James O'Keefe

There are several interesting group shows opening this Friday, beginning with Weight, an installation exhibition curated by Pat Barrett. Each piece explores the physical, psychological, and/or psychic impact of "weight." The show features northwest artists Charles L. Forster, Ellen George, Tim Miller, James O'Keefe, Penitents, Kirsten Rian, Stephanie Speight and Jack Walsh, and PORT's own Jeff Jahn.

Opening reception • 6-8pm • January 18
Artist talk • 1pm • January 30
MHCC Visual Arts Gallery • 26000 SE Stark St., Gresham • 503.491.6075




In October, Art Media hosted a live "paint off," where several local artists were invited to throw down with spray paint. The event sparked the usual tension over the role of graffiti in the art community, but the experiment was deemed successful, generating no vandalism and lots of exciting work. The showcase for the work created in the paint off is opening this weekend, featuring pieces by local artist Ashley Montague, Charlie Alan Kraft, Chris Haberman, Hunter Armstrong and John Wray, and music by Atom 13 and DJ Homonym.

Opening reception • 5-9pm • January 18
Olympic Mills Commerce Center • 107 SE Washington St. • 503.317.8368



David Levinthal, "Cross"

The Guestroom Gallery is exhibiting War, Jim Riswold's curatorial debut. The show features local artists William Anthony, Dmitri Baltermants, Eva Lake, David Levinthal, Jim Riswold, Susan Seubert, Michael Spafford, and John Wesley. War explores the idea that by pairing evil with playfulness, we can strip villains of their power. As Riswold reminds us, "Bad guys start a lot of wars. Bad guys don't mind being called bad guys, but they sure don't like being called fools."

Opening reception • 6-9pm • January 18
Guestroom Gallery • 4114 N. Vancouver AVE • 503.284.8378