Portland is known for its vibrant and eclectic art scene, and the monthly First Thursday event is a great way to experience it. On the first Thursday of each month, galleries and businesses in and around the Pearl District and Northwest host opening receptions for new exhibitions, featuring local and international artists working in various media and styles.
On December 7, 2023, I had the opportunity to host the First Thursday relaunch at the erickson gallery. Here are some of the highlights of the night:
Ori Jay
Collage Series
Tools of the Trade
As an artist, storyteller, and activist, much of my work consists of excavation – mining my life story and others’ in order to uncover and heal collective trauma. This not only allows us to understand the source of our pain, but to access the wisdom of our ancestors. Healing work should not focus solely on examining our pain. We must find sources of magic and joy in our lives, as well. As an art therapy student, this is what I aspire to achieve in my future practice, and it’s also a philosophy I want to honor in my own life, as well.
Medium Used
Mixed Media, Canvas 20x16 in
Social media accounts
Roxanne
Heritage Series
Roxanne's neo-expression mixed media pieces that explores her heritage as a multi-racial with Native American heritage from the Southwest. Created with oil pastels and acrylic paint on deep-dyed beige 250 GSM 9" x12" mixed media heavyweight paper.
Artist Statement
The headdress of the Spider Grandmother illustrates an a creation story. In folklore, Spider Woman is the Creator of all things. She is the stillness, the creative energy before it takes shape or form. She has power beyond all imagination. She is known for her sharpest, focused thought and clearest vision.
This tribute to the Creation myth, which speaks of the strands that are interwoven and connect everything in one matrix. Since everything is linked together so intricately, the touch at one end of the web is felt and affects the web all the way to the other end. Nothing exists by itself, unconnected on its own. Everything is part of the web of creation.
Kimberly Marie Kimble
Title of Artwork
Untitled Grief Project
Medium Used
Photography
Social media accounts
https://www.instagram.com/kimberlymariekimble
https://www.instagram.com/rushesandwaves
Kiersten Carroll
Title of Artwork
Assorted Brain Gunk
Medium Used
Acrylic on canvas
Artist Statement
Each of these paintings were created with different intentions in mind, with the four surrounding pieces (hanging on the left and right sides) hoping to represent figures, characters, or people that felt important for me to reference and focus on at one point in time. And they still feel important, but their meanings have shifted and changed, like art always seems to do with time. The two centralized pieces in the middle of this wall were created to tell my personal story, as an artist, a student, a daughter, a sister, and all the other infinite roles we each play in our lives. I painted the two middle pieces with the concept of personal growth in mind. For myself, this includes exploring the dark and dusty depths of my own being to learn what I can gain from that experience. It’s about navigating and respecting the water well enough to become a witness to its power, but not swimming so deep that the pressure and cold is overwhelming, incapacitating. There is an attached piece (made from cardstock and acrylic paint) hanging from the ocean painting- it has an eye on one side and a moon on the other. Which one are you?
As an Art Therapy student in graduate school, much of my personal art is silly, colorful and loud, a means of self-soothing and self-expression. The art I create for school is more introspective and quieter, helping me to sit in discomfort and contemplate what challenges me; as I walk along this path towards becoming a licensed professional, I hope to instill creative curiosity and a passion for self-expression in anyone I come into contact with. I believe the world could use more art, in whatever way that means for someone (cooking, music, dance, etc.). The world needs YOUR art. And you deserve to be heard.