BOOKS: I interview Jonathan Safran Foer about his new non-fiction book Eating Animals. Foer gives an exceptionally good interview—I didn’t have room to print it all in this week’s paper, but the full transcript is online now. His book is refreshingly non-polarizing, offering a potential bridge between vegan/vegetarian and “ethical meat eating” communities. As he […]
Artsy
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The Secret Society of Our Hearts
The art of Trish Grantham is to me a quintessential piece of Portland’s visual culture. Not only is it publicly visible on the Fresh Pot sign, and on the walls of many a local collector, but her animal themes are also probably at least partially responsible for the animal-portrait obsession still prevalent as an art […]
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China Design Now + OFFICE PDX
Portland is obsessed with China. First there was the FUSE international fashion show of Portland and Chinese designers. And now that PAM has the China Design Now exhibit (Have you seen it yet? It’s running through January 17, and you can read my write-up about it here) there are related events (and blog posts) springing […]
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Weekend Arts Picks
Lots of shows this weekend, if you need a palate cleanser after Hump!. The Beggar’s Opera, co-written by occasional Mercury freelancer Stephen Marc Beaudoin, reworks the 18th-century opera of the same name, shifting the setting and the satirical focus to Portland, circa now. The show runs this weekend at the Someday Lounge, and next weekend […]
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Barred for Life
Jared Castaldi Few images, punk or otherwise, are as lasting as Black Flag’s “The Bars” logo. The simplistic and stark design created by Raymond Pettibon has long since outlasted the band and is a favorite tattoo for those who enjoy getting punk band logos permanently inked into their skin. Stewart Ebersole is one of those […]
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This Week’s Mercury Arts Section
(everyone else is doing it!) Days on the Cotton Candy #4 © Maleonn VISUAL ART Marjorie is duly impressed by China’s clear economic and artistic superiority, currently on display in the Portland Art Museum‘s China Design Now. In conjunction with the exhibit, tonight and tomorrow the art museum is hosting a concert of contemporary Chinese […]
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Art Meme of the Day Goes To…
Magnus Muhr! He’s the Swedish photographer who created Fly Humor: Magnus Muhr Magnus Muhr Magnus Muhr As translated by my Swiss roommate: “Oh shit! I’ve gotta sneeze!” Now it’s official, when I die I want to come back as a fly so I can die again and become arts and crafts. For more Fly Humor […]
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I Love Television™ Loves Jeremy Eaton™!
Regular readers of my column I Love Television™ are probably already familiar with the hilarious work rendered weekly by artist/illustrator Jeremy Eaton. He’s an expert at capturing the bizzaro profane tone I squirt out week after week, and now you can see a simply fantastic retrospective of nearly all 700 illustrations he’s drawn for I […]
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Underground Comix at Floating World Comics
Many Americans— myself included— have come to know Asian comics and cartoons like this: characters have round, oversized eyes and angular hairdos, cute and cuddly pseudo-animals have dumpy, superpower-infused bodies, and candy-hued colors are splashed around generously. Though last night at Floating World Comics as I was previewing Underground Comix— an exhibit of Chinese comic […]
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Stock at Gallery Homeland: Call For Art Proposals
Image Stolen from the Stock blog Stock, August 2009 Y’all hear about this thing called Stock? It’s a monthly dinner series hosted by Gallery Homeland where people eat soup, consume art, and collectively pick an art presentation to be shown at the next month’s dinner. Profits from the dinner’s $10 entry fee are given to […]
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Anna Weber’s Up at Nationale
The official reception doesn’t happen until tomorrow, but you can stop by Nationale anytime through November 8 to see Anna Weber‘s paintings, drawings, and (of particular interest to me) necklaces. You may have encountered Weber’s past work as a contributing costumer for Cartune Xprez and Mirah, and while many of her soft sculptures are wearable […]
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Tonight: Neighborhood Diaries and Papergirl at Second Nature Gallery
Papergirl #3 from Papergirl on Vimeo. Remember a few months back when we printed a piece about the Regional Arts and Culture Council’s (RACC) grant process? Well, I’ve got a quick follow-up on that story. Tonight at Second Nature Gallery (811 E Burnside), Abraham Ingle— one of last year’s RACC grant recipients— is officially unveiling […]