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Rock Creek Art Beat Schedule
Photos and story by James Hill
Rock Creek Campus 17705 NW SPRINGVILLE
MONDAY, MAY 10
Jim Johnstone and Michael Robinson—Urban Wood Fired Kiln Demonstration
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. – outside rC 7, east side
Throughout the day, observe the leading and firing of pottery using gas and wood as fuel. Midday, the stoking of wood will begin spectacular smoke and flames which leave their marks on the pottery inside. Be sure to come back on Tuesday at 1:00, when the kiln will be opened to reveal the unique surface created by the flames.
Carson Ellis—Art Beat 2010 Featured Artist
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. – rC 3 the forum
This year’s featured Art Beat artist Carson Ellis is known for her distinctive album and web site illustrations for Portland band The Decemberists as well as her many book illustrations, including The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart, and The Composer is Dead, by Lemony Snicket. Carson Ellis is one of today’s most distinctive artist/illustrators.
Coho Productions—Theater Performance
12:00 p.m.-1:15 p.m. – 3
CoHo Productions present selections from Conor McPherson’s This Lime Tree Bower. Gorgeous language and compelling characters make this a must-see of the season! Following the performance, actors will lead a workshop on the development of the voice.
TUESDAY, MAY 11
Mike Rathbun—Sculpture Discussion
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. – 3 the forum
Rathbun states, “How can I see the world again? In amongst the day to day stresses, the need for money, fear has made the world empty and invisible…. How can I recover my sight when I sit in my studio in an academic environment. My work has been energy that I have gained from sources, (i.e. books and experience) and poured out in physical form (i.e. space and material).”
Mark Andres and Christopher Knight—Painting Demonstration
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. – rC 3 mall
The Rock Creek Mall becomes a huge artist’s studio as PCC Art faculty Mark Andres and Christopher Knight collaborate on developing two large multiple-paneled paintings, starting from blank canvas, working from artists’ models and other source materials, over two days.
Natalie Warrens—Ceramics Demonstration
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – rC 3 room 126
Design with Color: Airbrush and Painted Underglaze Techniques on Clay. Learn to add color to your ceramic pieces. This workshop will explore underglaze application on green and bisque pieces using simple airbrush techniques. Warrens will also discuss other inlay, resist and stenciling methods.
Mike McGovern—Printmaking Demonstration
1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. – rC 3 mall
Michael McGovern, printmaking instructor at PCC Rock Creek, will be creating multiple plate mono-prints using various intaglio techniques such as copper plate etching and collograph processes.
Jim Johnstone and Michael Robinson—Urban Wood Fired Kiln Demonstration
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. – outside 7, east side
Begun on Monday amidst fire and smoke, the ceramic creations resulting from this unique firing process are revealed.
Faculty Reading
7:00 p.m.-8:15 p.m. – 2 room 122
Enjoy an evening of poetry and prose created by Rock Creek English and Art faculty. Featuring Elisabeth Knight, Alison Apotheker, Mark Andres, John Zackel and more!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 12
Moe Bowstern—’Zinester and Poet
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. – 2 room 121
Bowstern has been known to fish for shad on New York’s Hudson River, shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico, and salmon in Kodiak, Alaska. She’s also been known to change the color of her hair at a moments notice. When she’s not fishing, Bowstern is hard at work on her ’zine, Xtra Tuf.
Opa Groupa—Musical Performance
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – 3
Opa Groupa is the newest Balkan, Klezmer and Gypsy band to invade the Northwest. With their unique fusion of traditional and contemporary styles, they play dance and party music from afar.
Sandeep Koranne—Sitar Performance
7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. – rC 3 the forum
India comes to PCC with the sounds of sitarist Sandeep Koranne. Sandeep has extensive knowledge of Raga music, vocal as well as instrumental. He will be accompanied on the tabla by Sai Kiran.
THURSDAY, MAY 13
Mark Andres and Christopher Knight—Painting Demonstration
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. – rC 3 mall
The Rock Creek Mall becomes a huge artists’ studio as PCC Art faculty Mark Andres and Christopher Knight collaborate on developing two large multiple-paneled paintings, starting from blank canvas, working from artists’ models and other source materials, over two days.
Student and Faculty Literary Reading
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – rC 3 tlC room 102
Rock Creek’s literary magazine, the Rock Creek Review, hosts an open-mic reading in conjunction with the ever-popular student and faculty prose and poetry reading.
Oregon Universal Zulu Nation—Hip Hop/Dance/Graffiti
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. – rC 3 the forum
All elements Hip Hop jam! DJs, Graffiti artists, MCs, Bboys and Bgirls make up the four main elements of Hip Hop culture. Come share the experience with the Oregon Universal Zulu Nation as they bring it all together with the fifth element: Knowledge.
Sarah Horowitz—Slide Lecture
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. – rC 7 room 108
Printmaker Sarah Horowitz will discuss her May, 2010, exhibition of etchings and drawings at Froelick Gallery and talks about her work as an international book artist.
Josh Smith—Sculpture Demonstration
2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. – 3 room 112
Local artist and furniture maker Josh Smith will run a workshop exposing some of wordworking’s dirty secrets. By focusing on plywood construction and keeping the process loose and fun, participants will make forms suitable for sculpture and possibly furniture.
FRIDAY, MAY 14
Phillip Charette—Art Lecture
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. – rC 3 225
An Alaska Native Yup’ik artist specializing in sculpture, Yup’ik spirit masks, and musical instruments, Charette discusses his creations and underlying philosophy. Through a hands-on exploratory approach, his art expresses elements of traditional Yup’ik spirituality, cosmology and power.
Judy Hill—Art Lecture
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – 3 forum
Northwest glass artist and PCC Rock Creek faculty member Hill discusses her figurative work in glass and ceramics. She is represented by Grover Thurston Gallery in Seattle.
Tea Ceremony
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. – 3 tlC 102
Centuries of Japanese tradition, literature and culture come together in the study and discipline of making and serving tea. Experience the tranquility of the Japanese Tea Ceremony with instructor and artist Margie “Soya” Yap.
Student Gallery Reception and Awards Ceremony
3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. – 3 helzer art Gallery
The Helzer Art Gallery hosts a juried exhibition of student work: painting,
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »