The New York Times covered the out of the way Maryhill Museum. Interesting comparing the writing on it in the local paper. The O certainly has its work cut out for it when all this local stuff is of national interest... i.e. look sharp and never ever use irrelevant terms like "Big City"... Look, the area has an idiosyncratic appeal so pay attention to those aspects which are making them stand out nationally/internationally. Basically, beware of familiarity breeding contempt. We have natural advantages here but you have to be looking for them to see how special they are to outsiders. Basically don't take the area's pioneering pluck for granted, sometimes it is much more valuable than simple dollar signs.

And speaking of idiosyncratic museums, collections and benefactors Christopher Knight gets right down to it on the whole Barnes Foundation debacle.

Oh and with everything else going on I forgot to link to Brian Libby's discussion of PNCA's new residence hall on the North Park Blocks.

Interior of the original Barnes Foundation

I've discussed the Barnes Collection numerous times over the years, and now it is open to the public in a new building in downtown Philly. I haven't seen it yet but on principle I believe it is important to weigh in.

Christopher Hawthorne of the LA Times doesn't dig the building. Frankly it was an impossible commission, part of the charm is the destination, the old building smells, creaky floors and less than perfect light.

But even more fascinating is this very well written piece by Jerry Saltz that I nearly completely disagree with.

Though I generally applaud Jerry's sentiment that no collector should dictate the terms for best viewing the art (especially after they die) in this case I can't agree. Very few collectors deserve equal billing with artists but in this case I believe the incredibly idiosyncratic Barnes did. What is lost by creating a pseudo structure that makes the works more accessible is to lose part of the story of modern art and thus the roots of how we decoupled the power of the image (art, advertising etc.) from the institution and the state... (more)

I have expanded my thoughts on Peter Plagens' article in the Wall Street Journal. The repercussions of which should be felt for years because Portland does a lot of great things as an incubator and needs to consolidate those successes with rethinking its support structure and the way institutions calibrate their eye on the scene's often very unrelated strata.

Tyler Green takes a look at some fantastic Rembrandt self portraits.

Brian Libby looks at the most exciting new building in Portland's skyline... did I just type those words? Yes, Portland actually has an exciting new addition to its skyline.

Peter Plagens visiting 12128 2 weeks ago

The Wall Street Journal has just published a fascinating report on the Portland art scene by noted art critic Peter Plagens. I was his Sacagawea, er... guide... so yes he's seen infinitely more of Portland's scene than DK Row (or any institutional curator besides Cris Moss and Blake Shell). So yes odds are he probably saw your show if it was up two weeks ago in an established venue. Plagens is a machine and a tough discerning customer who doesn't buy any BS. The first day alone we took in 9 shows scattered throughout the city. There will be some images in the print edition tomorrow but let's just take a quick once over the words right now.

Nice that he reiterated the "Capital of Conscience" term that I coined in an Op Ed for the Portland Tribune a few months ago. Because Portland is not a financial capital, NO we wont be a traditional art center like London, New York or Paris of yore. Instead, think of Portland like Weimar during during the Bauhaus years or perhaps Leipzig (the best 25 artists are definitely world class discoveries to be made, maybe only 6 are already known in Chelsea). Overall Portland is full of idealistic people doing idealistic things for the sake of ideals... giving things time to develop before money kicks in and changes things (for good and bad). Portland is a rebel base where art for art's sake is made. We have international art stars who live here too because it is a good environment to work and enjoy the company of other like mindeds.

Accurate in that it discussed Portland as a city where creatives work very hard... not just a bunch of slow paced hipsters who are already retired and eat Voodoo Donuts. The truth is most are working very hard to stay afloat and make work... yet some are carrying on an international career.

It is true, the alternative spaces are so much more adventurous than the commercial galleries... that could be said of most cities but it's my sense that many retreated quite far in 2008 when the market crashed. Instead of trying to drum up excitement by trying new artists (when nothing was selling anyways) they went for safer stuff. Honestly that makes sense, the gallery business is so difficult but perhaps this article will catalyze a way to narrow the schizm? Collectors might be more involved if they knew what Portland's larger scene was like? As it stands Plagens has seen more of Portland than most Portland collectors, curators and art dealers and he's right the installation art and some video is our strongest suit.

He loved Crystal Schenk's Artifacts of Memory (the last show we saw) and Laura Fritz's Entorus (he spent an hour with it... 45 minutes in silence), because frankly they are two superlative exhibitions that outclass everything but the Rothko show at PAM (yeah that good). They would stand out in Chelsea and you can still catch them both, do so.

He gives Joe Macca... hell. It's karma time Joey??? PORT's Patrick Collier just reviewed Macca's show too, and didn't go easy on him. He did think Ralph Pugay was hilarious so there you go.... (more)

It is the last month for the 10th Northwest Biennial at the Tacoma Art Museum, which runs through May 20th. Sure, nearly every institutional attempt at surveying a region's art production tells you more about that institution strengths and weaknesses than the art of that time and place, falling into at least one of several predictable missteps. (Also apologies, despite my best efforts I'm in this exhibition as an artist as well.) So it definitely isn't perfect. In this case the TAM show is too full but it does one thing that none of the recent spate of institutional survey shows have attempted... it has a coherent curatorial criteria, exploring the theme of multi-disciplenary art. Apparently, it helps having a consistent curator who is tasked with making the exercise intellectually viable? Novel idea! So for once this one isn't focused on "whittling" as a Northwest art staple and explores those who explore by crossing different disciplines and strategies.

What's more there more artists from Portland in it... (more)

In case you missed it:

DK Row actually did a nice job interviewing the three mayoral candidates about the arts in a 4 part series. This is what we expect the Oregonian to be doing, but sadly this sort of eye for relevance is rare and it's generally just gratuitous conservative "shrug pieces". PORT will have something even more targeted and incisive to help you separate these 3 candidates.

Eva Lake's first solo show in New York City seems to be going over well. I knew it when I saw this show at Augen... Eva was definitely onto something.

Jerry Saltz picks 10 artists to save the art world. He's wrong of course because he didn't pick any Portlanders... we are the "Capital of Conscience" as I penned in the Tribune's Op Ed a few months ago after all. So if I picked 10 Portlanders (who haven't already been in a Whitney Biennial) who would they be? I won't make too big a deal about this list but just off the top of my head these 10 are all ready and doing original, high level work with impressively sustained intelligence:

...(more)

Will a refurbished Palais de Tokyo bring French art back into the spotlight?

Finally, an Oregonian article that doesn't make me angry... ironically it is about creative anger. Perhaps anger isn't the right word but a very specific distate for certain things has always been the whetstone for those seeking to sharpen their ideas to a high level of excellence.

Argentina builds a new contemporary art district from scartch.

PICA's new headquarters

I'm burying the hatchet because this space gives me reason to believe in PICA again but first a little history. In 2004 PICA shuttered its once excellent visual art program, which under curator Stuart Horodner presented the likes of Janine Antoni, William Pope L. Dana Shutz, Melanie Manchot, Jim Hodges, Tony Tasset and Rudolf Stingel... and if that sounds like the most interesting nonprofit exhibition space north of San Francisco it is because it was. What's more the space was large but not unwieldy space designed by Brad Cloepfil, long before... (more)

Arnold Kemp's Untitled, (Played Twice) 2011

Congratulations to Arnold Kemp who was just named a 2012 Guggenheim Fellow for the Fine Arts. Kemp's work intrigues me for the way it rehabilitates the rather forced schism between formalism and identity politics. He basically implodes the idea that they exist in separate unrelated universes, which was such a 20th Century way of looking at things. Kemp is represented by PDX Contemporary Art and is Chair of the Master in Fine Arts in Visual Studies Program at Pacific Northwest College of Art.

Max Ernst's The Elephant Celebes (1921), Tate Gallery

Happy birthday Max Ernst! Somehow I feel like he is now underrated for his contributions to Dada and Surrealism. Perhaps too much focus on his relationships and not the work in art history classes?

Adrian Searle reviews Damien Hirst's retrospective at the Tate and doesn't throw the shark out with the bathwater.

In case you hadn't heard the Chinese Government is rejecting Ai Weiwei's request for a public trial.

Inside view of Marie Watt's Engine

I've been meaning to post on Marie Watt's Lodge but was hoping to catch it first. Well fellow procrastinators (I know it has been a busy) it is now the last weekend for this extensive show at the Hallie Ford Museum, so this is everyone's last chance. The show runs through April 1st so get on down to Salem.

"For the past decade, Watt has worked as a mixed media artist whose work explores human stories and the ritual implicit in everyday objects. Organized by anthropology professor and faculty curator Rebecca Dobkins, the exhibition will feature a range of work from the past decade, including stacked blanket sculptures, portrait blankets of Jim Thorpe, Ira Hayes, Susan B. Anthony, and Joseph Beuys, and Engine, a felt cave-like structure that honors the act of storytelling and the storytellers in the artist's life."

Today Oregon College of Art and Craft (OCAC) has announced it is launching a Master of Fine Arts degree in Craft in the fall of 2013. According to the press release the program, "emphasizes problem solving through the manipulation of materials and the vigorous exchange across disciplines and media." Ok, these days Portland art schools seem to be launching new programs all of the time but this one seems absolutely core to a school like OCAC. In other words, they needed to do this and do it well. It should be a signature program for Portland's most focused/specialized art school.

More details, "With its expansive and versatile approach, the College has designed this MFA as an intellectual investigation of process, purpose, and communication distinguished by its methodology as much as its outcome. The 60 credit program in Advanced Craft Studies combines courses in studio creative practice, interdisciplinary studies, graduate seminars, and electives.

'This new program is the natural outgrowth of OCAC’s long tradition of educating entrepreneurial, critical thinkers and creative makers who innovate through engagement with materials. Craft in the twenty first century, the tradition of what it has been and the innovation of what it will be in the future, is the essential focus of this new degree,' said Denise Mullen, OCAC President. 'The MFA in Craft allows us to grow our programming to a new level, and to enhance our core mission at OCAC of educating professionals at the highest level of object and image making.'" Those interested as MFA candidates should join the contact list at www.ocac.edu/MFA to receive announcements about the new program.

There is a new Kieth Haring retrospective at the Brooklyn Museum. I've never been able to decide if he is underrated or overrated so this is probably way overdue.

The Brits get things right for a revitalized transportation hub at Kings Cross. Why doesn't Portland pay closer attention to its transporttation nodes as a way to showcase itself?

Portland Architecture rounds up a group of recent architectural awards for Portland designers.

Photo of the endowers, Robert and Mercedes Eichholz at their wedding in 1963

The news of a 2 million dollar endowment for the curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Portland Art Museum is an important upgrade for the community in many ways. For example it couples the role of modern and contemporary art while ensuring that the Portland Art Museum should always have the position filled as soon as possible. That's because drawing from the general fund incentivises any museum to let positions sit fallow during times of economic stress. Also, it improves the museum's overall credit rating and financial portfolio. Still, it would be even nicer if Modern and Contemporary art duties were always coupled to the Chief Curator as it is now, and an endowed acquisition fund for contemporary art would also keep things even more contemporary. It also shows how the heirs of important philanthropists choose Portland and change the cultural landscape... in much the same way that artists choosing to call Portland home over the past decade and a half has similarly changed expectations for the city. The convergence on Portland is no accident, money (at least the interesting kind) follows talent. Here is the Press Release:

"The Portland Art Museum is pleased to announce that a gift of $2 million was recently pledged by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation. The gift from the foundation, headquartered in Santa Barbara, Calif., will endow the curator of modern and contemporary art. The position, currently held by Bruce Guenther , will now be known as The Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.

"We are grateful to Mercedes Eichholz and her family's foundation for this generous and important gift,” said Brian Ferriso, The Marilyn H. and Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. Director. "Endowing curatorial positions ensures that the core mission of the Museum is fulfilled."

... (more)

The New Criterion asks what is a Museum? There is a definite need for idiosyncrasy with an eye for relevance that makes the authority of such institutions a source of civic pride. Otherwise it's a temple to missed opportunities.

Check out Roberta Smith's critical take down of Adel Abdessemed's well intentioned but hackneyed solo show. This is a problem critics often face when surveying the scene, exhibitions that try so hard to be relevant that they end up being derivative.

The Hammer Museum's new regional art prize and awards show for LA makes the Contemporary Northwest Art Awards and Disjecta's ongoing attempt at a biennial seem so tame and non-competitive (collegial familiar names not discoveries) by comparison.

It isn't the 100k either, it is the way the Hammer effort is designed to be a taste making show that points out bright new lights just as they flicker onto the scene. This positions LA as being more interested in its cutting edge (Portland's institutions, apparently are not... well except PICA's TBA festival, which can be EVEN less polished than the alt spaces). For example, the CNAA's haven't taken many chances and have felt very safe and so solidly mid career... rather than picking work that spoke the most to our uncertain times. The last CNAA's had zero edge, whereas the current Portland2012 doesn't so much present new names as reconvene a group of artists who have had academic shows in the past few years... with an overall feel that is well, academic. It is often a throwback to the 90's, which is something that happens when you use a guest curator not someone who has been in studios for years before the show. The sad thing is Portland's alt spaces are doing a lot of very interesting work that certainly can give LA a run for their money (if only our institutions could get their heads out of the sand and made a point of doing a show about the times.... one has to take more chances to be relevant as a taste maker). My sense is that Portland's institutions are so busy trying to ingratiate themselves with the constituents they already feel comfortable with that the potential shock of the show itself becomes a foregone conclusion. Rather than lead, they insinuate. The Hammer doesn't have that problem, they lead by taking chances.

Then there is this cathedral converted to a bookstore... ahh if only all sacred places could be a place of learning. The cross shaped conference table seems a tad much though... we get it and yeah some ex-catholics will dream of having sex on it.

Pat Boas' Against Nature series (2005)

Pat Boas has been named the 2012 Bonnie Bronson Fellow. This continues the more conceptual direction of the past 3 years with David Eckard and Nan Curtis (all three are well established educators who have been active since the 90's). Boas' work is fastidious and somewhat obsessive in nature and she usually works in discreet series. My favorite works by Boas are the Against Nature series, which biomorphically shift between various animal skins... as if to summon the specter of genetically engineered food. Congratulations!

Award will be presented April 18
6:00 - 7:30 PM at Reed College's Gray Center Lounge

It is often funny when people think they know which artists I'm most obsessed with. Over the years some have thought the AbEx greats or Donald Judd. I understand why they might think these things but they are wrong. The artist who I've thought most about since a massive 8,000 mile land art road trip is Michael Heizer. Without Heizer we don't have Smithson or Walter De Maria and I don't even feel like Double Negative is his best work.

As a child Heizer, grew up in archeological digs throughout the vastness of the Western United States and then passed some of that experience onto his art friends at a crucial time.. but he's actually the most interesting of the three. He considers New York's art world kinda soft (because it is if you are used to living in the harshness of the Nevada desert) and will likely only open his masterwork City to the public only when he dies.


a house-sized rock on the rim of Meteor Crater in Arizona, center (photo Jeff Jahn)

All of this makes the spectacle around his latest project for LACMA seem like a diminutive sideshow. It does bode well though for how his work will be received once the world can see his main focus. As it stands Levitated Mass is at best medium level work for Heizer but it is good that the city folk are getting worked up. In fact, Heizer once had the jones for even larger rocks, like the house sized one on the rim of Meteor Crater in Arizona.

What impresses me most about Heizer is his toughness and the way he thinks in massive geological and anthropological terms. Lots of artists think bigger is better but perhaps only Heizer and Richard Serra have been able to back it up... and what's more Heizer's work seems to step outside time. It is never about the latest technology like Serra can have as a sub plot. Instead the plot is always the same... dealing with the innate basic forces of the planet. In short he mocks human vanity while embracing its innate hubris as an unavoidable consequence of our existence. The fact that he has all of LA watching one medium sized rock must make him chuckle. Good for him, artists should have the last laugh and for once it is nice to see Art grandstanding more than the movie industry in LA. I like the way art places demands on civilization, it is the opposite of entertainment.

New Orleans chooses public sculpture as flood evacuation spots.

A stolen Poussin and many other paintings resurface, all in the same neighborhood the were originally stolen from.

The Mona Lisa could have been completed a decade later than once thought.

Art Info's anatomy of the 2012 Armory Show.

Last night's Mayoral and City Council, arts and culture Q&A at the Armory (video here) went pretty much as expected, except that Mary Nolan and Jefferson Smith were not able to be present (Smith due to his work in the legislature in Salem). There was a lot of boilerplate and outright dodges but here are some impressions:.

Overall, none seemed that terribly different from one another except Brian Parrot, whose constant equation of the sports and the arts fell on deaf ears. Look I'm a fanatical tennis player and his equation of art and tennis makes no sense to me and I wrote the book on it. Also, his call for an Olympics Winter Games bid as a way to heighten the profile of the arts was also a non starter.


City Council candidates and James Lavadour images

Surprsingly none of the city council candidates knew who James Lavadour was (major opportunity to score points lost, though technically he doesn't live in Portland)... I bet they do now.

All of the candidates (except Parrot) i.e.; Amanda Fritz, Eileen Brady, Steve Novick and Charlie Hales were staunch advocates of core issues like the planned but potentially delayed 10+ million dollar tax levy for arts and education as well as Mayor Adam's current call for diversity in arts funding. None seemed too eager to put the levy to a vote this Fall so the supposed key issue is a non issue. Surprisingly none of them wanted the be... (more)

Hmmm, need any more indications that the Columbia River Crossing's hurried, cheapie design wasn't all that well considered? Well it looks like they designed it too low. I sense this is only the tip of the iceberg and hopefully Washington State's deep funding crisis will kill this thing so it can be begun the right way... not Kitzhaber's rushed, even seismically short-sighted way (cable stay designs are currently superior to all other bridge types in major earthquakes, they also allow for higher clearances... that option was nixed as an option for cost and schedule reasons).

Roberta Smith's take on the 2012 Whitney Biennial... honestly the multi-disciplenary concept doesn't seem new to us here (TAM's current NW Biennial, TBA, Core-Sample in 2003, programming by Worksound, Rocksbox, Gallery Homeland, Recess etc.) but I do like the idea of it not being your typical Biennial where too much work is included with a "throw it and see what sticks" strategy. Here's Jerry Saltz's take too. It seems so quaint to us here in Portland that New York is trying to be non-comercial... when so much here is non-commercial as a default. Not that it's bad... it is just that commercially focused efforts seem novel to us in the way non-commercial seems novel to NYC.

And in case you didn't know some of the Appendix crew (Travis Fitzgerald, Daniel Wallace and Josh Pavalacky) are opening a new type of Gallery in New York City called American Medium. Hilariously they are not moving to NYC and I like their focused & too cool for that approach, I'll let them give you details in good time. It's a different type of art gallery for a different type of work. It opens in May.

Kabongy Balls (2002)

It seems like we lose a great artist every week or so these days. The latest is Kenneth Price at age 77. Perhaps no artist bridged the craft/fine art divide like he did and his jewel like surfaces were a key component in Dave Hickey's paradigm shifting Beau Monde Site Santa Fe biennial in 2001 ending what seemed like a 25+ year unofficial ban on beautiful art.

His work was never just pretty though. It was sexy but a little grotesque and by avoiding the self consciousness of a lot of craft based work it transcended that genre's often cloying need to be taken seriously by simply stealing the show every single time they were shown (that's telling). Price's works were so outstanding, with forms so self assured and relaxed in their own perfect skin that they transcended the technical geekery of the craft world, putting all of their considerable aesthetic weight into the viewers mind and response. Thus, how it was made was always tertiary but integral to the encounter, similar to a lot of non western art.

I always found them compelling, as if Price gave unlikely life to a pile of puke while imbuing it with the moves and curves of Cyd Charisse. In fact, Dave Hickey's Site Santa Fe install could have easily been likened to a dance between Charisse and Fred Astaire, it was just that good. He will be missed, but not forgotten... a 50 year retrospective will begin at LACMA in the Fall.

*Update: Roberta Smith of the NYT's fascinating obituary . I found these quotes quite interesting, "crafts-dogma hell," and, "'I can't prove my art's any good,' he added, 'or that it means what I say it means. And nothing I say can improve the way it looks.'" Indeed...

Washington State's most famous bit of public art, Barnett Newman's Broken Obelisk (1963)technically not at risk but it is a slippery slope

The idea to sell off works in Washington State's public art collection is such a bad idea. Also, the wolf in sheep's clothing tactic of using sales to fund scholarships and more art acquisitions doesn't make it any better.

Weve been down this road before with both the Rose Art Museum and the Oregon Cultural Trust. Both of which ended up getting support from conservatives and non arts people... here's why:

1)Public collections are kept in trust for the public. The thing about trusts is that you don't go radically altering (in this case selling) the asset kept in trust. If you treat a trust as a rainy day fund it simply ceases to exist.

2) This is particularly short sighted since the elements of the collection are acquired for the way they engage and complete specific sites and buildings. That context building is a sort of running civic commentary and selling said works becomes tantamount to book burning of civic memory. Often the artwork outlives the original buildings and provides a thread through the past.

3) Selling works when you think they are worth a lot of money is foolhardy. For example, though... (more)

Ok it was an epic visual art weekend in Portland with Rothko and Nauman events and exhibitions (more to come on those). Till then, here are some Presidents Day Links:

A hilarious project and article on the world Google didn't intend to show you with its electronic 9 eyed panopticon?

Is there a neurological link between fear and the appreciation of the sublime or abstract art?

Holland Carter looks at the New Museum's latest more international triennial The Ungovernables. Reminds me a bit of my Fresh Trouble show in 2005 (probably the stick by which Portland measures group shows) but with an update from the Arab Spring, etc. Fact is the world has seemed much more restless since the WTO demonstrations in 1999 where new electronic media allowed faster and more global disseminations of information and dissent.

The Getty gets a new Director but has some of the same old problems.

Michael Kimmelman's best writing in ages on the civic importance and humiliation of Penn Station. He's wrong about Calatrava's PATH station though, it's the only architecture at the WTC site that actually lives up to the challenge of the site and it costs 4 billion because of the complications of building there and the fact that Calatrava is NEVER on budget... it will be fantastic though, everything he wishes Penn Station could be, just without the immense foot traffic. It may set the bar higher for Penn Station? Is the Columbia River Crossing going to be a civic/design failure similar to the destruction of and burial of Penn Station? If this humiliation in concrete is constructed it will be.

To prepare for the Rothko retrospective/homecoming at the end of the week at the Portland Art Museum. Re-read Arcy's crucial post from 2009 on the artist's history in Portland and perhaps this letter to the NY Times from Rothko and Gottlieb. Overall, I hope people take this seriously and don't go overboard on the distasteful marketing of Rothko, which he would have hated. No Rothko face painting, no Rothko snuggies and NO Rothko toast art please! I shouldn't have to say this (but I think I have to say this esp with the Red marketing). Simmer down, with greatness comes the responsibility to respect his legacy and Rothko was one of the least commercially oriented artists of all time.

Check out these early photographs that a young Stanley Kubrick did for Life Magazine.

Did you catch this interesting article by Christopher Knight about replicas being used for exhibitions?

I feel it very much depends on the artist and the work. For example there was Kurt Schwitters' Merzbau that recently went on tour, where everyone was very up front about... (more)

The Portland art scene is ever shifting with new artists arriving every day but it is the often thankless role of being a facilitator (as curator or programming director) that greases the wheels of the machine. For example, if I want to point out an artist I simply write a review but admins are a different story. Also, the level of artistic development of these individuals varies a great deal and is perhaps secondary to the contributions they represent (for now). Also, some new admins like Jeffrey Thomas (Director MoCC) and Bonnie Liang-Malcolmson (Curator of NW Art PAM) have been around for over a decade and have only just recently switched roles (not prominence), so I'll skip over them. I also vet the list for people making an impact beyond expectations (so I don't always pick new hires at PAM, they have to earn it). Also to make my list one has to curate or work on several shows, do more than draw attention to a few of your friends or throw a hipster party... so without further ado here are 9 newish faces you should get to know before they take your job:


Jason Brown @ Half/Dozen

If you can find Half/Dozen then Jason Brown's face is already familiar to you and your gallery hopping skills are well developed. In his time as assistant at Half/Dozen ... (more)

Mike Kelley

Sad news, conceptual provocateur Mike Kelly has passed away due to an apparent suicide. I reviewed Kelley's fantastic collaborative show at Sculpture Center a few years ago. Few artists could make such an intelligent spectacle indulging in the juvenile and supposedly profane, but Kelley did so by laying bare the adult ruse as a kind of tribute to the wonder/ridiculousness of that awkward age through which all must pass and perhaps never leave. In Portland artists like Bruce Conkle, Matt "Troll" Green and Patrick Rock bear the greatest stamp of his influence. Our thoughts are with Kelley's family and loved ones, a hugely influential artist has left the building.

*Update: must read Christopher Knight's epigraph on Kelley the game changer.

Bill Armstrong, Mandala #450, 2003

Cameras are more common now than in any time in history, which should = more experimentation right? So what happens when the subject is no longer bound to documentation? To help answer that question twenty international photographers have been gathered for, The Edge of Vision: Abstraction in Contemporary Photography at Lewis and Clark College's Hoffman Gallery. The exhibition is curated by Lyle Rexer and presented by the Aperture Foundation.

"The works explore diverse aspects of the photographic experience, including the chemistry of traditional photography, the direct capture of light without a camera, temporal extensions, digital sampling of found images, radical cropping, and various deliberate destabilizations of photographic reference. This abstract use of photography often combines other mediums such as painting, sculpture, drawing and video. All artists join a broad contemporary trend to look critically and freshly at a medium commonly considered transparent."

Edge of Vision features photographs by; Bill Armstrong, Carel Balth, Ellen Carey, Roland Fischer, Michael Flomen, Manuel Geerinck, Shirine Gill, Barbara Kasten, Seth Lambert, Charles Lindsay, Irene Mamiye, Chris McCaw, Edward Mapplethorpe, Roger Newton, Jack Sal, Penelope Umbrico, Randy West, Silvio Wolf, and Ilan Wolff.

The Hoffman Gallery January 19 - March 18 2012
Hours Tuesday through Sunday, 11 AM to 4 PM (Free)
Lewis & Clark, 0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd.
Parking on campus is free on weekends. (503-768-7687)

OHSU has gotten approval for it's latest South Waterfront expansion by CO Architects and SERA. Interesting, it reminds me a bit of Thom Mayne on the south end but the 12 story tower seems underwhelming in comparison. Still it should blend in with other nearby buildings.

Curator sharing between Detroit and Kansas City? It is common in the orchestral world but I think it is problematic in the museum world. Why? because curators don't just plan and execute shows, they are the public face of the institution and interface with the interests of the community. Half the face time? ....half the interface! Overall, I'm not a fan of half time curators at major museums.

As Kodak files for bankruptcy the Guardian takes a look at the role of women in their identity.

former YU Director, Sandra Percival

Last Fall I raised questions about Sandra Percival's role and basic questions of board oversight, which was a reiteration of what I was first to point out a year before.

Now YU just announced that, "We, Curtis Knapp and Flint Jamison, Co-founders, announce that Director Sandra Percival will leave YU. Curtis Knapp will become Acting Director, effective January 20. There will be complete continuity in the day-to-day functioning of YU and in the assumption of strategic and programmatic planning imperatives at the director level, some of which we will discuss below....(more)

Christina Olson

It would be sad news if it weren't something we hadn't seen coming the moment she took the Director of Education job at PAM but Christina Olson is leaving her post in Portland to become the "Class of 1956 Director of the Williams College Museum of Art" (WCMA for short). During her tenure in Portland she was THE point woman for Brian Ferriso's very successful revamp of PAM's education department and her accomplishments go far beyond the annual Shine a Light events. With Tina the museum took what was a very hit or miss program and made education a part of every single museum activity. The busloads of kids I see at PAM every week are a testament to her but so is the greater community/interpretive involvement... like the fantastic Artist Talks series (of which I've taken part). She leaves PAM as one of the most successful employees the museum has ever hired.

... (more)

Nice article on seminal Light and Space artistDoug Wheeler in the New York Times.

Should a Keith Haring mural be conserved or simply repainted as Haring wanted it to be? I'm with Haring on this.

Tyler Green points out a pretty cool Luis Tomasello installation at the Nelson-Atkins Museum.

Roberta Smith gives Damien Hirst's polka dot paintings a fair shake. For me he is a bit too prolific but he's still one of my favorite artists of all time. That said I've always found the dot paintings much less interesting than his installations and I think he knows it. The thing with Hirst is he finds a way to make people form an opinion by pushing buttons... that is a tremendous ability, without which contemporary art dies. She's absolutely right about it being a lot better than the Christos' The Gates project.

Here's my Op Ed in the Portland Tribune. I've mentioned these things time and again... most recently in my 2011 year end wrap-up and a detailed look at regional survey shows. This one was for a more general audience but also places the discussion of excellence and relevance in a wider civic context.

It is true that our art universities and museums have come a long way but it is time to finish the job, not become complacent. Here's a relevant passage from Ibsen's An Enemy of the People that I couldn't fit:

Dr. Stockmann: "They [the young] are the people who are going to stir up the fermenting forces of the future, Peter."
Mayor Peter Stockmann: "May I ask what they will find here to 'stir up. . . ."
Dr. Stockmann: "Ah, you must ask the young people that"

You saw it here first, the Portland Art Museum has finally gone live with a new website after undergoing a comprehensive identity makeover last September. Once again it is much more contemporary and a cleaner overall design. There is even an enhanced online search option for the collection.

Michael Kimmelman writes on the prominence of parking lots in the built environment. Surely in Portland we are already taking this quite seriously but much more could be done.

Brian Libby posts a riposte to the Washington Post about Portland's already long streak of prominence in the national media.

The Art Newspaper reports on Nicolas Berggruen's plan to create an on loan collection for LACMA, similar to what Eli Broad has already done. There is a local tie in here as Berggruen owns Chris Burden's Three Ghost Ships (1991) that have been on display at PAM for the last few months. Places like Portland, which do not have mega collectors... yet are filled with an viewers hungry for contemporary art definitely gain from this type of lending collection arrangement.

David Eckard's Deployment at The Art Gym

I regret that I made the trek to Portland galleries and museums a little more than a dozen times this year due to the untimely death of my truck. (Readers may not know or care that I make a 120-mile round-trip.) I know I missed a lot. However, I'm happy with the essays I wrote, and must win the Most Comments Award, just with my 2010 wrap-up and the piece on Social Engagement. That said, I do have a few quick thoughts I can share:... (more)

John Buchanan, the former director of the Portland Art Museum at a crucial time (1994-2005) has died at age 58 of cancer. It is a great tribute to his legacy that he can be credited with complicating Portland in the best way possible, leaving us questions the city still seeks to explore fully. Under his tenure from 1994-2005 the once flagging Portland Art Museum (like many of the city's institutions) was faced with the daunting task of reinvigorating its connection to its patrons at all levels.

A devout populist and francophile John was the kind of director that took a hands on approach to programming. That programming often carried a flashy theatrical flair with imported exhibitions like; Imperial Tombs of China (1996), Let's Entertain: Life's Guilty Pleasures (2000 featuring Damien Hirst, Richard Prince, Murakami etc), Stroganoff: The Palace and Collections of a Russian Noble Family (2000), The Triumph of French Paining (2003) and Hesse: A Princely Collection (2005). From 1994-2000 he and his wife stunned the city by turning PAM into an attendance powerhouse, all while making its patron parties the premier social events in the city. This was a powerful thing that made him perhaps the most loved and reviled personality in the city. John relished the job energetically and always knew exactly to whom he was talking to (a great skill)... I remember one time he crossed the street just to shake my hand and say hello after finishing a power lunch at Paley's.

The man had hustle, yet at that precise moment in 2000 he helped engineer two very serious acquisitions, the Clement Greenberg Collection and the hiring of Chief Curator Bruce Guenther. By 2005... (more)

Roberta Smith gives some more context regarding the loss of Helen Frankenthaler and John Chamberlain. But that is only the tip of a rapidly melting iceberg... we lost Cy Twombly + John McCracken too... and with as conservative as the galleries of 2011 seemed to be overall the question has to be what are we replacing them with? These were all very bright artists driven by perceptive and compelling ideals, not merely a series of calculated art world/market differentiation moves. These were artists with beliefs and this brings us back to Alex's Bringing Barr essay published earlier this week. May 2012 be the year of art manifestos... or at least an a year of art that has ideals?

One of the reasons 2010's Judd conference and exhibition were important was the way it presented the seriousness of an artist like Judd. The Rothko Retrospective in February at PAM should be another call to action.

After the continuing Occupy Movement this past Fall I see a larger interest in simply finding a new and better way to invigorate the discussions that comprise human civilization, which most of us take part in... this is simply what artists do (at certain times they do it better than others).

Well it is that time of the year (PORT's will come out on the 31st)... and because the world doesn't revolve around just one city here is are 2 lists that are not New York or Portland centric.

Christopher Knight's 2011 list for Southern California certainly confirms how different an art region it is than the NYC scene.

... and just because people forget how good the Midwest is for museums check out this year end list for Kansas City.

Helen Frankenthaler's Spaced Out Orbit (1973) on display at the Portland Art Museum

Helen Frankenthaler, one of the most important painters of the twentieth century has died at age 83. I consider her be the most important artist of what her onetime paramour Clement Greenberg dubbed "Post Painterly Abstraction." She was the inventor of the stained canvas technique that other artists like Morris Louis and Kenneth Noland used to remove any separation between color and the canvas. What's more she differed from those who followed because she continuously used a poetic approach to abstraction that was tellingly rooted to real experiences... I see this as a strength as she makes the otherwise VERY MACHO movement much more varied than it is given credit.

I'd also argue that without Frankenthaler there would be no Clement Greenberg. As a couple the two would tour... (more)

Detail from Ahihiko Miyoshi's Abstract Photograph 2011

Disjecta has announced the list for their Portland2012 Biennial (curated by Prudence Roberts and opens February 26) with lots of artists that have already established their reputations in town and a few names like Ahihiko Miyoshi who haven't.

The list:
Ben Buswell
Hand2Mouth Theater
Akihiko Miyoshi
Vanessa Calvert
Grant Hottle
Wendy Red Star
... (more)

The Whitney has announced its 2012 Biennial and for once a New York institution isn't trying to get a piece of Portland's cool... there are no Portlanders in it this time. (Though it does feature Charles Atlas whom we saw at TBA in 2010)

In fact, over the past decade 6 Portlanders have taken part so we are a little ambivalent to the whole thing.... call us when you give a Portlander a solo show or do a show about how Americans are re-evaluating what American values are (which is what Portland excels at). Before Occupy Wall Street, artists started occupying Portland in the late 90's.

Mayor Sam Adams has released his 2011 progress report for the arts in Portland. For high points there are the increases in TV and movie production as well as the increases in funds for arts education are both huge moves in a long term strategy but the increase in the Work For Art (workplace giving) to $764,830 2010-2011 for RACC is a major and unexpected victory in this bad economy. It says a lot about how Portlanders respect the arts.

Overall, this report highlights an obviously very arts friendly administration and yes the arts platform will likely determine who the next mayor is. Still, to date there is still one HUGE gaping hole in how the city funds both alternative spaces that don't have a 501.c3 and independent curators... both of whom are the backbone of the art scene. It is an area where just a little money would go very far.

It is end of the year wrap up time and Holland Cotter felt like the NYC Museums delivered, while the galleries were complacent. I mostly agree with his assessment.

Mack McFarland interviews the gang over at Appendix in Bomb. Appendix does the alternative project space thing right. Here at PORT we always pay attention to what they are doing because they are important as a self-selecting group of talented and very intellectually engaged individuals.

RACC awards a record sum for Project Grants. It is important to note that they convened some multidisciplinary panels to evaluate projects like Ben Young's... a clear step in the right direction. Sure, some of the grants went to embarrassingly dippy projects to people who repeatedly get some of the larger project grants but the new names like Young and Bund are encouraging. Honestly, I've never bothered applying for a project grant because it seemed like a waste of my time (I am a critic/curator and thus infinitely capable of pissing off panels of my so-called peers even when I'm not trying to alienate people... it comes with the territory if you call a spade a spade). Yet with these special multidisciplinary panels I'm reevaluating my opinions of RACC's project grants now... perhaps now can they handle high level independent curatorial projects? Venues like Rock's Box, Appendix, Worksound, Gallery Homeland and Recess are the backbones of the scene but dont get support except when individual artists get a grant. That said congrats to those who did and don't suck! Im hard on RACC but if any of the projects they funded are excellent I'll be sure to give them the props they deserve.

The new federal budget plan cuts the NEA and NEH.

On Friday artist Robert Hanson died at age 75 and PNCA covered it best. I don't want to attempt a eulogy (I only do that for those I knew well) but I what noticed most about Robert is that unlike many others of his generation you'd see him out and about taking in the new shows each and every month... usually with his wife Judy Cooke (always such a wonderful couple). That curiosity speaks volumes about the man. Our thoughts are with Judy and his family as he will be missed. Hanson's work will be the subject of the next Apex show at the Portland Art Museum.

Mark Rothko, Untitled, 1957, oil on canvas, (c) 2011 Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko

In 2009 PORT gave you a head's up that it was coming but now the Portland Art Museum has released the dates and some details about its Mark Rothko Retrospective in February 2012.

Spanning Rothko's entire career, the 45 works in the exhibition may constitute the single most important exhibition of the 21st Century for the Portland Art Museum and all eyes will be on this show. It is sure to be a watershed moment and the exhibition will not travel.

For background, Rothko from age 10-18 grew up in Portland and had his first solo exhibition at the Museum in 1933-34. In 2009 Arcy published this very important post on PORT detailing the city's most famous son's relationship to Portland. Also, it illustrated how overdue such a retrospective was. In fact, even today many Portlanders (and some artists) aren't even aware of Rothko's connection to Portland. In short this retrospective simply had to be done and I personally feel the new transit bridge over the Willamette currently under construction should be dedicated to Rothko as well (he often painted the spot). Then there is my ultimate hope, that the Portland Art Museum creates a special Rothko gallery according to the artist's preference for low level natural light, low ceilings and his works alone when they next expand their campus in the next decade. If Denver can have a Clyfford Still Museum I think Portland (a city overrun with artists) should be a venue for seeing Rothkos the way he intended.

PAM's retrospective is made possible through key loans from the Rothko family, the National Gallery and private collections. This exhibition was a lifelong dream for the recently departed Harold Schnitzer and though he didn't get to see it that dream was crucial in making this happen.

Mark Rothko Retrospective • February 17 - May 27th 2012
Portland Art Museum • 1219 SW Park Ave

David Lynch (who was partially raised in the Northwest) has published a book of his sketches, take a look at them in the Guardian.

German forgeries in the market detailed in the Art Newspaper.

...(more)

Well, the art world's still in the predictable post ABMB entertainment/money confluence backlash mode but as I pointed out just before the East Coast/Saatchi started publishing screeds... it really does matter how the artist and institutions lay the ground rules (Alfredo Jaar requires carte blanche). Here's the latest:

Anselm Kiefer (sometimes one of my favorite artists) believes art is, "not entertainment." Well he's right when it comes to his art, but there is certainly room for entertainment in art... for example Paul McCarthy's and Richard Serra's sheer audacity is entertaining. By simply suspending the humdrum of the everyday an artist can create big A "Art". In Kiefer's case he's working within an exceedingly serious historical discussion and his show at Tate Modern along with the New Clifford Still Museum are foregrounding a much needed counterpoint to the sometimes grating follies of art. I like to think of it as very responsible "older brother art". Maybe I'm just projecting... I am the oldest in my family so; Still, Judd, Newman, Serra, Martin and Kiefer all appeal to my "seriousness" fetish. Which isnt to say I don't enjoy classic Damien Hirst, Murakami, Tracey Emin and Jason Rhoades as art brats who fulfilled the need to laugh a little bit at how we fetish seriousness/higher aspirations.

Linda Yablonsky addresses the Miami hangover directly.

Edward Winkleman addresses Yablonsky and does a nice job of discussing the 99% and the influence of money. Though I think he's wrong about the naming rights superseding the work that director's do in the history books. For example if the Menil's can't overshadow Walter Hopps legacy in the history books... then no one can! At the Portland Art Museum both the current... (more)

Well it was ABMB weekend and refreshingly instead of the obligatory and inane pieces on how art is a hot investment there were numerous substantial opinion pieces on the state of the art world. Art, no matter how much it costs is simply a way to understand that which resists understanding... it should be as much if not more of a personal existential investment as it is a monetary expenditure. That is the one thing I really like about collectors in Portland, nobody... no matter how much they spend is doing it just for show.

Jerry Saltz takes on the Carsten Holler (AKA art as playground) show. On a similar note I discussed and compared Holler and Alfredo Jaar at length last week. The sense is that this type of show is designed to draw in audiences rather than hit the right notes... ie be challenging rather than diversionary entertainment put on by the 1%. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater though, sometimes a carnival show can shake up the status quo.

Charles Saatchi blasted art oligarchs who collect and inflate the blue chip art market rather than develop a deeper relationship. This typical art rant means something only because Charles Saatchi is saying it and therefore has the weight of a man who has been wrongly accused of much the same thing. The difference is he has taste, faith in the difficulties of Art and has catalyzed not just careers but entire art movements; YBA, Leipzig etc. There is a learning curve and serious collectors like Saatchi and Broad are special. They have done it for a long time and it is obvious they keep their own counsel as patrons... they aren't simply acting on the tips of advisers, they developed a certain personal biography through the art they collect and present.

To get at the issue from a different angle, how about a look at the crossroads of art and neuroscience. I'm always shocked at how much the art world doesn't look at or exploit scientific approaches.

Also, it is Turner Prize time... if only Northwest shows at major museums like the CNAA's had similar ability to generate discussion? Too often they are a cavalcade of already past their prime names or a bouillabaisse of so many artists that an actual curatorial thesis is impossible to form... making the institution's intrigue the defacto subject rather than the host of avenues for new understanding.

I'll publish an essay/review Tuesday but for now here are some links to get you started;

Tyler Green parses a Washington Post story on Hide/Seek and corrects the false assumption that the show is about same sex intimacy. BTW Hide/Seek is coming to the Tacoma Art Museum in March 2012.

Brian Libby reports that Jefferson Smith is the only Portland mayoral candidate to question the Columbia River Crossing's boondoggle.

The Guardian looks at the gaggle of Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 28, 2011 at 10:36 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 11.24.11

Turkey links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 24, 2011 at 16:44 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 11.20.11

Clyfford Still Muesum opens

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 20, 2011 at 18:12 | Comments (0)

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Friday 11.18.11

Kippenberger at PAM

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 18, 2011 at 10:41 | Comments (3)

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Monday 11.14.11

Monday Links

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Wednesday 11.09.11

YU 2, what are they up to?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 09, 2011 at 1:16 | Comments (0)

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Monday 11.07.11

PICA's new HQ

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 07, 2011 at 22:23 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 11.02.11

10th Northwest Biennial artists announced

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 02, 2011 at 20:26 | Comments (1)

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Monday 10.24.11

Give us your links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 24, 2011 at 16:04 | Comments (0)

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Monday 10.17.11

Monday links

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Wednesday 10.12.11

Clyfford Still in the Northwest

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 12, 2011 at 14:46 | Comments (0)

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Monday 10.10.11

Bovee in Dwell

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 10, 2011 at 22:41 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 09.29.11

Chicago links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 29, 2011 at 10:22 | Comments (0)

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Monday 09.26.11

Link Hijinks

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 26, 2011 at 11:42 | Comments (0)

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Monday 09.19.11

Monday Links

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Thursday 09.15.11

National looks

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 15, 2011 at 12:36 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 09.13.11

Milestone links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 13, 2011 at 11:07 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 08.30.11

Linker

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 30, 2011 at 11:41 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 08.23.11

Defending Beauty?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 23, 2011 at 21:27 | Comments (5)

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Monday 08.22.11

Two Worlds = Same Universe

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 22, 2011 at 10:30 | Comments (0)

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Friday 08.19.11

Joan Shipley PADA Visual Arts Award recipient

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 19, 2011 at 18:49 | Comments (0)

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Monday 08.15.11

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 15, 2011 at 11:07 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 08.09.11

Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 09, 2011 at 12:57 | Comments (0)

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Monday 08.01.11

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 01, 2011 at 15:20 | Comments (0)

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Monday 07.25.11

New York links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 25, 2011 at 11:12 | Comments (0)

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Monday 07.18.11

Dorothea Rockburne

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 18, 2011 at 14:46 | Comments (0)

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Monday 07.11.11

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 11, 2011 at 13:03 | Comments (0)

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Friday 07.08.11

...and thanks for all the fish

Posted by Megan Driscoll on July 08, 2011 at 13:45 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 07.07.11

Spiral Jetty lease land grab?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 07, 2011 at 14:27 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 07.05.11

Cy Tombly dies at age 83

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 05, 2011 at 16:06 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 06.30.11

Rose Art Museum collection survives assault

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 30, 2011 at 17:04 | Comments (0)

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Friday 06.24.11

Friday news and links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 24, 2011 at 17:33 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 06.22.11

Ai Weiwei is free!

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 22, 2011 at 13:00 | Comments (0)

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Monday 06.20.11

Why are new grads so lame?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 20, 2011 at 15:26 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 06.18.11

John Grade wins Schnitzer Prize

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 18, 2011 at 22:03 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 06.16.11

Some Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 16, 2011 at 11:12 | Comments (0)

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Friday 06.10.11

Venice links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 10, 2011 at 17:08 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 06.08.11

Wrong way to address the Ai Weiwei situation

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 08, 2011 at 15:13 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 06.07.11

Architecture on the radio

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 07, 2011 at 1:27 | Comments (0)

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Friday 06.03.11

Friday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 03, 2011 at 14:49 | Comments (3)

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Wednesday 06.01.11

PORT's 6th Anniversary

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 01, 2011 at 12:11 | Comments (0)

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Monday 05.16.11

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 16, 2011 at 10:53 | Comments (0)

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Friday 05.13.11

China redefines farce

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 13, 2011 at 14:52 | Comments (1)

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Monday 05.02.11

TBA Visual Arts 2011

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 02, 2011 at 15:31 | Comments (0)

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Monday 04.11.11

Monday links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 11, 2011 at 10:58 | Comments (0)

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Friday 04.08.11

Friday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 08, 2011 at 17:06 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 04.03.11

Ai Weiwei arrested

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 03, 2011 at 18:02 | Comments (2)

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Friday 03.25.11

Friday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 25, 2011 at 8:28 | Comments (0)

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Monday 03.21.11

Disaster Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 21, 2011 at 12:46 | Comments (0)

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Friday 03.18.11

Friday links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 18, 2011 at 13:52 | Comments (0)

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Monday 03.14.11

CRC: the Cable Stay design gains momentum

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 14, 2011 at 12:08 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 03.02.11

Regional Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 02, 2011 at 12:29 | Comments (1)

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Monday 02.21.11

2011 CNAA's whittled down

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 21, 2011 at 8:17 | Comments (4)

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Tuesday 02.15.11

Talking Criticism

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 15, 2011 at 0:49 | Comments (3)

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Wednesday 01.19.11

Judd Conference still making waves

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 19, 2011 at 13:00 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 01.18.11

New Gallery: Black Box

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 18, 2011 at 15:56 | Comments (0)

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Monday 01.17.11

Kengo Kuma to design expansion of Portland's Japanese Garden

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 17, 2011 at 13:55 | Comments (2)

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Monday 01.10.11

Broad isn't the issue

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 10, 2011 at 10:43 | Comments (3)

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Thursday 01.06.11

Jeffrey Thomas named MoCC's acting director

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 06, 2011 at 12:55 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 01.05.11

PORT's 2010 readers poll awards

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 05, 2011 at 17:40 | Comments (0)

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Monday 01.03.11

Monday links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 03, 2011 at 14:07 | Comments (5)

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Saturday 01.01.11

Time to Vote: Portland Art Scene 2010 Readers Poll

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 01, 2011 at 13:39 | Comments (0)

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Monday 12.27.10

Last day for nominations, 2010 art scene MVP etc.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 27, 2010 at 2:05 | Comments (2)

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Monday 12.20.10

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 20, 2010 at 12:39 | Comments (0)

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Friday 12.17.10

Taking nominations for 2010 Portland art scene awards

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 17, 2010 at 12:23 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 12.14.10

Ed Cauduro, Oregon's greatest art collector passes away

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 14, 2010 at 0:25 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 12.09.10

ABMB hangover 2010

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 09, 2010 at 12:41 | Comments (0)

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Monday 11.29.10

Linkage

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 29, 2010 at 12:29 | Comments (0)

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Monday 11.22.10

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 22, 2010 at 16:01 | Comments (0)

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Monday 11.15.10

Turner Prize and CNAA's

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 15, 2010 at 15:10 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 11.10.10

Artitecture lecture at AiA

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 10, 2010 at 13:16 | Comments (1)

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Monday 11.08.10

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 08, 2010 at 12:08 | Comments (0)

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Friday 10.29.10

Scary links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 29, 2010 at 13:13 | Comments (0)

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Monday 10.18.10

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 18, 2010 at 10:32 | Comments (0)

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Friday 10.08.10

Culture culture

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 08, 2010 at 14:52 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 09.23.10

Checking in with art writers

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 23, 2010 at 11:15 | Comments (3)

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Friday 09.17.10

Ellen Lesperance wins Betty Bowen and analysis

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 17, 2010 at 13:55 | Comments (3)

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Thursday 09.02.10

Opinion Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 02, 2010 at 10:07 | Comments (3)

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Saturday 08.07.10

PAM announces Laing-Malcolmson as new Curator of NW Art

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 07, 2010 at 1:38 | Comments (3)

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Thursday 08.05.10

Thursday linkage

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 05, 2010 at 14:18 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 07.27.10

Tuesday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 27, 2010 at 9:41 | Comments (0)

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Monday 07.05.10

Big Question Marks

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 05, 2010 at 13:19 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 06.30.10

Opening a new book on OCAC

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 30, 2010 at 10:17 | Comments (0)

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Friday 06.25.10

Getting it across

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 25, 2010 at 16:52 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 06.24.10

Weekly reader

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 24, 2010 at 12:57 | Comments (0)

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Monday 06.14.10

Weekend links: Polke, Olsen, Ford Fellowships

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 14, 2010 at 10:05 | Comments (4)

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Monday 06.07.10

Unfinished business

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 07, 2010 at 12:13 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 06.01.10

Today PORT is 5

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 01, 2010 at 12:35 | Comments (1)

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Friday 05.28.10

Friday Museum Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 28, 2010 at 10:52 | Comments (0)

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Monday 05.24.10

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 24, 2010 at 11:35 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 05.20.10

Thursday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 20, 2010 at 10:27 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 05.11.10

on art & the arts

Posted by Megan Driscoll on May 11, 2010 at 10:28 | Comments (0)

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Tyler Green moves to Art Info

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 11, 2010 at 10:04 | Comments (0)

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Monday 05.10.10

Kimmelman plays with marbles, loses the high ground

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 10, 2010 at 13:24 | Comments (1)

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Tuesday 05.04.10

Walt Curtis fire fund

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 04, 2010 at 11:28 | Comments (1)

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Friday 04.30.10

Friday links and reminders

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 30, 2010 at 10:06 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 04.27.10

David Eckard: 19th Bonnie Bronson Fellow

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 27, 2010 at 11:15 | Comments (0)

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Monday 04.26.10

Discussing Panza

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 26, 2010 at 12:28 | Comments (0)

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Monday 04.19.10

Catching up on Judd things

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 19, 2010 at 12:06 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 04.13.10

Judd Conference announces Arata Isozaki

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 13, 2010 at 21:00 | Comments (0)

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PAM announces new photography curator

Posted by Megan Driscoll on April 13, 2010 at 12:38 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 03.30.10

OPS goes to London to celebrate the Tate's 10th Anniversary

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 30, 2010 at 19:42 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 30, 2010 at 11:02 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 03.24.10

Wednesday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 24, 2010 at 10:39 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 03.21.10

Last chance for Judd Conference early registration

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 21, 2010 at 18:50 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 03.11.10

Suggested reading

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 11, 2010 at 11:20 | Comments (0)

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Friday 03.05.10

NYC roundup

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 05, 2010 at 14:46 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 03.04.10

Major Annoucement, Judd Conference and Exhibition in Portland

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 04, 2010 at 13:35 | Comments (1)

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Friday 02.12.10

Laura Russo Portland Gallerist 1944-2010

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 12, 2010 at 22:49 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 02.03.10

Portland2010 Biennial artists announced

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 03, 2010 at 14:12 | Comments (6)

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Monday 02.01.10

Sharing the New York Times for now

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 01, 2010 at 12:17 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 01.28.10

Destroy your art

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 28, 2010 at 11:09 | Comments (2)

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Wednesday 01.27.10

Cy Twombly at PAM

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 27, 2010 at 9:55 | Comments (0)

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Monday 01.18.10

Farewell Fontanelle

Posted by Megan Driscoll on January 18, 2010 at 9:58 | Comments (1)

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Friday 01.15.10

Friday links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 15, 2010 at 13:11 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 01.12.10

More Deitching

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 12, 2010 at 11:43 | Comments (0)

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Monday 01.11.10

Rumors confirmed: MOCA names Deitch

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 11, 2010 at 11:58 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 01.05.10

Kenneth Noland 1924-2010

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 05, 2010 at 13:33 | Comments (0)

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Listing lists as redundantly as possible

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 05, 2010 at 13:02 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 12.30.09

2009 PORT Readers Survey

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 30, 2009 at 19:32 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 12.29.09

Last 24 hours for PORT's 2009 readers survey

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 29, 2009 at 12:14 | Comments (0)

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Monday 12.28.09

Looking back at PORT posts in 2009

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 28, 2009 at 12:06 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 12.26.09

Major exhibition announcements from PAM

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 26, 2009 at 12:25 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 12.22.09

2009 survey update

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 22, 2009 at 11:54 | Comments (0)

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Friday 12.18.09

What a pair!

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 18, 2009 at 12:26 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 12.16.09

PORT 2009 reader's survey

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 16, 2009 at 15:13 | Comments (2)

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Museum hairdos & don'ts

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 16, 2009 at 11:58 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 12.10.09

Tharp and Hutchins in the Whitney

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 10, 2009 at 19:38 | Comments (0)

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Monday 12.07.09

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 07, 2009 at 9:54 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 12.01.09

Andy thanks Amy, congratulations!

