Justin Williams and Luke Ramsey at Grass Hut

Grass Hut's lyrical, manifesto-style press releases are bright spots in the PORT mailbag month after month. February finds Grass Hut threatening to "pimp slap pretentiousness in the face then give it a brightly colored neon band aid so it can heal in style." and clarifying the origins of the "noodle on LSD" drawing movement, giving props to the magnificent Marc Bell and other seminal Canadian doodlers. Friends of the Endless Journey: a doodler's group show features work by Peter Thompson, Luke Ramsey, Justin Williams, Ekta, A.J. Purdy and Andy Rementer, including some collaborative pieces.
Opening Reception • 6-9pm • Feb. 2-28
Grass Hut • 811 East Burnside • 503.445.9924


Kim McKenna at NAAU

At nearby New American Art Union, curator Jacqueline Ehlis "looks at art as both diaristic, doodles, and crafty traces that place the artist in the role of a Do No Harm spectator versus art as a unique cultural manifestation, regionally based and authentic, which makes the artist assert a Step Up role in the art community. Thinking of the gallery as an arena for both the spectator and participant, it will be organized in a fashion allowing the Step Up art work to cross-act with one another, while the plethora of Do No Harm work will hang salon style observing these encounters." While the "Step Up" part of the show seems fairly straightforward, the preceding statement leaves the curator's attitude toward the "Do No Harm" art slightly unclear. The most well-known context for the phrase "Do No Harm" is its role as a core medical precept, non-intervention as a measured ethical choice. The curatorial statement for DO NO HARM Vs. Step Up, in contrast, seems to reference a more intellectually passive mode of harmlessness. Available images suggest a complex exhibition meriting exploration, with work by Iana LN Amauba, Kristina Bell DiTullo, Derek Franklin, Matthew Green, Catherine Hood, Collin Janke, Mamie Korpela, Suzanne Malitz, Rose Willow McCormick, Mack McFarland, Kim McKenna, Erin Patterson, and Rebecca Shelly
Opening reception • 7-10pm • Feb. 2-March 4
New American Art Union • 922 SE Ankeny Street • Tel.503.231.8294


Rishi Singha at Newspace

It's time again for the annual Newspace Photo Auction! Photo-fans with a little cash to spare have a few weeks to survey the goods before the February 24th auction, where work by Larry Fink, Gus Van Sant, Michael Kenna, Stu Levy, Shawn Records, Holly Andres, Christopher Rauschenberg, Mariana Tres, Cherie Hiser, Ann Ploeger, Jim Lommasson and many more will go on the block.
Opening Reception • 7-10pm • Feb. 2-24
Newspace • 1632 SE 10th Ave. • Tel. 503.963.1935