Arts & Culture

“But I’m his girl. From that first night on the beach, when I was 15, I was his girl.”

It’s a simple line but one that tells an entire story, according to Dawn Schiller, who narrowly survived years of sex trafficking and abuse at the hands of porn legend John Holmes.

Years ago, Schiller might have uttered those words in defense of her relationship with Holmes, even as he sold her off for cash or cocaine. Today, she sees these words as the key to explaining not only her own fall into the world of human trafficking but those of so many other youth still being victimized.

The Oregon Historical Society has been acquainting the citizens of Oregon with their state’s history since the organization’s founding in 1898, and in October the institution pieced together its personal collection of Oregon artifacts in the ongoing exhibit Treasures of the Vault.

The society’s website describes the vault as containing everything “from the rare and priceless to the peculiar and mysterious. The artifacts in the Oregon Historical Society’s collection document everything from key moments in the state’s history to the minute details of daily life.”

I should probably get this out of the way: Until this weekend, I had never seen a John Waters film. This, apparently, is a very big deal. In my defense, Waters’ oeuvre can be daunting for the uninitiated. His career has spanned 40 years and engenders the kind of cultish devotion that tends to alienate us neophytes. Cult classics are decidedly less appealing when you’re not in the cult.

Longstanding hole-in-the-wall rock ‘n’ roll venue The Know is giving back to Portland this week, saying thank you for seven years of longevity on a street known for its fickle surroundings.

Kale is perhaps the most untapped cruciferous vegetable. Often dismissed for being harder to chew than cabbage but not as hearty as broccoli, kale, when prepared properly, can be a delicious option to include in your diet. This mean green antioxidant is a vitamin-rich dark and leafy vegetable that can lower your cholesterol and fit your fiber needs.

A room full of people, sitting, standing, watching and waiting. This tableau describes the scene at the ongoing exhibition, APEX: Robert Hanson, at the Portland Art Museum, which opened Jan. 7. The exhibition is part of the museum’s APEX series, which features artists based in the Pacific Northwest.

The exhibition consists of 37 pieces by artist Robert Hanson, all of which are sparse drawings of female models. They are small by museum standards, measuring 12-by-9 inches, and are very simple.

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.

If Frédéric François Chopin has been called the poet of the piano, then Portland pianist David Rothman could be described as its scholar. His approach to learning and performing the works of the 19th century Polish composer is comprehensive and methodical. His technique is thoughtful and precise, with unassuming poise and keystrokes that sound like whispers against the ivory.

As winter quarter begins, staying healthy is perhaps the biggest obstacle we face as students. Upon returning to campus, we are exposed to cold weather and reacquainted with the germs of our fellow classmates (much of the Vanguard staff, by the way, is currently sniffling and sneezing away the season).