hi again from martha and grapefruits news!

hi again! i keep finding a lot of cool stuff to share and i want to make sure this is a sustainable hobby for me, so i'm not going to editorialize too much this week. just straight to the content!

hyperallergic has a thoughtful critique of a judy chicago retrospective. my first encounter with the work of the 1970s/1980s feminist art movement was initially revelatory, and then quickly became confusing in ways that helped me clarify my own values and interests... i can totally see many of the faults this writer found in chicago's work, but that doesn't negate the lasting impact of some of her major pieces like "the dinner party." it's too bad chicago's work is so often presented in a way that feels resistant to or resentful of the changes in feminist thought that have unfolded since she got her start. i was reminded of the thoughts that i had while reading her very salty book, "institutional time." her words always made it sound like she was worried that being critiqued was equivalent to being dismissed... has anyone out there read her writing? have thoughts on her work? it's divisive!

here we have a very different kind of feminist artist! i am simultaneously disappointed that i didn't know about marie laurencin's work before and delighted to discover a brilliant new (to me)/old (relative to the span of a human lifetime) painter, whose work i love. sometimes i get a little misty thinking of all the inspiring creative communities that came before me and the fun times and exciting conversations they must have had. the past is still thrilling even though it's technically over! also shout out to johanna fateman, whose writing i love. i am still angry at the new yorker for cutting her reviews, along with the rest of the "goings on about town" section (rip).

The Sphere and Michael Heizer’s “City,” Reviewed: Two Paths for Immersion | The New Yorker

The concept has become ubiquitous in art and entertainment. But is it about capturing our attention, or deceiving it?

i am still mad at the new yorker for cutting the weekly art reviews, but this review is kind of fun. i know someone who went to the sphere recently (to see u2!!!)! i don't know anybody who has been to "city." but there's a stucco apartment complex near my house that my partner and i call "michael heizer's 'city'" because the whole lawn was torn up and filled in with dirt and rocks over the summer as part of a landscaping overhaul. i am satisfied with this version.

Advertise – Variable West

Connect with the most enthusiastic art enthusiasts on the West Coast.

i swear i am not being paid for this, i just really think it is a cool and good thing to support west coast arts publication variable west by advertising! i would absolutely buy ad space with them but this here is not a profit-generating venture. but i would if i could! they do great work and i love their transparency around their budget. thanks vw!

interested in adding a small art to your collection or finding a weird gift for someone cool? check out the helen's costume holiday bazaar! it's happening december 2nd and 3rd, 11-4 pm (i think this graphic has a typo in the hours), in the montavilla neighborhood of portland, and will feature work by a lot of lovely people... including meeee! haha apologies for the self promotion, but regardless of whether or not you feel like buying something, this will be a fun community event radiating with good vibes! please do pop in!

the partner i mentioned earlier is ním, and he also has an email newsletter! it's not only about art things either, it's more of an interesting-ideas-and-people-roundup. ním has been doing this sort of thing for a long time, previously as an in-person creative lecture series called research club. his new project, which is called big table, is very entertaining and you should subscribe, or just read it here. ním helped me set up this newsletter too, and is basically my shadow co-editor on many issues, so if you like this you'll probably enjoy big table too : )

portland video artist (and my friend) sarah rushford recently started a sort of artist residency/collective project called outer voice, which supports time-based artists with space, exhibition opportunities, and stipends. it's a really generous and optimistic model that is exciting to see during a time when it can feel like support for artists is kind of drying up. so let's show our support for those who support our community! outer voice has their first group show coming up this weekend at their space in oregon contemporary, featuring new and in-progress works and a performance. viewing hours are limited so definitely check the event listing before you head over.

Metro unveils designs to honor Chinese immigrants buried in Portland cemetery - OPB

Metro is asking for the public's feedback on designs for a memorial to honor Chinese immigrants who were buried at the Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland.

i live near lone fir cemetery, and i have spent a ton of time in there jogging, painting, making music videos (!) and just enjoying the ambiance. i even wrote about how cool it is for an issue of the portland mercury earlier this year. so i'm super excited that there is finally some news about the long-awaited memorial garden honoring the chinese and chinese american individuals buried at lone fir! i have been looking at the sign that metro put up to promote the project for years now. there are two designs that the public is being invited to vote on. i love them both! i would be curious to know what portlanders of chinese descent or with expertise in chinese art and culture think about these proposed designs? personally i do love the idea of a gingko grove...

New Thing in the Lloyd Center: Secret Room Workshop Pop-Up - Portland Mercury

New artsy thing in the Lloyd Center alert: Through December 23 Secret Room Workshop Pop-up will host art shows, present workshops, and sell riso-printer art. The space is tidy, the art is intriguing, and the patrons all seemed pretty engaged with it.

here's another sweet holiday art thing everyone should check out! secret room press has a pop up riso studio in the lloyd center mall through december, where you can print your own risographs, buy comics and tapes, and attend readings, art shows, and movie screenings. the mercury featured a nice write up about them recently (link in the image above). the folks behind secret room are friends of mine, and are ridiculously kind and facilitate the funnest comics-adjacent happenings around. don't miss the cuteness!

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open call: "old art show" deadline 12/8

hello! i am going to be curating a verrrry casual and cozy group show at mother foucault's bookshop soon, and would like to invite artists to submit! the theme is "old art," meaning art that you made long ago but have kept around for one reason or another, even if it's not really the "thing" that you do nowadays. here are the guidelines:

• art must be at least 5 years old

• art must be 12" x 12" or smaller

• art must be ready to hang/install (with necessary hardware etc.)

• i cannot accommodate large installations, a/v elements or high tech art forms at this time, sorry!

• deadline to submit via email is 12/8, i will notify everyone by monday 12/11

• drop off in person at my studio in inner southeast 12/13 from 4-8pm (address will be shared with confirmed artists, we can also arrange a different time)

the space i have available for this show is small and unique. i don't handle sales: inquiries will be directed to artists, no commission will be taken from sales of artwork, nfs is ok too. there will be a fun holiday party at the bookshop on the evening of the 16th, which will double as our show opening. the work will stay up through january 19.

if i can't fit your work in this time around or if you miss the deadline, no worries! my hope is that this will be a recurring seasonal event : ) similarly, if i don't get enough submissions this time, we'll just do it later on. no stress!

if you want to submit, email a picture and description (just a few sentences) of your work to seahorsesunited (at) gmail.com