The Museum of Contemporary Craft is closing permanently. This may be the last opportunity to visit them for free on a First Thursday. Good friends have been involved with The Museum of Contemporary Craft and done stellar work. But there has also been faulty planning, communication and strategy. I prey that the collection finds a home where it can be properly cared for and contextualized. The Museum of Contemporary Craft shop will be permanently closed, but future contemporary craft shows may or may not fall under the PNCA exhibition program.
This last month has a show by the Craft Advanced Research Projects Agency CARPA / CARPA. Their project runs parallel to Switzerland's EToy and is a parody of ARPA/DARPA, a USA Department of Defense agency with essentially unlimited resources to pursue new technologies which the military could use. ARPA/DARPA created the early space program and they created the Internet. They are great to follow if you are curious.
Rowland Ricketts also has a show Work Time involving fabric dyeing.
At the Museum of Contemporary Craft www.museumofcontemporarycraft.org 724 NW Davis Early close 6PM-8 Free First Thursday
Three Russo artists Dana Lynn Louis, Samantha Wall and Akio Takamori are selectees for the Portland Art Museum Contemporary Northwest Art Awards. They have a show this month. At Laura Russo Gallery www.laurarusso.com 805 NW 21st early close 5PM-8
Blue Sky is always worth a visit. In the Nine gallery, Bill Will, always the wry commentator, has The Rapture (Simulator). It fills the room with his trademark kinetic art carrying a social or political critique. At the Nine Gallery inside Sky Gallery www.blueskygallery.org map 122 NW 8th 6PM-9 Free
Thomas Kinkade was an American phenomenon. He created an arts empire outside the art school, gallery, investment bank collector, museum great cultural chain of being. Yes, he had a big ego. Yes, some of his most avid fans were evangelical. And yes, Upfor has a group show inspired by Kinkade. It's loosely inspired. But hey, fun is fun! At UpFor Gallery www.upforgallery.com 929 NW Flanders early close 6PM-8 Free
Seated With is a show of paintings by Micah Hearn, Portland. The video space has artist Daniel Heffernan from New York. At theWhite Box Gallery at the University of Oregon White Stag Building, whitebox.uoregon.edu 70 NW Couch 5PM-7 Free
Not purely art, but the Good Mod furniture store is doing room installations with an artistic bent. This month, Casey Keasler of Casework does it. At The Good Mod 1313 W Burnside, 4th floor. 6PM-9 Free
Other outlets cover architecture better than we. In eras, PICA and PNCA were or hinted at being a collaborative space for creatives across communities. Not it may be soon the Portland Japanese Garden. They are building several new pavilions in the former parking area right outside the existing garden ticket entrance. Kengo Kuma is the architect for that expansion of the Portland Japanese Garden. There is an architectural model, materials and drawing show about the project. It is at the Portland AIA office 403 NW 11th 5:30PM-8 Free
Everett Lofts are recommended as always. It's easier for you to see them all than for me to write suggestions. At the Everett Lofts 625 NW Everett. Bounded by NW Everett, Broadway, Flanders and 6th Map closing ranges from 9PM to a little later in Winter
PNCA is recommended to stop in. They have long time cycle shows and pop ups distributed throughout the building. PNCA www.pnca.edu 511 NW Broadway Map 6PM-9 Free