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 01, 2009 at 21:03 | Comments (2)

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Wednesday 11.25.09

Wednesday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 25, 2009 at 9:55 | Comments (0)

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Monday 11.16.09

Strange bedfellows these days: legitimacy and money

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 16, 2009 at 10:59 | Comments (0)

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Monday 11.09.09

Catching up with last week

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 09, 2009 at 14:45 | Comments (0)

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Friday 11.06.09

The Dia that refuses to die links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 06, 2009 at 14:01 | Comments (0)

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Friday 10.23.09

Portland art scene in National Geographic Traveler

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 23, 2009 at 11:11 | Comments (5)

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Thursday 10.22.09

Thursday links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 22, 2009 at 12:02 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 10.20.09

Tuesday ponderings

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 20, 2009 at 11:27 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 10.14.09

Ugly links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 14, 2009 at 10:27 | Comments (1)

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Tuesday 10.13.09

Tuesday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 13, 2009 at 11:31 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 09.29.09

Cloepfil scores

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 29, 2009 at 10:37 | Comments (0)

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Monday 09.28.09

Monday links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 28, 2009 at 13:05 | Comments (1)

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Friday 09.18.09

Friday appetizer

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 18, 2009 at 9:53 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 09.10.09

Thursday Links : Cranky Critic's Edition

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 10, 2009 at 14:02 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 09.06.09

Art and tennis?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 06, 2009 at 11:31 | Comments (2)

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Wednesday 08.26.09

Betty Bowen Finalists 2009

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 26, 2009 at 16:58 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 08.25.09

Tuesday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 25, 2009 at 9:08 | Comments (0)

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Monday 08.24.09

Chris Johanson and Jo Jackson mural in North Portland

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 24, 2009 at 10:48 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 08.19.09

PAM acquires two Sanford Biggers works

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 19, 2009 at 13:20 | Comments (0)

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Monday 08.17.09

More Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 17, 2009 at 10:55 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 08.12.09

Wednesday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 12, 2009 at 10:27 | Comments (0)

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Monday 08.03.09

Monday links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 03, 2009 at 9:45 | Comments (0)

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Monday 07.27.09

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 27, 2009 at 13:34 | Comments (1)

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Friday 07.24.09

Willamette transit bridge design update

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 24, 2009 at 17:28 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 07.23.09

The Rothko Bridge?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 23, 2009 at 13:31 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 07.21.09

Spiral Jetty threatened (again)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 21, 2009 at 8:42 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 07.16.09

Matt is back

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 16, 2009 at 13:17 | Comments (2)

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Wednesday 07.15.09

Big Targets

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 15, 2009 at 10:00 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 07.14.09

Links for old Times sake

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 14, 2009 at 9:09 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 07.11.09

Raphael's La Donna Velata comes to PAM

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 11, 2009 at 16:49 | Comments (5)

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Tuesday 07.07.09

Linkage: Spiral Jetty, Women at MoMA, Abromovic

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 07, 2009 at 10:12 | Comments (0)

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Monday 06.29.09

Links of perception

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 29, 2009 at 10:21 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 06.24.09

Linked

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 24, 2009 at 10:28 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 06.23.09

Entropy is good for art links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 23, 2009 at 11:36 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 06.18.09

Links of renown

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 18, 2009 at 11:43 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 06.17.09

PNCA names new chair of MFA program

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 17, 2009 at 13:03 | Comments (0)

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Monday 06.15.09

Archer Gallery anounces new director

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 15, 2009 at 15:10 | Comments (1)

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Tuesday 06.09.09

The deal with John Wesley

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 09, 2009 at 11:41 | Comments (3)

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Friday 05.29.09

RACC, CAN and does emerge in 2010 with a strong budget

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 29, 2009 at 0:00 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 05.26.09

Wrong-headed linking

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 26, 2009 at 10:39 | Comments (6)

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Thursday 05.21.09

mary henry

Posted by Megan Driscoll on May 21, 2009 at 9:09 | Comments (0)

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Monday 05.04.09

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 04, 2009 at 9:39 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 05.03.09

Gauguin for Portland Art Museum

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 03, 2009 at 16:07 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 04.28.09

Tuesday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 28, 2009 at 10:10 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 04.23.09

Portland and Place

Posted by Arcy Douglass on April 23, 2009 at 15:48 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 04.22.09

Design Competition for I-5 crossing... Now

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 22, 2009 at 13:00 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 04.21.09

Rose City still watching The Rose

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 21, 2009 at 10:56 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 04.16.09

Favorite small painter: Paul Klee

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 16, 2009 at 12:10 | Comments (0)

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Monday 04.13.09

Monday links and good advice

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 13, 2009 at 10:00 | Comments (0)

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Friday 04.10.09

Talkin bout the next Jesus?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 10, 2009 at 9:58 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 04.09.09

Mark Woolley Gallery to close

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 09, 2009 at 17:49 | Comments (4)

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Willamette bridge follow up

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 09, 2009 at 9:30 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 04.08.09

Wednesday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 08, 2009 at 10:52 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 04.04.09

New Bridge Model Unveiling -updated

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 04, 2009 at 10:38 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 03.31.09

Greener bridge over the Columbia?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 31, 2009 at 9:38 | Comments (0)

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Monday 03.30.09

More links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 30, 2009 at 10:59 | Comments (0)

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Friday 03.27.09

Correction: Pulliam Deffenbaugh, reinventing itself

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 27, 2009 at 13:22 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 03.26.09

Rothko in Portland

Posted by Arcy Douglass on March 26, 2009 at 20:19 | Comments (0)

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Links of DOOM

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 26, 2009 at 9:57 | Comments (0)

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Monday 03.23.09

Escaping to and from New York + links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 23, 2009 at 11:51 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 03.07.09

speak and(in) sign(s)

Posted by Megan Driscoll on March 07, 2009 at 13:15 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 03.03.09

Linkage: Zombies, Creatives and Science

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 03, 2009 at 10:51 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 02.26.09

Save the Oregon Cultural Trust from political raiders

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 26, 2009 at 11:25 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 02.24.09

More institutional linking

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 24, 2009 at 10:00 | Comments (3)

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Sunday 02.22.09

New PNCA and MoCC integration details and analysis

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 22, 2009 at 21:39 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 02.18.09

Julie Bernard 1st recipient of PADA service to art award

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 18, 2009 at 18:49 | Comments (1)

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Making the best of a bad situation links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 18, 2009 at 10:10 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 02.10.09

Links and leadership

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 10, 2009 at 23:07 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 02.08.09

Better late than never on the MoCC PNCA merger

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 08, 2009 at 18:35 | Comments (1)

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Friday 02.06.09

Fontanelle gets NADA

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 06, 2009 at 1:32 | Comments (0)

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Monday 02.02.09

Linked up

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 02, 2009 at 14:06 | Comments (2)

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Wednesday 01.28.09

Arts Management Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 28, 2009 at 11:01 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 01.27.09

Economic and Cultural Crisis Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 27, 2009 at 15:10 | Comments (2)

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Sunday 01.25.09

Sammy Stays

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 25, 2009 at 23:17 | Comments (3)

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Thursday 01.22.09

PNCA and Museum of Contemporary Craft become one?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 22, 2009 at 0:05 | Comments (6)

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Tuesday 01.20.09

Linking to History

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 20, 2009 at 11:30 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 01.18.09

Quality Pictures Closing-definitvely

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 18, 2009 at 21:01 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 01.15.09

Distinguished Guests in Oregon Museums

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 15, 2009 at 12:02 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 01.13.09

Vogels give 50 works to Portland Art Museum

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 13, 2009 at 11:41 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 01.08.09

Think Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 08, 2009 at 12:25 | Comments (0)

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Friday 01.02.09

First Links of 2009

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 02, 2009 at 10:06 | Comments (6)

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Thursday 01.01.09

Last Weekend

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 01, 2009 at 17:11 | Comments (1)

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Tuesday 12.30.08

Looking back at 2008 on PORT

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 30, 2008 at 13:53 | Comments (3)

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Tuesday 12.23.08

Yes Virginia there is a MOCA in 2009

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 23, 2008 at 8:59 | Comments (0)

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Friday 12.19.08

Snowy Hopes

Posted by Megan Driscoll on December 19, 2008 at 11:30 | Comments (0)

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Your morning MOCA

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 19, 2008 at 11:08 | Comments (0)

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Friday 12.12.08

Thank You Terry

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 12, 2008 at 10:05

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Thursday 12.11.08

Terry Toedtemeier passes away

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 11, 2008 at 10:03 | Comments (5)

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Tuesday 12.09.08

Tweet & more Miami photos

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 09, 2008 at 10:29 | Comments (0)

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Monday 12.08.08

Overreacting and Underreacting

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 08, 2008 at 11:52 | Comments (2)

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Thursday 11.27.08

Infiltrating the holiday

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 27, 2008 at 14:49 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 11.26.08

Saving MOCA Tonight

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 26, 2008 at 9:50 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 11.25.08

Linkage

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 25, 2008 at 13:40 | Comments (1)

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Monday 11.24.08

MOCA & Broad recap

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 24, 2008 at 9:57 | Comments (0)

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Friday 11.21.08

Before the weekend

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 21, 2008 at 10:37 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 11.19.08

MOCA's troubles & uncertain fate

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 19, 2008 at 10:17 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 11.18.08

Long Term Thinking

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 18, 2008 at 10:50 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 11.11.08

Linking and thinking

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 11, 2008 at 11:09 | Comments (2)

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Friday 10.31.08

Friday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 31, 2008 at 10:10 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 10.28.08

Reading between the bridges

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 28, 2008 at 21:52 | Comments (1)

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Tuesday 10.21.08

Tuesday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 21, 2008 at 17:06 | Comments (0)

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Friday 10.10.08

Market Schmarket Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 10, 2008 at 10:41 | Comments (0)

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Monday 10.06.08

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 06, 2008 at 11:36 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 10.02.08

Primer and welcoming committee for Reversed Reality

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 02, 2008 at 16:16 | Comments (0)

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Friday 09.26.08

Cloepfil's 2 Columbus Circle

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 26, 2008 at 10:43 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 09.24.08

The Henry announces The Brink art award

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 24, 2008 at 14:28 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 09.16.08

Jennifer Gately Resigns

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 16, 2008 at 17:30 | Comments (1)

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Monday 09.15.08

Crap art, condos, wind towers and green art

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 15, 2008 at 10:54 | Comments (0)

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Friday 09.12.08

Hirst's Castle

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 12, 2008 at 9:56 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 09.09.08

Tuesday links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 09, 2008 at 9:13 | Comments (2)

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Friday 09.05.08

Friday links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 05, 2008 at 9:30 | Comments (0)

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Monday 09.01.08

A lil reading

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 01, 2008 at 19:01 | Comments (2)

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Thursday 08.21.08

Do The Gallery Shuffle

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 21, 2008 at 19:02 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 08.20.08

Make links not war

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 20, 2008 at 13:07 | Comments (3)

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Friday 08.08.08

Friday News

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 08, 2008 at 10:30 | Comments (0)

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Monday 08.04.08

Must Read and OPB

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 04, 2008 at 17:01 | Comments (0)

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Monday 07.28.08

Monday Links: Artvergnugen?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 28, 2008 at 10:43 | Comments (1)

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Friday 07.25.08

Growth?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 25, 2008 at 13:25 | Comments (2)

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Monday 07.21.08

Monday Links

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 21, 2008 at 10:59 | Comments (12)

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Saturday 07.19.08

Rearranging at PAM: Newman, Murakami, Dunham etc.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 19, 2008 at 14:20 | Comments (0)

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Friday 07.18.08

Disjecta: Rematerializing?

It's Disjecta, again... and again... and again. Long time Portlanders are probably pretty familiar with this promotional routine, and have already formed their opinions. For those of you who don't know the history, PORT takes a look back and a look forward after the jump. (More.)

Posted by Megan Driscoll on July 18, 2008 at 8:45 | Comments (15)

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Tuesday 07.15.08

Public art + publicity

I'll have a pretty complicated review for you later today (*I lied, but its coming soon). Till then here are some links:

Tyler Green is excited about Fritz Haeg, we are too and he will be showing at Reed this Fall. His talk at PSU was one of the highlights year last year, he's a major artist. (Aside) during undergrad I had a nasty habit of planting delicious swiss chard in my alma mater's many flower beds... let's just say the food service on campus did not provide a lot of things I found edible!

Jerry Saltz is Jeff Koon's greatest advocate (besides Koons himself). Jerry takes a look at his retrospective here. Ill be seeing this show for myself in a bit.

The Expanded Field discusses Public Art in LA. We have 2% for art up here... but we are a long way from being Chicago, which IMHO has the best collection of recent public art on earth. How good? the last time I was there my more vocally inspiring GF and I spontaneously broke into a version of the Everly Brothers "All I have to do is Dream" replacing that lyric with "Bean"... the nickname for Anish Kapoor's incredible Cloud Gate sculpture. No other public art has even a remote chance of provoking public song! (thankfully)...

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 15, 2008 at 10:31 | Comments (6)

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Wednesday 07.09.08

Portland City Council insists on building the right bridge for I-5

Mayor elect and current transpo commish, Sam Adams, has just released a statement on the I-5 bridge that calls for much of what I called for several weeks ago here by insisting that the bridge;

"Inspire a green, 'postcard-worthy' design. This should be the world's most environmentally friendly bridge in design, construction, and operations. Any bridge is an icon, and this one must aesthetically enhance the world-class grandeur of the Columbia River and Mount Hood. And it must be sensitive to its neighbors by helping knit together the two halves of Hayden Island and downtown Vancouver."

Right on! As I wrote a few weeks ago there is only one way to achieve those goals, hire a world class architect to design the I-5 bridge. Design competition anyone? A competition and successful design would go a long way in convincing more world class design, technology and green industries that Portland isn't all talk... resulting in more jobs and a healthier planet strategy we can export.

Sam's office also states, "The approval today only moves the bridge project proposal from one phase of evaluation to the next. It establishes the assumption for the next phase of study that the existing bridge will be replaced with no more travel lanes than exist today and that it must include an expansion of lightrail." Read more on Sam's blog.

It's time for bridge city to show the world a new kind of bridge. Isolationists who would do nothing (aka turn Oregon into a fortress) miss the fact that this is a golden opportunity to do the right thing for once (with major federal $$ prioritized as one of 6 corridors of the future, meaning it doesn't keep us from getting other funding for other projects). Time to be progressive about the challenges ahead folks, not provincially anachronistic. Cars and more people will be around in 100 years (hopefully running on cold fusion, hydrogen or the hot air generated by art critics)... so underbuilding something that will outlive us isn't an intelligent option.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 09, 2008 at 12:29 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 07.08.08

A few bits

Ok Im finishing up a review y'all are gonna enjoy (or at least enjoy hating)... till then:

Jerry Saltz on Eliasson's waterfalls, still Portland as a city has probably the best collection of waterfalls in the US (30 minutes away on I 84).

Regina Hackett had a nice lil interview with Christopher Rauschenberg. I particularly liked the question about dance... because for those who are paying attention, Chris is absolutely the most awesome dancer in Portland. At Elizabeth Leach's 25th anniversary party I remember him just opening a massive can of dance whupass as a crowd of artists and curators stood watching from the shadows contemplating just how terribly unfunky we were by comparison. Yeah, that's right he dances like Travolta and sounds just like his dad.

Archidose visits an awesome garden design, with a nice nod to beehives.

John Buchanan continues to astound San Francisco critics , in the worst way. Tyler Green has caught the scent as well.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 08, 2008 at 11:03 | Comments (0)

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Monday 07.07.08

Duty bound links

Edward Winkleman took on the question of beauty, craft and its "antipode of convenience" in the constellation of artistic intent, conceptualism. There is no right answer and for my money the best possible outcome is the one where the philosophy and execution are capable of simultaneously undermining and reinforcing one another. When something leans too heavilly on craft or conceptual formula it is just dead to me, a spent force. Something has to be at risk for it to be intellectually/experientially salient. Simply putting a marble in some cream cheese in the center of a room or a giant gold dildo that shines like the sun isn't enough.... I want an aesthetic and intellectual program to be presented in a way that I can both come back to and or forget when I'm viewing. Still, the end result can't be too didactic or controlling of the viewer in making its gestalt. Perhaps, the follow through is the most important part of visual art and at a certain point the artist fades as the work remains?


Pipilotti Rist at FACT

Adrian Searle's podcast on Pipilotti Rist's Gravity Be My Friend at FACT (Liverpool) shows just why she does video installation art and sound better than almost everyone... though this is kinda Verner Panton-y.

Also, yes I am hard on the schlub... so when DK Row writes a nice piece on Robert Rauschenberg's final works (on view at Bluesky) I feel duty bound to point it out. If you are gonna be tough it helps to be fair too. I actually like defending him... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 07, 2008 at 11:57 | Comments (6)

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Thursday 07.03.08

Swan Song for Tilt

Today, Tennessee, by 2006 Oregon Biennial artist Benjamin Buswell opens as the final exhibition at the Tilt gallery in the Everett Station Lofts. PORT was the first to tell you this would be a place to watch 2.5 years ago and it has really held up. Regardless whether any particular show was a success or fell flat, the trek to Tilt was always rewarding because of the surprise and professionalism that could be counted on.

Tilt has had a comparatively long run at "the lofts" for the husband and wife team of Jenene Nagy and Josh Smith who have another project, TILT Export, which will do independent curation while focusing more on their personal studio time. Jenene is also curator for PSU's Autzen gallery and was PORT's business manager for 2007.

Typically these alt space live/work Everett Station Loft galleries last only a year and at 2.5 years it's a good run for Tilt...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 03, 2008 at 11:00 | Comments (1)

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Monday 06.30.08

Monday Links

Power Slice (Portland) and Peripheral Vision (Seattle) are two very intelligent non-vanity additions to NW blogosphere.

Louise Bourgeois at the Guggenheim looks great in the NYT's... check out their slideshow. The Guggenheim does amazing things to sculpture shows, yet this reminds me of how lame Matthew Barney's show there was by comparison.

Tyler Green is right about these Gertrude Stein's twins, makes me wonder what a whole show of Gertrude Stein portraits would be like? Kind of like an intellectually superior night of the living dead?!

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 30, 2008 at 10:23 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 06.17.08

For your consideration

First off, irony has ebbed now that the Art in America art blogging roundtable from last November by Peter Plagens... (which PORT participated in) is now on-line.

Second, we don't usually plug fundraisers on PORT but PSU's online auction provides scholarships for their students. Some of the artist's included are Chris Johanson, Robert Pruitt, Fritz Haeg, Jim Drain, James Lavadour, Storm Tharp, Bruce Conkle, Dan Attoe, Mads Lynnerup, Harrell Fletcher and Rigo 23 etc. It's a great opportunity to help PSU art students and score some good pieces. Also, we hear Harrell's "The American War" was recently added to MoMA's collection.

Peter Schjeldahl has a nice piece on the Jeff Koons retrospective (which I intend to see).

Lastly, this interview in the O simply wasn't fit to print. Apparently the editors over there either don't care that they have a credibility problem or simply want to heckle Portland's art scene. Either way it's shamefully passive aggressive and a wasted hatchet job effort. Soliciting JV level questions to ask the curator was a cop out too. Note, Jen Graves of the Stranger is more respected in the area arts community and got a much better interview.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 17, 2008 at 12:05 | Comments (0)

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Friday 05.30.08

Friday links

In the New York Times Roberta Smith gave a nod to Portland's Jessica Jackson Hutchins (scroll down), bringing up many of the same things I pointed out in PORT's review of her show at Small A Projects last February. Her show at Derek Eller looks a lot more filled in than the Portland show, but that makes sense... experiment at home and tune the idea for the New York showcase. The homey subject matter definitely isn't your typical NYC fare.

Adrian Searle loves "Psycho Buildings" at the Hayward Gallery in London. This is a definitely a show I'd love to catch.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 30, 2008 at 10:43 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 05.28.08

Who's the big bad wolf now?

Sorry we've been a little quiet, don't worry PORT is about to unleash a deluge of interesting content as we approach our 3rd year (June 1st).

As a calm before the PORT in a storm here are two fine things from the New Yorker:

Peter Schjeldahl's take on Action Painting and abstraction show at the Jewish Museum discusses the how writers got mixed up in all of that paint. Greenberg, being the most important has a Portland tie in of course... his personal collection forms the cornerstone of the Portland Art Museum's modern holdings. Yet there are gaps, we dont have a major Pollock, Still or most naggingly a major Rothko... despite the fact that Rothko grew up here and had hist first solo show at PAM. I love the fact that we have a very good Krasner and Richard Pousette-Dart on view though. PAM's current display doesn't exactly follow Greenberg's dictums but an expanded worldview. It is interesting that Greenberg is no longer considered the big bad wolf of modernism, the art museum world is no longer made of straw.

Paul Goldberger looks at Chinese architecture and the message it sends. Note the China Design Now show will come to PAM October 2009.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 28, 2008 at 8:09 | Comments (0)

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Friday 05.23.08

Friday links

Stay tuned, Ill have an exhaustive Sam Adams/Portland zeitgeist post coming soon.

Till then here's:

Zaha Hadid's new skyscraper for Warsaw Poland it was just announced that her design is the winner.

A very well written review of TJ Norris' Infinitus show at NAAU by Richard Speer. BTW the WWeek is starting to have more art coverage again and I think ditching the listings for a few short reviews is better... it's about time, what about some features?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 23, 2008 at 14:05 | Comments (0)

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Monday 05.19.08

Connecting excellence

Last Friday the City Club hosted Tom Manley with Brad Cloepfil and Sohrab Vossoughi of Ziba Design to discuss Portland's "Creative Grid". Basically it was about networking Portland's creative institutions, firms and individuals. You can listen to it here. Overall this is an important shift in Portland's strategic future as the city is networking the hell out of itself in a way that lets creative types get in on the ground floor.

I liked several things about this rather 19th century style public forum at the City Club. First the word "excellence" was used frequently (if only both of our Mayoral candidates did the same, whoever gets the job needs to take their cues from these 3 Portlanders and a few others...). Second, Brad Cloepfil made a great point about being honest about our goals and instead of trying to do it all (like some arts institutions attempt) we need to focus on what we can do that is truly excellent. Finally, the best bit was when Cloepfil responded to a the question about money and funding (a red herring) by stating that Portland needs to "Get Over It" and should focus on doing things at a high level instead (I suspect that will bring more money in 5-10 years). The trick is to not get self satified or think that spending lots of money leads to excellence.

I've been saying the same thing for years, the actual amount of money matters less than how it is used. We simply need to ask better questions like my favorite gripe, "are the projects and institutions we are funding raising the level or of discussion, ideas and execution rather than simply existing to create communities of mediocrity. Communities are good but they matter most when they challenge themselves to be better rather than self-congratulatory.

Roberta Smith looked at a show of artistic mash-ups. Sounds like people are looking for something new and trying to see what happens when 2 artists are artificially put together. Of course when its not artificial as in Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg (rivals, lovers etc.) that's when art gets radicalized in exciting ways. I don't think those days are gone.

Last but not least Art Blogging LA has unleashed its redesigned site.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 19, 2008 at 10:28 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 05.15.08

Windows on many world views

Photo: © Gerhard Richter, Koln / Dombauarchiv Koln, Matz and Schenk

Recently, Peter Schjeldahl took a fascinating look at two stained glass window projects by Sigmar Polke and Gerhard Richter. Here's the Koln Cathedral's webpage for the Richter project.

Personally, I've always loved stained glass and learned how to execute art deco designs when I was 8 because my Mother was doing the same. Later, I was near contentiously exposed to Frank Lloyd Wright's work and eventually boned up on historical examples like Chartres, La Sainte-Chapelle and Matisse's project in Vence. As for the sacred/secular debate, I don't think it matters much... many Christian artists were pretty heretical while pursuing their work. I also think there is an odd double standard, nobody cares if an architect of a church like Philip Johnson, Moneo or Frank Lloyd Wright were religiously compatible with the congregation's beliefs. I always appreciate it when churches choose to employ top talent, it is a civic responsibility and the poetics of talent producing tolerance are undeniable.

Brian Libby over at Portland Architecture gave a welcome recap of Brad Cloepfil's chat at Jimmy Mak's. Interesting how he appreciated the Pearl District as a decent effort that sets the stage for some possibly superb buildings in the future. Right now the only above average architecture is his W+K headquarters, a couple of galleries and the Holst architects projects of PNCA (with a stellar paintjob by Randy Higgins) and Rivertek. With the 511 building and Holst's Ziba Design HQ's there is a sense that some exiciting work is about to be built. Also, what is Powells gonna do with their remodel/addition? The Portland art scene can always use more interesting exhibition spaces and even the new condo's have interesting lobby installation opportunities.

The Mercury reviewed the Jess show. After the Cornell retrospective at SFMOMA last year and an unrelenting string of lesser shows in Portland I'm gonna have trouble taking in more collage art. Still, this sounds promisingly obsessive. With collage art I remain wary... "more" seldom is MORE, with Cornell being the benchmark for how to do it right. After Rauschenberg's death I'm feeling even more picky, though Anna Fidler is really starting to take off. Come to think of it collage is a lot like making a stained glass window.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 15, 2008 at 11:45 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 05.13.08

Remembering Robert Rauschenberg

Canyon, 1959, Combine on canvas, 81 3/4 x 70 x 24 in.

Robert Rauschenberg has passed away at age 82 of heart failure, here is the New York Times obit. A great artist and massively influential, PORT's thoughts are with his friends and family.

With his ultra influential combines and even moreso silk-screens, Rauschenberg's place in history is secure as one of art's great alchemists. Without Rauschenbergs's mental muscle and protean reinvention you wouldn't have Warhol (silk-screen), Johns or even Sigmar Polke (silk-screen), Anselm Kiefer (combines) and Jean Michel Basquiat whose cypher-like pictorial organization owed much to seminal works like Factum I and II.

My favorite Rauschenberg would have to be Canyon, a work so loaded of with rich associative properties it may be the most telling American representative of Post WWII... it's simply all there; ironic nationalism, stylistic conflicts, poetic hypocrisy, personal asides etc. Hilariously, the fact that Rauchenberg used a bald eagle insures that the work cannot be bought and sold (a protected animal). Also, turning that eagle into a magpie.. a predator turned into imposter... a symbol becomes a chameleon etc.. is simply unbeatable when discussing art and American politics/life.

I think the best recent piece of writing on him was Jerry Saltz's Our Picasso? review of the combine show.

>Feel free to leave your thoughts on the man and his art here... (more

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 13, 2008 at 10:58 | Comments (6)

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Friday 05.09.08

Something to chew on for the weekend

Portland Architecture has a great post on PSU's Social Practice classroom on Alberta. An innovative project, the structure will be designed to be moved from site to site, interracting with the various neighborhoods that Portland is famous for.


Nan Curtis at Linfield (detail)

It's that last weekend for The Dancer at PAM (an excellent scholarly effort) and Saturday is the last day for Nan Curtis' show at Linfield College, always worth the drive and extra fun if you work in some wine tasting in the area.

Roberta Smith chimes in on the 55th Carnegie International... her complaint is its lack of teeth. Tyler Green seems to have seen a different show, partly because the Vija Celmins did something for him. (Celmins usually delivers but what about the newer names?) The elephant in the room is this question, "are all these international shows the same uninspired show created through a preapproved list of familiar names and or ideas? Has brand, inclusivity of various practices and global ubiquity trumped the shock of the new?" Look, it's a change election year and similarly I suspect many people simply want a different art world... the Carnegie is proabbly allright but when they went to Mars it looks like they brought the same old artists. All of the biennials are suffering from a fatigue of the overly familiar (brought on by a smaller world and a lot of shows). Artblog also has some nice coverage.

Oh and in case you missed it Jerry Saltz wrote about a restaging of a seminal Dan Flavin show... back when real ground was being broken.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 09, 2008 at 17:04 | Comments (0)

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Monday 05.05.08

Looking around

Andrew Goldstein wonders what P.S.1 will be like without Alanna Heiss? As of late the institution has been morphing into more of an establishment venue with the Greater New York shows etc. and a connection to MoMA... it's the way things tend to go. Really anything that isn't a fusty musty academic institution will tend to fall victim to its own successes (see MoMA, Dia, Guggenheim) and it's why Judd took to Marfa and even that outpost has become a fetish of remoteness. Look, if Walter Hopps could somehow mellow and take on an old sage-like patina in his last years anyone and any institution can...it's just part of the metabolism of culture.

Speaking of Judd, Tyler Green is still in the running for Judd head of the month, both bits are interesting, especially the bits on why Smithson was more favored in the academy.

Kim Davenport of Rice University has 10 bits of sound advice regarding installation art. You definitely have to take a greater leap of faith and trust the atrist more for site specific projects... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 05, 2008 at 11:38 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 04.27.08

Exciting TBA festival visual arts lineup announced

Last night PICA announced their "On Sight" visual arts lineup for the TBA festival September 5-14. Overall, a much stronger and more rebellious visual arts lineup than last year (there were grumbles and bad installs) with a real vis art festival feel than just some appended element to primarily performance oriented TBA lineup. For the first time since they canned their year round visual arts exhibition program I'm truly excited. Overall the curatorial arc has lots of recent Whitney Bi approved names.

Mike Kelley Day is Done ... Kelley's aesthetic can be found in a lot of the other artists here.
The Yes Men Co-presented with Pacific Northwest College of Art
Fritz Haeg Co-presented with Reed College... hmmm a rebel gardener in Portland, frankly I'm most excited about this. Haeg's talk last year was a highlight.
Ryan Trecartin I-Be Area... seen last year at Igloo in the Everett Station Lofts. It needed more attention, so good to see again... a fantastic video artist
Lizzy Fitch Residency / Commission of new work / Installation + Performance... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 27, 2008 at 13:41 | Comments (2)

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Thursday 04.24.08

9 years & last chance for an impressive April gallery junket

April marks my ninth year in Portland and it is really satisfying to say that this was probably the single best month of shows I've seen since moving here. What's more there were strong offerings in every genre imaginable.(list of strong shows ending this weekend below).

A lot has changed since 1999, now there really are several scenes not just one... ... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 24, 2008 at 16:36 | Comments (0)

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Monday 04.21.08

Weekend developments

The West Side Railyards Project with pink cultural mystery box (lower right corner)

Nicolai Ouroussoff of the NYT's had an interesting dissection of developer renderings on Sunday. In this case he was taking it to Helmut Jahn's renderings of the recently awarded West Side Rail Yards project in New York. I particularly liked the Ourousoff's "Cultural Mystery" description where, "neither the developer nor the government have any idea who would occupy the so-called cultural building." Apparently the developer Tishman Speyer has an art collection too... though it isn't like New York needs another corporate art museum. (mmm and yes HJ and I are cousins) This railyard redevelopment reminds me a bit of the South Waterfront project in Portland, which is actually bigger and more expensive than this New York Project... though SOWA doesn't even have a cultural mystery box, though to be fair they do have Linda K Johnson's AIR residencies. Of the AIR projects I think Horatio Law's "China on the Willamette" in May is gonna be a real treat because it draws a correlation between Portland's mega-development which is tiny compared to China's mega-developments (not that bigger is necessarily better from a human use standpoint).

Tyler Green had a nice bit on intellectually supercilious museum shows that support contemporary gallery markets. I nominate the Paul Klee/Devendra Banhart travesty at SFMOMA as the single worst example of this "museum becomes hipster" malaise... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 21, 2008 at 0:00 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 04.13.08

PNCA seeks to purchase its currrent home as well

PNCA's current main building

PNCA has always wanted to buy its current home in the Pearl district, even before plans were announced to acquire the 511 building. Now the college has announced they plan to acquire the current building for an undisclosed sum (read about the details here). I'm guessing it's an undisclosed amount because air rights are valuable and real-estate valuations are currently in complicated flux. Also, Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works (the schools master planner and architect of the 511 building) will oversee some light architectural modifications. Needless to say this positions art as a major industry for Portland, one of my pet subjects.

Yes, all of this capital campaign activity is great but here are a few suggestions:<br>
Modify the Feldman Gallery space to make it a more coherent for showing larger scale work (it's a bit tight and the wainscoting's gotta go), also endow its sometimes awesome exhibition program with at least 2 million with fully endowed curatorial position (PSU should do similar things for its galleries).

Endow department chair positions and have more full time positions with salaries in line with national standards.

Overall though PNCA has become the most ambitious business/cultural enterprise in the entire state of Oregon... it makes me wonder how many places can claim that their flagship art school sits at such a pole position? Yet this makes sense Portland's high profile employers like Nike, Adidas, Ziba Design, W+K etc... all need a very serious art school.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 13, 2008 at 21:21 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 04.10.08

A comprehensive Robert Irwin retrospective at MOCA and MOMA? it's about time

Light and Space (2007) being looked over for the first time by Robert Irwin at MCASD

Tyler Green and Jen Graves are still talking about Robert Irwin's awesome Primaries and Secondaries retrospective at MCASD last year. I called it the best show of the year and the fact that people are still pouring over it is a good indication of why...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 10, 2008 at 14:37 | Comments (1)

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Monday 03.31.08

Cauduro scholarship for PNCA, Portland invests in the future but loses a Warhol

Oregon's single best art collector, Ed Cauduro... and arguably the best eye north of San Francisco has given PNCA a 1 million dollar scholarship endowment. When he was active he tended to collect early and presciently and his collection has included the likes of Warhol, Judd, Schnabel, Terry Winters, Jasper Johns, Jeff Koons and Basquiat (who even did a portrait of the elusive collector). Cauduro has given many important works to PAM (like the Peter Young etc.) but none of the listed heavy hitters are currently in PAM's gap-filled collection. Cauduro also owns Short Stop, John Chamberlain's first crushed car sculpture... something every art museum on the planet is interested in (Cauduro is 81 and must be slightly annoyed with the dynamic sets up). In response he's been setting up a lot of charities, including this incredibly generous scholarship endowment for PNCA. I've known about this for a while and it's a major benefit for the college and the art community. PNCA is on a roll with its 511 building, Hallie Ford gift (FIVE program) and MK Guth in the 2008 Whitney Biennial.

The Ed Cauduro Fund for Pacific Northwest College of Art of The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) will provide up to four $10,000 annual scholarships, beginning with two scholarships for the 2008-2009 school year and one in each of the following two years. The endowment will also provide approximately $5,000 annually for students to use in purchasing art supplies and materials they would otherwise be unable to afford. Having a scholarship like this helps PNCA compete with other schools for particularly promising students... many might not realize this but it is a competitive advantage they have been lacking....(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 31, 2008 at 11:49 | Comments (12)

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Wednesday 03.26.08

PAM acquisition: Tom LaDuke

The latest contemporary addition to the Portland Art Museum, Tom LaDuke's Private Islands (2007), is now on display on the 4th floor of the Jubitz Center for Contemporary Art, nearby the recent Tanya Batura acquisition.

LaDuke has been getting a lot of attention lately from Tyler Green and other museums and his work first appeared in Portland in PAM's New In Town exhibition back in 2002. The thing that has always struck me about LaDuke's work is how there is always a phantom presence... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 26, 2008 at 13:35 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 03.25.08

It's how one lives not "in what" that is defining

Jean Nouvel's 100 11th Ave. in Chelsea

Last weekend Nicolai Ouroussoff opined about the rash of preening new condos in New York. One telltale problem is how the interiors are extremely conventional... there was a time when ground breaking design actually pushed those who lived inside to reconsider how they lived (whereas this is just a surface form of avant-garde). The only project that seems truly inspired is Jean Nouvel's 100 11th ave project which sets up a generous visual rhythm externally that actually carries into the interior spaces. In contrast to most of these "surface" projects I've been photographing the Belmont Lofts building by Holst Architects in Portland a lot lately and it strikes me that that condo building doesn't turn its back to Belmont street, it is semi-permiable and urban ... it isn't a barrier, fortress or some status symbol, it's emblematic of an engaged civic lifestyle and very Portland. Also, the recent Casey project in Portland is more notable for its platinum LEED rating than its novel but slightly dull exterior.

Also last week, More Ways to Waste Time did her own art tour of Portland, and managed to find way more nooks and crannies in the art scene here than say the New York times has in their frequent stalkings of Portland. She ate a lot of stuff too... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 25, 2008 at 12:13 | Comments (0)

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Friday 03.21.08

Congratulations Michael Patterson-Carver

Bush visits Portland, 2007

Congratulations to Portlander Michael Patterson-Carver who is one of the recipients of the 2008 Altoids art prize, he gets 25,000 and a joint show at the New Museum. Previous recipient Harrell Fletcher was one of the *nominators. The award is somewhat unique in contemporary art as artists select other artists for the award, hence the reason the award doesn't have the musty and necrotic smell that most art world prizes have... that and Altoids sponsors it. Carver is represented by Small A where you can see more of his work.

*clarification

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 21, 2008 at 10:48 | Comments (4)

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Thursday 03.20.08

PAM's latest contemporary acquisition: Batura + some guests

Tanya Batura, Sourire en Bois, 2007. Clay and acrylic. 10 in x 17 in x 10 in. Portland Art Museum.

The Portland Art Museum's latest contemporary acquisition, Tanya Batura's Sourire en Bois is on now display on the 4th floor of the Jubitz Center for Contemporary Art. The title translates as, "to smile out of wood." The double entendre is probably intended, but it also references how the sculpture has a wooden texture where the torso normally would start... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 20, 2008 at 17:29 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 03.12.08

Rothko in Portland

Marcus Rothkowitz, Landscape (View of Portland), ca. 1928 courtesy Michael Rosenfeld Gallery

The Portland Art Museum is host to yet another distinguished guest, in fact it's a work painted in Portland by our most famous local artist, Marcus Rothkowitz (aka Mark Rothko). The painting is currently on display in the third floor of the Schnitzer Center for Northwest Art. The ca. 1928 oil painting "Landscape (View of Portland)" was made long before his signature style of the late 40's and depicts the then new Ross Island Bridge from Pill Hill, a moody grey sky and Mt Hood. Overall, it is most strongly influenced by Cezanne... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 12, 2008 at 12:08 | Comments (3)

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Tuesday 03.11.08

PNCA gets the 511 building

In what will probably be the biggest Portland art news of 2008, PNCA has announced they have been given the green light to acquire the historic 511 building by the GSA and Department of Education. PORT reported in detail on this last fall (and were the first to recognize the importance of it to the local art world). PNCA is tied to both Portland's hot new design economy (Ziba, Allied Works, W+K etc)and the West Hills money that recently funded PAM's 100,000,000+ expansion and continuing endowment campaign... so yes they can do it. This is a major investment in Portland's future not just an art school realestate opportunity.

What this likely means:

-Big new Brad Cloepfil project in the architect's home town... we were just discussing his Clyfford Still Museum last week. Im about 99.9999999% certain Cloepfil will get the job, he's the campus' master planner. Hell his office even overlooks the 511 building a lil.

-More public galleries on the North Park Blocks giving Portland an opportunity to extend the Park Plocks in the future into a world class cultural enclave.... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 11, 2008 at 10:05 | Comments (1)

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Whitney Biennial Backlog

Ok, the typical Whitney rigmarole has given New York something to talk about again (though it seems quieter and less engaging than usual, the Whitney needs to radically change the show to increase its relevance). Frankly it doesn't excite me at all, but so far Ben Davis on Artnet has done the best job of capturing the issue at hand. His best summary, "the whole thing does seem to represent an interest in homeopathic medicine! That is, it offers to simulate a negative effect to cure the larger disease; as if to fend off harsh critical attacks, the show embraces a defensive self-abasement. It is willfully half-baked." Though his Neo-Hippie tag isn't quite news...truth be told the last 4 (including 2008) have all been Neo-Hippie late 60's and early 70's fests. One could point to the adoption of Devendra Banhart into the art world as making it rather official (and therefore dead). That nostalgia also underscores why people aren't that whipped up over this Biennial show, there is no real shift at work here.

Despite that, Portland's own MK Guth is racking up all sorts of critical notice doing the important thing in any group show, standing out (Davis and the New York Times single her out as a favorite). Though Holland Cotter's Times piece labeling of her work as "new agey" seems like a New Yorker projecting funny expectations on a Portlander. Truth is MK pisses a lot of Portlanders off because she isn't very dippy-hippy newagey, she's often hard core but romantic with an eye for entropy and not new agey at all.... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 11, 2008 at 9:30 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 03.05.08

More Cloepfil/Still and More of everything else

Brad Cloepfil's latest Clifford Still Museum design

Portland's top starchitect Brad Cloepfil has unveiled a more finalized design of his Clyfford Still Museum. We saw an early model of it here and it looks like the heavy basalt-like look has been retained. There are two Cloepfil's, heavy Brad (Weiden + Kennedy HQ) and dematerializing light Brad (1 Columbus Circle). Heavy Cloepfil is way better and after spending some time at Kahn's Salk Institute last Fall... I understand why... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 05, 2008 at 8:14 | Comments (3)

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Monday 03.03.08

Whitney Time - Yawn, Guth Time - Yeah!

It's Whitney Biennial time again... and Portland has had someone in 3 of the last 4. The 2008 show opens Thursday and even PNCA is doing an event in New York.

This year the Portlander is MK Guth, whom PORT interviewed in depth earlier this year. Joseph Gallivan just did a nice piece on Guth for the Tribune...we will surely miss Gallivan's contributions to that paper. His accessible but engaging arts writing made most of the other newsprint in town look tragic.

It's true some worship the WB as some sort of art career Deus ex Machina while the show's overall importance has waned as of late. Still, some 2-5 artists seem to emerge from each iteration and artists like David Altmejd, Forcefield, Chris Johanson and Harrell Fletcher have all gone on to make more serious contributions after the show. My point is the Whitney B in itself isn't as important as the follow through after. In many ways Portlanders are simply over being excited about The Whitney but we love the fact that MK gets to do her thing. I also keep thinking that a west of the Mississippi Biennial might be in order some day as well.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 03, 2008 at 12:30 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 02.21.08

Jupiter Hotel Fair, resurrected?

Ok, I knew this wasnt going to just die, Portland is just too ambitious and organized. Besides the fair itself was solid, one senses the organizers themselves just ran out of steam for a big side project.

According to Jupiter hotel owners The AFFAIR @ the Jupiter Hotel art fair may not retain the same organizers, name or look, but there is a momentum in the Portland art community for continuing the popular art fair headquartered at the Jupiter Hotel since 2004. According to Jupiter Hotel co-owner Kelsey Bunker, "While it is true that Stuart Horodner and Laurel Gitlen will not be running the AFFAIR @ the Jupiter Hotel, we are excited about the new opportunities this allows us to support the art communities both locally and nationally... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 21, 2008 at 9:44 | Comments (36)

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Wednesday 02.20.08

Considering Johns in Gray

Jasper Johns Between the Clock and the Bed, 1982-83 Encaustic on canvas (three panels) Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond © Jasper Johns/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY Photo: Jamie M. Stukenberg/Professional Graphics Inc., Rockford, Illinois

Jasper Johns is one of my all-time favorite artists and unlike Richard Prince he tells jokes so great they become poetry before they become punchlines (Prince starts with the punchline and then tries to reverse engineer them). Sadly, Im not all that convinced by Johns' later work but I consider paintings like "Between the Clock and the Bed" to be great art. It is a cypher of space and a semipermiable abstraction... like the sea it doesnt give up its secrets or it's dead. Im not afraid to utter the dreaded term "great" in the presence of a body of work like this. In Portland we are intimately acquainted with the color gray so the Jasper Johns: Gray show at the Met is of special interest... that and we still have tons of encaustic painters here.

Jerry Saltz has a wonderful wonderful take on the Met's current Johns show.

Donald Kuspit's take is dense and possibly a tad turgid on Artnet (with some great show photos worth checking out).

Roberta Smith's take on Johns is worthwhile too (as always) .

PORT's own Arcy Douglass wrote on Johns last year here.

Carol Vogel generally leaves me disappointed and her personal look at Johns is no exception... where is Kimmelman (the Times chief hagiographer) when you need him?... Europe! Hagiography has its place (though it isn't a replacement for critique).

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 20, 2008 at 10:59 | Comments (0)

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Monday 02.18.08

Affair at the Jupiter Hotel, RIP

White Columns @ Affair at the Jupiter Hotel 2007, Photo by Sarah Henderson

Well, everybody on the inside of the Portland art scene has known for months that there wasn't going to be an Affair at the Jupiter Hotel Art Fair in 2008. I could have pressed the organizers on this but hoped it might be given over to other hands. Now it is officially over.

Most dealers were upset with 2007, which seemed to be an afterthought compared to 2006 and many key players simply weren't going to... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 18, 2008 at 18:19 | Comments (12)

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Friday 02.15.08

Weekendings

Turrell @ Roden crater, photo Florian Holzherr

Tomorrow (Feb 16th), James Turrell will speak at PNCA's huge Swigert Commons space to kick off their Idea Studio talks. Reservations are sold out but a limited # of standing room only slots will be available, doors open at 3:00 first come first served. Talk is at 4:00 (reservation holders need to be seated by 3:50 to retain their seats). While you are at it read PORT's in-depth review of James Turrell's Pomona College show to prepare.

Also, it's the general opening of the BCAM at LACMA and the New York Times smells blood. Neither Ouroussoff nor Roberta Smith were that impressed and one senses that an unmitigated triumph at LACMA would have forced New York Museums to step up...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 15, 2008 at 11:51 | Comments (6)

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Thursday 02.07.08

Some New Hypocrisy, same as it ever was

The Mercury has penned a story about Rererato's zoning problems and looming closure by the city. I notified Sam Adam's office of this last week (Commissioner Sam show us your your arts muscle? You wanna be Mayor... as Mayor Vera saved a fake horse on NW 23rd, as Arts Comissioner why not save a good art venue?)... look something needs to be done. This is the type of scrappy art venue that makes Portland great and they have been doing good things. Don't let the letter of the law usurp the intent. As an arts city its hypocritical for the city of Portland to shut down Rererato. So readers please email: chamberlainj@ci.portland.or.us and let the city know what you think.

*Update: PORT has assurances from Comissioner Sam's office, "We're working on it. Promise."


BCAM Gallery Section, © Renzo Piano Building Workshop

As Tyler notes it's definitely LACMA's Broad Contemporary Art Museum day, and the LA Times piece is an interesting exercise in revealing the greatness and faults of three of my favorite things on the West Coast; LACMA's crazy (with its own woolly mammoth engulfing tar pit) campus , super collector Eli Broad and critic Christopher Knight. All three are forgivably contradictory in ways only the truly talented are... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 07, 2008 at 11:41 | Comments (3)

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Wednesday 02.06.08

Loosely related links

Robert Rauschenberg (American, b. 1925), Retroactive I, 1963, oil on canvas, 83 7/8 x 59 7/8 inches, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, © Robert Rauschenberg

Art and politics link up more often than I find interesting but Artnet's list of Obama, McCain and Clinton contributors is interesting (though totally irrelevant to anybody but art geeks). Sure, artists like Cecily Brown and Chuck Close might support Obama and Matthew Marks might have supported Clinton but ultimately it says more about the donors than the candidates...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 06, 2008 at 13:20 | Comments (0)

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Friday 02.01.08

News bits

Unimpressive street art creates impressive waste of tax dollars

A portland artist, Ryan Birkland, has been arrested for putting up guerilla style art on telephone poles. It seems pretty ridiculous.... how about taking on the meth pushers that ride the NoPo max lines instead? This could have a chilling effect on street art like Scott Wayne Indiana's horses and this selective enforcement seems poorly defined.

Jerry Saltz has reviewed Guy Ben-Ner's latest "Ikea based" video

Reed's latest show Working History is now definitely open, go see it. Laura Fritz's Caseworks 13 (in the same building) has been extended to Feb 17th.

Last but not least there are (solidly sourced *update confirmed) rumors that the Portland Art Museum has recieved a pledge from Gordon D. Sondland and Katherine J. Durant for a 1 million dollar gift to allow Children 17 and under to visit the museum for free. It is part of a larger endowment campaign to provide free days for everyone. Mayor Potter may have avoided funding those free days but the museum is moving forward with results. See, Portland's patrons do write checks but it is tied to the seriousness and focus of the organization's mission. If you are just showing your friends in a big warehouse (and if they aren't very good) don't expect to be entitled to that much. Seriousness + focus = funding.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 01, 2008 at 10:59 | Comments (5)

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Wednesday 01.30.08

Spiral Jetty Threatened

Important, Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty is threatened by an oil development. Check out Tyler Green's post to contact the people in Utah doing this TODAY before 7:00 PM ET. I went to grad school in Logan a couple of hundred miles away and as anyone who has ever visited the site knows the isolation of the place is important. People in Utah often don't appreciate this and plunk flame spewing oil refineries in some of the most scenic areas imaginable so this is a very real threat. Hell, I even got Chas Bowie this show at Chambers a few years ago because I though his photos of the site were important.

Definitely stay tuned... Ill have PORT's 2008 curatorial roundup posted later today. Also, yes I'll post the results of PORT's bridge design contest early next week. Sorry about the backlog, Ive been very busy.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 30, 2008 at 10:45 | Comments (1)

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Monday 01.28.08

Brian Ferriso checkup: 1 year as director of the Portland Art Museum

PAM's Executive Director Brian Ferriso

This January marks the one year anniversary for the Portland Art Museum's new director, Brian Ferriso. As arguably holding the most important cultural position in Oregon, Ferriso's actions have far reaching implications and set expectations both within the museum and the rest of the state's philanthropic/artistic community. It is time for an annual checkup. (disclosure: Im VP of the Contemporary Art Council at PAM and PAM is a PORT sponsor)

The Ferriso effect:

For contrast, John Buchannan, Ferriso's predecessor was a successful and aggressive entrepreneurial promoter (but questionable as a connoisseur), and for years many other organizations followed his lead, putting hype ahead of content. Lately, Portlanders have grown tired of the "constant PR" type leaders as purveyors of empty cultural calories. [*Note to our so-called journalists, coverage should focus on qualifications of leaders and the quality of shows (aka the only results that matter) not grandiose promises and PR glosses over inferior programming simply designed to produce attendance.] In fact, the first thing Ferriso did was cool down the board who wanted to build on the new property PAM had acquired so he could focus on solidifying the museum's fundamentals like its; endowment, collections and programming tuned to Portland's needs (more contemporary with a bustling arts scene). He's also empowered his curators and that's good for deeping PAM's intellectual relevance... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 28, 2008 at 16:26 | Comments (4)

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Thursday 01.24.08

Comprehension

The Guardian covers a much touted show of paintings from Russian collections at the Royal Academy (some of the Matisses are among the most important in art history), there is even a slide show.



A group called the Atomic Age Alliance has come forward to save the wonderful Crown Motel sign. Even the TV news is tracking the story. Hopefully (if it is saved) it will stay on Interstate...

(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 24, 2008 at 10:47 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 01.20.08

What the Portland Art Center Closing Means to Me

Director Gavin Shettler in 2005 at the Portland Art Center's then new home in Chinatown

For the two readers that have not heard, Gavin Shettler sent out an email yesterday announcing that the Portland Art Center is closing. D.K. Row wrote an article about it here. As an artist who showed at the Portland Art Center as they were transitioning from their old space on Belmont to their new space in the Pearl, I was happy that an institution like PAC existed in Portland... (more)

Posted by Arcy Douglass on January 20, 2008 at 14:31 | Comments (4)

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Friday 01.18.08

Hadid gets a university museum... so where is Portland's university museum?

Hadid's winning entry for the Broad Art Museum

I'm certain a lot of you already know Zaha Hadid has won the commission for Eli Broad's art museum at his alma mater, Michigan State University. It's a gutsy choice and I like its italicized character a lot more than her Cincinnati CAC project or any of the other contestants like Coop Himmelb(l)au and Morphosis etc. Still it seems pretty tame for Hadid, despite the fact it uses lots of triangular forms (a personal obsession). She also recently completed this interesting transit project the Hungerburgbahn (don't you just love German).

It also brings up the issue of university art museum's and Portland is really underdeveloped in that department. Seattle has the Henry, the University of Wisconsin Madison has the Chazen (nee Elvejehm), Berkeley Art Museum, Eccles (Logan Utah), Jordan Schnitzer Museum in Eugene, Hallie Ford Museum in Salem etc... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 18, 2008 at 10:56 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 01.15.08

PNCA Launches FIVE Idea Studios

James Turrell will speak at PNCA Feb 16

PNCA has launched a new visiting luminary series called FIVE Idea Studios. The first two visitors being:

MacArthur Fellow James Turrell on Feb 16th, (PORT's Arcy Douglass reviewed Turrell's latest Pomona College project here in depth just last week)

and French philosopher Jacques Rancière on Feb 29th... (he's the art world's favorite rockstar theoretician these days and between these two the college is hitting exemplars of the twin poles in art today, aesthetic experience [Turrell] and the search for new forms of social dynamic theory [Rancière].

According to PNCA (a PORT sponsor):

"Idea Studios will be an ongoing and portable series of conversations, lectures and performances on the inner workings of the creative process. The series will feature internationally acclaimed practitioners from a range of fields and cultures as part of a broader PNCA + FIVE effort to highlight the importance of creativity in fostering innovation and civic imagination. Venues for Idea Studios will at times shift from the PNCA Portland campus to other locales across Oregon, the U.S. and the globe...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 15, 2008 at 0:00 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 01.10.08

Portland Spaces magazine unveiled

Randy Gragg and I have a long history but his history with the city of Portland's aesthetics goes back much farther than that. Though he wasn't the first to write about me here, he was the first to pen a review on a show I put together way back in 2001. I remember he asked me, "so who is the ringleader?" My half-idiotic response was, "I suppose that would be me?" Undoubtedly he thought I was a yutz but wrote the review anyway (bet he wishes he could have that one back eh?). Still, some of the art was good and that's all he cared about. Now after leaving the Oregonian Gragg's the ring leader of the brand new Portland Spaces magazine a kind of Dwell magazine for Portland. Fist Gragg was an art critic, then an architecture critic and now he's an editor in a city that is rapidly reimagining itself. If there was ever a time for such a thing it's now.



Sure Gragg's departure from the O did prompt some major civic leaders to query if the O will just abdicate architectural and design criticism altogether but I suspect they will need to do something to compete with Portland Spaces for relevance sake. Though Randy and I don't always see eye to eye (mostly because we differ on important minutiae) I've always respected the guy and like the fact we offer eachother the opportunity to disagree (critics live for this). Also, Randy has an excellent nose for news and always seems to know where the action is... which makes his new Portland Spaces magazine tantalizing.

The inaugural issue of the bimonthly has an interesting modern home by rising architect Jeff Kovel built for Karen and John Hoke (Nike VP) on the cover...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 10, 2008 at 23:01 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 01.09.08

More on Broad and the Portland connection

Eli Broad's big news in the New York Times yesterday still has everybody talking. Is forming an independent art lending institution a form of Teddy Roosevelt style cultural trust-busting (museum as monopolizer) or does it short circuit the opportunities and dialog of the works joining a larger collection? For example, curators build museum collections around acquisitions, not available loans. Also, loans aren't likely to become museum favorites that people can visit for 10+ year stretches of time (my favorite part of museum going). Still LACMA's new Broad building will have a strong presence of Broad Art Foundation loans.

Interestingly enough, Portland has a stake in this story as Broad has been very active with the Portland Art Museum and by not giving the collection wholesale to LACMA it leaves the door open for further engagement with Portland's art starved but rapidly developing cultural ecosystem. Portland has been the beneficiary of the Broad Foundation quite regularly including the Damien Hirst and Camouflage shows at the Portland Art Museum in 2007. Sure we have some good collectors in the Northwest but no collection North of California on the West Coast can compete with Broad's, it really helps as a resource.

By creating a lending institution and not mothballing... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 09, 2008 at 14:30 | Comments (2)

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Monday 01.07.08

Think links

PORT has a ton of thought provoking interviews and reviews this week but let's kick things off with some fresh links:

Portland's Daniel Peterson posts his first image of 2008 and it is fantastic. This guy needs a solo show, best new photographer I've seen in years.

Also, the New York Times had nice things about video art and snow globes.

Art Ltd. a newish West Coast art mag did a nice bit on Julius Shulman.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 07, 2008 at 12:43 | Comments (0)

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Friday 01.04.08

David Lynch at Northwest Film Center this weekend

DAVID LYNCH IN DIRECTOR blackANDwhite'S LYNCH. COURTESY ABSURDA.

JAN 4, 5, 6 FRI 7 PM, SAT 7 PM, SUN 5:30 PM
LYNCH
US/DENMARK 2007
DIRECTOR: BLACKANDWHITE
This fascinating, indeed "Lynchian," portrait offers a rare glimpse into the enigmatic mind and creative process of the famed director of ERASERHEAD, THE ELEPHANT MAN, BLUE VELVET, and MULHOLLAND DRIVE, to name just a few of his surreal and seminal works. Filmed over a period of two years (by mysterious producers) it follows David Lynch at home and at work on the set of his recent INLAND EMPIRE with Laura Dern and Jeremy Irons... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 04, 2008 at 12:35 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 01.03.08

Last day for Yeon architecture exhibition

Please forgive me (and the bum rush of the holidays + Miami) for not posting on this earlier but today is the last day to see the inaugural exhibit at the American Institute of Architects new Portland HQ's in the Pearl District (the old SK Josephsberg Gallery building). The show is John Yeon: in the land of influence, curated by Randy Gragg (whose Portland Spaces magazine launches next week). Brian Libby at Portland Architecture had a nice post on Yeon's Swan house a while back too.

To me Yeon looks a lot like a more practical Frank Lloyd Wright without all the hubris... and his work remind's me of my parent's house in Wisconsin.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 03, 2008 at 10:29 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 01.01.08

Best of 2007

It's done now but 2007 was a big year and here is how PORT's Ryan Pierce, ex-PORTer and new Beaverton Arts Comission board member Melia Donovan, Matt McCormick, Micah Malone, Jesse Hayward and my own dull self rated the year... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 01, 2008 at 13:26 | Comments (5)

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Friday 12.28.07

2007 Recap

PORT and Portland's art scene had a particularly good year in 2007 with a general expansion of interesting new venues, artists and greater national exposure all around. In fact, weve had so much exposure outside of the city that Portlander's have begun to refer the national media as stalkers. Even PORT ended up in Art in America.

PORT Scoops.. here are just some major stories where we were the first Portland publication to break the news:

The New American Art Union's stipend shows, which were later dubbed Couture when the final selectee's were announced

PNCA makes it's bid for the 511 building, possibly the most important growth opportunity for art in Portland in the past 60 years. Other media have been playing catch up to what could be the biggest story of 2008 as well.

MK Guth selected for the 2008 Whitney Biennial

Portland Art Museum acquired several nice contemporary objects including a fine Judy Chicago and a really nice Gene Davis (we were the only Portland publication to mention these... but then again we are focused purely on art... so there you have it)

Here are some of my favorite articles from the past year:... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 28, 2007 at 10:39 | Comments (4)

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Monday 12.24.07

Holiday reading

Most of PORT's staff have the week off so posts will be somewhat sporadic, so here are some things to yule-tide you over (I know, I know, both the pagans and the baby Jesus would disapprove of that pun):

Yesterday Roberta Smith took a shot at the word "Practice" as over-used by contemporary artists in 2007. I'm with her on this one, one has to have a receptionist and a lobby to have a practice... maybe it's all the college loans that drive artists to consider it a practice? It's probably just a nonsensical shortening of the term studio practice that gets all frothy with other pretensions (most artists are not particularly good wordsmiths so it is Roberta's job to point this sort of silliness out). It all reminds me of the original ending of Robert Hughes The Shock Of The New where he complained that art had become a vocation not an avocation... later Hughes wussed out and changed that ending. Still, he had it right the first time, even if he was wrong as could be about Basquiat (right about Schnabel though). My greatest annoyance is with the art world's meaningless use of the word "Authentic." To me its like the yuppie approved packaging on overpriced ethnic dishes one can find at high end grocery stores. It almost guarantees it isn't the real thing but it's overpriced status intends to mitigate guilt while giving it a patina of legitimacy. To use Greenberg's term it's very middlebrow.

Portland Public art has a hilarious post on what won't save hipsters(?) in Portland... great stuff.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 24, 2007 at 17:00 | Comments (2)

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Wednesday 12.19.07

Space is the place (externalizing the internal & its inverse)

Joel Shapiro's current show at Pace Wildenstein

Art Info has a nice interview with Joel Shapiro, whose work seems to becoming increasingly relevant and central to the age old (some would say pointless) distinction between representation and abstraction in sculpture. I love how his later work seems to activate space through inhabitation. This has always been a key element of his work but in the last few years he's developed that Picasso-like sureness and energy about his efforts. I like it much better than David Smith's Cubi series which I feel were a bit forced (though important). There is nothing forced about this work, Shapiro is the new Giacometti (as our leading existential sculptor).

The New York Times had a bit on starchitects... Is it just me or are the architects today way more progressive and experimental than the artists? Theoretically, artists aren't saddled with the same kinds of compromises and restrictions... so why does someone like Julie Mehretu seem like a side dish compared to the main courses in Gehry, Koolhaas, Hadid, HdM and Libeskind's work?

...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 19, 2007 at 9:48 | Comments (0)

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Monday 12.17.07

Report: A NW Thang at Gallery Homeland

a knitted cadavar stood out

So how was Gallery Homeland's A NW Thang opening at the Ford Building on Friday night? Maybe the more important question is how was the art?

Answer: pretty solid.

Sure, spatially it was a ramble of large finished hallway spaces and an enormous unfinished commercial space but the art itself was what I've been hoping for over the last few years when I've gone to locally focused upstart institutional shows. Most everything I saw was well done, post MFA quality work. Of particular note was Cynthia Starr's group project where an entire human cadaver was created out of knit elements, guts and all. Yes, it's absolutely stereotypical of Portland and our surplus of knitters (and group activities) but it had an intellectual reflexiveness I often don't see in other group projects which seem to invite a lot of participants so a large crowd will show up. Karl Lind's video selections were... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 17, 2007 at 11:33 | Comments (0)

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Friday 12.14.07

More thoughts on last week: Motel & the art fairs

Overall, the art production for Miami 2007 seemed less fresh and daring than I remember it in 2005 (going to Miami every year isn't necessary) and maybe the art world is too sated. So why not ask... was 2007 in general a lackluster vintage or is it just a fair problem? Also, Jen Graves (who sat this one out) had a good "just that facts" take on Miami this year from a Seattle perspective. Portland galleries mostly avoided Aqua and did ok to great this year. Also, after talking to a few Portland gallerists the fairs most of them want to be in are Pulse or Art Miami.

Overall, Art fair experiences really vary, for example Pulliam Deffenbaugh was at the somewhat lackluster Red Dot fair and yet did really well so it's difficult to characterize. The Aquas have some really good elements but need to up the ante the way Pulse and Nada have since theyve first appeared. Schwanky events, more diverse galleries and something that differentiates and makes the fair a destination. Portland's own Affair at the Jupiter Hotel needs to do the same things just to bring people to Portland. Which brings us to the question, will there be another affair?... OK I know more than Ill discuss here but many Portland dealers really want them to step up and make the event more of a destination or have a completely different fair under different management. Pairing with TBA doesn't really work, two different crowds. If it were paired with a vis-arts festival that would be more effective.


a Motel installtion from July 2005

On the news of Motel's closing last week... Im sad of course, but this wasn't a surprise for me as Jenn and I have a rapport (As PORT's co-founder and former buisiness partner she's like the sister I never had). She wanted to concentrate purely on the gallery when her planned exodus from PORT happened earlier this year (in the works for about a year actually). There are some things Portland needs to learn from this... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 14, 2007 at 12:17 | Comments (5)

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Wednesday 12.12.07

It had to be done

Tyler Green has pointed out a great charitable giving vehicle that funds art projects in schools, check it out. Portland's art programs are woefully underfunded so here is an opportunity for our teachers. PORT generally avoids posts on charities but here are some of the worthy Portland projects you can help fund.

Art Critical has a nice look at the Miami fairs including the two I never got around to seeing, Art Miami and Pulse. Art Miami looks like a serious contender for ABMB's top spot.

Artblog.net takes a look at how the fairs have effected the indigenous art scene in Miami... reminds me of the Sundance film festival and how it turns Park City a bit upside down.


DK Row continues to expound upon his seriously flawed understanding of non profits and Portland's current situation and this time out he's heckling Gallery Homeland. In a city where arts patronage is underdeveloped it takes an armada of small scrappy, completely underfunded institutions to lay the difficult groundwork for better patronage. It isn't about the money stupid, it's making headway in the education department. Spaces don't educate, personalities dont educate, fundraising tallies dont educate... the only thing that educates is doing good shows for over 3 years (which is the minimum amount of time it takes to develop a true track record). So with all due respect, give Gallery Homeland a break from the hackneyed misdirected analysis and pay attention to the critical worth of their efforts, that is the measure that matters (and part of why Row's coverage is hurting the development of a better patronage base).

