Dana Puntar
Brooklyn-based sculptor Dana Puntar uses mass-market design materials (think IKEA furniture) in combination with harder-to-contain natural forms like logs, fires, and stones. For An Hour on the Sun, Puntar presents wood and foam sculptures that glow in the dark, and every week, the gallery will have nocturnal viewings where you can witness these eerie, glowing, foam-and-laminate creations for yourself. small A projects, 1430 SE 3rd, 234-7993, Oct 13-Nov 11; nightviewings on Fri Oct 13 at 8:30 pm and Thurs Oct 19 at 6 pm
Eve of the Revolution: The Black Panther Party
This month marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Black Panther Party, and to mark the occasion, Rake Art Gallery is showing photojournalist Eve Crane's chronicle of the group's rise and fall in Oakland. Rake Art Gallery, 325 NW 6th, through Oct 28
Growing Stories
New media artist MK Guth continues to mine the subtexts and create reinterpretations of classic fairy tales in her new exhibition. This time, she turns her sights on the legend of Rapunzel, with a new five-minute video and sculpture. Elizabeth Leach Gallery, 417 NW 9th, 224-0521, opens Thurs Oct 5, 6-9 pm, continues through Oct 28
New Embroidery
New Embroidery: Not Your Grandma's Doily poses a fascinating curatorial question: A full generation after feminist artists like Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro subverted traditional women's crafts in the feminist art movement, how are artists using embroidery, hand-sewing, and other fiber crafts in fine art? It turns out that they're doing it with a healthy dose of irony mixed with a deep respect for the social history of the medium. In New Embroidery, you'll find references to tattoos, T&A, patriotism, and even to the memory of Grandma's doily. Participating artists include Louise Bourgeois, Hildur Bjarndottir, Celia Eberle, and Roberta Lavadour. Contemporary Crafts Museum & Gallery, 3934 SW Corbett Ave, 223-2654, through Nov 12
Julia Bryan-Wilson lecture
In this second installment of PSU's Monday Night Lecture Series, Julia Bryan-Mitchell comes all the way from Rhode Island, where she teaches at RISD, to talk about her own work in contemporary art history and visual culture. 5th Avenue Cinemas, 510 SW Hall, Mon Oct 16 at 8:15 pm, free
