Theo Ellsworth and Alec Neal Create Ornate Art

At Portland’s First Thursday Art Walk earlier this week, I came upon two artists who reminded me of one another.

While Theo Ellsworth’s pieces seem more tribally-influenced and Alec Neal’s seem more abstract, both artists combine a level of ornamentation and shape exploration to create intricate, moving pieces.

Alec Neal’s Sejour Vacation

Theo Ellsworth’s The Sacred Tree Relocation Project

PULSE Helps Children Through Music And Art

Tomorrow, thirty-five artists will come together to Staver Locomotive to create art that will be auctioned off to benefit The Children’s Heart Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to fund research to diagnose, prevent, and treat congenital heart defects. The event, called PULSE will start from 5:00pm. The artists will work side-by-side to create art pieces and sell them at 9:00pm’s silent auction.

At $100 a VIP ticket and $45 a normal ticket, one can expect that PULSE largely features the work of fine artists with styles that are relatively tame and house-friendly. Nonetheless, here are some artists who create pieces that are simultaneously edgy and accessible.

Robin Damore’s polaroid transfer, taken in Portland. On this piece, Damore says, ” At the top of the stairs in Pioneer Square is the statue of the man with the umbrella – I laid down, shot up at him with a fish-eye lens and when I did the transfer the emulsion pulled away leaving the patches of blue that looked like clouds – another lucky accident.”

Trish Grantham utilizes vintage paper, acrylic, ink, and watercolors in this cartoonishly cute La Familia.

Lorna Nakell’s Ghost Ship builds landscapes and silhouettes out of abstract backgrounds. Hand-cut paper, resin, pencil, charcoal, and acrylics all play a role in this piece that looks as complex as its materials.

A variety of shapes, colors, and treatments greet viewers in this piece by Meg Scheminske that knows no bounds.

Alisha Wessler knows how to send forth a solid message using abstract shapes in Maiden Voyage.

Portland’s Museum of Contemporary Art Manufractures My Face

The Museum of Contemporary Craft doesn’t exactly sound like the most exciting museum in the world, but thanks to its current Manuf®actured exhibit, it just about is. The show contains the work of many artists from around the world, and it is a study on “the conspicuous transformation of everyday objects.” One can expect the manipulation of everything from plastic army soldiers to lipstick tubes. These brightly colored three-dimensional works are guaranteed to entertain even the most stoic of art critics.

Régis Mayot is a French artist who mines trash bins for plastic containers and rids them of everything not necessary for structural stability. The resulting shells are reognizably similar to their original forms, yet stand alone as oddly shaped turns and lines of plastic.

Harriette Estel Berman uses tin cans to craft sculptures resembling teacups. The final products, laden with Milky Way, M&M, and other food brands, are delicately stacked and cleverly magnetized to create visually appealing pieces that don’t stray too far from a tea party in Alice In Wonderland.

Livia Marin uses 2,214 tubes of lipstick to create spires of browns, reds, and pinks in Ficciones de un uso. This sprawling piece is immediately eye-catching upon one’s entrance into the Museum of Contemporary Craft, but fight your urge to take photos… they’re not allowed.

This piece is an ultimate example of “more than meets the eye.” Upon initial inspection, Devorah Sperber’s After Warhol is just a bunch of spools of multi-colored thread arranged on the wall. Closer inspection through an acrylic sphere shows the viewer that the piece is in fact a Campbell’s Soup can, reminiscent of Warhol’s work.

This show is now on display at the Portland Museum of Contemporary Craft until January 4th, 2009. Want to see mass produced items turned on their heads? Look no further.

Ryan Bubnis Installation at Perihelion Arts, Phoenix

Came across a really cool and involved solo installation by Ryan Bubnis! The gallery seemed to give him an entire gallery world of his own. I particularly like the last installation and the adorable and awkwardly-shaped sculptures. Photography by Cecilia Singer.

Where The Good Thoughts Grow
Featuring new paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations from Portland artist Ryan Bubnis.

Partway through…

Drawing spread on the wall.

Some sculptures on shelves.

Wood chunks, yarn, and pine cones!!!

Side shot!! LOVE IT.

Was on display Friday April 4th-30th @ Perihelion Arts, Phoenix Arizona (www.perihelionarts.com/)