This First Thursday is all about the young ones. Chinatown and Downtown flex their youthful muscle with some great showings along with a couple of hits from the old guard.

In Chi-town there's a veritable slew of young movers and shakers.

 Erika Kohr at Motel

Everything is a-buzz at Motel with Pollinate, the works of Erika Kohr and Suzanne Husky. Kohr offers a sophisticated collection of narrative glass works exploring fertility and nature. Husky presents a series of psychedelic botanical drawings on paper featuring fluorescent flora and fauna.
Opening July 7, 6:30 to 9:30p • Through July 30
Motel • Located on NW Couch St, between 5th & 6th • Tel. 503.222.6699

Compound delivers the Return of Digmeout, a visual artist excavation project out of Osaka, Japan. This group exhibition showcases young artists whose mediums are often posters, stickers, or magazine illustrations. The first Digmeout show was strong collection of unknown Japanese up-and-comers. This second helping promises even more and better.
Opening July 7, 7 to 9p • Through July 30
Compound / Just Be • 107 NW 5th Ave • Tel. 503.796.2733

Genuine Imitation presents the Worldwide debut of the deliciously French artist, Fanélie Rosier. Rosier's distinctive pop-illustration style infuses these devilishly playful series of godesses.
Opening July 7, 6 to 9pm with DJ IZM • Through July 29
Genuine Imitation • 328 NW Broadway, No.116 • Tel. 503.241.3189

Also in the Everett Station Lofts, Pepper Gallery presents Artists of Kentucky, an eclectic group show featuring artists from the Bluegrass state.
Opening, July 7th, 6-10pm
Pepper • 328 NW Broadway, No.113

Downtown hits...

 "Male Pattern Baldness & Hummingbirds" at Reading Frenzy

South of Burnside, Gallery 500 presents the solo exhibition of PDX photographer-romantic extraordinaire, Daniel Kaven. Divorce is a collection of mixed-media works and installations exploring the separation of the artist's past. Brede Rørstad, who scored Kaven’s film, Naked Seoul, will conduct a string quartet during the opening, translating the emotions of the exhibition.
Opening July 7, 6p to midnight • Through July 29
Gallery 500 • 420 SW Washington St., Ste. 500 • Tel. 503.223.3951

On a lighter note, artist/curator/illustrator/great guy Bwana Spoons packs 'em in at Reading Frenzy with a Sharpie show, Male Pattern Baldness and Hummingbirds, featuring a great collection of local and national up-and-comers, including Souther Salazar, E*Rock, Jessie Rose Vala, Ryan Jacob Smith, Amy Ruppel and many, many more. This is my pick for a steal of a deal. A handmade zine of the included artwork will even be available at the opening.
Opening July 7, 6 to 9p • Through July 31
Reading Frenzy • 921 SW Oak St. • Tel. 503.274.1449

And in the Pearl...

 Gretchen Bennett at PDX Window Project

Gretchen Bennett takes over the PDX Window with Hi, It's Me, a faux-naturalist take on the tensions and representations of interior/exteriors. Expect wood-grain Contact paper, buttons and more...
Open 24 hours a day through August 13
PDX Window Project • 612 NW 12th Ave • Tel 503.222.0063

Portland cult literary icon Walt Curtis (Mala Noche) invades Mark Woolley with The Land of Ch'i, featuring his expressionist folk paintings.
Opening July 7, 6 to 9p • Through July 30
Mark Woolley • 120 NW 9th Ave, Ste 210 • Tel. 503.224.5475

Have any of you had the chance to see Charles Steeler's "New Paintings" at Mark Woolley yet??