaniment of ethereal vocalization across several Tuvan traditions. You can listen to some samples of their work on Myspace, and see some YouTubes on the main ensemble website. Their Song for Goats About People project is humorous and brilliant.
Tonight Portland throat singer Soriah joins Chirilchin, some of his teachers, on the bill.
An intimate performance at the Mississippi Studios. 3939 N Mississippi http://www.mississippistudios.com Early, doors 7PM, show 8. $15
Friday, April 23, 2010
April 24 Indian Musics
India has a centuries long tradition of classical music. Sometimes we have a chance to hear here a little, and to maybe get a subliminal dose of the spiritual underpinnings. Tonight is an opportunity. Kalakendra brings musicians from India and tonight they bring Pandit Joydeep Ghosh on surshringar, Pandit Ramesh Mishra on sarangi and Pandit Subhen Chatterjee on tabla. Pandit is an honorific bestowed on the most inspired senior performers of Indian music, many started in early childhood and studied with renowned masters. How interesting that this same evening, Bhangra DJ's Anjali and the Incredible Kid close a long running night at the Fez and Indian fusion house musicians play at Yoga Shala. Presented by Kalakendra www.kalakendra.org at the First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park Avenue. 7:30PM $20, free for members.
April 23-25 Dancing Painting Talking Biennial
Kudos to 2010 Portland art biennial curator, Chris Moss, for including performance by artists. Tonight there are two. Tahni Holt, modern dancer, performance artist, installationalist, social practice artist and collaborator with sculptors is first. She presents Culture Machine tonight Friday, then Saturday and Sunday in the Disjecta Space.
The Oregon Painting Society has often accompanied installation with music. Tonight they do so at their sprawling installation in the Templeton Building. Joining them will be perfomalists Wooly Mammoth Comes To Dinner. One night, Friday.
Cris Moss the curator unwinds his thought process in the selections for this year's biennial. He has curated in Portland under the imprint Donut Shop since 2000. Moss talk Saturday afternoon.
Holt: Disjecta, 8371 N Interstate. Friday 6PM sharp, Saturday 5PM sharp, Sunday 4PM sharp, all Free
Painting Society Wooly Mammoth: Friday. Templeton Building, 5 SE 3rd. Doors 8PM, show 9 sharp Free
Moss Talk: Disjecta, 8371 N Interstate. Saturday 3PM Free
The Oregon Painting Society has often accompanied installation with music. Tonight they do so at their sprawling installation in the Templeton Building. Joining them will be perfomalists Wooly Mammoth Comes To Dinner. One night, Friday.
Cris Moss the curator unwinds his thought process in the selections for this year's biennial. He has curated in Portland under the imprint Donut Shop since 2000. Moss talk Saturday afternoon.
Holt: Disjecta, 8371 N Interstate. Friday 6PM sharp, Saturday 5PM sharp, Sunday 4PM sharp, all Free
Painting Society Wooly Mammoth: Friday. Templeton Building, 5 SE 3rd. Doors 8PM, show 9 sharp Free
Moss Talk: Disjecta, 8371 N Interstate. Saturday 3PM Free
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
April 21 China
We are at a disadvantage at understanding China. But we try, and it's important. The strategy is best personal connections and learning as much as you can. It came to my attention, through a fellow Chinaphile, that Hu Yaobang has been rehabilitated. Epic. If you are in the learning as much as you can mindset, you might take advantage of the visit of American journalist-Chinaphile James Fallows, speaking tonight. At University of Oregon in Portland. calendar.uoregon.edu/showanitem.php?refid=9641 7PM Free
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
April 20-21 Independent Berlin Cinema of the '80's
The Cinema Project has been bringing international experimental, independent and art films from other countries for some time. Tonight they join the artistic interchange between Portland and Berlin that has been pursued by Gallery Homeland, the Elizabeth Leach Gallery, PICA and others. Berlin was divided, East and West, between 1961 and 1989. At that time, artists and citizens were subsidized to live there, it was an experimental cultural stew. There was actually a TAZ, where the Wall deviated to East territory, leaving an area adjacent to the West, and contiguous, though legally East, without law. The wall was torn down in 1989 through a sequence of uprisings in Eastern Europe into which Soviet President Gorbachev refused to intervene, perhaps disenchanted with the Soviet Afghan War of 9 years, ending in early 1989. Curated by Stefanie Schulte-Strathaus of Kino Arsenal, who will personally present the films and answer questions, the program includes artist films, many on Super8. Tuesday are shorts, Wednesday, a full length piece. Full details at cinemaproject.org At the Clinton Street Theater 6:45PM Usually $7, cash only.
April 20 Belly Dancing!
Where better than The Fez? Tonight is a bellydance showcase, Salon L'Orient, with performances by Rachel Brice, Severina, NagaSita, Ruby, Claudia, Kristnh, and the Apsara Dance Company. At the Fez Ballroom 9PM $13.
Monday, April 19, 2010
April 19: Mckibben and Miyoshi
Bill McKibben is a well known writer on the environment, first at the New Yorker, now in rural New England. His first book, The End of Nature, laid out for the first time, to a general audience, the impact of global warming, in 1989. His speciality is an exploration of the cultural evolution of our predicament and its solution. He discusses and signs his new book Eaarth tonight. It's a manifesto for individual scale behavior change to reverse global scale climate change. Sponsored by Powell's Books www.powells.com At the Baghdad Theater 7PM $24 includes the book
Akihiko Miyoshi is a photographer, sculptor and illustrator at the intersection of art and infographics. It works well for visual thinkers. He has used a computer background to create the work, including illustrating over photographs something resembling how electronic images are compressed. This material is a good match to Reed, where he teaches. Talk in the Shattuck Hall Annex out front, 1914 SW Park Avenue, at the corner of SW Broadway and Hall on the PSU campus. 7:30PM Free
Akihiko Miyoshi is a photographer, sculptor and illustrator at the intersection of art and infographics. It works well for visual thinkers. He has used a computer background to create the work, including illustrating over photographs something resembling how electronic images are compressed. This material is a good match to Reed, where he teaches. Talk in the Shattuck Hall Annex out front, 1914 SW Park Avenue, at the corner of SW Broadway and Hall on the PSU campus. 7:30PM Free
Saturday, April 17, 2010
April 18 Mothers' Art
Source of life. More than a few Portland artists are doing it. These are some artist-mothers, theme of this show. Included are Julianna Bright, Nan Curtis, Fernanda D’Agostino, Jessica Jackson Hutchins, Linda Hutchins, Shelley Jordon and Dianne Kornberg. Their art stands on its own; their art is informed by their experience. At the Marylhurst Art Gym at Marylhurst University www.marylhurst.edu/theartgym/ Check the campus map to find it. 3PM-5 Free
April 18 Whither Museums?
Some people don't like the Art Museum, but we like the art museum. The mission of art museums is to collect, contextualize and conserve. But they run necessarily behind now. Every artist is building upon, even by rejecting, and rebelling against, past art. Many moldy masters were doing exactly that in their time. Actually the Portland Art Museum does a good job at explaining this in the Masonic Temple Building, where you can trace 130 years of art by walking from the lower floors to the top. Another lesson of museums is that artists have patrons, AKA customers, who needed a portrait, pre-photography, or creative works inspiring the crown, even in the age of ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome or China. Same for the pre-Columbian Gods or African spirits, they needed art.
Today's lecture explores the role of museums, previously private or even imperial collections, now reinventing themselves. What is their place when people are interconnected in milliseconds to one another, to share and evolve culture? Personally I believe that there is a value to walking around art in real life. But we now have the screen (with pretty poor color and dynamic range capability, monoscopic, so far), connected to the world Internet of culture today.
Today's speaker, Iwona Blazwick, director of the London Whitechapel Art Gallery knows it. She has made a lively place of museum. Check the blurb.
Hear it at the Portland Art Museum www.pam.org 1219 SW Park 2PM $12, $5 members.
Today's lecture explores the role of museums, previously private or even imperial collections, now reinventing themselves. What is their place when people are interconnected in milliseconds to one another, to share and evolve culture? Personally I believe that there is a value to walking around art in real life. But we now have the screen (with pretty poor color and dynamic range capability, monoscopic, so far), connected to the world Internet of culture today.
Today's speaker, Iwona Blazwick, director of the London Whitechapel Art Gallery knows it. She has made a lively place of museum. Check the blurb.
Hear it at the Portland Art Museum www.pam.org 1219 SW Park 2PM $12, $5 members.
April 17,25 Judd Related
Noted minimalist sculptor, Donald Judd, is dead. But in his career he firmly established the idea that artists can hire fabricators to make work. It's now commonplace, even in painting. He established the iconoclastic, now iconic, Judd center in Marfa, Texas. Marfa is home to artist retreats, from which many Portland artists have benefited.
Portland artist, curator, writer, Jeff Jahn has organized a conference on Judd in Portland. There are a series of talks and a distinguished panel at the UofO on April 25. The April 25, day long conference, features distinguished architect Arata Isozaki; noted curator, writer and academic Robert Storr; first person fabricator of Judd's work, now restorator, Peter Ballantine; and chief curator at the Portland Art Museum, Bruce Guenther. It's hosted and cosponsored by the University of Oregon, the intent is to lay down original material for history.
April 17, a panel of Portland artists bring home Judd in a discussion of the intersection of Judd's ideas and their own work. Included are Storm Tharp, Laura Fritz, Victor Maldonado, Arcy Douglass and Anna Gray & Ryan Wilson Paulsen and Jeff Jahn.
April 17 Talk at PNCA www.pnca.edu, Room 201,
1241 NW Johnson. 3PM Free
April 25 Conference at University of Oregon Portland White Stag. center.uoregon.edu/conferences/WSB/judd/registration 70 NW Couch. 9AM-5PM Includes lunch $85/35 students
Portland artist, curator, writer, Jeff Jahn has organized a conference on Judd in Portland. There are a series of talks and a distinguished panel at the UofO on April 25. The April 25, day long conference, features distinguished architect Arata Isozaki; noted curator, writer and academic Robert Storr; first person fabricator of Judd's work, now restorator, Peter Ballantine; and chief curator at the Portland Art Museum, Bruce Guenther. It's hosted and cosponsored by the University of Oregon, the intent is to lay down original material for history.
April 17, a panel of Portland artists bring home Judd in a discussion of the intersection of Judd's ideas and their own work. Included are Storm Tharp, Laura Fritz, Victor Maldonado, Arcy Douglass and Anna Gray & Ryan Wilson Paulsen and Jeff Jahn.
April 17 Talk at PNCA www.pnca.edu, Room 201,
1241 NW Johnson. 3PM Free
April 25 Conference at University of Oregon Portland White Stag. center.uoregon.edu/conferences/WSB/judd/registration 70 NW Couch. 9AM-5PM Includes lunch $85/35 students
April 17 Art Bar Concept
Local entrepreneur Ashley Bernatchez is opening Portland's first bar dedicated to art making. Many locations have been great exhibition venues for visual artists. Portland's Blue Gallery, its motto, "Art Music Beer" operated over 20 years ago. Today most self respecting bars have active art display programs, some consistently curated, such as Valentines, The Goodfoot, Aalto, Press Club and The Know. There are several regular figure drawing events at bars and sometimes design, animation, graffiti and live painting.
The Canvas Art Bar sells art materials, use there or take home, hosts weekly figure drawing and music. It's a small art store in a bar, an intriguing concept which will establish its own ecosystem, yet unknown. In the inner industrial NW, by the PNCA MFA studios. For details www.thecanvaspdx.com. At 1800 NW Upshur.
The Canvas Art Bar sells art materials, use there or take home, hosts weekly figure drawing and music. It's a small art store in a bar, an intriguing concept which will establish its own ecosystem, yet unknown. In the inner industrial NW, by the PNCA MFA studios. For details www.thecanvaspdx.com. At 1800 NW Upshur.
