July 16- August 14, 2011
Gallery Hours: Thurs-Sun, Noon- 6:00 pm
Special Events: Doors at 6:30pm, Begin at 7:00 pm

“Coffee with Cardamom”: Curator Andrea Boyle presents a collaborative project titled, “Mirrors,” with a spotlight solo exhibition of Sarah Farahat’s, “Can You See Me Now? (Part 1): Reflections on Palestine”. 

Tune into KBOO’s Art Focus hour on July 12, 2011 to listen to Ray and Sarah speak in-depth about the project.

“Mirrors,” is a collaborative art-as-process piece exploring relationships of identity, responsibility and community between Middle Eastern-born and American-born artists within the current global context of the political uprisings in the Middle East. Using art as the common language, these artists will explore their relationships with one another by participating in weekly art therapy sessions, current topic conversations, and creating a collaborative body of multi-media artwork.

As a process piece, “Mirrors,” examines the importance of artists, inspirations, and ideologies coming together in a space of reflection; in that, only a portion of the show features completed collaboration pieces, the remainder of the show focuses on pieces in process, as the artistic dialogue and weekly meetings continue in the gallery space. The show is designed to invite the audience to participate as both observer and subject, reflecting on their own insights on identity, responsibility, and community in the larger global context.

“Can You See Me Now? (Part One): Reflections on Palestine” by Sarah Farahat is a RACC sponsored solo exhibition culminating two years of travel, art making, and organizing efforts. The show contains photographs taken in the West Bank and Jerusalem, an ongoing collaboration between the artist and her deceased grandfather, sculptural reflections on Gaza and organized weekly events featuring internationally known academics, artists, and activists. All events are free and open to the public.

July 17th: Curator’s Talk: Double Vision
July 20th: Journalism and New Media in the Middle East: Lecture and Discussion with Stanford Fellow Jenka Soderburg and Palestinian Journalist Saed Bannoura
July 30th,:First Hand: A Night of Storytelling from the West Bank and Gaza.
August 3rd: From South Africa to Palestine: The shaping of a movement through Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions
August 11th: Artist’s Talk: Double Vision

For a full calendar of events for “Can you see me now?”, please visit: http://sarahfarahat.wordpr​ess.com/events

• Committed videographer and sound recorder. Time commitment, 4 hrs/week June 2- July 7, must have own equipment. Videographer is responsible for filming and recording the art therapy sessions, current topic conversations, and artist studio time. Documentary style. Great resume builder and chance of funding down the road.
• 2-3 Middle Eastern-born artists working in SF/Bay Area or Pacific NW- all media encouraged. Minimum time commitment, 6 hrs/week for 6 weeks. Welcome to continue working with the project as it travels to galleries around the world.
• 1-2 American-born artists working in SF/Bay Area or Pacific NW- all media encouraged. Minimum time commitment, 6 hrs/week for 6 weeks. Welcome to continue working with the project as it travels to galleries around the world.

Please submit letter of interest and resume/link to website to: andboyle@gmail.com

Please post/pass on to interested people.

“Summer Storms” Introducing Alex DeSpain

Rontoms, 600 E. Burnside
Opening Reception May 6, 9:00pm-12:00am
May 6-July 5, 2011

Alex De Spain has a very short long story. From the plains of Oklahoma, that long stretch of wheat-colored canvas that straddles middle America, and the lonely land of Texas, he comes to Portland on the heels of one too many personal tornadoes.  Having spun around in a pallet thunder cloud grays, aging wooden browns, and the pale yellows of inaudible screams, his introduction to the verdant North West inspired discovery of another sort.  By pouring colorful raindrops on his work, he has turned dust into rich soil.  In his most recent series, he calls forth the colors of summer, the cloyingly sweet smell of rose gardens in full-bloom, and organizes his personal story into lessons of joy.  “Summer Storms” begins with a look at Alex’s black & white portraits where cross-hatched hairs like threads of grain assume a third dimension, and ends under the hard-edges of his SHAPES series where we are left to float amid fluid forms of galactic neon-discovery.  This show, at once turbulent and refreshingly warm, offers a look at the biographical portfolio of this talented emerging artist.

