Author: Jeoffry Ray

Portland State’s art pros are always working hard at their practice. This month, two university alumni are exhibiting the fruits of their labor at the Augen Gallery DeSoto Building, right…

Portland State’s graduating fine arts master’s students are kicking off the summer with a group exhibition this Thursday. And, thanks to the efforts of curators active in the community, they’ll have the opportunity to display their work right in the heart of downtown’s Pearl District.

Forget MTV: The music video is back with a vengeance—and on the big screen. This week, the Hollywood Theatre will play host to a festival of screenings showcasing some of Portland’s emerging musical talent and film expertise.

QDoc, Portland’s all-documentary queer film festival, rolls out this evening with an assortment of films ranging from the emotional to the just plain fun. And if they hurry and register, students under 23 have a chance to get into the screenings of their choice for free.

The sun’s return brought First Thursday back outdoors, and the Vanguard made sure to stop by the Pearl District to check out the monthly street gallery exhibitions.

Last week, Portland State’s Master of Fine Arts candidates opened their final show of the year, complete with a pair of artist lectures and receptions. But not to worry: Viewers will have the rest of the week to take a peek at the closing thesis exhibitions.

Poetry and prose will join at Portland State next week, with published writers both local and national reading their work. The university’s creative writing program will host the readings as part of its ongoing Visiting Writers Readings series.

“How do you bring architecture to a new generation?” asked Nora Wendl, assistant professor of architecture at Portland State. “How do you use everything in the toolbox to engage them?” These were questions Wendl was thinking about when she began development for the School of Architecture’s upcoming architectural symposium, “Strange Utility: Architecture Toward Other Ends.”

The First Thursday art walk always fills downtown with a wealth of artwork and a stream of patrons touring the variety of galleries splayed across the Pearl. But Portland’s art world never sleeps, and each part of the city offers a similar night of art happenings on separate days throughout a given month. This month, the Vanguard made its way out to a collection of First Friday exhibitions in search of work produced by Portland State students and alumni.

Spring is at our doorstep, and student groups are hard at work promoting themes of growth and sustainability. One particular collaboration will feature an art show throughout April, and students have just a little more time to submit their work.

The Oregon Jewish Museum is bringing together collections of work focusing on both the past and the present, the political and the painterly. Beginning this week, the museum will open a pair of exhibitions, each featuring Jewish-themed work. A series of World War II-era photographs titled “Pictures of Resistance: The Wartime Photographs of Jewish Partisan Faye Schulman” will be shown, along with the mixed media work of local artist Sidonie Caron.