Portland

So I went to portland with carolyn this last weekend...

Kind of got off to a shaky start, because I thought Friday was Thursday (long story, ok not really long, but I am still not going in to it here), so when she called me, semi-frantic, semi-pissed I hadn't picked her up yet -- I had a half a second of "Huh? Portland? Aren't we doing that tomorrow?" Before realizing, uh oh, brainiac strikes again; Not much damage done, thankfully. I threw some stuff in a bag, and we were on the road in an hour.


We went to the Affair at the Jupiter. I couldn't agree more with the Willamette Weekly's assesment of the whole thing, quite impressive--artwise, that is. Closing the bar at 10? I thought Seattle's art parties were lackluster -- but at least we let the keg run out.

But honestly, that is quibbling, We had a fabulous time. Local Wundersomthing Jeff Jahn curated an excellent show, Fresh Trouble. In retrospect, the most compelling piece in the show was by Jahn's GF Laura Fritz. Her installation in a small room at the back of the space was disjointed (and it was very dark; what is it with super-dark installations? I realize it covers a multitude of sins, but, oh wait I am rambling) -- but one part of it was a long, low rectangular box, with one end a glowing white-plexi screen, on which were projected shadows of a cat--or was the cat actually in the box? This was by far the most distressing and disconcerting feeling I have had in an art-experience for some time. Who would lock a cat in a box for the sake of an art installation? Surely there was not really a cat in there? As I lingered in the room, listening to the other viewers, it was interesting to listen to them question if there were a live cat in the box, and reason their way to concluding it just couldn't be...surely he would meow? Anyway, I think anything that makes people spend that much time and energy is a successful piece.

The box of pee, though; I guess I didn't get that.

Anyhow, go if you can, it is up one more weekend.