Artist Statement:

“When Alex creates work, he clears his head of all thoughts and allows himself to tap into his subconscious. From there, he begins with a line or a color and and frees his hand to interpret his stream of consciousness.  He will build on a piece until it looks exactly the way he wants it to.  The end result is art that connects to DeSpain to his piece in a way that he could not have anticipated before he actually began the work. This process reflects his deep interest in exploring new ways of discovering the depth of his imagination rather than pursuing a preconceived notion.

“DeSpain likes to use a variety of media, even those he does not know, as a part of his relationship with an unfamiliar process. It is a way for him to maintain interest in his work as well as push him out of a comfort zone. Some of his favorite mediums are watercolor, gouache, ink, and more recently- acrylic aerosol paint.  He likes to switch out which mediums he uses for a series, but finds himself always going back to a medium he has used before to discover something new about it.

“More recently, DeSpain has been exploring scale with his series “Shapes”. His interest in working with unfamiliar mediums is strongly exhibited with this body of work. He began this series in the winter months while he was missing the bright colors and sunny weather of the summer time. By creating “Shapes”, he was able to preserve the luminous colors all year long, as a reminder of how magical the Portland summer really is.”

PDX Pipeline

“Mirrors”

In partnership with Sarah Farahat, (Portland, Egyptian-American intermedia artist), and Dawn Weleski (Pittsburgh, Conflict Kitchen), we are embarking on a multi-disciplinary collaborative project called “Mirrors.”  It is an exploration between Middle Eastern-born and American-born artists reflecting on the current political uprisings in the Middle East, what it means to be American and be born with “freedom,” to be newly immigrated refugees looking at their home country fighting for these “freedoms,” all while examining the underlying issues of identity, responsibility, and community.

Using art as the common language, these artists will explore their relationships with one another by participating in art therapy sessions, current topic conversations, and creating a body of work to be exhibited July 16- August 13, 2011 at the Settlement Gallery in Pioneer Square Mall, Portland, OR.  In addition to this first exhibition in July, we have a unique opportunity to present our show in Pittsburgh, PA, in October 2011.  We are currently looking for a Middle Eastern venue to show in June of 2012.

Some pieces and players already involved:
- Andrea (Ray) Boyle: Independent Curator and Arts Administrator
- Dawn Weleski: Founder of Conflict Kitchen (covered by NPR, Dwell magazine, and more); all around Social Practice Artist Phenom.
- Sarah Farahat: Intermedia Artist focusing on Palestinian Conflict and recipient of prestigious Beirut Contemporary Art Program Internship.
- “The Settlement“: 2,000 sq. ft. exhibition space at Pioneer Square Mall. Show running from June 3-12.
- Beth Ann Short & 100th Monkey Studios: Nationally recognized leader in Art Therapy; Co-Founder 100th Monkey Studios.
- Jim Lommasson: Award-winning photographer whose most recent show, “Exit Wounds,” about American soldiers returning from the Iraq war, is traveling the U.S.
- Becca Bernstein: Internationally acclaimed portrait artist.
- Farooq Hassan: Internationally acclaimed and award-winning Iraqi artist, Currently living and working in Portland, OR.
- Amira Dughri: Aspiring documentary film maker.

Our estimated budget for this project is $35,000.  Given the current political climate in the Middle East and Northern Africa, this project could not be more pertinent.  Having open-engagement forums that encourage cross-cultural dialogue through artistic media is  imperative to supporting and increasing understanding.  With your support we can reach and exceed our fundraising goals and take this unique collaboration around the world!  If you, or someone you know is interested in supporting this project financially, with in-kind donations, or your time, please email Ray directly at andboyle@gmail.com

For more information on the project click HERE.

Kenton Family Wellness Center
8315 N. Denver Ave.
March 17, 5pm-8pm

“Northern Lights,” curated by yours truly, showcases the artwork created by this year’s CJAS program participants. All are under 10, most are under 8!! Taking cues from Andy Warhol, classic Portland re-cycled artist, and their own imaginations, these kids have made KFWC the place to be this St. Patrick’s Day!

In response to budget shortfalls and an absence of art or sciences in the Portland Public School curriculum, the PTA, parents, students, teachers and administrators at Chief Joseph Elementary created the Arts & Sciences Enrichment Program.  This FREE after school program, in its 5^th year, ran from November 2010-March 2011 and enriched the lives of nearly 200 students.  Offering classes from Gardening and Aeronautics to Stop Motion Animation and Interpretive Dance, the students at Chief Joe were offered an opportunity for learning and expression unmatched by any program in Portland.

