Project Background: Photographer Michael Sell’s current work explores the point at which fine art intersects with décor, and investigates how one supports or subverts the other: “I have recently begun a body of work that samples colors from famous photographs and collapses the visual elements and meaning of each photo into a single swatch of […]

The Public Art Network of the Americans for the Arts (AFTA) has named a local project, “Dekumstruction,” to its 2012 Year in Review, which highlights the 50 most outstanding public art projects in the United States last year. The PAN Year in Review is the only national program recognizing projects of excellence in public art. […]

Who: The Right Brain Initiative and King PK-8 School What: Student art show Where: Community Room at North Portland Library, 512 N Killingsworth When: Reception Tuesday, July 23, 5-7 p.m. Show on view through Aug. 31, 2013 Starting Tuesday, July 23, the North Portland Library will feature stunning black-and-white images of local 1st and 2nd […]

Two large scale mural projects are underway in Portland this summer – all recipients of grant funding from the Regional Arts & Culture Council. RACC’s public art mural program, financed by the City of Portland, provides funding for community murals that reflect diversity in style and media and encourages artists from diverse backgrounds and range […]

Project Background: Despite her notoriety and our love for her, Portlandia is irrefutably rooted in European sculptural tradition. The 35 foot high hammered copper statue that graces the façade of the Portland Building depicts the image of a classical female figure with European features. In that sense she represents only a portion our city’s diverse […]

The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) is seeking works on paper—prints, drawings, paintings on paper and photographs—to purchase for the Visual Chronicle of Portland collection. The budget for the purchase and framing of artwork is $10,000. The deadline for submissions is Monday, July 15, 2013.  Background: The Visual Chronicle of Portland is a collection […]

The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) invites nonprofit organizations and individual artists in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas Counties to submit proposals for artistic projects and cultural events planned for calendar year 2014. “Intent to Apply” forms must be submitted online – http://racc.org/GrantsOnline – by 5:00 p.m. on August 7, 2013.  RACC Project Grants support […]

On Monday, June 10th at 7:00PM, BCCTV will host a free screening of short works created by individuals who have experienced homelessness. The films were made at a RACC-sponsored, artist led production lab at Bud Clark Commons (BCC, at NW Irving & Broadway in Old Town/Chinatown) and will be screened at Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE […]

Project Background: Artists Patricia Vazquez Gomez and Betty Marin will present their social practice based Welcomeinstallation in the lobby of the Portland Building June 3 – 28. The project was conceived when the artists began to contemplate the connection between the building that institutionally represents the City of Portland and the lives and experiences of […]

Local photographer Jonathan Marrs recently installed a series of photographs printed on aluminum at Fire Station 18, 8720 SW 30th Avenue in Portland.   A celebration of the project’s completion, with the artist and station crew, will take place on Tuesday, May 21st, from 6:30-8:00pm. The celebration is open to the public. Jonathan spent time […]

RACC and artist Jorge Pardo have begun installing a new Streetcar Art Shelter at NE Broadway and Weidler. This eccentrically shaped sculpture will provide a shelter with “rainy on the outside, sunny on the inside” experience for waiting streetcar passengers. Fabricated of steel, wood and fiberglass, the new shelter measures 35’ long by 18’ wide […]

The Right Brain Initiative, a Portland area arts education partnership, has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This program of the Regional Arts &Culture Council was selected from a pool of 1,547 eligible applications. The renewed support follows Right Brain’s first NEA award in 2011. The Right Brain […]

Project Background: “Is Bigfoot real? I hope so, but I’m pessimistic.” This quote from Jacob Sorenson might serve as a tagline for his installation which opens April 29th at the Portland Building Installation Space. Sorenson, known for his elaborately designed and elegantly constructed kinetic sculptures, will present a nature-circus landscape in the space that embodies […]

The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) is pleased to announce a line-up of nine new installations by local artists at the Portland Building Installation Space. Over the next twelve months artists representing a wide range of approaches to art making will be featured in 4 week installments. Since 1994 RACC has managed the Installation […]