Friday, April 16, 2010
April 16 Artists Speak Site Specificity and the Biennial
The opportunity to create room filling installations is precious and rare, unless you are the Dia Foundation which has maintained an indoor artwork for 32 years. Mostly they are short lived architectures of creativity and stunning impracticality. The Portland Biennial has provided that opportunity and a few of the artists speak about their large scale works. Artists Damien Gilley, Jenene Nagy and the Oregon Painting Society, who each have large works in the Templeton Building, speak about it on site. Part of portland2010.disjecta.org. In the Templeton Building, 230 East Burnside, enter on SE 3rd, by the skate park. 7PM Free
Thursday, April 15, 2010
April 15 Art Spark Pecha Cucha
Art Spark is a monthly networking event for arts. That includes artists, arts administrators and supporter-collectors. It rotates locations, tonight in the Olympic Mills Commerce Center, progeny of arts and real estate development entrepreneur Brad Malsin operating as Beam Development. The building is programmed many months with art by local outsiders Chris Haberman and John Graeter operating under the moniker Portland City Art. Tonight's Art Spark event is there. Musicians Why We Must Be Careful perform at 6:15PM. Corner SE Stark and 2nd. 5PM-7 Free
Afrter Pecha Cucha Portland #7 takes place nearby at Sandbox Studios. Pecha Cucha is an international series of short talks on design and creativity. ADD can't beat presentations of 20 slides of 20 seconds each. You will not be bored. At Sandbox Studios 420 NE 9th 8:20PM Free (donations accepted)
Afrter Pecha Cucha Portland #7 takes place nearby at Sandbox Studios. Pecha Cucha is an international series of short talks on design and creativity. ADD can't beat presentations of 20 slides of 20 seconds each. You will not be bored. At Sandbox Studios 420 NE 9th 8:20PM Free (donations accepted)
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
April 13-14 MiniGolf as Art
The annual mini golf invitational invites visual artists and other creatives to make playable mini golf holes. This year designers W+K 12 www.wk12.com, Tripper Dungan numberstar.com, Danielle Ross in collaboration with the performers myspace.com/littlefrictiondance, Scott Mazariegos www.scottmazariegos.com, John Larsen www.johnlarsen.net and Vicki Lynn Wilson www.vickilynnwilson.net, Ryan Lingard and James Austin www.rlingard.com, Amber Moss-Jensen, Nate Leigh, Carl Jansen and Jesse Pardun, Adam Keller www.adamkellerdesign.com, Pony Club Gallery www.ponyclubgallery.com, Curtis Knapp www.marriagerecs.com, Jason Kentta home.comcast.net/~gerencer/kentta and David Bertman davidbertmandesigns.com, Jack Bouba, Stacey Mairs, Chris Mulliken and finally Second Story www.secondstory.com have created a masters course in the confines of Holocene. Live music and DJ's perform each evening for your golfing pleasure. At Holocene 1001 SE Morrison 5PM to late. $5 before 7, $8 after.
Monday, April 12, 2010
April 12 Streetcars and Idea Sculpture
Chandra Brown, President of Oregon Ironworks' United Streetcar speaks on the return of streetcars, wave energy and nuclear energy. All are industrial projects afoot in Oregon, and fabricated right here. It is part of the Bright Lights series sponsored by the local architecture magazine Portland Spaces and the City Club, a thoughtful public interest group. At Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th. Doors 5:30PM, discussion 6. Free
Stephanie Syjuco creates sculpture and installation and teaches at Cal Arts and Berkeley. She uses low cost materials, destined for trash, or trash itself, to create idea driven work around modern economies of consumption and value. Talk in the Shattuck Hall Annex out front, 1914 SW Park Avenue, at the corner of SW Broadway and Hall on the PSU campus. 7:30PM Free
Stephanie Syjuco creates sculpture and installation and teaches at Cal Arts and Berkeley. She uses low cost materials, destined for trash, or trash itself, to create idea driven work around modern economies of consumption and value. Talk in the Shattuck Hall Annex out front, 1914 SW Park Avenue, at the corner of SW Broadway and Hall on the PSU campus. 7:30PM Free
Thursday, April 08, 2010
April 10 Too Much to Do
The Art Museum has mounted a major show, Disquieted, drawing some accomplished artists from major collections, little seen here otherwise. The poster child is a very large sculpture by Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa, In the Midst of Dreams. Three large heads, illuminated within and seemingly asleep, face one another across a sea of dusty ancient softball-sized travertine marble stones. Jaume started with real models, then merged male and female, of multiple nationality into composite faces of ambiguous identity. He speaks on his work at the Portland Art Museum auditorium www.pam.org 1219 SW Park 2PM $5 members, $12 otherwise
As part of the Portland art biennial 2010, artist, dancer and choreographer Tahni Holt is preparing a performance, Culture Machine. The performance itself is April 23,24,25; today (and next Saturday) she opens the rehersal for you to see the process. Open rehearsal at Disjecta www.disjecta.org 8371 N. Interstate 1:30PM-4:30 Free
Of course the Rollerderby continues tonight. BodyVox continues their run.
Fashion is a battle for aesthetic supremacy, skirmishes are hidden in plain sight. It's evolutionary biology at work. Tonight the competition is made explicit. The evening, Street Flower, combines a fashion show by RoyalFits, Dirtline, gG designs, Vibration Clothing and Sirus C with a B-Girl dance battle and lady hip hop performances by Notes from the Underground and Mirrorkats. At Salmon Street Studios 109 SE Salmon 6PM-11
Belly Dancing is evolutionary biology at play too. Hidden behind the costumes producing their own music is the practical benefit of toning the abdominals. Who can deny it's fun to watch? This evening local belly dance-inspired ensemble Revel Me performs. Revel Me comprises Danielle Smith and Bevin Victoria accompanied by musicians Negara and the Underscore Orkestra. Expect a mix of Balkan, Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz Flamenco, Tango, North African & Swing for movement and music. Belly dance ensemble Znama also performs. At The Lotus Seed 6 NE Tillamook St. 7PM
Portland has a small concentration of flamenco and they are passionate. Tonight they gather for a performance of flamenco dance, guitar and voice. Mitsue "La Pura" Johnson dances, accompanied by guitarist Mark Ferguson and Jason Martinez on cajon. They are joined by singer Vicente Griego. At the Aladdin Theater www.aladdin-theater.com 3017 SE Milwaukie Doors 7PM, Show 8 $15/20
As part of the Portland art biennial 2010, artist, dancer and choreographer Tahni Holt is preparing a performance, Culture Machine. The performance itself is April 23,24,25; today (and next Saturday) she opens the rehersal for you to see the process. Open rehearsal at Disjecta www.disjecta.org 8371 N. Interstate 1:30PM-4:30 Free
Of course the Rollerderby continues tonight. BodyVox continues their run.
Fashion is a battle for aesthetic supremacy, skirmishes are hidden in plain sight. It's evolutionary biology at work. Tonight the competition is made explicit. The evening, Street Flower, combines a fashion show by RoyalFits, Dirtline, gG designs, Vibration Clothing and Sirus C with a B-Girl dance battle and lady hip hop performances by Notes from the Underground and Mirrorkats. At Salmon Street Studios 109 SE Salmon 6PM-11
Belly Dancing is evolutionary biology at play too. Hidden behind the costumes producing their own music is the practical benefit of toning the abdominals. Who can deny it's fun to watch? This evening local belly dance-inspired ensemble Revel Me performs. Revel Me comprises Danielle Smith and Bevin Victoria accompanied by musicians Negara and the Underscore Orkestra. Expect a mix of Balkan, Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz Flamenco, Tango, North African & Swing for movement and music. Belly dance ensemble Znama also performs. At The Lotus Seed 6 NE Tillamook St. 7PM
Portland has a small concentration of flamenco and they are passionate. Tonight they gather for a performance of flamenco dance, guitar and voice. Mitsue "La Pura" Johnson dances, accompanied by guitarist Mark Ferguson and Jason Martinez on cajon. They are joined by singer Vicente Griego. At the Aladdin Theater www.aladdin-theater.com 3017 SE Milwaukie Doors 7PM, Show 8 $15/20
April 9 The Deep Bench of Reed's Art Collection
Most arts institutions which collect have the majority of their collections in storage or otherwise out of public view. This show from the Reed College collection includes work by Daniel Spoerri, Lynda Benglis, Robert Rauschenberg, Mary Bauermeister, Sol LeWitt and Andy Warhol. Some of the Worhols are Polaroids, an archaic instant film chemistry, now back in manufacture at The Impossible Project. The show, titled Scarecrow, is themed on the body performance. Opening reception at Reed's Cooley Gallery www.reed.edu/gallery, in the library building, 3203 SE Woodstock. 6PM Free
Sunday, April 04, 2010
April 5 Agitprop Sculptor Sam Durant Speaks
Sam Durant is a sculptor and installationist working on political themes. Durant speaks as part of the Monday night lecture series. Talk in the Shattuck Hall Annex out front, 1914 SW Park Avenue, at the corner of SW Broadway and Hall on the PSU campus. 7:30PM Free
Friday, April 02, 2010
April 2 Eastside Art Openings
Worksound hosts Drawing the Slight Uneasy, a drawing show curated by MK Guth. It includes NY artists Bill Adams, Tania Cross, Frank Parga and Nicole Eriko Smith showing with Portland artists Nicolaii Dornstauder, Patrick Kelly, Michael Lee and Lynn Yarn. Music by Soft Paws and DJ Vision Quest. At Worksound www.worksoundpdx.com 820 SE Alder 6PM-10
Gallery Homeland opens 100% Organic, work by Oregon landscape artists Michael Brophy, Brian Borrello, Grant Hottle and Joseph Spangler. At Gallery Homeland www.galleryhomeland.org 2505 SE 11th x Division 6PM-9
In the 811 Block
Nationale hosts a group photo show including Jake Arcularius, Jacques Barruel, Olivia Bolles, Mimi Dutra, Ty Ennis, Nialls Fallon, Liz Haley, William Skip Haswell, Tamar Monhait, Zachary Reno, Norm Sajovie, Anna Shelton, John Voves and Kersti Werdal. Opening at NATIONALE nationaleportland.blogspot.com
Grass Hut has a large group show Balls Out 2, also available on their web shop. At Grass Hut www.grasshutcorp.com 811 E Burnside
Redux has an embroidery show One Stitch Forward, One Stitch Back, contemporary embroidery incorporating reused material. Artists include Julie Jackson, Emily Rose Baier, Berkley Illustration, Diem Chau, Pamela Davis, Jessica Friday, Kate Greiner, Rachel Hunnicutt, Iron Pony, Tracy Jager, Emily Katz, Carla Madrigal, Andrea Majot, Johnny Murder, Beth Murphy, Penny Nickels, Lucy Peterson, Cathy Pitters, Kristen Rask, Kristen Rupp, T.J. Sabatini, Charlotte Schwennsen and Cindy Steiler. At Redux www.reduxpdx.com
Tolivar is a new shop of arts, crafts and clothing, their opening is tonight in Emily Katz's old space in back. See tolivarportland.com
All at 811 East Burnside in the front and back of the building
Up the street there are shows at the Report Lounge and Portland artist Kendra Binney has a show at Lille Boutique. Black Wagon, Compound and Lille are all great showplaces for Kendra's work. See it. 1007 E Burnside
Across the street at 6th and Burnside, SE, bSIDE6, the modern building, hosts a reception sponsored by the Lompoc Brewery of an interactive video installation by David Neevel, A 4-dimensional Sidewalk. The artist's website is unprofessional and irritating, and I'm sure there are better examples of this type work even, in Portland, by the likes of the Video Gentlemen. But there you have it. At bSIDE6, month of April, evenings, 7PM on. Reception 6PM-10. Free
New American Art Union opens another gallery as working studio experience with painter Gabriel Liston, vacating his charming home studio to use the gallery to make new work. At New American Art Union www.newamericanartunion.com 922 SE Ankeny
The Inland Empire is the vast California San Bernardino basin. Its boom and bust cycles have formed a mid-century onward history of the impact of man on land. It's not always beautiful, decay of land reclaiming structure is there too. This is a show of that by photographer Tyler Kohlhoff and includes collaborations with Portland artist Justin Gorman Nemo Design www.studionemo.com 1875 SE Belmont 6PM-10
Pushdot has Portland illustrator Jill Bliss. At Pushdot Studio www.pushdotstudio.com 1021 SE Caruthers
Mar Gorman is a longtime folk art-influenced artist. She shows new work tonight
at 23Sandy www.23sandy.com 623 NE 23 at Sandy 5PM-8
Gallery Homeland opens 100% Organic, work by Oregon landscape artists Michael Brophy, Brian Borrello, Grant Hottle and Joseph Spangler. At Gallery Homeland www.galleryhomeland.org 2505 SE 11th x Division 6PM-9
In the 811 Block
Nationale hosts a group photo show including Jake Arcularius, Jacques Barruel, Olivia Bolles, Mimi Dutra, Ty Ennis, Nialls Fallon, Liz Haley, William Skip Haswell, Tamar Monhait, Zachary Reno, Norm Sajovie, Anna Shelton, John Voves and Kersti Werdal. Opening at NATIONALE nationaleportland.blogspot.com
Grass Hut has a large group show Balls Out 2, also available on their web shop. At Grass Hut www.grasshutcorp.com 811 E Burnside
Redux has an embroidery show One Stitch Forward, One Stitch Back, contemporary embroidery incorporating reused material. Artists include Julie Jackson, Emily Rose Baier, Berkley Illustration, Diem Chau, Pamela Davis, Jessica Friday, Kate Greiner, Rachel Hunnicutt, Iron Pony, Tracy Jager, Emily Katz, Carla Madrigal, Andrea Majot, Johnny Murder, Beth Murphy, Penny Nickels, Lucy Peterson, Cathy Pitters, Kristen Rask, Kristen Rupp, T.J. Sabatini, Charlotte Schwennsen and Cindy Steiler. At Redux www.reduxpdx.com
Tolivar is a new shop of arts, crafts and clothing, their opening is tonight in Emily Katz's old space in back. See tolivarportland.com
All at 811 East Burnside in the front and back of the building
Up the street there are shows at the Report Lounge and Portland artist Kendra Binney has a show at Lille Boutique. Black Wagon, Compound and Lille are all great showplaces for Kendra's work. See it. 1007 E Burnside
Across the street at 6th and Burnside, SE, bSIDE6, the modern building, hosts a reception sponsored by the Lompoc Brewery of an interactive video installation by David Neevel, A 4-dimensional Sidewalk. The artist's website is unprofessional and irritating, and I'm sure there are better examples of this type work even, in Portland, by the likes of the Video Gentlemen. But there you have it. At bSIDE6, month of April, evenings, 7PM on. Reception 6PM-10. Free
New American Art Union opens another gallery as working studio experience with painter Gabriel Liston, vacating his charming home studio to use the gallery to make new work. At New American Art Union www.newamericanartunion.com 922 SE Ankeny
The Inland Empire is the vast California San Bernardino basin. Its boom and bust cycles have formed a mid-century onward history of the impact of man on land. It's not always beautiful, decay of land reclaiming structure is there too. This is a show of that by photographer Tyler Kohlhoff and includes collaborations with Portland artist Justin Gorman Nemo Design www.studionemo.com 1875 SE Belmont 6PM-10
Pushdot has Portland illustrator Jill Bliss. At Pushdot Studio www.pushdotstudio.com 1021 SE Caruthers
Mar Gorman is a longtime folk art-influenced artist. She shows new work tonight
at 23Sandy www.23sandy.com 623 NE 23 at Sandy 5PM-8
Thursday, April 01, 2010
April 1 Westside Art Openings
For many many months, some of the most solid work on first Thursdays has been seen at the Everett Lofts and associated spaces in the block bounded by NW Flanders, Broadway, Everett and 6th. I'm a proponent of artmaking as a career beyond lifestyle. You will find a mix here, and that's great.
