Scratching the Surface 2007

The Project Mission

To reach beyond the gallery walls and invite Portland to examine the depth to which the river running through the heart of our community informs our relationship to both the city and to one another.

The Project Goals

Blessed with unique and natural beauty Portland is the most livable city on the west coast. Its continuing expansion and evolution is driven in part by a rich and multifaceted arts community nourished by these same qualities and it is no coincidence that at this same time Portland is making its mark as a rising force in the art world. In this city buzzing with the commerce of culture, Scratching the Surface celebrates the collaborative, resourceful, and creative spirit that has earned Portland its well deserved reputation as a place for idea-makers to congregate and flourish.

Collaboration and resourcefulness is at the heart of Portland’s grassroots arts successes. In the creative community, as wide and varied as that label implies, the spirit of mutual support and respect is second only to the excitement of being involved in, and witness to novel cutting edge projects. Scratching the Surface will capitalize on the talent and willingness of the creative community to dazzle the city. In 2006 this project was endorsed by Mayor Tom Potter, Commissioner Sam Adam’s Office, the River Renaissance and creative professionals from all over Portland’s creative map.

Scratching the Surface is an invitation to participate in an exposition of many of Portland’s established and emerging artists while taking a leisurely stroll down the Esplanade that will draw focus to the Willamette River’s strength as a unifier of diversities and a link, both symbolically and literally, with communities beyond the city limits.

Through site specific installations, gallery exhibits, film and video presentations, lectures, performance pieces, and a river clean up event we will “scratch the surface” of this extremely rich and vital resource, introducing people to a new way of seeing and participating in the life of their city.

Project Breakdown

The Dates

The Scratching the Surface Project will focus on the first two weekends of August, beginning with an opening on Friday, August 3rd. There will be select events co-hosted by galleries, event spaces, and other organizations that will take place during the week as well as the weekends.

Lectures and Workshops

The following spaces have hosted events for Gallery Homeland and Scratching the Surface.
Rake Art Gallery
P:ear
Newspace
Valentines
Mark Woolley Gallery

Lectures

Lecturing is a great way to hear and learn more about an individual artist or collective. Rather than simply seeing a given piece of work in the show, the public will be given the opportunity to hear of artists’ influences, inspirations, and motives. These lectures will happen over the course of the programming. Artists involved in the 2006 lecture series were TJ Norris (of Portland) and John Vitale (here from NY through our residency program). Each talked about their experience working in the public realm and the collaboration with the community of Portland.

Saturday July 15, 2006 PNCA hosted a panel discussion exploring the intersection of art, environment and development in Portland. Commissioner Sam Adams, Brad Malsin of Beam Development, Carol Mayer-Reed, designer of the Eastbank Esplanade, Tom Webb, Editor-in-Chief of The Bear Deluxe Magazine and Orlo Board Member, and Victoria Frey of PICA will participate on the panel, moderated by Paul Middendorf of Gallery Homeland.

galleryHomeland wishes to continue the Panel Discussion for 2007. Our goal is to hold two panel discussions at two different locations. Our continued goal is to bring together the creative economy, the community, and the city to better understand the intersections that lie within.

Workshops

galleryHomeland and John Vitale (artist in residence ) met with P:ear and many of the kids involved. galleryHomeland as well as John Vitale talked of the process of public art and its importance for the community as well as artists. P:ear and youths were asked to make small sails that simply express Portland. The sails were folded and hidden along the Esplanade to be found by passersby.

Our goal for 2007 is to continue our work with P:ear as well as neighborhood schools. We will continue our participation with workshops, lectures and events geared at getting Portland’s finest artists and Portland’s youth working together on educational projects.

Art Exhibits and Performances

Art exhibits and performances will be curated and presented on the Esplanade as well as other spaces around town. Some artists will choose to create a solo performance piece, allowing it to be fluid altering it in relation to the audience and with the day or time. Others may curate their "dock" or "port" as they would a gallery allowing different artists to install or perform works on different days for the duration of the project. Others will create their own piece in the allotted space, or facilitate a team of artists to work in conjunction with them.

On the River

Scratching the Surface will include several installations. One 16ft x 16ft floating dock “the island” and a small 2 -3 person motorboat. These installations will be used as the centerpieces for projects and events.

On Land

Scratching the Surface is an extensive Willamette River Project. To maintain our dedication to the project, we propose that in conjunction with the city and the community we host a river clean up to happen the last week of the program. We have approached several organizations that are interested in working with us on this aspect of the project to preserve our fine river.

The Installations and Performances

The installations will be temporary and will start going up the weekend of August the 3rd. Some of the work will remain only for a weekend while others will remain of the following two weeks. These installations, regulations permitting, will be displayed on and along the Willamette River, utilizing the Esplanade, River Walk, and the Willamette.

Eliza Ferdinand
Factories 2006

Film and Video Screening

Tj Norris – Curation / installation
Ryan Jeffery- performance / installation
David Eckard- performance / installation
Eugenia Pardue- installation
Vickie Lynn Wilson-performance
Gabriel Liston - performance
Nicole Amore - installation
Amy Steel - installation
Liz Haley
Sean Healy - installation
Charles Moss- installation
Jonathan Leach- installation

Conclusion

Last year this project gave the city of Portland a chance to work with local and national artists as well as create a much larger dialog between the city and the general public. The project celebrated the Willamette River and the city of Portland, as well as its history and background of being a port town. We will continue to focus around the great sense of community already thriving within the city. Through our events and projects we aim to not only entertain but to educate, facilitate, and maintain this bond throughout the community. Scratching the Surface is a celebration of the Willamette River and its many uses as a lifeline for Portland.

Scratching the Surface 2006 was endorsed by

• Mayor Tom Potter and Office
• City Commissioner Sam Adams and Office
• Carey Coker of Parks and Recreation
• Matthew Grumm of Parks and Recreation
• Michael Montgomery and the City Of Portland Oregon River Renaissance
• Stephanie Synder, Director of the Reed College’s Cooley Gallery
• Tom Webb, Director of Orlo
• The Sierra Club of Portland Oregon
• Carol Mayer-Reed and Design
• Rosie Williams
  
• Beam Development