Also, Row's desire for one institution to be "the place" is totally misguided and too convenient. Portland is too busy an art city to have one central hub, you only get that in smaller scenes or when giant city governments undertake something like Yerba Buena. Portland's government and patrons just aren't there yet, it's still in the hands of scrappy individuals and volunteers. It's actually a good thing and more interesting than having everyone suck up to 5-10 extremely wealthy patrons with dubious taste. It's actually a magic moment of art organization experimentation in Portland. David, your fundamental assumptions are seriously flawed, smaller more specialized institutions dont seek to dominate, this isnt sports (want to duke it out in a game of ping pong, tennis or dodgeball, Ill whup yer ass there too). Personally, I'd rather see 10 150k a year art organizations than one stale bureaucracy with a budget of 1.5 million... so to that end I suggest everyone go out and see what Paul and Gallery Homeland can do at their opening on Dec 14.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 12, 2007 at 10:43 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 12.04.07

Guide to Portland In Miami 2007

Vanessa Renwick's Trojan #2 at ABMB

Portland's art scene will be well represented during this week's Miami Art Fair madness with greater visibility than ever before. Portland galleries and artists are seeminly everwhere this time. Sure, Portland artists, curators and galleries are already veterans of such fairs but after years being stalked by the media in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Art Forum, Modern Painters and Art in America etc. it now seems Portland has buzz for being different and it shows in the art. In fact, art is central to Portland, no other large metropolitan West Coast city can claim that... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 04, 2007 at 13:34 | Comments (0)

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Friday 11.30.07

Dave Time

Ok you probably read the transcript last month but here's a podcast of Dave Hickey's keynote address for the Frieze art fair. Good to take in just before the massive Miami clusterf%#@ that will be happening next week.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 30, 2007 at 12:05 | Comments (0)

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For your consideration

Tyler Green has been doing some great posts on one of my favorite artists Martin Puryear, a sculptor who has done as much with a curved line as anyone in art history.

The O indicates the Portland Art Center might have found a way out of its current financial crisis if they can sell enough panels. Also, the word "restructuring" has been used... time will tell what that means but it's a time to really address some of the concerns already raised on PORT in the past.

The Guardian has an intriguing review of Hans-Peter Feldman's latest show in Bristol.

Portland Architecture takes on possible Sellwood bridge designs and the U of O's White Stag block in Oldtown Portland.

Also, this organic extension of a building seems like something that might be great for Portland.

The WWeek ran a story on Milepost 5, an innovative new creative colony for Portland's ambitions to take root in.

Lastly, The New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York has a new building and the New York Times takes a look. As always I found Ouroussoff's critique of culture in New York important and healthy but will the contents of the museum live up to the box? Roberta Smith has her say on that issue here too, it's a must read (partly for all of its paradoxes, which befits the show).

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 30, 2007 at 10:40 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 11.20.07

More parlor games and MoMA

H.C. Westerman

Tyler Green has been playing a parlor game centered around reimagining MoMA's galleries. My take is that Americans pretty much needed Alfred Barr to simplify the polyglot that was avant-garde art for Yankee consumption. Barr's brilliant solution was Picasso and since he had helped MoMA to acquire Les Demoiselles d' Avignon the museum was in a good position to make that case. Following curators like Rubin and Varnadoe picked a different hero artist to key the installation to; Jackson Pollock. The thing is I believe Americans are now ready for a more complex worldview and MoMA needs to accept that challenge to avoid becoming not only just a museum of 20th century art but a museum of 20th century ideology. Personally I agree that Pollock is a lynch pin argument but I also agree with Tyler that by foregrounding another giant like Clyfford Still and lesser lights like John McLaughlin it could really shake things up. Hell, I'd throw in an Andrew Wyeth and lots of H.C. Westerman's just to flay the monogenic discussion away from just one artist. Westerman isn't talked about enough, he's actually way more influential than is typically recognized. I'm all for an allout assault on monogenic thought in America... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 20, 2007 at 11:44 | Comments (0)

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Monday 11.19.07

Building... with balls?

The print media in Portland is finally starting to catch up with PORT on the very exciting 511 building project for PNCA. Here's our initial take, and a tiny bit from the O this past Saturday (they've lost a lot by not having full-time architecture columnist like Randy Gragg). To reiterate, the 511 project effectively creates a high profile arts boulevard on Portland's North Park blocks (consolidating gains with the Desoto Building and the Everett Station Lofts) and if the Post Office moves out by the airport as expected the additional 13 acres could be developed into an urban cultural boulevard... a little bit like the Benjamin Franklin Parkway but with the park blocks instead of the old imperial style. Also, Brad Cloepfil did the campus' master plan and would almost certainly be the top choice as architect for this building. Net result, a world-class art institution effort in the Pearl District. I was at the PDC meeting (there was really no contest between the market and PNCA, the Federal Government controls the building not PDC and thus only PNCA qualifies to apply). Hopefully, the GSA will see the wisdom in giving PNCA the building and Portland a boost... let's just say PNCA is pulling out all the stops, they really want this and it's the biggest news for Portland's cultural community since I've lived here (8.5 years).

UPDATE* DK Row has chimed in as well now with a pleasantly matter of fact piece... the recent vacation must have quelled his typical need for snark, or maybe it's because this is such an important issue. Still this article doesnt really convey how this is a potentially paradigm changing opportunity.


Nouvel's proposed tower next to MoMA

Jean Nouvel is designing a new tower next to MoMA. Actually, it will give a much needed expansion to MoMA's exhibition space by devoting 3 floors to the museum. This question from the Times' Ouroussoff is key, "Yet the building raises a question: How did a profit-driven developer become more adventurous architecturally than MoMA, which has tended to make cautious choices in recent years?" I consider it an opportunity for MoMA to "grow a pair", so to speak so please don't let Taniguchi design the galleries?$@! We live in a pluralistic age and MoMA needs an architecturally pluralistic campus. Don't even get me started abouthow lame this other new york project is.

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego has acquired 6 of the works it did not already own from their superb Robert Irwin retrospective (aka the best show of 2007)... this show has balls and their aquisitions do too.

Last but not least Jerry Saltz is asking important questions about MoMA's lack of female artists. The Portland Art Museum actually does a good job of this currently highlighting Lee Krasner, Judy Chicago, Agnes Martin, Helen Frankenthaler, Lynda Benglis, Hilla Von Rebay, Dorothea Rockburn, Anne Truitt, Kiki Smith and Suen Wong, etc. For once PAM can claim bragging rights over MoMA (and it's something MoMA can easilly correct). Also, when will MoMA do a long overdue Benglis retro? Needless to say balls aren't everything...

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 19, 2007 at 10:37 | Comments (4)

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Friday 11.16.07

MK in the WiBi

MK's portrait by Marne Lucas

Congratulations to MK Guth who made the cut for the upcoming 2008 Whitney Biennial. MK is the director of PNCA's brand spank'n new MFA program and a longtime stalwart of the Portland art scene.

Here's a short but recent PORT review of MK's work.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 16, 2007 at 10:58 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 11.13.07

Contemporary Northwest Art Awards: 5 finalists announced (PORT Scoop)

Today, the Portland Art Museum announced the 2008 Contemporary Northwest Art Awards exhibition recipients:

Dan Attoe
Cat Clifford
Jeffry Mitchell
Whiting Tennis
Marie Watt


My general reaction to this list is it's... solid, somewhat conservative (except for Clifford whom I was rooting for as an underdog) and very Northwest art-ish (aka lots of wood, craft, animals and tree references). For context, more agressively contemporary and less regionally placeable artists like Alex Schweder, Sean Healy, Jack Daws and Chandra Bocci (list goes on forever) were not of the 28 finalists from which these 5 were chosen so this list isn't really a surprise and curator Jennifer Gately has a very tricky balancing act to do. Her statement that she decided on, "works that resonate on distinctively regional yet universal levels," explains things rather well... to me that means a show which big time donor/collectors can be both challenged by and yet find familiar. A completely respectable list, but not bleeding edge... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 13, 2007 at 16:30 | Comments (2)

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More-akami

Takeshi Murakami, Homage to Francis Bacon (Study of Isabel ...), 2002
© 2006 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Private collection.

On Artnet, Hunter Drohojowska-Philp has taken on the Murkami show at MOCA with lots of nice pictures. I'm a big fan but it is odd how Ive seen most of this work in other places (I first saw My Lonesome Cowboy and Hiropon at The Portland Art Museum in 2000 even). Murakami still matters but somehow I wanted him to do something more radical than a museum show, maybe something in a mall instead of moving the mall into the museum? My favorites will always be the Francis Bacon works, DOB inflatables, toothed mushroom paintings and the wallpapers.

Also,Christopher Knight of the LA times also gives his take on Murakami

...all this is well and good but the best museum show of 2007 is Robert Irwin's retrospective in San Diego. Sure Serra was real good too but there is always something problematic about Richard Serra in a museum retro.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 13, 2007 at 9:51 | Comments (1)

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Tuesday 11.06.07

Establishing an anti-establishment, comparing Rinder and Hickey

So far, the two most influential art shows of the 21st century have been the2002 Whitney Biennial curated by Larry Rinder and Beau Monde: towards a redeemed cosmopolitianism curated by Dave Hickey in 2001. The art-insider-unpopular WB was a fetished kind of amatuerism that was quickly co-opted by the arts system as a style (yet ironically got Rinder exiled), whereas conversely Beau Monde was simply too perfect as an ideal, hyper intelligent yet entertaining art show that sported grafitti art and foregrounded experience (most of the art was also big ticket). Together they signified the death knell of postmodernism (which was all about disassociation and alienation) and the reassertion of both craft and street culture as more important than the academy.

Yet, it is funny how both Hickey and Rinder are anti-establishment and yet so firmly of it. Though considering the fact that Rinder is now a Dean at CCA is more of a true institutionalist, whereas Hickey seems to enjoy the material for writing that the paradox generates. Rinder has a former CCA student show at Liz Leach right now and Hickey has a similar but bigger production show about his UNLV days at the LVAM. At one time they seemed like polar opposites but now they seem like omnipresent sides of the same coin. For example, Paul Schimmel's Ecstacy show at MOCA seemed like a followup to both Beau Monde and the 2002 Whitney Bi.

Now, there is more from Hickey and Rinder as they look back:

Tyler Green pointed out that Dave Hickey's interview in The Believer is a great read, including some provocative gems like... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 06, 2007 at 10:16 | Comments (3)

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Thursday 11.01.07

Portland Art Center at a crossroads

Director Gavin Shettler in 2005 at the Portland Art Center's then new home in Chinatown

The Portland Art Center has been attempting to fill an important role in the Portland arts community over the past five years, as a non-profit supporting the development of young artists while bridging the worlds of galleries, museums, and educational institutions. Now they're looking back to the community for support to cover a $40,000 budget shortfall.

Although PAC has achieved some success with grants (a $50,000 grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust and $25,000 from the Lehmann Foundation) they have been unable to meet their sustaining private fund raising goals in Portland's difficult philanthropic environment.

They're currently inhabiting an ambitious 10,000 square foot space, but the rent, although below market value, has become a heavy financial burden at $5,000 per month. As the Goldsmith building's lead tenant, it creates market pressures for developer David Gold and his bank, requiring PAC to scale up financially. PAC currently needs to raise $27,000 for back rent and $13,000 to cover salaries for its two staff members by December 1st. That isn't a lot of money considering the Portland Art Museum raised 40 million dollars back in 2005, but those people have been completely absent as major patrons ($2,000+) for PAC. Shettler describes the situation as, "at a critical point."

For more information, please contact executive director Gavin Shettler at gavin.shettler@portlandart.org.

Posted by Megan Driscoll on November 01, 2007 at 12:32 | Comments (7)

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Friday 10.26.07

Last Chance Shows

There are a large # of good shows that have gotten reviews that will be coming down soon.

Here's a list and most (except where noted) end Saturday October 27th;


Scott Peterman, Fryes Leap (2002) C-print

Charles A. Hartmann Fine Art though new is probably the tightest curated gallery space in Portland and his show of Scott Peterman's ice houses is a stunner. A very well received exhibition Brian Libby wrote on it for the O as did Chas Bowie at the Mercury. The work is haunting, desolate, funny, perfectly executed and sublime.


Just blocks away Jesse Rose Vala's show at Motel is a similarly ultra tight effort. PORT's Amy Bernstein reviewed it here... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 26, 2007 at 13:42 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 10.24.07

Wearing different hats and Portland hype?

Here's an interesting article about Wilhelm Schurmann on Art Facts (Salvatore Reda pointed it out to me). In particular I like how Schurmann confounds those who try to categorize his activities and it reminds me of all those shortsighted people who seem to complain about how disciplines like curator, artist, collector, critic, historian, gallerist, philanthropists or board member are blurred together. We live in a true era of pluralism so all of this boundary blurring shouldn't come as...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 24, 2007 at 16:53 | Comments (16)

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Tuesday 10.23.07

PNCA and Portland an opportunity for growth

Potential site for PNCA

After almost a week in California I'm back in Portland and I've been putting a lot of thought into PNCA potentially moving onto the North Park Blocks at 511 NW Broadway.

Clearly the Pacific Northwest College of Art is very interested in the property as they currently rent their space, which does nothing for their financial stability. Being denied the opportunity to build equity they are subjected to the market forces of condo development in the Pearl and the situation needs to be addressed soon...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 23, 2007 at 12:44 | Comments (3)

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Monday 10.22.07

PORT in Art in America November 2007

Finally, an art magazine has addressed the varied world of art blogging and PORT was lucky enough to be included in a wide-ranging roundatable discussion put together by Peter Plagens. Besides myself, the cogent voices of gallerist Edward Winkleman, Seattle PI critic Regina Hackett, Libby Rosof and Roberta Fallon of Philly as well as that art blogging machine Tyler Green are present (who once again had the scoop). It is a great article and I'm pretty proud of everyone involved as it presents a whole new world of cultural coverage to some who might not already be aware. I think it also dispells a lot of myths and persues the potential of the format. Most of the panelists seemed to go out of their way to point out other worthy sites as well... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 22, 2007 at 12:59 | Comments (1)

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Robert Irwin's Primaries and Secondaries in San Diego

Robert Irwin's Primaries and Secondaries retrospective, which opened yesterday at the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art may very well be the best show of 2007. More substance than flash, each of the mature works is a pragmatically transcendent experience and everything is nearly perfectly installed, he did after all have something to do with the development of the spaces he's using. Instead of the problems even a successful retrospective often produces, it seems as if no aesthetic and ideological compromises were made and no museum hype or baggage been put in front of the art. In fact, part of the reason Irwin is so good is because his work is not merely being accommodated by MCASD. Instead, he has developed an ethical, aesthetic, philosophical and spatial rapport with the institution. This connection spans decades and it makes both he and the institution look better. It also underscores how radical Irwin is... institutions don't merely take his work into account, they evolve to establish a more meaningful sonority, which is completely different than focusing on ticket sales.

Arcy Douglass will have an in depth review of the show shortly, till then enjoy these images: ...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 22, 2007 at 9:02 | Comments (0)

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Monday 10.15.07

Van Gogh for PAM

Allright, by now most everyone should know the Portland Art Museum has received a major gift of a Vincent van Gogh painting, The Ox-Cart (1884) from Roseburg's Fred and Frances Sohn.

Frankly, such a generous gift is the only way such a painting by van Gogh could enter the museum's collection and it's worth many millions (in today's market 5-10 is my conservative guess, but that's rational thinking, at auction it maybe could have hit approached 15 or more). The Rijksmuseum has the other version of this work, which features a red ox instead of the black one here. Basically the money doesn't matter, it is the fact that its an important piece for the premier public collection in the state... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 15, 2007 at 17:48 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 10.11.07

Striving to be fresh and radical?

Jerry Saltz is the kind of critic who cares about his art scene, he doesn't just exploit it and his latest piece on the health of New York's scene is an interesting read. He doesn't just present the situation as pure doom though, he points out some bright spots and simply seems tired of the lack of radical ideas.... hardly a problem exclusive to New York. The piece also seems to wish for many of the things that Portland has (yet the Oregonian's coverage is a tad over obsessed with our liberating lack of money without pointing out its benefits... there is a middle ground of course). No New York's scene isn't dead and no Portland isn't the center of the universe but there are lessons to be learned from both. The secret is simply how to be fresh or even innovative, then get the credit for it? The words are so simple but the task is daunting.


Proposed pedestrian and light rail bridge as designed by ZGF

Also, what does everyone think of the ZGF design proposal for a new bridge over the Willamette that was in the Oregonian a bit ago? I think it is a decent design but top heavy, slightly unoriginal and a little inelegant, besides the nearby Marquam Bridge is a terrible design and the reason the Fremont Bridge is so good. The Marquam's bad design almost begs for something so good that that it is rendered invisible. Besides is "decent" really good enough for something that bridges OMSI with the South Waterfront and the Aerial Tram?... we have a design reputation to uphold and there needs to be a serious design competition. Why not invite Calatrava, Denton Corker Marshall, shop, and maybe Norman Foster to take a shot at this? Besides we have one of the best bridge collections in the the world, but it needs the highest quality addition. This just doesn't cut it.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 11, 2007 at 12:11 | Comments (6)

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Tuesday 10.09.07

NAAU is the time for Couture

Back in June PORT brought you the scoop by announcing the New American Art Union's series of stipend shows, where each artist gets $7,000 for producing a show that transforms the gallery space and $1,000 for materials. Now called Couture, the plan was an unheard of act of bravura, laying a direct challenge to The Portland art Museum's Contemporary Northwest Art Awards (which should announce its 3-5 finalists in November). It also allowed a commercial gallery to behave more like a non commercial space. The Oregonian (probably not wanting to be so scooped again) has the list and promises a full article tomorrow.

The recipients are:

Rose McCormick (whose current show at NAAU is a bit of breakthrough, her Wolf in the Henhouse is superb)
Ty Ennis
Jim Lommasson
Jacqueline Ehlis
TJ Norris
Stephen Slappe
Vanessa Renwick
Laura Fritz
Ethan Jackson
The Video Gentlemen: Carl Diehl, Jesse England and Mack McFarland

Overall, the list is heavy with perceptual experience artists like Ehlis, Jackson, Fritz, McFarland and Diehl. While Renwick and Slappe tend to create narrative tableaus with their video installation work. McCormick, Ennis and Lommasson are more traditional to their medias which are painting, drawing and photography respectively. Norris, McCormick and Lommasson are represented by NAAU but if this last year's group shows and this list are any indication, the gallery wont look anything like a sales gallery.

Now all that matters is how the actual shows deliver.

*Update: The Oregonian has published their digestion of the decisions and I'll refrain from discussing too many of their factual distortions but one has to be challenged... Renwick, Lommasson, Fritz and Ehlis are hardly the greenhorns David Row portrays them as. When Row states...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 09, 2007 at 11:56 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 10.06.07

Last Weekend for Wes Mills

Wes Mill's Duchamp (1999)

Just a remider to everyone, it's the last weekend for Wes Mills' Apex show at PAM. Here is Arcy's excellent review. A subtle show but one of the most rewarding exhibitions Ive seen since moving here 8.5 years ago...you just shouldn't miss it. It even plays well with the Ursula von Rydingsvard show.

Yeah, there is a new Chuck Close print show at PAM too that I'm not very excited about.... he was Mr. early 90's and by that time was pretty much coasting on a reputation he had cemented in the late 70's. Still, if you are there why not see it too?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 06, 2007 at 9:42 | Comments (6)

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Thursday 10.04.07

Around the web, now with more feedback

On The Cusp (from Indianapolis) gives Portland some feedback regardig my follow-up post regarding the Tribune's big arts special section last week. Yes, scene-wise I think OTC is right about us being ahead but Midwestern cities always seem to have better museums and more established non-profits. I'm glad he picked up on my "focus" argument it is crucial. I hope it catches on here more.... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 04, 2007 at 11:13 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 10.02.07

Las Vegas Diaspora & Dave Hickey's Homecoming Dance

work by Jacqueline Ehlis on view @ Las Vegas Diaspora

This past weekend, Las Vegas Diaspora: The Emergence of Contemporary Art from the Neon Homeland opened at the Las Vegas Art Museum. Curated by Dave Hickey. It is pretty much the first show he's curated since the groundbreaking Beau Monde: Towards a Redeemed Cosmopolitanism Site Santa Fe Biennial in 2001 and a follow-up on some of his top students like Yek, Tim Bavington, Rev Ethan Acres, Curtis Fairman and Portland's own Jacqueline Ehlis. All of whom are personal favs and many of whom Ive curated into shows over the years. Ehlis is one of the few girls in a guy heavy group and may be the Agnes Martin ascetic wth a wierd almost Martha Graham physicality of the group. She routinely does work that makes LA's best related attempts look soft (she's up at 5:00 AM in the studio). Bavington and Philip Argent are in MOMA's collection., Acres, Yek and Fairman etc. have been widely shown.

Hickey's students are only part of his legacy. Beau Monde's basic premise was that visual pleasure (and the viewer's experience) was still important to art, DUH... but back then POMO theorists had their heads so far up their council-of-trent-like asses, somebody had to remind them. Hickey's ideas though widely debated at the time have been pretty much adopted and run with by in shows like, Paul Schimmel's Ecstacy show at MOCA, Olafur Eliasson at the Tate...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 02, 2007 at 11:56 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 09.26.07

What Portland Needs to do to become a world-class arts city?

The Portland Tribune did a "Re Thinking Portland" special section yesterday on "What do we need to become a world-class arts city?" Much of it smart and features a fun and sometimes telling series of napkin sketches of what Portland needs to achieve that world-class arts city status. Though I dislike the term world-class.

Also, it isn't news that right now we are institutionally underdeveloped while having a massive influx of serious talent that has continued unabated for at least 10 years. The deluge has even increased and others have noticed. I like it that the author Joseph Gallivan compared Portland to Leipzig. One thing I've noticed is that people now seem to know the money to do serious things exists here but hasn't been fully marshaled yet. I also like how the artists take the burden of educating collectors and donors on as well. A city built by artists (some world-class) rather than a few patrons simply importing culture is a very special thing...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 26, 2007 at 9:10 | Comments (10)

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Monday 09.24.07

Brophy Studio Fire

Slope

Sadly last weekend the studio of noted Portland painter Michael Brophy burned. Katu news has the story and blog sans artifice has more details and pictures. Michael is too nice a guy to have such terrible luck and another artist Michael Wilson was also affected by this terrible fire. Brophy was to have had 2 consecutive solo shows in December and January at Laura Russo Gallery and according to Vanessa Renwick at least some of the paintings survived. The new works were often radically different than his previous work and were some of the strongest he done to date. If any are destroyed (which seems likely) it will be a terrible loss.

We hope everyone's health and work were spared. Michael and Holly are said to be ok but shaken and staying with relatives. Brophy's studio itself was probably spared the flames but the real question is water damage as the space above was innundated first (oil paintings can survive deluge but there's all the falling debris). One cat survived and two others are presumed dead. Long time friend Paul Green described the scene as "horrible." I'll post more details as they develop, including where people can send their support and well wishes. Our thoughts are with everyone during this difficult time.

*Updates: I took at look at the site yesterday and the damage is pretty extensive and certaily a lot of ireplacable things have been lost. It is eerie how it looks like one of Mike's paintings, which have all been transferred elsewhere to assess their condition and for safer storage. Another cat has turned up so only 1 remains missing and Holly's computer, according to Randy Gragg is, "being dried out professionally." If it is just water damage a lot of the hard drive's contents should be recoverable (let's hope). A tax deductable fund through RACC has been set up to defray some of the rebuiding costs as insurance probably won't completely cover the costs.

Checks should be made payable to:
Regional Arts & Culture Council
Memo: for Michael Brophy studio rebuilding fund
108 NW 9th Avenue, Suite 300
Portland, OR 97209-3318


Also, more than one artist's studio was effected by this fire and the WWeek did a piece on Michael Wilson here.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 24, 2007 at 10:56 | Comments (2)

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Thursday 09.20.07

The Guggernaught, GLARE and Barney vs. Hirst

GLARE, a new international cultural publication out of Portland

Now that we have recovered from the orgy of art activity in Portland last weekend we can look elsewhere again:

For example, Jonathan Jones takes a gander at Matthew Barney and decides he is no Damien Hirst in The Guardian. I agree with that. Barney's objects are definitely props and don't hold up as well as the films.... and the films themselves are a bit like Salvador Dali's late work...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 20, 2007 at 13:23 | Comments (9)

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Monday 09.17.07

Art hullabaloo weekend thoughts & pics

White Columns @ Affair at the Jupiter Hotel 2007, Photo by Sarah Henderson

Well the big Portland vis art weekend has come and gone. Though it needed a name (Critical Mass, Too Much Art etc.) the scene was combination of The Affair at the Jupiter Art Fair, last weekend of Rembrandt at PAM, Ursula von Rydingsvard at PAM, last weekend of PICA's TBA visual arts, a bunch of openings, last weekend of Hap Tivey and a confluence of lot of other shows that are up all month.

I've already reported on the Affair some here. It was a better fair for art this year and instead... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 17, 2007 at 11:26 | Comments (3)

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Wednesday 09.12.07

Suggestions for art visitors to Portland this weekend

Obligatory photo of Portland Building

Yes, there are lots of out of towners in Portland's galleries this this week and there will probably be many more by Friday. We even have Jetblue service so why not visit on a whim? In keeping with that theme some have asked for a Portland art guide so here it is:

I humbly suggest using PORT's artist's guide to Portland as a way to find food, bars, coffee etc. The main art bars on the eastside will be The Doug Fir, Plan B, Rontoms and the Rocket due to their location. On the westside (by most of the galleries) Le Happy is where the in the know go but there is also the Lowbrow Lounge, Bluehour, 23 Hoyt, Portland City Grill and the Brazen Bean etc.

Friday:

The Affair @ the Jupiter Hotel Art Fair. Friday's opening festivities should be THE thing on your list.

Saturday:

If you missed the opening for the art fair do that, there is lecture at 2:00 too. What's more there are also a ton of good gallery shows open in the Pearl District and on the eastside. Those are links are pretty good guides. I think Motel's show and Mack Mcfarland's video room at PAC are also well done in Chinatown (PAC needs to execute a show as well as Mcfarland has every month)

Small A will have an opening on Saturday night as well, of course there are lots of other more private parties too.


For TBA's installation art shows I'd recommend, Sincerely John Head, Melia Donovan and The Lulic/Kreider show at Reed... some of the other stuff seems underdeveloped this year. The performance stuff is kinda out of PORT's focus but check it out if performance is your thing.

If you want to do a winetour on Saturday hit Jenene Nagy's show in McMinneville and be sure to hit Panther Creek, probably the best winery north of Napa (burgers at Calamity Jane's is an experience you may need a doctor's note for).

Sunday:

I'd hit the Portland Art Museum (with Rembrandt in its last week, von Rydingsvard [who is lecturing Sunday too], Camouflage and Rock/Paper/Scissors it's an entitre afternoon you can't possibly regret and still like art. Other great Sunday options are Lewis and Clark College's really great Darren Waterston Show (a stunning campus on Palatine Hill if you want to see how grand/natural Portland can be), The Model Behavior show I curated for Organism and Reed's Lulic/Kreider show. Also, the Chinese garden is open for free this day too, that means a huge crowd though.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 12, 2007 at 16:36 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 09.06.07

Director's chair

We have been expecting Tyler Green's interview with PAM's new director Brian Ferriso for a week now and it doesn't disappoint. Nice to see press from outside of Portland give their take on a guy we like very much and I think some of the candor Brian reveals is a just a part of the very open, accessible civic/ethical dialog in the Rose City. PAM's new drector has got a lot of work to do but he's making great headway. (disclosure I am VP of PAM's Contemporary Art Council)

There have been a ton of Ferriso interviews here in the last 8 months and PORT will probably do a formal sit-down with him and maybe some senior staff in the future but we really want things to be settled in more before we ask those nitty gritty and probably unique to Portland questions. I can say I know literally hundreds of people who have worked with him in Milwaukee and Portland and it is almost unanimously enthusiastic about his thoughtful dedication to the important role of museums. In short Portland has almost Roman civics and Ferriso seems to fit right in here. Museums should lead and challenge not pander to some statistical lowest common denominator audience. That strategy ultimately cheats everyone, while looking great on paper.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 06, 2007 at 9:55 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 09.04.07

We left our museum director in San Francisco

It looks like San Francisco is questioning John Buchanan in the same way we Portlander's were for years before he left. The problem is that museum directors shouldn't be preempting their curators, they are two very different jobs and from our experience in Portland most would say that John was very hand's on. To quote the late Gordon Gilkey a curator who predated but passed away before Buchanan's term finished at PAM, "he's a damn micromanager." I like the idea of Gordon having the last word.

Tyler Green has been all over this and I remember our first phone conversation about John distinctly... let's just say everything I mentioned about JB's style has come to pass. It is no secret that the serious contemporary art community in Portland really had a bone to pick with him. Still to John's credit he did create the current Rembrandt show (which isn't fluff at all), the transformative Greenberg Collection aquisition, and allowed the Miller-Meigs series of contemporaty shows at PAM to happen. Maybe John can turn it around?

Still, it is a fact... by the time he had left for San Francisco Portland had outgrown him.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 04, 2007 at 9:52 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 08.30.07

Up at the PAMtation: Portland Art Museum continues to redirect itself

The Portland Art Museum has leaked a smidgen of their major programming for the coming years but the best stuff isn't on the list. There are lots of gaps and omissions, including a major contemporary retrospective (it is too early to be discussed yet, curated by Bruce Guenther)... so calling this lineup a more "regional" focus as the O does misses the mark. Especially considering recent acquisitions they failed to note and the lineup for the ongoing Miller-Meigs series which are not listed (other question is why does the O seem to want PAM to become so regional or isolationist?). Don't worry that isn't happening, the museum is easilly becoming more internationally relevant, while still being more serious about addressing the regional.

*Update here's a quote from Ferriso: "Our goal in developing this series has been to harness the intellectual and physical assets of the Museum and community to stimulate interest and dialogue around key global issues: past, present, and future. ....This series includes large-scale international exhibitions, some conceived at other institutions, but the majority developed through the scholarship of our own curators."

From outside Portland Tyler Green is loving this anti-bombastic, non-Krensian turn at the museum and let's hope this Portland trend will sweep the nation. The list below came out from...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 30, 2007 at 18:42 | Comments (5)

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Tuesday 08.28.07

Contradictions

The Guardian talks to Rem Koolhaas who is suddenly getting all nostalgic for older housing options... interesting, it sounds very Portlandish. We like our neighborhoods but are also starting to add some interesting architecture like the Aerial Tram. Still it is the interesting residential projects like the Lair Condominiums that are also proving to be very compelling here. We aren't reinventing Brasilia, LA or Manhattan in Portland. New projects by Skylab could further demonstrate how Portland can have the best of both worlds, vibrant non-homogenized neighborhoods and interesting design. Um... and how about Calatrava doing the new pedestrian, bicycle and light rail bridge across the Willamette river?

Koolhaas provides somewhat of an example for Portland, which has to own it's contradictions without resolving them in a tidy way.

On Artnet Ben Davis dives headlong into the question of whether the art market(s) need a new form or forms of critique. I agree the Marxist critique does seem terribly inadequate. Art markets are places where contradictions find consummations. I suspect the high prices of key AbEx artists wont fall much even if there is a correction... they are too historically important, rare and central to understanding America to be effected much. Living artists selling for millions will have a different story.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 28, 2007 at 11:26 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 08.23.07

Some things to check out

Eva Lake did an interview with Barbara Takenaga, listen to it.

Brittany Powell went art camping last weekend. Portland isn't like New York or LA, when we reference the woods and camping it's more legitimate we are litterally 30 minutes from jaw-dropping wilderness landscapes.

Brian Libby asks SoWhat? when he visits the new John Ross tower. Libby continues to win cool-points for conflating JR Ewing with architecture (we gotta be about the same age, some 22 year old is not gonna get why Larry Hackman matters.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 23, 2007 at 11:24 | Comments (1)

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Monday 08.20.07

Art, Architecture and California

Jason Rhoades' Twelve-Wheel Waggon Wheel Chandelier (2004)

After several days in LA and San Francisco I'm blogging from beautiful Ashland Oregon on my way back to Portland, where I will be installing this show in the Pearl District.

It was a trip evenly split between art and architecture, including Neutra (ugh did Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher put that monstrosity up next to the Lovell Health House?). I also saw great examples by Koolhaas, Mayne, Gehry, Frank Lloyd Wright, Herzog & de Meuron etc. The must see shows are... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 20, 2007 at 8:33 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 08.15.07

Art market thoughts and unsolicited design advice

Todd Gibson, who is sitting in for Tyler Green has chimed in on the inevitable art market correction. I agree Doig as a living artist is not worth 11 million and may not even be worth that much 30 years from now but it's quite possible the 72 million dollar Rothko won't lose that much value. It may have been the ridiculously high prices that made that painting available on the market in the first place. Sadly 72M is clearly out of range for the Portland Art Museum, yet as the first place to give Rothko a solo show (and the city where he grew up) it's a shame.. maybe someone will want a 60 million dollar tax write-off?

How a correction might effect younger artsts who sell for reasonable amounts between 5-$50,000 remains yet to be seen. There isn't one art market now, there are several and I suspect the new popularity of art has created a legion of new collectors who will continue to collect even if they have less $$$ to collect. That would translate to a weeding out of galleries in New York and a shrinking of art fairs at Art Basel Miami Beach... but I don't think it will collapse the sane parts of the market. In fact it might support it. Portland's art economy isn't driven by hedge funds either, it is real estate, the fact that we don't have sales tax and old fashioned interested in art for rts sake collectors. If collectors get scared of manipulated markets Portland will look more attractive as a more genuine art ecosystem too. Sure a large scale correction hurts most everybody but it wont be fatal for Portland. Christies and Sotheby's might have some rough seas ahead though.

Also, Portland Architecture's Brian Libby is soliciting some unsolicited design advice for Portland's developers. How about David Chipperfield for Multnomah County's new $150 million dollar project just north of the Ross Island Bridge hmmm?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 15, 2007 at 10:29 | Comments (0)

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Monday 08.13.07

Further developments? & the role of culture in real estate

Seattle's very corporate style real estate development has acted like a mirror for Portland's rising skyline and rents for years (with some very important differences). Now Faith Ramos, Andy Royer and Arash Shiva have produced a telling look at Seattles South Lake Union with a documentary about development and gentrification in what was once Seattle's arts cradle. It should be of interest to any art scene in any rapidly developing city as a warning. It already seems too late for Seattle (i hope not but its why I moved here 8.5 years ago).

After watching Heart & Sold, I noted how different most high profile developers in Portland are... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 13, 2007 at 9:50 | Comments (3)

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Wednesday 08.08.07

Developers & Art: what about an Amenity Bonus Program?

Add Brian Wannamaker to the list of Portland developers who add to the art community here, and now the Tribune has covered his new Falcon Art Community project.

The list of conscientious players here is long and very important; Al Solheim, Jim Winkler, Ken Unkeles, Brad Malsin, Randy Rapaport, David Gold and a while back Homer Williams was involved in the Pearl Arts Foundation, which brought us the Kenny Scharf Tiki totems and William Wegman dog bowl. These developers are partially why Portland is so unlike San Diego and Phoenix. Still, I believe it is essential that the city find a way to further incentivise development of live/work and exhibition spaces.

Ive mentioned this many times before but in Vancouver BC the CAG (Contemporary Art Gallery) found a new home beneath a new condo tower because the developer received allowances for incorporating that crucial nonprofit as the anchor tenant (using VBC's Amenity Bonus Program). It's the difference between a Starbucks and serious exhibition spaces... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 08, 2007 at 9:30 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 08.07.07

Taking stock

Untitled (1972) by Peter Young

In case you missed it in the NYT's Roberta Smith took on the long overlooked Peter Young who has a show at PS.1. It seems fitting that with all the focus on psychedelia after Dave Hickey's Site Santa Fe show & the 2002 Whitney Biennial that some artists from the 60's and 70's might get a revival. Yayoi Kusama has already gone through the roof as have Jessica Steincamp, Chris Johanson, Karin Davie, Tim Bavington and Katarina Grosse. There is a younger group of artists like Takeshi Murata and Portlander Shawna Ferreira too. The Portland Art Museum even has an excellent Peter Young on display (fittingly in the big Greenberg room). The painting was given by the exceedingly sharp-eyed Ed Cauduro... the quality of his Warhols, Basquiats, Schnabels, Christopher Wools etc. establish him as the sharpest eyed collector in the Pacific Northwest. He even collected John Chamberlain's first crushed car sculpture, "Short Stop."

Also, the projects shortlisted for the Stirling Prize in Architecture (for British architects doing great projects abroad) have been announced... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 07, 2007 at 11:00 | Comments (0)

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Friday 08.03.07

Camouflage opens at PAM on August 4th with debut of a new Hirst

Christopher Wool, I Smell a Rat, 1989-94. Alkyd and acrylic on aluminum. 72 x 48 inches. The Broad Art Foundation, Santa Monica.

I'm very excited about Camouflage at the Portland Art Museum, which opens this weekend...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 03, 2007 at 12:50 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 08.01.07

Participating galleries for Affair @ the Jupiter Hotel Art Fair 2007

Portland's September 14-16th art fair has announced its participating galleries.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 01, 2007 at 13:05 | Comments (0)

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Be sarcastic, or not?

If you are in the mood for art world satire, this bit skewers international biennial culture without mercy.

The PDXpipeline site outlines the tried and true formula for writing travel articles on Portland. But it should include some cursory mention of art (it is omnipresent here afterall, and the articles always seem to fit it into their formula).

For something less sarcastic... the Guardian interviews Oscar Niermeyer. Though with all the gushing over Castro and the fawning over Brasilia's exceptional architecture (while avoiding its exceptionally iffy civic design) maybe some serious sarcasm is warranted. It's the sort of power meets buildings problem that often gets architects into trouble with historians and the people who have to live in their creations.

Regina Hackett is discussing animals in Northwest art. Nothing sarcstic there, animals have been a big deal in the art world since the 90's.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 01, 2007 at 9:53 | Comments (0)

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Monday 07.30.07

Mark Rothko gets the Schama treatment tonight at 10:00PM Pacific on OPB

Simon Schama's Power of Art series winds up today on OPB with Portland's most famous art world personage, Mark Rothko. Rothko attended Lincoln highschool (as did Matt Groening, Mel Blanc and Elliott Smith... a pretty sarcastic bunch) and had his first solo show at the Portland Art Museum in 1933.

Schama's other programs have been a mixed bag; Van Gogh was a sad dry run for a made for TV movie and Picasso was a boring basic art historical regurgitation but his episode on Bernini was brilliant. His episodes on Rembrandt, Turner and David all offered great scenery and compelling stories that I found inspiring despite the requisite dramatizations.

Rothko is a fitting end to the series and I have no idea whether the program will acknowledge that Rothko grew up in Portland. The effect of Portland's dramatic skies on his sense of color and use of grey are pretty undeniable, yet sadly the biggest gap in PAM's collection is indeed a major Rothko (he is depicted in a Milton Avery in the collection though). We do get see some major loaner Rothkos here from time to time though (like his Homage to Matisse last year). The city was beginning as a sad kind of cultural coma when Rothko left so nobody today questions his decision to leave. Back then you hd to go to New York, these days New Yorkers tend to want to move here. It's very different today and it always strikes me how much Rothko's writings remind me of certain Reed alumni I run into at Portland coffee houses.

HDTV people can see it at 7:00 PM everone else has to wait until 10:00 PM. I know a lot of Portlanders who dont even bother to own TVs so maybe we can all meet at a Pearl District sports bar and do the unthinkable, subject the monday night crowd to cultural programming!

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 30, 2007 at 9:00 | Comments (7)

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Friday 07.27.07

Contemporary Northwest Art Awards list shortened

Well the list of 28 artists for the 2008 Contemporary Northwest Art Awards is out and 3 to 5 of them will make up the exhibition next June. One will be awarded the $10,000 Arlene Schnitzer Prize...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 27, 2007 at 10:01 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 07.25.07

Perspectives on Desoto project and history lesson

Museum of Contemporary Craft exhibition space photo by Sarah Henderson

Ok now that the big opening weekend has ended let's give the Desoto project some more sober analysis beyond the not underserved fawning weve already experienced...(much more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 25, 2007 at 13:35 | Comments (6)

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Thursday 07.19.07

Cook'n with PAM (and a look at the latest acquisitions)

One of PAM's latest acquisitions: Judy Chicago's Pasadena Lifesaver, Blue Series #4(1969-70)
Acrylic lacquer on acrylic

It is pretty clear now that the Portland Art Museum is a very different institution than it was in 2005. PAM has taken a decidedly more intellectually engaged turn since Brian Ferriso took over. Here are some scoops and other info nuggets regarding PAM's new Director, CNAA, programming and latest acquisitions.... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 19, 2007 at 14:50 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 07.17.07

Interesting combinations & feedback

The Guardian reports that Saatchi has teamed up with an auction house to provide free admissions.

Steven Holl's new Nelson-Atkins Museum expansion has people raving, be it from Paul Goldberger to Tyler Green. I keep thinking somehow that the failure of the Bellvue Art Museum in Seattle cost Steven Holl the MoMA gig and we all lost out with a rather conservative museum. Hell, even the new Seattle Art Museum (which is basically a lil MoMA) seemed to be created in the shadow of BAM's sad sad failure. The very best living museum architects are (in no particular order): Herzog & de Meuron, Tadao Ando and Renzo Piano because they all seem to be able to create iconic architecture that is also ideal for viewing art (Koolhaas, Libeskind and Gehry are way more idiomatic). Is Holl about to crack into the top tier by being both fresh and subtle?

PORT pals Ultra PDX do what we don't do here, focus on PORT staff outside of art making or relevant art opinions. Their latest Ultra Q focuses on PORT business manager Jenene Nagy. In the past they've asked some blond PORT people a few questions as well.

Also, I Dont Know (an excellent site I just became aware of) found what I had to say about Bryan Shellinger useful for discussing Tomma Abts. I definitely had her in mind as well but I had to draw the line somewhere in that orgy of abstract painter namedropping. Always exciting when there is a little intellectual feedback, thanks... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 17, 2007 at 17:10 | Comments (2)

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Monday 07.09.07

Milepost 5

I toured the Milepost 5 facilities few months ago and this could be great, yes there are rental units as well.



By providing both affordable condos and afforable live/work space this could be a model development. What is nice is they have opted to not over define what all of the common spaces will be used for.

Of course the real trick will be how they determine who gets in. Bad gatekeeping (aka petty and tasteless cronyism) would be disasterous and good gatekeeping (smart people with open minds, good taste and not much pointless drama) could make this a model development.

...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 09, 2007 at 15:37 | Comments (0)

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Friday 07.06.07

Transformation

Ok we are nearing the end of the conceptual phase of PORT's redesign and moving into the actual site redevelopment. The funny thing is it won't look that different when it is done but the refinements and flexibility it will offer us will be quantum. You should see it by the end of summer and yes we will have bash as an unveiling + a somewhat belated celebration of our 2 year anniversary.

Till then check out these interesting bits:

This VIP garden in Slovenia is frankly awesome, something about plants and architecture really works. A restaurant or lounge like this would go over really well in Portland. Ok so the Hanging Gardens of Babylon provide a pretty good template for this type symbiotecture.

This New Yorker review of the must miss but must discuss Transformers movie is most certainly a better use of your time than the actual movie. I want Wes Anderson to do a Gobots movie with David Bowie as Leader1 and Lyle Lovett as Cy-kill. Um, yes... a musical, does it deserve any less?

Lastly Jerry Saltz did a good thing by avoiding the opening hooplah of the Venice Biennale and his take points out a new direction for him, having the last word rather than the first. Also, Saltz's recent take on Biennial culture is almost as funny as the whole transforming robot obsession. Jerry how about a your first broadway musical?.. call it "Biennial." Kelsey Grammar, William Shattner, Courney Love and maybe Nicholas Cage would all be good people to play curators.

Allright, I've abused the whole lets turn it into a musical meme enough now.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 06, 2007 at 10:38 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 06.27.07

WSJ way off base on Robert Storr

Tyler Green is 100% right about this. When the Wall Street Journal questions Robert Storr's curatorial understanding as possibly anti-Semitic it comes off as one of the most flippant, unsupported swipes I've ever seen in a major newspaper. Look, PORT doesn't have an editor but there is no way I'd let that serious a charge pass without some hefty case building. We have a saying on the internet: PPOR!

Plus Storr is one of the most open-minded, impossible to fathom as anti-anybody people I've ever met. Storr is a class act.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 27, 2007 at 15:37 | Comments (5)

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Tuesday 06.26.07

Press

A reminder to artists, galleries, and event organizers: If you want your opening, event, lecture, etc. to be posted at PORT, it needs to make it to my inbox! driscollm at gmail dot com.

Posted by Megan Driscoll on June 26, 2007 at 8:27 | Comments (0)

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Monday 06.25.07

Great to be back

Thanks for bearing with our server outages Saturday night and Sunday. BIG thanks to Philippe, Jenn and Katherine.

Here are some recent things in local publications:

... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 25, 2007 at 10:51 | Comments (13)

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Wednesday 06.20.07

Dates for the Affair at the Jupiter Hotel Art Fair 2007

Simply put The Affair at the Jupiter Hotel is just one of the nicest feeling art fairs I've been to. It's also becoming more of an attractive destination each year for those outside the region.

According to the Portland Art Focus web page the event is supposed to take place September 14-16th, which is during the tail end of PICA's TBA festival. That is a few weeks earlier than last year and resolves a few conflict with other events internationally while doubling up on TBA's draw. We will let you know about the gallery lineup as soon as it is available.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 20, 2007 at 17:38 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 06.19.07

An artist's guide to Portland

With a relentlessness seen in very few places, Portland's citizenry love to discuss and attempt to define Portland. It is an impossible pastime. Still, as part of our two year anniversary PORT asked 7 artists to take a shot at picking what is good and or "definitely Portland" about Portland...

Also, it is a good time to visit Portland with Rembrandt and a lot of other good shows too.

...(much more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 19, 2007 at 11:09 | Comments (3)

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Monday 06.18.07

Venice Biennale 2007: Aftermath

Reactions to the 52nd Venice Biennal in the wake of the initial frenzy.

(more)

Posted by Megan Driscoll on June 18, 2007 at 9:07 | Comments (2)

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Thursday 06.14.07

Around the Web: Venice Biennal 2007 Edition

Penone, 52nd Venice Biennale

"Think With the Senses - Feel with the Mind. Art in the Present Tense." The 52nd Venice Biennale commenced last week, and everybody's talking about it.

(more)

Posted by Megan Driscoll on June 14, 2007 at 11:16 | Comments (3)

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Wednesday 06.13.07

Sammy say's get organized

Sam Adam's wears a polka-dotted tie and addresses the creative community

Ok last night's well attended town hall was about what I expected, taking several hours to state what can be summed up in 5 minutes:

1) The arts are a huge...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 13, 2007 at 17:41 | Comments (3)

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Monday 06.11.07

Keep your pants on

I'm going to save my "routine physical" article on the Portland art and design ecosystem till after Commissioner Sam's shindig tomorrow night. Till then check in on Winkleman's Venice compendium. I know a lot of Portlanders that are doing the big European art junket this year.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 11, 2007 at 23:45 | Comments (0)

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Gravitating towards Serra

Serra's permanent installation "The Matter of Time" at Guggenheim Bilbao

Peter Scheldjahl has chimed in on Richard Serra's survey at MoMA in The New Yorker here (love their new very linkable site).

Jerry Saltz, Scheldjahl's gutsier, less poetic antipode says much the same but focuses better on the intimate (for Serra) work here. Like Saltz, I'm especially fond of Delineator, nothing by Serra before or since does as much with elemental gravity, if I were creating a dream collecton it would be a must have.

I've had a lot of really interesting conversations about Serra recently and...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 11, 2007 at 10:18 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 06.07.07

Arts = Prosperity?

RACC just released its latest Arts and Economic Prosperity report yesterday here. This is the third in the series, the second one took place in 2001.

Some interesting bits:

Arts organizations are seen as key for tourism and therefore aren't so "dependent" on the larger economic climate, instead they take an active driving role in the overall economic health of the city. I realize this is preaching to the choir but studies like this might get the Portland business community more behind arts funding. Things like TBA, The Affair at the Jupiter Hotel, the Portland Art Museum and all of the exhibitions that regularly take place here do have an effect,

The latest report puts the total economic contributions of arts activity at 318.26 million dollars, that is up from 262 million in 2001. That said, support for the arts is hardly keeping up with the massive increases in activity in Portland and in general the artists are completely under supported... there isn't even a decent suitcase fund for artists who wish to show elsewhere. Portland is doing well as a cultural incubator in spite of bass-akwards arts funding approaches... which plays into Comissioner Sam's talk tuesday... Im apparently jamming some guitar with Adams Saturday night for the the Bus Project "Wheelies" VIP event so this is all interesting.

I'll have a very comprehensive article on the Portland art and architectural climate/ecosystem on Monday, probably the most important piece of writing I've ever done.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 07, 2007 at 16:28 | Comments (10)

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Monday 06.04.07

Sam the creative politician man?

Commissioner Sam Adams (is he running for Mayor?)

The creative community in Portland is supposed to be a front burner political issue so Commissioner Sam Adam's wants your input on, "how to reach Portland's full creative capacity?" Hopefully this wont be your basic, "let's listen very closely and do nothing," approach that politicians have perfected over the years. I'll be there and yes I suspect whoever comes up with the most intelligent creative sector plan will be the next Mayor.

Arts & Culture Townhall. RSVP to Polly Birge.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007
6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30)
Portland Center Stage, 128 NW Eleventh Ave at Davis St.

Hosted by: Sam Adams, Portland’s Commissioner of Arts and Culture; Portland Development Commission; Regional Arts and Cultural Council; and Northwest Business for Culture & the Arts

Beverages and light snacks will be served. Wine, beer and alcohol available.

What is Creative Capacity? Checkout Sam's website

This townhall is free and open to the public but space is limited so please RSVP by Friday, June 8, 2007 RSVP to Polly Birge. If you've already RSVP'd, no need to do so again.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 04, 2007 at 1:11 | Comments (0)

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Friday 06.01.07

PORT turns 2

Today is PORT's second anniversary. It's still a labor of love but being the top ranked google site for "Portland Art" plus a large readership that doubles every 3 to 5 months is definitely rewarding. Our goal has been to provide an intelligent, internationally relevant and critical voice for the Portland Art Scene. Since the visual arts are one of the key forces transforming Portland, PORT's role makes it no ordinary blog. It's exciting how many international readers find the site worthwhile too and being influential at home doesn't hurt either. (Stay tuned, I'll have Rembrandt post later on today)

Actually, we don't get enough chances to thank you PORT readers and sponsors. Take a bow... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 01, 2007 at 0:26 | Comments (3)

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Wednesday 05.23.07

Withering Criticism

Ahhh, David Row over at the O blogs has yet another insecurity filled diatribe on criticism and bloggers... which is generally spot on in theory, though needlessly reactionary towards democratic expression. Look, people with little worth as critics don't attract audiences and have little opinion shaping authority. Yes, newspapers are full of near useless critics, they also have some good ones (the O's Shawn Levy is good and Randy Gragg recently left).... elsewhere The LA Times Christopher Knight is superb as are Roberta Smith and Regina Hackett at the Seattle PI (who should be lured to Portland... it will take more than breadcrumbs).

Sure, everyone is capable of being critical but a critic is someone who develops a critical practice with an awareness and responsiblity to the relevance of the words (even when the critic is just wrong, real critics risk it). I'm trained as a critic/historian and I remember the 600 level writing course in grad school as a kind of relentless hypercritical boot camp, but the truth was I was always thinking, "what does this mean?" Having been raised Lutheran didn't hurt either, but I ultimately liked the critical part more than the religious elements.

It is true, good critics are really hard to find and when PORT hires someone I usually end up with these strange moments where I try to look at the gestalt of the potential critic and I think, "do they have it in them to do this month in month out?" The secret is they always have to care about the subject deeply, then back it up with knowledge... not just a reaction. There is a place for tour guide wordsmiths but they arent as influential as the critics with teeth. A critic who isn't into their subject isn't an effective critic.

I'm amadant that PORT's critics have strong art backgrounds but that is just the starting criteria.


Gursky at Matthew Marks this month

For example of the real deal, read Jerry Saltz's latest here. I think he's wrong about Gursky's post 9/11 importance, but I can see how this show looks out of touch. Is Gursky just whistling past the graveyard? Well maybe, but it reflects the way power and amnesia inducing commerce do act these days.

Did 9/11 change consumer's appetite for Soma? No.

For example there are the Global Warming Ready Diesel ads, a kind of reverse psychology ad campaign aimed at youth's ability to ignore the obvious while not being ignorant. One that Ive seen in Rolling Stone etc. sports a young, good looking couple cavorting atop a skyscraper. Below them it appears the ocean has covered the cityscape in a kind of Neroesque catastrophe (have the polar ice caps melted?) One can clearly make out that the rich have survived the deluge in party yachts sailing the ruined civilization. Is Gursky out of touch? not so much as he is in touch with the out of touch. Saltz is right that it might be getting old and watered down, but when does a lie that tells the truth really get old? As a true critic Saltz gets it wrong for the right reasons. As a fan I would like Gurksy to kick it up a notch because he's gotten a little too close to the Diesel ads so Jerry's kinda right.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 23, 2007 at 13:23 | Comments (11)

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Tuesday 05.22.07

PNCA Benefactor To Lead a Major Cultural Breakthrough for Portland

PNCA just received a major gift that will provide the final push in transforming it from a small, struggling school to a major force in the art world. Hallie E. Ford and the Ford Foundation will donate $15 million, twice the school's annual budget and the largest single donation to an Oregon arts institution ever. $10 million will go to building a new artist residency program, which will not only allow PNCA students to work closely with internationally renowned visual artists, it will also bring a network of innovators into Portland. The Portland art scene stands to benefit immensely both from the establishment of PNCA as an important arts institution within and beyond the region, and from the influx of artists and ideas that the residency program will contribute to the community. Read more about the donation, as well as all the recent improvements at PNCA, on OregonLive.

Posted by Megan Driscoll on May 22, 2007 at 12:13 | Comments (2)

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Monday 05.21.07

Oregon Biennial, not so dead?

The Oregonian has a bit on the newest iteration of the Oregon Biennial today, it has resurfaced at the Portland Art Center. Good move, It is a turning point for PAC because they are known more for good intentions than authoritative programming and this forces that issue (Gavin's honest about it and understands this as a growth opportunity). I'm endorsing it and suggested this obvious move (with some cautionary caveats). Yes, I've been in on this, which is why I haven't said anything till now (sometimes scoops matter less than letting things catalyze and develop)...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 21, 2007 at 10:25 | Comments (17)

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Friday 05.18.07

Rosalind Krauss and Miranda July separated at birth?

In my somewhat differently kiltered mind Rosalind Krauss and Miranda July are twins separated at birth... as both explore different aspects of alienation with piquant clarity. Ok so Krauss is a touch more academic…

Krauss is one of the most important Modern and Postmodern critics having written, "The Originality of the Avant-Garde and Other Modernist Myths." It will be interesting to see how she's reacting to these relatively anti-theory driven (but career oriented) art times. Catch her at the Portland Art Museum Sunday May 20th at 2:00 PM. $5 members, $10 for everyone else.

July is Western Civilization's 21st century postergal for the early aughts (look it just can't be Paris Hilton). Of course she's a former Portlander and yes she is speaking tonight for PICA at the First Congregational Church from 7-8PM on her new book "No One Belongs Here More Than You." Amazingly tickets are still available at the door. $10 for members, $13 for everyone else (so get em early today)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 18, 2007 at 12:04 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 05.16.07

Complicated Complications

Mark Rothko

Mark Rothko (who grew up and trained as an artist here in Portland) just shattered the auction record for contemporary work... he would have hated this. Some day Portland will have a major Rothko of its own on display, dammit! Oh well, if his works keep setting records I half expect Rothko's ghost to show up and get all "Raiders of the Lost Ark ending" on the auction houses. At the same time it's probably worth the price paid.

Back onto the art, I really enjoyed Peter Schjeldahl's take on Chris Burden. I like how he highlights how Burden was taking pains to be taken seriously as an artist. Most artists who admire Burden don't do the same thing, they just reference his work and do something much easier to do. The difference between Burden and Burden-lite is a sense of earning the attention by truly polarizing people rather than just trying to use the conceptual as a form of insinuation or secret handshake of initiation. Just hanging out or referencing Burden isn't in the same league. Burden put the viewer on the spot so well you don't have to have seen it to feel uncomfortable. Successful art is often complicated, great art simly is complicating... a radical agitator like Burden is a great example.

Also, Schjeldahl's take on Hopper pinpoints why he's such a useful writer (at least on completely established, major artists), he's an accessible but challenging wordsmith. Schjeldahl complicates very strong work with equally deserving words. The only wordsmith better is Hickey, whose just scary even when he's not convincing (which has it's own curse).

Tyler Green is probably right, the Hirshhorn is perfect for Wolfgang Tillmans. But is it a crutch? Is the installation the selling point or just packaging for the blockbuster? Now I dont think Tillmans is fluff he's real good. His more abstract stuff is consistently dazzling as are some of the portraits and still lives, but is the entertainer/installer upstaging the photographer from time to time? Does that matter?...maybe not, since the installations are often so good. Here's what I wrote on the show last year at the MCA.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 16, 2007 at 14:13 | Comments (6)

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Thursday 05.10.07

Bore me with the details?

It's been ridiculous for several years but the auction house madness continues. Here is some auction house reading that tends to bore me in interesting ways:

Artnet has a nice report on Sotheby's 278.5 million dollar art-o-rama... completely boring except for the fact that Lyonel Feininger is getting some respect (he's my Mom's 3rd favorite artist, but she only likes the cityscapes, her fave is Pierre Soulages... which impresses me for it's flat out obscurity). Then there were the Christies sales, which Artnet saw as a sobering of the market.

Also on Artnet is Charlie Finch (who usually annoys me), he does some number crunching on the hedge funders. Sure, doom is coming but probably in the Fall at the earliest... (it might be years from now though, egad)

Today in the NYT's Carol Vogel, whom I also find really tiresome, took in some European bargain hunting. Maybe it's only a matter of time before some artist creates their own sarcastic auction house where sculptures of Tobias Meyer etc. will be sold at inflated bargain prices to Europeans taking advantage of the weak US dollar?

Years ago Edward Winkleman took on the doit de suite issue, would it help artists and their heirs by cutting them in on the action?

A lot of the cooler major collectors I've met hate auctions and I can see why... and yes lot of the stuff offered just isn't that good (yet goes for a premium). Auctions aren't about patronage and it distracts from the pursuit of new work and ideas. The money part bores me and isn't any more surprising than other silly crowd-feuled behavior like the Macarana.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 10, 2007 at 10:37 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 05.08.07

Around the Web

Sun Blindness? On Friday, the LA Times covered one Southern Californian's trek through Portland...

A Vision of Voyeurism: The New York Times recently covered the photography of Ryan McGinley...

Paris Meets the 21st Century: An American ex-pat once told me that Paris is a dead city...

Keeping His Cool: The Boston Globe this week detailed the rise of Zach Feuer...

(more)

Posted by Megan Driscoll on May 08, 2007 at 17:37 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 05.06.07

PNCA Launches MFA Program

Ok most insiders have known about this forever but the Pacific Northwest College of Art has now officially launched its MFA program, giving Portland a much needed second MFA. Previously only PSU produced MFA's but PNCA's program is unique in the region because it is mentor based, which a little similar to what Goldsmiths college's does. The 15 MFA candidates have already been selected and will start in the Fall. Notably, 75% of the candidates aren't from Portland (which is just about in keeping with the general population of Portland's art scene these days). The competition should also highlight the need for PSU to get more serious about its program (which has improved tremendously with little support).

