Claire Cowie, "Homunculus (hyena)"

For the month of September, the Elizabeth Leach Gallery presents Homunculi, the painting and sculpture of Claire Cowie. Homunculi explores the life that can be imbued into the creations - or creatures - of the artist, and toys with the threat that these beings may turn on their creator. The often mythological results are simultaneously dark and playful, and very visually lush.

Opening reception • 6-9pm • September 6
Elizabeth Leach Gallery • 417 NW 9th Ave. • 503.224.0521



Masao Yamamoto

This September, PDX Contemporary presents the elegant silver gelatin photography of Masao Yamamoto. The exhibition will feature sixteen framed prints and eight tin boxes, each containing a photograph floating in resin, in addition to installations of hundreds of small photographs throughout the gallery.

Opening reception • 6-8pm • September 6
PDX Contemporary Art • 925 NW Flanders St. • 503.222.0063



Arvie Smith, "Chitlin' Circuit"

Beppu Wiarda Gallery is featuring the oil painting of Arvie Smith. Chitlin' Circus is a follow-up to Smith's 2006 exhibit, The Lower Ninth, Katrina, and his 2007 exhibit At Freedom's Door, Slavery in Baltimore. This new body of work examines "the transformation of black humor from West African origins, to plantation humor, to black face minstrelsy and Vaudeville, to the sophistication of Broadway and film."

Opening reception • 6-9pm • September 6
Beppu Wiarda Gallery • 319 NW 9th Ave. • 503.241.6460



Hank Willis Thomas "Gun over Songha"

Organism will be holding a First Thursday reception for its current group show, Model Behavior, which explores the role of modeling in contemporary visual culture. One especially compelling piece is the video Winter in America, by Hank Willis Thomas and Kambui Olujimi. The film uses models to re-enact Willis' cousin's murder. Winter in America explores the very personal process of grief and the drive to understand every intimate detail of death, while recalling the similar themes of senseless loss and frustration that are running through our country's struggle in Iraq.

Reception • 6-9pm • September 6 (hours Sat & Sun 12-5 through September 30th)
Organism • 1231 NW Hoyt St. #101 • info@artorganism.org



Leiv Fagereng, "Sunny Bunneson"

Froelick Gallery presents Leiv Fagereng's Golden States. Described as "Rococo Pop," his lush, figurative oil paintings blend Northwest outdoor flavor with a playful pop culture eroticism.

Opening Reception • 5-8pm • September 6
Froelick Gallery • 714 NW Davis St. • 503.222.1142



Kendra Binney

ArtPDX and Another Sky Press will be holding a release party for their new publication Invision: A Collection of Visual Art in Portland, OR at Crude Things Gallery. Invision celebrates the rapid growth of talented, untraditional Portland artists, featuring Kendra Binney, Ryan Bodiroga, Paul Fujita, Chris Haberman, Scott Wayne Indiana, Tim Karpinski, Tom Keating, Charlie Alan Kraft, Ashley Montague, Dan Ness, Jesse Reno and Keith Rosson. You can purchase the 80 page, full-color book at the opening party, and work from the book will be displayed at the gallery. Download a 12-page preview PDF here.

Opening reception • 6-10pm • September 6
Crude Things Gallery • 625 NW Everett St. #104 • 646.420.4489



Larry Bamburg

Larry Bamburg's installation for TBA will be opening for First Thursday this month. Bamburg's large, swirling works are comprised of monofilament, wire, string, and a mix of quotidian elements to create ambiguous sculpture that morphs in the eye of the beholder.

Check back for more information on PICA's TBA 2007.

Opening reception • 12-6pm • September 6
Corberry Press Building 8 • NW 18th & NW Northrup

...sorry this time as a link: Some 1st Thursday images http://bradcarlile.com/blog/?p=169
including Marching Forth Marching Band at Woolley