James Lavador is a gifted landscape painter. His takes on Eastern Oregon's vistas are a great example that landscape painting, done with spirit and narrative, are not dead. At PDX Contemporary Gallery www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 925 NW Flanders
PNCA has a juried BFA show, along with a show spread across PSU's Littman and PNCA's 214 gallery of PSU and PNCA students, shosen by professors of each. At PNCA www.pnca.edu 1241 NW Johnson
Compound Gallery has invited a range of artists they are known for to create tryptics, three panel works. Artists include Dave Macdowell, Brian Elliot, Jason Graham, Keegan Onefoot, Jen Lobo, Martin Ontiveros, Rob Pellicer, J Shea, Geneva Smith, Taka Sudo and Brett Superstar. At Compound Gallery www.compoundgallery.com 107 NW 5th
James Lavador is a gifted landscape painter. His takes on Eastern Oregon's vistas are a great example that landscape painting, done with spirit and narrative, are not dead. At PDX Contemporary Gallery www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 925 NW Flanders
PNCA has a juried BFA show, along with a show spread across PSU's Littman and PNCA's 214 gallery of PSU and PNCA students, shosen by professors of each. At PNCA www.pnca.edu 1241 NW Johnson
Compound Gallery has invited a range of artists they are known for to create tryptics, three panel works. Artists include Dave Macdowell, Brian Elliot, Jason Graham, Keegan Onefoot, Jen Lobo, Martin Ontiveros, Rob Pellicer, J Shea, Geneva Smith, Taka Sudo and Brett Superstar. At Compound Gallery www.compoundgallery.com 107 NW 5th
Sunday, March 28, 2010
March 30 Burma
This is primarily a blog of creative events. But we have a long time interest in world changing. Tonight you can hear a talk on Burma, a country bordering India and China, how epic. Author Mac McClelland, familiar with the area since 2006, provides her perspective on the years' long struggle for a form of democracy, and the perspectives of ethnic groups there fighting. In the Mercy Corps office - the building next to Saturday Market - at Ankeny and SW 1st, 28 SW 1st Ave. Doors 6PM, talk 7 Free
Friday, March 26, 2010
March 27 Homeschool Pow Wow
Homeschool Art Shop is a DIY shop for affordable art, online and nomadic. Tonight they are hooking up with Pow Wow print live. Homeschool artist Jane Zemel, Mr. 50Backflips John Voves, and Homeschool founder Jess Hirsch show their work. Pow Wow artist Violet will run prints from her ancient letter press. There will be a photobooth too, by artist Kristen Flemington. www.homeschoolartshop.com at the City Sign Building 4th Floor SE3rd and Pine 7PM-10 Free
March 27 NAAU Show Closing Event
The adventurous and experimental gallery, the New American Art Union, closes a show in which painter Timothy Scott Dalbow occupied the gallery as a painting studio for six weeks. Visitors were welcome throughout, or tonight to see the result. At New American Art Union www.newamericanartunion.com 922 SE Ankeny
March 27 Indian Music
Portland has regular performances by musicians from India. There are teachers here and visiting. The result are a few homegrown classical Indian musicians. That would be the case with Josh Feinberg, Portland sitar player. Tonight he is accompanied by Rick Paul Singh on tabla. At Yoga Shala on N Williams yogashalapdx.com. Doors 7PM, performance 7:30 $10 advance, $12 door.
March 26-27 The Foundation
The Foundation is a b-boy-b-girl competition, primarily local crews. This event was hosted by Reed for a few years and packed. They have moved to a larger space for their 10 year anniversary. It's always fun. You always would love to see the gravity defying moves in slow motion. It's early, with various after parties. And it's live streaming at Ustream. Details at www.foundationpdx.com. At the Bossanova Ballroom 722 E Burnside 6PM-10 $20 per day or $30 both days
Sunday, March 21, 2010
March 21 World Butoh Here
What is the value of unusual things? My theory is that embedded in our brain, each, is an attraction to the familiar, and attraction to the novel. Butoh would, for most, attach to novel. It's value is psychological resonance. If you are creative, you value that, and use it to create hypotheses, solving problems, including those of business and aesthetics.
I have written many posts on butoh, just search. Portland has a solid butoh contingent. One protagonist, Mizu, advances it through the Water in the Desert project. They bring international artists to little Portland to inform/teach and perform.
Yumiko Yoshioka is one. She performed with the originators of the medium, then formed one of the earliest female butoh groups, Ariadine. Now she creates creative energy at Schloss Bröllin, an artistic retreat + crafts studio in a castle in the formerly East Germany.
For a time, Yoshioka has been creating a performance on Portland workshop participants, the result is this evening. See it at 55 NE Farragut 8PM $12-15. Presales consumed, arrive early to see.
I have written many posts on butoh, just search. Portland has a solid butoh contingent. One protagonist, Mizu, advances it through the Water in the Desert project. They bring international artists to little Portland to inform/teach and perform.
Yumiko Yoshioka is one. She performed with the originators of the medium, then formed one of the earliest female butoh groups, Ariadine. Now she creates creative energy at Schloss Bröllin, an artistic retreat + crafts studio in a castle in the formerly East Germany.
For a time, Yoshioka has been creating a performance on Portland workshop participants, the result is this evening. See it at 55 NE Farragut 8PM $12-15. Presales consumed, arrive early to see.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
March 20 Obscura, Caldera and Biennial Continues
Today is worldwide Obscura Day, in which you are given the opportunity for expeditions, discovery of hidden treasures and back-room tours in over 75 towns worldwide. A wander through the website is an adventure in itself. In each city, volunteers have planned their favorite events, including Portland. Today, with advance reservations, it is possible to tour Portland's epic Center of Art and 3D Photography. 3D is exploding in filmmaking, after an early experimental period of horror and monster movies in the 1950's, 3D film fell into oblivion. Even before, stereo photographic viewing came to the masses in the form of View-Master viewers and mass produced disks with primarily landscape photographs. It was invented in Portland in 1939. Portland artist Vladamir has updated the medium for art. Meanwhile across town, it's possible to tour with reservations, the Reed College nuclear reactor, the world's only operated by undergraduates. While nuclear chemistry is as old as the universe, the earliest nuclear chemist, was Madame Curie. Rutherford was first to transmute elements, the first successful alchemist. Madame Curie's daughter, Irène Joliot-Curie, was the first to make radio-isotopes of non-transuranic elements. So if someone is going to do that sort of thing, I would rather it be a Reed student than a dark magician in a pointy hat or steampunk attire. Details and documentation after at www.atlasobscura.com/obscura-day Free reactor, $5 3D
Caldera continues its monthly open houses showing the work of winter resident artists. At Camp Caldera, www.calderaarts.org Sisters, Oregon (see the web site for directions) Free
The 2010 Portland Biennial of art continues with a large group opening in the Templeton Building. Artists include Holly Andres, Corey Arnold, Pat Boas, John Brodie, David Eckard, Damien Gilley, Jenene Nagy and the Oregon Painting Society. At 230 E Burnside/SE 3rd and Burnside 6PM-10 Free
Caldera continues its monthly open houses showing the work of winter resident artists. At Camp Caldera, www.calderaarts.org Sisters, Oregon (see the web site for directions) Free
The 2010 Portland Biennial of art continues with a large group opening in the Templeton Building. Artists include Holly Andres, Corey Arnold, Pat Boas, John Brodie, David Eckard, Damien Gilley, Jenene Nagy and the Oregon Painting Society. At 230 E Burnside/SE 3rd and Burnside 6PM-10 Free
Monday, March 15, 2010
March 18 Japanese Gardens Spark Art
Art Spark is a monthly networking event for artists and arts administrators. This instance is at Disjecta, giving you a chance to take in a chunk of the 2010 PDX Biennial on display there. This month is unique too: artists may propose a show by 5PM March 18, to be held at Disjecta at a future date. The audience will select the winner that evening. Contestants must be present to explain their proposal and must be present to win! See the Art Spark website for details. At Disjecta www.disjecta.org 8371 N. Interstate 5PM-7 Free
The Portland Japanese Garden is a unique Portland resource. It is widely considered the most authentic public Japanese Garden outside Japan. You can visit it anytime, and it changes through seasons. The garden hosts classes on Japanese gardening, special exhibits, like Ikebana shows, sublime events like moonviewing, and lectures. Tonight noted private garden designer Ron Herman speaks on design and his experiences with clients like Larry Ellison who has built a large scale garden in Woodside. Herman excells at finding the client's inner garden. Details under events at www.japanesegarden.com. The gardens have a great membership program for two, $55 a year, a bargain, considering the admission price is $9.50 per person. As a member, you can stop by in the early morning before the garden is open. At the Portland Japanese Gardens in Washington Park 5:30PM $15/10 members
The Portland Japanese Garden is a unique Portland resource. It is widely considered the most authentic public Japanese Garden outside Japan. You can visit it anytime, and it changes through seasons. The garden hosts classes on Japanese gardening, special exhibits, like Ikebana shows, sublime events like moonviewing, and lectures. Tonight noted private garden designer Ron Herman speaks on design and his experiences with clients like Larry Ellison who has built a large scale garden in Woodside. Herman excells at finding the client's inner garden. Details under events at www.japanesegarden.com. The gardens have a great membership program for two, $55 a year, a bargain, considering the admission price is $9.50 per person. As a member, you can stop by in the early morning before the garden is open. At the Portland Japanese Gardens in Washington Park 5:30PM $15/10 members
March 17 Printing Digital Photography With Care
Image science continuously informs the unfolding of image technology. Our eyes of course are the gold standard, backed with an unparalleled analog image processing system, the brain.
Embedded in the digital vs chemical photography debate is the history of image science. Our visual system learns the colors which exist in nature. It is extremely sensitive to skintone. We can easily detect when it is reproduced inaccurately. Kodak had scientists who studied the reproduction of color deeply, and built that knowledge into the dye layers of the film-print chain. Some of that knowledge is being lost. Meanwhile the image processor in current digital cameras adjusts color, and even grain, to "correct" it. Photoshop has innumerable knobs. Current LCD screens are notoriously narrow in the range of colors represented. Meanwhile we have great ink systems for printing. It can work out well if you know how to manage imaging end-to-end.