Here's what PNCA says via MK Guth, the new MFA program's chair:
... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 06, 2007 at 18:36 | Comments (3)

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Friday 05.04.07

Weekly Reader

I'll have the First Friday post up for you a little later, till then here are some art good reads:

Robert Storr discusses the upcoming Venice Biennale. Storr's take on mixing the politics of the conceptual and perceptual are right on and I hope his show is extra influential.

Paul Goldberger discusses a new Steven Holl Museum addition.

Roberta Smith takes on Frank Stella's continuing slide into glorified mall art. I'm a fan of the pre 90's stuff, somebody stop him... he's become the art world analog of late Vegas era Elvis. Having the Met join in doesn't help.

Also, Brian Libby has 2 cool bits. #1 is a post on AIA's new HQ's in the Pearl and #2 is on a dormant building with a cool facade that Brian, myself and Philip Iosca (among others) just love.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 04, 2007 at 10:45 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 05.01.07

New Seattle Art Museum opens, designed by Portland architect

Most of you know the Seattle Art Museum is opening its new wing this week, designed by Portland's own Allied Works Architects. It opens to the public next Saturday and to members today. The building itself is pretty conservative and won't dethrone Rem Koolhaas' library as the most awesome structure in Seattle but in some ways that's good, Ive grown weary of stunt architecture for museums. Seattle is a city that collects architects and it is nice that this building is designed to deflect attention to what kind of art Seattle collects.

I toured the new facilities a few weeks ago with SAM's new contemporary curator...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 01, 2007 at 22:07 | Comments (3)

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Thursday 04.26.07

Just what Miami needed

Tyler has the scoop on the Aqua Art Miami art fair this year. It's the fair where one has traditionally found the most Portland and Seattle galleries and in general I always liked the feel, which was originally patterned on Portland's Affair at the Jupiter Hotel fair.

Now it looks Aqua is upgrading and I sense an art fair arms race, or is it a space race? It is true we here in the Northwest have a thing about space.

Nice Dirk, you found a way to make Miami more competitive... sheesh

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 26, 2007 at 20:38 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 04.24.07

Some things to chew on

A review of Ellsworth Kelly works in the Guardian. So abstraction isn't a big enough crowd pleaser at the Tate Modern? egad.

Roberta Smith spins a wonderful web of words on Sol LeWitt.

Brian Libby recaps the Street of Eames in Portland (aka design obsessed city rapidly trying to end years of bleh design... related: see new tram review).

Normally I'm annoyed with focusing on the party and not the art... and I hate Pabst (because I'm from Milwaukee Wisconsin and Pabst is the beer that made Milwaukee famous... and it's no longer made in Milwaukee etc) but I just plain feel like linking to ths PDXFF blog.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 24, 2007 at 22:45 | Comments (2)

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Friday 04.20.07

Around the web

Jerry Saltz's latest article for NY Magazine proves why he's the most important art critic on the planet. That alone should be enough for you to check it out, but if you need more; he deals with the pacification of ideas and intent in the art world right now. Now don't get me wrong, all of the art of today isn't just some liberal guilt pressure valve for trustfunders but a lot of it is. Why?...because it lacks a radical impulse. Instead, a lot of today's art is based on ingratiating itself. When other critics simply ignore this problem Jerry gets at the issue, calling PS1's bluff.

Yes, I know I've been giving him a hard time lately but DK Row has picked up one of my old saws... why isn't PSU more serious about its art department? Right now, it's the only MFA program in the city and doesn't have a full time curator despite having several nice gallery spaces. PNCA will have a MFA starting this fall and there are (unconfirmed) rumblings that Reed is looking to start one as well. This puts pressure on PSU to become serious. Also, not to nag but the Oregonian should do more of this, PORT can't do everything and we really try to limit ourselves to art criticism instead of investigative art journalism.

The Willamette Week reviews a show at city hall. Note how mixing with artists has become a political move in Portland? Still, I've yet to see a single politician present anything convincing in regards to the city truly bettering the arts? Why not be like Vancouver BC which allowed the CAG to move to a new space by providing incentives to condo developers?

The Mercury reviewed Motel's latest show too.

Yes, someone on the forums at Artdish has noticed that there is a ton of photography in Portland with Photolucida this month. It's a nice overview that we dont do here. (PORT's focus is more on in depth reviews for individual shows).

Also, Ive added yet another update to the Contemporary Northwest Art Awards news as a followup.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 20, 2007 at 12:49 | Comments (15)

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Monday 04.16.07

Goodbye Oregon Biennial, Hello CNAA

As I mentioned earlier, the Portland Art Museum has ended the Oregon Biennial and yes they are evolving it to cover more of the Pacific Northwest in keeping with its Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Center for Northwest Art. Last year, curator Jennifer Gately inaugurated the Apex program which has already produced nice if small shows by Roy McMakin and Chris Johanson. Though respectable, the final Oregon Biennial (also curated by Gately) seemed to be more of a recap or bookreport of a living scene that is simply too dynamic for any museum to handle en masse. Instead of leading, it was following with a fine "museum seal of approval" which is more of a kind of community tokenism that perpetuates a glass ceiling for artists here. As a reflection of higher standards in Portland it seemed like something had to change to really make the Museum relevant to the important discussions in contemporary art going on here. For those who saw the Oregon Biennial as their one hope, I hate to say it but it wasn't. Many who have been in them before saw the biennials as nice diversions but not central to their goals. Whereas something like a Turner Prize gives outsiders something they can really latch onto. Why not let some less authoritative organization take on the messy task of putting up a Portland Biennial?

Basically, less focused regional shows like Greater New York or the Oregon Biennial just became tools for galleries as a way to spotlight and accentuate a mass of artists thrown at a wall and waiting to see who sticks (There are reasons MoMA doesn't host GNY and PS1 does). In New York that's fine but in the Pacific Northwest (where we have many artists who are superior to similar East Coast or even California fare) it has resulted in missed opportunities, a lack of clear routes to national exposure and seen as an overall lack of cultural conviction.

The new format is way more focused and has evolved into something resembling the Turner Prize and SECA awards. Its called the Contemporary Northwest Art Awards or CNAA (phonetically it sounds like "nah" which I think is funny since this is a great deal more focused and hence exclusionary take on the show). Get used to it people. Note that the first word is "Contemporary" and the last is "Awards". To me that implies points will be given for contemporary relevance and excellence... it's infinitely more competitive, as it should be. It will effect how artists work in the studio as many will work on more ambitious projects that don't necessarily pay off in the galleries or many of the more rambling ad hoc group shows here. It encourages major statements.

Here are the important details:
...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 16, 2007 at 14:01 | Comments (14)

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Saturday 04.14.07

The end of the Oregon Biennial and the beginning of something else

The Portland Art Museum is revamping its Biennial program and it looks like it will expand beyond Oregon. As luck would have it I'm in Vancouver BC right now and one thing is for certain, no Northwest Biennial could be taken seriously without inviting them too (Portland and Vancouver have the two most distinctive and bustling scenes but Seattle has something to offer too).

Ill have details on this development Monday but I've already brought up the need to make the Oregon Biennial more relevant and influential here... and since the Pacific Northwest is an international zone (Cascadia) with some impressive art, this just makes sense. Will it be some sort of fawning craft-driven art glass filled yard sale type show or something more focused, relevant and contemporary? Ill let you know on Monday when PAM gives details.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 14, 2007 at 10:55 | Comments (0)

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Monday 04.09.07

Sol LeWitt Remembered

Incomplete Open Cube (1974)

As many already know, Sol LeWitt (one of my very favorite artists) died yesterday. Michael Kimmelman's LeWitt obit in the NYT's says something about the man who would rather be about his work and Tyler Green has been keeping the flame as well.

*Update Jerry Saltz does the best job though.

Thankfully, there are many opportunities to see LeWitt's work in Portland too. There is a wide array of his print works on display at the Portland Art Museum for Jordan Schnitzer's Minimalism/Postminimalism prints show (it's gorgeous BTW). Also there is a really nice open cube (one of my favorite series of works ever, on display at the Jubitz Center. The Liz Leach Gallery already had a selection of his prints up before the sad news too.

Instead of blathering on about how I love his baroque process driven reductive art (his conceptualism wasn't so full of conceptual baggage... so it was more a form of systemic premeditation, which is more akin to engineering). I'll give you a bit from local artist Jesse Hayward, whose life was changed while working on a LeWitt project:

"Sol LeWitt brought to focus a process-driven abstraction with conceptual underpinning and installation sensibility. His work, minimalist and luxurious, collaborative and depersonalized, demonstrates the depths of abstract thinking as made real through the heights of public display. Helping execute LeWitt's WALL DRAWING #214 back in 1991 changed me as an artist. Many young artists worked on his projects. Many young artists were changed. This drawing was to be made of "unstraight" lines. As a highschooler, I felt I needed a little more direction and asked the artist to clarify what kind of "unstraight" line he had in mind. Was he thinking wildly frenetic or just plane wobbly?

I chuckle thinking now of that situation. He gave me nothing. An "unstraight" line is an "unstraight" line. For me, it was a moment of tremendous possibility, the horizons of my life explained through the generous conceits of a master artist.

LeWitt's lineage is strong and his influence deceptively pervasive. His ideas live on in Bernard Freize's predetermined process, Sue Williams' abstract logic and, to make the largest leap, the muralistic sensibility of Assume Astro Vivid Focus." -Jesse Hayward

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 09, 2007 at 19:55 | Comments (4)

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Wednesday 04.04.07

PAM logo banished to the aybss of bad design

The New PAM logo... experiences the power of dissatisfaction

Savvy people are applauding Brian Ferriso's decision to can the gawd awful new logo for the museum.

I was the first to write about the issue but it wasn't a big secret, several trustees of the museum were not happy with it either and we had some funny kvetching sessions about it. Thankfully, Ferriso has a very sophisticated sense of design (among other things) and it's a good thing too because Portland's design industry is huge and we've been waiting for some up to date design action at Portland's top tier institutions, including the museum.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 04, 2007 at 11:38 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 04.03.07

Catching up

I'm remarkably recovered from last night's incredible event toasting Portland artists (what great vibes and turnout, thank you!), here is some stuff to catch up on:

Reed has announced the 2007 Bonnie Bronson Fellowship winner: Laura Ross Paul, congratulations! The award's ceremony is April 25 at Reed College.

Edward Winkleman has a post on the "Painting Deathwatch." Hilarious... personally, I like how Tal R. once described painting as a "zombie medium" that keeps marching on... of course it's dead. You can't kill it because it is already dead and the discussion is moot because the zombies are coming to get you! Oh you can try to fight them but that puts you into a B grade horror movie with a bunch of brain eating zombies. PORT will have an interview with one of the very best painters (a master zombie maker?) alive today, stay tuned.

Richard Polsky has a nice bit on the art market's evolution and the changing nature of dealer/client relationships.

Jerry Saltz is leaving The Village Voice, after two nominations for the Pulitzer with no bouquet of flowers... was he being taken for granted in the newsprint world? His new gig is at New York Magazine. Jerry is the most relevant art critic on the planet because he takes risks, is willing to get it wrong in order to get it right and he's relentless. Sure, he's said nice things about me but I suspect he was trying to get a lot of Portlanders goats as well...he was trying to out do Hickey and Schjeldhal and it's a mark of distinction that he really gets into the mechanics of the cities outside of New York when he visits them. His lecture in January 2004 for PICA (Stuart Horodner's last bit of programming) was the single best lecture weve had in the 8 years I've lived here. It emphasized one thing, to be a good critic you have to be decisive and driven in addition to being a comparative aesthetics ninja. Hats off Jerry, there are two types of critics, good ones that constantly engage/challenge the process and burnouts who use a lot of crutches.


Sol LeWitt Eight Squares c. 1980. Sol LeWitt, Eight Squares, c. 1980, Color screenprint, trial proof 8/10. Collection of Jordan D. Schnitzer. © 2007 Sol LeWitt/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

On Friday the O had a lot of coverage on Jordan Schnitzer's minimalist and postminimalist print show at the Portland Art Museum (Of course minimalism is a misnomer and fosters a lot of lazy rhetoric but eh it serves a starting point for discussing; hedonism, Epicurean ideals, material, systemic production and rules before the home computer became a reality, context and asceticism). The cover article on the show was fine, it's unrealistic to expect the O to be the New York Times and it is an OK primer for newbies. PORT readers might be bored with it though (treating minimalism is if isnt the omnipresent source of a lot of yuppie aesthetic porn [come on, you know which design mags] and treats it like some sort of underdog still proving itself). It's true a book and tour would have been nice, but it is not like that couldn't still happen (the timeline for a book by the opening would have been too tight though... also I wonder why no mention of the 6 page color publication???).

The better bit is DK Row's interview with Jordan Schnitzer, his blog version of the story has expanded content. Maybe some of my grousing might have had an effect??? though one article doesn't reverse a trend that has most of the Portland art world writing off our largest daily newspaper's coverage. At least it's a good step.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 03, 2007 at 11:21 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 03.29.07

Two things that never change: money and more change

Ditto on Tyler Green's boredom with lazy art writing that is mostly focused on money. It's the ideas and cultural shifts that legitimize art, museums, interesting cities and the writing about them... not so much the transaction fees (those fade). Saatchi said it best, "The rich will always be with us." Once that is accepted (the French and Bolshevik revolutions proved it) then the real work of, "what ideas are being explored, what are the tough questions of the age, etc." can be tackled. Sure, one has to be a little nuts to go against the flow, but one also has to be more than bright and talented to change the flow of that stream.

Also, I felt Holland Cotter's piece which spurred Tyler Green's words did bring up the most important point, where is the cultural leadership? Is that kind of leadership a thing any civilization can entrust to museums? Isn't that the domain of driven individuals who want to change the world? I loved Cotter's take on cynicism as "exhausting and pacifying."

Portland from 2001-2003 went through a war between cynics and optimists. The optimists won (or at least the knee jerk cynics stopped freaking out long enough to become begrudging optimists who freak out less and ask better questions). Slowly but surely the city's other organs of culture have been catching up in with the continuing growth spurt. I'm pretty sure this ride wont be smooth so don't expect anything good to come from mildness or mere good intentions. To survive in the rapidly developing arts ecosystem here, cultural productions in Portland have to foreground an informed passion and a real esoteric depth (there are no accidents in these departments). Yes, I'm still working on my piece about Portland now (on Sunday it will be 8 years) and the main tasks at hand.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 29, 2007 at 17:26 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 03.27.07

Pandering to indie filmmakers

Jacob & Arnold Pander by Marne Lucas

Yup, Portland is a hotbed for indie filmmaking, check out the latest with Joseph Gallivan's article on the Pander Brother's new movie in the Tribune. Note how the look of Portland is of such importance. The Pander brothers, Arnold and Jacob are artists as well and I had drinks Sunday night at Thatch a newish Tiki bar festooned with Arnold's awesome velvet paintings along with a bunch of former Trader Vic's statuary.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 27, 2007 at 8:49 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 03.25.07

O! brother where Art thou?

Surprise surprise, the Oregonian doesn't get Chris Johanson. It's the kind of regionalist reactionary coverage we have come to expect from the O (ok they do a good job with voyeuristic photography like Crewdson etc.).

For a more balanced take this is what PORT wrote last month. I think the installation part of the APEX show is one of the better ones Ive seen him do.

Johanson at his best is a brilliant poet and not so much an outsider as an inside leader of an international trend in valuing indie cred sincerity (always a difficult thing to gage). It is related to the WTO riots. What is sad is that the O failed to explore why Portland is appealing to Johanson and thousands of other artists... the city is one giant conscientious objection to the second half of the 20th century. 100 years from now Johanson (along with Basquiat) will be seen as a voice to contend with in a sea of meganational and yuppie aesthetic slickness. (I'm coming up on my 8th anniversary in Portland and I'll be publishing a big picture piece this week discussing that very thing).

The Mercury's review of the Johanson show also makes some nice points but I felt the childlike angle infantilized the work in a way that leads to readings like that in the O. Johanson's less a child and more like someone who shuns refinement for refinement's sake.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 25, 2007 at 13:58 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 03.21.07

So much for a crisis in art criticism

Still relevant: Mr. Peter Schjeldahl

The best bit of art writing published this March was Peter Schjeldahl's awe inspiring take on Robert Ryman and Franz West etc. He's great, even brilliant with Ryman but gets Murakami wrong of course. Murakami is uber-whoring the drama in a very professional/insidious way that makes the drama very nihilistic. He's basically outflanking the idea starved art world along with Schjeldahl in the process. Why? because he has gotten a lot of credit for the last great idea (the complete flattening of consumption and culture, best showcased at art fairs). Also, I'm enjoying their new website design too, much better and more linkable.

*Update: Holland Carter of the New York Times points out the Locally Organized Gravity show along with Portland's own Red 76...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 21, 2007 at 11:05 | Comments (0)

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Friday 03.16.07

Thinking Big and Building Better Bridges

I'm curious about how people in the art community will react to the front page story in the Oregonian about some creatives being edged out? Clearly gentrification is a double edged sword, combining higher rents with an opportunity for better arts patronage. The devil is in the details on this issue.

I'd call it a cultural distillation process and the city's character is at stake, the weird part of Portland needs to get distilled and weirder as well. The real corner to turn here is patronage and that means the word sophistication needs to come into play amongst developers, politicians, RACC, collectors and the press (especially the O). Art for populism's sake (which panders to an assumed audience rather than challenging it) isn't enough, it takes challenging art programming, which is frankly a lot weirder than work that merely gestures at populism while hoping it will somehow to help creatives.

Sophisticated artists aren't just a little different, they are extremely idiosyncratic. Portland is blessed with a lot of very serious artists and the city government has made a lot of noise about this. Still, little has been done. In fact the Everett Station Lofts (circa 1989) are still the best hotbed for emerging visual arts culture in town. Here's a prediction, whoever wins the next mayoral election will do so because they actually have a truly sophisticated arts plan that goes beyond minor gestures.


Prince Claus bridge by UN Studio

Also, the I-5 bridge is too important to nickle and dime or second guess like this story in the Tribune. We need a design competition (Calatrava, Foster, UN Studio etc.) federal funds and an attitude that this will shape the region for the next 70 years. Why not plan on spening 8 billion plus and do it right. This requires big thinking not hunting for a bargain, it will cost us sorely in the long run if we don't.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 16, 2007 at 16:11 | Comments (2)

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Thursday 03.15.07

Portland art scene gets around in 2007

I've updated the list of Portland art scenesters showing outside of the region with info on Sincerely John Head, Vanessa Renwick, Patrick Rock and Brenden Clenaghen.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 15, 2007 at 10:51 | Comments (0)

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Monday 03.12.07

Why not?

Steve McQueen does the ultimate political mailart piece, read about it in the Guardian.


the Pacific Northwest from a different angle

Also, there is a discussion about the Tacoma Art Museum's art critic panel on regionalism last Saturday on Art Dish.

My opinion on such discussions is short and sweet, those who wallow in the regionalism thing beget more wallowing regionalism, it's a defensive self-perpetuating cycle that becomes brittle and trite. I've said it a lot, "on the Internet everything is local." The art wold has never been so regionally level and one's focus determines their trajectory (not to say you wont have to work hard if you are in Portland or Seattle).

Also, the Northwest and Portland in particular are indicative of a different kind of America and people are flocking here to find it, it isn't regionalism it's a kind of lightning rod and a conscious decision to find a new way. Really, it's a leadership thing now and the TAM biennial missed the mark there, once again giving Seattle reason to mock Tacoma. I hate being right about these things. Was the show just a ploy to get Seattle to pay attention? Also, though the Portland selections are fair it definitely doesn't give one any idea of the scope of things that are going on down here, if anything it sidesteps the most active art scene in the two states. I think the show could be important but the cramped potpourri curatorial model didn't make that case. To be fair, TAM has been doing the best job of collecting PNW artists of any museum in the area. They have even been giving them coherent solo shows, which is partly why this show has sparked so much dissapointment...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 12, 2007 at 18:25 | Comments (2)

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Friday 03.09.07

Sneak peek at the new Museum of Contemporary Craft

Main gallery, Museum of Contemporary Craft

Yesterday, director David Cohen gave the press and other culturalists a tour of the Museum of Contemporary Craft's still unfinished 15,000 sg ft. facilities on Portland's North Park Blocks. The main gallery will have soaring 22 foot ceilings and an impressive overlook. The other galleries are more intimate but no less refined. I'm thrilled that they are keeping the old glass as its irregularities produce cool visual distortions of the outside world activating the viewers perceptual acuity, which can then be trained on the exhibitions. The museum will also have a climate controlled archive and preparation space. The renamed DeSoto building is a commercial condo so the museum and other tenants will own their spaces.

Other features include a community room for meetings and a 3,000 sq foot outside "events" deck for all of the tenants. With other tenants like Bluesky, Augen & Foelick galleries as well as a new photography gallery by Charles Hartman it should further solidify Portland's core of easy to walk art spaces on the west side. Another plus, most of these gallery spaces have soaring ceilings with lots of light, something sorely missed since the demise of the original Savage Gallery whose space was better than most in Chelsea.

The new Museum space will open July 22nd and their last shows in their old space run through March 11th, so last chance.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 09, 2007 at 14:36 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 03.08.07

Ethical Bruhaha in Seattle

Seattle's new Olympic Sculpture Park at dusk

It's been an interesting week up in Seattle with critic Matthew Kangas coming under a full scale ethics probe on the Stranger's Blog (the SLOG) for requesting artwork from artists he reviewed. I find this practice very distasteful. I even dislike the constant use of art auctions and other situations where artists give up work for fundraisers. It's predatory and Im not just speaking for myself here, a lot of dealers and artists in Portland have absolutely had it. Good cause or not it's promoting a culture of pressuring and leaching off of artists (in a developing art economy like Portland it undermines markets unfairly).

Now, The Stranger's Jen Graves has the full story on Kangas and names names ... It's the paper's lead story this week and it's a fascinating read, some thought it was wrong to blog first but I think it flushed the story out...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 08, 2007 at 12:34 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 03.07.07

School of hard Knox

Portlander's pay close attention to Tyler's take on the the Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo. It is the exact opposite situation of the Portland Art Museum, which needs to reach out to the ever increasing young/savvy art conscious workforce that Portland continues to attract (we are gaining rather than than losing to larger cities like New York and LA). My sense from our jam packed lunch a while back is that PAM's new director Brian Ferriso is well aware of this situation and plans to act in the near future...it has been years since a major contemporary show at the museum (Though Roxy Paine, Hirst and Kehinde Wiley are more than just hors d'oeuvres, call em brunch?).

Also, stay tuned for my review of one of those transplanted upstate New Yorkers today.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 07, 2007 at 10:49 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 03.06.07

Rick Steves, Chief Art Critic of the New York Times?

Tyler Green once again has the scoop... Kimmelman is leaving New York but not the New York Times. Kimmelman just spoke to a packed house in Portland both delighting the crowd with his charm and somewhat annoying myself and others with his light travelogue style (look to the comments). Looks like there will be more travelogues, not a bad thing but does the chief art critic of the NYT's have to be the art world's Rick Steves? Yes, in my mind Roberta Smith is already the chief art critic and Ive been annoyed with newspaper art criticism that isn't art criticism for some time. I read Kimmelman to revisit an excellent writer's craft but in terms of content I end up feeling like I just read the brochure not the review. I do think Kimmelman could do excellent television shows on art travel, just don't call it criticism.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 06, 2007 at 11:33 | Comments (2)

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Monday 03.05.07

Round the web

It has been a while since PORT's done a round the web.

Both The New Yorker and NYT's have covered the Jeff Wall show.

The Portland Tribune reported last week on a smaller supplementary I-5 replacement bridge. I dislike this idea intensely as a cost saving measure. Ive heard figures like, "20% of US trade passes over the I-5 bridge each year," so skimping doesnt make any sense. Look, for such a project the fed's should be on board, especially since with light rail it would have such an effect on interstate traffic/commerce. Underbuilding is flat out stupid. I live on N. Interstate and I see the traffic snarls daily and it hasn't even gotten as bad as it will get. It's also the most major public works project to hit the Northwest in decades. Time for a design competition; Foster, Calatrava, UN Studios etc...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 05, 2007 at 19:01 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 03.01.07

Marching Curatorial Madness

Oh a curatorial final four, although a lot of interesting curators are missing; Robert Storr, Phillipe Vergne (who missed the boat by not visiting Portland for the last Whitney Biennial show) and Michael Darling?... why not add in Tobias Meyer for sheer lunacy?

I pick:

Lynne Cooke, Paul Schimmel, Thelma Golden (Whitney Biennial coming up, maybe it will be a relevant one) and Hans Ulrich Obrist (who openly acknowledges that artist curated clusters easily out pace curatorially defined constructs... which is what you find in Portland but you just cant ask one curator who to see)

Tyler Green has picks too (dude no way can Higgs take Bonami ... sorry Matthew you are too much of a "dry" specialist to win this corrupt bourgeois competition)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 01, 2007 at 10:01 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 02.25.07

New York new work?

Maybe you weren't in New York this weekend for the Armory show, maybe you were? PORT's Amy Bernstein was there on assignment and we will have something from her "too much art" weekend shortly.

Till then check out Artists Unite's coverage of Scope and Edward Winkleman's Pulse coverage.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 25, 2007 at 17:08 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 02.24.07

Congratualtions PICA!

You may already know about this, since it’s been announced elsewhere, however, in case you haven’t heard, PICA has received 3 major grants totaling $225,000 from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts of New York, The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation of Seattle, and The Collins Foundation of Portland, all of which points to the local, regional and national need that PICA satisfies....(more)

Posted by Melia Donovan on February 24, 2007 at 8:49 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 02.22.07

Globetrotting Portland Artists in 2007

David Eckard on the streets of Rio

Despite the increasing real estate development and institutional maturation (for example Small A Projects was just accepted into NADA) Portland is still unique for being mostly defined by its people and I'm happy to report they have a rapidly increasing international reach. The artists are still the most influential and controversial force at work here and it will probably be that way for the next decade as...(much more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 22, 2007 at 16:18 | Comments (1)

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A little butterfly told me, Damien Hirst has a new show

There is a convenient scandal brewing, did Damien Hirst rip off artist Lori Precious?... uh no but check it out here. Let's just say, ideas, butterflies and even PR stunts get recycled all the time. Kinda neat how Hirst isn't having this show in New York this Armory weekend huh? I'm a huge fan and though I doubt this was orchestrated directly it's a testament to the guy that people think he's capable of it (well he is, but why try when this kind of stuff can be almost counted on). The title of the show is "Superstition." It is a show title I wanted to use someday... arrgh, but it's totally appropriate. Also, PORT's own rather involved Damien Hirst review will be up tomorrow.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 22, 2007 at 14:54 | Comments (4)

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Wednesday 02.21.07

TAMpering with the Northwest Biennial?

Jen Graves at the Stranger has reviewed the Northwest Biennial at the Tacoma Art Museum. I saw the show this past weekend and I pretty much agree with her assessment, except the Schweder had kinda disintegrated by the time I saw it. Ive seen most of it before in...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 21, 2007 at 16:39 | Comments (0)

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Is Liverpool the next Portland?

I'll be posting that list of Portland artists with shows outside of town in 2007 that Ive promised (maybe later today). Till then:

The Guardian is claiming that Liverpool is like San Francisco with greyer weather? Ha, that doesn't sound anything like Portland at all does it? Actually we don't want that kind of title here and the fact is Portland is kinda the anti San Francisco. Which is why in 2005 the Norton collection's curator remarked to me, "All of San Francisco's best artists are moving to Portland." It isn't just Harrell Fletcher and Chris Johanson... there are a pile of others like Patrick Rock, Jesse Hayward, Brittany Powell, Emily Counts, Todd Johnson and even Brenden Clenaghen ...etc. (it's a huge list) who all have done stints in SF only to settle here.

Sure, Portland has similarities to an older San Fransisco but it's different, we arent a financial center and we are more of an alternative to the mistakes of the second half of the 20th century. Ideologically the PDX thing is something completely different. Add in over 10,000 artists to the mix of a city this size and see what happens. The city is a rebel base and I think it's increasingly dfficult to talk accurately about Portland art without looking outside of Portland. To that end, PORT's Amy Berstein will be covering The Armory etc. this week in New York.

*Update: Matt McCormick just jogged my memory, he was in the Liverpool Biennial... see why the Portlanders outside of Portland post has taken so long to come out! (PDX-ers feel free to email me with updates before I publish the list tonight)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 21, 2007 at 11:15 | Comments (4)

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Monday 02.19.07

What would LBJ do?

Nicolai Ouroussoff of the NTY's has denounced the so-called Freedom Tower in his strongest words yet. I absolutely agree and have stated many times before how it is a massive failure of imagination. The only thing that can do real justice to the site, city and nation is a much better design. A clumsy restatement of the empire state building with a blast shield doesn't cut it. I know it's probably too much to ask of the current President but if the state and local governments can't get a developer of a national historical site to do it right it's time for the national government to step in. (then again could they do better? ....uggh it's times like these that I actually yearn for LBJ... yes that is what it has come to)

On a more local public art front Portland Public Art, The Portland Tribune and the Mercury have been on top of the evolving failure of the dragon sculptures in Portland's Chinatown from early on... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 19, 2007 at 10:18 | Comments (2)

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Thursday 02.15.07

Aloha: the surf is up at PORT

By now PORT readers, you have read Jenn's announcement that she is leaving the publication to focus on her excellent gallery, Motel. This is no surprise between the two of us and we have been implementing a slow phase out of her essential role for over a year. No drama here, just change… PORT isn't where either of us spends the majority of our time. Others who can devote more time to this small scale but successful and innovative publication will be stepping in to help take it to the next level. I will continue in my role. It's just a natural growth situation that we saw coming a long time ago.

PORT itself is more successful than ever with over 25,000 unique individual readers per month and is the top ranked site when you Google "Portland" & "Art." Recently, the Walker Art Center's blog singled us out as one of the 10 best art blogs on the planet… wow. Many of you come back daily and we are grateful for your eyes.

With those numbers and reputation weve looked at how to grow the operation from its current small (but influential) scale to a slightly larger one. To those ends we are going to be hiring at least 1 new critic + adding some new sponsors, both big and small. In other words, weve both been doing PORT on the side and its business now demands some attention and fresh management divisions. What wont change is our focus on presenting critical content and information about art both locally and internationally. Thank you Jenn, you've been a dream to work with and that has been a large part of the site's success, take a bow.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 15, 2007 at 18:45 | Comments (0)

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Au Revoir, Mes Amis

Dear PORT readers,

You may have noticed my online absence over the past few months. In the past year, my presence with PORT has become primarily behind-the-scenes; site moderation, accounting, and design. When Jeff and I initially conceived of PORT, we envisioned it as a fairly casual endeavor to promote visual arts in Portland to both a local and national community. However, it became clear that the project was going to be much more demanding and grandiose than either of us ever imagined. We quickly grew a staff of critics and writers and made swift strides to offer daily content on the site. What was initially conceived as a "from the hip" kind of endeavor soon begged for a higher level of seriousness and professionalism. Clearly, the community was hungry for a dedicated arts publication and we stepped up to the challenge.

However, due to my vocation as a gallery owner, it quickly became clear that it would not be prudent for me to publicly air my opinions on art and art politics. So, I became the announcements editor. As the demands of Motel increased, I then abandoned all posting responsibilities to take care of PORT's administrative matters. Although I have not been a visible force on PORT as of late, I have been plugging away behind the scenes.

In March, Motel will turn four years old. After housing over 40 exhibitions featuring over 150 artists and participating in a number of national gallery fairs, Motel has become a successful and reputable gallery. However, with this growth and development, the demands of the gallery have grown too. Out of a commitment to my artists and my vision and to the sustainability of the gallery, I have decided to end my tenure at PORT.

I am excited to have more time to commit to the gallery and hope that PORT will continue to remain a vibrant and essential voice for Portland's arts community. I am proud of what Jeff and I conceived of and executed and believe PORT to be an important player in the promotion of Portland to a international audience. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with a great crew of writers, all of whom have impressive talents and ambitions in their own right.

Although I will be absent from the PORT roster, you can expect to see more of me around town and as always, I can still be found behind the front desk at Motel.
Thank you for supporting me, Jeff and the rest of the staff in our contributions to putting Portland on the map.

All best,
Jenn

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on February 15, 2007 at 18:44 | Comments (0)

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John Buchanan and the curse of King Tut

Tyler Green has the scoop on former PAM director John Buchanan. It's the curse of King Tut!

I recently spoke at length with his replacement Brian Ferriso and the one huge difference is that Ferriso is clearly all about the importance of important art (just like the curatorial staff). That is what Portland really needs/wants anyways. Currently Ferriso is in his listening/learning period at the museum so it makes sense to let him go about that important process without asking questions he can't answer yet. I can say he's already on top of the "obvious to anyone" concerns I laid out in October, but it's too soon to expect action. Ok one tidbit, I do like the fact that he's an architectural design buff, something Buchanan certainly wasn't.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 15, 2007 at 18:01 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 02.13.07

American Architectural Valentine

Buildings need love too and since Tyler Green's doing a collective intelligence experiment on the 5 best bits of American architecture, why not? Here's my list and as usual it is tinged with personal affinities, besides 5 is too few for a historical sample:


1) Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple (1907), Oak Park Illinois. The approach to the temple is exactly that, its sets the pace, mood and expectations on a level with Mayan or Egyptian structures, then raises the bar (yeah scary). It was one of Wright's favorite buildings and highly innovative for its use of concrete at the time. The central hall is just dumbfoundingly good, debatably the best room ever designed by any architect. Pictures consistently fail it. Wright called it a, "jewell box." It is both massively uplifting and contemplative as an incredibly democratic yet enlightened community space. I wonder if Donald Judd ever experienced this space? There aren't many rooms similar to this, only Brad Cloepfil's Weiden and Kennedy building strikes any comparison, which is very good but Wright's is a class or two above that effort. Also, Unity Temple requires restoration, so please click here to help, it's a national treasure...

2,3 &


photo credit: Jeff Jahn

4) Rem Koolhaas: Seattle Central Library, (2004) One of the best things he's ever done...

5.... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 13, 2007 at 19:56 | Comments (3)

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Monday 02.12.07

See this

Every once and a while we have to post a link to Daniel Peterson's awesome photoblog because we keep forgetting to add it to the blogroll. Here is the most memorable photo of the year so far. Im so glad that snow is gone. I seldom single out one artist like this but Daniel Peterson is the single best photo chronicler of what its like to be young artist (or young at heart) in Portland these days.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 12, 2007 at 20:28 | Comments (2)

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Saturday 02.10.07

More PAM Aquisitions

Gene Davis, Angel Fish (1970)

The Portland Art Museum has announced yet another acquisition... actually it's a total of 350 acquisitions.

The estate of Elvin Duerst has bequested 350 art objects, from an important early Gene Davis, "Angel Fish"... to Spanish colonial, Asian and contemporary Latin American works. Duerst, a McMinnville Oregon native lived in Washington D.C. for the last 65 years having worked for the United Nations, and the State Department. Duerst was intimately connected to the Washington Colorfield school and dovetails nicely with the museum's acquisition of the Greenberg Collection in 2001 (which had many important holes like Morris Louis, Barnett Newman and Gene Davis). Many have remarked that the Greenberg Collection should have ended up in the DC area and now they've got to be wondering how Portland has become such a magnet for 60's and 70's formalism. Let's just say we like abstraction, many of the best selling artists in town deal with formal abstraction and then there is the fact that Mark Rothko grew up here.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 10, 2007 at 14:12 | Comments (2)

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Thursday 02.08.07

Below the radar no more

Here are two architecturally involved exhibitions that have flown below the radar:


Carolina Aragon's "A Portland Cloud" at the Portland Building's gallery space may not be very original because it reminds me a lot of Cornelia Parker. Then again, I love Cornelia Parker and this atmospheric piece certainly holds my attention. Aragon is a Harvard educated landscape architect for Walker Macy. Show ends tomorrow February 9th, see it if you can during the building's very limited hours till 6:00 PM


The Portland chapter of The American Institute of Architects has a show on the construction of the Aerial Tram ...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 08, 2007 at 20:04 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 02.07.07

Bohemian Rhapsody, like you?

Here is an wonderful article about Man Ray's debauched bohemian muse from The Guardian.

Up in Seattle Jen Graves puts in a fine article on another bohemian moment, Cologne from the 80's till about 1995.

Yes, bohemian lifestyles and art are a hot subject right now and in case you missed it, PORT's own Jessica Bromer took on the Met's Glitter and Doom show last month.

There is no shortage of bohemian activity in Portland these days... I wouldn't know where to start. However, I do think Joe Thurston has stopped drinking absinthe though.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 07, 2007 at 21:09 | Comments (9)

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Tuesday 02.06.07

Not everyone is a critic

Interested in reaching an international audience with excellent art writing? Brave enough to broadcast your informed subjective opinion? PORT is trying its best to keep up with the changes in the Portland art scene so we are looking for one more paid art critic for its staff (possible but not mandatory First Thursday and Friday listings position as well). We place a premium on critical knowledge and insightful opinions as well as an eye for relevant details and context. Email your vitae or resume and letter of intent here. We tend to hire those who can think for themselves with academic credentials but an informed poet ala Schjeldahl is also a possibility.

Deadline Feb 15th 2007

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 06, 2007 at 20:10 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 02.01.07

A 21 @ sign salute for Visual Codec, RIP

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Sad news, Visual Codec was an online journal devoted to connecting the three Cascadian art scenes of Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. It has announced a permanent vacation. Here is M the editor's statement. Tellingly it wasn't lack of interest, its the massive amount of work that success can bring. The only way weve managed it here at PORT is an empowered, passionate, intelligent and highly capable staff. The VC news reminds me of the early days of the Organ back in 2003, I warned Camela not to grow it too much (content wise) because it will consume a superhuman level of attention. Alas, it has happened again.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 01, 2007 at 17:26 | Comments (7)

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Tuesday 01.30.07

Rose vs Cloepfil, Plagens vs. Green: who owns whose e-ass?

Ahhh there is nothing better than one architect (Charles Rose) talking smack about another one (Brad Cloepfil), while name dropping Kanye West ...and when the commenters on Portland Architecture start bringing electricity, sidewalks, straight A students in NYC and whether Portlanders are qualified to identify a cow or not it's like the smell of napalm in the morning!

Oh and the oft reactionary Peter Plagens attempts to besmirch Tyler Green and other art bloggers with some lazy blanket rhetoric and gets utterly "pwned" (look it up Peter, it is already passe). At PORT we make pretensions of serious art criticism and back it up, along with first on PORT news and important clarifications when rank disinformation is being published as fact.

*Update: Peter Plagens responds to Tyler Green's response... sounds like writers like to focus on other writers like artists focus on other artists, they look closely at the parts they like and leave the rest. Not surprising really but in grad school my profs spent a lot of time and energy to break us of those habits. If anything it just seems like non blogger art writers envy the freedom of blogging. I can say there is a tremendous exercise in self restraint that one has to engage in if you are going to blog much. Ive seen some rather talented traditional writers use a blog in very ill advised ways (from a legal standpoint even).

*Update Update (thanks to Jessica's web surfing): Discussion producing blogger Edward Winkleman takes on the subject of what a blog is and 50+ comments ensue. PORT isn't a typical blog, we are intentionally stretching the format. Why?... partially because Portland needs more thoughtful critcal art writing and the scene's rapid changes in sophistication require much more dynamic, internationally-relevant publishing.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 30, 2007 at 8:54 | Comments (2)

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Friday 01.26.07

The O counts to 10

It's great the Oregonian did its 10 most influential movers and shapers articles here and here, I wouldn't dispute any of the choices but at 10 it is too few and one-dimensional for a town in the grips of such activity and change. Still, these are the sorts of discussions the Oregonian should be inciting, though doing it by an poll insured a strong bias weighted towards those whose influence is less controversial or so longstanding it cannot be questioned like Liz Leach or Arlene Schnitzer. Of the 10 only Leach is controversial and even then she's now mostly just controversial for having been successful (thank you Liz). All selection methods have flaws and Portland's scene has about 30 people who really are influential in important ways, maybe the WWeek or Portland Monthly can outdo this, but for most Port readers the list is not news and kinda like one of Rolling Stone's frequent lists of the greatest songs of all time.

The non-controversial bias is why no artists were named. All artists of any relevance are controversial to the point of being "political factions" in some way, even if they are only controversial because of their relevance.

The omission of all artists is a major problem, as the hyperactivity and increasing international reach of Portland artists has been the engine driving the changes in town (as first pointed out by Randy Gragg in the Oregonian years ago)...(much more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 26, 2007 at 17:09 | Comments (7)

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Tuesday 01.23.07

East Side live/work space & funding cuts?

The Tribune had a short but interesting article today about possible live work spaces for artists on the East Side. It's true the East Side hasn't seen many city initiated steps for arts spaces and as usual commissioner Sam Adams appears to be in the thick of it all. The arts are becoming more and more of a political issue here but we hadn't seen much movement yet. Here's a no brainer, create a suitcase travel fund for Portland artists. They are ambassadors and it's odd that I can bring artists here using the funds of other cities but can't send Portland artists elsewhere with similar programs. Have a small oversight committee of 3 well versed and active curators to determine who gets the nod.

*Update: Also, the WWeek had this piece on funding cuts which effect the IFCC and the Multnomah Arts Center. Every major neighborhood in the city should have an neighborhood arts space.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 23, 2007 at 20:11 | Comments (4)

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Impending Doom?

Ahhh it's a gloomy time of year (except it's sunny in Portland right now). We will have our own Glitter and Doom review up soon but till then Jerry Saltz has his take on two shows of doom in NYC.

Speaking of too much money as a way to doom the direction of nonprofits, last week Edward Winkleman had this awesome post on Triple Candie's controversial show. Money doesnt solve all problems, it creates new ones by quantifying everything which is ok but at a certain point it hijacks the art ecosystem. The interesting thing about Portland right now is how managable and open it is, while having some serious money beginning to go around. There is still room for art that is difficult to quantify as a commercial exchange... at least here it is difficult to quantify, giving it a different feeling which in itself is becoming attractive to places that can quantify it.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 23, 2007 at 10:32 | Comments (0)

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Monday 01.22.07

Art Talk Radio on KPSU

Tonight on Eva Lake's Art Star program on KPSU radio (5-6:00 PM) some of PORT's critics including Katherine Bovee and myself will be on the air and talking about art criticism. An interesting exercise to be sure since it is like talking about tap-dancing about architecture. You can stream it here and I'll provide a link when the archive is up. For the local and oldschool it's 1450 AM in the Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA metro area, tune into 98.3 FM on the PSU campus.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 22, 2007 at 11:08 | Comments (1)

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Friday 01.19.07

Rauschenberg acquisition for PAM

The Portland Art Museum has announced the purchase of a major assemblage sculpture by Robert Rauschenberg, "Patrician Barnacle (Scale)." The deal was originally conceived to bring 1 million dollars to the Blue Sky photography gallery, which boasts board member Christopher Rauschenberg (the artist's son). It's a very nice work, a steal at that price and a cultural momentum building exercise for both sides. The deal is noteworthy as this fundraiser for Blue Sky could have raised more on the open market or at auction, but Portlanders understand money isn't the only thing... just a tricky thing! Major kudo's to the thoughtful donor Carol S. Hampton and chief curator Bruce Guenther, he's sweated this one out for over a year.

It is to be installed in the Jubitz Center for Modern and Contemporary Art...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 19, 2007 at 10:19 | Comments (3)

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OSP in Seattle: prompts looking at public art in Portand?

The Olympic Sculpture Park opens this Saturday in Seattle and at a time when many Portland citizens question whether our public art is both too insensitive and not sophisticated enough. Many Seattlites complain it's just trophy-ism, showcasing Microsoft money that doesn't really invest in the people of Seattle... a kind of high end art ghetto? One thing is for sure with public art, it's practically impossible to please everyone.

*Update Jen Graves at the Stranger, Regina Hackett at the PI and Shiela Farr at the Seattle Times review it.

Also,Tyler Green aggregates info on Seattle's Olympic Sculpture Park here.

It's your typical Seattle public project (expensive as hell and slick), just with art.... but it is exciting on paper because I like Serra, Roxy Paine and Calder but how does it all gel? I'm curious how all the very disparate art works together? Is it just another blue chip art park? To date my favorite bit of Seattle public art is Barnett Newman's Broken Obelisk in Red Square. Weve been a little distracted because Portland's aerial tram opens on the 27th, it is public art, weirder, only slightly less expensive and a lot more useful. Still one has to say Seattle takes public art more seriously than Portland does. There are lessons to be learned by both cities from one another.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 19, 2007 at 9:50 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 01.17.07

Julie Orser returns to PNCA

The snow has been keeping most everyone from traveling much beyond their neighborhood but if you are near the downtown check out Julie Orser's latest multi-channel video installation "Anna Moore" at PNCA's Feldman Gallery in the Pearl. A 99 PNCA alum with an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts in 2005, Julie's one of the hotter new video artists in LA. I've been looking forward to this show for months and it's a shame there was no opening on the 16th. She will be back in PDX for a free talk on January 31st. See it @ 1241 NW Johnson.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 17, 2007 at 9:56 | Comments (1)

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Monday 01.15.07

Fear and Loathing in Philadelphia

After heading to sleepier parts of Pennsylvania for the winter holidays, I had the chance to visit two of America's premier East coast cities--New York and Philadelphia. My New York coverage will be posted in the near future.


Co-joined twins from the Mütter Museum, Philadelphia

Former resident David Lynch has described the City of Brotherly Love as "a very sick, twisted, violent, fear-ridden, decadent, decaying place," "filled with violence, hate and filth" and, "the sickest, most corrupt, decaying, fear-ridden city imaginable." Lynchian hyperbole aside, I have to agree that Philadelphia is a mad, gritty city. Nonetheless, it's filled with of cultural treasures. While pretty much everything was closed during my New Year's visit, I've cobbled together a mini-tour of my former home's artistic offerings based on memory, research and rumor....................(more)

Posted by Jessica Bromer on January 15, 2007 at 12:23 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 01.09.07

In Agreement About Some Things

Artnet has a nice weekend update from New York. I also agree, Brice Marden's work seems to have been made to fill museums rather than inhabit them like Ellsworth Kelly's paintings do. Marden makes the kind of stuff you fall in like with.

Portland Architecture chimes in on Randy Gragg's interesting POVIC article last Friday. I agree a museum is the right thing to do but what kind of museum?

Regina Hackett wrote about the crisis of confidence in newspaper art writing. Don't get me started but I see a huge difference between most journalists and effective cultural discussion. In Portland a lot of people don't bother to read visual arts coverage in some printed publications anymore and Portlanders L O V E to read! Note to Portland editors, PORT's readership is going through the roof and Regina Hackett herself is consistently read by most serious Seattlites (and more than a few Portlanders). I love how she is publishing letters on her blog too.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 09, 2007 at 11:34 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 01.02.07

From The Walker With Love

Walker Art Center, photo Jeff Jahn

PORT was just listed as one of the top 10 art blogs on the Walker Art Center's off center blog and declared, "The undisputed champ of the regional art blogs." That is some serious competition.

Thanks Tyler, it is time for all of PORT's staffers, sponsors, and readers to take a bow!

We realized we were trying to do something new and evolve the personal art blog but the sheer quality and amount of activity in Portland warranted the effort. At the same time there is a lot of work to do in terms of presenting the rest of the world to Portland. It is a two-way street and Ive said it before, "everything is local on the internet."

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 02, 2007 at 14:15 | Comments (1)

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Sunday 12.31.06

PORT Staffer's Picks For 2006

Melia Donovan picks Paul Sutinen at 9 Gallery



Jeff Jahn picks New Trajectories I at Reed College: L to R works by: Stephan Thiel, David Thorpe, Eric Schmidt, Richard Prince and Tim Eitel

The Best Group show? Most improved artist? Artist of the year? Curator of the year? The lists go on and on... (much more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 31, 2006 at 13:48 | Comments (3)

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Tuesday 12.26.06

Making the most of predictable end of year stories

Probably just to prove that he's still consistently the best art wordsmith out there, Peter Schjeldahl penned this wonderful bit on the most over exposed and obvious story of the last 3 years, art fairs & markets. (OK Dave Hickey can lick him at will but this "festivalism" subject is just too boring and too much of a weak F. Scott Fitzgerald impersonation to require very serious literary treatment). Being ahead of the fairs is tough but the only thing that separates someone with an intuitive eye and someone who looks at art through its effects on the fair swarm.

Still, Schjeldahl has done it best with this nugget:

"The typical contemporary-art object, judging from Miami Basel, is well crafted, attractive, interesting enough, and portable. It may be figurative or abstract and in any conceivable medium: a pleasantly ungainly painting by Peter Doig, a tiny sculpture by Tom Friedman, a video stunt by Tony Oursler. Not only is there no leading style; there is no noticeable friction between one style and another. These impressions might fade if you focussed on any particular work, but fairs destroy focus. Thousands of works coexisted cozily in Miami, sharing a pluralism of the salable. Talent counts; ideas are immaterial. Exactly one work drew raves from art people who still crave audacity: the New York dealer Gavin Brown left his large space almost bare but for a crumpled cigarette pack (Camels, perhaps to evoke the Middle East), which, attached by a fishing line to an apparatus high overhead, slowly and hypnotically flew above or skittered along the floor. Conceived by the Swiss artist Urs Fischer, this squandering of prime showroom real estate on the trashed container of an addictive product was a smart insult to the occasion, though an awfully mild one. (The piece sold for a hundred and sixty thousand dollars.) A decade ago, much new art was eyebrow-deep in critical theory. Now it seems as carefree as a summertime school-boy, while far better dressed..."

He didn't even give the 2006 Whitney Biennial a real review, dismissing most artists effectively with only a few words. I think there is something to all this lack of friction and the very convenient shape of contemporary art at fairs.

Also, Tyler Green has started the end of the year top 10 list frenzy. I'd add Nick Cave's Sound Suits at the Chicago Cultural Centerand Richard Tuttle at the Des Moines Art Center.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 26, 2006 at 13:40 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 12.20.06

Public Art, Public Smart

Portland Public Art has a great post or two on the new Chinese Dragon debacle down in Chinatown. Yes it's an attempt at yuppifying the street but a lot of the write-in comments going on over at the Portland Tribune are just wrong headed. Yes, it's a bad design by committee and that will happen when the process doesn't have sensitivity to excellence built into it but that is hardly a reason to damn all public art. Except for Chicago, I rarely have very high expectations for public art but I think the debate produced by the incident is very important. RACC has done its share of great things along with a few duds. The trick is to produce more great outcomes. The duds will linger and remind us of what not to do and boldness often becomes endearing even if it isn't someone's cup of tea. To remove public art from a city is to make the cityscape less open to questioning. "Why this, why here?" are good questions raised by good and bad art alike. Anything is better than apathy and neglect and Portland at its best abhors apathy and neglect.

My favorite public art pieces in Portland are the Kenny Scharf Tiki Totems (they seem to mock the Pearl in a hilariously reflexive way) and the super traditional statue of Lincoln in the South Park Blocks (there is an identical one in my home city of Milwaukee Wisconsin).

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 20, 2006 at 10:58 | Comments (4)

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Tuesday 12.19.06

Truitt things have never been said

Michael Kimmelman had this fascinating article about an artist in Houston who literally build's community in The New York Times. Kimmelman will be in Portland on February 18th at the Portland Art Museum.

Also, in the NYT's there is an article on Thom Mayne's softer side. Port brought you that side a few weeks ago in this review of his new courthouse in Eugene.

Tyler Green reports that Anne Truitt is finally getting her retrospective, might I gently suggest that the Portland Art Museum as the home of the Clement Greenberg collection and (with at least 1 great Truitt) be one of the tour stops? Yeah, I'm officially freaked out that we like too many of the same artists; Bavington, Still, Smithson, Judd, Ruscha, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Truitt. My love of Damien Hirst, Sue DeBeer, Karen Kilimnik, Elizabeth Peyton, Basquiat, Fischli & Weiss and Richard Tuttle might be divergent points though... at least I hope.

Last, but hardly least, Jerry Saltz has an excellent review of both John Currin and Gregory Crewdson on Artnet. Two artists who have been becoming overly tame, crowd-pleasing entertainers as of late. It's good to see them address the problem but are their solutions enough? Instead of statement shows these are shows designed to reposition them before the assumed statement shows come.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 19, 2006 at 11:49 | Comments (0)

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Monday 12.18.06

Required Reading

Last summer a certain local art journalist and I discussed how being at smaller Miami art fairs (like Aqua) would be important for Portland and Seattle galleries. Being the snarky and cynical sort he is (almost a requisite for being any kind of writer) he snorted, "but art fairs are a dime a dozen." But being in Miami last year I countered that Aqua was a hit last year and this year would cash in. Fairs broaden collector bases and short circuit regional collecting ruts and Jen Graves piece in the Stranger explains why.

Artnet has also chimed in with an art fair cattle call.

Hell, PORT cofounder Jenn Armbrust's gallery, Motel, managed to sell a Jesse Rose Vala installation to a European collector (how many local collectors dare buy installation art despite the fact that it is the most dominant and interesting part of the scene?.. I know of only 5). Other Portland artists were picked up by galleries in larger cities etc. If you aren't familiar with big international art fairs it is impossible to write informed articles about what is happening to the Portland art scene. The good news is your editors need to put Miami, London or New York in the budget.

The Graves article is required reading for all Portland art press, yes there will be a quiz.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 18, 2006 at 0:00 | Comments (2)

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Friday 12.15.06

check em out

If you havn't checked out the Flog on our blogroll, do so now. Chris Tallon and Barry McGee are worth the click alone.

PORT will have our review of Quality Pictures fantastic POW show soon.

Also, check out this interesting article in the O on the new face in affluence in Portland. This comes as no surprise but the # of people making $100,000-$500,000 a year has doubled in the last 10 years. So has the 500,000+ bracket. Not news if you pay close attention, but it's why people have gotten more and more ambitious here.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 15, 2006 at 9:45 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 12.13.06

I blab about art on KBOO

Just a quick note, I'll be on Julie Bernard's Art Focus radio program on KBOO (90.7 FM Portland, 91.9 FM Hood River, 100.7 FM Willamette Valley) Thursday at 10:30 AM Pacific. You can stream it here. Ill be discussing this show primarily. Also, I'm trying to get Julie to bake me some toll house cookies like she used to for guests.... oh so Portland.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 13, 2006 at 20:40 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 12.12.06

Processing it all

Here is some more Miami to process, including Tyler Green's initial take, sounds like the superflat paradigm to me.

PORT's coverage of Miami art fairs looked like this.

Portland boasts 10-20 artists every curator looking for new artists should consider: Sean Healy, Storm Tharp, Ellen George, Matthew Picton, Jacqueline Ehlis, Chandra Bocci, Bruce Conkle, James Lavadour, Vanessa Renwick, Laura Fritz (yeah my GF but others say this), Michael Knutson, Matt McCormick, Michael Brophy, Tom Cramer, David Eckard, Brenden Clenaghen, Red 76 and Patrick Rock are just the tip of the iceberg. People like Jesse Hayward, Brad Adkins, Carson Ellis, PORT's own Katherine Bovee & Philippe Blanc, TJ Norris, Marne Lucas and Daniel Peterson are all up and comers who might excite national audiences too (I can go on and on with more, Jesse Rose Vala, Paul Green, Daniel Fagereng, Joe Macca, Sincerely John Head etc.).

On Point.Flux.Broadcast the lovely Natasha Snellman blogged Miami as well.

...and as congratulations to Jerry Saltz, may he win the damn Pulitzer some time soon, has any art critic in recent memory deserved it more?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 12, 2006 at 11:43 | Comments (2)

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Thursday 12.07.06

Portland in Miami guide

a Bruce Conkle Snowman @ Jack The Pelican Presents

So, where can you find Portland galleries and artists in Miami?

Art Basel Miami Beach:

The SF based Jack Hanley Gallery represents mr. Harrell Fletcher and Chris Johanson

Aqua:

Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Small A Projects and Motel (run by PORT's co-founder/owner Jennifer Armbrust)...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 07, 2006 at 12:29 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 12.05.06

Sponsoring Better Art Writing

Regular PORT reader may recognize a few new sponsors to the right, Quality Pictures, Pushdot Studios, The Bullseye Gallery and Organism. In fact, let's take a break to thank all of our sponsors, you make all this possible. Our, monthly readership has nearly doubled since June (our 1 year anniversary) and it is really gratifying that so many readers from around the world have found us useful. When Jennifer, Katherine and I (along with Phillipe Blanc's software customizations) were originally trying to get one another to do this alone we had no idea where it would lead… all we wanted was better art writing and better art scene information blogged with an international perspective. This art macroblog was an experiment and a kind of labor of love public service. With so much art press in Portland being rather persona and tabloid-ish rather than content/context driven Im really proud of all of our writers, you really make PORT a unique online community... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 05, 2006 at 22:40 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 12.02.06

Round Up

Did you know that a flower coming out of a pizza pie represents the destruction of New Orleans? Wondering what our local galleries have in store when they hit Miami? Which color for corduroy will be hot this winter? Get all of those answers and more from this enlightening article. I love these kinds of articles in the NYTimes. Usually they predict the end of a career that’s just beginning. Warning: if you’re young and on the verge of breaking out don’t answer the call for an interview with the Times…no matter how nice they seem on the phone....(more)

Posted by Melia Donovan on December 02, 2006 at 15:53 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 11.29.06

Damien Hirst at The Portland Art Museum

Damien Hirst Autopsy with Sliced Human Brain 2004

So what is the next show after the current Pierre Huyghe video at the Portland Art Museum's Miller-Meigs endowed room in the Jubtiz Center? You may have heard of him, it is Damien Hirst (one of my all-time favorite artists and probably one of the most loved/hated people in the history of art). He's obsessed with death, was generous enough to help an entire group of Young Britsih Artists become successful and is the master of presentation, having worked as an gallery installer before he became famous. Hirst is also notable as the first major artist since Picasso to control his own market. In a time where the market controls everything, this is yet another example of how perceptive Hirst is.

This is a rare solo US museum show for Hirst, who has avoided the museum blockbuster machine, preferring to make his own weather in out of the way places. Show opens January 13.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 29, 2006 at 11:25 | Comments (2)

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Monday 11.27.06

Cloepfil has it Still

Tyler at MAN reports that Portland's "starchitect" Brad Cloepfil will be designing the new Clyfford Still Museum in Denver. Cloepfil has his light and airy side (new Seattle Art Museum, PDX Contemporary Art) and a heavier side that does wonders with concrete (Weiden + Kennedy headquarters). Still, like a lot of AbEx painters liked to present a kind of life and death drama in his work so Cloepfil's earthy/heavy and airy light should complement the artist's dichotomies well.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 27, 2006 at 12:31 | Comments (0)

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Friday 11.24.06

Weimar Litmus Test & Figurative Art

Self-Portrait with Champagne Glass, 1919
Max Beckmann (German, 1884-1950)
Oil on canvas; 25 9/16 x 21 7/8 in. (65 x 55.5 cm)
Private collection, courtesy W. Wittrock, Berlin

In the NYT's Roberta Smith had a timely review of the "Glitter and Doom" show at the Metropolitan Museum. The focus on the anxiety present in the New Objectivity movement's artists like Otto Dix and Max Beckmann is absolutely in step with the mood of today. Still, one would have to stifle a chuckle in order to compare the anxieties found in Cecily Brown and Dana Schutz to that of Dix and Beckmann (and I like Brown and Schutz). The difference, Weimar Germany had just come off of WWI and the US's war in Iraq doesn't have the same urgency, though we are in a time of decadence and wealth while a smaller scale war of attrition rages. Good that the Metropolitan put this on, with the Miami Art fairs coming up this seems like a kind of cultural litmus test. Where is our version of brutal honesty? It definitely isn't Pierre Huyghe, who has a purosefully theatrical slight of hand that's been big ever since Matthew Barney. Sure Beckmann is theatrical too, but it is infinitely more honest than nearly everything Ive seen lately. Today good intentions and entertainment seem to be a substitute for difficult critiques and self-reflexive questioning?

