Guys! Lots of art shows opening tonight and tomorrow! If you plan on hitting up any first weekend exhibitions, follow along below for some highlights, including a show by Jim Neidhardt at Blackfish that weighs the value of display devices against the content viewed therein, a pink argument in favor of fate by Gabe Flores at Half/Dozen, and one white kid's attempt to become a Latin pop star at Recess. All this and more, after the jump.

Let's start with shows that're opening tonight, and move on to tomorrow after that.

Jim Neidhardts Nine 5.5 Inch, on view at Blackfish
  • Blackfish
  • Jim Neidhardt's "Nine 5.5 Inch," on view at Blackfish

Earlier I mentioned Jim Neidhardt's new show at Blackfish, titled Modern Screen. Communicated in stark black rectangles, the thesis of the show seems to be something like, 'it's the size of the screen, not the motion of the content.' Neidhardt clears things up:

“My new painting series considers web and television viewing as the primary driver of visual imagery. There is an elitism in what people use to view these visuals, be it iPads or projectors. This I suggest is the appeal of image size over image content. My work removes the narrative from the image and leaves the picture frame to contemplate. The titles of my paintings, 3.5 inch, 9 inch, 42 inch, etc., refer to common screen sizes ranging from cell phones to entertainment centers.”

420 NW 9th, 6-9 pm.

Upper Playground's Fifty24PDX is hosting Faux Money, Faux Problems, a three-man show about our current economic climate. Here's a rundown from the gallery:

“In Faux Money, Faux Problems, Gage Hamilton, Zach Yarrington and Stephan Alexandr work with FIFTY24PDX Gallery to create a concept show in response to the current financial climate. Gage questions the legitimacy of our financial institutions and our relationships with money through re-created scenes from The Alexander Hamilton Project peppered with reactions to the ensuing Occupy controversy, while Zach searches for a utilitarian alternative to the disheartening state of American politics, and Stephan poses a unique question of commodity value.”

Added bonus: live music by SHK THT, plus the good folks at Upper Playground promise to “fill your belly with delicious artisanal meats and seasonal beers” from Gorilla Meats Co. and Red Hook. 23 NW 5th Ave, 6-10 pm.

Breeze Block is hosting their fifth annual 100 Bones show, featuring works by a grip of talented illustrator types, all on sale for $100 or less. Participating artists are as follows:

“Mark Warren Jacques, Samahra Little, Bobby Bonaparte, John Petricciani, Hannah Boone, Jonah Porter, Kyle Jorgensen, Nathan Stang, Paul Estrada, Greg Bemis, Gage Hamilton, Brett Superstar, Conrad Crespin, Hannah Lewis-Lopes, Sloane White, Henry Newell, Seth Neefus, Dave Wien, Ashley Rehfold”

Also watch out for live music by Baby Jesse and DJ Spence. 323 NW 6th Ave, 6-10 pm.

Over the years, Matt Wagner of Hellion Gallery has curated some interesting collaborations between geographically disparate artists. Continuing in that vein, In League pairs artists from Europe and Japan with those from the US. From what I've seen, the collabs turned out really well. Additionally, there will be live music from The Great Mundane and Slimkid3 of Pharcyde. 19 NW 5th Ave, Suite 208, 6 pm.

Moving on to First Friday openings!

From Flores Intimate Historical Fictions at Place Gallery
  • Place Gallery
  • From Flores' Intimate Historical Fictions at Place Gallery

Presented by Half/Dozen Gallery, If I Were You: An Apology From Myself To Myself is Gabe Flores' newest installation. I'm told there will be a lot of pink elements to the show, which will add up to a discussion on choice and fate:

“Flores felt he never had a choice; he did exactly what he had to do, but this didn’t free him from the regret, guilt, pride, angst, vanity that is felt from such actions. If anything, these responses become the necessary byproducts that helped to set up the direction of his story. Flores is continually negotiating between the transitional nature of his proposed story, and how it always seems to be stationary. It would appear as if he had a choice in what he has done, but without all the variables out in the open, it is all an illusion.”

I know this is all rather ambiguous, but judging from Flores' current show at Place Gallery— dealing with formative events and our inability to reconstruct them— it's not to be missed. Dude's on fire. 722 E Burnside (enter on 8th, the space is in the basement), 6-9 pm.

paulclay_solamente_una_vez.jpg
  • Paul Clay

Also on Friday night, Recess Gallery is hosting Hypercorrection, a four-person show exploring efforts “to improve oneself on the basis of an incongruent analogy.” Participating artists are Paul Clay, Sokhun Keo, Krystal South, and Ross Young. More on the show from the press release:

“While pursuing their conspicuous goals (the myth of cultural authenticity, material/relational value, fetishization of the Other and social mobility), the artists of Hypercorrection inadvertently offer intimate portraits of themselves. The works have the potential to alter the proclivities of the audience, expanding each viewer’s capacity for transformation.”

While all the artists in the show are worth the trip, I'm particularly excited about getting a chance to check out Paul Clay's portion of the exhibit. Clay, despite his Canadian-Irish blood, “dreams of one day becoming a Latin Pop Star.” In chasing this dream, Clay has made video games, albums, and other digital projects. He hasn't hit it big yet, but in the process of trying there's a lot to be gleaned about the feasibility of the goals to which we aspire. 1127 SE 10th Ave, 6:30-10:30 pm.

Alright, that's what made it from my shortlist of first weekend openings. If I missed anything that you're super excited about, go ahead tell us about it in the comments!