Photographer and master electronic printer Phil Bard is someone who does. His business Cirrus Digital is the go-to studio for photographers working with digital printing as may be seen by his client list.
Today, he gives a talk on his experience with photography and digital printing.
Sponsored by the Portland Art Museum Photography Council. It's a brown bag lunch in the Miller Room in the Mark Building (formerly the Masonic temple). 1219 SW Park Noon Free
Embedded in the digital vs chemical photography debate is the history of image science. Our visual system learns the colors which exist in nature. It is extremely sensitive to skintone. We can easily detect when it is reproduced inaccurately. Kodak had scientists who studied the reproduction of color deeply, and built that knowledge into the dye layers of the film-print chain. Some of that knowledge is being lost. Meanwhile the image processor in current digital cameras adjusts color, and even grain, to "correct" it. Photoshop has innumerable knobs. Current LCD screens are notoriously narrow in the range of colors represented. Meanwhile we have great ink systems for printing. It can work out well if you know how to manage imaging end-to-end.
Photographer and master electronic printer Phil Bard is someone who does. His business Cirrus Digital is the go-to studio for photographers working with digital printing as may be seen by his client list.
Today, he gives a talk on his experience with photography and digital printing.
Sponsored by the Portland Art Museum Photography Council. It's a brown bag lunch in the Miller Room in the Mark Building (formerly the Masonic temple). 1219 SW Park Noon Free
Sunday, March 14, 2010
March 16 Salon L'Orient
Belly dance has infested America in a good way. Neotribal groups like Fat Chance in San Francisco sent out seeds which cross bred with immigrants. Those belly dancers are gypsies too. Tonight is an opportunity to see a cross section: Zanama, Nagasita, Grace Constantine, Severina, Danielle Smith, Emilie Lauren, Skylar Castiglione and the Seraphic Society. Live music by Azphodel. At the Fez Ballroom 316 SW 11th 9PM $13
Saturday, March 13, 2010
March 14 Harpooning Stock
The Harpoon House is an awesome take by friends Matt and Katherine to produce a beautiful home that is extremely energy efficient on a reasonable budget. Less is more. To make it happen, everything is small, and insulated. Did I say beautiful? They have website; check it. If you are truly interested, there is an opportunity to stop by today to see before they move in. At the Harpoon House SE Portland 10AM-4PM Free
STOCK is a social practice crowd sourced project to fund Portland art over a meal. Pay a reasonable $10 for soup, salad, desert and vote on proposals by artists. The popular choice, selected by you, receives the proceeds of the evening, in the $4-600 range, to make something fantastic. We love RACC, but the work to payout ratio of this program is fantastic. It has a different network than RACC, and complementary. RSVP and be there at www.portlandstock.blogspot.com At PNCA 6PM-8 $10
STOCK is a social practice crowd sourced project to fund Portland art over a meal. Pay a reasonable $10 for soup, salad, desert and vote on proposals by artists. The popular choice, selected by you, receives the proceeds of the evening, in the $4-600 range, to make something fantastic. We love RACC, but the work to payout ratio of this program is fantastic. It has a different network than RACC, and complementary. RSVP and be there at www.portlandstock.blogspot.com At PNCA 6PM-8 $10
Friday, March 12, 2010
March 13 The New Biennial
Biennials are a convenient vehicle to survey the state of art, not to frequent, nor infrequent, tuned to today's pace of art evolution. They are lensed through the eye of a particular curator in a time and place. Portland's was managed by the Art Museum, but that ended as the museum had the opportunity to refocus regionally, with a new curator, and select fewer artists, rather than more, in each iteration. They also provided a small prize, cash money.
The Biennial is back under wing of Disjecta, and distributed over many spaces to accommodate 20 artists selected by curator Chris Moss, longtime Portland artist, curator, professor and with an MFA from NYU. Moss was curator of a great series, the Donut Shop, in itinerant spaces.
Several of the new Biennial spaces have opened their artists: Melody Owen at Leach and Marylhurst; Ucci at Alpern. This Saturday and next are multi-artist openings.
Tonight Bruce Conkle & Marne Lucas, David Corbett, Sean Healy, Tahni Holt, Crystal Schenk and Shelby Davis open work in the main Disjecta Space. Meanwhile Ditch Projects, an abandoned factory collective, residency and gallery outside Eugene opens at RocksBox.
Disjecta has a great website with links to each artist for your preview pleasure.
2010 Portland Biennial at Disjecta www.disjecta.org 8371 N. Interstate 6PM-10 Free
And at Rocksbox Fine Art www.rocksboxfineart.com 6540 N Interstate Opening 6PM-10 Free
The Biennial is back under wing of Disjecta, and distributed over many spaces to accommodate 20 artists selected by curator Chris Moss, longtime Portland artist, curator, professor and with an MFA from NYU. Moss was curator of a great series, the Donut Shop, in itinerant spaces.
Several of the new Biennial spaces have opened their artists: Melody Owen at Leach and Marylhurst; Ucci at Alpern. This Saturday and next are multi-artist openings.
Tonight Bruce Conkle & Marne Lucas, David Corbett, Sean Healy, Tahni Holt, Crystal Schenk and Shelby Davis open work in the main Disjecta Space. Meanwhile Ditch Projects, an abandoned factory collective, residency and gallery outside Eugene opens at RocksBox.
Disjecta has a great website with links to each artist for your preview pleasure.
2010 Portland Biennial at Disjecta www.disjecta.org 8371 N. Interstate 6PM-10 Free
And at Rocksbox Fine Art www.rocksboxfineart.com 6540 N Interstate Opening 6PM-10 Free
March 12 Appendix, Alpern, Avantka
Appendix Projects Space on Alberta, home to young modernist artists who are not outsiders, holds an art auction fundraiser event this evening. They are behind Videorama on the alley between 26th and 27th. Arrive early. Cash please. www.appendixspace.com 7PM Free
The new Portland 2010 Biennial is distributed around the city and opening dates are as well. Alpern shows photos by Shaun Jarvis. At 2552 NW Vaughn 6PM-9 Free
Much has been made of the Chinese art scene with its legion of fine art graduates each year. Perhaps a similar dynamic may emerge in India. An example is Indian artist Avantika Bawa who has been artist in residence at Milepost 5. It's at Milepost5 www.milepostfive.com 900 NE 81st (go by MAX) 6PM-9 Free
The new Portland 2010 Biennial is distributed around the city and opening dates are as well. Alpern shows photos by Shaun Jarvis. At 2552 NW Vaughn 6PM-9 Free
Much has been made of the Chinese art scene with its legion of fine art graduates each year. Perhaps a similar dynamic may emerge in India. An example is Indian artist Avantika Bawa who has been artist in residence at Milepost 5. It's at Milepost5 www.milepostfive.com 900 NE 81st (go by MAX) 6PM-9 Free
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
March 11 Owen, Stadler & Sustainability Talks
Artist Melody Owen gives an artist talk on occasion of her show at the Art Gym. She is also showing a few other places this month, at the Elizabeth Leach Gallery, and a piece at the UofO White Cube Gallery in the White Stag Block. At the Marylhurst Art Gym at Marylhurst University www.marylhurst.edu/theartgym/ Check the campus map to find it. Noon Free
Writer, editor, publisher and organizer Matthew Stadler speaks about his response to selected artworks at the Art Museum. It's part of a monthly series where creatives do likewise. There is a social hour afterwards. At the Portland Art Museum www.pam.org 1219 SW Park 6PM-8 Free members, otherwise pay admission and tour the Museum before
Ziba Design hosts occasional talks of high quality. Tonight it is Allison Arieff. design and sustainability writer for the NY Times and GOOD Magazine. She was founding senior editor at DWELL, and is a design book author and editor. In a way, Arieff has been constructing an ethnographic study, albeit informal, of sustainability early adopters in her work. Her conclusion is that sustainability lifestyle changes propagate in social networks and are not informed by governmental policy. This is no surprise, yet public interest groups lack channels to engage it, though entrepreneurs do so routinely. At Ziba Design www.ziba.com Corner of NW 9th and Marshall. RSVP strongly requested: email events@ziba.com. Doors open 5PM, close at 5:30, promptly when the program begins as the auditorium entrance is on the stage. Free
Writer, editor, publisher and organizer Matthew Stadler speaks about his response to selected artworks at the Art Museum. It's part of a monthly series where creatives do likewise. There is a social hour afterwards. At the Portland Art Museum www.pam.org 1219 SW Park 6PM-8 Free members, otherwise pay admission and tour the Museum before
Ziba Design hosts occasional talks of high quality. Tonight it is Allison Arieff. design and sustainability writer for the NY Times and GOOD Magazine. She was founding senior editor at DWELL, and is a design book author and editor. In a way, Arieff has been constructing an ethnographic study, albeit informal, of sustainability early adopters in her work. Her conclusion is that sustainability lifestyle changes propagate in social networks and are not informed by governmental policy. This is no surprise, yet public interest groups lack channels to engage it, though entrepreneurs do so routinely. At Ziba Design www.ziba.com Corner of NW 9th and Marshall. RSVP strongly requested: email events@ziba.com. Doors open 5PM, close at 5:30, promptly when the program begins as the auditorium entrance is on the stage. Free
March 10 Land Art Talk
Land Art was more common when culture was more tied to land. We have examples like the serpentine burial mound. More intimate art made in nature, art on land, has a similarly long history; it has long been reabsorbed by nature too.
The modern era of land art began in the 1960's, an early post modern, post commercial movement. Lightning Field by DeMaria is a spectacular array of properly grounded lightening rods in a sparse field, at once installation and performance. Early the province of men with machines, pushing the land around, land art was termed by Smithson "abstract geology". With the first Earth Day in 1970, many land artists shifted to less destructive work, even to constructive repair of industrial wasteland. Smithson's wife, Nancy Holt, operated with a more subtle touch, creating Sun Tunnels, without digging into wilderness. Later she worked on reclamation projects. Andrea Zittel and friends in Joshua Tree have created the High Desert Test Sites project, focused on annual celebration of art on land. The Center for Land Use Interpretation repurposes documentation of past landscape alteration to art.
I have always been puzzled why art on land is not a stronger movement in the Northwest. Relatively untamed nature dominates our landscape. There was a long running series based in Seattle, Horsehead, created by Matthew Lennon. There is occasional work in Tryon Creek Park, it is not well publicized. Portlander, Scott Wayne Indiana, now in New York, organized a weekend sculpture invitational at Mt Scott Park in 2006.
Tonight maybe we have a chance to restart, with a talk by professor William Gilbert. Gilbert has the obscure honor to hold the "Lannan Chair in Land Arts of the American West in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of New Mexico". I am not making this up, and I'm glad it exists. Lannan speaks on the history of Western land art, and perhaps it reemergence.
He teaches land art and art on the land. Students travel and camp for weeks in the West, observing ancient native art, to Smithson, Holt and DeMaria, to epic alterations like the Hoover Dam, while making their own land work, on the land, as well as bringing it back to the gallery.
At PNCA www.pnca.edu 1241 NW Johnson 6:30PM-8 Free
The modern era of land art began in the 1960's, an early post modern, post commercial movement. Lightning Field by DeMaria is a spectacular array of properly grounded lightening rods in a sparse field, at once installation and performance. Early the province of men with machines, pushing the land around, land art was termed by Smithson "abstract geology". With the first Earth Day in 1970, many land artists shifted to less destructive work, even to constructive repair of industrial wasteland. Smithson's wife, Nancy Holt, operated with a more subtle touch, creating Sun Tunnels, without digging into wilderness. Later she worked on reclamation projects. Andrea Zittel and friends in Joshua Tree have created the High Desert Test Sites project, focused on annual celebration of art on land. The Center for Land Use Interpretation repurposes documentation of past landscape alteration to art.
I have always been puzzled why art on land is not a stronger movement in the Northwest. Relatively untamed nature dominates our landscape. There was a long running series based in Seattle, Horsehead, created by Matthew Lennon. There is occasional work in Tryon Creek Park, it is not well publicized. Portlander, Scott Wayne Indiana, now in New York, organized a weekend sculpture invitational at Mt Scott Park in 2006.
Tonight maybe we have a chance to restart, with a talk by professor William Gilbert. Gilbert has the obscure honor to hold the "Lannan Chair in Land Arts of the American West in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of New Mexico". I am not making this up, and I'm glad it exists. Lannan speaks on the history of Western land art, and perhaps it reemergence.
He teaches land art and art on the land. Students travel and camp for weeks in the West, observing ancient native art, to Smithson, Holt and DeMaria, to epic alterations like the Hoover Dam, while making their own land work, on the land, as well as bringing it back to the gallery.