On to someone who could use a huge dose of Otto Dix's depth, Portlander Ty Ennis (who was reviewed on PORT a few weeks ago) has spawned a hilarious unauthorized biography and a flux 7 out on the PDX blogosphere. Catch the show tomorrow on its last day to gauge the fuss (correction Dec 10th is the last day). Ennis is a talented artist in search of stronger subject matter, though according to the flux 7 he stands by it. Good on him, let's see if he gets something from the response he's received for this show, the criticism has been valid.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 24, 2006 at 17:16 | Comments (18)

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Tuesday 11.21.06

Existentialism, Advertising and Toast?

I noticed this same thing and I enjoyed how the Nissan ad defanged "Breadface" by making it a leisurely piece of toast in a chair. Let's face it (oh endless puns?), an endpiece for a loaf of bread by itself is more existential than toast... but I never would have thought about that except for Nissan's approximation of Matt Johnson's art. Also, Tyler cracks me up with his, "How hipster! How clever! Because gosh, who wouldn't want to live out of a mid-level Japanese car?" The hipster cars in Portland tend to be old biodiesel ready Mercedes, any Volvo but a brand new one, Ford Festivas and the ever popular "no car" ride a bike/Max train option. So, unless Nissan can make an old European automobile they ain't gonna hit this demographic.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 21, 2006 at 11:22 | Comments (5)

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Monday 11.20.06

Tom Cramer at Laura Russo

By now many collectors have received announcements that Tom Cramer, arguably the city's artist laureate, has joined forces with the venerable Laura Russo Gallery, the now (as ever) undisputed leader in historical Northwest artists. This makes a lot of sense. Tom (a good friend who left his previous gallery over 8 months ago) is probably the best selling artist in Portland and I've known about this for a very long time. Tom is particularity important since he is the link between the pre-90's art scene in Portland and the current one... I see it as one contiguous cloth and Cramer's take no prisoners approach to the sublime, kitsch and the ancient art of woodcarving make him pretty unique.

This is the first major artist shift for the Laura Russo Gallery since Henk Pander joined the stable a few years ago and an exciting development. It is a great thing as the Russo gallery just celebrated its impressive 20th anniversary (Liz Leach just celebrated her 25th on the 11th) and what I like about Russo's gallery is their no-nonsense seriousness. What other gallery in the Pacific Northwest represents the estates of so many artists? In art the follow-through is very important. Now with Mel Katz, Francis Celentano, Lucinda Parker, Gregory Grenon, Robert Colescott, Henk Pander and Michael Brophy, Cramer only adds to the most mature stable of artists in Portland while adding a dash of flash.

The announcement card indicates that he has a one-person show scheduled for October 2007 (Ive seen some of the work, he just keeps getting better).

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 20, 2006 at 11:04 | Comments (1)

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Tuesday 11.14.06

Developing Culture

Tyler Green pointed out this nice story about the connections between non-profits and developers in the Boston Globe. The most obvious example of this in Portland is the Armory (the Gerding Theater). Other projects like Jim Winkler's development of the the Daisy Kingdom building and PAC's arrangement with David Gold also come to mind.

Another favorite blogger Edward Winkleman had a nice post on the pressures of success upon artistic (mass) production here. It's true much of the revolutionary art of the last century was birthed in complete market obscurity, that simply doesn't exist now. When I was in Miami last year I couldn't believe how many people knew about what was going on in Portland. This year our presence will be even better with more galleries etc., plus Bruce Conkle will have one of his show-stopping snowman in a freezer at Nada this year (his work makes Marc Swanson look so lightweight with its cartoony darkness, and he's been at the game much longer too).

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 14, 2006 at 11:27 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 11.12.06

James Chasse Jr., artist and model

James 'Jim Jim' Chasse by Randy Moe
courtesy of Chambers Gallery

At this point, most Portland residents are familiar with the story of James Chasse's tragic, unconscionable death in police custody. Out-of-towners and those who are a little hazy on the details can read about the incident here.

As a teenager in the late 70's and early 80's, Chasse was a friend of several longtime members of the local art scene, including Eva Lake and Randy Moe. In his late teens, Chasse changed dramatically after developing schizophrenia, which he struggled with until his death on September 17th, 2006. When Moe and Lake learned that Chasse had been killed, they were already preparing for an exhibition of Moe's portraits at Chambers Gallery, which Lake manages. Presciently entitled, It's a Sad, Sad, Sad, Sad World, the show has been expanded to include a portrait of Chasse and a binder filled with photocopies of The Oregon Organism, a zine Chasse created while in his early teens. Moe used an old polaroid photograph of a 14-year old Chasse, affectionately known as 'Jim Jim,' as the source for his memorial portrait...............(more)

Posted by Jessica Bromer on November 12, 2006 at 9:13 | Comments (2)

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Friday 11.10.06

Exhibition space not rental space

The Portland Art Museum has just announced that the rental sales gallery is finally leaving the Goodman Gallery space on the main floor of the museum's Belluschi wing. Hot Damn! I've known about this for a long time and you gotta know the curatorial department had to be thrilled when one of the best gallery spaces in the museum became a shop. Museum stores should not occupy exhibition spaces and this stay tarried too long after the completion of the Mark building.

That said it will be used as an orientation space for group tours in the short term. Grumble, grumble... still all will be forgiven though if a nice (long overdue) large-scale contemporary exhibition follows this short term situation.

The rental sales gallery will have its new home in the nearby Elliot tower and will have a special grand reopening on Dec 1st.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 10, 2006 at 14:31 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 11.09.06

Bubble wrapped bubble cars

Today marked the first trip for Portland's aerial tram's still unnamed cars. KATU had some nice footage of the bubble wrapped/bubble shaped cars first voyage here. If all goes well we can ride in them in January. Artists like Ellen George and Eva Lake will have work at the top of the hill even.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 09, 2006 at 21:01 | Comments (2)

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Wednesday 11.08.06

Round Up

YouTube!!! YouTube!!!

Can you believe what you can find on YouTube?

Posted by Melia Donovan on November 08, 2006 at 22:04 | Comments (1)

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Name the aerial tram cars?

Commissioner Sam is giving us till the end of the month to name the new aerial tram cars, which are due to start tramming away any day now. Note, if they are named Lewis and Clark I'm gonna gag. The aerial tram is the most important structure to go up in Portland since Big Pink in terms of it being a lightning rod of civic symbolism and it's relationship to the kind of city that Portland is becoming should not be underestimated.

Here are some not so serious ideas:

Peanut butter & Jelly
Paige & Plant
Bud & Vera
Ned & Homer
Necessary & Evil
Luke & Laura
Sue Ellen & J.R
Yin & Yang
John and Kristy

My absolute worst idea = Enterprise & Galactica (Millennium Falcon just doesn't work)

You can email Sam Adams with your ideas here and have until 5:00 PM November 30th.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 08, 2006 at 9:45 | Comments (2)

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Friday 11.03.06

If you can't beat the blogsphere, join it

Two major Northwest daily newspaper art critics have taken up blogging.

First there is Regina Hackett at the Seattle PI. Her style of reviews and often subjective viewpoint oriented writing is perfectly suited to art blogging.

Then there is David Row's recent turn as a blogger. Yes, I like to refer to him as Death Row (because it's cool) and I am a little disappointed it isn't called the "Death Blog." Once again an unbeatable name... let's compare, my personal blog would have to be called the "Yawn Blog" after the correct pronunciation of my last name, so dull.

Oh well, the "DKlog" should allow him to continue pressuring the museum for a free day (note they need a lot more guard on free days). My solution, simply make one Thursday night a month free instead of a whole day, easier sell and easier to get sponsors eased into the idea.

The interesting development is both David and Regina have plastered their photo's on the web and allow for comments.... I'm blond, I can't disappear (even in a large crowd) but it is sometimes nice to be unrecognized as a critic. I wonder if David and Regina will feel a pang at giving their respective art scenes a target?

All that said, welcome aboard... it's definitely different out on the blogosphere and it often comes down to one's wits. I think arts writing and blogging are probably perfectly suited for one another.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 03, 2006 at 15:02 | Comments (1)

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Artist's studio spaces don't have funerals, they have sales

333 Studios Warehouse/Garage Sale
Saturday, November 4 from 10am to 4pm
333 NE Hancock (at MLK) - Portland


10,000 square feet and 15 years of stuff, including:

- furniture - tables - desks - wood - metal - tools - shelving - cabinets/bookcases - odds and ends - free stuff - art supplies - and of course art

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 03, 2006 at 11:37 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 11.01.06

Round Up

Brice Marden, bad architecture, Matthew Barney and Joseph Bueys and a benefit.

Posted by Melia Donovan on November 01, 2006 at 10:00 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 10.31.06

Please allow me to introduce myself...

Hi, I'm Jessica.

I've worked with several regional art organizations over the past two years, most intensively with Portland Modern, and have developed a great deal of affection and respect for the local creative community. Having often felt that there are too few voices in Portland art journalism/criticism, I've taken up this enjoyable, if much-maligned, occupation in hopes of helping to record the energy of the scene and catalyze the type of open discussion that leads to artistic growth.....(more)

Posted by Jessica Bromer on October 31, 2006 at 16:23 | Comments (0)

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Rolling Out The Welcome Wagon

Some of PORT's very attentive readers have noticed there is a new name in the contributor's list, it has been a busy time and once again the site has shattered it's readership records. Thank you readers!

So yes, later today Jessica Bromer will be making her first posts as PORT's new 1st Thursday and Friday "listings" poster as well as our newest critic. She knows the Portland scene well having worked as exhibition coordinator for Portland Modern. While cutting her teeth blogging for PICA during TBA I was impressed with her handling of Matthew Day Jackson's show calling it, "a bit Kountry Kosy." (From Schjeldahl to myself a lot of critics find his work a bit too cursory considering his source iconography.) Jessica rightly called him on it.... only to go a couple of rounds with the artist (successfully) in the comments. Needlesss to say, like all of PORT's staffers she is unafraid to present her opinions and true to our mission she has a lot of free reign to explore that critical stance.

Welcome

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 31, 2006 at 11:36 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 10.29.06

All of tomorrow's art-y's, W's first art issue

W magazine's first ever art issue is out with a feature spread involving Richard Tuttle, whom I admire a lot and reviewed a few months ago here. Let's just say the Eden photoshoot is mostly window dressing and its saturated glossyness seems more typical of Pipilotti Rist than Tuttle's earthier and dryer sense of humor. His work demands a simple, more elemental aesthetic in order to be successful and I don't see that here. True, the fashion world and art have a lot in common, especially these days but one has to ask, does anything stimulating come of it? In Tuttle's case...maybe not. Better than the magazine spread, here is a video documenting the production. Then there is the whole issue of the diluting popularity of the art world.... which I'm on a fence or two about. Will popular mechanics have an art issue next?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 29, 2006 at 19:02 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 10.25.06

PICA Artist in Residence to Lecture Tonight

Current PICA artist in residence Viktor Popovic will lecture on his work tonight in PICA’s Resource Room. From Croatia, Mr. Popovic creates temporal, glowing installations using light, found and industrial materials....(more)

Posted by Melia Donovan on October 25, 2006 at 13:31 | Comments (0)

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Favorite Buildings in Portland?

The Portland Tribune suddenly has a lot of stories on architecture and the quality of buildings in town this week. Strange, yes we have Graves' Portland Building but generally the city is more interested in people, books, food, music, art and complaining about the lack of architecture rather than architectural excellence itself. Still there has been a shift in the last 2 years.

One sign of the change in attitude is this Trib piece on local architects picking their favorite buildings in Portland (yes it's a quiet bunch of buildings, wait till the aerial tram is done for big a paradigm shift in the outward profile of architecture in Portland). Not surprisingly, the Sacks house on NW Glisan by Brad Cloepfil took top honors. What would PORT's readers pick? My pick is the Adidas campus by BOORA or the Fox Tower (the lobby is really superb) by Thompson Vaivoda and Associates... maybe the train station even. At the Organism's Gertrude salon last night many thought the Union Bank of California Tower deserved the nod, I agree it's an under-recognized gem. Let us know what your pick; Belmont Lofts, PNCA's interior, the Doug Fir, the St. Johns Theater & Pub? The aerial tram isn't completed yet and yes I wish the giant World's Fair log cabin (Oregon State Forestry Center 1905) still existed.

Then the Trib had this piece on the Frank Gehry that never happened. Good to remind people of that and overall it seems like Portlander's are demanding more quality from the architecture. I've been working on a series of atypical architectural photographs for the last 5 years so I have my own selfish reasons for this, 9/10ths of the photos are of buildings outside of Portland. Design-wise the city does seem to be wide awake now, let's see what comes of it in terms of buildings.

Also worth a look, the Portland Architecture blog had this nice post on a couple of interesting new fire stations a while back.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 25, 2006 at 11:32 | Comments (10)

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Monday 10.23.06

Welcoming PAM's new chief

Today, Brian Ferriso started his new job as director of the Portland Art Museum, the big kahuna on Oregon's cultural scene. The O had an interview yesterday, with a lot of thoughtfully measured answers by Ferriso. There was also the paper's general attempt at creating a huge hullabaloo over the cost of the Mark building's renovation. Let's just say Ferriso has worked (with grace) under much more difficult financial situations. Although he wasn't the man in charge, the Milwaukee Art Museum's gorgeous but hugely expensive 100 million dollar +??? Santiago Calatrava expansion caused them to take truly drastic actions. Under that kind of difficult situation he was eventually promoted from senior director of curatorial affairs to deputy director. The message, this is a talented guy who can make lemonade with lemons. PAM's situation is much better. Here are some long and short term things to consider...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 23, 2006 at 21:55 | Comments (6)

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Thursday 10.12.06

Amy Berstein's Bio

After spending the past year painting in Berlin, Germany, Amy Bernstein moved to Portland to become a part of the burgeoning Northwest art community. Originally from Atlanta, Amy recieved her B.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design where she studied painting. Amy enjoys making art, the strongest of coffees, and haggling over the interpretations of riddles. She looks forward to the testing Portland will bring to all of her philosophies and how it will thus alter her art practice.

You will find her listening enraptured in the midst of odd local circles, amazed to suddenly find herself where she is.

Posted by Amy Bernstein on October 12, 2006 at 20:11 | Comments (0)

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PORT's latest addition

Just a quick note, later today PORT will be introducing our newest critic, Amy Bernstein. She's a firecracker with international experience whose opinionated nature seemed perfectly suited for art criticism. Since Port's audience and Portland's scene continues to expand quickly, we felt that another voice would allow the four of us to better devote ourselves to in-depth reviews.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 12, 2006 at 11:30 | Comments (0)

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Monday 10.09.06

Affair followup

It is good to hear what outsiders say about events in Portland and Carrie Scott took on the Affair at the Jupiter Hotel in the latest Visual Codec. Alice Wheeler also photoblogged it, as did Eva Lake. Interesting how they differed from our photoblog coverage.

One notable sentiment, the idea that there is some sort of inherent gulf in quality between Portland art and New York, LA etc., has pretty much died (it's more a question of frequency, specific artists discussed and the venues now). As to the event itself, obviously there are many improvements that can be made (some sort of major draw artist etc.) speak up if you have any ideas.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 09, 2006 at 10:25 | Comments (1)

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Friday 10.06.06

Do Something Nice

Start you weekend off right and feel good about yourself by helping others. The Children's Heart Foundation is holding their 2nd annual fundraiser, PULSE. Watch as 40 artists work for eight hours to make a piece that will later be available to bid on at a live auction. The impressive list of artists include Mark Andres, Troy Briggs, Rebecca Scheer, and Andi Kovel to name a few. $100 will get you into the preview party that features food by local favs clarklewis and Andina as well as an opportunity for secure bidding. $45 will get you into the Pulse party at 7pm.
Pulse • Children's Heart Foundation fundraiser
Saturday October 7
Preview Party • $100 • 5p
Pulse Party • $45 • 7p
2537 NW 29th • Portland, Or

Posted by Jenene Nagy on October 06, 2006 at 22:11 | Comments (0)

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North Mississippi growing pains

Brian Libby at Portland Architecture has a great post on the fate of Holst's new building on North Mississippi. Both sides have good points this time but cant they work things out? Will this BDS decision have a withering effect on good design in the city and lead to a bunch of crummy, designer outlet store approved faux historic travesties? Or can the anarchists and design gurus make nice by realizing that modern design can actually highlight the funkier historic buildings in a kind of anachronistic-modern tango? The middle of the road way leads to homogenized aesthetics and Brian is right to be concerned. What is at stake here is what I call Portland's "Freak Factor" and I think everyone needs to stop thinking purely in terms of, "what fits?" That kind of thinking leads to self-parody and the apple store decision on NW 23rd was simply sad. Instead, decisions should emphasize what stands out. A modern building coexisting next to an anachronist collective just slays me, it should happen and would be sooo Portland.

Holst architecture does very sharp yet inviting work and previous projects like the Belmont lofts look great on that funky street in the SE... so why not in NoPo with a few possible changes? Look, change is coming it can either celebrate excellence or mediocrity.

As Brian pointed out: the Portland Landmarks Commission will hear an appeal of the BDS rejection on Monday at 1:30pm (1900 SW Fourth Avenue, 4th floor - be there.)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 06, 2006 at 16:02 | Comments (0)

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Round Up

Randomly Random

A bit ago, there was mention of Damien Hirst not exactly following directions resulting in the need to replace the shark in “The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living”. On the Time’s website there’s a video of the removal of the shark, which is somewhat fascinating....(more)

Posted by Melia Donovan on October 06, 2006 at 10:05 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 10.04.06

PSU’s MFA Monday Night Lecture Series Begins

Robert A. Pruitt to open the series October 9th


Low Rider Art, 2004
stool, crushed velvet, bicycle wheel, chrome
57 1/2" x 16 1/4" x 9"

Posted by Melia Donovan on October 04, 2006 at 20:18 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 10.03.06

Last Chance

Biswas at Reed

There are several important shows closing this weekend so make certain to catch any of these that you may have missed:

The Portland Art Museum's 2006 Oregon Biennial. A good, if elegantly tame show by Portland's new standards. Yes, that is a good development on the elegance factor and the tame problem stems from the too abbreviated installations (Brittany Powell is the biggest victim, girl needs more than one wall) and an overabundance of works under glass. Portland has one of the most spatially activated scene's out there and we normally only see this much glass at the Affair Art Fair. Next time everyone will expect major installation "environments" and video art that isn't ghettoized in the back. Still, it's a good show especially if you arent an avid art scene aficionado, a good bit of catch up. Just know that installation art in Portland isn't normally so limited space wise. The show succeeds as the dignified museum show everyone had been asking for. Next time the museum needs to challenge expectations not just meet them. Ends Sunday October 8th.

Sutapa Biswas: Birdsong at Reed College's Cooley Gallery. I really enjoyed the first video "Magnesium Bird"... it is perfection, and although the new dual channel video "Birdsong" has its moments it feels a bit overcooked. The purposefully out of synch video images in Birdsong work particularly well when zoomed in close to the child's face but by actually showing the horse it spoils the mystery and uneasy mood, more Bruckheimer than Hitchcock. The narrative seems to have imbedded imperatives that are choking the art. It is worth seeing though, I loved the green room with bird paintings as one enters the gallery as well. Ends Sunday October 8th.

Also, don't miss the PICA TBA holdovers. If you miss Harrell Fletcher's The American War, you've missed one of the best contemporary art shows on the planet. Maria Abramovic's Balkan Erotic Epic may be the weakest art she has ever produced (by turning director, the performance artist is branching out) which gives you some idea of how great she is because this rates well as good festival fodder (still more tolerable than anything Bill Viola has done). Theo Angell, Red 76, PORT's own Katherine Bovee and Philippe Blanc and Matthew Day Jackson's work are on display through this week as well. Ends Friday October 6th except Blanc and Bovee on Saturday October 7th.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 03, 2006 at 10:47 | Comments (1)

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Monday 10.02.06

Because brilliance still matters

Drawing by Leonardo da Vinci (image © Queen Elizabeth II/V&A)

Here are a few things that rise above the current (but ever popular) cult of mediocrity:

Walter Robinson points out out why Murakami kicks just so much ass on ArtNet, the secret to his talent is his G E N E R O S I T Y. He doesn't put on airs of passive aggressive shyness and gives others a chance to shine. One can be great and generous, no other living artist on the planet comes close to this kind of effect and Ill be there for his mid career retrospective at MOCA a year from now. Where Americans got all soft when adopting the kawaii (cute) culture, Murakami (and the original Japanese version) had teeth.

Also, Artinfo had an interview with John McCracken a while back, a brilliant artist of the asymptote (lines that reference infinity).

And last but not least Leonardo's (no not the Ninja Turtle) show at the V & A gives Adrain Searle a mental workout. Somehow da Vinci makes others raise the bar for themselves and Searle's quick phrase of "knight'-move thinker" has me smiling. In these times when people consider mere sincerity an adequate stand in for intellectual acuity this does my heart some good.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 02, 2006 at 10:28 | Comments (0)

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Friday 09.29.06

Have an affair or be square

The Affair at the Jupiter Hotel Art Fair starts tonight. Be there or be square. The quibblers and naysayers said it would never last but here it is. Will it be be overfull of massively derivative, follow like sheep, self-conscious doodle works on paper that aren't even good enough to be on the cover of the Mercury? Sure, it wouldn't be an art fair if it didn't but it can't possibly have as many as last year. There are much better things on hand as well.

$100 gets you into the posh 6-9 PM opening but $10 gets you in at 9:00 PM tonight (PORT will be covering). Saturday and Sunday are nice if you want to browse and schmooze more casually...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 29, 2006 at 0:12 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 09.27.06

Round Up

Mona Lisa
Leonardo da Vinci, circa 1503–1507
oil on poplar, 30 x 21 in
Musée du Louvre

I keep thinking about that small, tiny conversation that took place a couple of months ago here about gender equality in the local Art world and wonder, since it’s in the air in bloglandia, if it might be time to bring it up again.

Posted by Melia Donovan on September 27, 2006 at 22:34 | Comments (19)

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Tuesday 09.26.06

Some-thing for everyone?

Bruce Nauman, Life, Death, Love, Hate, Pleasure, Pain (1983), Collection Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, Gerald S. Elliott Collection

Here are some things to take in:

Richard Polsky discusses being an art broker and knowing where the bodies are on Artnet. Although he thinks Murakami's prices are out of whack he misses the point that Murakami is probably the most important artist of the last 15 years and his importance goes deeply into graphic design in a way a pure art market person might not get.

Matt McCormick loves Portland, nice to have you back MM. I think a lot of us have similar moments after traveling a lot.

Brian Libby looks at Brad Cloepfil's design for UMMA here. I think Cloepfil is great but his museums and gallery spaces often annoy me a little in their floaty non-corporeal use of natural light (it can and does work but it requires intervention to keep the space from muting a show's thunder). I prefer Ando's galleries... maybe SAM's addition will turn that view around.

I also really enjoyed David Cohen's take on Bruce Nauman and the other artists who use neon words (with diminished effect). I agree, Ive seen a lot of prank art with neon and most of it is forgettable. Only Joseph Kosuth and Jason Rhoades seem to do it with any worthwhile effect, for most others it's an easy way to make C+ grade hack conceptual art (every city has 2 or 3 of em and they are interchangable). Rhoades' solution works because his scenic route style absurdity rivals Nauman's anti-scenery. Kosuth makes it work because of its incredible bluntness rivals Nauman's blunt obfuscation. Still, Nauman is the man because of his relentless, pitiless existentialism and I can't wait for his travelling neon show at the Henry in 2007.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 26, 2006 at 12:04 | Comments (3)

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Monday 09.25.06

What's with that big new gallery at 916 NW Hoyt?

That new (yet unopened) gallery at 916 NW Hoyt, Quality Pictures, just went live with their website. It will be months before the space opens but they are having a room at the Affair at the Jupiter Hotel, which opens on Friday. The weather is looking divine this year so this would be a good time to hop on jet blue if you aren't fortunate enough to live nearby.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 25, 2006 at 9:52 | Comments (2)

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Wednesday 09.20.06

Round Up

Image of a termite mound courtesy of the Collective or
other Institution Emergence as found on Wikipedia

continued from last week…….

Posted by Melia Donovan on September 20, 2006 at 22:03 | Comments (0)

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A resurgence in the Everett Station Lofts

With so many artists and a lot of new spaces popping up in unexpected locales there is a wild-westness and an equally pervasive camaraderie to the Portland art scene. Over the years the Everett Station Lofts have been the most important breeding ground and networking... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 20, 2006 at 12:08 | Comments (5)

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Monday 09.18.06

Warhol Documentary

The NW Film center is screening Ric Burns' Andy Warhol Documentary tomorrow night. It clocks in at 4 hours with Laurie Anderson as the narrator and then there is the wry casting of Jeff Koons as the voice of Andy Warhol... kinda like casting one of the members of Oasis in a Beatles documentary. Should be interesting in a tragic Warholian sort of way. Here is a link to what the Village Voice said.


6:30 PM, September 19th
Northwest Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium at the Portland Art Museum: 1219 SW Park Ave.
Admission Prices: $7.00 General, $6.00 Members, Students, Seniors

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 18, 2006 at 15:18 | Comments (5)

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Friday 09.15.06

Reviewing the week

It has been a good week of reviews. More than occasionally, both random and not so random people stop me and unload a rant about the state of art criticism in Portland and the world in general. Agreed, art criticism isn't in some golden age but I dont think it is in the same imminent crisis others ascribe to it either.

This week, besides my own abomination (blithely doing things that would have made my 600 level, critical writing prof get "all paperchase and Housemanesque" on me 13 years ago) we had some nice reviews. Instead of focusing on personalities or being reactionary towards the success, fame or "newfangledness"of an artist they took subject matter and the overall effect into account. An exciting development considering that and the fact there were 4 serious reviews published this week. Too bad I count about 25 shows worthy of reviews this hyperactive month.

First off was Richard Speer's review of Brendan Clenaghen's show. Short, eloquent, on topic and yes it's a great show that definitely shows that sometimes Portland artists are superior to anything similar nationally. Pulliam Deffenbaugh has really improved as a gallery since moving into the new space and with the addition of Matthew Picton (just this week) alongside Clenaghen, Linda Hutchins and Laurie Reid there is a reason they might just be the most reviewed gallery in Portland.

Then John Motely (whose role seems to be one of the last bastions of non-tabloid twaddle at the Mercury) penned this evocative bit on Sutapa Biswas at Reed. Reading it, I was reminded how frequently video shows receive one-dimensional reviews that simply provide a travelogue account of the experience or simply a one line description. Instead, this was a layered and at length.

Last but not least, David "Death" Row published this relevant thing on Tad Savinar. True, if I were to go "Snark hunting" with any local writer DK would have to be at the top of the guest list but I agree with his focus on gentrification as a major civic issue in Portland and Tad's show. Besides, it makes sense that the pithy Savinar would get the attention of a purveyor of snark. Dont misconstrue this, snark can be a good thing, obsequious pleasantness is so dull and generally favors mediocrity.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 15, 2006 at 11:00 | Comments (4)

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Wednesday 09.13.06

Round Up

Here and there Portland artists are donating their work to fund organizations that benefit the arts communities in Portland and beyond. There’s a conundrum in that, which is neither here nor there, but the beneficiary in this case is you. Where else would you have the opportunity to buy a t-shirt designed by Miranda July with a picture of you both against the word PEACE? Or have the opportunity to buy a work from a current Oregon Biennial artist for 100 smackers?

Posted by Melia Donovan on September 13, 2006 at 22:26 | Comments (4)

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Tuesday 09.12.06

Two must reads

As Melia pointed out in the comments earlier, Jerry Saltz does his version of a reality check regarding art (probably as a work up to his next Babylon article, due out soon). Does art change the world? Well any action creates some change of course but leadership matters more of course. Thus a better question is...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 12, 2006 at 0:54 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 09.02.06

Free Day at Portland Art Museum

Marcy Adzich's "The Divide" from the Oregon Biennial

Top your holiday weekend off with a free trip to the Portland Art Museum. The museum will be open free of charge Monday September 4, from 10-5pm. Still not sure what to think of the Jesse Hayward piece? Well here's your chance to give it another look. Along with the Oregon Biennial, exhibits include Through Rustling Grasses: Nature in the Japanese Print and the must see Richard Rezac work. Throughout the day museum docents will be leading free tours of several of the exhibits.

Free Day • Portland Art Museum
Monday September 4 • 10a-5p
1219 SW Park Ave • Portland, OR

Posted by Jenene Nagy on September 02, 2006 at 10:12 | Comments (0)

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Friday 09.01.06

Weekly Web Roundup

Summer is ending and everyone’s excited about the coming Fall exhibitions. Opportunities abound throughout September for thoughtful and intelligent visual and performative culture in Portland. With everyone’s eyes to the immediate future, here are some tidbits from around the web pertinent to the roundup....(more)

Posted by Melia Donovan on September 01, 2006 at 21:34 | Comments (0)

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First Friday September 2006

Greg Turco at Newspace

Yes it's one of those wierd inversions when First Friday comes before First Thursday. Of course it isn't the end of the world, it's just the beginning of September

Rachel Shapiro & Greg Turco • The View From here
Newspace is the most consistent 1st Friday stop and this duo of photographers only adds to the tradition.
Newspace Photography • 1632 se 10th portland, or 97214, 503 963-1935...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 01, 2006 at 13:56 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 08.30.06

Huyghe the entertainer?

Read this op-bit about Pierre Huyghe on the Contemporary London Art blog because he will be having a show at the Portland Art Museum starting on September 23rd. It reminds me of the debate about entertainment art started when"Let's Entertain" rolled through the Portland Art Museum in 2000.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 30, 2006 at 12:16 | Comments (1)

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Monday 08.28.06

The effect?

Yes, Ill have that review of the Oregon Biennial soon but it's really involved and I want to hammer a few more details, mostly because it's the kind of feedback I like to get when I curate a large group show. It's funny but only after the show's been up for a week or two do all the unforeseen emergent properties of a show become apparent to the person who put it together. Curators are a bit like surfers except they choose the elements and shape of the wave.... only after they have ridden the complex thing does a more full understanding come. In many ways it's the best part of the curatorial practice, there is this expansive feeling that you've really learned something. That's what happens when thousands of minds in a city explore a show, the combined civic intelligence (as opposed to mass idiocy) is something we often take for granted but is revealed when you survey a bunch of artists. It's a massive study in civic behavior and I think some of the artists deserve a more in-depth look too.

Till then check out Tyler Green's take on LA version of the traveling Rauschenberg combine show. Of course it's better in LA, the Smithson show a few years ago certainly was too.

Also, the Portland's Future Awesome blog has a lot of worthy recent posts... green buildings, Portland voted the only "most successful city" in the US by the Europeans etc. Those Europeans are always flattering us as a way to critique the rest of the US. Can't fault em.

Elsewhere,Edward Winkleman takes on the Stuckists. Ive been thinking about them a lot recently and maybe it's how reactionary they seemed right at the height of the YBA's dominance, like the YBA's were the boat and they were part of the wake? If artists can't produce their own effect without reacting to a more protean artist or group then aren't they essentially a sideshow? A spent force? Supporting actors? Not that it's a bad thing but in the end it becomes important to determine who the leaders are.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 28, 2006 at 10:46 | Comments (1)

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Friday 08.25.06

What to see?

James and Joey Lavadour at PDX Contemporary Art

What should you absolutely see this weekend? If you haven't caught James and Joey Lavadour's show at PDX gallery, do so. If you've seen it already, go and see it again, it's James' best to date. Look for a full on review next week from another PORT staffer (I've already called him the best abstract landscape painter alive today, what else can I say?... OK maybe that Joey's baskets work perfectly with this show too and should be reviewed together). D.K. "Death" Row reviews him favorably in the O's A&E... but some of the artists he compares him to seem more than a bit forced, there is nobody like Lavadour. Also, what's up with the Arthurian comparisons? The Columbia River Gorge etc. looks nothing like England or the north of France... (oh well)

Also, make a point to check out the multi-channel video piece by Dan and Bean Gilsdorf at Portland Modern's tiny but excellent corporate headquarters at 1715 NW Lovejoy....(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 25, 2006 at 10:26 | Comments (3)

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Thursday 08.24.06

Weekly Web Roundup

This week’s roundup is short and sweet. A couple of items that are curiously linked made their way across the information super highway to the sprawling offices of PORT.

First, an article in the New York Times on Saturday got me thinking about politically/socially engaged art as a catalyst for change and how that change doesn’t always equal the artist’s enthusiasm for the cause. Though the man in the article, Duraid Lahham, is an actor his sentiments cross genres. In context with the announcement, at the end of the Roundup, that PICA sent out, it seems a perfect opportunity to engage in a dialogue about political art and the expectations that artists have for their work...(more)

Posted by Melia Donovan on August 24, 2006 at 7:41 | Comments (1)

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Tuesday 08.22.06

New Director of the Portland Art Museum is Brian Ferriso

The new director of the Portland Art Museum is Brian Ferriso.

Joseph Gallivan at the Tribune has a long article and a picture. Earlier, DK Row at the Oregonian had a heads up article and broke the story. Thankfully this ends months of sometimes ridiculous speculation and I like a lot of things about this guy already:

He's young and ambitious and gathering from Gallivan's article he is coming here because Portland is dynamic, smart man.

He used to be at the deputy director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, the place were I cut my teeth in the visual arts (their collection is suprising and superb btw). He was director of curatorial affairs before that and I think many will like the fact that he has more than just administrative knowledge.

He was most recently the director of Tulsa's Philbrook Museum, which has upgraded its contemporary collections and seems to know what a God Josiah McElheny is.... just bring McElheny here and watch attendance levels beat the dead French art shows we have been innundated with.

Welcome to Portland, its a testament to Portland's strength that the position was filled this quickly.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 22, 2006 at 16:02 | Comments (0)

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2006 Oregon Biennial Awards Announced

From the museum's press release

"The Portland Art Museum has announced the 2006 Oregon Biennial Juror Awards. The winners were selected by the Museum's curators based on the quality, intention, and presentation of the artists' work currently showing in the Biennial exhibition. The awards include cash prizes to encourage the continued creation of art and to help sustain the artists' careers.

Matthew Picton of Ashland, Ore., who received a prize of $1,000. Picton's large to-scale drawing and intricate cut-out of the cracks found in a Medford alleyway reflect the tension between man and nature and their effect on each other.

Pat Boas of Beaverton, Ore., received a prize of $500. The Biennial includes a series of Boas's highly detailed drawings of imaginary reptilian forms. Her work revolves around observation of signs and means of communication.

David Eckard of Portland, Ore., received a prize of $500. Eckard is known for his welded-metal sculptural forms and recent engagement with performance art. Eckard's latest sculptural performance can be seen as part of PICA's TBA festival.

About the Biennial
Juried and curated by Jennifer A. Gately, the Arlene & Harold Schnitzer Curator of Northwest Art, the Biennial surveys trends and directions in contemporary art in Oregon. This year's exhibition showcases a spectrum of contemporary artwork including painting, photography, video, digital media, installation, performance, sculpture, and drawing. The exhibition runs through October 8."

All good picks who were way overdue for recognition...(PS Jesse Hayward and I will be on KBOO radio Thursday at 10:30 AM to discuss the biennial)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 22, 2006 at 15:11 | Comments (0)

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Blogging the process

Biennial artist David Eckard is blogging his latest project "Float", which will be part of the upcoming TBA festival. The thing looks like a collision between a Survivor set piece and a county fair ride... It might need a more formal PT Barnum-esque feel to come off properly.

Anyways, blogs are a great way to publicly disseminate the process part of being an artist and it's also rather savvy of PNCA to have their profs blogging. I hear PNCA's enrollment is way way up too. Portland's higher profile in the blogosphere can't be hurting.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 22, 2006 at 10:11 | Comments (0)

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Monday 08.21.06

Surf's up on charisma?

Here are some of the better recent art bits involving charisma out there:

The sarcastically charismatic Joe Queenan writes about Ron English in the Guardian.

Donald Kuspit's Girodet piece on Art Net raised my appreciation for the artist and his use of "charisma" but I'll still take David any day. This kind of pandering still makes me queezy.

This thread on Art Dish about Portland's proliferation of art radio and its various cults of personality is interesting for its discussion of things that Portlanders' take for granted (and sometime bemoan). Cults of personality only have meaning when serious ideas are behind them, then act as advertised or better yet, exceed expectations... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 21, 2006 at 11:40 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 08.16.06

Gragg's Slag

Dangerous Chunky responds to the infinitely curmudgeonly Randy Gragg pretending to be Portland here. It was started by this, Randy's latest stab at labeling Portland a village in the Stranger.

Let's get this straight Randy, Portland is a city. It just isnt one with an imperial sensibility and besides a city is defined more by its people than its skyline (I said something similar to this in my interview in Sunday's Oregonian, I wish they had printed that quote). Cities exist to do one thing and that is nurture, coordinate and expose talented individuals in close proximity to one another, the more active the better. Portland does that, so does Seattle and it's a ridiculous debate to indicate either one isn't a valid metropolis (Florence though less grand than Rome certainly was a city too, duh). But in the spirit of countering retrograde, practically moot ridiculousness Ill debate it, any time, any place... despite the fact that horse was dead years ago!

Update: Obviously Gragg's piece in the Stranger is a kind of double-edged series of backhanded compliments for both Seattle and Portland but that very odd article does make slightly more sense in light of his piece in the Oregonian today. Still, denyng Portland as a city is an outmoded crutch, besides the Oregonian's own Spencer Heinz argument about duck-transportation makes a rather hilarious case here with this quote,"Any speculation that Portland is not a major-league town collapses now that duck-themed rides have arrived." Nothing better than a silly assertion to counter another silly statement.

Brian Libby over at Portland Architecture has picked up a much more productive argument. Words like affordable and experimental should be used in Portland much more often... "Jean" & "Nouvel" aren't bad either.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 16, 2006 at 17:43 | Comments (1)

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Weekly Web Roundup

There are a lot of great resources for researching art and ideas online and around town. Academic, as well as public libraries hold an incredible supply of information in the greater Portland area. In addition, online resources grow daily and the ability to peruse through a catalog in New York or LA is incredibly easy. Please feel free share the resources that you know of by adding them to the list below in the comments that follow this entry...(more)

Posted by Melia Donovan on August 16, 2006 at 8:00 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 08.15.06

Last Chance

This week is your last chance to head down to Chinatown and see Wind Inside by Liz Harris at Motel. The gallery space proper is taken over by a pink and blue tape web, shifting the perception of the space. Accompanying the installation is a series of really nice works on paper where marks accumulate forming mass and structure. Hard fine lines of black pen intersect, jump and intertwine with gently ominous and organic spills of black iridescent ink. The black and white pieces play with optical perception where the close proximity of the multitudinous lines causes the drawings to “move” of their own accord.

Originally hailing from Northern California, Harris is a recent PDX transplant that I am sure we will see much more of.


Liz Harris, Wind Inside • Motel
Through August 19, 2006
19 NW 5th Avenue, Suite C • Portland, Oregon 97209
Located on NW Couch Street, between 5th & 6th Avenues

Posted by Jenene Nagy on August 15, 2006 at 15:11 | Comments (2)

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Sunday 08.13.06

O! Vey

There is a Q & A interview with me in The Oregonian today in reference to my new organization Organism (we updated the site significantly in the last week). The interview also has some bits about PORT as well. Yes, this will probably raise a few eyebrows, which is good. There has been a lot of talk in Portland and there has been an avalanche of press... and although talk is very cheap, it does help frame the civic discussion. With that in mind I'd love to hear what you have to say and if you want to continue the discussion privately I'd be happy to fill you in, you can email me your questions here.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 13, 2006 at 13:07

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Friday 08.11.06

Drop in if you are in the neighborhood?

Bruce Conkle's latest show, conveniently located in nearby Iceland?

If you just so happen to find yourself in Iceland this weekend Bruce Conkle will be gracing Reykjavik's Living Art Museum with his latest show, "Landscape and Assassination." It opens tomorrow. Bruce has been talking about JFK's assassination, whale blubber and alumninum smelting so prepare yourself. Also, I love that visit Iceland website which contains statements like, "Iceland is not only closer than you think..." Uh, no it isn't, it's actually really far from the US and that's part of the attraction... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 11, 2006 at 12:41 | Comments (4)

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Thursday 08.10.06

Weekly Web Roundup

Though it may have seemed that the recent question about those selected for the 8th Northwest Biennial in the comments area was sloughed off, it got me to thinking. Often the question of gender comes up when a list like this comes out. In an effort to allow ourselves to judge the quality of the work rather than the quantity of men vs. women, I thought I’d try to gather some visual information...(more)

Posted by Melia Donovan on August 10, 2006 at 22:08 | Comments (12)

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PAM acquires video art from Biennial

Still From Jo Jackson's History: the Complete Drawings

Surprise, the Portland Art Museum will acquire video art from the Oregon Biennial. Last night in a very close vote, 65 members of the museum's Contemporary Art Council (disclosure I am one of the Co-VP's) gave the nod to Jo Jackson's, "History: the Complete Drawings." Its an excellent piece, chronicling the birth and death of various nation states. It's 45 minutes long and is flash based. Curators, Bruce Guenther and Jennifer Gately seemed very excited about the acquisition and the technical challenges of maintaining the work when the computer that runs it needs to be replaced in 5 years or so. The council was very interested in the # of video works in the collection and this decision certainly adds to its holdings significantly.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 10, 2006 at 11:34 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 08.09.06

A sense of scale

image and thermogram from current Mt. St. Helens eruption

For those who might be taking the erupting volcano in Portland's backyard for granted, check this out (that's less than a month folks and the area is massive)... Richard Serra's got nothing on Mt. St. Helens, but who does?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 09, 2006 at 1:03 | Comments (1)

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Tuesday 08.08.06

9/11's effect on art?

Edward Winkleman has a great post on whether or how 9/11 positively and negatively effected art today, here.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 08, 2006 at 10:50 | Comments (0)

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Monday 08.07.06

Saturated Pasture

This is the final week to view Jenene Nagy’s Saturated Pasture at the Portland Building. Here she re-evaluates the constructed landscape and our relationship to it through the use of ordinary materials such as house paint, Styrofoam and painted nails in her installation in the second floor gallery.

Saturated Pasture by Jenene Nagy • The Portland Building
1120 SW 5th Avenue • 7a - 6p • Monday - Friday
Closes August 11

Posted by Melia Donovan on August 07, 2006 at 21:22 | Comments (0)

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8th Northwest Biennial at Tacoma Art Museum

8th Northwest Biennial at Tacoma Art Museum

The wait is over, the artists have been chosen. Out of 900 submissions (a 100% increase over previous biennial submissions), 41 artists were selected for the “visual impact of the images, the scope of each artist’s contributions, and the stage of the artist’s career.” ...(more)

Posted by Melia Donovan on August 07, 2006 at 20:50 | Comments (6)

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Sunday 08.06.06

inClover Report

unidentified bird of prey in Mt Scott Park Saturday August 5th

Ok it was a modified form of "art in a park" and on paper it sounded like a potentially terrible event, but it wasn't. Sure, some of the work was iffy but some was pretty good to excellent (Michael Keenan, Ellen George, Carolyn Zick, Harvest Henderson, Jacqueline Ehlis, Justin Oswald, TJ Norris+Abi Spring and a few others all had particularly strong works). Many had a lot of interesting references to Robert Smithson's work, utilizing a reflective/dislocating surface (Ehlis, TJ+Abi) and Harvest made a circle akin to the spiral jetty made of salad (with a name like "Harvest" it's unavoidable I guess). The fact that a couple of what I think were falcons (of the gyr variety? in Portland?) were hanging out in the park only made it... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 06, 2006 at 20:58 | Comments (3)

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Friday 08.04.06

Weekly Web Roundup

The 2006 Oregon Biennial


For this week’s Weekly Web Roundup the focus is on the 2006 Oregon Biennial. I haven’t been in to see it yet. Lame, I know, but I’m going on Saturday. So, with that, it seems to me that a collection of the reviews might be in order. Much like the discussion surrounding the artist statement, reading a review beforehand can have a similar effect. Will it taint the way one thinks about the work and the exhibition as a whole? Surely, they will call up issues that one might not have noticed going in cold.

Posted by Melia Donovan on August 04, 2006 at 10:56 | Comments (4)

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Avoiding tunnel vision

Of course, all of the art writing out there this week isn't about the Oregon Biennial (but Port will have some very substantial stuff for you soon), instead you can check out Brian Libby's piece on John Brodie in the O today.

Also, because its important not to have Oregon tunnel vision the Guardian has a bit on one of my favorite artists Olafur Elliason.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 04, 2006 at 10:02 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 08.02.06

Rhoades Tragedy

The art world is abuzz with the sad news that Jason Rhoades has died. Some wrongly allege this happened in Portland. Yes the new non profit I'm working on, Organism, was organizing a soiree with Rhoades for August 12th in Portland. Organism has a short statement on their site but the first place we saw anything "written" on it was art.blogging.la. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and loved ones.

Update:

The LA Times has a piece on Rhoades untimely death and points out a number of very important things (you will have to register). Rhoades was a West Coast artist with West Coast sensibilities. His all out assault on puritanical baggage is just one of his legacies, some of the others being his interest in religion, utopian ideas, putting a cosmopolitan sensibility over political correctness and generally making art that wasn't so easily comodified. Where others sought mostly to please, Rhoades would challenge by riding every fence imaginable. By all accounts he was very smart and an intense workaholic. He was really looking forward to the event in Portland and as the LAT mentions, some of the supplies (lube that approximates human bile, etc) that were to be used here will end up in a shrine in Joshua Tree. The curator for the event, Majorie Myers (a close personal friend of the artist) is grieving and as I mentioned before our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.

Myself, I considered him the most gifted of the recent deluge of artists who utilize inexpensive materials, a leader. He was one of the three main artists who I believe defined that recent trend, Sarah Sze and Rachel Harrison being the other two and he burst on the scene much earlier. Definitely, he's an artist in the lineage of... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 02, 2006 at 10:20 | Comments (3)

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Tuesday 08.01.06

Feedback Loops

We will have all sorts of interesting and useful news shortly. Including our 1st Thursday guide.

Till then lets read the Guardian who wonders why the British can't paint... which isn't true... journalists never try to to invent a crisis eh?

Tyler Green reports on how Elisabeth Sussman is helping to make the upcoming Gordon Matta Clark retrospective a success. Would love for this or the Andrea Zittel show to come through the Portland Art Museum. In fact, putting Zittel in the context of Clark is interesting brain fodder.

Also, just because its interesting Portland artist Scott Wayne Indiana reacts to the review of his piece in grey|area PORT published last week. Its true these publicly accessible feedback loops are an interesting part of the online revolution. There is a video piece in the Oregon biennial by Andrew Ellmacher & Mark Brandau that exploits a similar art discourse wank fest but there is something fresh about the call and response on the Internet and something so BFA thesis show about doing it as a video piece (granted Andrew and Mark were going for this, although maybe it simply accomplishes its aims all too easily in a Council of Trent, # of angels on the head of a pin way). Discourse is only its own reward only when it doesn't run on already well traveled rails. Complaining that there is nothing original left to do smacks of the fellow who wanted to close the US Patent Office over a hundred years ago because there was nothing new. Complaint art is often tedious but reacting to reviews always seems to bring out something honest or at least revealing.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 01, 2006 at 14:40 | Comments (9)

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Saturday 07.29.06

Weekly Web Round-up

It’ll have to be a mini round up this week as I’m happily stuck in the studio and can’t tear myself away for long. I’m neglecting everything and everyone and though it feels selfish on some level – I have a family to care for and the laundry is piling up – I'm really not feeling that bad......(more)

Posted by Melia Donovan on July 29, 2006 at 12:25 | Comments (0)

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Friday 07.28.06

Your Insider's Guide to the Oregon Biennial

Federico Nessi's Hero #1

The Oregon Biennial opens Saturday night. Here is your insider's guide:

(PORT brought you this Oregon Biennial list first)

As the curator Jennifer Gately states in her essay, " Those who track the scene here will find relatively few surprises." That probably means you PORT readers...(much more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 28, 2006 at 19:45 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 07.27.06

Organism launch event

Yes, the Organism launch is tonight at the Wonder Ballroom (tickets are $20 for day of). Small Sails opens at 8:00, then Pipilotti Rist's, "Im Not The Girl Who Misses Much" will be presented on two large backlit screens. It's a major piece and the work that brought her international stardom. Through the rock-n-roll sound system it should be quite the experience. Then evening will culminate with an all experimental set by Courtney Taylor-Taylor and other members of the Dandy Warhols. It will feature an intense 3 drummer rhythm section and some very cool visuals. Big Thank You's go out to New Deal Distillery, the Wonder Ballroom, KNRK for the free publicity and especially Court, the rest of the musicians and those who made it all happen. See you there, should be stunning. Look for a major update to the website too...

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 27, 2006 at 11:12 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 07.26.06

Get a Job

Great opportunity for the smart and savvy. And, it really isn't as far away as you think.
Full-time Temporary Photography Instructor for 2006/07 year.
Teaching responsibilities will include 18 contact hours of Digital Photography and Darkroom Photography. Other responsibilities will include overseeing darkroom and computer labs and supervising Lab Technician. (more...)

Posted by Jenene Nagy on July 26, 2006 at 17:11 | Comments (0)

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He Still has it after all these years

Tyler Green reports that Portland's own Allied Works Architecture has been shortlisted for the new Clyfford Still museum in Denver. Cloepfil and Co, will face some very steep competition from David Chipperfield (who makes austere...umm fun) and SANAA (who practices an elegant form of restraint) though.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 26, 2006 at 14:04 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 07.25.06

Tramming it up

In case you missed it when construction workers put up the tram tower, commissioner Sam's blog has some nice pics.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 25, 2006 at 11:50 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 07.23.06

The other Washington posts on the Oregon Biennial

It looks like the Oregon Biennial (which opens a week from now) will be getting some national hype this year... considering the recent travel article in the Washington Post. You will need to get a password etc... (ughh). Nothing new here but Portland's own lil Chandra Bocci (who makes Phoebe Washburn look sooo weak) gets some nice props and pics in it... that's fine, the news is out and Portland's oldish news is now fresh for the rest of the country.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 23, 2006 at 17:26 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 07.20.06

Weekly Web Round-up

Trash

When did trash become so cool? I ask you that question because as I write and edit this piece I am drinking wine out of a can – with a bendy straw.

Posted by Melia Donovan on July 20, 2006 at 22:06 | Comments (6)

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We Will Link You

We are waiting on confirmation for a number of cool news items regarding the Portland art scene but I wanted to point out we have added 2 more blog items to our links page:

Matt McCormick's Action Items (part of the fabulous Urban Honking family)... this is what happens when a noted documentary filmmaker has jury duty.

Rob Wilcox's Portland Or US Now... Rob used to be Bob, but now he's making the difficult transition to Rob-dom.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 20, 2006 at 17:12 | Comments (2)

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Wednesday 07.19.06

Organism Emerges

Details of (PORT's own) Jeff Jahn's latest curatorial concoction have begun to emerge. Organism's nascent aesthetic is one of hyperconnectivity and rampant lateral growth in which different genres and ideas freely intertwine, following the model of neurons forming new and unexpected synaptic connections. For instance, in it's launch event, it creates an interchange between Rock Stars like Courtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandy Warhols, and video art by Pipilotti Rist.

The launch is called Introducing Organism it is a fundraiser, kickoff and exhibit on July 27th at the Wonder Ballroom

(tickets are available at ticketmaster the wonder ballroom and by sending an email to organism:

Info@artorganism.org

Music will be provided by The Dandy Warhols along with Small Sails opening. There will be 1 piece of video art by Pipilotti Rist as well as more info on organism at the event. Tickets are $15 advance $20 day of, $40 VIP lounge (upstairs and includes two free vodka drinks, thanks to Portland's own New Deal Vodka).

Organism's website can be found at: www.artorganism.org

more details....

Posted by Isaac Peterson on July 19, 2006 at 6:13 | Comments (0)

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Monday 07.17.06

Portlanding about

It's been a busy week in Portland with a lot of visual arts coverage:

There was D.K's long article on Henk Pander in The O.

The Oregonian also had a Brian Libby review of Tim Dalbow and Michael Henzley's shows in the A&E.

John Motley reviewed the Portrait Show in the Mercury. For me Storm Tharp was the obvious master of the genre but Nat Andreini's air guitar video was a nice turn as well. It's a good show, everyone should seek it out if you missed it.

Richard Speer reviewed James' Boulton's latest in the WWEEK.

Also, yes I'm getting ready to launch Organism (with the help of a very talented and committed team). Tickets have been available since Friday for the launch event + video art screening even. There are a lot of stories coming out on it this week so I will play fair, besides PORT isn't just some PR vehicle for Organism. Still, be sure PORT will fill you in some more in the coming days... it's worth the wait.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 17, 2006 at 22:46 | Comments (3)

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Thursday 07.13.06

Cancel your plans! Art this weekend!

Friday and Saturday boast two offerings of note in Portland for art-o-philes and those that love them.

Posted by Melia Donovan on July 13, 2006 at 22:17 | Comments (0)

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The Metrop$20litan Museum

The Met is increasing its admissions price to $20, same as MoMA's dander raising fee. Carol Vogel broke the story in the NYT's and Tyler Green has been all over it, here and in general. In Portland the high admission fee is a big discussion point as well. Is this the long awaited that the massive super sizing museum building campaigns that started in the late 90's have wrought? Yes, the Met has expanded but not recently.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 13, 2006 at 12:16 | Comments (11)

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Monday 07.10.06

Weekly Web Roundup

Time once again for the Weekly Web Roundup....(more)

Posted by Melia Donovan on July 10, 2006 at 8:00 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 07.09.06

Matt McCormick in The New Tork Times

One of our favorite Portlanders, Matt McCormick got a nice writeup in The New York Times Friday for his piece in the Uncertain States of America Show (Portlanders have been getting a lot of coverage there lately and we also know Roberta really likes Portland's civics). Sure, Matt's "Subconscious Art Of Grafitti" removal is really old old news here (circa 2001). I wrote about it in Modern Painters back in early 2004 and Art Forum noted it before that, but more about Matt's work is always better, especially from Roberta Smith. The thing is his work holds up over time and as Matt so succinctly put it, "Go Team Portland!"

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 09, 2006 at 17:45 | Comments (0)

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Monday 07.03.06

Holiday reading

It's a busy holiday time but just in case you need a little more to read:

The latest Visual Codec is out and I penned a review (such archeic terms!) of Horia Boboia's recent show.

Also, Matt Stadler published this bit on his favorite painting at PAM. (While we are at it, my fave is Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's Fir Trees)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 03, 2006 at 17:04 | Comments (1)

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Friday 06.30.06

Local Perspective

Clifford Gleeson (far left), Milton Wilson (large center painting), anonymous sculpture (foreground)

Be certain to check out two significant historical shows that close this weekend. There's Hilda Morris's show of small sculpture and sumi ink drawings at Laura Russo Gallery and the excellent Milton Wilson and his peers at Pulliam Deffenbaugh to check out... (more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 30, 2006 at 12:25 | Comments (0)

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Free day at Portland Art Museum

The Portland Art Museum is open free of charge today and yes you can take advantage of it even if your day job keeps you occupied during office hours, the Museum is open till 8:00 PM on Thursdays and Fridays.

Besides the Hilda Morris and Great Painters in Bresca shows there are some things to really take note of at the Jubitz Center for Modern and Contemporary Art.

First of all be certain to check out the Richard Rezac show that PORT reported on earlier.

But the most exciting works are some of the pieces on loan. The show stopper is Mark Rothko's "Homage to Matisse" (lent by an anonymous donor) it's an essential work that needs to be included in any serious Rothko retrospective and the single most important artwork residing in the Pacific Northwest right now, yes it set an auction record for Rothko late last year.

Other highlights are an early Untitled Donald Judd lent by the Miller Meigs collection. It's absolutely extra nice with its vermilion red color and placement near an Agnes Martin.

Then there is the wonderful Hans Hofmann that really adds something to the Abstract Expressionist room.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 30, 2006 at 0:00 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 06.28.06

Think

This Fourth of July, Sam Gould and the members of Red76 present you with an opportunity to experience an auditory glimpse into the war in Iraq.  Entitled Bring the War Home, it is the closing project for a three-month residency the group held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Bring The War Home is a simple action set into motion to help remind Americans of the war in Iraq on the Fourth of July, and provoke discussion on the topic.  Utilizing audio and video soldiers have recorded, Red76 has created a sound collage formatted into a downloadable MP3.  Download this MP3 and play it outdoors as you feast on your hotdogs and down your PBRs.  Remind yourself and your neighbors what those fireworks are all about.

As an art group with sometimes changing members, Red76 seeks to create installations, performances and events that constantly point to the outside world, creating “an atmosphere wherein the public may become hyper aware of their surroundings and their day-to-day activities”.  Established in 2000, Red76 have produced projects locally, nationally, and internationally. To learn more about Red76 and their latest project, click here.

Posted by Jenene Nagy on June 28, 2006 at 21:28 | Comments (0)

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Weekly Web Round-up

Courtesy of Michael John Muuss

The heat of summer is clearly in Portland and so begins the slowing of the art season. That must be why I can’t seem to find much of interest for this week’s Weekly Web Round-up. I've got a couple of articles and a couple of activities for you to do while enjoying the lowered temperatures to come.

Posted by Melia Donovan on June 28, 2006 at 9:56 | Comments (3)

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Thursday 06.22.06

Getting Tiki with it

a cool Tiki mug

Yes, PORT will have some pretty hefty content for you on Monday night (Matthew Day Jackson) but until then here is some weekend fodder to sacrifice to the volcano god:

Portland's TIKI-KON starts on Friday, click here for details. If you love kitschy pseudo Polynesian culture and strong silly drinks this is for you. Apparently they will be taking a big tour of Portland's best private Tiki bars on Sunday. The main event though is Saturday which starts at the Jupiter Hotel, features a School of Rum bus and of a tour of Portland's public Tiki bars. There's even a sneak peek of the soon to open Thatch bar. Go and appease the volcano gods!...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 22, 2006 at 22:43 | Comments (0)

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Weekly Web Round-up

Courtesy of Michael John Muuss

Welcome to the first installment of the Weekly Web Roundup (name to change when I can think of a catchier title-any suggestions?). The plan is to post links to articles, shows and websites that are either related to Portland’s art scene, completely ridiculous or both. All I ask in return is for you to write me (melia@portlandart.net) whenever you’ve found something, written something-or had something written about you or others related to the arts in Portland that's linkable. If it's unrelated but funny, it'll probably make it to the list too....(more)

Posted by Melia Donovan on June 22, 2006 at 8:00 | Comments (3)

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Wednesday 06.21.06

One Minute Film Fest @ Holocene

This Thursday night, the very trendy but actually quite cool Holocene is hosting the third annual One Minute Film Festival put on by Telegraph.  As one of the younger art non-profits in town, Telegraph strives to link artists of different mediums together and to connect these artists with an audience.  This year’s film fest features work by Ryan Jeffrey, whose evocative film was shown at PDX in May, Matt McCormick, and Jeremy Bird, among many others.  The thread to all the films is that they are only 60 seconds long, so if you decide that one might not be your cup of tea, the pain will end quickly.  

