Martin Kippenberger, the German Picasso

Ongoing exhibition at Portland Art Museum shows artist’s unique style of German contemporary art

You wonder what runs through the mind of an artist who draws a Fred the Frog figurine on a cross with a pitcher of beer in its hand and an egg in its armpit. This is one of the many sights to behold when you visit the Martin Kippenberger exhibition at the Portland Art Museum.

The community of books

Documentary Shelf Life explores a day at Powell’s Bookstore

Shelf Life is a documentary created by producers Jennifer Sass and Lisa Day in 2011 about Powell’s Bookstore. The film, which will be played by the Northwest Film Center at the Portland Art Museum Jan. 12, begins when the store opens, ends when the store closes and captures everything that happens in between.

Japanese tales of laughter and desperation

Since 2007, the Northwest Film Center has given American audiences an annual taste of the latest Japanese films by way of its Japanese Currents series.

This year, the series is sponsored by the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, Sapporo U.S.A. and the Japan America Society of Oregon. Attendees of the special benefit screening will have the opportunity to contribute to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.

Busy bookworm: Abbey Gaterud, assistant professor and director of publishing at Portland State’s Ooligan Press, always has her nose in a new book.

Pushers of the printed word

A look into the mission and methods of Portland State’s Ooligan Press

Ooligan Press is an important part of the Portland State experience for any student pursuing a career in publishing. Located on the third floor of Neuberger Hall, the press is run by university writing students, mostly graduates.

“The publishing classes are where you get concepts, historical context and theory. Ooligan Press is where you get the practice,” said publishing graduate Cooper Bombardier, who works at the press. “We are able to make decisions, take risks, mess up and feel really good about our successes in the press. It is an amazing way to learn.”

Palestinian rap hits Portland

Middle East Studies Center presents documentary, concert

The documentary Slingshot Hip Hop (2008) will be shown at the Salmon Street Studio tomorrow evening.

The screening is the latest in Portland State’s Middle East Studies Center film series. Following the event will be an actual performance by the documentary’s subject, the rap group DAM, which is free and open to all ages.