At PNCA www.pnca.edu 1241 NW Johnson 6:30PM-8 Free
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
March 5 Eastside Art Openings+
Newspace hosts a show by Los Angeles photographer Susan Burnstine. She works as a commercial photographer, of great technical prowess. For her art projects, she goes DIY camera bending. Constructing her own cameras from low-fi plastic lens camera parts and household materials, she produces blurry and distorted dream-like exposures. Her effects are in camera, not in Photoshop. It's a great show, demonstrating, again, the growing international reputation of Newspace. At Newspace Photo www.newspacephoto.org 1632 SE 10th
PNCA presents a show Incubate, of Intermedia alumni and residents. The Intermedia program represented a radical break from the traditional structure of the school organized as painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, graphic design and illustration. The school has not looked back since. Artists include David Cipriano, Fei Disbrow, Anna Gray and Ryan Wilson Paulsen, David Cipriano, Tyler Jackson, Claire LaMont, Mack McFarland, Cris Moss, Julie Orser, Patrick Rock, Stephen Slappe, and Nickolaus Typaldos. Strongly recommended. At the Hybrid Gallery in the new Twelve | West Building, 430 SW 13th. Ongoing exhibition hours 6PM–8 Thursdays, 5PM–8 Fridays, Saturdays
Local artists Jenny Hoyston and Sarah Gottesdiener have created a new art night including visual art, installation, movement performance, fashion, live music and a DJ. I have always been a big proponent of artists making a sustainable living by selling their work. This is more a cross fertilization of communities, creative networking, creative curation and fun. At Branx 320 SE 2nd 9PM-2 $5
In the 811 block
NATIONALLE opens in back with a show by Midori Hirose. Hirose is great at small sculptures and her use of material. Opening at NATIONALE nationaleportland.blogspot.com 6PM-9
Grass Hut has dioramas by Faye Jaime. At Grass Hut www.grasshutcorp.com 811 E Burnside
Redux has 12x12 illustration-style paintings by Natalie Phillips, who has cut them from a larger painting. At Redux www.reduxpdx.com
All 811 East Burnside
Minneapolis photographer Ashley Moe shows work at Click Track Lab. The show includes Internet crowdsourced material as well. The space evolves/devolves into a dance party late. www.clicktracklab.com 536 SE 6th 9:30PM on, 21+
Transverse is a painting show by Vanessa Calvert, Jaclyn Fronzack, Ruth Lantz, Jud Richardson, Jason Vance Dickason and Salvatore Reda. It's sure to be lively, and includes the improbable extras of live music with root beer and French fries. Not sure what Michelle Obamma would say about that. At Worksound 820 SE Alder
Guten Tag Meine Freunde, hello my friend, is a show by Berlin artists Nicole Cohen, Ali Fitzgerald, Stefano Minzi, Holger Pohl, Adam Raymont, and Katharina Trudzinski. Berlin and Portland, we are not so far. Gallery Homeland is reducing that distance by exchanges between the two. It's a solid international play. Recommended. At Gallery Homeland www.galleryhomeland.org 2505 SE 11th x Division
Portland Swedish artist Sanna-Lisa Gesang-Gottowt, working in painting, sculpture and photography shows Transclusion tonight. At Juxtapose Studios in the Eastbank Commerce Center 1001 SE Water Ave 6PM-9
23Sandy is a small gallery consistently presenting book arts, photographs, photographic collage and mixed media in two and a half dimension, quiet and sometimes nostalgia tinged. This show comprises books with a vaguely scientific art theme by Karen Hanmer and stencils modeled after France's symbolic shop signs, that would be early graphic design, by Virginia Flynn. At 23Sandy www.23sandy.com 623 NE 23 at Sandy 5PM-8
For something completely different, the Third Angle New Music Ensemble performs Terry Riley's seminal In C as part of their series Chance/Perchance. In C is arguably the first minimalist piece, composed in 1964. The work is made of 53 phrases, to be played in order, repeated any number of times, or skipped, with individual musicians starting the phrase at different times. The score, and performance direction, is one of the most compact existent. For remix and discussion of In C, take a listen. Also collaborating is Beta Collide from Eugene. The program includes Riley and a concerto by Oregon composer David Schiff. All the works include random elements and improvisation. At the Hollywood Theater 7:30PM $30
PNCA presents a show Incubate, of Intermedia alumni and residents. The Intermedia program represented a radical break from the traditional structure of the school organized as painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, graphic design and illustration. The school has not looked back since. Artists include David Cipriano, Fei Disbrow, Anna Gray and Ryan Wilson Paulsen, David Cipriano, Tyler Jackson, Claire LaMont, Mack McFarland, Cris Moss, Julie Orser, Patrick Rock, Stephen Slappe, and Nickolaus Typaldos. Strongly recommended. At the Hybrid Gallery in the new Twelve | West Building, 430 SW 13th. Ongoing exhibition hours 6PM–8 Thursdays, 5PM–8 Fridays, Saturdays
Local artists Jenny Hoyston and Sarah Gottesdiener have created a new art night including visual art, installation, movement performance, fashion, live music and a DJ. I have always been a big proponent of artists making a sustainable living by selling their work. This is more a cross fertilization of communities, creative networking, creative curation and fun. At Branx 320 SE 2nd 9PM-2 $5
In the 811 block
NATIONALLE opens in back with a show by Midori Hirose. Hirose is great at small sculptures and her use of material. Opening at NATIONALE nationaleportland.blogspot.com 6PM-9
Grass Hut has dioramas by Faye Jaime. At Grass Hut www.grasshutcorp.com 811 E Burnside
Redux has 12x12 illustration-style paintings by Natalie Phillips, who has cut them from a larger painting. At Redux www.reduxpdx.com
All 811 East Burnside
Minneapolis photographer Ashley Moe shows work at Click Track Lab. The show includes Internet crowdsourced material as well. The space evolves/devolves into a dance party late. www.clicktracklab.com 536 SE 6th 9:30PM on, 21+
Transverse is a painting show by Vanessa Calvert, Jaclyn Fronzack, Ruth Lantz, Jud Richardson, Jason Vance Dickason and Salvatore Reda. It's sure to be lively, and includes the improbable extras of live music with root beer and French fries. Not sure what Michelle Obamma would say about that. At Worksound 820 SE Alder
Guten Tag Meine Freunde, hello my friend, is a show by Berlin artists Nicole Cohen, Ali Fitzgerald, Stefano Minzi, Holger Pohl, Adam Raymont, and Katharina Trudzinski. Berlin and Portland, we are not so far. Gallery Homeland is reducing that distance by exchanges between the two. It's a solid international play. Recommended. At Gallery Homeland www.galleryhomeland.org 2505 SE 11th x Division
Portland Swedish artist Sanna-Lisa Gesang-Gottowt, working in painting, sculpture and photography shows Transclusion tonight. At Juxtapose Studios in the Eastbank Commerce Center 1001 SE Water Ave 6PM-9
23Sandy is a small gallery consistently presenting book arts, photographs, photographic collage and mixed media in two and a half dimension, quiet and sometimes nostalgia tinged. This show comprises books with a vaguely scientific art theme by Karen Hanmer and stencils modeled after France's symbolic shop signs, that would be early graphic design, by Virginia Flynn. At 23Sandy www.23sandy.com 623 NE 23 at Sandy 5PM-8
For something completely different, the Third Angle New Music Ensemble performs Terry Riley's seminal In C as part of their series Chance/Perchance. In C is arguably the first minimalist piece, composed in 1964. The work is made of 53 phrases, to be played in order, repeated any number of times, or skipped, with individual musicians starting the phrase at different times. The score, and performance direction, is one of the most compact existent. For remix and discussion of In C, take a listen. Also collaborating is Beta Collide from Eugene. The program includes Riley and a concerto by Oregon composer David Schiff. All the works include random elements and improvisation. At the Hollywood Theater 7:30PM $30
Mach 4 Westside Art Openings+
The Everett Lofts and associated spaces are recommended, as always, for your viewing pleasure. See them in the block bounded by NW Everett, Broadway, Flanders and 6th.
Portland artist Melody Owen has a show at Marylhurst this month, and has two shows opening this evening. Part of a group show at University of Oregon in the White Stag Block, she shows 8 Knot, in a show themed on Werner Herzog's account of walking between München and Paris. At the Elizabeth Leach Gallery, she shows a series, Letters from Switzerland. She is known for elegant minimalist sculpture, repeating simple elements around an idea. She also works in photography, collage and illustration. Her work is quiet, beautiful, unexpected.
At the White Cube in the University of Oregon White Stag Building, 70 NW Couch
And at Elizabeth Leach www.elizabethleach.com 417 NW 9th
Beppu Wiarda Gallery has a science themed show, a trend we will see more, despite failing science education. The show comprises works by women artists inspired by historic women scientists - the artists and respective scientists include: Abra Ancliffe : Maria Mitchell(1818-1889), American Astronomer/ Katie Ammons : Louise Arner Boyd (1887-1972), Arctic Explorer, geoscientist/ Kate Copeland : Zoe Rodriguez del Rey, Environmental Science/ Kate Fenker : Marcia Ascher, Mathematician/Ethnomathematics/ Bean Gilsdorf : Susanne Gahl, Linguistics / Kim Hamblin : Chrystal Bell, Forensic Biology/ Kim McKenna : Sophie Germain (1776-1835), Mathematics ,Theory of Elasticity/ Sara McKenna : Countess Ada Lovelace(1815-1852), Mathematics/ Lorna Nakell : Sophie Brahe (1556-1643), Astronomer,Alchemist. Notibly absent is Mariana Tres who worked with images from the astronomy archive at Harvard.
The gallery also hosts talks this month around the show, see their website for details. At Beppu Wiarda www.beppugallery.com 319 NW 9th
Noted Portland artist Marie Watt gets at the Northwest Native experience in a way that doesn't pummel. Contemporary art is a great venue for exploration of our post-contact history. It's timely with the great success of the Aboriginal Pavilion at the Vancouver Olympics. At PDX Contemporary Gallery www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 925 NW Flanders
Pulliam has sculptures by David French and paintings by Ken Kelly. French uses wood as a base material upon which to craft exquisite finishes. At Pulliam Gallery www.pulliamdeffenbaugh.com 929 NW Flanders early close 8PM
Augen has a Northwest print show including artists Sheryl Funkhouser, Paul Gentry, Guo Nan, Wendy Kahle, Stephen Leflar, Susan Lowdermilk, Nicole Rawlins, John Saling, Michael Southern, Margaret van Patten, Wang Gongyi and Christy Wyckoff. At Augen Gallery www.augengallery.com 716 NW Davis
Profession as performance artist Lucas Murgida presents, professes and performs tonight. Murgida has learned, practiced and repurposed serial professions including locksmithing, cabinetmaking and teaching yoga. While artists such as Nikki S. Lee document, and Alix Lambert, comment subtly, Murgida takes ordinary professions in radically unexpected directions, kidnapping them for art. He speaks and performs in the Autzen Gallery. Neuberger Hall, Room 205, 725 SW Harrison. Opening early 4PM-6
For something completely different, you can see an open rehearsal and discussion on the its creation by BodyVox of their upcoming world premiere of new work: Smoke Soup. At BodyVox Studios, www.bodyvox.com 1201 NW 17th 6:30PM-8 Free
Portland artist Melody Owen has a show at Marylhurst this month, and has two shows opening this evening. Part of a group show at University of Oregon in the White Stag Block, she shows 8 Knot, in a show themed on Werner Herzog's account of walking between München and Paris. At the Elizabeth Leach Gallery, she shows a series, Letters from Switzerland. She is known for elegant minimalist sculpture, repeating simple elements around an idea. She also works in photography, collage and illustration. Her work is quiet, beautiful, unexpected.
At the White Cube in the University of Oregon White Stag Building, 70 NW Couch
And at Elizabeth Leach www.elizabethleach.com 417 NW 9th
Beppu Wiarda Gallery has a science themed show, a trend we will see more, despite failing science education. The show comprises works by women artists inspired by historic women scientists - the artists and respective scientists include: Abra Ancliffe : Maria Mitchell(1818-1889), American Astronomer/ Katie Ammons : Louise Arner Boyd (1887-1972), Arctic Explorer, geoscientist/ Kate Copeland : Zoe Rodriguez del Rey, Environmental Science/ Kate Fenker : Marcia Ascher, Mathematician/Ethnomathematics/ Bean Gilsdorf : Susanne Gahl, Linguistics / Kim Hamblin : Chrystal Bell, Forensic Biology/ Kim McKenna : Sophie Germain (1776-1835), Mathematics ,Theory of Elasticity/ Sara McKenna : Countess Ada Lovelace(1815-1852), Mathematics/ Lorna Nakell : Sophie Brahe (1556-1643), Astronomer,Alchemist. Notibly absent is Mariana Tres who worked with images from the astronomy archive at Harvard.