One Minute Film Festival • Thursday June 22 • 9pm
Holocene • 1001 SE Morrison
$4-$10 sliding scale

Posted by Jenene Nagy on June 21, 2006 at 22:18 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 06.18.06

Tram a-lamma ding dong

*Update, The tram is now complete


The beginnings of the aerial tram's middle tower as seen from the east

The 20 story tall middle tower for the innovative and uber controversial aerial tram by AGPS architects is finally rising right next to I-5. Apart from being an impressive engineering feat it certainly does look good in its aluminum skin (yes some would rather have a log ride).

Look, I like the project... it's the first bit of really innovative architecture to rise in Portland in decades and considering how many design jobs exist in this city it may be the first real outward symbol of the sea change taking place here (sophistication wise), besides the art scene. An armada of condos alone do not make for sophisticated citzenry and Portland is learning to not hide its strengths to the outside world anymore...(more)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 18, 2006 at 23:23 | Comments (16)

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Saturday 06.17.06

The Winner of PORT's 1st Annual Pretentious Art Writing Contest

The oppressive humor archetype

The pop-art (yet neo-minimalist) etchings of Ziggy and Family Circus, both liegemen to the Lichtensteinian legacy, question their own raison d'etre. Are they visual tropes? Are they self-conscious (self-mocking/self-loathing) po-mo nombrilisme? Or are they simply (and solely) stochastic snapshots sans lexical basis? The Family Circus series can best be examined as artistic interventions against the oppressive humor archetype, whereas the unappealingly desperate musings of Cathy Guisewite's eponymous series are truly indebted to Jenny Holzer’s oeuvre. Or, as Baudrillard and Guillaume so succinctly state, “What is produced with the romantic turn…is…the…play of…masculine hysteria…of …sexual paradigms that once again must be reinserted in the more general and universal context of a change in the paradigms of otherness.”[1]
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[1] Jean Baudrillard and Marc Guillaume, Figures de l'alterite. Paris: Descartes et Cie., 1994.


Submitted by Ethan Ham, who recieved a $50 Le Happy gift certificate for this fantastic abuse of thought and words. Thank you to everyone who submitted and to Le Happy, makers of the Le Trash Blanc crepe for their fantastic generosity and food.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 17, 2006 at 22:07 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 06.14.06

Turner Short List Announced

Tate has announced the four artists who have been short-listed for the often controversial Turner Prize 2006. The artists are Tomma Abts, Phil Collins, Mark Titchner and Rebecca Warren. The Prize, established in 1984, is awarded to a British artist under fifty for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work in the twelve months preceding 9 May 2006. 
This year’s members of the jury include: (more)

Posted by Jenene Nagy on June 14, 2006 at 10:01 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 06.13.06

What works in Work/Live?

Commissioner Sam Adams is asking for your opinion about live/work space needs in Portland. You can take his survey and/or leave your opinion on his Blog about what exactly a live/work space is now, it’s relevance for Portland artists and how you would utilize one.

Posted by Melia Donovan on June 13, 2006 at 14:28 | Comments (0)

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Friday 06.09.06

Richard Rezac

Saturday, the Portland Art Museum will play host to sculptor Richard Rezac’s work for a second time. The museum’s 1985 Oregon Artists Biennial debuted Mr. Rezac’s work 11 years after graduating from PNCA’s BFA program. Twenty-one years later, he is back with a selection of sculptures and drawings from 1998-2005...(more)

Posted by Melia Donovan on June 09, 2006 at 8:00 | Comments (3)

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Tuesday 06.06.06

Affair In the Air

Well, folks, its confirmed.  The 3rd Affair at the Jupiter Hotel art fair will be held on Sept 29-Oct.1, 2006.
This influential event (the Aqua in Miami has since been modeled after the Affair) should prove to be even more extensive in representing a larger slice of the national scene.  With less emphasis on Portland galleries than we have seen in the past, this year’s affair includes notables such as Modern Culture, Lemon Sky, and Saltworks.
Co-Organizers Laurel Gitlen and Stuart Horodner surely know how to get the numbers out (over 3000 visitors last year) but what remains to be seen is how much of that traffic relates to actual sales.    In any case, it’s a great event to sample galleries from out of town and to make some connections. 

This year’s special events include

more...

Posted by Jenene Nagy on June 06, 2006 at 8:26 | Comments (4)

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Monday 06.05.06

Seeing the Oregonian for what it is

Look we give them a tough time occasionally but the Oregonian does provide a startling amount of visual arts coverage like today's review of TJ Norris' Grey|Area show. Yes, it is more descriptive than an intellectual mediation on the specific details of sublimely liminal, less than colorful work, but it does get the main points about the curator and the one artist's work which just doesn't quite cut it. Most newspapers for a city of 2.1 million metro don't come close to this and if you want depth... there is a reason PORT exists. There is a place for generalist publications and a place for insider concerns.

Also, DK published his second best bit of writing to date with his expose on the Portland Art Center last week (his best was the retirement piece on PAM's beloved Donald Jenkins). He's tough on PAC but patient, pointing out their inconsistencies while slyly making important points about the inconsistencies of other art organizations as well. I do have concerns about whether programming by committee is a good idea though?

Portland has to be tough on its arts organizations because nearly all are still either nascent or only just recently finding their strides. The city is under served but that is exciting (for the time bieng).

The O even has Brian Libby of Portland Architecture freelancing.

So why all the visual arts coverage? Because Portland's changes in identity and sophistication are some of the most rapid I've seen in any US city and the visual arts are the single best gauge of that shift.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 05, 2006 at 0:00 | Comments (3)

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Thursday 06.01.06

Introducing Melia Donovan: I Don't Take Vacations - I Just Move To Interesting Places

Though art making can be considered an interior and self-centered endeavor, I have always enjoyed countering that aspect of production with activities that enable a dialogue outside of the studio, in the larger community, to flourish. For that reason, I am very excited to join PORT as the new Announcements and News writer. I am a recent citizen of Oregon and if what I've read and experienced is true, the only native in the state is my friend Ramona in Hood River. The massive influx of people from all over the world, really, necessitates a forum for navigating, organizing and rallying the arts community. PORT has certainly permitted me access to dialogue and information in a scant amount of time - I moved into my house in January of this year. I can only hope to help do more of the same.

Here's a little background about myself...

Posted by Melia Donovan on June 01, 2006 at 0:05 | Comments (1)

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Introducing Jenene Nagy: Better Every Year

I am addicted to art. I make it, I curate it, I teach it and now, I write about it. I feel honored to live in a city with such a rich and vital arts community where students, emerging artists, and international players all breathe the same air. My interest in working for PORT as a opportunities and announcements writer is two-fold, both reasons self-serving. I want to be connected, to be in the art world trenches. I want to be a vehicle that helps distribute information and share that information with as many people as I can reach. Secondly, I want to learn. Writing, criticism, community, movable type, I want to know more. I want to grow. I want to get better every year.

Posted by Jenene Nagy on June 01, 2006 at 0:00 | Comments (1)

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PORT is 1.... and expanding

Yes, today is PORT's first birthday and we are proud to announce two new additions to our staff. From the outset PORT has been a successful experiment in evolving the blog format into a serious visual art forum, one that could provide the expertise that the subject deserves but is quite rare in more generalist publications. Big thanks go out to our sponsors who have made PORT possible.

It's true, when first conceiving of PORT we didn't realize we were creating a daily publication, but that is what it has become. The need for daily coverage is partially due to the ever expanding art scene activity in Portland as well as the increased interest from elsewhere in our local affairs. So yes, PORT is a local publication with an international reach. In fact, PORT's readership has constantly increased with a rise of over 17% in individual readers last month alone. With this explosion in Portland art scene activity and an ever expanding readership it became necessary to expand our writing staff (instead of creating our own brand of gin) and we are pleased to announce that Melia Donovan (news and announcements) and Jenene Nagy (artist opportunities and announcements) are joining us. We were fortunate to have such a highly qualified and competitive pool of applicants to choose from but Melia and Jenene both stood out. Stay tuned for details on our our 1 year birthday party in the next 2 weeks.

They will both be introducing themselves here shortly,

-The Management

Jeff & Jenn

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 01, 2006 at 0:00 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 05.30.06

Fletcher in the city

Local boy, Harrell Fletcher received a nice review from Jerry Saltz for his recent show at White Columns, read it on Artnet here. I think Harrell started down this path with his scar project. I'm also glad that Thomas Hirschhorn is wearing thin with other critics like Saltz as well.... for the longest time he seemed like the only artist critical of current events and I dug it, now he's becoming a parody. That's the danger of political art and I still miss Leon Golub, nobody did it better.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 30, 2006 at 22:38 | Comments (4)

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Saturday 05.27.06

Last Weekend for you to PMU

Just a reminder Sunday May 28th is the last day to see Roxy Paine's excellent PMU exhibition at the Portland Art Museum.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 27, 2006 at 12:06 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 05.21.06

Thinking about the next I-5 bridge

The soon to open Ravenel Bridge in Charleston South Carolina

Well, even though I'm ensconced in a foofy hotel somewhere in the Midwest I'm still thinking about my home in Portland Oregon. What do I think about most? Well it isn't the aerial tram or even the art scene, it's the eventual design for the new I-5 bridge across the mighty Columbia River.

For me bridges are the most interesting of architectural projects and although the finished bridge is 10 years away I suspect it will be a cable stayed design like Sir Norman Foster's Millau Viaduct. Why? because it will allow for great views, completely unlike the current truss bridge. The latest cable stayed bridge design to catch my eye is the Ravenel Bridge in Charleston South Carolina. It's fine but I'm unimpressed with how anonymous the cable stayed designs like; the Ravenel, Millau or the Sunshine Skyway bridge in Tampa Florida tend to be. Frankly, I love the fact that Portland's excellent Fremont Bridge design (and PORT's logo inspiration) came from the massive public outcry that the less than stellar Marquam Bridge design produced, let's demand something innovative and distinctive again. Still, our project will be much more demanding as rail will need to be incorporated as well? ...2 decks with a bottom one for rail freight?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 21, 2006 at 22:59 | Comments (1)

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Friday 05.19.06

The next wave

Ok, now everyone is moving to Portland and this new wave seems to have some art business savvy, it isn't just artists anymore. Lately, there has been a mass exodus from Brooklyn too (this is more than the already steady stream we have experienced for the last 6 years).

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 19, 2006 at 8:49 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 05.09.06

some things

PORT will have lots of pictures and critical content coming at you shortly but until then, here are some things to sink your teeth into on the rest of the web:


Detail of a Matthew Picton

Matthew Picton (who is in the upcoming 2006 Oregon Biennial) received a good review for his show at Howard House from the Seattle Weekly. Even Jim Demetre likes him better than Maya Lin, which isn't quite fair to Lin. Being the most sucessful public landscape artist on the planet (aka Lin) requires that there be less emphasis on detailed visual fascination and conceptual rigor than Picton's work does (as an indoor gallery artist). Public art succeeds when its visual clarity allows the context of history and landscape to assert itself over the visual or even conceptual content. Another note, I pointed a serious Portland collector to Picton's Seattle gallery because he has lacked representation in Portland since September, hint... Also why do most of the more nationally known/experienced artists living in Oregon not have Portland galleries?

Along similar lines to both Picton and Lin there is this story in the NYT's. In it Josiah McElheny tries to meld modernist design and the early moments of the universe into a single object. By combining two parallel universes into one space the worlds of aesthetic history and astrophysics take on an uneasy visual vibration. This synchretic melding of science and aesthetics is a big part of the trope that McElheny, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle and Picton are pursuing. No this genre isn't touchy feelly, its clinical but it is a major emerging trend in the 21st century, artists reclaiming science as an aesthetic yet systematic force.

Last but not least, noted Portland filmmaker Matt McCormick now has a great looking blog and he's into ghost towns (I love them too). Oregon has a large # of ghost towns.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 09, 2006 at 21:29 | Comments (8)

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Sunday 05.07.06

The "School of Nan" Curtis era comes to an end at PNCA

For months, those in the know have suspected that Nan Curtis might be altering her relationship with PNCA as director and curator of the Feldman Gallery as well as the chair of the sculpture department. Now it's official and it has been announced to faculty and students that she will be stepping down in those roles to pursue her own art. Savvy, sharp and capable of willing important exhibitions into reality, she will be greatly missed. Nan has been THE life force of PNCA's exhibitions program culminating with her Troca Brasil show last fall, it featured Ernesto Neto and Laura Lima's tarted up chickens. Other highlights of her curatorial tenure have been Charles Goldman and Heidi Cody's pop alphabets.

Who might replace her? One obvious choice is PNCA alumnus and sometimes curatorial collaborator Cris Moss. Maybe PNCA will search for outside talent?

Back to Curtis, her effects on students have been equally important and I once referred to it as the School of Nan. Please feel free to leave comments here. Let's wish her success on her new focus as well as remind her of all the positive impact she has had on the Portland's contemporary art community. Nan Curtis has been and will continue to be one its foremost pioneers.

*Update, we broke the story yesterday but the O chimes in today... with the additional (much whispered about) and very important announcement that PNCA will inaugurate a MFA program in 2007. Finally, this city with over 10,000+ artists will have 2 MFA programs (Portland State has the other). Portland is growing up and Nan has laid a great deal of the groundwork, take a bow.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 07, 2006 at 18:21 | Comments (5)

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Wednesday 05.03.06

Another Arts Building? In the Pearl?

Tonight is the first of two public meetings about the fate of the Centennial Mills building on the edge of the Pearl. Patricia Gardner is pushing to rehabilitate this aging edifice into a giant arts building. Come by the forum tonight to learn more and give feedback.
Centennial Mills Framework Plan Public Meeting
Wednesday, May 3rd • 6:30 to 9:30p
PDC Conference Room • 222 NW 5th Ave

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on May 03, 2006 at 9:35 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 05.02.06

There is more stuff... always more stuff

Art of Geography has produced a pretty darn good map of the Pearl District, an invaluable online tool for those who want to know where to look at art and dine out in the Pearl District. That's pretty much Portland in a nutshell: lots of galleries and even more fine dining for the hoard of food-ees here. Maybe throw in a few thousand coffee shops, tons of small fashion boutiques and some great book stores... then you've got Portland.

Also, the latest Visual Codec is out.

Then there is this article on group critiques that MAN pointed out. All young Portland artists should read it.

Last but not least, TJ Norris takes on the the dark art of curating and his upcoming curatorial effort this June at Guestroom Gallery looks real good too. I remember being irked years ago when Randy Gragg told me I was the only independent seriously interested in curation in town. Both annoyed and flattered my counter was instantly, "but what about TJ." There were others too like, Matt Fleck, Muriel Bartol and Michael Oman-Reagan, Jacqueline Ehlis... even the ever mysterious Todd Johnson. Now there is a whole new crop of youngsters like Jenene Nagy, Josh Arseneau, Jesse Hayward and Mark Brandau... not to mention all the new gallerists who necessarily must take on that role.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on May 02, 2006 at 19:03 | Comments (1)

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Sunday 04.30.06

Around the Web: PAM Directorship, Hilda Morris and Judd Auction

Donald Judd (1928-1994) Untitled, 1989 from Christies upcoming auction

Things have been busy in Portland and we've been behind on pointing to other publication's good efforts, here are a couple of important things to check out if you havn't already:

Although we give him hell about some arty but intellectually relevant concerns that his editors might not allow him to address, D.K. Row had a little bit on the progress the Portland Art Museum is making on a new director in the Oregonian's A&E. Nothing conclusive here but he reports PAM seems to be getting closer with the potential for an announcement in July. I'd urge caution on anything that early as museum directors are in very short supply and anyone shortlisted will probably be on other museum's radar's too. The advantage we have though is PAM has its building campaign done and a bigger endowment than the Guggenheim. Factor in that the museum is in a rapidly changing and truly unique city as well and it looks pretty good. Also, Portland very attractive these days as a whole new boatload of former New Yorkers (young and old) seemed to have just moved here in the last 6 months. It's an art city in the works.

Still, Portland requires certain traits to get anything done. For starters the job requires the right combination of relentless energy, stronger art savvy than we have been accustomed to in that position recently... as well as an understanding that Portland is in a magic moment of emerging cultural sophistication whose expression is ultimately highly influenced by its cultural leaders. The city deserves the right leader for its premier cultural organization. The museum's next director actually will help shape Portland's identity, for better or worse. I will add that the search committees did listen to a lot of voices before they even decided which headhunters to use, which bodes well as long as they see a need for more balance in the museum's programming. This means major contemporary retrospectives like Rauschenberg, Tuttle or even Andrea Zittel need to come here. Donald Judd would be a dream come true in a city with so many design firms.

Hopefully, the eventual appointment of a cultural leader (maybe without glaring weaknesses this time) will have a ripple effect on other organization? In the same article D.K. also reports a smidge on PICA's visual arts segment of TBA, including their announcement of artist Matthew Day Jackson. He's a super nice guy from the Pacific Northwest whom I met at Greater New York in 2005 (I have more reservations about his work though... is he just milking the Brooklyn fetish of the woods, puns and barbarians?). He was also part of the latest and altogether stillborn Whitney Biennial. Still, on his home turf I suspect he will go beyond just incorporating trees and Viking motifs, this isn't New York and using such materials in the Pacific Northwest asks that the ante be upped, he knows the trees are bigger here and we see em all the time.


Hilda Morris, Sea Drum, 1962-64.
Cement and pigment over metal. Private collection.

Also D.K. Row's editor, Barry Johnson, reported on the Hilda Morris retrospective in today's Oregonian. It's a lively, Jed Perl-esque jaunt about Hilda Morris and adds all sorts of human interest tidbits that one often finds in newspapers. One important note though, Morris was an abstract expressionist sculptor, and there are very few of them that were of any note. Hilda Morris might not be David Smith but she's better than most of the others and instead of constantly pairing her with her husband (who's a fine artist but not of Hilda's caliber... the words whispered by most everyone at the opening) let's make certain we get to see her alongside Clyfford Still and Rothko like we do at PAM's Jubitz center in more national shows. Her work can be found all over the East Coast too (her career wasn't just Portland and Seattle).

Also, in case you've been under a rock you know there is a Donald Judd retro-er-um-auction-exihibition going on in New York till May 9th and The New York Times and the VVoice are catching up to Tyler Green's reporting here; 1, 2, 3 , 4. Look, Donald Judd is the most important artist to emerge after Warhol because in many ways he proved that overwhelming integrity and massive ambition could still yield results in a mitigated age of co-opted options and sampled meta culture (which is great too but it isn't everything). We need that kind of kutzpah today and no Matthew Barney does not even come close.

Conveniently, Sarah Meigs (whose collection continues to impress me, not just for "the names" but in terms of quality) has a really great red Judd box (1962) on loan at PAM next to her Agnes Martin... it's much better than the Carl Andre in this context and to be fair it out classes everything nearby in the room, including the Martin. Note some galleries in the Jubitz Center at PAM will be closed May 1-5th for repairs due to all the traffic. The center reopens May 6th but the 1st floor will remain closed through the 19th (the elevator will allow access to floors 2-4 which includes Roxy Paine's PMU and the killer Judd on display.)

Oh yeah and Ultra asked somebody some questions.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 30, 2006 at 21:37 | Comments (4)

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Sunday 04.23.06

Kate Fowle Lecture at PSU

Kate Fowle, current chair and one of the founders of CCA's four year old Curatorial Practice program, will be the next PSU Monday night lecture series guest. Fowle has worked as an independent curator on shows including 17 Reasons, co-curated by Jack Hanley in his San Francisco gallery in 2003. Trained in the UK, Fowle continues working between San Francisco and England through her London-based curatorial partnership, smith + fowle, co-founded in 1998 with Deborah Smith. Their collaborative projects include the recently published book To Be Continued>Contemporary Art Practice in Public Places and Shelf Life, an exhibition of thirteen artists at Gasworks in London (among the list was Will Rogan, who recently had a solo show at Small A Projects).

Monday, April 24 • 7 p
PSU 5th Avenue Cinema • 510 SW Hall St. Room 92 (on the corner of 5th & Hall)
Sponsored in part by PICA, PNCA, and Reed College

Posted by Katherine Bovee on April 23, 2006 at 9:44 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 04.18.06

To Dada or not to Dada, that is not the question?

Everyone should read Tyler Green's absolutely spot on post on Dada from yesterday. I'm glad somebody else gets pissed off that anything nonsensical is automatically justified as a descedent of Dada, despite the fact that it was a reaction to W.W.I. Plus this aspect of Dada has plenty of resonance today, we've still got wars and some artists and collectives are rebelling against bourgeois agendas.

The historical facts are it was an artistic reaction to perceived "bourgeois agendas" that many saw as the enablers of that incredibly bloody war. People actually thought it was going to be glorious (we've never heard that before eh?). Artist weren't immune to it either and great artists like Franz Marc and August Macke both died early on in the war.

No, Dada wasn't an excuse to party and it was subversive precisely because artists found the social contract between the individual and their so called civilization could no longer be trusted as mechanized warfare essentially became a factory of human attrition and misery. Ever wonder why there is so much machinery in Dada? There's your answer, modern warfare (not that the non modern kind was better). If you really want to get a little more familiarity with that war and its effect on artists psyches' get yourself a copy of The Lost Voices of World War I: An International Anthology of Writers, Poets and Playwrights by Tim Cross.

*Update here are five Portland artists and collectives who have some legitimate ties to Dada:


David Eckard & Podium at the Affair @ the Jupiter Hotel Art Fair 2004

David Eckard, whose kinky mechanical contraptions just keep getting... (read more)...

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 18, 2006 at 0:49 | Comments (5)

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Thursday 04.13.06

Guggen-time

Yoko Inoue at Contemporary Crafts this last March

Three of the recently announced Guggenheim fellowships have Portland ties. Of course the fantastic Roxy Paine has his PMU exhibit/production facility on view at PAM right now. Then there is Yoko Inoue, who recently completed an 11 day installation residency in Contemporary Crafts' largish window in March. Lastly, Lynne Tillman penned an essay for Core Sample way back in 2003. I was lucky enough to have dinner with both Inoue and Paine within 2 weeks time... two really nice, deserving people whose similar work ethic has paid off repeatedly. Congratulations!

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 13, 2006 at 0:05 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 04.11.06

Around the web but mostly in the backyard

There has been a lot of good local art coverage recently, and a dud that requires a slight rejoinder.

In the Mercury John Motley penned a nice review of the excellent: From Anxiety to Ecstasy: Themes in German Expressionist Prints show at PAM. This is probably the single strongest show Ive ever seen at the museum (runner ups are the Diane Arbus show last year or the Let's Entertain spectacle back in 2000).

Also, the Oregonian's DK Row interviewed Gregory Crewdson about his show at Reed's Cooley Gallery which opens tonight. Crewdson is kinda like Hans Hoffmann, more influential for his effects upon students like Justine Kurland who have surpassed him by being less contrived (Hollywood does that better).

Ok so it wasn't all good, yesterday's Fresh review in the O by DK "Death" Row had all sorts of intellectual holes. True, I agree with David that the show is underwhelming but it shouldn't be critiqued for lack of craft or youth vapidity (vapidity knows no age), much less the ability to draw the human figure. This is especially true since Fresh isn't a show of figurative draughtsmen, it's like critiquing his review for being a poorly executed tax return!


Bocci on the back wall of Fresh


Also, his charge that Chandra Bocci is just "saccharine" misses the point to make an argument unsupported by a simple read of the work. Sparkle Fallout far from being untitled (as Row reports) seems to point to the cost of electricity (the whole fallout with PGE and Enron anyone?) and how it fuels our consumer culture of desire and disposable consequences. Instead of an anime knockoff, this is multifaceted social critique that can be criticized for other reasons.

True Sparkle Fallout isn't her best work to date but had he bothered to note the title it would have been nice. I felt her piece in my Fresh Trouble show was more visually arresting and a forest fire of celebrity hair was a more than witty bonfire of the vanities in a time of hyper celebrity saturation. The works by Sean Healy and Brad Tucker are the strongest on view here. In the coming days expect PORT to publish a review that may or may not be as forgiving of this not exactly stellar show, but trust dear readers any dismissals will be relevant. Also, pay attention to the Oregonian's letters to the editor, a local arts writer (not affiliated with PORT) has made a pithy response. Will they dare publish it?

For some non-Portland related art news check out this interesting Artnet article on Presentation Paintings. Portland's own Jacqueline Ehlis and other Dave Hickey alumni like Yek or Europe's Katherina Grosse all could have made this survey much stronger. To flesh out the theme, others like Karin Davie, Jennifer Steinkamp (to add video), Ingrid Calame, Francis Celentano, Jaq Chartier and James Boulton all relevant too. Other relevant Portland notables here are Michael Knutson, Tom Cramer, Eva Lake and Brendan Clenaghen.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 11, 2006 at 0:35 | Comments (3)

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Thursday 04.06.06

Mayor Potter's First Thursday Symposium

Below I've listed the announcement for Mayor Potter's community symposium on the future and importance of the arts community in Portland. This event frames an important dialogue, however, there is one glaringly obvious criticism. From 5-7 pm on the first real spring first thursday, none of the essential participants in the visual arts community will miss prime gallery hours for a bureaucratic brainstorming session. This sounds like an invitation to an important dialogue, but not much consideration was given to the visual arts community in planning the event. Note there is a comment section and survey on the web-site.

VisionPDX, Mayor Potter's new community vision project, will host an open house at City Hall, 1221 SW 4th, on April 6th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The goal of VisionPDX is to create a vision for Portland for the next 30 years and beyond, and provides an opportunity for people from all over Portland to share their hopes and ideas for the future. Please come and lend YOUR vision for a strong arts community in the City of Portland. This special event will feature performances by BroadArts Theater and WellArts Theatre, and refreshments will be provided. Arts advocates can also sign up to host a visioning meeting with their friends and neighbors.

The more VisionPDX hears about the arts, the more likelihood that the arts will be included in our city's vision!

More information on VisionPDX can be found at: www.portlandonline.com/mayor/vision or call 503.823.5415, or email plvision@ci.portland.or.us.

Posted by Isaac Peterson on April 06, 2006 at 1:08 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 04.05.06

Live to Work? ... artists Work to Live

The Willamette Week published a completely interesting article by Zach Dundas today on a potential solution to the critical creative live/work space issue in Portland here. It's an important follow-up to his early reporting on the issue here.

A synopsis, developer Brad Malsin of BEAM and Works Partnership Architecture have come up with a plan to build spartan, concrete box rental live/work lofts that would go for around $500 a month in the Central Eastside Arts District. This would be a huge boon since Portland is swarming with literally thousands upon thousands of artists, crafters and entrepreneurs who are currently using their ill equipped living spaces as studios illegally. This would be so much better, although owning a place is ultimately the way you want to go (some of the 30+ crowd have bought places in the NE as well as on North Mississippi and North Interstate recently). The secret apparently is WPA's plan for communal bathrooms and IKEA kitchenettes. Its true, most artists care less about doors and finished rooms than raw, impressionable space.

I found it particularly interesting when one of the architects, Carrie Shilling stated, "Your making it less enticing in a way....That can be tough for some developers to think about because you're willfully restricting your profit if you build one."

So what about the developer? Brad Malsin was the underdog developer who wasn't completely awarded the very important Burnside bridgehead redevelopment even though he had the best and most popular plan by far. I've also worked with him, he made my The Best Coast warehouse show possible by providing the space. He understood the collateral/catalytic effects that having 31 artists and a few thousand art lovers might have on his property, and to use his words at the time, "just trying to do the right thing for the community by doing something cool." Later, clarklewis... the best restaurant north of San Francisco opened up downstairs with a similar urban, spartan chic. I'm pretty sure Brad understands, he's from New York and saw how pure greed lead to less than ideal communities. I'll repeat my mantra, more growth is coming to Portland and instead of ignoring it, the city should encourage the kind of initiative and intelligent sensitivity this kind of project displays. Change will continue and it's best for everyone here that it be directed intelligently.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 05, 2006 at 18:57 | Comments (0)

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Monday 04.03.06

Around the web... now with Voltron references

Voltron

There are a few things to take note out there right now and I think the Berlin Biennial, having been curated by artists and not curators curating artists to curate artists was a great plan. Check out Adrian Searle's review in the Guardian here. Artists usually don't think linearly, and the good ones don't make too many decisions out of fear. Many professional curators do when faced with a survey show and that's why I think this Berlin Biennial is making the right sort of waves. Kara Walker did a similar thing at the Metropolitan, read Roberta Smith's take in the NYT's. Trying to please too many masters or making too many second guesses makes for dull, intellectually stewed shows (i.e. mushy with no hard edges).

Also, the latest Visual Codec (the online monthly visual arts magazine designed to enhance communication between Vancouver, Seattle and Portland's scenes) is out now. People from outside the region might not realize that the British Columbia, Washington and Oregon corridor is a kind of burgeoning I-5 international art zone and lately everyone has gotten a lot more connected. Some call the region Cascadia (Transylvainia was already taken) and the three territories have a lot in common but different. Vancouver is in many ways the most "inward" psychologically but not as an international gateway to Asia. Seattle creates some very organized work but is easilly the most sarcastic city in North America (billioniares and Kelsey Grammer's connection have that effect). Portland is "much more floral color wise with this profusive energy" (according to the late Linda Farris). I took that to mean less inward and somewhat more iconoclastic...probably due to the fact that the city is reawakening to its ambitions with a vengeance. It's all good and I suspect we may try to combine all three cities into one giant Voltron like robot sometime in the future. I penned this article on PDA for the latest issue.

April also marks my last month of doing the Critical i articles for NWdrizzle magazine. Lets just say "i" have a lot of gigs both online and off-line that require my attention, change is inevitable. My complete archives for the last 5 years can be found here. Also, April 1 was my 7 year anniversary of living in Portland, it just keeps getting more interesting and its gratifying to know that all this is actually having some kind of effect. There has been a proliferation of voices lately and it's especially nice that some of them are so thoughtful.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on April 03, 2006 at 0:42 | Comments (0)

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Friday 03.31.06

Free Day at Portland Art Museum

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's Dancers (1909) woodcut
(c) by Ingeborg & Dr. Wolfgang Henze-Ketterer, Wichtrach/Bern.

Not only has the Portland Art Museum snuck in a minor redesign of their website's front page (the old one was just terrible and so so creme brulee) they are open free of charge today , thanks to the generous support of the Lamb Baldwin Foundation and the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund. Hours 10 AM - 8:00 PM

I particularly like roaming the museum at night and you run into a lot of interesting people during those hours. For me nothing is better than taking in a good Anne Truitt, a Dan Flavin and the only Schnabel I have ever liked before a movie at the NW film center or Fox Theater (disclosure I am a board member of the Museum's Contemporary Art Council).

Definitely check out shows like Roxy Paine's PMU. It's a brilliant work from a few years ago that complicates notions of artistic production, authorship and notions of control vs. serendipity. Basically the artist built a machine which makes paintings according to the algorithms he programed into it. It's a very theatrical even funny process when running (like those plastic animal mold machines at zoos) and very stark and minimalist when it isn't.

Also check out what I consider to be the single best show I've ever seen at the Museum, From Anxiety to Ecstasy: Themes in German Expressionist Prints at the Gilkey Center. Now prints are often considered second tier to paintings for a reason but German expressionist prints are in a class all their own. The German Expressionists often used medieval woodblock printing and stark imagery to address the existential condition before anyone had even named it existentialism yet. Using the medieval to address the industrialized world has never been so successful done. It's still very edgy by today's standards and their social commentary really holds up with a beguiling mix of ugliness, exoticism, death and frustration. Just check out the names; George Grosz, Edvard Munch, Otto Meuller, Franz Marc, Max Pechstein, Erich Heckel and the best of the bunch, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. Note, if you are a serious graphic designer you really shouldn't miss this.

This show was culled mostly from the permanent collection and PAM has unexpected strength here due to the late Gordon Gilkey's role in recovering stolen art in post WWII Germany.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 31, 2006 at 0:00 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 03.29.06

Building to something

I came across this article of interest on Arts Journal, a developer is precollecting art for condo buyers in Toronto. In most ways it sounds horrible, especially if the developer doesn't have much of an eye but there is something interesting about it supporting the local art ecosystem.

Also, Brian Libby at Portland Architecture chimes in on Randy Gragg's take on the tram in the O. I've written on this before and how 15 million was a very unrealistic figure, but Gragg's point about the city of Portland's credibility being on the line with this public/private partnership is right on. Portland's biggest problem has always been one of follow through and the tram is highlighting the political grandstanding on all sides. It will get done but a reality check like Gragg's needed to be made. All interesting architecture creates debate and its looking like the tram fits the profile. It is kinda refreshing!

Last but not least the NTY's recently ran a story on local luminary, Brad Cloepfil's museum at One Columbus Circle in NYNY. There are some nice photos too, but there are more on Allied Works site.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 29, 2006 at 1:00 | Comments (2)

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Wednesday 03.22.06

Around the web

It's been a busy week in local art news with the Biennial announcement, and both the Oregonian and WWEEK have chimed in ... even Artnet took notice. Expectations are high and there is a lot of pressure on Gately (welcome to Portland). Hmmmm might she have more room to work with than just the Collins gallery too, hmmmmm? (that will help with 34 artists) Also, it is nice that the WWEEK has decided to start regularly publishing art content again. It's bad for everyone in Portland when the WWEEK cedes the main cultural discussion in town to the O and it is good they are back in the game.

Elsewhere, it has seemed like blogs vs dead tree crit fest with Jerry Saltz blasting the New Yorker on MAN and Art.Blogging.LA educating Art on Paper about the nature of blogs. Also, chiming in on the Saltzflattening of the New Yorker, Todd Gibson makes a very nuanced case. This is all in addition to the PORT/ArtForum debate here on Red 76.

Even more elsewhere and much longer ago, scientists have reconstructed a much brighter hued picture of the Parthenon. Also, since we are getting all oldschool here you should check out Edward Winkleman's Michelangelo quiz, I'm guessing #4 is is the real deal.

Last but not least the Oregonian has a story on the proposed I-5 bridge. This is hugely important (not just because I love bridges) because the Portland-Vancouver metro area is experiencing booming population growth and the bridge is a major pragmatic and aesthetic statement about the negotiated directions that growth will take.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 22, 2006 at 22:36 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 03.21.06

Ultra Sam

Sam Adams, Portland's feel good City Commissioner, appears today on Ultra giving them the Q & A. After talking about chickens and sharing his photos, he makes an elusive reference to a forthcoming arthappy.org. Hmm.... this guy's always got a trick or two up his sleeve. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what it is this time. My art happy organization involves more funding for artist grants, way more art in Portland's public schools and a new contemporary arts space housing exhibitions and artist exchanges. I hope Sam's is thinking this direction, too.

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on March 21, 2006 at 17:49 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 03.18.06

PAM Announces Artists for 2006 Biennial

The hotly discussed and highly anticipated results are in. However, the Biennial exhibition opens in late July so you'll have to wait to see the goods. Congratulations to the selected artists!

The List...

Brad Adkins (Portland)
Marcy Adzich (Eugene)
Holly Andres (Portland)
Pat Boas (Beaverton)
Chandra Bocci (Portland)
Michael Brophy (Portland)
Benjamin Buswell (Portland)
Grace Carter and Holly Andres (Portland)
Matt Clark (Portland)
David Eckard (Portland)
Andrew Ellmaker and Mark Brandau (Portland)
Ty Ennis (Portland)
Anna Fidler (Portland)
Emily Ginsburg (Portland)
Heidi Preuss Grew (Salem)
Jesse Hayward (Portland)
Mark Hooper (Portland)
Jo Jackson (Portland)
Kristan Kennedy (Portland)
Zack Kircher (Portland)
K.C. Madsen (Portland)
Federico Nessi (Portland)
Lucinda Parker (Portland)
Matthew Picton (Ashland)
Brittany Powell (Portland)
Shawn Records (Portland)
Vanessa Renwick (Portland)
David Rosenak (Portland)
Storm Tharp (Portland)
Mariana Tres (Portland)
Laura Vandenburgh (Springfield)
Bill Will (Portland)
Amanda Wojick (Eugene)

According to the exhibition curator, Jennifer Gately, "This year's Biennial is dynamically different from past exhibitions with its range of mediums and intentions. It includes artists that represent a strong respect for history, and hints at shades of the future. As with any biennial, it presents an opportunity to explore, debate, and reflect upon the current state of visual art in Oregon." Let the discussions begin...

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on March 18, 2006 at 12:16 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 03.15.06

Chairman of the bored

Office chairs have such a mystique, are absolutely loaded with ennui and now Portland's Daniel Peterson brings us this gem.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 15, 2006 at 0:32 | Comments (1)

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Tuesday 03.14.06

Building and Questioning at Ground Zero

The New York Times has a piece on the World Trade Center site today. Let's just say the current design for the Freedom Tower is a massive failure in imagination and hopefully never gets built. If we as a nation want a symbolic tower, then let's make a symbolic tower not an office building. It's a false start and design by comittee is useless for such an important site.

But this piece in the New Yorker by Paul Goldberger shows how Herzog & de Meuron have been creating interesting buildings that make one question their surroundings. This engagement of uncertainty is what is completely missing from the current Freedom Tower design...unless you want to count the uncertainty of funding. A good idea will find a way to happen and maybe it's wishful thinking but this WTC design looks like it's finding a way to die.

*Update: looks like the deal is going south, let's hope it takes the design with it (then again these deals have a way of being resusicated).

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 14, 2006 at 0:31 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 03.12.06

Saltz of the earth

Tyler over at MAN has a scoop on one of the finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in Critiscism, namely Jerry Saltz. Now I must admit Jerry embarassed the living hell out of me when he said a lot of nice things a few years ago so Im biased, but who else deserves it more? He beats the pavement, has an enormous appetite/love for art and writes polarizing prose in a field where you get more perks if you simply write Pangloss approved art-marketing drivel. Giving it to yet another castrated art historian or some art world mandarin curator is the wrong idea (yet it often happens). Critiscism should be rewarded for it's thoughtful provocation.

What's more Saltz is a New York critic who looks hard at other places and has even had a huge impact on places as remote as Portland with it's boiling scene. He has an eye and a pen and of course he isn't always right. Still, even when he's off he is meaningful and there is no better way to judge a critic than that. He's the most relevant art critic working today.

Read this and tell me if I'm wrong?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 12, 2006 at 22:05 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 03.11.06

Oregon Biennial 2006 update

Rejection letters for the 2006 Oregon Biennial are out and artists in the Portland area received them today (may take a few days depending where you are). If you didn't receive a rejection letter that's a good sign but doesn't insure you are in. Through our sources we hear the final list will be published in a few weeks.

I find it pointless to publish a list of rejections right now (but you can post comments). Still, the list of who isn't in will surprise some. Although we have known for several weeks that obvious art stars who have already been in biennials didn't receive studio visits. I think that's fine, new blood I say, put the spotlight where it can do some good. Besides, the city is full of a staggering amount of talent. Also, the museum has to prove its relevance to the boiling contemporary art scene here and just emphasizing the big players gives shows like this an air of stale inevitability. The museum can't afford that and still make a bid for relevance.

Really, another group survey show doesn't help anyone who is already a big deal and hopefully this new Biennial will push the galleries to really take stock of their rosters and be more adventurous.

There is some new news though; the next biennial in 2008 will combine both invitations and artist submissions (this is really the only way to go). This is important since the actual # of submissions is down this year (over 760). The last one was pushing 1000. Possible reasons for the decline are the requirement of antiquated slides (the museum has hopes for digital submissions in 2008), rather successful artists being annoyed by the rejection process and the intense unpopularity of the last biennial (it did have some good work but didn't reflect the energy of the scene). The 2006 Oregon Biennial needs to address and add to the discussion in order to be relevant to a scene that is already getting international attention (it looks like it may do just that but the proof is in the pudding). As soon as the final list is available we will let you know.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 11, 2006 at 17:46 | Comments (5)

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Friday 03.10.06

In Case You Somehow Forgot...

This weekend, gallery fair madness resumes in NYC with the Armory Show and spin-off fairs. ArtInfo has somehow found me and added me to their mailing list, keeping me fully abreast of sales stats and insider gossip. You too can join in the by-proxy fun on their website with their frequent Fair Reports. Rumor has it the mercury topped off today at 70 degrees in the Big Apple and fair goers were traipsing around in sundresses. That sure beats the snow/slush/rain/wind we've been forced to endure here!

If you're in Manhattan for the event, feel free to leave your impressions in the comments.

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on March 10, 2006 at 17:42 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 03.09.06

Changes in the Pearl

Changes are underway in the North Park blocks, and it's not just another condo or restaurant. DK Row reports in Thursday's Oregonian on the transformation of the former Daisy Kingdom building, which is being developed by Jim Winkler in order to provide a place for several of Portland's prominent galleries to buy their own property in the Pearl. With the new 9th and Flanders hub created after Pulliam Deffenbaugh, PDX and Elizabeth Leach all secured new spaces around this corner, the Pearl District has been able to keep its claim as Portland's art hot spot. Winkler's new development on 8th & Davis will further expand the Pearl's eastern borders, creating a link between the Pearl District and younger Chinatown galleries like Everett Station Lofts, Motel, Compound Gallery and Portland Art Center. Contemporary Crafts Museum & Gallery, relocating from its current location on Corbett Avenue, will occupy the largest space in the new building. Others include photography gallery Blue Sky, a new Augen satellite space, Froelick gallery and a new gallery owned by Charles A. Hartman, who recently moved from San Francisco. Galleries are in the final stages of purchase agreements and the center is expected to open in spring 2007.

Posted by Katherine Bovee on March 09, 2006 at 11:07 | Comments (3)

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Tuesday 03.07.06

Olaf Breuning's "Group" in the Elizabeth Leach Gallery Video Window by MK Guth

Still from Olaf Breuning's 2001 video "Group"

Video Window is a forum for presenting different video works by national, international and regional artists. Each month a new video will be presented in the outside window of the Elizabeth Leach Gallery on opening night (for the First Thursday crowds), after which they will move to a monitor in the gallery for the duration of the month.

Olaf Breuning's not to be missed video, "Group", will be my last selection for video window. "Group" documents the metamorphosis of bearded water drenched surf Vikings into Lord of the Flies Javamen. The characters in the video evolve and de-evolve, combining modern day camping van society with prehistoric antics. Breuning's highly constructed universes employ recognizable cultural cliches but amplifies and explodes them through his bizarre reconstructions and simulations. "Group" has the look of a National Geographic documentary on acid. This is the first time Olaf Breuning's work has ever been exhibited in Portland.

Since this is my last month with Video Window I want to say I have enjoyed having the opportunity to present video works I admire by artists, Alix Pearlstein, David Eckard, Shawna Ferreira, Federico Nessi and Olaf Breuning. For those of you who have tuned in, Thanks! For those who have yet to visit Video Window come on by.

April welcomes Matt McCormick to Video Window. Matt McCormick is a filmmaker who has directed several award winning films and music videos over the past ten years. He is also the founder of Peripheral Produce, an internationally recognized video distribution label specializing in short experimental work, and the director of the Portland Documentary and experimental Film Festival, Portland's premiere event for experimental, documentary, and otherwise obscure contemporary cinema. The PDX Film Festival will be running from April 26 - 30

Window of Elizabeth Leach Gallery • 417 N.W. 9th Ave • Portland, OR 97204 • Tel: 503 • 224 • 0324

Posted by Guest on March 07, 2006 at 22:31 | Comments (1)

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Sunday 03.05.06

It's soooo Whitney...

I haven't been able to get too caught up in the latest Whitney Biennial... mainly because is seems like such old news after Miami (and nowhere near as challenging). Also, because I live in Portland the US city most likely to join the EU it's a bit retrograde (we are obsessed with not making the same mistakes the rest of the country have made already).

If you are still curious Jerry Saltz gives his take here and Michael Kimmelman's take is somewhat helpful as well in the NYT's (with some pictures). I think the curators were right to try and bust up the hoard of less than toothy, lets giggle while Rome burns art... the stuff that the fairs and the Greater New York show have promulgated. Still, you can't overhaul a broken system (an increasingly predictable system?) by sampling from the same artists that produced the impasse with less than toothy critiques (weak ass pseudonyms, or masquerading as a gallery aren't enough, wasnt that 2002 and didn't Forcefield do it better?). I think Adrian Searle's take on the Tate Triennial illustrates the wall that has been hit even more clearly (but wasn't that wall clearly illustrated by the Stuckists? no they were entertaining and even older news). Maybe museum's just can't institutionalize radical change anymore with 'ennials in this very porous and communication heavy art world?

I decided to skip the WB 06 after doing the Art Basel Miami art junket (I've seen a lot of its work or stuff like it elsewhere already). For me the best way to look at this WB is to think about its recent predecessors, both of which seemed at least galvanizing. The 2002 biennial infuriated people because it wasn't about New York, the 2004 one pleased people committed to New York because it seemed to support the effervescent New York market. Jerry Saltz was right in abstaining from praise, Schjeldahl acted relieved that he was in the right city (a question he seems to bring up frequently). Problem is, there is no one city anymore and the WB 06 seems to acknowledge that. The other problem is that conclusion isn't very provocative... the art fairs and the Greater New York show proved this point many moons ago. What's more the Uncertain States Of America show last fall ate its lunch. Ok we have an art impasse, isn't it time we stop curating shows about the impasse?

*update: Todd Gibson's Haiku and his earlier observation. Also, show on the road and Bloggy check in... I still don't feel anything but ennui about this. If you dont travel much I guess it might be worthwhile.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 05, 2006 at 22:33 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 03.02.06

Portland art is everywhere part deux

Portlanders are showing all over the planet this weekend, so once again one of the strongest art scenes in the country is coming to you so you can see some of the buzz elsewhere.


At Massachusetts' Fuller Museum, Hillary Pfeifer's s' warm looks like...

Posted by Jeff Jahn on March 02, 2006 at 22:49 | Comments (0)

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Monday 02.20.06

The impossiblity of more Damien Hirst in the mind of someone living in the art world?

In Sunday's Observer Sean O'Hagan had a nice chit chat with Damien Hirst whose latest show opens up in Mexico City on Wednesday.

A couple of things:

1) This is not in New York, London or even LA, which is very smart. Mexico City at 21 million dwarfs New York and Hirst is reminding the art world of this. In an equally calculated move last March, Hirst treated New York to a show of his less than best work, a series of paintings. The message from Hirst was clear, he could dominate New York with second stringers and it was hilarious to watch. Basically, he's out to show he can make his own weather, and in a deeply religious and syncretic country like Mexico he should do fine. Also, it's not like people with the cash for a Hirst would somehow be impeded by any location, especially if he's showing better work than was available in New York.

2) The article points out that Hirst is, "more famous and more powerful than any other living artist." This seems like a foregone conclusion for the British but for us here stateside this isn't that obvious. Why? Hirst hasn't had a major US museum retrospective and Americans for better or worse defer to their institutions (possibly because we treat what little culture we have with kid gloves, whereas the British assault its suffocating tenure). Still it's a good move to remind American museums that he hasn't had a retrospective by hitting us below the belt in Mexico (Canada wouldn't quite work as well you know).

3) The spin paintings are drivel but entertaining as bad painting drivel. The butterflies are interesting and his vitrines are usually amazing. Despite the inherent camp in his work the focus on death insures it a certain immutable resonance even if he acts up for the ham loving British press. Like Picasso, he very much controls his own market and that is a big deal… if you cant beat the market system's inherent influence… just control the market... it's not that tough when you control production. To boot he synthesizes minimalism, pop and was doing autopises on the dead ideas that have not been resuscitated way before Dana Schutz did.

It should be curated; Hirst, Schutz, Warhol, Murakami, Durant, Furnas, Cao Fei and maybe Banks Violette... call the show "Mortality?"

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 20, 2006 at 22:00 | Comments (2)

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Monday 02.13.06

ESL and cafe's 1, would be institutions 0

February in Portland has been filled with a number decent quality to strong shows. It's been a weird month and the combination of seemingly relentless drizzle has been broken up with unbelievably gorgeous, sunny days. Read on and see how the Everett Station Lofts and cafe art (indicating a yet another new wave of serious artists in town) stacks up this month...


Andrew Myer's "Hunting Ground" (detail)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 13, 2006 at 23:35 | Comments (6)

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Wednesday 02.08.06

Controversial ho hum

Appreciation of Beauty by William Park

The most controversial art show in Portland (as determined by very unscientific means of overhearing "what's the deal with?") isn't what you would think. Sure we have shows about Nigerian genocide, naked girls eating frootloops and ecoterrorism but the show in question contains a few paintings by William Park that address middle-aged white guys with bald heads at Mark Woolley Gallery. Really, it is the familiarity and omnipresence that is causing a stir, not so much whether the subject is taboo (unless you are Zach Lund). I like some of these paintings a lot (mainly because they are so not my thing) and would have asked him to be in my Fresh Trouble show had I known of these new works.

I find it interesting that they evoke such a response from young men and women who see them as symbols of boomer tyranny as they gentrify Portland left and right. Whereas boomer women have more varied responses and as expected gen-x and boomer men get all antsy if they are in the process of losing their hair. I'm not going to review this and instead make this an open thread for comments, so fire away...

Why does foregrounding balding boomer men positively get people so stirred up???? Arguably, they are the demographic who wield the most power in this country and yes there is a lot of dissatisfaction but can't the bald enjoy their moment in the sun? Don't they deserve it? I don't think a hairless pate in itself is much of the issue, lots of other shows have clean shaven heads in the city.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 08, 2006 at 21:33 | Comments (12)

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Tuesday 02.07.06

Around the web + welcome new sponsors

I'm a big Gilbert and George fan and I'm very happy with the one on permanent display at the Portland Art Museum but I found this Adrian Searle review interesting. So now that all the newspapers are terrified of running offensive cartoons only Gilbert and George can lampoon sacred things?

Also, closer to Portland the Oregonian has been running amuck with visual arts coverage, admirably calling for free days at the museum and talking to city commissioner Sam Adams (but how much does Adams really know about good art?… supporting lots of crappy art and shoddy organizations is just as stifling as no support). Then the O managed to write about Red 76's Ghosttown without mentioning they have national reach... they even have a show at Yerba Beuna in the spring. Yes, the O's coverage is all very populist (possibly to the exclusion of not giving credit to major accomplishments) but that is what the Oregonian does best and I'm glad they are foregrounding art as a major civic issue. Its editors and writers see that the city seems to be reinventing its self image and art seems to be where the action is… even politically.

Also, a new visual arts publication, Visual Codec, has been officially on line for nearly one week and I had fun meeting some of them at the Lowbrow Lounge on First Thursday. Visual Codec is dedicated to increasing the flow of visual art information between Vancouver BC, Seattle and Portland. And yes I wrote an exhaustive but no where near complete anatomy of the Portland art scene for them. I like how the massive # of links make it a kind of index or primer for what is going on here, the web is definitely evolving language.

Finally, Port would like to officially welcome three new sponsors; the Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Gallery 114 and the brand new Sugar gallery. You can check out their links to the right. Thank you sponsors, your support is invaluable.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 07, 2006 at 21:58 | Comments (1)

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Sunday 02.05.06

East Burnside report on First Friday

action on East Burnisde for First Friday

Portland seems to sprout a new hip neighborhood every 6 months and more often than not it involves a couple of art galleries and hybrid fashion boutiques that also show art. The latest one has grown up along East Burnside directly across from The Jupiter Hotel, which hosts the annual Affair art fair. The adjacent and hopp'n Doug Fir lounge certainly doesn't hurt either. To be fair though, the very good Holst Architecture, KBOO radio, the Imago Theater and the New American Art Union were all there before The Affair and gave the area good bones as an arts district. Now it filling out with the Fix & Yes fashion boutiques as well as the Renowned gallery. As expected, First Friday's openings had a great deal more...

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 05, 2006 at 23:25 | Comments (5)

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Wednesday 02.01.06

Out on the web

It's a pleasure to write about another web-based art project out of Portland. Local artist Ethan Hamm has created EmailErosion.org as a kind of John Cage inspired, spam effected study in information entropy. Yes you can see it live at the Art Institute of Portland February 2nd but I think the online version with webcam updates every 10 seconds will be more like watching an online art execution... and therefore more interesting. Made possible by a grant from Rhizome.org

The Oregonian's art blog penned by TJ Norris, is it art? (scroll down), has a nice interview with budding art impresario Gavin Shettler. Ok, the whole; I'm not a curator but I know some people who think they might be curators and I talk to them and they think I'm a curator... attitude wears a little thin. We don't need more art, so much as more opportunities to display good art in Portland and that does take having an eye (just to figure out who else has an eye). I've harped on the Portland Art Center before but it looks like they are improving their programming through subcontracting out to the Portland Modern publication and deviating from their previous 2 year schedule. This latest PM issue is excellent, where the previous two, although well intentioned were uneven or worse. Lets hope PAC ups their ante like Portland Modern has, and they do seem to be more responsive to valid critiques than some other orgs in town. These wondertwins will combine their powers on First Thursday too through an exhibit at PAC and the nearby Ogle Gallery. Shape of a bucket of water... form of an eagle!

Lastly, since we are talking about curators Edward Winkleman has a great post on his curator of the month while Tyler Green discusses why MOCA's Ecstasy show is so nice in part 2. It's true New York museum shows often feel cloistered, whereas many MOCA shows have a nice expansive quality.... lets call it free-range arting. Actually so many museum shows are micromanaging crowd dynamics now they make me feel like a molecule of water in a fluidynamics experiment... I'd prefer museums be more than "cultural plumbing."

Oh yes and latest my critical i article is out as well.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on February 01, 2006 at 19:31 | Comments (2)

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Tuesday 01.31.06

Introducing Nicky Kriara

PORT is pleased to introduce our new calendar blogger, Nicky Kriara. Nicky is a recent veteran of the Everett Station Lofts, running the Epitome Gallery for over 2 years. A rare native Portlander, she brings a wealth of experience to the table, having studied at USC, U-Mass Amherst and the University of Oregon. PORT co-founder Jennifer Armbrust, will continue to post and moderate once she returns from Europe. The reasons for the change is academic, being a gallerist Jenn was busiest with the calendar at the very moment a new show needed to be installed. As an artist Nicky was looking for a way to stay connected to the scene while focusing on her own work. Nicky impressed us with her sharp eyes and quick wit. Please join me in welcoming her to the art-blogosphere. Expect her 1st First Thursday post soon.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 31, 2006 at 19:33 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 01.28.06

Getting all linky

Dear readers, January 2006 has been a banner month for PORT and we continue to make enhancements to the site. To that end we have added a links page under our categories on the left. All of the Portland links either regularly provide info about the arts in the city or discuss some of the things that make Portland so appealing to arty people. The arts don't exist in a vaccum and Portland is a city blessed with an obsession for good food, walking not driving, hip urban communities as well as its hyperactive art scene. The artist blogs chosen aren't mere vanity sites or PR vehicles. These sites provide a window into their individual experiences, which may be of great help to other artists. The list will continue to grow as well.

As for the other links, check em out. I find that the web has greatly reduced the proprietary nature of some art world information. On the web everything becomes local. The two best art sites are Artnet's excellent magazine and Tyler Green's Modern Art Notes. Those two sites alone have made the rather small art world a great deal smaller.

In the next week PORT will be announcing our new calendar person and photoblogger, bringing our our professional paid staff to 6 (but have no illusions, this is still a labor of love). There will be a host of new sponsors added this week as well. Thank you sponsors, you make this groundbreaking experiment in online visual arts publishing possible. When we created PORT we saw it as an opportunity to evolve the blog form into a focused, content rich publication that raises the level of criticism in Portland, while providing a template for a new type of local arts writing that is internationally accessible and relevant.

Considering our readership #'s I'm pretty proud of our staff, readers, sponsors and Portland in general. It's an honor.

As a thank you we published four critically rich reviews this week, more than doubling the number of critical pieces published in the city for that time period. I'd also like to note the WWeek just published its first visual arts feature since October and the Portland Tribune had a nice piece on the Ovitz collection (two things we have been shouting from the rooftops about for some time). I don't see PORT as needing to take part in any of the typical reindeer games that dead tree press usually requires. We are here to catalyze, create and draw attention to worthy information on Art that is of interest to Portlanders (and because Portland is a pretty dynamic place, the rest of the world).

PORT is a very specialized kind of publication and Elizabeth Zimmer (a senior editor at The Village Voice), Matthew Stadler (moderator), myself, Jenn, and Katherine of PORT as well as Mike Merrill of urbanhonking.com, and PICA's Amanda Deutsch all discussed this in a forum during last year's PICA TBA festival. Simply put, arts writing is dying off as dead tree media gets increasingly squeezed economically. By specializing, PORT is merely one solution to a larger problem as intellegent critical information gets increasingly marginalized in traditional news media.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 28, 2006 at 14:05 | Comments (0)

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Monday 01.23.06

Extended Absence

I will be heading out of town tomorrow to Los Angeles to participate in artLA with galleries from around the country. Pulliam Deffenbaugh, PDX and Alysia Duckler will be there too, representing Portland with a strong showing. This is the second year for artLA, an art fair directed by Stephen Cohen of the long-running photo L.A.. I, for one, am looking forward to a new audience of art lovers and a little Santa Monica sun.

I will then be taking the month of February off for a little R&R and some jet setting to Europe. So, I will be very scarce in these parts (Motel will also be closed through February). But, don't fear, I will be back in March. In the meantime, we will be introducing a new announcements writer who will be handling the First Thursday/First Friday listings. In case you were sending press releases directly to me, please re-route them to calendar@portlandart.net.

Cheers!
Jenn

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on January 23, 2006 at 10:47 | Comments (1)

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Sunday 01.22.06

Goose & gander the Oregonian on PAM's direction

D.K. Row had a nice probing article on the future of the Portland Art Museum now that the Buchannan's have left. Good work, the O might not be able to discuss Danto and art the way PORT can but let's be fair we aren't a generalist publication and can indulge in intellectual pursuits. This is why the Oregonian is completely outpacing the WWeek in visual art coverage and providing the goods in a way most mid-sized city newspapers do not. I'd love to see the WWeek at least attempt to keep up by having their first feature article on art since October!

As far as the article details go some things need to be countered and fleshed out (feel free to comment):

First, the museum already quantitatively dedicates more space to local artists than nearly any similar large generalist museum I can think of (with an entire wing). The new northwest curator position should address the qualitative issue. The real question is, will PAM balance its blockbuster programming with more serious curatorial efforts? It is about covering all the bases and when the Rosenquist retrospective didn't come here as it was first announced to, it stung... a lot. If a similar major retrospective or two were to come here it would be long overdue.

Still, the newly minted Meigs endowment shows like the current Sophie Calle and upcoming Roxy Paine exhibitions do help more than a bit. Yes, there is room to do more shows like the Keinholtz (2003) and New in Town (2002) as well. It's been too long and now that construction has stopped there are opportunities. As for the Oregon Biennial, it will only be relevant if it makes relevant statements. The Bay Area Now shows do this and the 1999 Biennial arguably did so as well, it jump started the current explosion in scene activity (leaders like Michael Knutson, Sean Healy, Tom Cramer, Jacqueline Ehlis, Kristan Kennedy, Storm Tharp, and Brendan Clenaghen are 1999 alums who have only matured since then). Ironically, except for Cramer the O blasts or ignores these very good artists (by any scene's standards) while blasting the museum for similar caprices. Look, what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

As for directors the PAM board (+ the Oregonian and public in general), they need to understand that Portland is filled to the gills with a hoard of interested artists (both young and old) as well as newcomers from other more culturally developed cities (some of these individuals have serious financial portfolios and collections but have stayed out of PAM and PICA's searchlights because the institutions were rightly percieved as inconsistent). These "untapped" people by and large have sophisticated tastes and their attendance at warehouse shows and the Affair at the Jupiter indicate a hard-core constituency of thousands exists. So much for hurting attendance.

