The Working Waterfront Coalition (WWC) presents Industry&Art, an art exhibition, sale and fundraiser. The event is curated by Brenda Smola and features a juried competition, the artwork of many waterfront employees, and weekend boat tours.

It's a heady swathe of art and industrial interests. The WWC represents more than half of the 50 industrial marine businesses in Portland, and many regional art collectors have ties to the market. Proceeds from the event go to the WWC Scholarship Fund at Portland Community College Foundation and West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District. The two organizations support industrial job training and environmental initiatives, respectively.

Select artists include: Greg Boudreau, Michael Brophy, Kate Copeland, Claire Cowie, Kevin Farrell, MK Guth, Sean Healy, Christopher Martin Hoff, Matt McCormick, Donald Morgan, Jim Neidhardt, Janet Otten, Melody Owen, Henk Pander, Christopher Perry, Christopher Rauschenberg, Robin Siegl, Tyler Stuart, Seth Tane, Lli Wilburn and Linda Wysong.

Jurors are Elizabeth Leach of Elizabeth Leach Gallery; Greg Schnitzer of Schnitzer Steel; Rock Hushka, Director of Curatorial Administration and Curator of Contemporary and Northwest Art at the Tacoma Art Museum; Priscilla Lewis, Executive Director of Community Services & Development at Providence Health & Services; and Sandra Percival, Director of YU Contemporary.


From the press release:

"The Working Waterfront Coalition (WWC), an organization of industrial marine businesses concerned about the environmental health and continued economic vitality of the Portland Harbor, has brought together exceptional artists in all media to celebrate the people and businesses of the working waterfront in a must-see juried art exhibition.

Harbor industries contribute 40,000 jobs and over a billion dollars to our local economy. Industry&Art explores this dynamic, seldom-seen world through the universal language of art and beauty.

The juried exhibition was organized by WWC to help build stronger connections between industry and the community at large. As WWC president, Alan Sprott, explains: 'The income, wages, and trade generated by harbor businesses are critical to the economic recovery and future growth of Oregon. The citizens of Oregon and Southwest Washington all have a stake in the health and well-being of harbor businesses. The WWC recognizes that the first step in ensuring the continued vitality of harbor businesses is to engage the citizens of our community, to let them know who WWC is and the advocacy work it does to promote environmental, social and economic sustainability. What better way to do that than through art.'"

Exhibition and fundraiser • September 22-25 • $0-5
Thurs-Fri 10-6, Sat-Sun 11-7
Vigor Industrial Shipyard • Swan Island • 5555 N Channel • industry&art@vigorindustrial.com