The gallery also hosts talks this month around the show, see their website for details. At Beppu Wiarda www.beppugallery.com 319 NW 9th
Noted Portland artist Marie Watt gets at the Northwest Native experience in a way that doesn't pummel. Contemporary art is a great venue for exploration of our post-contact history. It's timely with the great success of the Aboriginal Pavilion at the Vancouver Olympics. At PDX Contemporary Gallery www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 925 NW Flanders
Pulliam has sculptures by David French and paintings by Ken Kelly. French uses wood as a base material upon which to craft exquisite finishes. At Pulliam Gallery www.pulliamdeffenbaugh.com 929 NW Flanders early close 8PM
Augen has a Northwest print show including artists Sheryl Funkhouser, Paul Gentry, Guo Nan, Wendy Kahle, Stephen Leflar, Susan Lowdermilk, Nicole Rawlins, John Saling, Michael Southern, Margaret van Patten, Wang Gongyi and Christy Wyckoff. At Augen Gallery www.augengallery.com 716 NW Davis
Profession as performance artist Lucas Murgida presents, professes and performs tonight. Murgida has learned, practiced and repurposed serial professions including locksmithing, cabinetmaking and teaching yoga. While artists such as Nikki S. Lee document, and Alix Lambert, comment subtly, Murgida takes ordinary professions in radically unexpected directions, kidnapping them for art. He speaks and performs in the Autzen Gallery. Neuberger Hall, Room 205, 725 SW Harrison. Opening early 4PM-6
For something completely different, you can see an open rehearsal and discussion on the its creation by BodyVox of their upcoming world premiere of new work: Smoke Soup. At BodyVox Studios, www.bodyvox.com 1201 NW 17th 6:30PM-8 Free
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
March 2 Seeds of Change
This is an unusual talk for an art school, but prescient, in the context of the socially conscious fork of the social practice art movement. Dr Alan Kapuler cofounded Seeds of Change 30 years ago to produce organic plant seeds and distribute them to farms and home gardens. All of the seeds are in the public domain. Open source seeds. His talk tonight is "Ecosanity: Ongoing Discoveries About Life", which could cover a lot of ground. The intent of the lecture series is to inspire artists with raw inspiration from the sciences. At PNCA www.pnca.edu 1241 NW Johnson 6:30PM Free
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
February 25 Holly Andres Photographer
Holly Andres, Portland photographer and filmmaker, constructs domestic scenarios in the manner of Gregory Crewdson. She does it well. They are nostalgic, maybe disquieting. Andres shows her work this month at the PCC and speaks there today on her projects. At PCC Sylvania's North Light Gallery www.pcc.edu/about/galleries/sylvania/ Communications Technology 214, 12000 SW 49th. 12:30PM-2:30 Free
Monday, February 22, 2010
February 22 PICA Curates and Designers Create
This week PSU's Monday Night Lecture Series hosts Kristan Kennedy, artist and visual curator for PICA, which is also a sponsor of the series. Kennedy knows the Portland art community in depth, developing her own practice amidst it. She is a powerful curator, with the possibility to mix international artists from PICA's network with capable locals. Hear her thoughts in the Shattuck Hall Annex out front, 1914 SW Park Avenue, at the corner of SW Broadway and Hall on the PSU campus. 7:30PM Free
Portland is a literary city. We have an endless appetite for talks too. And we are creative. An instance combining the three vectors is the New Oregon Interview Series, the evolution of cultural presenters 2GQ. Ultimately the interviews with Portland culture workers will be cast in book form. You can hear the live version, tonight, in the focus area of urban design. Mayor Sam Adams, Portland Monthly editor Randy Gragg and Portland's most renowned living architect Brad Cloepfil provide their thoughts. At Urban Grind Cafe, 2214 NE Oregon St. Doors 6:30PM, talk 7. $5
Portland is a literary city. We have an endless appetite for talks too. And we are creative. An instance combining the three vectors is the New Oregon Interview Series, the evolution of cultural presenters 2GQ. Ultimately the interviews with Portland culture workers will be cast in book form. You can hear the live version, tonight, in the focus area of urban design. Mayor Sam Adams, Portland Monthly editor Randy Gragg and Portland's most renowned living architect Brad Cloepfil provide their thoughts. At Urban Grind Cafe, 2214 NE Oregon St. Doors 6:30PM, talk 7. $5
Saturday, February 20, 2010
February 21 Disquieted Talk and Melody Owen Opening
We are fortunate the chief curator at the Portland Art Museum has a strong background in contemporary art. It fits well with today's art making practice in Portland. Chief curator Bruce Guenther has worked for several years assembling a survey, Disquieted, which hits some important high points in the Pantheon of contemporary art. Shows have a theme, what is more interesting to me are the artists who have been selected. This is a big show for the Museum, an opportunity for you, the viewer, to catch up on what art has brought us here. Today Guenther explains his thought process in selecting the artists and the work. At the Portland Art Museum www.pam.org 1219 SW Park 2PM $12, $5 members.
Melody Owen, UO and Alfred schooled, never fails to take a surprising view at whatever she undertakes, in a good way. She is subject to a welcome review at the Marylhurst Art Gym this month. Recommended. At the Marylhurst Art Gym at Marylhurst University www.marylhurst.edu/theartgym/ Check the campus map to find it. 3PM-5 Free
Melody Owen, UO and Alfred schooled, never fails to take a surprising view at whatever she undertakes, in a good way. She is subject to a welcome review at the Marylhurst Art Gym this month. Recommended. At the Marylhurst Art Gym at Marylhurst University www.marylhurst.edu/theartgym/ Check the campus map to find it. 3PM-5 Free
February 20 Caldera
Caldera is expanding its visibility. It started as a summer art program for kids that otherwise wouldn't otherwise have opportunities to explore art. It combines an environmental dimension to contemporary art making. That fits well with it's location, nestled in the woods near Sisters, Oregon. Caldera added studio residencies in the off season. Sometimes artists are virtually snowed in, a perfect quiet opportunity for intense studio practice. They are holding open studios for the current art residents today. Artists Jessica Burton, Kevin Cooley, Wendy Given, Rafael Oses and Jason Perter, lead the tour. At Camp Caldera, www.calderaarts.org Sisters, Oregon (see the web site for directions) 1PM-3 Free
Thursday, February 18, 2010
February 19 Sculpture, 100 Bones, Hungry Eyeball
Disjecta is hosting a happy hour and discussion with sculptor Jenene Nagy, her work fills the space. Her explanations of her work are fascinating, there is a tremendous amount of planning from every angle that goes into them. At Disjecta www.disjecta.org 8371 N. Interstate 7PM Free
Breezeblock Gallery is a local gallery focused on urban and graffiti art, think Upper Playground, they branch out from that too. They had a space on Alberta, then Burnside, now they are virtual. Tonight they materialize with their annual 100 Bones show. All artwork is $100, or eless, and you can take it home for instant gratification. Music by DJ Wu. Champagne and gummy bears. At Ecdysiast Studio 326 SE Madison 6PM-10 Free
The Hungry Eyeball are local champions of lowbrow and outsider art. Those are actual terms in the canon of art history! They have their own periodicals, such as Juxtapoz and Raw Vision. There are successful galleries devoted to them, here and in Europe. Every so often institutions like the Whitney even dip their toes in the water. It's not a personal interest now, but it is always interesting. Tonight Hungry Eyeball curates a show including Jason Graham, Klutch, Eatcho and J. Shea. Portlander Klutch originated the Vinyl Killers project, art painted on old disks. Opening at Lyrik 2035 SE 39th 7PM-10 Free
Breezeblock Gallery is a local gallery focused on urban and graffiti art, think Upper Playground, they branch out from that too. They had a space on Alberta, then Burnside, now they are virtual. Tonight they materialize with their annual 100 Bones show. All artwork is $100, or eless, and you can take it home for instant gratification. Music by DJ Wu. Champagne and gummy bears. At Ecdysiast Studio 326 SE Madison 6PM-10 Free
The Hungry Eyeball are local champions of lowbrow and outsider art. Those are actual terms in the canon of art history! They have their own periodicals, such as Juxtapoz and Raw Vision. There are successful galleries devoted to them, here and in Europe. Every so often institutions like the Whitney even dip their toes in the water. It's not a personal interest now, but it is always interesting. Tonight Hungry Eyeball curates a show including Jason Graham, Klutch, Eatcho and J. Shea. Portlander Klutch originated the Vinyl Killers project, art painted on old disks. Opening at Lyrik 2035 SE 39th 7PM-10 Free
February 18-20 BodyVox-2
I have an affection for select abstract dance. Locals BodyVox have started a second unit, BodyVox-2. It's a chance for a new group of young dancers to try on the choreography of the main unit going back over 12 years. How interesting to see how someone new "gets" a personal thing you have made, by doing it. It's an important step forward, in light of the half-life of dance. At BodyVox Studios, www.bodyvox.com 1201 NW 17th 7:30PM (&2 Saturday) $16-20
February 18 Art Spark and AIGA SHIFT
This month Someday Lounge hosts Art Spark. There will be a ten minute presentation at 6 by local arts presenter Young Audiences. The rest of the time is valuable networking in the art world of Portland! At Someday Lounge 125 NW 5th 5PM-7 Free
Portland has an active chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Designers. They have a periodic sustainability salon, SHIFT, organized around invited speakers. This month includes varied presentations: "Don’t be square! : From parent sheet to final printed item", by Austin Whipple, Creative Director, Pinball Publishing; "Propelling a movement: Design, technology, and cooperation to support the local economy", Katrina Scotto di Carlo, Supportland; "SCRAP", Elaine Volpe, marketing manager, Slate Technologies; "Pros & cons of materials in large format printing", Dallas Roemelling, OBP Signs & Graphics; "CMYG: Projecting authenticity in a crowd of Greenie McFakersons", Daniel Eckhart, Numerosign; "Utilizing water-based inks for apparel & textile graphics", PJ Portlock, Designer, Prolabro; "What is normal? And why?", Jonathan Bean; "Shave the world", David Vanadia, Interdisciplinary Artist; "re:active, and the sustainability of design professionals’ demographics", Michael Etter, Senior Art Director, Ziba Design; and "A journey in sustainable product & packaging design", Ken Tomita, TomitaDesigns & Grove. Bring your own cup for free beverages. At Ziba Design www.ziba.com 810 NW Marshall. 7PM. Doors 6:45, doors close at 7:15 sharp. AIGA Members, free, else $5.
Portland has an active chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Designers. They have a periodic sustainability salon, SHIFT, organized around invited speakers. This month includes varied presentations: "Don’t be square! : From parent sheet to final printed item", by Austin Whipple, Creative Director, Pinball Publishing; "Propelling a movement: Design, technology, and cooperation to support the local economy", Katrina Scotto di Carlo, Supportland; "SCRAP", Elaine Volpe, marketing manager, Slate Technologies; "Pros & cons of materials in large format printing", Dallas Roemelling, OBP Signs & Graphics; "CMYG: Projecting authenticity in a crowd of Greenie McFakersons", Daniel Eckhart, Numerosign; "Utilizing water-based inks for apparel & textile graphics", PJ Portlock, Designer, Prolabro; "What is normal? And why?", Jonathan Bean; "Shave the world", David Vanadia, Interdisciplinary Artist; "re:active, and the sustainability of design professionals’ demographics", Michael Etter, Senior Art Director, Ziba Design; and "A journey in sustainable product & packaging design", Ken Tomita, TomitaDesigns & Grove. Bring your own cup for free beverages. At Ziba Design www.ziba.com 810 NW Marshall. 7PM. Doors 6:45, doors close at 7:15 sharp. AIGA Members, free, else $5.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
February 12 Voice Music Art
Ethan Rose is an accomplished electronic composer with contributions in ensemble, Adellade and Small Sails; film scoring, Paranoid Park; installation art, Player Piano and Transference. As a long enthusiast of mixing vocals and electronic music, I'm a big fan of tonight's project with the composer and singer-songwriter Laura Gibson. You can hear it at Holocene. Early $7
Nationale is moving and this is the last chance to see a show at their founding location. They are moving to the 811 block! This month it's collage work by Morgan Ritter. Nationale's curator has shown a savvy eye towards Portland-related artists, which we complement. At NATIONALE nationaleportland.blogspot.com 2730 E Burnside 6PM-8 Free
Alpern Gallery seems so far on a theme similar to the very successful Tilt Gallery, showing minimal smart sculpture and idea-based art. This month they show Deker Faust. At Alpern Gallery www.alperngallery.com 2552 NW Vaughn 6PM-9
Nationale is moving and this is the last chance to see a show at their founding location. They are moving to the 811 block! This month it's collage work by Morgan Ritter. Nationale's curator has shown a savvy eye towards Portland-related artists, which we complement. At NATIONALE nationaleportland.blogspot.com 2730 E Burnside 6PM-8 Free
Alpern Gallery seems so far on a theme similar to the very successful Tilt Gallery, showing minimal smart sculpture and idea-based art. This month they show Deker Faust. At Alpern Gallery www.alperngallery.com 2552 NW Vaughn 6PM-9
February 12-14 206 Zulu 6th Epic Jam
This blog is primarily Portland focused and art focused. But we are interested in many diverse branches of cultural evolution. Hip hop culture is a vital evolutionary force, worldwide. The Zulu Nation is an international focus point. Portland's hip hop culture is challenged for a variety of reasons, but we are connected to Seattle which has a vibrant scene. This is an example.