Contemporary art isn't the financial doom that the previous regime and the O suspect. In fact, it might help the museum more than anyone but a few insiders suspect. One of Portland's charms is how older patrons and youngsters actually mix at warehouse shows; it's a way to stay young/network depending on where you are in life. A moderate director can move the museum and city forward and institutionalize this fountain of youth and ambition by blessing the interaction (example: collector Bonnie Serkin recently comissioned Chandra Bocci for the Museum's contemporary art council holiday party). There needs to be more of that demographic mixing and I suggest a "moderate" director because I don't believe that big museums need to be the vanguard anymore, even MoMA doesn't/can't do that. That is for the warehouses and younger institutions. What the Museum needs to do is simply get in on some of that action and engage/support the best of it. It's already happening but there will be several litmus tests this year that will test the all important follow through.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 22, 2006 at 16:37 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 01.17.06

a little of this and that

First off, I absolutely agree with the Portland Architecture blog. At 45 million Portland's aerial tram is absolutely worth it. Besides, no public transit project worth a hoot costs 15 million, and this one spurs 1.9 billion in development. Then there is the fact that it allows OHSU (Portland's biggest employer) to expand. Not to mention it is the first really ambitious bit of world class signature architecture the city has attempted since the Freemont bridge. In that context it seems like a good deal. Visually, it gives Portland a symbol of its new progressive on the outside as well as inside image.

Jerry Saltz's brilliant review of Robert Rauschenberg's combines is right on and one of his best bits of writing to date. Although I reject the idea of RR being the American Picasso, he is the artist that exemplified how Americans pragmatically reinvent themselves (at all costs, including risking serious duds).

I logged a lot of time in front of the last combine pictured, Studio Painting, when it was on display at the Portland Art Museum a year or two ago. The way the piece foregrounded the idea of internal studio practices and pointed towards the transmission of the messy results via the image of telephone wires was practically romantic (even down to the pun of the two halves of the painting held in tension by the wall mountings, taut string and counterbalancing weight). In that painting Rauschenberg presents the studio struggle as a manufactured crime scene with a corpse, perpetrator, motive, opportunity and murder weapon he fabricated. Like Joseph Cornell, Rauschenberg always treated collaged elements as a game but unlike Duchamp was willing to play with readymades even if it meant losing. In Studio Painting Rauschenberg has it both ways; he wins then dismisses the outcome by pointing out how it was rigged. Artists love him because nobody purposefully cheated greatness of its patina better while achieving it. Current collage artists like Phoebe Washburn and Sarah Sze seem to be unwilling to cheat against their own system of rules like Rauschenberg.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 17, 2006 at 22:54 | Comments (4)

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Monday 01.16.06

2006, highlights for the year ahead in Portland art

Ok 2005 was a ridiculously busy year for the Portland art scene and Im pleased that everyone (that matters) seems to be in the process of continuing to up the ante.

Here are some things in Portland to look forward to for the visual arts in 2006, if you live elsewhere expect to see more Porlanders from Iceland to Chandra Bocci's current show in San Francisco:


Detail of Ovitz's Untitled Mehretu

1) Opening Jan 24th, Reed College's Cooley Gallery is doing a two part show of recent painting, drawing and multi-media work from the Ovitz Family Collection called New Trajectories. It's a young collection featuring work by Richard Prince, Julie Mehretu etc. Michael Ovitz is the agent who facilitated David Letterman's defection from NBC to CBS after "the tasteless" picked Jay Leno to replace Johnnie. He also ran Disney for a while.

What is interesting about the collection is that...

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 16, 2006 at 13:39 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 01.15.06

Portland Art Museum free on MLK Day

Reminder to families and anyone who has Monday the 16th off. The Portland Art Museum is open free of charge for Martin Luther King Day. Considering the fact that one of the masterpieces of Western European art, The Holbein Madonna is on display... you really should go.

You want more? There is a small but worthy exhibit by dutch masters like Franz Hals that ends soon too. On the contemporary front there is a whole new wing plus Sophie Calle's "Exquisite Pain" which is on display for only one more month as well.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 15, 2006 at 17:42 | Comments (0)

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Friday 01.13.06

Gately Q & A in the O

In today's Oregonian, D.K. Row publishes an interview with the Museum's new Curator of Northwest Art, Jennifer Gately. The interview offers a cursory overview of Gately's motivations, interests and thoughts on her new position. As long as I've been in Portland, the Museum has completely ignored young local artists, except for the token exposure of the Biennial. The frustration felt by the city's emergings is palpable. Gallerists in other cities are shocked when I tell them that the museum's contemporary curators don't visit (of buy from) the younger galleries in town. In the Q & A, Row presses Gately on this pervasive discontent and she responds,

People are obviously angst ridden by this issue... Of course, change takes time. But I wouldn't be skeptical given the new wing (devoted to contemporary art) at the museum. I think the museum is aware of that (dissatisfaction) and everything happening now is an answer to that.

Hiring Gately, who seems to be in touch with how Portland's up-and-comers fits into the greater schema of contemporary art, is a good first step. I'll also take it as an auspicious sign that Gately has already been in my own 'lil gallery before even beginning her work at the Museum. Let's hope that she will infuse the Museum with a much needed enthusiasm and begin engaging with Portland's young creatives with a seriousness that we haven't yet seen. We can also cross our fingers that as PAM undergoes major staff changes, it will, as Gately suggests, rectify some of it's past offenses and make a commitment to our city's talented up-and-comers.

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on January 13, 2006 at 14:15 | Comments (5)

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Tuesday 01.10.06

Brettell Lecture at PAM

Grand Bathers

Dr. Richard R. Brettell - Cèzanne and Beyond
January 15, Sunday, 2:00 pm
Portland Art Museum
PGE Foundation Education Center, Whitsell Auditorium
Yes, some are tired of dead French art in town but Cèzanne is so important and radical he gets an automatic exemption. Plus, Brettell is one of the country's foremost authorities on Impressionism and is Professor of Aesthetic Studies at the University of Texas at Dallas. His lecture will discuss the beginnings of the Modern movement as seen in the work of Cèzanne and other Impressionists. It is always nice to see an expert bring one of the greats to life. (free to museum members, call 503 226-0973 for tickets) Sponsored by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation

*note the Portland Art Museum will be open free of charge on Martin Luther King Day

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 10, 2006 at 22:42 | Comments (0)

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Out on the web

Over at MAN Tyler Green has a great two part interview with Terry Riley, the new Director of the Miami Art Museum. (remember Portland's art museum is looking for a new director) Here is part 1 & part 2. Some of this discussion is very relevant to Portland, Seattle and pretty much any of the other major US cities that are also getting their visual arts act together.

On Artnet, Kay Itoi did a piece on Tokyo, check it out here.

...and well this just cracks me up.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 10, 2006 at 5:34 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 01.05.06

Everett Station Lofts

The Everett Station Lofts are sometimes great, sometimes terrible but always interesting artist run live work spaces in the thick of a lot of art action between Oldtown and The Pearl District.. I noticed about 4 of the best gallery spaces in this 15 unit complex are going to be changing hands. Here is a link for contacting the powers that be.

The ESL's provide an excellent opportunity for the young and ambitious to try and run their own gallery. I can guarantee you'll get noticed here if you are serious. The best galleries from the past have launched some sucessful careers, they were galleries with names like Fleck, Nil, Field and Sound Vision, are you next? Yes, I can also guarantee you will get ignored if its merely ok or some pure hipster hangout who covers up the best painting or C-print in the show with the DJ on First Thursday.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 05, 2006 at 21:50 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 01.03.06

Jan 6th deadline for Oregon Biennial

Reminder deadline for the much anticipated Oregon Biennial, curated by Portland's newest curator Jennifer Gately, is January 6th. Here is the 2006 Oregon Biennial prospectus link, use it wisely.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 03, 2006 at 5:43 | Comments (0)

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Monday 01.02.06

Looking to 2006 and looking back at 2005 in Portland art

So what does 2006 hold for Portland Art? For Bruce Guenther Chief Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art (Portland Art Museum), "2006 will be a year for building the collection and the endowments... so the resolution is to 'buy more art'"

Artist With The Biggest Year in 2005: Matthew Picton. He sold well in LA and San Francisco but sold only one piece in his February 2005 show in Portland. Later, he was added to the new De Young museum's collection. Other projects are in the works. With great reviews from the LA Times' Christopher Knight and most everyone else he is Oregon's hottest artist.

Big Year Honorable Mention...

Posted by Jeff Jahn on January 02, 2006 at 21:06 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 12.31.05

Happy New Year from PORT

2005 was a great year for art in Portland. As for PORT, we thived (not bad for an experimental form of art macroblog). Our monthly readership has more than doubled since our debut in June and even then we were pretty excited just how many thousands of readers we had. Since June our readership has steadily increased, a good sign. In Miami during the art fairs I was inundated with an impressive number of readers from afar, thanks for the compliments.

While at the fairs I also compared notes with a lot of other art writers and bloggers. I was surprised that we get a lot more daily and monthly readers than many of the New York based blogs, clearly there is a need for PORT and we thank our readers and sponsors for this success.

Monday I'll post my "best of" lists along with input from our readers...until then, here is a link to my latest Critical i article.

Till then, Happy New Year from all of us at PORT

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 31, 2005 at 15:39 | Comments (0)

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Monday 12.26.05

2005 your best and worst picks

*Note, due to the holidays posting on PORT will be more sporadic than our usual daily coverage until Jan 2 2006. Still, there will be some fun stuff to blog on between now and then.

Also, at PORT we value our readers and wouldn't consider subjecting you to the typical and nearly unavoidable slant of some multiple choice survey. Instead, we will listen to the squeaky wheel (a Portland tradition). In lieu of some faux scientific survey, simply email me your lists of the best and worst things in the Portland art scene or art world in general (use jeffATportlandart.net). I can't promise I'll publish everything (particularly the rantings of drunken monomaniacs) but whether I agree with it or not I'll add it to a series of end of the year compilations I'm doing. Of course all contributions except mine will remain anonymous and after the list comes out you can add to the discussion via our comments.

Some suggestions:

Best solo show
Most disappointing solo show
Worst show title
Most worn out idea
Most improved gallery
Hippest gallery
Most annoying art personality
Worst art review
Best art review
Best new artist of 2005
Most improved artist
Artist in the biggest rut
Gallery in a rut
Institution in a rut
Suggestion list in a rut… etc, etc.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 26, 2005 at 21:15 | Comments (1)

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Friday 12.23.05

A Distinguished Guest

Yes, the Portland Art Museum has been moving things around a bit by reconfiguring the Duchamp etc... But this distinguished guest, Rothko's Homage to Matisse is too good not to take note of. Mark Rothko is Portland's most famous artist and the relationship between Rothko's use of volumes and Matisse's couldn't be clearer than in this painting, plus there are the color choices and a certain sort of unsettling brushtroke they both liked to employ. It probably won't be here long so check it out at the Jubitz center.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 23, 2005 at 12:50 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 12.21.05

Van Sant and Cramer on KBOO

Be sure to tune into Art Focus on KBOO radio (90.7 FM) at 10:30 AM on Thursday Dec 22nd. Guest host Tom Cramer (arguably Portland's Artist Laureate) will be chatting with Gus Van Sant. If you are outside of Portland's listening area you can stream it here.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 21, 2005 at 19:32 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 12.20.05

Holiday Art Consultant

You've got a couple of days left before Christmas and maybe you want to buy some amazing art. Yes, art is highly subjective so this is tricky.... but regardless here's a little holiday gift guide for serious collectors.


I Have Hunger, by Kiki Smith at Elizabeth Leach Gallery
I just love this editioned print on a one of a kind antique mirror. Look, somebody has to buy this before I do. I'm buying a new car and a new laptop... yet this is relatively inexpensive (ohh the pain). Please buy this so I no longer feel tempted.


Ornithology by Carson Ellis at Motel
2005 was a big year for her, being the...

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 20, 2005 at 6:51 | Comments (0)

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Monday 12.19.05

Discussion alert

Now this is an active discussion, once again from Edward Winkleman. Really, I don't think critics are the issue here. Instead, it is just that the often dubious value of contemporary art is being undermined by the fact that some of it has become a good investment. It's the problem Peter Pan faces when he leaves Never Never Land. Most everyone is on too good of behavior on the intellectual front and the lack of radical ideas facilitates artist behavior and work that tries too hard to please those that hold their leashes.

What you want is a few out on a limb collectors that work with out on a limb artists to produce extremes that defy existing marketing logic. Sure it creates another market but it makes the tame stuff seem tame by comparison. Commerce in itself isn't bad so long as there are some entities that push the envelope and keep the system honest. Dave Hickey called these communities of desire... and maybe the problem is that the desires are too easilly sated?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 19, 2005 at 19:19 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 12.17.05

Out on the web

I've, said it before... and Ill say it again Edward Winkleman's blog site has the best content oriented art posts on the internet, here is a lengthy discussion about purity of medium in photography. I finally got to meet him in Miami and want to congratulate him on his gallery's move from Brooklyn to Chelsea.

Tyler Green has been on fire with his assault on Pixar's show at MoMA. Also, make certain to check out his Miami picks (I'll have an illustrated essay involving Miami and all sorts of other art world sediments in my next monthly NWdrizzle magazine article).

Back in the neighborhood Chas Bowie is writing about art a lot again in the Mercury, we fling critical poo at eachother occasionally but I miss his voice in the art scene when he's writing about hipster tripe instead. Here he jinxes several good artists for the upcoming Oregon Biennial (funny thing was, most of these people [*correction who were living here at the time] applied to the last one except for Hildur who isn't eligible because she lives in freakin Iceland). Maybe, I'll make a list and jinx all the other decent eligible artists too!

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 17, 2005 at 11:54 | Comments (7)

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Friday 12.16.05

Breaking News: New Curator

Bruce Guenther just announced PAM's Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Curator of Northwest Art this morning at the City Club. And she is... Jennifer Gately. Gately was formerly the Visual Arts Director at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. One of Gately's first tasks will be the curation of the Oregon Biennial.

Welcome aboard!

**(update) David Row was on the ball and the Oregonian put this web exclusive up this morning.-jj

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on December 16, 2005 at 14:45 | Comments (2)

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Thursday 12.15.05

Prints for PICA

Saturday afternoon and evening marks the all-day print marathon and studio sale, Prints for PICA. More than 50 artists spend the day creating and collaborating for a floor-to-ceiling jam packed studio sale. Prints range in price from $100-250, and are sold on a first come, first served basis. Expect hidden gems and steals-of-a-deal! All proceeds benefit PICA and the artists.
Prints for PICA • December 17, 4 to 9 p
Studio 333 : 333 NE Hancock (@ MLK)

Participating:
Patrick Abbey, Kevin Abell, Brad Adkins, Rachel Allen, Nat Andreini, Megan Atiyeh, Josh Berger, Philippe Blanc, Patricia Boas, Christine Bourdette, Katherine Bovee, Michael Boyle, John Brodie, Chris Buckingham, Liz Calderon, Bruce Collin, Nan Curtis, Tim Dalbow, Laurie Daniel, Daniel Duford, Ty Ennis, Karen Esler, Alexander Felton, Shawna Ferreira, Anna Fidler, Harrell Fletcher, Gilles Foisy, Carla Forte, Kay French, Ken Frink, Scott Gallatly, Pedro Galvan, Robert Gamblin, Chris Gander, Ellen George, Emily Ginsburg, Ellen Goldschmidt, Cecilia Hallinan, Rob Halverson, Levi Hanes, Bob Hanson, Stephen Hayes, Sean Healy, Midori Hirose, Joe Hockett, Robin Hoffmeister, Deborah Horell, Marty Houston, Chris Hutchinson, David Inkpen, Joe Thurston, Kristan Kennedy, Una Kim, Kendra Larson, Patrick Long, Mark Mahaffey, Rae Mahaffey, Khaela Maricich, Mike McGovern, Bill Park, Nathaniel Price, Scott Porter, Driscoll Reid, Blair Saxon-Hill, Randell Sims, Stephen Slappe, Marty Schnapf, Stephanie Snyder, Adam Sorensen, Johanna Seligman, Blake Stellyes, BarbTetenbaum, Storm Tharp, Andrea U'ren, Elise Wagner. Morgan Walker, Heather Watkins, Marie Watt, Stephanie Wilson, Christopher Young, Fredrick Zal, Renee Zangara

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on December 15, 2005 at 17:49 | Comments (0)

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Benefit Bash

Ultra gives the scoop on Gallery 500's going out/blowing out holiday benefit party. Maybe we'll see you there...

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on December 15, 2005 at 15:26 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 12.14.05

Exposette

Last Sunday, the Oregonian ran a long story exposing the dubious record of Lance Robbins, the developer backing Bryan Suereth's optimistically ambitious plans to set up shop in the Templeton Building on East Burnside. It turns out that Robbins, who began developing residential property in LA in the late 70s, has been quite successful turning rundown buildings into artist pads, but his tactics have earned him nicknames from local press such as "L.A.'s reigning slum king." Over the past two decades, Robbins has faced repeated charges of fraud and tenant abuse and most recently, is battling the revocation of his California real estate license. Shut out of the California market for the time being, Robbins and his partners have turned their sights towards out-of-state ventures like Portland's Templeton Building.

The sleuthing of writer Erin Hoover Barnett and researcher Lynne Palombo dug up facts that were new to Suereth and the Disjecta Board. The organization faces a daunting task of raising six figure sums for build-out and operations with a thin history of fundraising. Plus, the O reported that Disjecta will be asked for $200,000 to secure the building within the next several months.

One Disjecta board member, Marshall Runkel, admitted to the serious implications that these new developments may have for Disjecta's ability to rally potential donors in this critical phase. And I'm not sure how many donors and members of the art community will be comforted by Suereth's assurances that the project rests on his own integrity or that it's a good opportunity for Robbins to clear his name. Arts organizations can still get away with cavalier strategies in grass roots circles, but it's clear that as Portland's art scene is rocketing towards a newfound maturity, its serious supporters are going to need much more than just casual assurances.

Posted by Katherine Bovee on December 14, 2005 at 1:53 | Comments (20)

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Sunday 12.11.05

Toughlove for the Portland Art Center

Director Gavin Shettler at the Portland Art Center's new home in Chinatown

On December 8th the still unproven Portland Art Center unveiled its plans for its new home in Chinatown to a good crowd on a cold night. So far they have sold one enormous $10,000 painting by Cecilia Hallinan but lots of nice work and some cheesy stuff is still for sale though. Thankfully, the artists get 60% of the proceeds here.

There will be at least three galleries within the complex, each with a focus on installation art, young unsigned talent and one rental space for other visual art organizations, respectively. More on the galleries later, but I think there needs to be some tough talk regarding PAC that needs to be addressed. Let's see how they handle the tough love. Wearing a suit in Portland says you...

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 11, 2005 at 23:22 | Comments (3)

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Saturday 12.10.05

Reeding the Oregonian

Reed curator Stephanie Snyder takes Oregonian critic D.K. (Death) Row to task about his Mona Hatoum review here. Often I'm flummoxed as to why curators, artists and gallerists feel they can't critique the critics (I'm currently trying to find time to respond to a response to a response I have been having with one local artist [p.s. artist, I'll get back to you soon]).

It's healthy on both sides and this instance plays into my old saw about the Oregonian punishing artists who have relevance outside of Portland, possibly because of that relevance. I believe this is the case for globe trotting Northwest artists; Kornberg, Wojick, Ehlis, Healy, Conkle, Cowie and Picton (some of the most adept, intelligent, refined and most importantly "challenging" artist on the West Coast). Now we can add an international star like Mona Hatoum.

Now this isn't a jihad like the WWeek would like to call it... but I'm firm on this. Sophistication and mastery of one's subject is not a crime. Part of the subtlety of artist like Hatoum, Ehlis, Kornberg and Picton is the fact that their work has mastered technique to a point where one isn't supposed to see some grand struggle in materials that gives personal clues into the artists' lives. Instead it is a more universal and internationally readable (i.e. neutral) presentation that doesn't foreground the artist or process as much as the content that accrues. These artists have been called slick or inscrutable but what they really are is confident and not patronizing. They allow the art to speak for itself but its nice that at least two people have been moved enough to discuss Hatoum's work publicly. It's all part of Portland's growing pains and I think polarizing reviews are important. After the mendacity and malaise of Miami the fact that Hatoum can get this kind of reaction in Portland is invigorating.

DK does some good things though and I like his cynical but engaged attitude. Still he hasn't been the only author of the reviews in question at the O. It seems like an editorial policy to treat Portland like "the town" is isn't. Cities exist to discover, define and disseminate talent and Portland is in high geear even if the main newspaper wants to increase its appeal to the burbs by taking shots at the cosmopolitan changes in town. Those very real changes are being lead by the art scene in Portand and it's important to note the Orgonian has done an admirable job of providing coverage. The question is what kind of stance are they taking?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 10, 2005 at 15:03 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 12.07.05

Reality is the alternate reality

The alternate reality of the art world is ... reality (of course) and on the internet there is a parallel version of the art world:

Richard Prince asks some interesting questions about the nature of plagerism... how appropriate is that?

Dave Hickey in the real world has gone all CEO and COO

Tyler Green was a pro baseball player... so that's how he hits it out of the park so often?

Elizabeth Murray is a fine gardener and painter, it figures!

This Mary Boone is also an editor's dream... maybe it's the name?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on December 07, 2005 at 6:24 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 12.06.05

Electro-week

Electronic music has historically had a fruitful relationship to visual art. Experimental pioneer John Cage had a deep influence on his cohorts at Black Mountain College in the 50s and there's a more recent wave of crossover between electronica and art. We've seen an influx of ex-art students as musicians, like Fischerspooner and Chicks on Speed, and DJs as artists, like Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky) and Robin Rimbaud (aka Scanner). Carsten Nicolai produces some of the most sublime and thorough artwork dealing with electronic music, down to his dry, repetitive aesthetic tendencies.

This afternoon at Reed College, you can hear about the history and evolution of electronic music from visiting composer Bruce Bennet, who currently teaches at UC-Berkeley. Then, tomorrow, hear one of the best artists-as-musicians, Wynne Greenwood (Tracy and the Plastics) take the stage at Holocene with her alter-egos, beamed onstage via Greenwood's delightfully lowbrow videos. Some of us probably caught Greenwood at a truncated performance at PICA's late night venue during tba. Let's hope the crowd suits her better this time so she'll give us a longer show!

Bruce Bennet, "The History of Electronic Music"
Tuesday, December 6th • 4:15p • free
Reed College, Psychology Auditorium • 3203 SE Woodstock Boulevard

Tracy and the Plastics
Wednesday, December 7th • 9p • $8 advance
Holocene • 1001 SE Morrison • 503.239.7639

Posted by Katherine Bovee on December 06, 2005 at 9:56 | Comments (1)

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Monday 12.05.05

Whit-nay

The Whitney has released its roster for the 2006 biennial. Seems to be very East Coast-heavy (surprise). At MAN, Tyler Green questions its relevance. Especially coming off the market-driven art fairs. My favorite jab, "The Whitney will have 100 or so artists in a show that sounds Seinfeldian, like it will be about nothing."

**Update: additional info on the the "WB" can be found on this participant's blog. It all sounds a bit paternally Euro-centric and the inclusion of Europeans might really backfire. Besides there was just a show in Oslo on this same theme, lots of the same artists too. Although, Portland is more in line with this European worldview.

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on December 05, 2005 at 17:38 | Comments (1)

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Saturday 12.03.05

ABMB by Proxy

If you are reading PORT this weekend, chances are you are far, far away from the madness in Miami. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you want to be out of the loop. And fortunately, ArtInfo has been giving juicy coverage of the event. With the Ultimate Basel Blog, they get down to the nitty gritty of who, what and for how much. In "Day 2", they even give props to Portland-tied galleries (Liz Leach) and artists (Malia Jensen) with a mention of the Affair. According to the articles, booths are selling out right and left at Basel and NADA with sales above and beyond expectations. Ah yes, the art bubble continues to expand...

(Thanks to the OC Art Blog for the tip.)

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on December 03, 2005 at 0:50 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 11.30.05

Harrell Fletcher at Artpace

Harrell Fletcher recently wrapped up his residency at Artpace and his latest project, The American War, is currently on view there. While one can typically find subtle jabs at the politics of the art world in Fletcher's work, this series confronts a more overt political topic, war. The American War appropriates documents detailing the American War (better known as the Vietnam War to Americans) from the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Bi-lingual captions detail horrifying photographs depicting American atrocities against civilians, chemical warfare, torture and other sickeningly explicit scenes from the war. It's a version of history that's rarely seen, and one can't help but draw correlations with the United States' current involvement in Iraq. By re-photographing these panels, Fletcher not only brings these documents to an American audience, but maintains a loose, snapshot-like quality that emphasizes their context within an institutional setting.

The American War will travel to Solvent Space (Richmond, VA), White Columns and MIT's Center for Advanced Visual Studies in 2006. A catalog will also be available in the spring of 2006.

Posted by Katherine Bovee on November 30, 2005 at 12:00 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 11.29.05

Bienvenido a Miami

Unless you're living under a rock, you must know that this week is Miami Madness. Arty events abound around Art Basel Miami Beach with satellite fairs, projects, parties, collection tours and lots and lots of schmoozing. To keep your finger on the pulse, even from drippy PDX, there are plenty of bloggers on the beat. JJ will be checking in with some posts from the eye of the storm. Tyler Green gives the most comprehensive list of guides and blogs on the scene. Also, check out abLA for the inside scoop from Aqua. Uh oh, looks like it's raining in South Beach, too.

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on November 29, 2005 at 21:19 | Comments (0)

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Monday 11.28.05

John Buchanan as Marie Antoinette

La Creme de la Creme... Francophile museum director extrodinare John Buchanan will be leaving us for a San Francisco in February but first a onetime Portland Art Museum staffer wanted to share this gem of a painting with the world.



It's a mark of success to be tartuffified in such world class splendor! seriously...

Posted by Guest on November 28, 2005 at 22:56 | Comments (1)

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Smithsonian, Smithson, Bowie

Today marks the official launch of Eye Level, the official blog of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. "Using the museum's collection as a touchstone, the conversation at Eye Level will center on the ways in which the nation's art connects to its history and culture." One of their first posts captures the intrigue and popularity of Smithson's Spiral Jetty with the inclusion of a link to an image of the piece by Portland's own Chas Bowie.

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on November 28, 2005 at 16:04 | Comments (0)

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Saturday 11.26.05

Messing with Minimalism

David Cohen at Art Critical posted this nice review of two artists who tinkered with minimalism, Barry Le Va and Christopher Wilmarth. This is of great interest in Portland which sports a large # of very good artists who seek to do a lot more than mess with minimalism (a style that is rather easy to cop). I'm writing an essay on some of these "more than minimalism" artists for another publication, let's just say I don't believe the original minimalists were done much of a service by the term.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 26, 2005 at 15:55 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 11.22.05

Buchanan Q & A

MAN interviews John Buchanan on his future position at FAMSF. Buchanan talks a little about the Portland Art Museum and a lot about SF. The Oregonian also gives its two cents on the departure. The question remains, what's next for PAM?

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on November 22, 2005 at 9:12 | Comments (0)

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Friday 11.18.05

The End Of The Buchanan's At Portland Art Museum

Thanks to Tyler Green's tip. There may be dancing in the streets amongst contemporary circles in town but John Buchanan, director of the Portland Art Museum and his wife Lucy have done some amazing things... including saving The Museum from financial ruin and redefining fundraising in town. Still, after the master plan was completed what was left? Certainly contemporary art is a hot topic in town and he made no secret of his dislike of most contemporary art... It was time and it is a mark of distinction to move on when needed.

JB officially becomes the new director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco on February 1st.

What does this means for PAM? ...change of course and Portland is ready for it. Thanks John.

Posted by Guest on November 18, 2005 at 10:48 | Comments (2)

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Thursday 11.17.05

GO TO PORTLAND! NEW YORK IS DEAD

According to NY Arts. Kristin points out in the comments.

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on November 17, 2005 at 10:26 | Comments (5)

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Tuesday 11.15.05

Stadler on TBA in Artforum

Matthew Stadler reviews PICA's tba:05 festival in this month's issue of artforum, focusing on the dislocation that (for better or worse) is an inevitable part of such international performance festivals. Some artists take advantage of this by directly confronting the notion of dislocation through their art (Ivana Muller), by incorporating artifacts from the location of the performance or by finding dynamic ways to engage in an immediate ways with the audience and environs (Lone Twin, Lori Goldston and other performers at the Works). Other artists simply ignore the fact of their dislocation, reveling in their cosmopolitan existence that rises high above what Paul D Miller (aka DJ Spooky) dismissively deemed "cultural tourism."

In the past two years, I felt that many performances fell short by conscientiously positioning themselves in an "avant-garde" that caters to the circuit of international performance festivals. There were too many gratuitous uses of video/multi-media, of "edgy" content that didn't ever find immediacy with audiences. While I saw this evidenced in fewer performances this year, it will perhaps always be latent in these kinds of international festivals. As Stadler suggests, the trick is for the performer to find a way to engage with their performance, to recapture the "live" aspect of performance, or at least bring awareness to the "intersection between 'live' and 'remote.'"

Posted by Katherine Bovee on November 15, 2005 at 8:19 | Comments (1)

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Sunday 11.13.05

Excellent things to check out

A daily dose discusses an interesting earth art project that involves excavating a volcano... no, not the Roden Crater, it is Eduardo Chillida's Mt. Tindaya project. Admittedly, digging into a volcano is one of the most counterintuitive things human beings are capable of entertaining, but there you have it. Portlanders are especially into this sort of thing because our fire mountains are a little too active to attempt this sort of thing and Portland is the only major US city with a volcano or two within its city limits. Our thankfully extinct Mt. Tabor doesn't have a Chillida or a Turrell but it does have an outdoor amphitheater placed right in Tabor's crater.

On artnet (that lady's man) Charlie Finch, takes a little tour of Columbia's MFA studios. In Portland I'm hearing some interesting rumblings about our very own PNCA stepping up to the plate and creating a serious MFA program. It's absolutely necessary. Currently PSU has the only MFA and that is pretty ridiculous for a city of Portland's size and generally art prone sentiments. Will PSU be left in the dust in the MFA race while it builds its new design building?

Lastly, Edward Winkleman has a great post about the place where one of my heros, Aaron Copeland, wrote Appalachian Spring and its worth to society in general. In particular this sentence really caught my eye and it is very relevant to Portland, "... he's saying that 'nurturing artists of the highest merit' does not serve to advance 'the spiritual, physical, intellectual, social or economic well-being of the general public.'" Edward's analysis of that government official is spot on, and this fetish of what many here call "mediocracy" is a big problem everywhere.

This issue of excellence has really been a burning subject in Portland, which has has experienced both a populist quantitative arts uprising (over 10,000 artists in town) and a qualitative shift where there are maybe 5-15 artists that are significantly better or completely unique in comparison to what is going on elsewhere (that is a lot, maybe 150-300 are pretty good or better). The question of recognizing excellence vs. community as opposing polarities is simply wrongheaded. Excellence serves the community in indelible and far reaching ways. London is imbued with Shakespeare and Vienna and Salzburg owe Mozart a lot. Portland has Rothko, Matt Groening and a bunch of top notch people that I wont mention because they still live here. There is no need to apologize for success and the excellence that often drives it.

On that note here is a link to a Portlander who is doing some great things in a field parallel to art.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 13, 2005 at 19:54 | Comments (5)

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Wednesday 11.09.05

Under Construction

Since launching PORT, we have had a hard time making our text links visible. I have been playing with some different options to rectify the situation. You may notice some changes over the next couple of weeks until we get it right. For now, the unread links are a lighter gray and the read ones, a bit darker. We hope this eases site navigation. Feel free to give feedback in the "Comments" below. Thanks again for reading!

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on November 09, 2005 at 23:15 | Comments (9)

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Monday 11.07.05

Well, Portland Oregon and Slow Gin Fizz, if that ain't love than tell me what is?

Here's a little sampling of Portland's art magnetism, as experienced by the NY times travel section: NYT Travel

And of course the Holbein: NYT Holbein



Here's a conversation I had recently:

It's a Holbein madonna.

Oh really? which one?

Oh, you know, it includes the patron's portraits... Jakob Meyer and his family.

You mean THE HOLBEIN MADONNA. Oh my God.

Can't you just feel that it's here? Doesn't the air feel kinda tingly or something? Doesn't everything seem a little more sparkly?

Posted by Isaac Peterson on November 07, 2005 at 11:02 | Comments (10)

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Tuesday 11.01.05

connecting the dots

Two Links:

Edward Winkleman has an excellent Q & A with his first curator of the month here.

Also, my ongoing Critical i article features an updated version of the completely biased history of the Portland art scene since 1995. The last update was way back in October 2003 so this was way overdue.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on November 01, 2005 at 22:14 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 10.30.05

The Art of the scare

We have heard tales that the Masonic Temple that is now the Portland Art Museum's North Wing is haunted (from radio Gretchen), anyone have any stories? Also in keeping with the theme, here is a link listing the haunted areas in and around Portland. Most Portlanders have heard of the Shanghai Tunnels being haunted and the Terror in Cathedral Park beneath the St. John's Bridge (a lot of artist studios are in the Cathedral Park place building that used to be the HQ's of Columbia Sportswear).

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 30, 2005 at 21:05 | Comments (0)

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Friday 10.28.05

G500 to the Great Big Beyond

Justin Oswald has just announced that he will be closing the doors of Gallery 500 on December 1, after a final show that opens next week with work by Troy Briggs and Nicholas Di Genova. He's being secretive about future plans for now, but Oswald definitely isn't shutting the doors on Portland - we can expect more from him in the coming months. He writes, "I have a strong desire to discover alternate ways to continue re-invigorating the Portland art scene via new efforts and projects. How and when these ventures will come to light has yet to be announced, but I am committed to this city..."

During the past 3 years, we've seen the space at 420 SW Washington evolve from the best Thursday night party pad to a legitimate gallery. Let's hope the trend continues in Oswald's next venture.

Posted by Katherine Bovee on October 28, 2005 at 13:23 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 10.26.05

Justin Harris the Younger

Justin Harris' Theater for One, The Late Great Libido: The Rock Opera

The entire month of October has been one ridiculous art ride in Portland and here are a few more links to help you keep track of it all:

The Oregonian ran a huge spread on the Hesse collection which sports one of the greatest masterpieces in Western art, the Holbein Madonna. It's very exciting to have this here despite the fact that it is a "blockbuster show". It opens at PAM Oct 29th.

Lastly, PICA tips us off that Portlander Justin Harris, whose installation "Theater for One, The Late Great Libido: The Rock Opera" (one of the best works of art I saw last year) also got some great press in Melbourne. It is an an amazing Wittgenstein-level study in solipsistic virtuosity.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 26, 2005 at 23:40 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 10.25.05

Deliver

Portland's artists are getting around and the team of M.K. Guth, Cris Moss and Molly Dilworth who make up Red Shoe Delivery Service have received tons of great press down in Melbourne, here, here and here. It is just like Portland to export public transportation as art, although I suspect Melbourne's mass transit is light years ahead of any US city. Also one wonders why those Aussies think RSDS are New York based? Guth and Moss haven't lived there for some time now and Guth was always BI-coastal.

We have also noticed Portland's City Commissioner, Sam Adams, has been blogging about the arts a lot lately. Still, the issue of affordable live/work space could really use some creative thinking and action. True, it might be beyond his scope but the issue wont go away until Portland becomes just like San Francisco? i.e. too expensive except for students or the most privileged and often least motivated of trustafarian artists. Some solid ideas need to be championed.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 25, 2005 at 23:26 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 10.23.05

Collecting stories on collecting

The Guardian has nice article relating to Portland's new hot topic (finally), serious collectors. Thanks to the guys just down the street (well if I-5 counts) at the OC art blog for pointing it out.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 23, 2005 at 13:28 | Comments (0)

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Friday 10.21.05

Nixon Nation

MAN offers a nice post citing the recent national prominence of Nicholas Nixon's The Brown Sisters. I was fortunate to see this series at Western Bridge over the summer. I found it to be thoughtful, compelling and, well, moving. The series consists (thus far) of 30 annual photographs of Nixon's wife and her three sisters. The women are always posed in the same arrangement. What I found most captivating was how they aged inconsistently, some years looking younger than the previous year. Equally fascinating were the shifting interpersonal dynamics read through body language. One can't help but be impressed, too, with the Nixon's conceptual foresight and execution. With a strong line up of exhibitions and some noteable sales, MAN asks astutely, what makes this work particularly meaningful now?

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on October 21, 2005 at 0:14 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 10.19.05

WWeek vs. Oregonian & vis art coverage

Ahh the latest WWeek jab at the Oregonian... must be a slow news week (yet still no art feature in the WWeek... in fact no review this week), whereas the Oregonian has been lavish with visual art coverage. Also, Ive always thought that "Death Row" is about the coolest nickname a critic could possibly have. If the editors are gonna fling mud at eachother they might as well fling some arts coverage around as well. The last WWeek feature article on the visual arts was in June!!!* Even the Mercury ran a feature on the affair art fair last month.

*Correction the WWeek ran 1 feature article between June and today's date but it is not archived online, "PAM Deconstructed" on September 28th. Similarly the old reviews are not archived either but that is by design... (bad design but design it is).

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 19, 2005 at 1:31 | Comments (12)

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Sunday 10.16.05

Jubitz till you can't Jubitz no more

Tim Bavington's Voodoo Child a slight return, solo (in PAM's collection)

Ok, so there is even more ink (or electrons) on Portland's new museum wing out there.

In The Oregonian D.K. (Death) Row agrees with many of the same things in my review. He's dead on about the lack of Pop art in the collection. Although, he's a bit funny when he complains of a lack of collecting over the last 15 years then gets all frumpy about Laurie Reid, Din Q. Le and Tim Bavington being in the top floor's collection because the work is young.

Row makes lots of good points but this is preposterous. First of all Reid was in the 2000 Whitney Biennial and Le was in the 2003 Venice Biennale. Lastly, Bavington is an exemplar of an important group of artists who studied under Dave Hickey in the 90's. He is also in LACMA's and the Albright Knox Gallery's collection (I might add our Bavington is better than theirs). Seriously, all of these are hardly unproven regional West Coast artists and these are exactly the sorts of aquisitions that strengthen the collection.

If you got a problem with respected California artists, tough... welcome to yer typical West Coast museum being all youthful and snappy. Actually, that top floor of the Jubitz Center is for exactly that type of young work.

The Oregonian also ran an architectural review. Lastly, here on PORT (in the comments) the debate has been going on for some time.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 16, 2005 at 11:11 | Comments (4)

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Thursday 10.13.05

out there on the inter-heck

Edward Winkleman has a great post on the recurring death of arts funding.


Also, Chas Bowie at the Mercury chimes in on the new Portland Art Museum and writes some similar things to my PORT review about the hang. He is absolutely right but many museums who have had their collections mothballed intentionally overhang for their openers and it can be fixed. It is a way to get key aquisitions as well. Still, he misses how absolutely crucial (but unglamourous) office space is to running a museum. At 28,000 sq feet of new galleries it adds a great deal more than the recent Walker expansion did. Besides, it isn't like the staff didn't have their offices in the other half of the wing before the renovation.

Prior to the renovation they lacked air conditioning as well and Portland does get uncomfortably hot during the summer from time to time. In a smart move the offices have been designed so they can be easilly turned into gallery space in the future. Lastly, does the rental sales gallery have to be housed on museum grounds? Nice that the collection is stronger than expected though.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 13, 2005 at 23:55 | Comments (5)

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Tuesday 10.11.05

Hackett weighs in: Seattle v. Portland

Carolyn Zick's blog points the way to Monday's big story up north. Some people will consider this old news, but the Seattle Posts' Regina Hackett sounds the alarm to her fellow Seattlites who haven't been paying attention the past few years: Portland is gaining on Seattle. And, the way she admiringly describes the implications of the new PAM wing, perhaps she is harboring feelings that Portland has already caught up? Her solution: find ways to collaborate and make the Portland-Seattle-Vancouver corrider as accessible as possible.

Posted by Katherine Bovee on October 11, 2005 at 10:34 | Comments (1)

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2 things

The Portland Architecture blog has two good art-ish posts right now. The first on the Lovejoy Columns and the second is on the "really new" economy. The report on the new PAM wing will be tonight.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 11, 2005 at 1:57 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 10.09.05

Cranky, ascerbic radio time

Just a note, Ill be on Eva Lake's Art Star Radio on Monday the tenth at 5:00 PM. For those outside Portland you can access it on the web here.

OK, I officially hate to discuss myself (and PORT is about Portland Art, not my mood) but here Eva seems to think Im some sort of ultimate optimist which is hilarious since generally the only thing I care about is high caliber art, criticism and an involvement with the challenges of the day. All of which is rare and the exception rather than the rule. I'm cranky and not very forgiving and I can be counted on to bitchslap the people who need it. If necessary, I'll draw blood critically. So I really don't know what she's talking about other than my belief that really high caliber art does change the world in a small, obstinate but important way by bringing a tacit form of visual poetry into being. Still, it's only for that tiny audience that still cares about the details... remember those things that can't be turned into a soundbyte?

Maybe it's because the Pacific Northwest has a bad habit of fetishing a kind of self-imposed irrelevance that simply isn't my gig (although Portland has really changed its attitude in comparison to Seattle). I am a tactical, very discriminating optimist, it's a weapon and it only means something if you keep it sharp. I like to see talent develop to its fullest expression... nothing less.

Maybe it is because she senses that I don't really feel disenfranchised? Well, it's because I'm not and I do believe part of it is because I'm an overeducated white male, 200lbs, 6'2", happy childhood and a generally charmed life who makes a point of backing things up with action, hard work etc. It is weird but Ive really noticed how much the art world seems to respect/tolerate cranky hypercritical men (like myself... and curator Bruce Guenther or legends like my role model Alfred Stieglitz, Dave Hickey, Robert Hughes, Jerry Saltz, Greenberg, Clyfford Still, Richard Serra) and has a problem with most women who try that shtick. Yet most of my favorite art world denizens are women, like the recently departed Linda Farris, Jane Bradley (RIP), Lynne Cooke, Karin Davie, Justine Kurland or Portland gallerists/collectors like Sylvia Engelman, Liz Leach, Jane Beebe or MaryAnn Deffenbaugh. These individuals all seem to be interested in getting the job done and are supportive without lots of posturing.

Oh yes and my critique of the Portland Art museum's new Jubitz Center for Modern and Contemporary Art will be here tomorrow.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 09, 2005 at 23:40 | Comments (4)

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Thursday 10.06.05

Portland is becoming.... Portland of course

Portland's visual arts coming of age this week isn't just about the visual arts, its about how the city conceives of itself and Portland blogger Gretchen wonders if it's still Portland?

My answer is a resounding Yes, our visual arts scene is now more engaged internationally (new museum wing, art fair, and international artists in the galleries... some happen to live here) but there is a sense that Portland has something that other places don't have (from the ground up with lots of small businesses) and the artists are articulating that reality. Yes, there are "shiny people" but there are more funky artists as well and the great thing is how frequently they mix. The new Portland doesn't hide from the world, it engages it. People here seem obsessed with a "better way of life" and a cooler less souless city that is the envy of most people who know much of anything. It is the anti-imperialist but opportunist and forgiving America that Portland celebrates. It generally doesn't matter if you are a republican or democrat here, people feel enfranchised in this city.

It all spills over into the visual arts. The people moving here want something different than New York or LA and so do the artists who keep streaming here. Instead of merely vetting inside jokes, quality of "experience" (often through design quality) is a big deal here. Now instead of Portland "not being like other places" it is really starting to articulate what would work better. Its a shift towards acknowledged civic leadership that is openly discussed elsewhere as a model. Seriously, what other US metropolis of 2.1+ million people is so obsessed with art, bicycling, ecology, neighborhoods full of small businesses and good food?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 06, 2005 at 23:56 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 10.05.05

Drugs, escapism and restlessness

Tyler Green over at Modern Art Notes is absolutely on fire with posts on the Getty and Tomaselli. I agree Tomaselli's work is likable but there is something so innocuous about his work... I suppose its the difference between listening to Frank Zappa or Phish covering Zappa. Something about the original was so much more threatening and interesting and Tomaselli lacks that edge. It all seems relevant with MOCA's Exstacy show and that whole Drunk vs. Stoned series of shows in New York. The question is, is all this escapism part of the reason things got the way things are in the White House? Hans Ulrich Obrist and Daniel Birnbaum have a show in Oslo about the Uncertain States of America that takes place this weekend... Portland's beloved Matt McCormick will be part of it. Yes he's in my show too.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 05, 2005 at 21:57 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 10.04.05

Adolescent Lemming Crossing

My latest Critical i article is out now. It discusses the "what next" now that Portland's art scene has officially achieved its adolescence. Yes, I'll have a post on the new modern and contemporary art wing at the museum soon. For a teaser I liked the athletic gallery spaces and numerous stairs, the placement of the Gilbert and George and think it is intentionally over hung to show off the collection's strengths (sculpture, minimalism) and holes (many... including Pop and major 80's artists). The photography galleries are wonderful.

Also, just in case anyone in Portland missed it Michael Brophy has a review in Art Forum... I know I know I fully expect the world to end too but for the record he deserves the attention. I want to see an ecology/contemporary artshow with him Tom Uttech, Alexis Rockman and Bruce Conkle.

As for the Affair art fair... for an initial reaction lets just say its still 1000 times better than any of the Scope Fairs Ive seen. Although one artist summed it up best, "after seeing room after room of adolescent images on paper the whole drawing thing must die." Agreed, drawing has been uncool and formulaic since it became so ubiquitous. Hopefully the lemmings are just about to jump off the cliff! I was absolutely sick of it at least 2 years ago.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on October 04, 2005 at 23:49 | Comments (7)

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Jeff Bailey Gallery by Jen Rybolt

Standouts from the Jeff Bailey Gallery were a series of colored pencil tongues by Julia Randall (entitled Lick Line). The mouths were solitary on their sheets of white paper, and tissue really seemed to glisten with spittle as the mouths formed various expressions.

Posted by Guest on October 04, 2005 at 16:13 | Comments (0)

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Bucheon Gallery at the Affair by Jen Rybolt

San Francisco's Bucheon Gallery had a major standout item in the form of the pompom, felt and object-covered fabric draped over the room's bed like a natural coverlet (it usually hangs on a wall). This was by David McDermott. Jenny Dubnau's faces hung enigmatically on one wall, larger than life and definitely cryptic in their dead-ahead facing of the viewer. David Gerard Romero had a selection of smaller facial portraits-all in the throes of ecstasy, all hanging in formation above the latrine-and also a collection of erotic science fiction comic-style pieces.

Posted by Guest on October 04, 2005 at 1:53 | Comments (1)

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Solomon Fine Art by Jen Rybolt

Solomon Fine Art (hailing from Seattle) featured a number of interesting objects and paintings, including pieces by Paul Shakespear and interesting wall pieces that contained sculptural elements by Ellen Garvens. The curator, Meli Solomon, nailed something that had been in the back of my mind all night: that people could experience art at the Affair as they would in their own homes- or at least in something more like their own homes than a gallery usually is. The size and content restrictions inherent in displaying in an enclosed space were outweighed favorably by the viewer's unconscious relationship with the more intimate space and lighting. Emily Isenberg had mentioned the same thing about Allston Skirt Gallery's selections; the shipping was prohibitive since they're located in Boston, and the space was limited, but that helped them to create a more intimate, homey atmosphere.

Posted by Guest on October 04, 2005 at 1:27 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 10.02.05

Froelick Gallery at the Affair by Jen Rybolt

I also had an interesting conversation with the fellow manning the room for Portland's Froelick Gallery as I checked out some painted panels by Wiyot artist Rick Bartow. The curator related that Bartow was a multidisciplined artist who is involved with ceramics, printmaking and other arenas in addition to painting, which led to his introducing Froelick to Japanese printmaker Ritsuko Ozeki (who also had a piece featured in the room). While we were there to see sort of the commerce side of contemporary art, it was nice to be reminded of the interrelation between different artists, mediums and that we are all involved with this because we are passionate about modes of expression.

Posted by Guest on October 02, 2005 at 16:07 | Comments (2)

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We're only together for the kids, honestly (Compound Gallery at the Affair) by Jen Rybolt

Compound Gallery (a Portland gallery that hosts international shows but also tends to focus on the new generation of Japanese artists) featured pieces by artists including Ren Sakuri (my favorite was a trio of colorfully afro'd women swarming around a long-barreled gun), Re:Verse (paper-collage backgrounds with felt children in the foreground, and terrible events unfolding in the meantime), Auurizum (cute animal-head-hooded figures), Meredith Dittmar (polymer figures), and Junpei Kawamura (amazing, incredibly detailed women comprised of layers of paper hand-inked and colored). The fluidity of Kawamura's fashionably styled females was remarkable considering the pieced-together nature of the whole.

Posted by Guest on October 02, 2005 at 15:57 | Comments (0)

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Heather Marx Gallery at the Affair by Jen Rybolt

Heather Marx Gallery (San Francisco) also was provocative, although in a more highbrow manner than Art Palace. My eyes were first drawn to the Baroque centerpieces sculpted by David Henzel as pop culture commentary. They incorporated taxidermy elements arranged with autumnal dried flowers and pendulous glass beads that would- almost- be appropriate in your Grandmother's house. Pictured is the piece "Paparazzi." Davis and Davis photograph found dolls and discarded playthings in full sets- there was a definite narrative to these pieces. The dolls are left completely in the state in which they were found, from scuffs to tattered clothing, and then interact with each other in a mildly disturbing subtext. Libby Black recreates consumer goods in paper mache, down to the last detail. Her Louis Vuitton boombox and cassette selection (featuring Tina Turner among others) was done to scale and plastered in the familiar LV logo. She seems to ask us to consider our wants and desires against our actual needs. David Lyle paints greyscale (at least these selections) oil on panel versions of found vintage photographs depicting slices of Americana- but the America that isn't always smiling as it moves to pose for the photographer. One in particular, "State Fair Domination," is of an older woman who's just won prizes for all of her cakes but one, and that one she looks at discontentedly.

Posted by Guest on October 02, 2005 at 15:44 | Comments (0)

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Art Palace at the Affair by Jen Rybolt

I next visited Arturio Palacios' gallery Art Palace (a play on his name, look closer). Austin, Texas has long held a reputation as the home of a thriving music scene and, as embodied by Art Palace, is clearly developing as a hotspot for new art as well. I really, really enjoyed the selections in this room. Ali Fitzgerald's graphite sketches, approximately 2'x3', were frenetic and detailed... apparently, she also does semi-truckload-sized paintings based on her sketches, although the content shifts slightly with the dimensions. Michael Sieben (also the founder of Austin gallery Camp Fig) offers marker/pen illustration-style drawings of comic-y dream-style monster/animals and paints the same on boards. The drawings were actually done on pages from "How To Draw" books...

Posted by Guest on October 02, 2005 at 15:27 | Comments (0)

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I thought I told you never to call me at this number... (The Affair by Jen Rybolt)

Howard House from Seattle hosted a room dominated by a wall-sized collage of fabric, acrylic and pigment -- emblazoned with a huge skull and called Victory by Default -- by Donald Baechler. There were also a couple of graphite sketches flanking the skull piece by Chiara Minchio (entitled "Neonschnitte") done on neon paper that grabbed the eye.

Posted by Guest on October 02, 2005 at 15:11 | Comments (1)

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Friday 09.30.05

Don't tell me how to rock, I'm from here!

The party has officially started here at the affair, the rain has stopped and we are feeling all of the pleasure and none of the guilt. If you come right now you can catch me breakdancing.

10 year old front man of the unlawful guardians started it off, followed by a strange but exciting solo performer who wowed the audience with his floor moves and unbridled passion. The affair is in full swing. Did you rock this hard when you were 10? This kid will never ever be called a nerd.

I'd love to write more but I think I've gotta check out the what all the screaming is about....

Posted by Isaac Peterson on September 30, 2005 at 23:08 | Comments (0)

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The Beginning of the Affair by Jen Rybolt

Not even driving rain could keep the patrons from enjoying the evening.



White Column Gallery from New York City was my first stop. The first piece to grab my attention was "Gold Madonna" by Scott King. I was also intrigued by "Self Help Video," a found poster that was... shall we say "amended" by the artist Simon Bidwell. "Make Art Not War," a poster by Bob and Roberta Smith, was hung over the room's bed, which made it not only a play on the slogan "make love not war" but also reminded me of Ono and Lennon's bedded anti-war statement. Another highlight of personal interest were archival photographs by of early punk icons Lux Interior, Poison Ivy, Exene Cervenka, Lydia Lunch and a surprising photo of a Negative Trend member....

Posted by Guest on September 30, 2005 at 18:22 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 09.28.05

Shining some light on the collection

Light is the first of painters. There is no object so foul that intense light will not make it beautiful. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

The new Center for Modern and Contemporary art has a very interesting subtext... light. It sounds banal but I'm certain everyone understands how light is the core of visual perception. For those in Portland this focus will make the collection very engaging during the dark months from November to April. Three works in the museum's practically secret contemporary collection certainly shine some light on the subject:


Dan Flavin
Untitled (To Donna) II
1971.
Fluorescent light. Portland Art Museum, Museum Purchase: National Endowment for the Arts Purchase Plan Grant matched by the Contemporary Art Council. © 2005 Estate of Dan Flavin / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York


André Kertész
Martinque
1972.
Gelatin silver print. Portland Art Museum, Gift of the Collections Committee and Friends in memory of Elizabeth Swindells. ©Courtesy of the Estate of Andre Kertész, 2005.


 
Matthew McCaslin
Alaska
1995.
Television sets, clocks, light bulbs, VCR, electrical hardware, rolling cart. Portland Art Museum, Museum Purchase, Robert Hale Ellis Jr. Fund for the Blanche Elouise Day Ellis and Robert Hale Ellis Memorial Collection. © Matthew McCaslin.

 

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 28, 2005 at 23:35 | Comments (0)

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Monday 09.26.05

NKOTB

Ultra scoops the latest in the CEID*.

*Central Eastside Industrial District

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on September 26, 2005 at 0:03 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 09.25.05

Confusing the confusion with a party

It's been a week but Portland artist Scott Wayne Indiana has some nice dada ball pictures on his site of people he knows and doesn't know. PICA's dada ball is Portland's ultimate art party, although calling it a "surreal" experience of course isn't quite historically correct. Although dada and surrealism were related, they weren't the same and dada was in many ways the more serious and radical movement, whereas surrealism was more about public scandal (which in many ways seems less radical to us after watching Michael Jackson's life unfold). The later surrealists included Andre Breton and Jean Arp (who was also a dadaist just to make things more confusing and therefore more interesting) etc.

Next big art party is the opening of the Affair @ the Jupiter hotel art fair this Friday and then the opening of the Portland Art Museum on Saturday the 1st of October. Pfeeewwwww it's a busy fun time in Portland. For our readers from far away, we now have Jet Blue in Portland... get on it if you want to have a fun art weekend totally unlike LA and New York. Different is good.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 25, 2005 at 21:06 | Comments (1)

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Friday 09.23.05

Something in the Water

Something seems to have sparked a trend and suddenly, everything's popping up galleries. Perhaps it's the dense concentration of artists begging for exposure, or the tepid Portland economy that makes it more enticing to create your own job than work for someone else, or maybe it's just something in the water. Whatever the cause, the result is four new galleries (two traditional, two hybrids) opening in two weeks.

Paul Middendorf has defected from Disjecta and, for the moment at least, moved his Manifest Artistry projects to the back burner to team up with artist Paige Saez as co-director of Gallery Homeland. Infiltrating the less commercial Southeast quadrant of the city, Homeland has taken up quarters on the corner of 34th & Belmont, a stone's throw from coffee, cocktails and bourgeois groceries. Exhibiting young local favorites and importing trans-nationals, Homeland aims to "encourage emerging and challenging concepts in visual and performing arts." Their first show opens next Friday (competing with the Affair and the new CMCA wing) with three Portlanders, Zak Margolis, Charles Moss and Amy Steele. There will be live music with the artists and directors in attendance.
Opening Reception • September 29th • 7p
Gallery Homeland • 926 SE 34th Ave • Tel. 503.819.9656

Around the corner from Homeland is the Missing Link, delivering all things Japanese/toy/collectible to the East side of the river. Occupying the former Spoink! space, ML houses art shows in the back quarter and opened to a packed house last week with an exhibition by S.F. yeti-loving graff artist Bigfoot. Shows will rotate bi-monthly, at least in the beginning, with a line-up of skate/graff/design leaning artists. Expect some young fresh fellows to roll through this informal space, with price tags built for the creative class.
Missing Link • 3314 SE Belmont • Tel. 503.235.0032

As we reported last week, Laurel Gitlen is gearing up for the launch of her new space, small A projects and now has a website. She has also added a screening of Heavy Metal Parking Lot to her housewarming on October 7th. Rat your hair, rip off your sleeves and grab a nice cold MGD for a night of all things Rockin'.
Gallery opens September 30th • Reception October 7th
small A projects • 1430 SE Third • Tel. 503.234.7993

Next we traverse Burnside to the other side of the river where we find what may or may not qualify as a gallery. Housed in one of Portland's sexiest buildings, where Wieden + Kennedy and Bluehour rub elbows, B Street Gallery is actually a facade for the showroom of the under-construction Civic condos. The gallery will last two years, until the condos are up and the showroom is closed. According to the website, they will feature work by "local and emerging artists celebrating everything about Burnside"?! Yes, indeed, those are their words. Have these people driven on Burnside recently? I am interested to see what about Burnside these artists will be exalting... the homeless sleeping on the sidewalk, the prostitutes, the crack heads, the traffic, that Volvo dealership, the fact that you can't ever make a left turn? Any old how, there's currently new artwork hanging by some of the Zeitgeist fellas: Paul Fujita, Keith Rosson and Mike McGovern. Hopefully they had some better ideas than I did.
Open to the public October 1st
B Street Gallery • 202 NW 13th Ave • Tel. 503.241.1926

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on September 23, 2005 at 0:37 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 09.18.05

Tough as nails

Pulliam Deffenbaugh Gallery is installing their kick ass metal floor now. They have suffered through years of (ugghh) carpeting and now it is cold hard steel. Ive been in shops with a steel floor but never a gallery. Will it set the bar higher for their artists in terms of toughness? I consider it a good thing as Portland's gallery boom isn't just an increase in #'s... there is also a deepening in toughness and scope too.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 18, 2005 at 0:00 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 09.15.05

Getting the MOST out of Portland

Things are really humming in Portland these days so here is a little checkup of interesting local art writing on the net; still it's just the tip of the iceberg.

Portland Public Sculpture takes on the single worst sited and clumsily executed public sculpture in PDX. You know that atrocity on the traffic triangle by Powell's books. Although, I think the interactive element is OK-ish enough for silly public sculpture the base is so clunky it must go. Sweet hell, I hate it.

In fact, I should to have a spiritualist summon the ghost of noted stainless steel sculptor David Smith and suggest he haunt the sculptor. This belongs in mall in Clackamas… or better yet as a manmade reef somewhere off the Florida coast. I wonder, can anybody defend this thing?

In the Oregonian DK Row (a.k.a. Death Row) took on The MOST at the T.B.A. festival. I find the trend for participatory art that incorporates officious bureaucracy like The MOST or Allison Smith's "The Muster" a bit disturbing. It's similar to Kafka's The Trial (Orson Welles' film version is one of my favorites). Maybe someone will eventually create a project called "The Man" and the artist will keep everyone but the richest and whitest folk down…

Also at the Oregonian, Harvest Henderson had a nice piece on Mark Smith at Elizabeth Leach and some blowhard jerk curator's show.

John Motley at The Mercury penned a nice review of Walid Raad's show at Reed College. Read PORT's review here.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 15, 2005 at 23:47 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 09.13.05

Told you so...

