Navigation

Category Archives: Art

Have a Crafty Holiday!

The season of gift giving is nearly upon us.  If you’d like to give something nice, local, and homemade without getting your hands dirty, then I’ve got some helpful hints for you.

The students over at the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) have been working hard all semester and are ready to make some dough.  These one-of-a-kind local gifts range from paintings, art prints, sculptures, and lots of handcrafted adornments.

pnca

PNCA Holiday Art Sale:

Dec. 10th-11th, Hours: 11am-8pm
Dec. 12th, Hours: 11am-5pm

Location:
PNCA Main Campus Building, Swigert Commons
1241 NW Johnson St

Pioneer Courthouse Square is ready to help you with all your artisan craft needs again as well.  Their Holiday Artisan Market allows you to enjoy Saturday Market during the week.  This provides the perfect opportunity to sneak in some secret shopping time during your lunch break.  All these handcrafted gifts are made by the hands that sell them to you.

Holiday Artisan Market:

Dec. 8th-11th, Hours: 11:30am-6:30pm

Location:
Pioneer Courthouse Square
701 SW 6th Avenue

Finally, if you’d like to give something homemade and are willing to work for it, Elements Glass is hosting a Christmas workshop.  For $35 you can blow your own Christmas ornament.  So not only would you be giving something handmade but handblown!  For every 9 ornaments you blow, the 10th is free.  Also, $5 from every ornament made is being donated to the Oregon Food Bank.  What’s not to love about that?

Elements Christmas Workshop:

Event runs now through December 22nd

To book your spot, call the Studio @ 503-228-0575

Location:
Elements Glass
1979 NW Vaughn Street

ornamentart

Have a crafty holiday!

Read More

Cheap Art & Craft Show @ Reading Frenzy 12/3

readingfrenzy2

Bring your pocketbook to First Thursday this December 3rd, when Reading Frenzy will be hosting the opening for the Cheap Art & Craft Show. Support one of Portland’s great indie bookstores and grab a unique and visually appealing gift this year. An annual tradition in its 14th year, the Cheap Art & Craft show brings together dozens of artists selling literally hundreds of items at very low prices – penny-pincher prices. Most items will be $50 and under! Come on, you can afford that. You’ll find a wide range of highly gift-worthy items - posters, calendars, letterpress, and so on - in styles that range from cute to hilarious to subversive.

The show will be up all month long. Be sure to drop in and check it out! Here’s a ‘lil sample of what you’ll find: cute/hilarious images from Berkeley Illustration (above), linoleum prints by Pete Yahnke of Just Seeds (below, right…apologies for having to crop this beautiful print, titled Overtaken), and stylish ceramics by Pigeon Toe (below, left).

Posts at Reading Frenzy’s Facebook page provide additional information. Become a fan!

Event Details
Cheap Art & Craft Show
Thursday, December 3rd (show up through the month)
6 – 9 pm

@

Reading Frenzy
921 SW Oak St, 97205
503 274 1449
Open Monday-Saturday, 11 am – 7 pm & Sunday, 12 noon – 6 pm

pigeon-toe

readingfrenzy4

Read More

Handmade Arts Bazaar in Pioneer Square

portlandartsbazaar

Skip the mall and head over to Handmade NW’s Portland Arts Bazaar, in which over 60 talented local artisans will take over Portland’s Living Room to vend their wares from 11 am to 6 pm this Sunday, November 29th. Pick out as unique, local, handmade gift for someone special this year. You’ll find everything from upcycled fashions and jewelry to letterpress cards, artwork, natural beauty products, and much more! Check out the complete vendor list here.

You can feel extra-good about shopping with Handmade NW since you’re both supporting the local creative economy – purchasing directly from the artists – while also contributing to several great non-profits, as the bazaar doubles as a benefit for p:ear and Portland Women’s Crisis Line.

Handmade NW is a locally organized cooperative of Portland artists and artisans who have banded together to direct-market their handmade wares. They’ve scheduled a full line-up of retail events through December, each with a different group of artists, so peruse the events list below and mark your calendar.