The 206 Zulu celebrates their 6th anniversary with an international battle and massive events. Peace, Love, Unity & Having Fun is the creed. OK. One event is a 2-on-2 battle, international lineup, with a $2000 prize, cash money, Sunday. All of the events are free. Free is good. Check the rundown. Various locations, Seattle Center, Vera, Cirque, more. Friday 8AM-late, Saturday 3PM-8, Sunday 6M-11 Battle, 11-late After Party. Free
The 206 Zulu celebrates their 6th anniversary with an international battle and massive events. Peace, Love, Unity & Having Fun is the creed. OK. One event is a 2-on-2 battle, international lineup, with a $2000 prize, cash money, Sunday. All of the events are free. Free is good. Check the rundown. Various locations, Seattle Center, Vera, Cirque, more. Friday 8AM-late, Saturday 3PM-8, Sunday 6M-11 Battle, 11-late After Party. Free
Monday, February 08, 2010
February 9 China, Grandin, Dance
Portland filmmaker Ivy Lin is focused on Chinese history in Portland. It's an important vector, for Chinese, Chinese Americans and Portlanders, and for obvious reasons. She screens her film Come Together Home, Death. Disinterment. Reburial., documenting the travel of graves from SE Portland to Hong Kong. The land where they once were buried is proposed for home development. At the University of Oregon White Stag Building, 70 NW Couch. Reception 5:30PM, film 6, Q&A after. Free
I do not usually track events outside Portland, I'm an in person person, but sometimes one catches my eye. Temple Grandin stops at UO for a free talk on her way to the TED Talks. Grandin is autistic. She has directed her prescience to the science of the manufacture of meat, proposing changes, which have been adopted, in slaughterhouses. Someone has to do it. She is a prolific writer on autism as well as what humans can learn from animal behavior. She speaks as guest lecturer in a religion department class at University of Oregon by Professor Mark Unno. Sponsored by the University's Oregon Humanities Center, which will later have the event on line. 282 Lillis. Eugene 7:30PM Free
Valentines is a cafe that, more than most, operates successfully in the nexus of art and remix culture in the form of music. Tonight they push their own boundaries to present dance movement art. Danielle Ross has curated a beautiful and challenging evening of work based on the idea of found movement, movement sampling, by Paige McKinney and the Performers, Linda Austin + rhiza A+D, Tahni Holt, Future Death Toll, Little Friction Dance and Suniti Dernovsek. at Valentines myspace.com/valentineslifeblood 232 SW Ankeny Art 9PM, Free
I do not usually track events outside Portland, I'm an in person person, but sometimes one catches my eye. Temple Grandin stops at UO for a free talk on her way to the TED Talks. Grandin is autistic. She has directed her prescience to the science of the manufacture of meat, proposing changes, which have been adopted, in slaughterhouses. Someone has to do it. She is a prolific writer on autism as well as what humans can learn from animal behavior. She speaks as guest lecturer in a religion department class at University of Oregon by Professor Mark Unno. Sponsored by the University's Oregon Humanities Center, which will later have the event on line. 282 Lillis. Eugene 7:30PM Free
Valentines is a cafe that, more than most, operates successfully in the nexus of art and remix culture in the form of music. Tonight they push their own boundaries to present dance movement art. Danielle Ross has curated a beautiful and challenging evening of work based on the idea of found movement, movement sampling, by Paige McKinney and the Performers, Linda Austin + rhiza A+D, Tahni Holt, Future Death Toll, Little Friction Dance and Suniti Dernovsek. at Valentines myspace.com/valentineslifeblood 232 SW Ankeny Art 9PM, Free
Saturday, February 06, 2010
February 8 Time to Art, Art to Alberta, Advertising to Art
Artist Paul Ramirez Jonas creates sculpture, installation and performance by sampling society and transforming it to another dimension. Sometimes his inspiration has been text, but he's not limited to that. His 15+ year career is available at his website. Food for thought. Talk in the Shattuck Hall Annex out front, 1914 SW Park Avenue, at the corner of SW Broadway and Hall on the PSU campus. 7:30PM Free
My personal interest is art travels together with the idea that artists develop economically sustainable careers. Nonetheless, there is an important role for DIY, outsider art, emerging artists, craft and craft-based art. There is a huge value in cultural exploration - I'm a believer in an evolutionary model of culture, diversity and natural selection. But diversity may be about to kill the goose that laid the golden egg.
NE Alberta Street between about 8th and 30th attracted a legion of creative people seeking low rent beginning about 15 years ago. Meanwhile artists selling on the street on First Thursday were pushed out of the Pearl District by businesses there. Some return under the umbrella of the Urban Arts Network, which collects money from artists and pays the City to close NW 13th for individual artists and craftspeople. Businessman Magnus Johannesson purchased several blocks of Alberta storefronts when no one wanted to live in the neighborhood. About 10 years ago he conceived the idea of Last Thursday to activate the street and has nurtured it behind the scenes.
The event has grown with legions of artists and craftsmakers competing to set up shop in prime spots, tall bikes, clowns, baby carriages, dogs, street DJ's, live musicians, playing with fire, food carts and actually a few art galleries. The event has brought a downside for neighbors and, of course, an upside in property values, rental prices and business income.
As the event has grown, the City has closed the street, rerouted buses, provided police, ambulance services stand by, there are portapotties and trash collection. The City is trying to find an owner and someone to pay those expenses. The City has been spending over $10,000 a month on Last Thursday. Everyone involved wants the benefits, and none, the costs.
Tonight is a public meeting to explore the evolution of the event. My bias is to preserve the unregulated arts market free to artists for as long as possible. There's no guarantee of that. If you would like to listen or give your opinion, you can join the meeting hosted by Mayor Adams, with a strong creative economy business development staff, and Commissioner Fritz, who helms the Office of Neighborhood Associations.
Meeting at the Acadian Ballroom, 1829 NE Alberta Street 6PM-8 Free
Bright Lights is an irregular interview series of high quality where creatives meet movers and shakers. It's primarily focused on architecture and development, an instance of creatives meeting movers and shakers. Tonight, host Randy Gragg, photographer and writer, interviews Dan Wieden, cofounder of an advertising agency that has grown into much more. Wieden has more plans yet. He founded Caldera, an arts project engaging both artists and youth underserved by arts opportunity, with an environmental bent. Wieden has expansive plans for Caldera and you can learn of them tonight. Part of a series sponsored by the City Club of Portland and Portland Spaces Magazine, it's at Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10, 6PM Free
My personal interest is art travels together with the idea that artists develop economically sustainable careers. Nonetheless, there is an important role for DIY, outsider art, emerging artists, craft and craft-based art. There is a huge value in cultural exploration - I'm a believer in an evolutionary model of culture, diversity and natural selection. But diversity may be about to kill the goose that laid the golden egg.
NE Alberta Street between about 8th and 30th attracted a legion of creative people seeking low rent beginning about 15 years ago. Meanwhile artists selling on the street on First Thursday were pushed out of the Pearl District by businesses there. Some return under the umbrella of the Urban Arts Network, which collects money from artists and pays the City to close NW 13th for individual artists and craftspeople. Businessman Magnus Johannesson purchased several blocks of Alberta storefronts when no one wanted to live in the neighborhood. About 10 years ago he conceived the idea of Last Thursday to activate the street and has nurtured it behind the scenes.
The event has grown with legions of artists and craftsmakers competing to set up shop in prime spots, tall bikes, clowns, baby carriages, dogs, street DJ's, live musicians, playing with fire, food carts and actually a few art galleries. The event has brought a downside for neighbors and, of course, an upside in property values, rental prices and business income.
As the event has grown, the City has closed the street, rerouted buses, provided police, ambulance services stand by, there are portapotties and trash collection. The City is trying to find an owner and someone to pay those expenses. The City has been spending over $10,000 a month on Last Thursday. Everyone involved wants the benefits, and none, the costs.
Tonight is a public meeting to explore the evolution of the event. My bias is to preserve the unregulated arts market free to artists for as long as possible. There's no guarantee of that. If you would like to listen or give your opinion, you can join the meeting hosted by Mayor Adams, with a strong creative economy business development staff, and Commissioner Fritz, who helms the Office of Neighborhood Associations.
Meeting at the Acadian Ballroom, 1829 NE Alberta Street 6PM-8 Free
Bright Lights is an irregular interview series of high quality where creatives meet movers and shakers. It's primarily focused on architecture and development, an instance of creatives meeting movers and shakers. Tonight, host Randy Gragg, photographer and writer, interviews Dan Wieden, cofounder of an advertising agency that has grown into much more. Wieden has more plans yet. He founded Caldera, an arts project engaging both artists and youth underserved by arts opportunity, with an environmental bent. Wieden has expansive plans for Caldera and you can learn of them tonight. Part of a series sponsored by the City Club of Portland and Portland Spaces Magazine, it's at Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10, 6PM Free
February 6 Installation and Visual Sampling
The South Waterfront development has used art as a branding strategy. They have an artist residency and a quarterly installation series. The current installation, Blueprints, Anchors, Ambitions, by Fae Young-Scherling, closes today with a reception. At 3660 SW River Parkway, 3PM-6 Free
Cafe The Hop and Vine embraces an art space 19Ten which is opening a show by Portland artist Dan Ness this evening. 1910 N Killingsworth 6PM-9 Free
Cafe The Hop and Vine embraces an art space 19Ten which is opening a show by Portland artist Dan Ness this evening. 1910 N Killingsworth 6PM-9 Free
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
February 5-March 6 20th Annual Cascade Festival of African Films
For 20 years little Portland has hosted the Cascade Festival of African Films. It's a month long affair with 23 films this year, from, or exploring, Cameroon, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda. The films are being shown at PCC Cascade, the Kennedy School and at the Hollywood theater. The opening film tonight is from Ethopia, the director will be in attendance. All the films in the festival's history are also housed in the PCC library. The website has the full schedule. Best of all, every film is free! www.africanfilmfestival.org
February 5 Eastside Art Openings+
Kendra Larson and Kurtiss Lofstrom show at Gallery Homeland. Larson is a Northwest native inspired by our dark forests. She channels that in pencil and charcoal drawings that have overlaid brightly colored geometric images - very mystical! Lofstrom works in collage of found image, particularly brightly printed magazines. At Gallery Homeland www.galleryhomeland.org 2505 SE 11th x Division
Fourteen30 Gallery has a show themed on Winter. It includes artists Sebastian Gogel, Leipzig; Matthew Green, Portland; Frank Haines & Francis Heinzfeller, Brooklyn; Alex Hubbard, Brooklyn; Arnold Kemp, Portland; Alicia Love McDaid, Portland; Thomas Moecker, Leipzig; Jo Nigoghossian, NYC; Sven Stuckenschmidt, Berlin; and Portland's Molly Vidor. At Fourteen30 Gallery www.fourteen30.com 1430 SE 3rd 6PM-9
Pop painter Corey Smith relocated from Portland to Los Angeles. He's back with the copywriting award of the month: "We’ve seen the future, and it only looks good in hardware specs. Amid famine, collapse, and massacre, we dream of freedom. From the pyramid to the moon shuttle, man’s greatest endeavor has always been to subjugate death and the dreams of sleep—to own them, control them, escape there—to paint our own new futures onto the blank slate of unfilled coordinates.
In Obsolete Dreams, artist Corey Smith confronts the hulking physicality of these useless masters of dreams and death: Cold-War stealth bombers, moon shuttles, astronauts, the unholy engine fueled by the American flag. But Smith remakes them according to their own dream logic, that alien symbolism of deflective curve and angle that is both perfect and perfectly incomprehensible to the life that is always right here in front of us.
