Celebrating Oregon’s Art Collection!
More than 100 people turned out at the Oregon State Capitol on February 14th to celebrate the re-installation of the Capitol Art Collection. It was an especially appropriate date, as Valentine’s Day is also Oregon Statehood day.
Chris D'Arcy speaking in Salem
Christine D’Arcy, of the Oregon Arts Commission and the Oregon Cultural Trust welcomed everyone to the event in the Senate Lobby. Oregon’s Art Collection was started in 1976 by a jury of art leaders and artists, and in a very short time acquired 170 works by major Oregon artists, including paintings, sculpture and photography. Today, the collection includes more than 2500 works of art.
In 2007, the Oregon Legislature approved the money for a major renovation of the Capitol building wings. Portions of the art collection, which hung in the wings, were stored. The overall collection was reviewed for needed repairs and appraised for the first time.
Art Beat alum Laura Ross Paul in front of her painting
Because the 1% for the Arts program applied to the construction cost of the Capitol wings restoration, enough money was available to purchase new works of art. Among the recent acquisitions are works by Oregon Art Beat Alums painter Laura Ross Paul, printmaker Tom Prochaska and sculptor LeRoy Setziol.
But another new piece was made possible thanks to the Ford Family Foundation’s Visual Arts Program. The Oregon State capitol is the first recipient of the Foundation’s Art Acquisition fund and the artist chosen was Eastern Oregon landscape artist and Oregon Art Beat alum James Lavadour.
Unveiling James Lavadour's painting, "Flag 2"
Co-speakers of the Oregon House, Bruce Hanna and Arnie Roblan were on hand to help Lavadour unveil his painting: “Flag 2.” The nine panels depict our state’s landscape as only Lavadour can interpret. In his remarks, Lavadour thanked his community, his family and “his mountains” saying “painting and the land are one.”
Art of the Time catalog
Portions of the collection can be seen in the hallways of the House and Senate wings, in many Capitol committee rooms, and in a brand new catalog. As State Representative Arnie Roblan said, “Art is an expression of who we are.” And generations to come will know more about Oregon thanks to this extensive art collection.
There is a Place… Portlandia!
Director Jonathan Krisel, co-creator and star Carrie Brownstein and Mayor Sam Adams. Photo by Finn Paul
Have you seen the “Dream of the ’90s” video from the new show “Portlandia”? Did it crack you up as much as it did me? Did you enjoy picking out your friends from the menagerie of “Portlandiers” in the video? Did you post it on your Facebook page and send it to all your friends back East and down in California like I did? …And were you a little bit crestfallen when so few of them seemed to LOL over it?
If you’re a fan of the video like I am, then you’ll be expecting a show that lampoons the Portlanders who sleep till 11 and retire as young people. Well, I have to tell you that as valid as this characterization may be, it isn’t really the basis of the humor in the “Portlandia.” But before your crest falls again, know that for me the humor comes from someplace more intriguing.
As a returned native myself, I have been trying to put my finger on exactly what it is that makes my hometown familiar and yet different from when I grew up here. First off, our economic base is less timber and fish and more running shoes and silicon chips. But the most striking change has to be how many Oregonians are non-natives. When I was in grade school, anyone who moved here from California was considered exotic and the kid from Tennessee who moved in during second grade seemed like a space alien. And boy did our non-plussed stares quickly purge him of that accent! I’m a little ashamed to admit it, but I moved away as soon as I graduated high school. Honestly, Portland just seemed too safe and sane (my highest insult) to ever be a place I’d want to live.
But how things change! Maybe it was the relative affordability of our second-hand plaid during the era of grunge rock or the tribal ethic of Burning Man that found such a natural community here among our tattoo-adorned, coffee-guzzling, under-employed, sleep-loving transplants (OK, there are some natives in that group. And I’ll admit to deep affections for coffee and sleep). Whatever the reason, they came and my dear hometown blossomed.
People CHOOSE to live here. Amazing! And thank you! Thanks to all of you transplanted Dreamers-of-the-‘90s, Portland is no longer just Seattle’s red-headed stepsister! Our neat, modest city is now also a vibrant epicenter of music, art, green innovation, self-invention.
