Friday night, the line to get in to the Portland Art Museum stretched down the block. For the second year, the art museum turned itself over to the students of Portland State’s social practice art program for Shine a Light, an evening of “reimagining what could happen in a museum.” The dancing, beer, and nude wrestling advertised were obviously drawing new people (and lots of them) to the art museum.
As soon as I got in the door, a woman flanked by ornate floral arrangements asked if I wanted to marry a piece of art. Ariana Jacob was busy all night performing partnership commitment ceremonies between museumgoers and their favorite works of art, making them promise to devote themselves to the art for at least a year and come back to visit it four times. In the chilly courtyard, Eric Steen served up beer local brewers created in response to specific works of art (Hopworks’ earthy “Potlach” keg ran out first). But the event everyone was talking about was Jason Zimmerman’s “Two Boys, Wrestling.” In a packed basement ballroom, two muscly boys did, indeed, wrestle each other in the nude, encircled by the shrieking, heaving crowd.
You kinda had to be there, but photos are below:
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
Sorry, was too struck by glee at the Morrison Bridge’s beauty to join this event.
I got there about 9, and was kind of disappointed. I thought there’d be more events. I just ended up walking through and looking at the art, like normal.
I did see one band playing, and some high school kids with three sculptures that were well done.
But the DJ booth I found was empty, the marry-a-painting thing was booked up all night, the wrestling guys were full-up and impossible to see, and I couldn’t find any of the roving dancers or musicians or storytellers mentioned in the flyer.
It was supposed to go until midnight, but it felt like everything was already long done by 9. I don’t think it was worth the money and won’t go next year.
A+++ Event! It is the most fun you can have in Portland all year. I will totally be back next year!