Unfinished installation view of The Hook Up

This month the New American Art Union presents The Hook Up, curated by Bay Area transplant Jesse Hayward. The Hook Up deals with the relationship of art to the wall, how flat space influences media and installation, and the effect of the wall as a unifying element in exhibition. This highly anticipated show introduces new work that might subvert your expectations from participating artists.

The Hook Up features three artists from the 1999 Oregon Biennial who woke up Portland's gallery scene forever, Sean Healy, Brenden Clenaghen, and Jacqueline Ehlis, as well as Ellen George, TJ Norris, Jeff Jahn (PORT's ubiquitous co-owner), and newcomers Stephanie Robison and PORT's own Jenene Nagy.

Opening reception • 7-10pm • June 1
New American Art Union • 922 SE Ankeny Street • Tel.503.231.8294


The Hiberts!

This month the Grass Hut is featuring new work by The Hiberts, a family that has become the modern paragon of west coast psychedelic art. They're is made up of husband and wife Snaggs & Arbito, and Arbito's cousins Oliver and Spencer. Although each artist enjoys an established gallery reputation on the west coast, they've never shown together in Portland, so this exhibition is not to be missed!

Opening Reception • 6-9pm • June 1
Grass Hut Gallery • 811 East Burnside • 503.445.9924



Jackson Nichols, Rocky 2

If The Hiberts leave you feeling overwhelmed, swing by the Newspace Center for Photography. This month they're featuring the elegant classical photography of Rick Regan & Jackson Nichols.

Opening Reception • 7-10pm • June 1
Newspace Center for Photography • 1632 SE 10th Ave. • 503.963.1935

This show is going to be fantastic. These are all some of the best artists of Portland. Great job Jesse Hayward. I'd buy you a drink if this wasn't the internet.

This was a great show (NAAU)- best thing I saw this month. It features a strong curatorial premise, some interesting (and subtle) departures from Clenaghen and Ehlis, slick work by Healy and TJ Norris, and a really nice piece by Robison. Also, Jeff Jahn seems to be overcoming some of his craftsmanship problems, and this allows his minimal work to be appreciated for its elegant form and color- a very strong direction for him.

I have to agree and thankfully I'm exempt from reviewing the show... because I'd really have to nitpick (lest these people get soft). Plus I'd have to bring in 40 years of spatial/institutional-critique history. It would be a big assignment.

One thing though, I'm pretty ambivalent about craft (I think the sandcastles made that clear).... technically I havn't refined anything since 2003.

But yes, there is a satisfying change to how the form and surface seems to work together now. Its been that way since 2004 or 2005 but Ive literally only shown 2 non-sandcastles in that time. I'm working on a bigger statement show so I've been purposefully keeping some of these developments under wraps.... But dont take my word for it, ask Jesse Hayward, he see's alot of what I'm up to.

Hopefully he's recovered enough from the show to play tennis again.... he did a really good job.