What we noticed this week: people throwing off convention to remake a city, reinterpret symphonic music, inspire a new wave of activism, or just bang out a new beat. Take a break from holiday hurly-burly to hear all the latest.
The Portland Design Commission recently approved the rose and thunderegg–inspired painting by renowned artist James Jean for the Fair-Haired Dumbbell Building on East Burnside.
Art by Scott Baumberger / Courtesy of Guerrilla Development
You (and You and You) Can Own a Slice of This Building
In the middle of one of Portland's biggest real estate booms, one building stands out. It's called the Fair-Haired Dumbbell, but it's not just the name and psychedelic design that make it unique. It's also the first commercial building in Oregon and perhaps the first in the nation to raise money via online crowdfunding, and for as little as $3,000, you can own a piece of it.
850 people packed into Revolution Hall for a community brainstorming session on how to put fears and frustrations into positive action.
April Baer
Trump Won. What Now?
Recently, 850 people, including artists and creatives, packed Portland's Revolution Hall to participate in a conversation about kick-starting post-election activism. The meeting was organized by Natalie Sept, an Oregonian who spent five months this year on assignment for Hillary Clinton's campaign. People came out of the walls to talk about how they want to spend time and energy in 2017.
Rose Bond works with her team to perfect the timing between her animations and the Oregon Symphony's performance.
Katrina Sarson
The Oregon Symphony Gets Animated
As the second in its collaborative SightSound trilogy, the Oregon Symphony invited animator Rose Bond to create visuals to accompany Messiaen's epic symphony "Turangalîla" from Dec. 3-5. Think "Fantasia," but live and in person as four projectors bring the walls of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall to life in a symphony you can see as well as hear. Oregon Art Beat's Katrina Sarson went to Bond's workshop to see how the project is coming along. Watch for Art Beat's profile of Bond next spring.
Norman Sylvester's Jazz Life
Norman Sylvester (pictured) gives us a snippet of life in the 1960s on Williams Avenue, and Portland's iconic jazz club, Jimmy Mak's, will be closing at the end of the year. For more stories from the Jazz Life Series, visit KMHD.
Explode Into Colors at OPB 10-24-16
Drew Barrick
opbmusic Session with Explode Into Colors
The reunion of Explode Into Colors for two epic live shows this fall had Portland music fans in ecstasy. This trio played some of the most ambitious jams around. Lisa Schonberg and Heather Treadway are the band's dueling percussionists, their thunderous twin-talk drumming heart of the band's sound, while Claudia Meza plays bass and provides most of the witchy wailing. The three of them stopped making music together a couple of years ago, but in October they got back together for benefit shows on behalf of all-ages music venues, including Portland's Friends of Noise. Miss the band? Then check out opbmusic's videos of their live studio session.
Adrienne Truscott in "Asking For It"
Julieta Cervantes / Boom Arts
Adrienne Truscott: What's So Funny About Rape Jokes?
There's an ongoing debate in the comedy world about rape jokes. Are they acceptable provocation or, as Donald Trump might argue, harmless locker room talk? Or are they beyond the pale? One thing both sides can likely agree upon is that, with a few exceptions, they tend to be the kind of jokes that only male comedians tell. That is, until Adrienne Truscott. Truscott is a veteran of the international cabaret scene, but last year, she came through town with her first stab at a stand-up comedy show about rape jokes, and it was as smart and funny as it was unsettling. She's back, thanks to Boom Arts, with a second run of "Adrienne Truscott's Asking For It," Dec. 8–11 at Portland's Headwaters Theater. Truscott's also performing a new, late-night show called "One-Trick Pony."
"As Bitter as Death", by Jamila Clarke, 2014. 11" x 14" archival digital print, edition of 25.
Jamila Clarke
Jamila Clarke and Wolff Gallery
Wolff Gallery is a new spot on NW Glisan Street showing works from traditionally underrepresented artists. They currently have an evocative narrative photography exhibition by Jamila Clarke on display. "Think Out Loud" Host Dave Miller sat down with the gallery's co-owner Zemie Barr and artist Jamila Clarke. Find the whole conversation here.
SW 4th Av with its temporary new name honoring Bob Dylan.
April Baer
Dylan Street Signs
Commissioner Steve Novick has temporarily renamed a block of SW Fourth Avenue in honor of Bob Dylan's Nobel Prize. "Positively Fourth" street signs will be honoring the Nobel laureate all month.
"Heartline", by Pat Clark. 2016.
Courtesy of Atelier 6000
Printing Trees with Bend's Pat Clark
Pat Clark is an artist and the founder of the print-making haven Atelier 6000. All kinds of work gets made there, but, being in Bend, it's one place that originates interesting images of the natural world. Clark's work is no exception. Some of her prints and drawings are in the show "Inspired By Trees" now on view at the World Forestry Center in Portland. The show moves to Bend in January.