Queers like art

PNCA Queer Art Show

I often lament Portland’s lack of a dedicated contemporary art museum, but like most projects, PDX espouses a more DIY attitude. We may not have an institution but we have plenty of local contemporary art, much of which is helmed by queers.

Three upcoming shows around town have have queer themes, though all are very different.

PNCA’s Queer Show focuses on the works of PNCA artists who are queer, or, are working with queer themes. Co-curated by Sarai Black, Finn Grey and Wayne Bund, this show brings together faculty and students as they present a contemporary exhibit of queerness.

Work will be shown by Finn Grey, Sarai Black, Travis Beardsley, Wayne Bund, Aubin Carlson, Lacy Davis, Megan Holmes, Linda Kliewer, Alfredo Lettenmaeir, Matthew Salvador, and Tyler Wallace. It opens this Thursday July 2nd with a 6-9pm party and runs through August 2nd at the PNCA BFA Gallery (1241 NW Johnson).

Two more shows are also on the horizon. Q Center’s Lesbian Art show opens Monday and “portraits” curated by Mark Woolley opens Friday July 10th at Worksound (820 SE Alder). Below is a piece on these two shows that will appear in this Friday’s Just Out:

Visual art has always had intimate ties with queer communities but this aspect has historically been one of disavowal. Now a queer sensibility is becoming a voiced aspect of certain art shows such as the recent “Lesbian Art Show” at Fontanelle Gallery. These outward proclamations continue with 2 upcoming shows, yet another Lesbian Art Show at the Q Center that is up now, and Portraits at Worksound opening Friday July 10.

The community-centered Q Center exhibition will show the work of 8 local lesbian artists through the mixed media of painting, book arts, encaustic, photography, glass and stone, and collage. Artists include are Anita Bigelow, Mari Border, Sierra Briano, Marian Christensen, Marj Greenhut, Ann Hinds, Brigette Sarabi, and Amy Wilson.  Curated by local artist Mar Goman, the exhibit is designed primarily to showcase the work of artists who do not normally show in galleries. The space will also display winners from Just Out’s recent photo contest.

There will be two good opportunities to experience the diverse and independent show. The first will be during the Mississippi Street Fair when Q Center hosts an Open House Saturday July 11. Your next chance is an opening reception and artist meet and greet Sunday July 26.

The more well known Mark Woolley will be curating his first independent exhibition since the closing of his downtown venue in June,. Woolley has assembled a very talented group of 17 photographers to  pay tribute to the life and work of curator, photographer, scientist and historian Terry Toedtemeier (1947-2008), who passed away last December. This three-week sojourn into intimate photographic portraiture includes recognizable local superstar artists such as Gus Van Sant, Alicia J. Rose, Ann Ploeger, Tim Gunther and Eric Sellers among many others.

Woolley says of the show, “Although the Mark Woolley Gallery exhibited talented photographers over the years…I can never get enough of truly original photography and this group will not disappoint. Everyone I asked said yes and I would have asked Terry Toedtemeier, who we have all agreed would have regarded his striking photographs of basalt monoliths and other geologic wonders “portraits” in the finest sense of the word. I think we’ll still hear hear Terry’s unforgettable laugh at the opening, but I will miss his superhero bear hug. I only wish I could watch him as he takes in everyone else’s work…”

Lesbian Art Show continues through Aug 22, with an opening reception Sunday July 26, 4-6pm at Q Center, 4115 N Mississippi Ave. pdxqcenter.org. Portraits opens Friday July 10 with a 7-11pm opening reception at Worksound, 820 SE Alder (503) 998-4152.