Jump to: Comedy | Community & Festivals | Film | Food & Drink | Live Music | Performance & Theater | Readings & Talks | Visual Art
Remind
Like
List
Heading to some of the city’s best-loved venues this year, the Rip City Comedy Festival is an easily navigated good time—grab main stage tickets or a VIP pass and you’re in for three days of laughs from nationally known comics and local faves. I recommend heading to the festival’s queer comedy showcase and Stupid News Live, Julie Baker’s news broadcast-eque comedy show. LC
Various locations (May 2–4)
Remind
Like
List
Birmingham-raised stand-up Roy Wood Jr., who you might recognize from his wry correspondent work on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, will stop by Portland to share more about his love of rude fast food employees and buffet restaurants. He was also a host of the comedy storytelling show This Is Not Happening, so you can pregame for this performance by binging a season or three. LC
Newmark Theatre, South Park Blocks (Fri May 3)
Remind
Like
List
Your first encounter with Ben Schwartz may have been his role as wannabe baller Jean-Ralphio Saperstein on Parks and Recreation. Since then, he’s voiced Sonic the Hedgehog (a role that oddly suits his fast-paced comedy style) and starred in three Netflix improv specials. He’ll drop by Portland on the heels of last year’s schlocky horror-comedy Renfield, in which he appeared alongside Nicolas Cage as Dracula. LC
Keller Auditorium, Downtown (Sat May 4)
Remind
Like
List
A valiant roundup of Portlanders will air out their most shameful moments on stage for this edition of Mortified, a podcast and live event series that celebrates the utter embarrassment of childhood. As it turns out, those awkward moments you’ve shoved to the back of your mind might actually be clout-worthy—Newsweek deemed the show a “cultural phenomenon” that’s “better and cheaper than therapy.” I’ll be hanging on to my therapist, thank you very much, but Mortified is certainly a rare opportunity for catharsis. LC
Alberta Rose Theatre, Concordia (Sun May 5)
Remind
Like
List
Michelle Wolf’s wisecracks about Sarah Huckabee Sanders were so effective that the White House Correspondents’ Association ended the decades-long tradition of having a comic at their annual dinner. Impressive. She’ll hit Seattle on the heels of her latest Netflix comedy special, sharing more of the no-holds-barred comedy that The Daily Beast described as “the future of stand-up.” LC
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Sat May 11)
Remind
Like
List
Minority Retort, the city’s leading stand-up comedy showcase for Black and brown comedians for almost a decade, will celebrate its last-ever show with a total blow-out. Expect an all-star lineup of some of the show’s historic faves, like Adam Pasi, Katie Nguyen, Debbie Wooten, and Curtis Cook, plus hush-hush special guests. Best part? A portion of ticket and merchandise sales will support the Black Parent Initiative, Oregon’s “culturally-specific, community-based nonprofit organization focused solely on supporting Black/African-American families with children.” LC
Siren Theater, Boise (Fri May 24)
Remind
Like
List
Whozits and whatzits galore are to be found at the largest handmade craft show in the Northwest (and one of Portland’s OG indie markets). Now boasting over 200 vendors, the event has shifted to requiring timed tickets in an effort to control the clamoring hordes. If you want ample time to explore the treasures, you can spend a little more to get first access (and a complimentary drink) at the Friday night pre-show party. I’m already overwhelmed with joy at the prospect of acquiring locally-brewed non-alcoholic beer, clay snake earrings, ’70s-inspired punch needle décor, and yes, even a ceramic bloody tampon. SL
Oregon Convention Center, Lloyd District (May 3-4)
Remind
Like
List
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo over three days at this sprawling street fiesta put on by the Portland Guadalajara Sister City Association (PGSCA). The internationally acclaimed Mariachi Ciudad de Guadalajara will be joined by local Mariachi students on Saturday night and will perform during Mass on Sunday, but you can expect top-of-the-line music and entertainment all weekend. The popular plaza de niños is even bigger this year, featuring free face painting, lotería games, cultural crafts, and access to Oregon’s International Reptile Rescue exhibit where you can find iguanas, tortoises, tarantulas, and a Gila monster (!!) I can’t wait to get my hands on some aguas frescas and tamales. SL
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Downtown (May 3–5)
Remind
Like
List
To help kick off Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, Oregon Rises Above Hate is bringing communities together to celebrate their resilience and diversity. In Old Town-Chinatown, you’ll be able to meander through info booths from organizations like the Immigrant Story and the Asian and Pacific Islander Community Coalitions of Oregon and check out performances by the Mulan Drum Team and the Ka ʻAha Lāhui O ʻOlekona Hawaiian Civic Club. Plus, take advantage of free admission to cultural institutions like the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, the Portland Chinatown Museum, and more. JW