But, as I said, the series “Portlandia” is not really about that. Yes, Portland is more interesting and diverse (if still exceedingly white) than it was back in the day. But it is still a neat, modest place, populated by polite drivers whose workday starts at 8 am. And so, despite the welcome (at least to me) influx of transplanted Portlanders, there was something else that attracted me back, something that I haven’t quite been able to put my finger on… until fellow Northwest native and “Portlandia” co-creator Carrie Brownstein said it at the premiere last Friday.
“Portland is full of people trying to do their part.”
To me that has the ring of truth. Whether it’s eating locally grown, hand-fed chicken or freeing an apparently abandoned dog from its tree-tethered bondage, Portland is full of people trying to live just as Carrie says. And with the rules of propriety for each of these conscientious endeavors always changing, this can be tricky; you have to be “good in a certain way,” she notes.
“Portland is a city with huge self-esteem, populated by people filled with self-doubt,” Carrie shrewdly observes.
And therein lies the humor of “Portlandia.” Watching Portlandiers earnestly, desperately and sanctimoniously do the right thing is funny. I laughed out loud. I did.
Will it be successful? I am quite sure that we out here living in the damp corner of the country, who secretly crave but rarely get national attention, can be counted on to tune in. Those of us who admit to actually owning a television and are decadent enough to have cable… or who are friends with people like that. We can watch it tonight at 10:30 on IFC.
Whether the series tickles a wide enough audience to warrant episodes beyond these initial six will probably depend on how amusing people back East and down South find us…. whether they actually think of us at all… I mean, half the time they can’t even pronounce the name of the state correctly! Don’t get me wrong. I want “Portlandia” to succeed. I am fine with being laughed at. In fact my musical friends The Bad Mintons have a song called “Snazzy Portland” that would be PERFECT for the show (Who do I talk to about that?).
But even if the series doesn’t live beyond season one, we can comfort ourselves by dismissing all those other folks in other parts of the country as just plain jealous. We always have. That is, after all, who we are.
See Van Gogh’s Ox Cart up close!
Did you see the recent article in the Oregonian about Vincent Van Gogh’s 1884 masterpiece, “The Ox Cart”? It was donated to the Portland Art Museum in 2007 by Fred and Frances Sohn of Roseburg. If you want to see the painting for yourself, we’ve got a link to an Art Beat story from 2008 that you might enjoy.
In 2008, “The Ox Cart” needed a cleaning. How do you clean a priceless painting that’s rich with history and painted by a master? Portland Art Museum invited Oregon Art Beat to follow the process. We sat in the room with Nina Olsson, a painting conservator, as the painting was painstakingly cleaned and freshened up. You can watch the story, which includes an interview with one of the Sohn’s sons, here.
At OHSU, they’re using digital X-ray technology to look closely at the brush strokes and see what they can learn about how Van Gogh worked, and how he may have created this painting. It’s a glimpse under the surface of a very well known painting, and a fascinating reminder of the interaction between technology and understanding the history of art.
I can’t wait to see what they discover next about this painting!
Think Original Art for the Holidays!
Enjoy the post below in which KC Cowan goes out and about and finds some thrifty art ideas for the holidays! – J. Martin
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“Shop local” is a common phrase we’ve all heard, but how about “Shop Original?” You can give a gift of original art without busting your budget and it will be a gift that will be remembered and appreciated far more than something there are already a million of! Plus, you’ll be helping the local arts community, many of whom count on holiday sales to survive!
This year, artists Chris Haberman and Jason Brown are presenting The Big 100 Art Show — 100 regional artists who have produced fifteen original works of art each for a massive, incredibly affordable sale. Each 8 X 8 inch framed work is just $50. It’s December 2nd and 3rd at Goodfoot Gallery –2845 SE Stark in Portland. The opening night party goes from 4 pm to 2 am. These pieces are by emerging artists and could some day be collectible, so if you have a good eye, you could score.
Guardino Gallery has its annual “Little Things 10″ show, for which 40 artists created works no larger than 7 X 7 square. These are by the Gallery’s top artists and some of the prices start as low as $40! I don’t think I saw anything over $175 this year. And you don’t have to wait until the end of the month to take it home with you, like most gallery shows. Donna Guardino says by the month’s end, she’s begging artists for more work! The gallery is located at 2939 NE Alberta in Portland.
