Yes, the Portland Art Museum has been moving things around a bit by reconfiguring the Duchamp etc... But this distinguished guest, Rothko's Homage to Matisse is too good not to take note of. Mark Rothko is Portland's most famous artist and the relationship between Rothko's use of volumes and Matisse's couldn't be clearer than in this painting, plus there are the color choices and a certain sort of unsettling brushtroke they both liked to employ. It probably won't be here long so check it out at the Jubitz center.

I know Jeff likes to keep to his post-grad discussions, but here is some background on Rothko that may be interesting to others.... (just kidding Jeff).

Matisse's use of color profoundly influenced Rothko. When Matisse's "Red Studio" was installed at MOMA in 1949, Rothko visited it every day for months. By the end of that year, Rothko's work that was started in 1946 became more clearly what we all recognize. At one point Rothko told his 2nd wife that he owed his achievements in art to Matisse and especially "Red Studio".

So you know this homage was heart felt. I know I'll stop by to see it at PAM.

A hint on viewing his larger works: Rothko painted large because he wanted them to be intimate and that the ideal viewing distance should be 18". Kinda makes you wonder why PAM has the large work at the end of a long hallway.

What I like to do is get right in front of the largest piece and stand there for at least 30 seconds then slowly look up and down, wow, amazing!

I really shouldn't give hints, now all of you will be standing in my favorite spot for a long time. I also shouldn't be so helpful in telling people where the best powder runs are on the mountain. Ah, well.

If you didn't notice, Jeff got a bit of a mention at Tyler Green's blog.