Brad Carlile Photo Blog

Here are some images from the January First Thursday gallery openings in Portland.

Elizabeth Leach Gallery (17 NW 9th, Portland OR) has a show of the work of the late Drake Deknatel. This exhibition is called “Berlin Portraits.” In The Oregonian, Brian Libby wrote: “One feels pulled by these paintings into a grimy but vivid world just below the surface of human consciousness.”

There is some powerful work here. I was drawn to the many portraits…

…As well as the more abstract images.

At Butters Gallery (520 NW Davis, 2nd flr, Portland OR) there were many people were on hand for the Barbara Sheidler Bartholomew “Memorial Retrospective” show. I didn’t get a chance to take any images of her work, but those in the NW should be familiar or go the Butters gallery website.

At Butters Gallery we had a nice chance to have a deligtful chat with artist Andrea Schwartz-Feit and Jeffrey Butters. Unfortunately we missed Andrea Schwartz-Feit’s show in December, but several of her works were up in the back room. We liked the grid images the most.

This month, Quality Pictures (916 NW Hoyt, Portland, OR) has assembled four emerging Northwest photographers: Liz Haley, Alexis Pike, Andrew O’Brien and Mark Searcy. I particularly liked the “Starmaps” work of Andrew O’Brien. The taped mylar subject was very interesting to me. I don’t know if there was an artist statement about this work.

I also liked the work of Mark Searcy, I know it was taken with a modified Bell+Howell 35mm camera, but it reminds me of the Holga work of Susan Bowen (NYC).

On a sad note, TJ Norris (tjnorris.net/blog/ ) reports that Erik Schneider has decided to close his Quality Pictures gallery this week as well. We hope to continue to see Erik having an influence around Portland. Eric Thanks for the many great shows!

Over at Beppu Wiarda Gallery (319 NW 9th, Portland, OR), was a group show “Winter Light”, curated by Portland collector Leo Michelson. This show is a great hanging of a variety of work.

Our Friend Eric Franklin is moving in some fun directions with “Neuron.”

and our friend and blogger TJ Norris

Our friend Chicago photographer Brad Temkin has a wonderful show at Blue Sky Gallery (122 NW 8th Ave, Portland OR).  In “Relics,” Brad finds remnant structures and makes them monumental. I know some of them were shot in Iceland, Ireland, and other places.

…last we heard was that after the show Brad Temkin was headed to the Oregon Coast, what will he find there?  We’ll just have to wait and see.

Also at Blue Sky Gallery is Tony Mendoza’s work. You may have seen his book.

Didn’t get any images from Wayne F. Miller at Hartman Fine Art (154 NW 8th, Portland OR). There is a new book “Wayne F. Miller: Photographs 1942-1958.” Link to the review of the show in the Oregonian.

Nancy Lorenz has a show at PDX Contemporary Art (925 NW Flanders, Portland OR).

The new Chambers Gallery @ 916 (916 Flanders, Portland OR) space has its 3rd exhibit that shows Oregonian Wes Hurd. We liked his interesting minimalist works on paper.

Since I’m always carrying my camera around at 1st Thursday, I sometimes take a few snapshots, here is one…

Check back Friday for an interesting pointers to work on the fringes of weird physics…

Tags: 1st Thur, art, photography, Portland