Event Details

Portland Arts Bazaar
Pioneer Square
701 SW 6th Ave, 97205
Sunday, November 29th
11 am to 6 pm


Other Upcoming Handmade NW Events

First Thursday Arts Bazaar
along the sidewalk adjacent to Whole Foods
1210 NW Couch
Thursday, December 3rd
5 pm to 9 pm

S.U.N. Holiday Fair
Dexter McCarty Middle School
1400 SE 5th St, Gresham 97080
Saturday, December 5th
10 am to 4 pm

Formal Holiday Artisans Fair
The Chelsea Ballroom
1510 SE 9th Ave, 97214
Sunday, December 6th
11am to 6 pm

OHSU Heart Research 2009 Holiday Bazaar
BICC Gallery at OHSU
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, 97239
Tuesday, December 8th, 3 pm to 7 pm
Wednesday, December 9th, 10 am to 6 pm
Thursday, December 10th, 10 am to 6 pm

Photo from Sycamore Street Press, whose awesome handcrafted cards should be checked out at the bazaar in Pioneer Square this Sunday, November 29th.

Read More

Scratch Bake Sale!

scratch

Yes, there’s an old school bake sale happening this weekend.  Only instead of PTA moms dishing out the goodies, Portland will be treated to confections courtesy of over 30 local chefs, mixologists, artists, and designers.  Which, I guess, makes it new school?

Regardless, Scratch is determined not to be your average bake sale.  The whole spectrum of desserts and sweets will be explored.  Complimentary cider will be ready to warm your hands and bellies, while you drunkenly eye the baked goods.

All proceeds of this event will support Gallery Homeland’s 2010 programming.  Gallery Homeland is a local, non-profit art organization.  Learn more about them here.

galleryhomeland

Event Details:

Location: The Cleaners at Ace Hotel – 403 SW 10th
Date: Saturday, November 21st
Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm

All baked goods are priced individually and will probably go fast.  So get there early and enjoy an afternoon sugar high.

baked-goods-smaller-2

For more details and an abbreviated list of participants, check out the Gallery Homeland website.

Bon Appetit! Read More

Portland’s Hot Glass Studio Invitational

virtual-tar-071174728360glass_blowing

Elements Glass Gallery in NW Portland has collected the creative talents of 12 top glass blowers to unveil their collective work in an exhilarating look at the state of the glass blowing art in the metro area.
The work showcased will range from funky, psychedelic designs to creative remarks on the urban vs. rural worlds.

As an interactive feature of this nearly month-long event, visitors will have the opportunity to meet the artists, attend live demonstrations, and discover glass-blowing techniques.

Elements Glass also offers classes for those interested in pursuing this hands-on art form.  As someone who used to participate frequently in this specific medium, I can’t say enough great things about it.  It’s truly a fun and exhilirating experience, whether you create pieces for hobby/personal use or as a profession.  With the holidays approaching, this is also a fun gift for those hard to buy for creative types.

paperweight

Click on the embedded links for more information on classes or their Studio Invitational.

Details: Event runs through November 29th.
Hours: Monday-Saturday  11:00-6:00pm & Sunday 11:00-4:00pm
Location: Elements Glass Studio
1979 NW Vaughn Street

~ jean

* For those of you who haven’t been, Tacoma’s Museum of Glass is a must-see. * Read More

Local Documentary

The 36th NW Film & Video Festival is almost over, but you still have an opportunity to see some thought provoking local works.

This Saturday, November 14th, is the screening of Imagining Home.  This touching piece shows the struggles faced by those of the Columbia Villa displacement and relocation.  Unfortunately, this is an occurrence that happens all too frequently for residents of low-income housing.  Within the limits of 78 minutes, they plan to touch on a variety of topics including socio-economic, ethnic, and gentrification issues.  Ultimately making the point that urban renewal or revitalization should include the community members that are, or will, be affected.

columbiavilla

This Portland documentary is produced by Hare in the Gate Productions and is available for purchase as well.

The exclusive world premiere screening for this film takes place this Saturday at 4pm at the Whitsell Auditorium.
This is located in the lower level of the Portland Art Museum.

You can purchase tickets here.

~ jean

Whitsell Auditorium
1219 SW Park Avenue Read More

Live Wire Radio!

livewire2Have you been to a Live Wire recording yet? Live Wire, that hilarious and brilliant variety show  on OPB (91.5 fm), is actually recorded live every month at the Aladdin Theater, located just off SE Powell on Milwaukie Blvd. It ‘s a modern variety show, bringing together sketch comedy, musical performances, artsy guests hyping their newest projects, and witty vignettes by the host and head writer, Courtenay Hameister. Think Prairie Home Companion, but funny. And very Portland-y.

I love those awesome moments when the performers are laughing too hard to introduce the next skit and needs three or four takes to spit it out. Ah, the inner workings of radio. You just have to be there to appreciate the humor.

Some highlights from the most recent Live Wire recording I attended:

We were treated to not one but two back-to-back shows.
We, the audience, were asked to formulate haiku poems about our mothers.
Live performances by The Lone Forest and Helio Sequence.