So in Smith’s work, silent death comes in the bright colors of advertising, and bombers swing lovely as children’s models on wires. The grim, grey haze of a satellite photo takes on a more intense reality than the one you know, because it comes from that high, floating future. Even if the art of science is war and escape, there’s nothing more romantic than chasing the zero all the way down. And space is where you dream, when you dream on empty.
Corey Smith’s Obsolete Dreams calls out to the primal dreams themselves: Long live the dead dreams, long after their masters have forgotten how to dream." At Worksound 820 SE Alder
Grass Hut has a group show of prints by some familiar artists including Studio Folk, Scrappers, Shawn Wolfe, Chris Johanson, Tim Biskup, Little Friends Of Printmaking, Ian Lynam, Yellena James, APAK, Brad Simon and Mauro Gatti. At Grass Hut www.grasshutcorp.com 811 E Burnside
Newspace has a annual themed show, curated from international submissions. This year the theme is Carnival. At Newspace Photo www.newspacephoto.org 1632 SE 10th
Pushdot has Traci French, Sarah Kamsler, Nicole Linde, Mulysa Melco, Kim Oanh Nguyen, Ann Ploeger, Georgia Stylou, and Tatiana Wills. At Pushdot Studio www.pushdotstudio.com 1021 SE Caruthers
Down and Out is an international group show of photography curated by the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego. It's a large contemporary cross section, including Portland photographers Chris Bennett, Heidi Bertman, Jeffrey Krolick and Duc Ly. At 23Sandy www.23sandy.com 623 NE 23 at Sandy 5PM-8
Nemo Design has a big bike event this evening. There is a show of bike themed photos, custom frames, roller sprint races and a tricks competition in the parking lot. There is a fee to compete and prizes, but otherwise it's all free! The event continues Saturday at Liberty Hall. At Nemo Design www.studionemo.com 1875 SE Belmont 6PM-10 Free
Artists like fun. And they organize it themselves in the most creative way possible. Artists Jenny Hoyston and Sarah Gottesdiener are starting a regular wind up to First Friday openings. There will be video art by Melanie Valera, music by TJO and Marisa Anderson, and a dance performance by Allison Halter. There will be DJ's and dancing. At Branx 320 SE 2nd 9PM-2 $5
Fourteen30 Gallery has a show themed on Winter. It includes artists Sebastian Gogel, Leipzig; Matthew Green, Portland; Frank Haines & Francis Heinzfeller, Brooklyn; Alex Hubbard, Brooklyn; Arnold Kemp, Portland; Alicia Love McDaid, Portland; Thomas Moecker, Leipzig; Jo Nigoghossian, NYC; Sven Stuckenschmidt, Berlin; and Portland's Molly Vidor. At Fourteen30 Gallery www.fourteen30.com 1430 SE 3rd 6PM-9
Pop painter Corey Smith relocated from Portland to Los Angeles. He's back with the copywriting award of the month: "We’ve seen the future, and it only looks good in hardware specs. Amid famine, collapse, and massacre, we dream of freedom. From the pyramid to the moon shuttle, man’s greatest endeavor has always been to subjugate death and the dreams of sleep—to own them, control them, escape there—to paint our own new futures onto the blank slate of unfilled coordinates.
In Obsolete Dreams, artist Corey Smith confronts the hulking physicality of these useless masters of dreams and death: Cold-War stealth bombers, moon shuttles, astronauts, the unholy engine fueled by the American flag. But Smith remakes them according to their own dream logic, that alien symbolism of deflective curve and angle that is both perfect and perfectly incomprehensible to the life that is always right here in front of us.
So in Smith’s work, silent death comes in the bright colors of advertising, and bombers swing lovely as children’s models on wires. The grim, grey haze of a satellite photo takes on a more intense reality than the one you know, because it comes from that high, floating future. Even if the art of science is war and escape, there’s nothing more romantic than chasing the zero all the way down. And space is where you dream, when you dream on empty.
Corey Smith’s Obsolete Dreams calls out to the primal dreams themselves: Long live the dead dreams, long after their masters have forgotten how to dream." At Worksound 820 SE Alder
Grass Hut has a group show of prints by some familiar artists including Studio Folk, Scrappers, Shawn Wolfe, Chris Johanson, Tim Biskup, Little Friends Of Printmaking, Ian Lynam, Yellena James, APAK, Brad Simon and Mauro Gatti. At Grass Hut www.grasshutcorp.com 811 E Burnside
Newspace has a annual themed show, curated from international submissions. This year the theme is Carnival. At Newspace Photo www.newspacephoto.org 1632 SE 10th
Pushdot has Traci French, Sarah Kamsler, Nicole Linde, Mulysa Melco, Kim Oanh Nguyen, Ann Ploeger, Georgia Stylou, and Tatiana Wills. At Pushdot Studio www.pushdotstudio.com 1021 SE Caruthers
Down and Out is an international group show of photography curated by the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego. It's a large contemporary cross section, including Portland photographers Chris Bennett, Heidi Bertman, Jeffrey Krolick and Duc Ly. At 23Sandy www.23sandy.com 623 NE 23 at Sandy 5PM-8
Nemo Design has a big bike event this evening. There is a show of bike themed photos, custom frames, roller sprint races and a tricks competition in the parking lot. There is a fee to compete and prizes, but otherwise it's all free! The event continues Saturday at Liberty Hall. At Nemo Design www.studionemo.com 1875 SE Belmont 6PM-10 Free
Artists like fun. And they organize it themselves in the most creative way possible. Artists Jenny Hoyston and Sarah Gottesdiener are starting a regular wind up to First Friday openings. There will be video art by Melanie Valera, music by TJO and Marisa Anderson, and a dance performance by Allison Halter. There will be DJ's and dancing. At Branx 320 SE 2nd 9PM-2 $5
February 4 Westside Art Openings+
The Everett Lofts and associated spaces are recommended, as always, for your viewing pleasure. See them in the block bounded by NW Everett, Broadway, Flanders and 6th.
Seattle painter Jaq Chartier shows her bright paintings which have always reminded me of the results of gene sequencing. The patterns she makes with paint are very mysterious and beautiful, burning with cool passion. She is an art scientist too, with her "sun test" experiments of controlled fading. This is my favorite form of abstract, bright and subtly enigmatic. The gallery is also showing work by Pat Boas, Adam Chapman, Isaac Layman, Joe Park and Xiaoze Xie. At Elizabeth Leach www.elizabethleach.com 417 NW 9th
Bean Finneran makes bright fragile sculptures. They resemble sea anemones, bristling spines. At PDX Contemporary Gallery www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 925 NW Flanders
Pulliam Gallery has a small group show including Yoshihiro Kitai, Jerry Iverson and Jeffry Mitchell. At Pulliam Gallery www.pulliamdeffenbaugh.com 929 NW Flanders early close 8PM
Made in California is a show of drawings, paintings and prints including Chris Ballantyne, Marcel Dzama, Caio Fonseca, Sam Frances, David Hockney, Chris Johanson, Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Richard Sera and Frank Stella. It's a good art history lesson. At Augen Gallery www.augengallery.com 716 NW Davis
Always curiously entertaining The Oregon Painting Society has an installation at PNCA in the Manuel Izquierdo Gallery 825 NW 13th 6:30PM-9ish
Falling Whistles is not exactly a contemporary art show. It's a campaign for peace in Congo. Congo's history is detailed in Adam Hochschild's King Leopold's Ghost, a story of greed, terror, and heroism in colonial Africa. Independent of Belgium beginning in 1960, a new government survived less than 12 weeks before dictator Mobutu Sésé Seko was installed. Michela Wrong relates the Mobutu era: In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz: Living on the Brink of Disaster in Mobutu's Congo. In 1994 the Rwandan genocide unleashed another terror on Congo, one from which it has not recovered. After Mobutu's death, Rwandan fighters became the catalyst for a war to control Congo's resources. Diamonds, gold, copper, tin, tungsten, oil, tantalum, uranium and tropical hardwood were the prize of misery. In Eastern Congo low level war persists and vast refugee camps are commonplace. The Falling Whistles project is a small NGO working on education and direct aid to children in Eastern Congo. If you need a whistle, you can buy them tonight and other purchases also benefit the project. At Lizard Lounge 1323 NW Irving 7PM-10
BodyVox is a Portland modern dance group that performs nationally. They are comprised of dancers with many years experience spanning nationally known companies. They are well known for their humor and for incorporating film into their work. They have even collaborated with Zoobombers. They have created a new second unit: BodyVox-2. BodyVox-2 is a company of young dancers performing the repertory of BodyVox with flash. This evening BodyVox-2 holds an open rehersal and mini-performance, presaging their debut February 18. At BodyVox Studios, www.bodyvox.com 1201 NW 17th 6:30PM-8 Free
Seattle painter Jaq Chartier shows her bright paintings which have always reminded me of the results of gene sequencing. The patterns she makes with paint are very mysterious and beautiful, burning with cool passion. She is an art scientist too, with her "sun test" experiments of controlled fading. This is my favorite form of abstract, bright and subtly enigmatic. The gallery is also showing work by Pat Boas, Adam Chapman, Isaac Layman, Joe Park and Xiaoze Xie. At Elizabeth Leach www.elizabethleach.com 417 NW 9th
Bean Finneran makes bright fragile sculptures. They resemble sea anemones, bristling spines. At PDX Contemporary Gallery www.pdxcontemporaryart.com 925 NW Flanders
Pulliam Gallery has a small group show including Yoshihiro Kitai, Jerry Iverson and Jeffry Mitchell. At Pulliam Gallery www.pulliamdeffenbaugh.com 929 NW Flanders early close 8PM
Made in California is a show of drawings, paintings and prints including Chris Ballantyne, Marcel Dzama, Caio Fonseca, Sam Frances, David Hockney, Chris Johanson, Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Richard Sera and Frank Stella. It's a good art history lesson. At Augen Gallery www.augengallery.com 716 NW Davis
Always curiously entertaining The Oregon Painting Society has an installation at PNCA in the Manuel Izquierdo Gallery 825 NW 13th 6:30PM-9ish
Falling Whistles is not exactly a contemporary art show. It's a campaign for peace in Congo. Congo's history is detailed in Adam Hochschild's King Leopold's Ghost, a story of greed, terror, and heroism in colonial Africa. Independent of Belgium beginning in 1960, a new government survived less than 12 weeks before dictator Mobutu Sésé Seko was installed. Michela Wrong relates the Mobutu era: In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz: Living on the Brink of Disaster in Mobutu's Congo. In 1994 the Rwandan genocide unleashed another terror on Congo, one from which it has not recovered. After Mobutu's death, Rwandan fighters became the catalyst for a war to control Congo's resources. Diamonds, gold, copper, tin, tungsten, oil, tantalum, uranium and tropical hardwood were the prize of misery. In Eastern Congo low level war persists and vast refugee camps are commonplace. The Falling Whistles project is a small NGO working on education and direct aid to children in Eastern Congo. If you need a whistle, you can buy them tonight and other purchases also benefit the project. At Lizard Lounge 1323 NW Irving 7PM-10
BodyVox is a Portland modern dance group that performs nationally. They are comprised of dancers with many years experience spanning nationally known companies. They are well known for their humor and for incorporating film into their work. They have even collaborated with Zoobombers. They have created a new second unit: BodyVox-2. BodyVox-2 is a company of young dancers performing the repertory of BodyVox with flash. This evening BodyVox-2 holds an open rehersal and mini-performance, presaging their debut February 18. At BodyVox Studios, www.bodyvox.com 1201 NW 17th 6:30PM-8 Free
February 3 Development & Creativity
Writer and MacArthur grant recipient Lewis Hyde speaks on The Gift and the Commons: Creativity and the Public Good. Hyde is author of The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in a Modern World, a classic exploration and resource to artist readers for 25 years. Tonight he expands his original thesis in light of the Creative Commons movement and debates on digital rights. This is the subject of a new book he is developing. He speaks at Lewis and Clark College on the same topic Thursday at 4PM. At PNCA www.pnca.edu 1241 NW Johnson 6:30PM-8 Free
Randy Rapaport is a developer of contemporary mixed use spaces. His projects have attained architectural significance while quietly doing their job as residences. Rapaport has also gone a good job at curating the sidewalk side businesses filling his projects. Tonight he discusses his process, projects and plans. It is part of an irregular series on design at Design Within Reach. At DWR Portland Studio 1200 NW Everett. Doors 6:00PM, program 6:30 Free
Randy Rapaport is a developer of contemporary mixed use spaces. His projects have attained architectural significance while quietly doing their job as residences. Rapaport has also gone a good job at curating the sidewalk side businesses filling his projects. Tonight he discusses his process, projects and plans. It is part of an irregular series on design at Design Within Reach. At DWR Portland Studio 1200 NW Everett. Doors 6:00PM, program 6:30 Free
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