Prints by Erica Ramirez

For a few more days, check out Erica Ramirez's lovely lithographs at Emerson Space Case!  Erica explores the human body in relation to the flora and fauna of the world that surrounds us.

Colleen Flanigan's Community-Crocheted Coral Reef

Currently on view at Emerson Space Case is a community-crocheted coral reef, installed by Colleen Flanigan.  Colleen is ambitiously involved in creative coral restoration projects; check out her talk about her Living Sea Sculpture at TEDx WoodsHole!

Port City Wood Studio

In April, Emerson Space Case hosted a showcase of pieces created at the Port City Wood Studio, the theme of which was Mount St. Helens!  This show was made possible with the help of Luke Forsyth.

Here is a sampling of the wonderful works we displayed...

Jacob Sorenson: the hazy void between Nature & Culture

Currently at Emerson Space Case, Jacob Sorenson's fantastic installation!  Electricity, nature, and patterns on paper.

I grew up, a once dedicated surfer in the chilly water of the American Northwest. In the paradise of my youth I took a hardline grasp on environmentalism. But I’ve become weary, and acquiesce that solutions are far more complex than simple monkey-wrenching with the destructive force.

The void between Nature and Culture is hazy. Life is created in laboratories, engineers control landscapes, and “wild” space is parceled into quadrants. Culture fights Nature, or Culture assimilates Nature, or Culture is Nature, or…

Through confused comparisons, domestic imagery, and designed thievery I explore my constructed landscape; wishing for authenticity, seeking distraction, while longing for the Idealism of Nature.

www.jacobsorenson.com

Coyote

In January, Emerson Space Case was home to four coyotes.  This show has come and gone for Emerson Space Case, but if you missed it, these critters (plus two more) will be on display at Palace of Industry until the end of March!

C O Y O T E

an installation by Stephanie Brachmann

This installation draws from my memories of being raised in a rural forested area, and surrounded by a seemingly endless mystery of wilderness.  We rarely saw the coyotes, but we knew they were there by the sound of their maniacal cackling in the distance on moonlit nights.  These sculptures are my personal tribute to the scavenging, predatory, invisible way of the wild.

Made from poultry wire, papier mache, found fabric, found paper, paint, branches.

"Velvet Tiki" - Velvet Paintings by Juanita

Come by Emerson Space Case to see the fabulous and fascinating works of Juanita, the velvet painting queen!  In this series, Juanita explores the glorious kitsch of tiki aesthetics, paired with Day of the Dead imagery.  Also displayed are Juanita's marvelous painted velvet coats and pillows.

Juanita's paintings have graced the walls of Voodoo Doughnut (three locations!), Laughing Planet, and Portland Mayor Sam Adams.  She has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Oregon Art Beat, and "Black Velvet Masterpieces," a book of velvet paintings.

Living in Portland Oregon, Juanita loves to paint on black velvet. She keeps busy with commissions and has shows of her paintings throughout the West. She now paints on velvet coats, pillows, jewelry and paintings.  For commissions, contact her via her website.

As a sidenote:  Did you know that Portland was once home to an entire velvet painting museum (where several of Juanita's paintings were once displayed)?  Those of us who had the privelege of visiting Velveteria will never forget.

Li'l Orphan Art: A Showcase of Found Objects

If you haven't seen it, you missed it, because this blog post is late (sorry!), but in October we had a fine little showing of found art.  Those lovely and ugly things you can't resist at thrift stores, flea markets, and estate sales.  We gathered things from our friends and put them all together in a tribute to the sincerity of orphaned art.

Big thanks to our contributors:
Chelsea Appel
Kristen Bilous
The Emerson House
Kendra Hadlock
Lettie Jane Rennekamp
Ilan Schraer
Swoops
Kevin Witmer
Benjamin Parrish & Amber Smythe


The show was curated by our resident owl sous-chef, Percival May.

(these chickens have real feathers attached!)

(all the way from Denmark)