Lan Su Chinese Garden, Old Town-Chinatown (Sat May 4)
Remind
Like
List
“Must love dogs” might as well be a requirement for anyone moving to Portland. Celebrate that love for our furry friends at this annual walk in support of the Oregon Humane Society and its continued efforts. Pets are (obviously) welcome, and participants will pick up their own “Doggie Bag” of swag at the event. Bonus: kids under 10 are free, and walkers 21-and-up will get a complimentary adult beverage at the libation station. The event claims there will be “more dogs than anyone could possibly pet in a day”—challenge accepted. SL
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Downtown (Sat May 11)
Remind
Like
List
Vanport, the largest World War II federal housing project in the United States and once Oregon’s second-largest city, was destroyed by a flood in 1948 that left 18,000 people homeless and forced Portland’s white residents to reckon with their racist housing practices. In observance of the 76th anniversary of the flood, the 15-day festival of “memory activism” will commemorate the disaster with community-minded presentations, exhibits, documentary screenings, tours, and more. Check out this year’s program for a full rundown. LC
Various locations (May 18–June 1)
Remind
Like
List
The city’s landmark festival will return to celebrate its 116-year legacy with petals, pistils, stamens, and a slew of much-loved events that “focus on fun.” The festivities include the Grand Floral Parade (a botanical spectacular on wheels) and the twinkly nighttime Starlight Parade of illuminated floats, plus the Queen’s coronation, a treasure hunt, dragon boat races (a thrilling Chinese tradition practiced in the Rose City since 1989), and a three-weekend CityFair with carnival rides. LC
Various locations (May 24–June 23)
Remind
Like
List
Holi is traditionally celebrated in March, but I don’t mind that Topaz Farm honors the festival of life and rebirth in May. After all, the arrival of spring definitely varies in the Pacific Northwest. The harvest fest returns bigger and better in its third year with more performers and more food and drink vendors, in addition to the farm’s own produce. Dance along to beats from DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid and experience the vibrant joy of pelting strangers with organic colored powders imported from India (for the full effect, wear white clothes you don’t care about staying white). I can’t wait to get revved up on chai and cool down with some kulfi. SL
Topaz Farm, Sauvie Island (Sat May 25)
Remind
Like
List
Admission is free to the annual Multnomah County Fair, where attendees can explore a pioneer village, check out vintage cars, and chow down on kettle chip nachos and many other fair (read: deep-fried) snacks. Like any self-respecting county fair, they encourage locals to enter their creations into a number of categories from floral and needle crafts to photography and food. I have fond childhood memories of running into the fair to check what color ribbon adorned my various projects. If it’s not the outcome you like, you can scream-laugh your worries away on the various amusement park rides. SL
Oaks Amusement Park, Sellwood-Moreland (May 25–27)
Remind
Like
List
Nonbinary filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun’s first feature-length flick, We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, was a creepy foray into the world of online horror gaming, following one teenager’s descent into an increasingly unsettling fantasy. It stirred up positive reviews at Sundance, and solidified Schoenbrun as a director to watch. Lo and behold, Schoenbrun landed an A24 flick with I Saw the TV Glow, which documents a teen’s investigations into an eerie, supernatural TV show. Fans of online wormholes and creepypasta shouldn’t miss it. LC
Tomorrow Theater, Richmond (Thurs May 9)
Remind
Like
List
I’ve been a Harmony Korine fan (and apologist—looking at you, Trash Humpers) since I was a teen, believing wholly that Gummo and Kids were peak cinema. Korine has always seemed unconcerned with the line between experimental and wide-release film, and this typically works in his favor. Aggro Dr1ft seems hellbent on toeing the line again; the first project released under his EDGLRD banner was described as having “all the commerciality of penis cancer, look like the ugliest fucking Playstation 1 game you’ve ever seen” by Indiewire. Here’s what I know: The film exclusively uses infrared photography, Travis Scott is in it, and there’s some sort of hitman-against-crime lord plot set against a psychedelic swirl of the Miami underworld. Um, sign me up, I think? LC
Cinema 21, Nob Hill (May 10–16)
Remind
Like
List
Starring Faye Dunaway as an off-the-rails movie star, the creepy-crawly cult classic Mommie Dearest unveils one of cinema’s freakiest abusive moms—you’ll definitely be rooting for her adopted daughter in this callous-yet-compelling tale. It’s campy wickedness at its finest, and local pearl-clutcher Donatella Nobody will bring a deadly dose of drag elegance to the screening. LC
Tomorrow Theater, Richmond (Sun May 12)
Remind
Like
List
