Since it began in 2004, the Affair at the Jupiter Hotel has become a
permanent fixture in Portland’s busiest month for the arts. “We think
of it as a mature project now,” said Laurel Gitlen of small A projects,
who co-founded the annual art fair with Stuart Horodner, currently the
program director at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center. “Instead of
trying to grow it, this year, we’re focusing on refining it.” Visitors
can still expect a weekend’s worth of all the art that three dozen-plus
galleries could cram into the Jupiter Hotel. But there’s also an
exciting mix of work from both local mainstays as well as big name
galleries from across the country, including White Columns and Little
Cakes from New York, Duchess from Chicago, and an exhibition of
drawings by freak folk icon Devendra Banhardt.
MERCURY: What are you most excited about for this
year’s Affair?
Gitlen: We’re publishing an awesome book called Doing
Business, which is a collection of archival documents produced over
the last four years that exposes the behind-the-scenes aspects of the
art world and putting on an event like this. It’s really a stand-alone
document, but Saturday’s [2 pm] discussion panel will essentially be a
book launch.
How did the show of Devendra Banhardt’s drawings come
together?
Horodner: I organized a show of them for Atlanta Contemporary Art
Center here in Georgia last spring. His drawings are exactly like the
music: fantastic, dreamy, diverse, tribal, tantric, and delicate. I’m
paraphrasing, but he’s said that he makes music about things he can’t
draw and draws thing he can’t write songs about. The drawings on his CD
covers are his and he maintains both practices very seriously.
How have you seen the Affair affect Portland’s art
community?
Gitlen: Especially because it coincides with TBA, we’re seeing a lot
of local galleries staging more ambitious projects and, generally,
getting into the host city mentality. I think that everyone has seen
how meetings and connections at the Affair have come to fruition, so
it’s a year when galleries are showing off a little more. It’s great to
see that it’s helping Portland artists show in other places and
bringing more national artists here.