You could find original work by a top artist at Resale Art — a wonderful shop in the Sellwood area that has consignment art. Expect to pay a little bit more for these pieces, but they’re still good bargains, and to pick up an early piece by Rick Bartow for a few hundred dollars is a great deal! Visit the gallery at 7227 SE Milwaukie in Portland. I like to go and just browse regularly. There are always new finds.
Two gift shops I always check out are filled with original art — The Oregon College of Art and Craft gift shop, and the one at the Museum of Contemporary Craft. Both feature art in a wide variety of price ranges. Why not consider a hand-felted scarf this year, or an original piece of jewelry? You’ll find options galore at both places. OCAC’s shop is at 8245 SW Barnes Road in Portland. The Craft Museum is in the Pearl District — 724 NW Davis in Portland.
Finally, many, many artists have studio sales this time of year. The best way to find out is to be on their mailing list, but if you’re a fan of a particular artist, check their website to see if they’re having a sale. In my experience, there are wonderful finds at these studio sales and it’s easy to bring home an affordable treasure.
Of course, buying art as a gift brings a challenge — you need to know the artistic taste of your recipient. But original art is so much more meaningful, I think, than something seen everywhere. And if you’re like me, you’ll probably buy yourself a present, too! Happy shopping!
-KC Cowan
Music and Therapy
Although much of music remains a mystery, we know it has great effect far beyond simple enjoyment. Music therapy is being used more and more around the world in hospitals and clinics to help patients in need.
A taping for an upcoming Art Beat feature brought me to Oregon State Hospital in Portland to see Scott Garred (aka Super XX Man) lead a music therapy session. Every week he brings together a group of staff and patients to play in a rock band he calls, “The Working Together Band”. Through playing music together, the patients exercise social skills they can apply to their everyday lives.
It was a pleasure to see the group play and interact. Watching “The Working Together Band” in action was a reminder of the significant role music can play in organizing everyday experience. It was fun to see music making actively facilitating communication and collaboration.
OPB reporter April Baer produced a beautiful radio story in 2006 that explores music therapy at Oregon State Hospital (it also features Scott). Listen to it here:http://www.opb.org/radio/archives/2006/11/1192006_oregon.php
We’ll tell Scott’s story as a songwriter and music therapist at 8 PM on October 21st. In the meantime, check out Super XX Man’s website where all their music is streaming for free:http://www.superxxman.com/
-Alex Lewis
Beth Wood CD
Beth Wood
Beth Wood’s new CD “The Weather Inside” is now finished. Beth performed for an Art Beat event last May in Sisters and then returned as a performer at the Sisters Folk Festival. If you don’t know Beth’s music, you are in for a treat. She’s a fine singer and songwriter, originally from Texas but now a proud Oregonian. She moved here when her husband Marty got a job at Ninkasi Brewing in Eugene. Music and micro-brews ..you can’t get much more Oregonian than that!
Oregon Art Beat will be airing a story with Beth on November 18th and the Portland CD release concert is December 2nd at the Alberta Rose Theatre (with Edie Carey and Christine Havrilla also performing). Details at Beths’ website.
We have 5 songs from Beth on the Art Beat website in the “performance videos” area. The two that are from the new album are “Doing This Dance” and “Backroads”. I challenge you to listen to “Doing This Dance” and not end up humming it in your head. It’s a hit. Enjoy!
PS Here’s a picture of Beth performing with Chris Kokesh (another Art Beat alum) at the Sisters Folk Festival.
Chris Kokesh & Beth Wood
The secret to great art: sheep
So now we know the secret to great modern art.
Sheep!
Thanks @ebertchicago
The Art Beat Crew Visits Maryhill Museum
The beautiful exterior of the Museum, captured by Tom
We knew we were going to have a fun day when it started out with Jeff Douglas singing along with the radio. For our twelfth season premier, Art Beat hit the road for a full day of shooting, starting at at the Maryhill Museum. We wanted get out of the studio and film in the community, and see some art out there!
