This week on “State of Wonder,” shake off your June gloom with the magical animals of "Autumnlands," the music of Animal Eyes, the monumental sculptures of Lee Kelly, the drag art of Kaj-Anne Pepper and all that jazz at new music joint Jack London Revue.
Ghost Ship Fallout: Portland Art Spaces Grapple with News of Indictments in Oakland - 2:48
Prosecutors in Oakland, California, have sent shock waves through the art world, filing criminal charges last week against two artist-administrators from the Ghost Ship warehouse. Thirty-six people died when the building caught fire during an electronica show last December. We hear about the case and then check in with a trio of Portland artists — designer Faith Jennings and metalworkers Richard Cawley and Gustav Sculptor — who work in warehouse art collectives about what effect the tragic fire has had on local creative spaces.
Trumpeter Farnell Newton will be taking the stage at The Jack London Revue June 10 to celebrate the release of his new album, "Back To Earth."
David Stuckey / OPB
Behind the Curtains at Portland's New Home for Live Jazz - 15:05
Filling the void left by the closure of Jimmy Mak's, the Jack London Revue has officially opened its doors, and with them, a new chapter in Portland jazz history. The venue has rehabbed downtown Portland's old Jack London dive bar into a red curtain-lined club with an explosive mix of straight-ahead jazz and hip-hop, latin jazz, space funk, experimental blues, neo-soul, and everything in between.
KMHD's Derek Smith stops by to give us a first look and recommend some shows on the summer calendar. Jack London has a number of exciting acts set for this summer, including Pancho Sanchez on June 21, the Jungle Fire on June 23 and Sidewalk Chalk on July 28.
Animals and Anti-Heroes: Diving Into the Unique World "Autumnlands" - 20:55
Veteran comic book author Kurt Busiek has written many of the big names — the Avengers, Superman, Batman, Iron Man — as well as his own masterful, long-lived and much-loved superhero anthology series, "Astro City."
“Autumnlands” is a fantasy epic.
Courtesy Kurt Busiek and Ben Dewey
But one of his most exciting recent series stands out: It's what would've happened if "Dark Crystal"–era Jim Henson decided to do a master's in Sociology. "Autumnlands" is a fantasy epic getting critical raves for its vivid world and social commentary. Brought to striking life by artist Benjamin Dewey and colorist Jordie Bellaire, "Autumnlands" opens in a futuristic world where anthropomorphized animals are king, with humanity as we know it only a distant memory.
Listen to our extended conversation with Busiek and Dewey, including more about inter-species hierarchies and huge spoilers about Volume 1.
opbmusic Session with Animal Eyes - 31:56
From the ice to the forest, Alaskan transplants Animal Eyes have traveled far to bring us swirling off-kilter psychedelic pop-rock. Since moving to Portland five years ago, they've released a ton of wacky, nature-themed tunes and successfully infiltrated the local rock scene. Now they're back with the album "Where We Go," a danceable breakup album that's both fun and introspective.
Watch videos of their opbmusic session or catch them live at Bunk Bar on June 21.
According to Kaj-Anne Pepper, "Being fabulous takes practice" — and we could all use a little "Diva Practice."
Photo by Sean Johnson
Brushing Up Your Inner Diva with Drag Artist Kaj-Anne Pepper - 36:07
For the rare few, being a diva comes naturally. For the rest of us, it takes practice. Lots and lots of practice. Portland drag performer and performance artist Kaj-Anne Pepper has taken to the theater to explore the hard work behind being fabulous with a three-part series called "Diva Practice."
Pepper will debut the solo installment at the Risk/Reward Festival of new works, alongside Portland dance doyenne Linda Austin and Seattle performer Queen Shmooquan, whose way with props and costumes looks like someone dosed the Kool-Aid at theater camp. Tickets are pay-what-you-will, so you have no excuse to sit on the couch when you could be practicing your inner diva.
And in honor of Pride, catch Pepper performing on Saturday night at the dance party Jump Jack Sound Machine, along with the musical act Chanti Darling and a host of queens.
The Magnificent Sculptures of Lee Kelly - 42:00
Almost everywhere you go in Oregon, you are bound to stumble upon a piece by the prolific sculptor Lee Kelly.
Sculpture artist Lee Kelly in his Oregon City studio and garden.
April Baer / OPB
You may very well have passed one of his iconic steel works today, like the towering Bend Gate or the hieroglyphic forms of Memory 99 in Portland’s Northwest park blocks.
A few months back, we visited his studio in Oregon City, an old dairy farm, reborn as a workspace, residency, and sculpture garden — you can find a slide show here.
Kelly's show "Winter Garden at Muktinath" is on view at the Elizabeth Leach Gallery July 15.