One of my favorite things to do in Portland is a little gallery-hopping.  There is such a rich creative atmosphere there and this past weekend, I was seriously craving some thought provoking art.  And boy, did I get it!  Portland’s Pearl District is one of the best spots for art viewing, window shopping, and well, just the perfect place to spend a PDX day.

[ mr. f checks out the work of christopher shotola-hardt at blackfish gallery ]

As we wandered from gallery to gallery, I noticed a definite trend among the current exhibitions– a leaning toward the exploration of the scientific– whether cancer research, technology or psychology, there seemed to be a common thread of art interwined with science running through almost all the gallery shows we saw.

[ fixing the impermanent, featuring the work of din q. le at elizabeth leach gallery ]

[ art for oncologists, featuring the work of jim riswold at augen gallery ]

I found the current exhibition at Augen Gallery, Art for Oncologists by Jim Riswold to be incredibly poignant in its honesty and simplicity.  The artist has been battling a 13 year fight against leukemia and prostate cancer, but this body of work isn’t just about his own battle.  It’s a show of recognition, of thanks, to the crusaders and tireless discoverers of new and better ways to combat this unrelenting enemy.  A larger than life candy dish takes center stage, filled with heart shaped sculptures inscribed with the names of chemotherapy drugs. Cancer-fighting is not for the weak of heart or spirit.  It takes dogged determination, not to mention learning the names, functions, and side-effects of numerous unpronounceable medications. At some point in each of their lives, cancer touched every one of my grandparents.  I know the kind of strength it takes to fight.

Speaking of poignant, we discovered a new gallery on this trip, J. Pepin Art Gallery, a space dedicated to the work of “contemporary artists who are reframing the perception of mental illness.”  As I went through the gallery, reading the words of each artist, the story of their struggles and triumphs, it struck me how very powerful art as therapy can be.  How we are able to express emotions and situations through visualization in ways that words can never capture.

[ nest, detail by alexandra peterson at j. pepin ]

We “lightened up” a bit when we hit Froelick Gallery and Michael Schultheis’ Universal Couplings of Archimedes.  Can I just say how much I love Portland?  Where else might you see an exhibition dedicated to an ancient Greek mathematician?  PDX doesn’t just celebrate its geekiness, it downright revels in it and I love the city for that.

[ michael schultheis at froelick gallery ]

Our final stop was Butters Gallery, which come to think of it was our final gallery stop the last time we explored The Pearl District, not sure how that keeps happening, but it is always a lovely way to end the afternoon.

[ sculpture by e. tyler burton and painting by marlana stoddard-hayes at butters gallery ]

The current exhibition at Butters, Proclivities, features the mystical work of Marlana Stoddard-Hayes.  In this new series of paintings, the artist moves through the grieving process following the death of her mother by working through the physicality of the creation, application and transference of elements onto the canvas, Stoddard-Hayes was able to liberate herself from the bonds of bereavement.  Though created during a time of grief, the paintings retain a sense of wonder and hopefulness.  A fitting tribute to a mother’s life.

These galleries, each so different in their approach, offered up stimulating and passionate work, one of the most satisfying afternoons of art-gawking I’ve enjoyed in a long while.  The next time you’re in Portland, do yourself a favor and schedule an afternoon in The Pearl District.  You won’t be sorry!

Peterson, Schultheis, and Stoddard-Hayes images are via their galleries’ websites, linked above.  All other images are by Artsy Forager.