hey there fellow grapefruiters! this week i just have another random bunch of nice/interesting stuff to share... no real theme, unless you count "stuff" or "things" as a theme ; ) hope you enjoy!
i have fond memories of making charcoal pictures in figure drawing classes as a teen/young adult, and i think partly because of that association the medium takes me back to a sort of youthful, moody, finding-your-artistic-voice kind of realm (although what doesn't lol??). i don't see a ton of charcoal drawing featured in galleries so this (kind of) recent two-person show at deli gallery makes me happy, and also makes me want to use the charcoal sticks i have had kicking around for a while... the online publication topical cream has a nice interview with the two artists.
Palestinian Museum in West Bank Reopens After Months of Closure
The institution debuted three separate exhibitions that together “stand against the atrocities and systematic annihilation of Gaza.”
as evidence of the resilience and courage of artists in the face of the even worst situations imaginable, the palestinian museum in the occupied west bank has recently reopened with a showcase of art made by artists from gaza, organized by gaza-based eltiqa gallery and shababek, a contemporary art nonprofit serving gazan artists. in the text for "this is not an exhibition," the curators write "all this time, art in gaza has not been merely a testament to the harshness of reality, but in essence, is the manifestation of human existence. gaza’s art thus defies the ugly cruelty of the occupation that is meant to dehumanize." there aren't a ton of images available on the museum website, but this hyperallergic article has a few plus many links.
here in portland, our friends at secret room press are getting ready to open a new storefront space on division st! they are fresh off a super fun and sweet pop-up project in the lloyd center mall, and somehow found the energy to immediately set up shop in the former little otsu space, which kicks off on friday with a group risograph show. congratulations secret room!!
Father Fannie's Funhouse Is Constantly Changing - Portland Mercury
If you’ve been paying attention, you already know that Portland’s Lloyd Center Mall has become, in the past few years, a haven for local arts, culture, and civic initiatives. Inside the convalescing shopping center, a patchwork of trademark mall culture standbys like Hot Topic and Cinnabon coexist alongside Secret Roller Discos in the former Marshalls, Portland NACCP headquarters, and the Healing Our Roots exhibit at AfroVillage. For over a year, ILY2's satellite gallery, ILY2 Too—tucked...
speaking of the lloyd center, the latest artist-in-residence at ILY2Too (outpost of the downtown contemporary art gallery ILY2), father fannie, got a terrific writeup in the portland mercury by the brilliant kye grant... and the opening reception for their latest installation is tonight!
Capturing a slow sublime: Sun You at Ditch Projects – Variable West
Sun You’s performance-informed clay sculptures invite chaos and chance into her practice, creating space for her imagination to run wild.
a couple hours south of portland at artist-run space ditch projects, new york artist sun you recently showed a series of polymer clay sculptures she calls "sculpeys" in reference to the brand name art material. similar to my feelings about charcoal, sculpey is a majorly nostalgic material for me! my sister and i used to love making weird creatures, tiny food, and indistinct blobs, as well as those fancy sliced "cane" beads. lusi lukova wrote up a great review of the show over at variable west. i got the chance to see you's jewel-like sculpeys in person last week while i was at ditch to install...
Martha Daghlian — Ditch Projects
March 16 -April 7th Exhibition Reception: Saturday, March 16th, 5-7pm Martha Daghlian The Great Art of Knowing “We are the ones who,...
...my show! i always feel goofy promoting my own things in this newsletter, but i still do it! case in point: i have a solo show titled "the great art of knowing," which opens this coming saturday! if you happen to be in the springfield/eugene area, come hang out from 5-7, or come early for a panel discussion thingy with the amazingly talented artists who have a show in the main gallery space at the same time. if you can't make it, don't worry, there will be images available online at some point, and a beautiful and thoughtfully composed exhibition text by my new favorite art writer kaya noteboom! : ) i will most likely post about all these things on social media, so stay tuned or email me if you want to know more.
thanks everyone for all your support and responses! i love it when this newsletter results in conversations and emails about art stuff, so don't even think twice about getting in touch to tell me what you think. for instance, i just told you about how charcoal and sculpey make me feel young again, but what art materials take you on a nostalgic journey? would you ever pick them back up again? i want to know! xoxoxo take care