Thanks to the artists in Ms. Joy Leising’s class (Co-founder of 100^th Monkey Studios) for contributing work to this show!

Kaylee Harris- Kelsey Limnell- Helen Kenny- Gemma Kilcullen- Emryk Jensen- Charlotte Krogh- Cleo Johnson- Sophia Lucas- Kaitlyn McDaid

March madness is already upon us and Punxsutawney Phil said that winter is out and spring is IN!  To welcome Portland’s rainiest and loveliest season, Rontoms has beautifully renovated its outdoor patio with a mammoth structure that evokes the marriage between a chic European ski lodge and unpolished dive bar.  I am proud to announce that this First Friday, Rontoms is hosting its After Hours art happening featuring the artwork of Portland pointalist, Jeremy Okai Davis.

After you’ve taken the tour of these Southeast Industrial galleries and openings, bring your friends along to Rontoms to put your feet up, relax and regale the bounty of Portland’s creativity!

March 4, 9:30-12:30 pm

RonToms
600 E Burnside
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 236-4536

A big thanks and HUGE props to Golden Rule gallery and shop on Burnside for the creative use of space for this month’s “An Invitation to Sleep.” Artist Palma Corral, culture coordinator Elizabeth Lamb, and myself were invited, as a part of the month long sleep over, to stay the night in the space and record our dreams in the morning.  The month of journaling by different artists and participants will serve as inspiration for Alexis Powell’s stop-motion animation shorts.  Let me take you quick tour of the space…

Sweet slumbering music set to Alexis Powell‘s stop-motion animation films provides a lovely audio-visual ambiance to the experience while Sally England‘s macrame tapestry/head-board offers itself as the literal backdrop for the feathery and sleep-inviting bed.  Flickering ceramic candles and ceramic potted plants by Emily Counts, lend the perfect amount of light and decor to the fabricated space.  Finally, the unframed and minimalist paintings by  Amanda Luna scattered about the walls, transform the interior of Golden Rule into the ultimate dreamy bedroom.  Clothing racks full of 60′s and 70′s vintage lingerie, hand crafted jewelry and house warming odds and ends, are strewn about haphazardly in a way that only the best curator could pull off.

Founder and Creative Director, Wynde Dyer, is also part of this month’s curatorial team at Place PDX and the Settlement at Pioneer Place Mall.

Photo courtesy of Aaron Rogosin

I had the distinct pleasure to work with these folks as the Program Coordinator for the inaugural year of the PDX Bridge Festival!  This year, with the creative vision of Tucker Teutsch and the logistical prowess of Jessica Klinke, they are kickstarting a funding initiative for the Portland Eastbank Esplanade Project (PEEP- as in “Peep this!”).  Click HERE to see the ingenious Portlandia parody video they’ve created to get this on the road.

*Special note: I am swinging around in the background dancing with a beautiful painting by local artist Rai Villanueva.  It has a big bird on it!

We have rescheduled Dan Ness’ Happy Hour Artist Reception to Tuesday, Feb. 22 from 4:30-6:30! They have an awesome HH menu and $1 off well drinks.  Dan will be there to talk about life, art, and enjoy libations.  Not that we need excuses, but art and friends are good ones for getting an afterwork drink.  Come join us!

HawkAttack by Dan Ness

Hello First Friday phenoms!  I recently teamed up with the great folks at RonToms on Burnside for some hot art happenings and am proud to introduce the very first First Friday After Hours party, tonight!  Friday, Feb. 4 from 9:30-11:30pm.  This month features a sizable selection of artwork by one of Portland’s finest, Dan Ness in the show titled, “A Little White Lie.”   Painting with pop culture, his work challenges our relationship with icons, branding, and the language of consumerism that disguises itself as entertainment.

After you’ve cruised the Southeast Industrial First Friday art circuit, stop by and grab a cocktail as you wind down the day, and bring the weekend in with style!

RonToms
600 E Burnside
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 236-4536

Happy Hour artist reception is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 23 from 4:30-6:30.

I will be curating art shows on a bi-monthly basis, so stay tuned for next months newest release!