First Friday is upon us!


Bruce Conkle photographed by Marne Lucas

Sitting City: Portland Artist Portraits by Marne Lucas promises to be a December highlight. These seventeen images of prominent locals artists hint at the both the moments of joy and bouts of melancholy that are part and parcel of the imaginatively lived life. Her casually sophisticated portraits suggest empathetic identification with her subjects, as in this strange, sweet shot of Bruce Conkle simultaneously revealing his inner child and inner monster. Also showing this month at Mark Woolley's newly consolidated home at the Wonder Ballroom location: Only For Seeing, new drawings and watercolors by Arnold Pander and Denizens: Screenprints and Drawings by Casey Burns.
Opening Reception • 6-9:30pm • Dec.1-30
Mark Woolley Gallery • 128 N.E. Russell (near MLK) at the Wonder Ballroom • T. 503.284.3636


"Lela and Marie" by Sika Stanton

Newspace Center for Photography showcases work by Newspace volunteers Faulkner Short, Jason Carslile, Megan Buday, Joshua Dommermuth, Phillip Goetzinger, Valerie Dolan, Ben Wizansky, John Christenson, Lyla Emery Reno and Sika Stanton. Stanton exhibits a handful of tintypes--images created through an archaic process widely used in the 19th century. Continuing this month's theme of artists photographing artists, the image above shows local songstress Alela Diane (on the right), whose likeness is also floating around the interwebs in this beautiful shot taken by Daniel Peterson over the summer.
Opening Reception • 7 to 10pm • Nov.3-26
Newspace •1632 SE 10th Ave. • Tel. 503.963.1935

Something magically confusing is happening at Portland Art Center Friday night featuring....."giant glowing inflatable gems"....."a grunge rock inspired dance-off duo".... "music, dance, and PowerPoint".... "coniferous computer worlds"..."prehistoric quadrupeds" and "the Sunday New York Times." I'm going to go ahead and reccommend parting with an Abraham Lincoln to commune with all of the above. CARTUNE XPREZ will arrive for one night only with a collection of animated videos accompanied by live multimedia performances by similarly rebellious spellers SLOW DANCE RECYTTAL as well as YACHT, UNIVERSE, and HOOLIGANSHIP.
8pm • Dec. 1 • $5
Portland Art Center• 32 NW 5th Ave. • Tel. 503.236.3322


OBT Dancer Andrea photographed by Alicia J. Rose

Alicia J. Rose shows her elegant, fun photographs of Oregon Ballet Theater dancers at The Press Club.
Opening Reception • 6pm
The Press Club • 2621 SE Clinton St. • Tel. 503.233.5656


Special informative note: If you would like to have your exhibition considered for Picks Listing, please send press releases to jessica@portlandart.net and calendar@portlandart.net in addition to any other PORT staffers you'd like to inform, with the words "PRESS RELEASE" prominently placed in the subject line. Our community mailbox is a spam magnet so its easy for a whimsically titled PR to be mistaken for scam spam. Thanks!