All this, plus lots more, plus the fact that you can drink in the theater, made for a thoroughly enjoyable evening – much more stimulating and interactive than a dinner and a movie for roughly the same cost.

Did you hear that Live Wire is featured in Willamette Week’s Give Guide? A non-profit arts organization, Live Wire isn’t actually funded by Oregon Public Broadcasting and needs your help to stay afloat. Give them your money. Then go see a show and give them more money! $20 gets you in. Get tickets here.

Live Wire also airs Saturdays at 7 pm on OPB, 91.5 FM.

livewire1 Read More

Trash Couture

usefunky-lady-and-text

One man’s trash is another man’s… formal wear?  This annual Portland event aims to educate the masses about waste reduction, recycling, and creative re-use.  What better way to do this than with a couture fashion show based on wearable art and “trash”?  Cool!

This year Junk to Funk is also collaborating with Scrap in their education goals; who will be onsite with a DIY table for all you audience members.  Should you be inspired by the crafty runway models, you can try your hand at recycle fashion here.

There will be music and performances by Junquestra as well.  This all ages event will be hosted by Mayor Sam Adams and Marjorie Skinner from The Portland Mercury.  Don’t be fooled, this is one serious runway show.

junk

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, November 14th
Time: Doors at 7pm. Show at 8pm.
Venue:Crystal Ballroom
Cost: $17/advance & $20 day of.

You can purchase tickets directly at the Crystal Ballroom, SCRAP, or via Ticketmaster.

For more details, or to volunteer, visit JunktoFunk.org.

Go, be arty.

~ jean

Crystal Ballroom
1332 W Burnside St Read More

Portland Art Museum: Free This Sunday!

museum

This family free day is the third in an ongoing series for the Portland Art Museum.  The offering for Sunday will feature Chinese dance, music, food, art-making, and cultural activities inspired by the three cities featured in China Design Now.

Visitors of all ages will have the opportunities to experiment with graphic design, and to build their own cities using recycled materials provided by the School and Community Reuse Action Project (SCRAP).

Special performances will include modern Chinese dancers drawing from hip-hop and classical Chinese dance styles; professional puppeteers Zhengli Xu and Yuqin Wang of Dragon Art Studio; and Tai Chi for 1,000, a participatory movement project organized by Horatio Hung-Yan Law, artist and faculty member at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, along with students from the Northwest Chinese Academy.

This free event runs from 12:00-5:00pm this Sunday, November 8th.  The schedule is varied and impressive with music, art, dancing, ping-pong, and delicious dim sum courtesy of Wong’s King Seafood Restaurant.

For the full line-up of activities, check out the Portland Art Museums calendar of events.

Free and fun sounds like the perfect way to spend a (forecasted) rainy Sunday in Portland.

~ jean

Portland Art Museum
1237 SW 10th Ave Read More

36th Annual Northwest Film & Video Festival

northwestfilmcenter2The Northwest Film Center will be showcasing a wide range of  new work from up-and-coming regional filmmakers at the 36th Annual Northwest Film & Video Festival starting this Friday, November 6th through November 14th at the Portland Art Museum’s Whitsell Auditorium. Films range from shorts (usually less than 10 minutes each) to feature-length movies (did you see Humpday? Here’s another chance).

Get the full festival schedule here. Check out the festival trailer here. Looking for more trailers? Friend the NW Film Center Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.

A few recommendations: Check out the kids’ films at the Young Peoples Film & Video Festival, an event within the larger festival set for November 8th at 12 noon. Also worth a view are the film shorts by new directors like Bridget Irish, who picked up a Judge’s Award for Cruising the Urban Inferno From the Fourth Floor (see photo above).

In addition to film screenings, NW Film Center will also be offering several free workshops. Filmmakers of all skill levels are invited to the very first BarCamp NW Film, a ‘user-generated un-conference’ intended to promote the exchange of ideas. There’s also What’s Wrong With This Picture, a workshop in which Seattle’s Warren Etheredge will constructively critique films that were not selected for the festival…with the directors present.

The Northwest Film Center is a Portland-based regional arts organization that encourages us all to study and appreciate a broad range of film through exhibition, education, and outreach. In addition to coordinating festivals like Film & Video Festival and Portland International Film Festival, they offer a variety of classes geared towards developing the talents of aspiring filmmakers.

Location: Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park Ave, 97205

Tickets (for individual screenings): $8 General, $7 PAM members, $5 Film Center friends

BarCamp NW Film: Saturday, November 7, 10 am to 4 pm

What’s Wrong With This Picture: Saturday, November 7, 4 pm Read More