Portland's October First Thursday Gallery Openings

Portland’s October First Thursday Gallery Openings

Oct 15th, 2008 by Brad

I’m catching up on getting back from three weeks in NYC. This past Saturday, I managed to visit some of the shows that are up in Portland. Here is a quick survey.

Jen DeNike, still from Flag Girls @ Quality Pictures

Jen DeNike’s Flag Girls video installation can be seen at Quality Pictures (916 NW Hoyt, Portland, OR). She has a new spin on a found 1918 postcard depicting women wrapped in the American colonial flag and humming as they unwrap to free themselves. It worked, although it might have been a bit stronger without one facial expression.

Michael Scoggins @ Quality Pictures

Michael Scoggins is showing new work in the main room at Quality Pictures (916 NW Hoyt, Portland, OR). In this series called, “So American It Hurts” Scoggins has series of super-sized hand-drawn notebook paper pieces. These heavy stock works are fashioned to look like typical spiral-bound notebook pages that were taken from some 6 foot by 4 foot notebook.

The over-side note book pages in this jpg read “Thank your for being my friend” written 100 times.

Jessica Curtaz, Through the wire @ Charles Hartman

I liked the Jessica Curtaz’s “Through the wire” at Hartman Fine Art (154 NW 8th, Portland OR). The image above doesn’t do justice as it is shot through the front window. check it out yourself. The subtleties that can only be seen in person are critical to understanding this work.

David Maisel, Library of Dust @ Blue Sky Gallery

David Maisel’s show “Library of Dust” at Blue Sky Gallery (122 NW 8th Ave, Portland OR) is wonderful. These are amazing portraints of copper canisters that contain the cremated remains of former patients from the abandoned Oregon State Hospital, which started as the “Oregon State Insane Asylum.”