Just because I've told you so before and I like to rub it in.... Oregon's hottest up and coming artist, Matthew Picton, continues to garner critical raves from Miami to Christopher Knight at the L.A. Times. Now the San Francisco Chronicle adds to the critical din.

Picton's work takes Smithson's nonsite or Richard Long's walks and brilliantly manages to invert the inevitability of wear and tear for a time. The end product is an engrossing negation of negation and an interesting avenue out of minimalism and into succinct complexity. His best works provide a location while being completely lost and out of context.

Finally, earthworks have been removed from the dirt that many confuse as some kind of eco-minimalism. It's philosophical and elemental not moralistic and didactic folks. Admittedly, he's in the big international warehouse show I'm curating and he's debuting his newest body of work... I'm expecting a lot from him. Until then you can find him in San Francisco here.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 13, 2005 at 22:52 | Comments (0)

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Chalk up another for the New Guard

Laurel Gitlen announces the opening of her new gallery space, Small A Projects. Laurel previously resided as gallery director of Savage Art Resources and will take over the Savage space under the Hawthorne bridge with her new endeavor. "Adopting a strategy that combines the best attributes of commercial galleries with the experimental attitude of alternative exhibition spaces, Small A Projects will present exhibitions and projects with emerging and underrecognized artists as well as more established artists." Gitlen will be offering rotating gallery exhibitions, one-night events, edition releases, video screenings and more in a push to educate and entice a diverse audience. She begins her programming on September 30th with ALL I WANT IS EVERYTHING, a group show celebrating the transcendental, transformative and humorous aspects of heavy metal and rock and roll featuring the work of Michael Bise (Houston), Barb Choit (Vancouver/NY), Zoe Crosher (LA), Craig Doty (New Haven), Erik Hanson and Josh Mannis (Chicago). Foregoing regionalism in favor of strong emerging nationals, Gitlen holds great promise for broadening and sharpening Portland's visual arts by importing influential and experimental up-and-comers. Expect a website and additional information within the next couple of weeks.

Small A Projects • 1430 SE 3rd Ave
Housewarming Party • First Friday, October 7th • 6 to 8p

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on September 13, 2005 at 17:42 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 09.08.05

Portland Influence

It's no surprise that Portland is influencing other less "fringe" places, this is a city that allows innovative ventures without 150 million in the bank. Now, Ultra PDX, (our city's best fashion blog) points out another instance of Portland's (aka PDX) influence over fashion centers. It's not like there aren't trend spotter all over the city (occasionally with video cameras).

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 08, 2005 at 19:02 | Comments (2)

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New Digs

Wow, the new Mark Wooley Gallery is incredible and hosts a formidable group show of national artists.

I can't think of a more ideal space for exhibitions: giant movable walls, a beautiful wood floor, lots and lots of space. This is a beautiful coup for portland, and the send off show delivers on the promise of this space.

I had time to pop in at the opening just long enough to take some pix, so I thought I would share them so you can take a look at the luxurious space for yourself.

By the way, as I'm writing it's only nine, so there's still time to catch the all night dance party!



more photos....

Posted by Isaac Peterson on September 08, 2005 at 1:04 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 09.06.05

Our 4th month

Well folks, PORT continues to thrive with the supposedly slow month of August being our third straight month of readership growth. Also, you'll notice all sorts of new sponsors.

To our readers and sponsors, your support is overwhelming, thank you... you know who you are.

News from the net:

PICA's Time Based Art festival opens Thursday with the free STREB performance in Portland's living room, Pioneer Courthouse Square... be there.

Modern Art Notes does a good job on arts related Katrina info. Locally, arty Portlanders should email Richard to coordinate Portland efforts for artist victims.

Outside the tragic sphere, John Motley at the Portland Mercury interviewed Merry Scully, the new gallery director at Elizabeth Leach. She seems to have cajones and we are interested how she might affect primary market shows at the gallery. I like adventurous people and Liz (that Portland firecracker) wouldn't have sought out Scully unless she brought that to the table..

Also, my latest Critical i article is out as well.

As for the blogosphere PORT promises we will eventually have a blogroll, but until then we would really like to thank some of those quality art and culture blogs for linking to us:

The OC art blog (thanks for listing us 1st) psst... I grew up in the OC during the dying days of disco... roller disco was a lowpoint for Western Civilization.

Edward Winkleman … a Brooklyn gallerist who has the most consistently content-rich art posts around. He did a good job with Katrina coverage too.

Ultra PDX (Portland's rock'n fashion and culture blog)

From The Floor (a literary critic who often writes about private collections)

… and last but not least the Portland public artwork blog (a masochistic subject if ever there was one… such pain!)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 06, 2005 at 23:00 | Comments (3)

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Sunday 09.04.05

Zombies vs. Robots

Generally I consider most political art to be a stunted and a bit stillborn. One great artist who happened to be political was the late Leon Golub. His stuff worked because his images of brutality were never too resolved or specific and thus never seem dated. Also, I agree with Mick Jagger that Jimi Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock was the best political performance art piece…ever.

In Portland's recent First Thursday we were treated to the unveiling of Robots vs. Zombies at Couch Gallery in the Everett Station Lofts. It was amusing in a clumsy lo-fi way, and definitely a spoof on the polarized nature of American politics.

I'll assume the brainless, trudging zombies are supposed to be the Republicans and the plodding, mechanically awkward robots are the Democrats acting out some political logic algorithm that spouts out cheap words like, "humans are our friends." There is some truth in these one-dimensional stereotypes, although one could argue that they are interchangeable. Adversaries often are.

Although the costumes were too cheap and cheesy to take seriously it was a serious subject matter. A high point for me was when a zombie bashed a robot over the head with a "Robots are too heavy" sign…. Whatever happened to, "he's not heavy he's my robot!"

Still, it was only partly amusing and half formed… a diversion at best and that seems dangerous. Then again these are dangerous times for nuanced free thinkers who think both the...

Posted by Jeff Jahn on September 04, 2005 at 23:22 | Comments (1)

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Tuesday 08.30.05

busy PORTers

PORT's staff are a busy bunch as I sit on my duff typing this:

Katherine along with her husband Philippe recieved a fine review from the Oregonian & Jenn does the infamous Ultra Q and chats about collecting in the WWeek.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 30, 2005 at 23:20 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 08.24.05

How to Be an Artist

Do you want my advice about how to become a successful artist? I'm not so sure that you do. I have two words for you: MOX IE. Being a product of the academic art system myself, I have advice you might find contradictory, but let me explain. As you advance, there is a point in school when you realize that you are paying quite a lot of money for the experience of two simple things: a studio and resources which allow you to pursue your work independently, and participation in a ready-made artist community. Many people installed in an academic program take those things for granted, and just hope to skate through to greater earning potential.

My advice is this: Stop worrying so much about being accepted by galleries or academic institutions. Don't waste your mental and spiritual energies marketing yourself. Work as little as possible, as work is the great enemy of artists everywhere. Work just enough to fund a studio for yourself and buy whatever supplies you need. Ask for help from other people, you will be suprised how much help you will be given. Lose your apprentice mindset. Lose your student mindset. When people ask you what you do, don't ever say "I'm trying to be an artist" or "I'm trying to make it as an artist" say "I am an artist." It isn't arrogance, it's the truth. Don't suck up to anyone. Claim your own power. Put all your eggs in the same basket. Be reckless. Be daring. Be defiant.

Don't think about shows at all. Think about the art you are doing. Then reach out, not to institutions, but to other people in the same position as you are. Other artists. Band together and support each other, encourage each other to work more, share studios and keep each other on track, work your heart out and enjoy it, drink whiskey and critique each other late at night on the weekends. Build an artist's community with integrity and galleries will come to you. If there is an older artist you admire write them a letter. The list of older artists who have taken me under their wing and given me guidance is far too long to write here. They will be flattered and will probably ask you to dinner. At the very least you will get a friendly rejection from someone you really admire. Here's a letter Jasper Johns wrote to me telling me he had no need for a studio assistant but wishing me good luck. Isn't it great to have Jasper Johns wish you luck?



There's a giant book called Who's Who in American Art. Using it you can contact any artist you admire in the US. Matthew Barney always needs assistants. I think his policy is that he gives anyone an unpaid trial period and then if you do well you get on the payroll. So save some money and go! The first thing you'll learn is the exact temperature a refigerated room needs to be to sculpt in Vaseline. Regardless of what you think of his work, a year working for him would be equivalent to or better than any academic program.

To be an artist there are only two rules: Work as hard as you can in your studio, and make friends with as many other artists as you can.

In the immortal words of MC5: KICK OUT THE JAMS!

Here's a relevant link on the same issue: foot in the door

Posted by Isaac Peterson on August 24, 2005 at 11:53 | Comments (2)

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Friday 08.19.05

Critical Cop Out ...Cop Out

After reading Todd Gibson's recent diatribe about his least favorite critical cop out I thought it was as good as time as any to point out some over-used critical cop outs.

1) quoting from an artist's statement in the first paragraph

2) using the word "postmodern" as a postmodern pastiche of postmodernity in a way that contextualizes the contemporary modern post-hyperbole world of the prefuture.

3) "Neo"-anything …after the matrix it needs to go away for at least 10 years

4) simply describing the show as a form of critical review

5) lists

6) using the word "slickness" as a pejorative and describing high production values as some inherently damning trait... exactly how is that? Did the artist accidentally produce something with impeccable finish? (For our non-Portland readers this is an issue because Portland's production values have climbed astronomically in certain cases and the staunch, old-time regionalists who have seen the city rapidly grow in sophistication now yearn for art that looks like it was whittled by beavers).

7) describing an artist's career as "on fire" then using it as the only justification for giving it more attention

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 19, 2005 at 2:08 | Comments (6)

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Tuesday 08.16.05

The Whitney Drill

Wrong Whitney, and can't she afford a cordless drill?

Well folks it is Whitney Biennial studio visit time again and since August is a notoriously dead month it's a topic ripe for near pointless conjecture. (Although Portland surprisingly still has a bit going on and then some.)

Just in case you haven't come out of your studio for 8 months, Chrissie Iles and Philippe Vergne are the co-curators this time out. Don't worry, odds are they probably won't visit you or your favorite artists...

For fun, let's explore some potential themes and trends for Whitney 06?

1) More fetish of fantasy escapism as a metaphor for liberal impotence?

2) Artists might be chosen through a series of photo shoots for Vogue… or better yet, pick only "seasoned" artists just to piss off all the young whippersnappers under 55. (call it the Boomer Biennial. I like it and I'm 30+ish. Has the whole youth thing gotten old?)

3) Just to keep the clichés fresh, declare "photography is dead"

4) Focus on the habits of infamous museum directors instead of art… Thomas Krens, Barry Munitz and Malcom Rogers?

5) Just rent out the Whitney to NADA and get it over with. Not gonna happen, but Clear Channel might eventually do it…

Seriously, will it go political like the recent Venice Biennale? Or should it present artists who actively look at the future and its challenges instead of the backwards nostalgia of the last biennial? Will it be about paranoia and pleasure in keeping with the current state of the nation? Stasis as a theme? Maybe something about the demographic tension between the Boomers and everyone else?

Will it travel as Tyler Green has suggested in the Wall Street Journal?

Hmmmm lets look at the past, the 2002 Whitney was chock full of youth subculture mongering, it fetished doodle-fantasy and the trend stuck. It's best offering, the Forcefield collective, didn't stay together too long after being discovered though.

At WB2002, The Royal Art Lodge's influence was everywhere but being Canadians they couldn't take part. It's also very likely the WB2002 had too many artists which weakened its arguments and suffocated people. Critics destroyed it, possibly because it wasn't New York centric (at a time when New York had just come under attack). Then again, they probably destroyed it because almost all of it lacked staying power, except Chris Johanson. (its not because he's in Portland either... he's often really good)

The 2004 Whitney was hailed as a godsend, mostly because the theme of nostalgia was easy for most everyone to relate to. It also seemed attuned to "the market" and doing so again would look bad. Yes, WB2004 was all about New York despite the fact the art world has fragmented. Somehow WB2006 needs more teeth than the previous two and the now rampant quasi-Victoriana ain't the toothiest of genres.

One last thing, the recent Greater New York show would have been a critical dud in LA, Seattle, Houston or Portland too. Standards are up in the West and each city has its better artists that make New York's B+ team look rather bad. Lets just see A team art please? (and no nostalgic Mr. T references?)

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 16, 2005 at 21:03 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 08.10.05

Keeping up and walking

Comparatively, Portland has a lot of art writers... even for a city twice its size and there is a lot of online content to keep up with. Here are some of the best links from PDX and abroad.

The Oregonian's Victoria Blake had a nice review of Eunice Parson's show. Recently there was an appropriate quashing of the latest Portland Art Center show too. For comparison here is PORT on Parsons.

I felt the Parsons show was strong, mature and probably a bit overhung. Not too original (with collage does that matter?) but definitely a valid modernist redux from an octogenarian artist.

The Mercury's John Motley reviews Chris Johanson this week. Last week Justin Westcoat Sanders wrote about the Steve Gutenberg show, stupid but entertaining. Also, the Merc now features the same horrid site redesign that Seattle's The Stranger has inflicted upon its readers.

On Artnet, Donald Kuspit tries to explain the reduction of images into code (and pixels) but misses the historical boat and forgets that the Industrial Revolution was all about making everything in a coded, highly replicable way. Pixels are just an extension of the modularity that the Gutenberg printing press, particle physics, Hargreaves' Spinning Jenny and Henry Ford's assembly line have innovated. That is "the code" modern painters are intuiting. Kuspit's real flaw is coming at it as an art historian instead of a historian. Modern and contemporary art history's epistemology needs lots of help, mostly because it's so new.

The last, but in many ways best link is to the Walking Portland blog. Portland is a city of walkers and that aspect really separates it from places like Seattle, Phoenix and LA etc. In my daily wanderings I notice things and mix with billionaires and bums in a way that profoundly effects my consciousness. It's urban and somehow riding around in a car is inherently suburban. Walking and Portland's appeal to a mass of artists are very related.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 10, 2005 at 22:01 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 08.09.05

South Beach Showing

Tyler Green has started leaking the line-up for Miami's satellite fairs. No word on the elusive NADA line-up but Portland makes a strong showing at Aqua. Might as well book your reservations now. Should be another fabulous par-tay.

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on August 09, 2005 at 13:06 | Comments (0)

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Golden advice on gallery hunting

Portland is filled to the gills with unsigned artists and a bunch of new galleries are moving in. Yet, many ridiculously talented artists are less than savvy when it comes to approaching these galleries. To the rescue comes Brooklyn gallerist Edward Winkleman with some golden advice here on his eponymous blog.

....and just for fun (because Tuesdays are dull) is this link.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 09, 2005 at 0:02 | Comments (2)

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Thursday 08.04.05

I'm a man of wealth and taste

Whenever I have to introduce myself, "Sympathy for the Devil" starts playing in my head against my will. Not that you could get any insight from that fact. I am an artist and a writer. I grew up in Juneau, Alaska and relocated to Oregon. I have just recently returned to Portland to live indefinitely after finishing my MFA in Cincinnati.

I am overjoyed to find such a rich, active art scene here. Jeff's observations on the expansive growth of the Portland art scene could not ring truer. Personally, I feel that Portland is sprinting towards greater recognition as a national and international art center, and I count myself among the privileged to have boarded the rocket just prior to launching. I am grateful to be involved, here and now.

My goal in writing for PORT is to enrich the dialogue surrounding the emerging Portland Renaissance, through analysis and critical discussion. I believe that criticism and art grow symbiotically from the same impulse, each can be enriched by the presence of the other, while maintaining independent vitality. Following in the footsteps of Larry Charles ("Oh, you delicate genius!"), I believe neither in the all-knowing critic nor the isolated genius artist. I have come to see art as a social arena which is always powered by interaction and in which both the artist and the critic have free agency. Artists often create descriptions of things not found in the world, things yet to be seen, and it is up to the critic to try and decipher and identify them.

I believe in the relevance of art, that it is not an elitist pastime affecting only those involved, but rather that it is a necessity for the survival of the human spirit. This is as true as it was in the days of the Lascaux cave painters as it is today, although today art takes many forms and exists simultaneously in a myriad of arenas, and the white cubes which replaced the caves have been swept clean of animal bones (mostly).

As I said before, I am excited to be writing about art in the City of Roses, and I feel that much more will be written about this city and this decade.

Posted by Isaac Peterson on August 04, 2005 at 17:49 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 08.03.05

RACC-ing up a new cultural survey

The Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) just released the results of a new arts and culture survey poll backing up the already widely known anecdote that Portland is an extremely liberal, creative city that likes to say it likes to support the arts. Read it here.

Here is just one highlight:

"Portland-area residents are avid consumers of arts and culture performances and exhibitions. Almost two-thirds of the population (72%) attends an arts and culture events at least every few months. Fully one-third attend arts and culture events at least once a month. 16% attend arts events at least once a week."

Ok, but anyone that attends an arts event every few months probably isn't all that serious a cultural consumer, important but not a core audience. The once a monthers are important too but it's that last group that really got my attention...

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 03, 2005 at 21:38 | Comments (0)

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Monday 08.01.05

Introducing Isaac Peterson

PORT welcomes Isaac Peterson as its newest staff writer. Isaac is new to Portland and comes to us with lots of art writing experience from Art Week and a recent MFA from the University of Cincinnati. He's emblematic of the hoard of young artists that continue to flood Portland's hectic scene and brings national level experience as a former assistant to Judy Pfaff. His writing style is energetic, informed and expansive. Portland rewards talent fast and Isaac definitely has it. Thanks for finding us after being in town for only two days Isaac!

PORT's energy and scope is due to all of its excellent contributors and Isaac's previous posts have earned him a staff position.

PORT itself is only two months old but the publication has been an exciting success, expanding Portland's international profile. So much so we've become a near daily publication with an avid core of daily readers and an ever growing monthly readership of thousands. PORT will continue to expand our international reach, providing everyone with internet access inside and outside Portland a window on this very active scene while providing a conduit for international information. Our readers are great and we thank you!

Needless to say we are learning as we go along and there have been many recent technical refinements. Also, you'll notice even more sponsors added in September and it's exciting that we have been told we've affected attendance at some of the shows we've covered. We are grateful for all of the flattery and contentious snarking our readers bring both, to our forums and the streets.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on August 01, 2005 at 21:16 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 07.31.05

Portland art district report & link-o-rama

Portland is changing on a weekly basis and the latest critical i (my longrunning monthly column for NWdrizzle) does a little midterm report card for the numerous art districts in town. Read it here.

The most notable finding is that a large # of very sophisticated graduates from good art schools continue to lead and redefine the sophistication level of the city. It seems like every young person in Portland is an artist.

Overall, it isn't the institutions or galleries leading the way it's the almost goldrush phenomena of the artists scene that continues to be where the best action is in PDX (as many of us like to call it). That said, the fact that there are 2 newly minted arts districts and most of the galleries and institutions are becoming more cutting edge seems to back up Portland's reputation as a progressive city on the move.

Want more portland blogs?

Ultrapdx covers Portland's very active fashion scene

Eva Lake's Lovelake covers her experience as an artist and gallerist

Portland Food covers the very good and expansive restaurant scene in PDX (my recommendations clarklewis and Bluehour)

and if you really want to dive into the Portland experience check out these blog spots: Orblogs and Urbanhonking

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 31, 2005 at 22:05 | Comments (1)

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Monday 07.25.05

Around Cyberspace...

Ben Davis recaps Scope Hamptons on Artnet. In it, he takes customary swipes at Scope for being scrappy, cites the growing presence of Latin American artists and gives props to Lifeboat by Paul Middendorf (PDX) and Mary Mattingly (NYC) of Manifest Artistry.

Tyler Green dishes the dirt on Thomas Krens' future at the Gugg. With his loft on the market, is he moving on or just moving?

AbLA likens the art market to the music biz with some precautionary words. With an (over?)inflated market and a recent tendency toward short-sightedness, is the art world setting itself up for a string of vapid one hit wonders? Caryn argues, and I agree, that artists, gallerists and collectors need to take the long view to build careers, not another spash in the pan.

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on July 25, 2005 at 20:31 | Comments (0)

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Linda Farris 1945-2005

Simply, the greatest public champion of cutting edge art by cutting edge artists in the Pacific Northwest...

Linda Farris passed away at her Seattle home Friday July 22nd as a hero to those in the visual arts because of her personal loyalty, eye and panache.

Through her eponymous gallery in Seattle, Farris brought the likes of Robert Rauschenberg and Louise Nevelson to the Pacific Northwest.

Despite the big time names it was her frank honesty, over the top hustle and daring that made her more than just an art dealer but an icon of fearlessness. Of all the people I have met in the art world none has impressed me like Linda Farris. With no double talk, a deep trust in artists, crazy in the best possible way, constant risk taking and a probing intelligence... she stood out. I respected her ability to piss off wall flowers and naysayers. Her legacy lives on in the artists whom she supported.

Her innovative Contemporary Art Project (1999-2002) brought together 13 investors who each gave Linda $15,000 a year to collect cutting edge contemporary art. The results on such a modest budget were spectacular featuring; Justine Kurland, Sue De Beer, Karin Davie, Julie Mehretu, Delia brown, Cecily Brown, Lisa Yuskavage and Inka Essenhigh. In 2002 the CAP collection found its permanent home at the Seattle Art Museum.

She also made contemporary art exciting on a personal grass roots level in Seattle, championing the work of Robert Yoder, Sherry Markovitz, Norie Sato and Jeffrey Bishop. After closing her gallery in 1996 she was instrumental in her support of artists like Jack Daws & Lisa Leidgren and many others in Seattle. Linda had a fast eye and supported Portland luminaries like Damali Ayo, Jacqueline Ehlis and Laura Fritz before anyone else in Seattle realized a renaissance was occurring to the south. Hell, she caught on faster than most in Portland.

Yes, she's known as a very public personality but she was incredibly personable in the confidence of small groups.

My fondest memories are driving her around downtown Portland with Frank Zappa's "peaches en regalia" blasting on the stereo, her incredibly good advice and her refereeing of a footrace in the University of Washington's Red Square between myself and Jacqueline Ehlis (fittingly between Linda and Barnett Newman's "Broken Obelisk").

It is an understatement to state that no Pacific Northwest art dealer before or since has had the balls of Linda Farris. It's fitting that her life sets a challenge. She set the bar and we could all do well to be a little bit more like her, but there will be only one Linda Farris.


Also, check out the Seattle Post Intelligencer on Linda Farris here. Please feel free to leave some of your reminiscences about Linda as comments on PORT.... I fully expect her deeds to outlive the legend of her well lived life

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 25, 2005 at 2:06 | Comments (1)

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Tuesday 07.19.05

Do the PICA Shuffle?

PICA has made two announcements, maybe three.

First off, Mark Russell has been named Guest Artistic Director of PICA's Time-Based Art Festival 2006 & 2007. Ok, a guest director is an innovative idea. Read about it here in the Portland Tribune.

PICA's own website is woefully out of date so don't look there.

What the Trib missed though (it was buried deep in the press release) is that longtime Managing Director, Victoria Frey, is now Kristy Edmund's replacement as Executive Director.

This isn't so innovative when PICA is in desperate need to recover a tarnished image in the visual arts, generate excitement, forge ahead in new directions and reinvigorate fundraising.

Frey has some serious questions to answer. The first being, "How is this new?" We also note how clearly the press release states that the TBA festival (performance art) is their "vanguard program." That #2 slot is where the visual arts stands folks. PICA and Frey will have to really make a case for PICA being relevant in the visual arts in Portland.

Granted, the press release indicates there will be a "Guest Visual Arts" curator named in the Fall, but that task is a rather tall order. First is the space issue. PICA's current corporate lobby space is simply inadequate for serious exhibitions as pointed out by PORT yesterday and my article 2 months ago. Locals lovingly call it the "coat check." Not exactly worthy of the national level programming that PICA has as its stated mission. Next, is the fundraising issue, PICA needs to raise or allocate $75,000+ to do this properly. ($125,000+ is more like it) This amount is definitely do-able and the money exists but I'm uncertain if it exists for PICA's spotty record. It requires a curator that instills confidence and excitement along with the savvy to connect to the audience here.

Will a guest curator be capable or even have the pull as an "instant lame duck" to raise that kind of excitement and funds?

This guest curator will also need combat the rather significant hurt feelings with the art scene. Can a curator do that from afar or on a "guest" salary? Does guest = part time?

PICA doesn't just need a guest visual art curator, they need a miracle worker.... or they have to settle for lowered expectations.

Still, with the Art Museum's $40,000,000 new wing sporting some exciting contemporary programming PICA's visual arts isn't going to be able to survive lowered expectations and miracle workers aren't easy to come by. I want PICA to succeed in the visual arts but it will require some serious thinking.


The Oregonian noticed some of the same issues.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 19, 2005 at 22:54 | Comments (7)

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Sunday 07.17.05

Scoop on the Affair art fair

Because PORT readers like to be on top of things here is the scoop: the list of galleries and organizations for the Affair @ the Jupiter Hotel art fair September 30th-October 2nd . It corresponds with the even bigger event: the opening of the Portland Art Museum's new Center for Modern and Contemporary Art with 28,000 sq. feet of new galleries.

The last Affair was way better than any Scope Fair so mark your calendars. This year's lineup is even better. Yes, there are art fairs everywhere (yawn), but this one is in Portland and therefore simply feels a lot better. This isn't some sattelite fair...it's a comet from the Oort (art?) cloud. (I'm not kidding, being in Portland and its relative novelty makes a huge difference).

The addition of project rooms by Mona Hatoum, Art 21, Diverseworks and White Columns should give the show an even stronger profile. Add in the fact that the famous Doug Fir Lounge is operating this year (it's on the hotel courtyard) makes for a venue that couldn't get much cooler. With numerous other shows corresponding to the fair and CMCA it's worth the price of a jet blue ticket to Portland.

Gallery List:

Augen Gallery, Portland
Allston Skirt Gallery, Boston
Jeff Bailey Gallery, New York
Blackfish Gallery, Portland
Blanket Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Bucheon Gallery, San Francisco
Compound, Portland
Alysia Duckler Gallery, Portland
Froelick Gallery, Portland
Gallery 500, Portland
Garde Rail Gallery, Seattle
Richard Heller Gallery, Los Angeles
Howard House, Seattle
Inman Gallery, Houston
Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle
Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Portland
Motel, Portland
Lizabeth Olivera, Los Angeles
PDX Contemporary Art, Portland
Platform Gallery, Seattle
Pulliam Deffenbaugh Gallery, Portland
Ratio 3, San Francisco
Laura Russo Gallery, Portland
Savage Art Resources, Portland
Solomon Projects, Atlanta
Solomon Fine Art, Seattle
Stephen Wirtz Gallery, San Francisco

Projects:
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Canada
Fluent-Collaborative, Austin
Diverseworks, Houston
White Columns, New York
Mona Hatoum, presented by Reed College

Publishers:
Clearcut
Art21
Artpapers
Portland Modern

...and you know PORT will have a presence: the whole Jupiter Hotel has wifi and Portland has a high-tech image to live up to.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 17, 2005 at 14:17 | Comments (2)

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Thursday 07.14.05

Art and Opinions

Justine Kurland's Twisted Limbs (the Burned Forest), 2004

Ok It is possibly your last chance to see the Justine Kurland show by PICA in the Weiden and Kennedy lobby on Friday the 15th. The building isn't open on the weekends (uggh) and you need to see this work before 6:00 PM when the place locks up. Kurland is probably the best artist affiliated with Yale in the last 15 years (that includes Matthew Barney and her onetime prof Crewdsen). Oh yes and Saturday the 16th is the last day of PICA's Landmark show : NW 13th & Flanders : Open Wed - Sat, 12-6 pm free to PICA members, $2 general. See my PORT review here.

I'm liking The Portland Mercury's new art critic John Motley, here is his Daniel Kaven review, he pays attention to details and whether consistencies and inconsistencies are intentional or not. Kudos.

Last but not least is the Mercury's Chas Bowie who has written quite the head scratcher here about art writing? First off, what group of milquetoasts do you hang out with? Please back up the statement, "public digression runs counter to our natural instincts." I suppose that innately epicurean instinct (i.e. non public) is why blogging and reality TV shows have become so popular?

I wonder what kind of waffletastic weenie crew you have met but the art world is generally opinionated and definitely chatty (catty too). It is what makes it work, everyone agrees to disagree. Yes, money is poisoning "Art" now but it in terms of print it just makes people ignore criticism more selectively. It doesn't silence the criticism, it just makes it disconnected for a time being. After the market correction one looks prescient.

Yes some craven toadies edit themselves but people like Roberta Smith, Jerry Saltz, Christopher Knight and Tyler Green call it like they see it. From my own experience, when Robert Storr asked me what I thought of his Site Santa Fe show, I told him. We talked over some divergent points and amicably went our merry ways... absolutely no awkward silences.

When I wrote a review for Modern Painters that basically tore apart the collective efforts of reasonably powerful curators like Ralph Rugoff and Matthew Higgs, Lisa Corrin etc. for the dull, badly premised Baja to Vancouver show my reviews editor's response was "nice f-ing review " and they printed the thing without alterations. I liked some parts of the show and gave credit where credit was due too. It's true British mags are more critical but Art Forum's review was only slightly more forgiving.

Also, I'm not certain what art world you are in, but taking shots at Matthew Barney was pretty much the standard ice breaker for conversations a few years ago. Now it's the overheated market. Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and it's more about how one backs up that opinion that matters.

Art writing is tough for other reasons, the pay is generally lousy and it is difficult to enthusiastically sort the crud from the gems day in and day out. What the art world needs are better ideas after running on fumes and hedge fund money for too long.

P.S. Banks Violette is no where near as interesting as Sue de Beer who relies more on noir's dread and excitement rather than kitsch and funhouse design.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 14, 2005 at 22:13 | Comments (8)

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Wednesday 07.13.05

Virtually Hot off the Presses

a peek at the new Pulliam Deffenbaugh Gallery

Pulliam Deffenbaugh Gallery has released this nifty architect's rendering of their new space set to open in September. It's a busy renovation time and no less than five galleries are moving into better gallery spaces in Portland during the next year (some as property owners). Three of them, including P-D, will be doing so in mere months. Portland is upgrading en masse.

Elizabeth Leach started the trend last year. Of note, the P-D space will not be carpeted as their current space is. I confess complete snobbery when it comes to gallery floors and there is no greater faux pax than carpet. I had a dream once where MoMA was covered in thick shag… even the outdoor sculpture court. I think it's part of the reason I dislike Matthew Barney, he is a carpet monger! It was the first thing I noticed at his Walker installation last May. Still, I liked Nan Curtis' shag carpet wear pattern piece at the Northwest Biennial in the Tacoma Art Museum last year.


Also, I just got back from the Vintage Vandals & Zach Kircher show at Savage Art Resources. Both were good shows worth the trip, it was a packed house too. In fact, it was a great Portland moment with a combination of West Hill's super-patrons with the Weiden & Kennedy hipster crowd. I love it. The Vintage Vandals show was comprised of sometimes extremely entertaining additions to pre-existing kitsch paintings from Goodwill. Distinguished mostly through visual puns the group reminded me of college poetry slams where the winning poets would always be the funniest.


Driscoll Reid's Untitled

There is talent here but the two best were Drsicoll Reid's Untitled and Evan Harris' Song of Sirens. Charming and foreboding this is good cheap art for hipsters who like to entertain visually but the better work was Kircher's in the other gallery.

Somewhere between Norbert Bisky and Neo Rauch with a Roy Lichtenstein sense of humor Kircher has been at this style longer than those two living art stars have been stars and deserves a closer look. He would fit in well at Bellwether in Chelsea.

Which reminds me, the excellent Portland artist Paul Green is in a group show "Idols of Perversity" at Bellwether through August 6th.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 13, 2005 at 22:20 | Comments (0)

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Monday 07.11.05

Bigger = Better

You must know by now that the Portland Art Museum has been expanding with a new Center for Modern and Contemporary Art with construction underway for at least the last year or so. The new wing is scheduled to open the first weekend in October (mark your calendars) coinciding with the Affair at the Jupiter Hotel and a gazillion other art events. To celebrate the Museum's $40 million North Building expansion and opening of the region's largest center for modern art, PAM will install Brushstrokes (1996), created by American artist Roy Lichtenstein (1923-97) in the last years of his life. The sculpture has been exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in D.C., and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and will now make it's home in our fair city. This baby is big, the largest public work by Lichtenstein west of the Mississippi at 29.5 feet (not 30', mind you). The painted aluminum sculpture will be placed on the east side of the Museum campus and in conjunction with the installation of the new acquisition, the Museum will present a dossier exhibition centered around Lichtenstein's brushstroke-themed sculptures by featuring drawings, maquettes and small-scale sculpture.

The size of the sculpture is a good match for the scale of the museum's new wing. For those of us who thought the Museum was a bit dated, the CMCA offers an ambitious attempt to deliver PAM into the 21st century. "The CMCA includes over 28,000 square feet of gallery space on six floors, showcasing more than 350 works of art in a full spectrum of mediums, and an underground link gallery that connects the North Building with the Museum's historic Belluschi Building. The North Building also includes magnificent ballrooms for community events, a new curatorial and administrative center, a 33,000-volume Art Study Center and Library, which is the region's most significant resource for art research, and the NW Film Center, the area's finest source for filmmaking arts. Fall 2005 marks the completion of the $40 million project, which is the culmination of the 10-year, $125 million master plan to develop the Museum's campus." This sort of well-executed contemporary arts center has the potential to help put Portland on the map by creating a legitimate venue for the import and export of national and internationally relevant art. I will look forward to seeing the curatorial schedule for the upcoming years which in my fantasy world would fall somewhere between the Hammer and MoMA.

The Lichtenstein sculpture and CMCA open October 2, 2005. If you join PAM now, you can probably even beat the crowds and gain entree to the gala events.

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on July 11, 2005 at 17:58 | Comments (0)

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Sunday 07.10.05

mini me & mini you

Definitely check out Tyler Green's post on Marfa here. The much abused and arguably abusive word "minimalism" has become so bastardized in the last 15 years that "minimal" and machined aluminum have become synonymous with yuppie aesthetics. If you drive a Lexus or Audi TT go home and count the # of milled aluminum items in your abode... see what I mean. It does show how influential Judd is though.

Still, it is definitely a long overdue opportunity to take back the essential experience of Judd, Flavin, De Maria, Irwin, Sonnier and Jo Baer away from the balsamic vinegar crowd and their "minimal" décor lingo. These artists were/are intellectuals who didn't see man as the measure of all things and acknowledged like Shakespeare did in Hamlet that, "There are more things in heaven and earth….than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Currently, too many young artists are just sponging sweat off of Judd's back, but lack the rigorous ascetic iconoclasm. The man was a philosopher not a careerist and his works at Chinati are a great antidote to the intensely vain art that is literally in vogue. Besides, I suspect James Turrell's Roden Crater will be a more successful way to assume astro vivid focus than some pied wallpaper piper will ever achieve.

Sometimes, doing things the hard way is the only way.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 10, 2005 at 22:41 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 07.05.05

The "P" word regarding Portland?

Chandra Bocci at Haze October 2004 (media: otter pops and mucho mustard packets)

Writing the word "perfect" is a nasty habit and a sloth inducing moniker. Yet today, Budget Travel published a no holds barred gushing review of Portland that used the consarned "P" word. It is pretty much all true but man is it positive… in fact, my fillings feel funny after reading it. Portland does have major challenges and chief among them is not being content with what it has already achieved.

Still, writer Kimberly Sevick was absolutely right about the food thing here and she even plugged one of our best artists Chandra Bocci. Some of the facts were off though, such as Bocci showing a pillow fight war at Haze. Actually, it was an amazing 70 ft looping rainbow of otter pops and a yellow brick road of mustard packets. The pillow fight was at ORLO.

What Sevick missed, (other than restaurants like Blue Hour, clarklewis, Mingo, Genoa and the specifics of gallery scene, like Liz Leach, PDX, Woolley, Pulliam Deffenbaugh, Froelick, Laura Russo and Savage among others) was the fact that the young artists of the scene have really helped change Portland's overall level of sophistication by staging a lot of high profile shows. It is a rare thing with a lot of history in a short time.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 05, 2005 at 21:54 | Comments (0)

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Monday 07.04.05

Freedom from Liberty at WTC

the newly redesigned Empire State Building with a twist

Since it is the 4th of July here is a little bit on the Freedom Tower at the WTC site. Nicolai Ouroussoff pretty much nails it in the NYT's here. Also, check out the commentary by curbed.

I'm going to take something from Jerry Saltz's January 2004 lecture in Portland, namely the Panorama at the Queen's Museum. Though unintentional, the Panorama looks like it will be the best WTC memorial (below). It is an insult to injury that the "Freedom from Liberty" tower's architecture is more of a Maginot Line challenge to terrorists than a challenging design.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 04, 2005 at 14:13 | Comments (0)

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Friday 07.01.05

Use antlers in all of your decorating

Two-headed Earth Spirit, Warring States period China

The latest critical i, my ongoing experimental online magazine column for NWDrizzle is now up. In it I take on a Warring States period Chinese artifact from the Schnitzer's fantastic collection, Batman Begins and the boxing photography of Jim Lommasson. You can buy Lommasson's book here. His show at Powells Books comes down Sunday.

There are other Portland art bloggers too, longtime diarist (+ once and future gallerist) Eva Lake and Scott Wayne Indiana are two of em.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on July 01, 2005 at 23:13 | Comments (0)

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Monday 06.27.05

A Less Modest Proposal

I've said it a hundred times and it's still true, culture is a growth industry on the West Coast. (I even said it on CNN last year.)

Also, I think that art.blogging.la and zerodegreesart are onto something by proposing a stronger California Biennial, but I don't think they are thinking big enough. The west in general is getting itself together with major museum expansions in the works in Mexico, LA, Portland (October 2005) and Seattle (2007). Also, San Francisco just opened the new de Young.

Instead, I believe a bigger triennial taking the strongest art from west of the Mississippi (the area most neglected by the Whitney Biennial) along with Mexico and Vancouver BC would be very difficult to ignore. Then again maybe focusing on coastal lands west of the Mississippi is the way to go(including Texas).

The problem with the California Biennial, Oregon Biennial and Bay Area Now shows is they aren't broad enough thought bombs to galvanize discussion outside of their respective zones. The regional biennials are vanity shows that do some good but don't launch things on a larger scale like the Whitney often does. It is an ambition issue and there needs to be something that takes things to a higher level. For example the "Thing" show at the Hammer was a nice tight regional survey. Although excellent for what it was, "Thing" didn't stamp its foot quite loud enough. It wasnt designed to be the the West Coast's coming out party.

The regional biennials like the California and Oregon ones seem a tad quaint in the same way the latest Greater New York felt mostly junior varsity and solipsistic (except Yuken Teruya). At GNY the artists were already too familiar to that scene and it felt picked over. The Whitney's advantage is it covers a huge area with a bias towards New York (it has been weakened by too much bias though). I think the Whitney Biennial would actually benefit from being challenged.

I believe a western rodeo of an art show of... lets say 30 artists would also probably be LA biased but it would give validity to LA's strength as an international art city with a network of connections that East Coast museums probably are not aware of. The only way for LA to become Rome is to make more roads lead to it as a way to identify peripatetic talent that may or may not reside there. The argument is cosmopolitanism 101.

Yes, 2 years ago the Baja to Vancouver show attempted to do this but it purposefully avoided taking stock of both Los Angeles and Portland (two of the most active US coastal art cities). Because it was mostly focused on Vancouver it felt out of touch and both Art Forum and Modern Painters (penned by yours truly) gave it pretty crushing reviews. Still, I believe it opened the discussion and pointed out a few pitfalls. First of all, it had too many curators on its committee (6) and a project like this would work better with only 3 or possibly two autonomous teams of two? Also, including some critics in with the curators might make it stronger?

Tyler Green has made a good case for why biennials are dead but I believe the root of their malaise is their predictability. A western roundup would be something new and therefore more unpredictable. Things are still young and a bit untamed out here in the west. Why not put on a show that presents that as a strength? New York's weakness is it's lack of vacuum and breathing space.

Yes, museum politics are an issue but if it takes place in one location it minimizes that issue.

Lastly, this is obviously a difficult, possibly unlikely idea but it can't hurt to bring it up. It would require a real budget to truly make it happen too. Any additional thoughts?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 27, 2005 at 23:43 | Comments (5)

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Sunday 06.26.05

Mountain on the Move

Those who live elsewhere might not know that Mt. St. Helens is currently erupting. In fact the "minor" eruption that took place march 8th was the most impressive thing I saw this year...ok any year (pictured above). The volcano is 65 miles from Portland and is quite visible on clear days in the city. For those who lack their own volcano you might enjoy Mount St. Helens: Photographs by Frank Gohlke, which opens June 29 at MOMA.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 26, 2005 at 23:01 | Comments (0)

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Thursday 06.23.05

July is marvy in June

This is old news to Portlanders….but the secret connection between Miranda July and Carrie Brownstein is (besides the article in Interview Magazine's July issue)… Portland of course. No one city can really lay exclusive claim to an artist though. Instead, artists are peripatetic gifts and this fact only makes miss July's first feature film's critical success even more marvy.

July called Portland home until 2002 and we still see her around quite a bit. Brownstein of course is part of the Portland based rock group Sleater Kinney. July's multiple media talents are old news to the art world but that makes it kinda fun to see her catch on amongst the Ebert enclave. (Also, why do people tolerate the kind of pompous hand jive he is doing in the picture below?)



Overall, the article is decent, if a little brief and it highlights both the seriousness of intent and the anti-focus group aesthetic decision making process that one finds a lot amongst Rose City citizens. (Could it be ambition without prefabricated outcomes?) In terms of July's career it's a mark of strength to take this sudden mass media momentum on her own terms. (it is also very Portland, other cities have pockets of this vibe too but practically everyone here has it) Here are some more Miranda July links: in the NYT, here, there and everyone else we know.

In Portland, artist Jacqueline Ehlis continues her art coverage onslaught in the WWeek. All froth and saturation aside, her's is a very deserving show. Speaking of serious content, her interview with Eva Lake for Art Star Radio has now been transcribed here.

To round out other Portland links it looks like the Portland Mercury has found itself a new art critic? We noticed there was no review last week, good to see a review with so many good June shows.

Around the blogosphere Edward Winkleman makes some very provocative points about China and art fair/biennials. His point about China being so widely accepted is very interesting. I suspect that the Chinese, who impressively have had a large scale bureaucratic government for over 3,000 years found it easy to sway the allegiance of the neophyte art world's bureaucratic system. ....am I wrong? Yes, some of the Chinese stuff is good, but by and large the city of Los Angeles deserves at least as much attention. At least Ed Ruscha is getting the credit he is due. He is in the July issue of Interview too.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 23, 2005 at 23:04 | Comments (1)

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Wednesday 06.22.05

Blood or Art?

It isn't always an easy choice and I'm certain Tim Dalbow is kidding, but this little email excerpt is too good:

"Thanks for. . . .the mention of my blue balls (civic art project), but I'm already on to a new project designed for the nonprofit bleeding of poor artists for donations. If you haven't already heard I want to supply solicitation with pints (ouch) of my own blood. It costs me no money and it's a renewable resource!" -TSD

It does touch a nerve regarding Portland's now too frequent tendency to raise money for nonprofit organizations through art auctions. It is as if the artists are some eternally milkable cow. Yes, like Rumplestiltskin, artists are capable of spinning straw into gold but that colorful character didn't fare too well in that bargain either.

We should note that most of the auctions are noble and help raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for good causes but at best it is getting tired and at worst it seems vampiric. I think auctions should be rare and for emergencies, not long-term funding strategies. Any thoughts?

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 22, 2005 at 20:24 | Comments (5)

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Politicking and the Market

Tyler Green's got a great post this morning that touches on two recurring discussions (replete with lots of links). First, debunking the myth of the merit-based major art fairs a la Basel or Biennale (we all know it has been a politicking game all along). And secondly, that art criticism (and I would say also the perceived "value" of art) is no longer about content, intention, social relevance or technical innovation, but rather, the market. These two issues are far from resolved but it seems timely to begin a serious dialogue about their cause and effects.

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on June 22, 2005 at 9:56 | Comments (0)

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It's No Accident

Be sure to check out Joseph Gallivan's article in Tuesday's Portland Tribune profiling collector Sylvia Engelman. Despite its title (an unfortunate editorial decision), the article provides a rare look into the motivations and activities of one of Portland's more important collectors, whose collection reveals an astute eye that is anything but accidental. Portland's collectors are notoriously shy, many accruing their collection with relative anonymity, most reticent to reveal their collection or ambitions in a public fashion. Engelman, who has proved her reputation for seeking out rising talent early on (Jacqueline Ehlis, Michael Oman-Reagan, Jesse Durost) as well as for collecting work by key international artists (Sol LeWitt, Damien Hirst) shares with refreshing candor the finer points of how and why she collects.

Posted by Katherine Bovee on June 22, 2005 at 0:39 | Comments (2)

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Saturday 06.18.05

Fortress Munch

As reported in today's NYT, the Munch Museum in Oslo has re-opened ten months after the embarrasing heist of "the Scream" and "Madonna". With $5.2 million in new sercurity measures, getting into the museum promises to be as fun as boarding an airplane ("Could you remove your shoes and belt please..."). The anti-theft measures involve bolting artwork to the walls (why this wasn't already in place I have no idea, even hotels and corporate towers are smart enough to bolt their generic originals) and mounting thick glass panels over each piece. To the shagrin of some administrators, the previously unadulterated views of the original artwork are now intruded by Windex streaks and dust particles on the glass preventing a good view of the brushstrokes. Oh the sacrifices!

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on June 18, 2005 at 12:23 | Comments (1)

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Friday 06.17.05

Danzine at the Whitney

The ISP Curatorial Program at the Whitney is currently running At the Mercy of Others: the Politics of Care through June 25th. Part of this exhibition includes a Danzine Retrospective, curated by Teresa Dulce and Marne Lucas. This retrospective offers some much deserved attention for an organization that provided a decade of critical support for workers of Portland's booming sex industry. From the press release:

"The 'Danzine Retrospective' is an important show celebrating ten years of health care and art through the efforts of the non-profit organization Danzine. The success rate of Danzine's outreach progams stems from the grass-roots design: need based, reality based, risk reduction services that reach a stigmatized population. Danzine mission statement 'Danzine was created by and for sex workers and it is our goal to provide the information and resources we needed to make more informed decisions, personally and professionally.' While the agency served needs of colleagues Portland, Oregon from 1995-2005, the risk reduction mission is timeless and its energy resurfaces as health organizations nationwide take cue from its efficacy and sensitivity to those it served."

The installation itself is a recreation of "Switzerland", the lounge at the Danzine space, packed with ephemera from the organization's archives including a large collection of artwork, publication covers, event posters, pamphlets, postcards and t-shirts. Participating Artists include a number of Portland prolifics: Fishy, Dawn J., Christina LeBlanc-Stanley, Lara Lee, Scott Nasburg, Arnold Pander, Leslie Peterson, Bryan Pollard, Suzanne Shifflett, Stosh, Sean Tejaratchi, Melissa Tremblay, Ernest Truely, Gina Velour, Kristin Yount and more. A video installation by Teresa Dulce includes news footage from live performances at City Hall in 2000, and the Portland Bad Date Line.
Art Gallery of The Graduate Center, City University of New York • 365 Fifth Avenue, NYC • Tel. 212.817.7386 • Tues through Sat 12-6 p

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on June 17, 2005 at 15:43 | Comments (0)

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All in the Family

Margaret Kilgallen's retrospective, "In the Sweet Bye & Bye" opened at REDCAT in L.A. on Wednesday. A gifted and compelling young artist, Kilgallen died of breast cancer 4 years ago (at age 33) and, to a certain extent, has been mourned ever since. Her distinctive style was informed by the traditions of sign painting and folk art and her work embodies a compassion and craft that has touched the hearts of many. Portland punk photographer and filmmaker Bill Daniel was on-hand at the opening with a screening of his new film, "Who is Bozo Texino?". I won't be making it to L.A. before the show's closure so I welcome any comments of the exhibition.

Speaking of influence, the NYT writes about a public art endeavor spearheaded by ESPO (there "Mr. Powers") in the name of art, commerce and community at Coney Island. Artists and business owners are collaborating to develop new signage on the boardwalk, resulting in some unexpected and enriching alliances and what might be called a minor revitalization. The article mentions but doesn't elaborate on the Dreamland Artist Clubhouse which celebrates their 2005 grand opening tonight, featuring a formidible roster of rising art stars. Something about this just warms the cockles of my heart.

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on June 17, 2005 at 9:36 | Comments (0)

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Tuesday 06.14.05

2005 Oregon Biennial on Saturday

...according to Art Forum's Art Guide the postponed Oregon Biennial is taking place this weekend at an alternate site...the lovely state of Maine (scroll down). The greatly anticipated survey of Oregon art will be the most radical ever since only Maine artists were chosen.

All kidding aside, the real one is rumoured to happen in 2006 and thankfully none of the last 2 biennials (although disappointing compared to the pool available) looked as underwhelming as the one in Portland Maine does.

There has been talk that the yet to be hired Arlene & Harold Schnitzer Curator of NW Art will be involved. The format really deserves a serious re-appraisal too. Oregon artists are making real strides nationally and internationally and a more focused show of 6-9 artists makes a lot of sense to me.

What do you think? Do you prefer it be more focused with less artists? Is jury by slide just too limiting? Should the museum simply commission works, especially considering the number of installation artists we have here? Does the thing really matter now that Portland artists are increasingly using the place as a base for national/international activity? The biennial's contentious nature does keep things interesting.

Yes, there is a sense of catching up that needs to be addressed but some museum's move slow and the Portland Art museum is based on the venerable Metropolitan Museum's "better late than never" model. Fact is the biennial is an inexpensive blockbuster for the museum in this art crazy place.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 14, 2005 at 19:08 | Comments (0)

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Monday 06.13.05

Stumped

Stump Cozy by Shanon Schollian

Ok it is a bit of a tired cliche; but there is a lot of tree art in the Pacific Northwest. Then again, why not when half of Brooklyn is faux forest happy. It's a tad ridiculous but there is something about not having the thing in a gallery that works wonders. Shanon Schollian's Stump Cozy project took place way back in 2002 and now the stumpmeister general himself, Michael Brophy, currently has a show at the Hallie Ford Museum. Malia Jensen also did some shirts for trees a while back too. Ok, lets just say the Lorax is a very influential character around here.

The Portland Art Museum even has a serine but menacing Ernst Ludwig Kirchner depicting some Douglas Fir trees which I dearly love, but we have to wait until October to see it again due to construction.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 13, 2005 at 22:57 | Comments (0)

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Friday 06.10.05

Greetings & Salutations

Since PORT has been up and running for over a week, I suppose it's time I introduced myself. This online arts journal was an idea I had last year after being inspired by the other regional art blogs popping up around the country, especially the fine folks at art.blogging.la. I had mentioned the idea to Jeff on a couple of occasions and at the beginning of the year, he pressed me to pursue the idea more seriously so I enlisted him as a collaborator. Six months and three additional staff writers later, viola!

The vision of this online arts journal is to catalyze critical discussion and disseminate information about art as lensed through Portland, Oregon. Using weblog functionality we are able to deliver you up-to-the-minute news, reviews and events. User comments are encouraged and easy to post (commenting requires a simple one-time registration, allowing us to weed out spammers and maintain transparency). You are invited to join in the discussion and interject your own supporting or dissenting ideas. Portland has a thriving art community which can only be strengthened by critical and sometimes firey discussion. So, play fair and don't be shy!

As this endeavor unfolds I'm sure there will be changes, revisions and improvements. If you notice any technical problems, please email us and we'll fix it. I will be handling the announcements of openings and events and the calls for artists. These will be centered around events in the Portland-metro area or exhibitions of Portland-based artists in other locales. To be considered for our calendar, please visit the Contact page for more information.

My day job consists of running Motel, a gallery in Portland's Chinatown showcasing up-and-coming artists and independent designers from around the country. I also work occasionally as a freelance graphic and web designer. Stop by and say hello if you're in Chinatown (we're on Northwest Couch between 5th & 6th). For more about me and the rest of the contributors, visit the About PORT section.

Thanks and welcome!

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on June 10, 2005 at 10:56 | Comments (0)

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Hello, Congress?

Over at MAN, Tyler Green calls for accountability among non-profit heads, hilighting lavish expenditures by Barry Munitz at the Getty (citing the LAT). $6000 shower curtains, baubles, Cuban vacations all on his expense account? And yet, he's only accountable to the hand-picked board that funded this lifestyle. Time for some legislative intervention?

Posted by Jennifer Armbrust on June 10, 2005 at 10:03 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 06.08.05

Art Wars?

The Willamette Week (our Pulitzer Prize winning weekly) has this image plastered on boxes throughout town depicting Sean Healy and Jacqueline Ehlis mock Kung Fu fighting. Visual art is the big game in Portland and this generalist paper is trying to suss out the aesthetic agendas of the over 10,000+ artists in this city of 2.1 million. With new artists arriving each day good luck! Read the doomed thing here. (I apologize in advance, I'm mentioned).

Needless to say I disagree with a lot of the silly particulars and the flakey absolutism of it all but its existence contributes to the general sense that there is something going on here (it could be compared to the music scene in Seattle in the 90's, not 1994 either).

When I took the quiz I polled as a post-mod... so silly, frankly history is cyclical and we aren't post anything.

Actually, the cover story in the same issue about live/work space is very good.

I do think one can sift through artists by determining those who aren't satisfied with the morass of everyday life and do something about it. It's an existentialist...

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 08, 2005 at 23:47 | Comments (0)

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Monday 06.06.05

Superflat Earth Society

PORT digs Interview magazine's June issue devoted to all things Japanese, including art. Nice to read about Murakami and Yoko Ono seeing, "another world," in a philosophical sense. As expected, nothing too deep or intellectually charged in here but those two really matter and it is probably because they have romantic notions of change. (Portland is very into Superflat and much more recent Tokyo stuff and less so into Fluxus... but it is here too). Add in Yayoi Kusama and Tadao Ando for this issue and you got something. At least it is an American magazine focused on another country.

Yet it is difficult to fathom Yoshitomo Nara being one of, "The Artists To Watch." ….ummm maybe in 1995. One's got to wonder what audience living under a rock (or Okalahoma cornfield) has yet to gain at least casual awareness of Nara? In a true Superflat leveling of commerce and high art Nara has licensed T-shirts, diaries and bookends as well as art. He is pretty much the Peter Frank of the art world. If you are in any kind of large city he is widely available.

Maybe it's targeted at the hapless babies of Gen X'rs… We liked Nara in grad school, now my classmates are putting little Timmy in Nara wear? It's a better move than Louis Vuitton but is it the darn museum gift shop creeping into life? It will be interesting to see which one, Murakami (gone fashion) or Nara (gone Timmy's room décor) will be best remembered by history. It's the age old battle "models vs. babies"…two sides of the same coin.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 06, 2005 at 17:44 | Comments (1)

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Thursday 06.02.05

Hitting the streets

As Katherine mentioned in her recent post I write something called the critical i, here is the latest. There is a review of Justine Kurland's talk,a few shows from last month and takes Disjecta (a would be institution) and PICA to task.

Also, it is First Thursday in Portland (the largest gallery hop), although tomorrow night's openings with Jacqueline Ehlis at Savage and the Snapshot Chronicles at Reed College might be the best new shows to see. Check out Jenn's list for shows tonight here.

Also, for those not lucky enough to live in Portland you can see some of our best artists elsewhere.

If you are in Chelsea, D.E. May is at Pavel Zoubok Gallery and Harrell Fletcher can be found at The Wrong Gallery.

In LA Matthew Picton @ Solway Jones Gallery is attracting some important press, watch this one.

In Montreal T.J. Norris debuts DK @ Atom Heart

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 02, 2005 at 18:02 | Comments (0)

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Going Public

While intelligent critical discussion may not always happen in a very public fashion in Portland, I know it is taking place because I've heard it everywhere from informal conversations with acquaintances to academic lectures. Dialogue is taking place amongst artists, critics, gallery owners and curators based out of Portland. It's also happening by artists and art professionals coming to Portland to find out what the rumors are all about. It's obvious to longtime Portland residents, recent transplants and visitors that something is brewing here, and it's not to be missed.

Critical discussion about art in Portland reaches far beyond the few measly plots of printed real estate allotted to arts coverage in local print media. For a city of this size, with this much activity, with this many practicing artists and functioning galleries, and now, within the past few years, with the increasing amount of political interest in branding Portland as a city for art and artists, it's only natural to expect critical discussion to grow into maturity with its artists.

It's truly mystifying why much of Portland's art writing has remained corralled by the scant amount of printed space available to the arts. The turf is much larger than that and the discussions go much deeper than that. Fellow PORT writer Jeff Jahn's NW Drizzle column broke away from a dependence on print (and the strictures of diminutive word counts imposed by the economic realities of print). With the launch of PORT, critical discussion now has a public forum that allows for a greater volume of writing with far more immediacy. My particular interest as a regular contributor of PORT is in inciting these discussions and ensuring that the link between Portland and the rest of the world is a two-way conduit for ideas.

Posted by Katherine Bovee on June 02, 2005 at 10:17 | Comments (0)

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Wednesday 06.01.05

Contributor Andie DeLuca introduces herself

I don't make art. I don't show it, sell it, or curate it. I simply love looking at it and writing about it. Though I grew up in Portland, I am fairly new to the appreciation of the Portland art scene. The love of art only captured me as an adult, and my years of study did not allow me the leisure to explore the wealth of local galleries and other exhibition spaces. I come to PORT with the desire to explore these venues and report on my findings. Like a newly arrived transplant from a distant city, I want to find the best galleries, artists, and environments. My goal is to draw on my love of the city and the authenticity of the art aficionado's experience to evaluate current exhibitions and trends. From small, out of the way spaces to the established galleries and that grande dame the Portland Art Museum, what is going on in Portland? More than just "knowing what I like," I also want to challenge myself to see new art in new ways, and to write about it fairly, but with an astute critical eye. I look forward to reading other's comments on my discoveries....

Posted by Andie DeLuca on June 01, 2005 at 14:30 | Comments (0)

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Welcome to PORT

For those in the know, it isn't news that Portland Oregon's visual art scene has experienced a massive influx of artists (over 10,000 according to the last census) that has subsequently redefined the sophistication of this city of now 2.1 million metro inhabitants. This trend has only intensified and has been reported on by CNN, Art News and Modern Painters (by yours truly).

What is so special about Portland is that unlike other major US cities visual art is the big game in town. Many artists have developed in noteworthy ways in the last five years. For context, Portland is a place where mass transit is popular, trees are big, volcanoes blow up, reading is relentless, shorts are nearly always ok, gallery hopping can be blood sport and civic issues like urban development are debated with a ferocity that might seem alien to other ennui drenched places. The art reflects this dynamicism that has been lost in many modern cities.

In 2001 Peter Schjeldahl somewhat accurately called Portland "Sweden with SUV's" and once George Bush (the elder) much less accurately called it "Little Beirut." In other words like all interesting places it is hard to define and Portland artists are probably making those definitions even more difficult.

With that in mind PORT is here to give a forum for the visual art shows, events and critical discussions that are taking place in this most European (yet pioneering) of US cities. PORT will also discuss shows and happenings elsewhere of interest.

Here is a very short list of future events that some Portlanders look forward to and others will dread:


October 1 The Portland Art Museum opens its massive new wing, the Center for Modern and Contemporary Art.

September 30 - October 2 Portland's second annual contemporary art fair the Affair @ the Jupiter Hotel

Spring 2006 AGPS architecture will unveil its one-of-a-kind urban aerial tram for Oregon Health and Sciences University.

Posted by Jeff Jahn on June 01, 2005 at 2:20 | Comments (8)

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