I can think of few better ways to celebrate the coming of spring than with the films of Jacques Demy, who largely shirked the French New Wave’s stylish black-and-white ambiguity in favor of whimsy and color. This free screening of his French fairy tale adaptation Donkey Skin is a perfect example of what makes Demy (and star Catherine Deneuve) so memorable—the film is satirical, kitschy, and palatial, Deneuve dons a donkey head, and Delphine Seyrig is the world’s most fashionable fairy godmother. LC
Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy (Tues May 14)
Remind
Like
List
Multi-talented artist Saul Williams’s punky sci-fi vision comes to life in Neptune Frost, a turbulent, Afrofuturist thrill ride. The musical film blends thoughts that William explored in his 2016 album MartyrLoserKing with input from co-director Anisia Uzeyman, a Rwandan-born artist. The flick follows a gaggle of miners-turned-computer hackers in the Burundi hilltops, and sends a powerful message of technology’s capacity for progression and radical change. We’re enamored by the cool character names, like “Tekno” and “Psychology,” but the film’s quirks and artistic displays of bravura aren’t just for show—Neptune Frost is grounded in anticolonialism, anticapitalism, and liberation. It’s important that films like this exist, so go show your support. LC
Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District (Sat May 18)
Remind
Like
List
Let’s get weird: Lynch lovers (including Baby LeStrange, Natasha Riot, Wanda Bones, and Temera Titty) will unleash their lust for Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, Wild at Heart, and other cult faves on stage, paying tribute to the oddball director with burlesque and drag performances that’ll have you making this sound, but like, in a good way. Then, Blue Velvet will screen. I hope you like severed ears and tragic lounge singers! LC
Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District (Thurs May 23)
Remind
Like
List
Parker Posey stans, assemble, and don’t forget your club kid accessories: Daisy von Scherler Mayer’s ’95 indie comedy Party Girl will screen at Tomorrow Theater. This film has everything!! Posey stars as a devil-may-care 20-something It Girl in Manhattan’s club scene, where she meets a hunky food cart vendor, dons stolen vintage fashions to die for, and sways maniacally to a soundtrack featuring Tom Tom Club. The cult classic might also teach you something new about the Dewey Decimal system. Who could resist?! Party Girl cemented Posey as an indie darling of the era and even led to a (short-lived) sitcom, so don’t miss this chance to bask in its Gen X glory—”maximalist drag starlet” Violet Hex will play host and lead a groovy game of bingo. LC
Tomorrow Theater, Richmond (Fri May 24)
Remind
Like
List
This annual festival pays tribute to Portland’s sacred trifecta of coffee, beer, and doughnuts with a lineup of coffee beers brewed with beans from local roasters, unlimited coffee samples, and morsels of fried dough. This year’s lineup includes coffee and beer duos like Baerlic + Water Avenue Coffee, Crux Fermentation Project + Backporch Coffee, and Fort George + Coava Coffee, plus treats from favorites Blue Star, Coco Donuts, Helen Bernhardt Bakery, and Delicious Donuts. JB
Culmination Brewing, Kerns (Sat May 11)
Remind
Like
List
Oregon Wine Month and AAPI Heritage Month coincide in May, and this event combines the two with a seriously stacked lineup of 22 AAPI-owned restaurants and wineries, plus a mobile dry bar. Nosh on fare from local favorites like Magna Kubo, Hapa Pizza, Xiao Ye, Yaowarat, Kim Jong Grillin, and Frybaby while enjoying wine from CHO Wines, Et Fille, Hundred Suns, Kristof Farms, and more. Your ticket gets you a souvenir cup and a passport to taste 12 bites and 10 wines, plus two tastes from the dry bar. JB
Stoller Family Estate, Dayton (May 18–19)
Remind
Like
List
How many shows do you sell out before you move to a bigger venue? I will not deny that it’s going to be flippin’ magical to hear Toronto singer-songwriter Andy Shauf within the lofty arches of the Old Church. But they started off with two shows (May 4 & May 5), added one on May 7, and now that’s sold out too. As someone who has seen Shauf live several times, I’ll say that within him are two Shaufs: One wants to play the album he just released flawlessly, faithful to the recorded tracks. The other wants to show off whatever new tracks about dire human moments he’s currently crafting. We may be far enough from 2023’s Norm—his easy-listening disco album about a god-obsessed stalker—that he’ll lend us the latter. PORTLAND MERCURY ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR SUZETTE SMITH
The Old Church, Downtown (May 4–7)
Remind
Like
List
If you’re ISO an exploratory and uplifting time, California-hailing symphonic singer Julia Holter should help you shake something loose—she’s a low-key baroque pop queen whose surreal music is widely hailed by critics. If you’re into pop girlies, you’ll like Julia. If you’re more avant-garde, you’ll like, Julia, too. Her dewy, harpsichord-filled 2015 track “Sea Calls Me Home” and its lilting chorus (“I can’t swim! Its lucidity! So clear!”) helped me glide through the last nine years—as I navigated the end of college, my first “real” writing jobs, and the pandemic, every listen was a swan dive, a rest on a chilly rock as I gazed at the sparkle of sunlight against ocean waves. Since the birth of her daughter and the death of a loved one, though, Holter’s brand of dream pop has expanded to become more sensual and nocturnal. LC
Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn (Tues May 7)
Remind
Like
List
The last time that Pearl Jam played a proper show in Portland was in 2013. The PNW heroes kicked off their national tour by turning the Moda Center into their playground, and by all accounts, the concert was fire with a 34-song setlist and the band firing on all cylinders. Now, the grunge icons are back to support their critically acclaimed new album, Dark Matter. In a press release, the band writes that the new album “channels the shared spirit of a group of lifelong creative confidants and brothers in one room playing as if their very lives depended on it.” Don’t miss an opening set from Seattle-based indie rock band Deep Sea Diver. AV
Moda Center, Lloyd District (Fri May 10)
Remind
Like
List
Ah, an anniversary tour: how elder millennials and Gen Xers measure time now. Long before the Washington-based, Ben Gibbard-fronted bands the Postal Service and Death Cab For Cutie announced a Portland date for the 20th-anniversary tour of Give Up and Transatlanticism, respectively, I snagged tickets for the Seattle show. I never miss a chance to see my lord and savior, Jenny Lewis, after all. Among a sea of flannel and bearded folks, Ben pulled double duty and turned out a rollercoaster of emotions across the two albums, played in their entirety back-to-back. There could be nothing better. JW
Moda Center, Lloyd District (Wed May 15)
Remind
Like
List
Stardew Valley is the latest gaming craze that all my friends are playing but that I still don’t understand (for the record, I’m still playing Candy Crush). From what I can tell, the game is in a similar vein and has the same relaxing vibe as Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon, or even Farmville. And, given the aesthetics of the whole thing, I’m sure that the music is just as cozy. This immersive concert will feature fresh arrangements of the game’s most cherished songs, performed live by a chamber orchestra. AV
Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn (Sat May 18)
Remind
Like
List
The Portland-via-Alaska transplants Portugal. The Man have made themselves easy for us Pacific Northwesterners to embrace with their infectious hooks, commitment to activism and philanthropy, and fierce support of the Blazers. And, love it or hate it, their 2017 earworm “Feel It Still” continues to ring through Top-40 radio. Don’t miss the rock-pop ensemble as they stop by Bend with songs from their latest album, Chris Black Changed My Life. The album features big names like Black Thought, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and Edgar Winter. AV
Hayden Homes Amphitheater, Bend (Sat May 25)
Remind
Like
List
One of my first concerts was a free Avril Lavigne show at a mall parking lot in Seattle. Although I don’t remember many details, I do remember that she played an unplugged set which I felt wasn’t very “punk” of her (she’s since self-identified as a “rock chick.”) Now that I’m older and a little bit wiser, I would do almost anything to see a young Avril perform “I’m with You” and “Things I’ll Never Say” on an acoustic guitar again. Luckily, she’s heading out on a Greatest Hits tour this month to awaken the tie-wearing tween that lives inside all of us. Need even more nostalgia? Flippy-haired pop punk bros All Time Low are opening. AV
RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater, Ridgefield (Sun May 26)
Remind
Like
List
Founding fathers of funk-rock The Red Hot Chili Peppers will stop by Ridgefield to support their 2022 albums Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen. Recorded during the same studio sessions, the albums’ sound calls back to the band’s beginnings with organically crafted jams, funky basslines, and rap-infused vocal stylings from Anthony Kiedis. Plus, the recordings marked the rejoining of founding member/guitarist John Frusciante for the first time since 2006’s Stadium Arcadium. Trap rapper Ken Carons and funk-infused indie rock band Irontom will open. AV
RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater, Ridgefield (Tues May 28)
Remind
Like
List
For those born in the 1990s, singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan’s featherlight piano ballads may bring to mind heartbreaking images of sheltered animals gazing longingly into the camera. However, fans of Cocteau Twins, Kate Bush, or Sinead O’Connor should consider revisiting her early work. McLachlan’s 1993 album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, is a true touchstone of ethereal folk-infused indie rock. She will celebrate the album’s 30th anniversary alongside treasured indie pop artist Feist, who will be supporting her new album, Multitudes. AV
Hayden Homes Amphitheater, Bend (Tues May 28)
Remind
Like
List
It’s not possible to perform Nassim the same way twice, but it’s all too easy to spoil the show for those who haven’t seen it. We’re reminded of a challenge Artists Repertory Theatre laid down when they staged Red Rabbit White Rabbit, which is also by Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour: “We dare you not to Google for more.”
