Portland2012

Curated by Prudence F. Roberts
February 26 – May 19, 2012

Portland2012 is curated by local curator and Professor of Art History and the Director of the Helzer Art Gallery at Portland Community College Rock Creek, Prudence F. Roberts. The work of twenty four artists present their work at five venues citywide. Roberts’ choices represent a broad range of contemporary media, from craft traditions to social practice, installation, photography, painting and film/video. Most of the artists exhibited work not previously shown in Portland or created new works specifically for the Biennial.

Prudence F. Roberts, “It has been an equal challenge and pleasure to select the artists for Portland2012 because of the rigor of artistic practice I found coalescing around Portland as well the University of Oregon in Eugene. Many of the artists I visited are working with a deep awareness of art history, even though they are questioning the canon, as it were. I am fascinated by how much work questions the act of perception and the veracity of image, sound, or text. Another theme that emerged for me is that of history and narrative, both personal and political: several pieces in Portland2012 draw upon material from extended and ongoing scholarly research.”

Disjecta developed the Biennial program to promote the vigorous quality of the visual arts scene in Portland, including artists living throughout the state. The curator’s vision is a key component of Disjecta’s Biennial. Each incarnation is a fully realized exhibition that speaks to the strengths and interests of an invited guest curator. Roberts has curated, consulted and contributed essays for exhibitions at the Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle; the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Eugene, OR; The Art Gym at Marylhurst University; and The Portland Art Museum, where she served as curator of American art from 1987 to 2000.

Portland2012 is the second iteration of the exhibition presented by Disjecta, built on a long history of biennials initially started by the Portland Art Museum in 1949, and continued until 2006, when the Museum’s exhibition transformed to the Contemporary Northwest Art Awards. For included artists, Portland2012 offers opportunities for critical response from media and peers, new audiences, patrons, and future exhibition opportunities. The use of multiple venues allows artists the space and flexibility to develop work specifically for the exhibitions.

The Art Gym, Marylhurst University:
Future Death Toll | Chris Knight | Cynthia Lahti | Ben Rosenberg | Jack Ryan | Marie Sivak | Dustin Zemel

PDX Across the Hall:
Ben Buswell | Akihiko Miyoshi

Helzer Gallery, PCC Rock Creek:
Ariana Jacob

Disjecta:
Erik Geschke | Brian Gillis | Anna Gray & Ryan Wilson Paulsen | Grant Hottle | Hand2Mouth | Arnold J. Kemp | Matt McCormick | Mack McFarland |Susan Seubert

White Box:
School of Architecture & Allied Arts, University of Oregon in Portland | Vanessa Calvert | Sang-ah Choi | Daniel Duford | Wendy Red Star | Vanessa Renwick

Portland2012 is supported by The Ford Family Foundation, Oregon Arts Commission, The Oregon Cultural Trust, RACC, Milepost 5, Plazm Design, Willamette Week, Hotel Modera, Framing Resource and partner sponsors The Art Gym at Marylhurst University, PDX Contemporary Art, Portland Community College, Rock Creek and White Box, School of Architecture and Allied Arts, University of Oregon in Portland.