You need to have the right personality to be on camera
With the change in location, we also wanted to switch up the hosts. Katrina Sarson has been a force behind many Art Beat stories. It was great to get her in front of the camera. When we arrived at Maryhill, the crew rushed to set up in the Outdoor Sculpture Garden.
Along with Jeff Douglas and Katrina Sarson, our intrepid crew consisted of cameraman Tom Shrider, audio guru Randy Layton, teleprompter wrangler Bill Ward, intern assistant Ashley Swanson, and our fearless leader Jessica Martin.
After the garden scenes, the crew moved into the main lobby, surprising visitors who were entering the museum. Really, we could have been another exhibit at the museum. Look how well our camera equipment fits in with the beautiful Queen Marie of Romania exhibit!
Checking how the picture looks on the portable monitor
Jeff surrounded by antiques and lighting equipment
Lighting is critical in making a scene look good on camera, although the hardest part can be finding an electrical socket amongst all the art – and then being careful not to trip over the extension cords!
Katrina seemed to be very inspired by her surroundings.
We then had a wonderful lunch with the outstanding staff of Maryhill, discussing everything from the museum exhibits to the abuse cameras go through on Oregon Field Guide!
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Bellies full, we moved all the equipment upstairs to the Comics at the Crossroads: Art of the Graphic Novel exhibit (thank goodness for elevators!) to introduce Katrina’s story on Periscope Studio, since many of those artists have their work featured in the museum’s exhibit. Besides seeing the two dimensional art on the walls, we got a good look at the Boilerplate figures.
Maryhill Museum is known for it’s beautiful setting and it’s large collection of Rodin, so it was great to see Spiderman, the Hulk and other comics up on the walls – a fusion of new media meets the old masters.
Katrina was excited to interview Steve Grafe, the new Curator of Art for the Maryhill Museum, who developed the entire Crossroads exhibit from just an idea. Meanwhile we had started to gather an audience.
Katrina and Steve chatting about Boilerplate and Periscope Studio
Great figures of the superhero Boilerplate created by Paul Guinan
A visiting family watched from the sidelines as we finished up all the takes, and the young fans even asked for Katrina’s autograph! Her first time hosting and she’s already a star.
Tom and Katrina giving the A-OK to the camera, it's a wrap!
It was a great way to kick off our twelfth season of Art Beat! To see how our shoot at Maryhill Museum turned out, tune into the season premier on October 7th at 8PM. And if you haven’t already, become a fan on Facebook, especially if you enjoy peeking behind the scenes!
New Nu Shooz and Perrou Pillows
Here’s a quick update on two of the artists I’ve profiled on Oregon Art Beat: Nu Shooz has a new CD out and George Perrou has gone from painting to pillows.
No Shooz, probably most famous for I Can’t Wait in 1986, has produced a new CD called Pandora’s Box. Valerie Day says this is the project that’s consuming all her time right now. She hasn’t given up, though, on a new version of Brain Chemistry For Lovers. That’s when I met Valerie as we followed her through a year of creating BCFL.
Valerie describes Pandora’s Box as “It’s James Bond meets James Brown or Portishead meets Debussy. John calls their new sound ‘Psychefunkalassical.’” When I hear her song “Spy vs Spy” I can’t help but think of 60′s Peter Gunn.
Cue the perfect segue.
It was Peter Gunn I found George Perrou listening to when we dropped by his apartment to shoot video of him painting. His retro-modern music taste dovetailed perfectly with art that has a very Jetsons feel.
Now George is experimenting by taking his art and applying it to fabric he designed himself. It’s an unusual jump from canvas to Perrou Pillows.
You can watch the stories on Valerie and George below:
500 Ukulele Players Miss Out on World Record
Who knew there were so many ukulele players? NPR had a fun story this morning about a valiant-but-failed attempt by nearly 500 ukulele players to set a world record for group uke strumming.
It turns out the record was set just last year by 851 simultaneous players in London.
Oregon has its own ukulele gurus in Lyle Ritz and Jim D’Ville. They’ve both appeared on Art Beat and you can see their stories here below. Or tune in on October 7 on air for an encore on Jim.
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