That said, we wrote a SPOILER-FREE review that you CAN READ. Find it here. PORTLAND MERCURY ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR SUZETTE SMITH
Portland Center Stage, Pearl District (May 1–12)
Remind
Like
List
Self-discovery! Not-so-subtle feminist themes! Pink! Try not to look so constipated at this musical interpretation of Legally Blonde, which follows our bouncy blonde queen as she conquers Harvard and her dreams. Promotional materials explain that the show is “action-packed and exploding with memorable songs and dynamic dance,” so I’m hoping that everyone on stage does the bend-and-snap. LC
Winningstad Theatre, South Park Blocks (May 1–19)
Remind
Like
List
Live Wire’s spring offerings will continue with another edition of the honest and funny conversational show hosted by Luke Burbank. This time around, featured guests will include Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism author Amanda Montell, whose new tome The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality points out societal examples of cognitive dissonance, plus poet and essayist Roger Reeves (one of my faves—drop what you’re doing and read King Me if you haven’t) and award-winning filmmaker Brian Lindstrom, the director of Lost Angel: The Genius of Judee Sill. Ethiopian American vocalist Meklit will deliver smooth, East African-inspired vocals. LC
Alberta Rose Theatre, Concordia (Thurs May 9)
Remind
Like
List
John Clifford’s witty adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream promises chaotic sprites, misplaced affections, love potions, a grand pas de deux, and a hybrid donkey-man with a fairy girlfriend. Anticipate plenty of mischief, costumes in pastel rainbow hues, a lilting Felix Mendelssohn score. The production’s enchanted forest setting evokes the charm of our neck of the woods. LC
Lincoln Hall, South Park Blocks (Sat May 11)
Remind
Like
List
If there were ever a celebrity podcast I’d actually listen to, it would be Paul Giamatti’s. Think about it: Don’t you kinda want to know what he thinks about, well, anything and everything? Luckily for us, he DOES have a podcast, and he talks to a philosophy professor (Stephen T. Asma, who’s also the author of 10 books) on it. Chinwag “may or may not dive really, really, really deep into the edge of the known [and] topics like aliens, science fiction, and imagination.” Okay, I’m on board. Giamatti and Asma will drop by town, hopefully to tell me whether or not we’re living in a simulation. LC
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Thurs May 16)
Remind
Like
List
The transfeminine writer, performer, comedian, fashion icon, activist, and public speaker ALOK wears…a lot of hats. If you’re into the #DeGenderFashion movement or their book, Beyond the Gender Binary, you’re already well aware that ALOK is a boundary-pushing changemaker to watch. The multitalented creative has developed a unique blend of poetry, comedy, and vulnerability on stage, often touching on topics of trauma and belonging. Get into it at this performance, where they’ll appear alongside Portland-based “Swiss Army knife” comedian Mx. Dahlia Belle. LC
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Sun May 19)
Remind
Like
List
Isn’t it everyone’s secret desire to return to the safe, pastel stucco surroundings of a ’90s-era mall? Japan-born, Hawaii-raised playwright Lava Alapai agrees with me—her play Middletown Mall is staged in a long-gone food court, where 20-somethings navigate economic disparity, social stresses, and family antics. Things grow more complicated when they all begin to prepare for America’s biggest karaoke contest, “Sing Out!” LC
CoHo Theater, Northwest Portland (May 22–June 9)
Remind
Like
List
Miranda July, a strong candidate for the coolest person ever born in Vermont, is also a novelist to be reckoned with—if you’re into her vision at all, you’ve probably picked up The First Bad Man, No One Belongs Here More Than You., or It Chooses You already. The heroine at the center of July’s latest novel, All Fours, is a 45-year-old artist staring down the rest of her life. I am not 45, but I am already anticipating the barrage of thoughts on monogamy, domesticity, bodily autonomy, and despair that one might face at that age. July tackles it all with her thrilling, freaky, and subtly comical voice. She’ll be joined in conversation by Lidia Yuknavitch, author of Thrust. LC
Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, Beaverton (Wed May 22)
Remind
Like
List
As a longtime student of Riot Grrrl, I’ve annihilated every piece of literature about the movement that I can get my paws on. Some favorites through my studies have included Sara Marcus’s Grrrls to the Front, Carrie Brownstein’s Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl, and Marisa Meltzer’s Girl Power: The Nineties Revolution in Music. Most of these music memoirs and anthologies include the story of the precocious Evergreen State College student Kathleen Hanna, who propelled the movement with the creation of feminist art space Reko Muse, and later, with the trailblazing feminist punk band Bikini Kill. Now, Hanna is telling her story in her own memoir, Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk. The book chronicles her life of activism, music, friendships, illness, love, and limitless amounts of determination. Hanna will be joined in conversation by a special guest. AV
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Thurs May 23)
Remind
Like
List
I first wrote about Francesca Capone’s work back in 2018—the artist’s show Think of Seashells was the subject of one of my first long-form reviews. While researching for my BFA thesis in fibers, I also turned to her textile pieces, so Capone’s tactile language has left a lasting impact on my occipital lobe. Perhaps you’ll develop the same attachment after seeing this exhibition: Capone’s latest, A Mother’s Discourse, explores the complexities of post-Roe v. Wade motherhood through soft weavings and an archive library of child-rearing literature. (For more art that traverses the complex terrain of maternity, check out Toni Pepe: Mothercraft at Blue Sky Gallery.) LC
Nationale, Buckman (May 1–19)
Remind
Like
List
California-born artist Mike Young began earning money from hand-drawn greeting cards in the ’70s. Young is deaf and blind in one eye, and observes images from books and magazines close up, “bringing his face close enough to nearly touch the pigment and paper.” Drawn to contour, outline, architectural detail, and anatomy, Young’s pictorial works feel familiar yet reorganized. “His accumulations tell fragmented stories and invent new taxonomies,” PICA artistic director Kristan Kennedy explains. A Berry, A Boot, A Building, A Blue Door: New Works by Mike Young is a great opportunity to check out Elbow Room, a local arts organization providing material support, mentorship, and studio space to artists experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities. LC
Elbow Room, Buckman (May 1–June 9)
Remind
Like
List
I first wrote about Ryan Pierce’s work back in 2021, at the height of a cinematically bleak pandemic. I was amazed by Pierce’s ability to “envision the potential for worldly change from an optimistic, anti-apocalyptic lens. “[Pierce’s] paintings depict the confluence of environmental chaos and the end of industrial capitalism as a revelrous feast, full of mayhem and clutter and uniquely human messes…[they] don’t force a new narrative on the viewer, but instead offer possibility: What if the future looked like this?” The artist will return to Elizabeth Leach for another solo exhibition, which will continue to “reposition” humanity’s place on earth and imagine how nature might carry on in our absence. LC
Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Pearl District (May 2–June 1)
Remind
Like
List
Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks, which comes to the Portland Art Museum by way of Canada’s Bata Shoe Museum, features almost 60 “futuristic” footwear designs created with ultra-modern technologies and materials. (If you could actually imagine yourself sporting the auto-lacing Nike MAG, this one’s for you.) This might be your only chance to scope out 3D-printed shoes, repurposed ocean plastics, and mushroom leather within a museum space, so don’t miss out. LC
Portland Art Museum, South Park Blocks (May 2–Aug 11)
Remind
Like
List
Portland-based and apocalypse-interested artist Anthony Roberto will share a “multi-year body of 3D modeling work” in All We’ve Got Is Each Other, a solo exhibition of uncanny Blender-modeled, 3D-printed sculptures and sleek prints on aluminum. Object/Model, Figure/Form meditates on human experience by “using the stage as a space without place,” and gets curious about how identities engage and commingle. LC
Well Well, Kenton (May 4–26)
EverOut Staff
Source link