October 6th First Friday: Printmaker Gene Flores and More!

Two arms, one with an angel tattoo, one with a devil tattoo. The arms are held up so the angel and devil are face to face.

Gene Flores fans, plan to join us Friday night to see his new show.  Plus, we have a pop-up jewelry show with Amerinda Alpern featuring new designs and metals – so cool and ready for fall!

About Printmaker Gene Flores

Artist Gene Flores
Printmaker Gene Flores

Gene Flores was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, and earned a BFA from the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP). He also taught basic drawing courses at UTEP and served as the Art Gallery Director. He went on to earn a MA and MFA in Printmaking, with Honors, from the University of Iowa in Iowa City and worked at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art as a gallery preparator. In 2001, he moved to Portland, Oregon, to teach painting, drawing, and printmaking at Portland Community College and Clackamas Community College. He has been a full-time faculty member at Portland Community College since 2005. Currently, he is Dean of the Visual and Performing Arts and Design division at the Portland Community College Sylvania Campus.

Gene Flores Artist Statement

My works are windows into my view of the world. They are influenced by literature, music, politics, and religion. My images can be described as humorous, insightful, disturbing and thought provoking. I prefer to label them as challenging; challenging viewers and their preconceived ideas of what is right and wrong, what is good and what is bad.

The images continue an internal struggle of what we all see or believe we see, what we do and don’t hear. They question everything I believe to be around me. I enjoy questioning and pushing boundaries, creating images that lead to other images and ideas. A never-ending cycle that enables me to create work without the worries of pleasing the viewer but always challenging them to view things from multiple perspectives, not just their own.

Two arms, one with an angel tattoo, one with a devil tattoo. The arms are held up so the angel and devil are face to face.
By Gene Flores
Black and white print of raven wearing a jacket and cravat
By Gene Flores
Fantastical creature with ears for head. The creature is smoking a cigarette. It towers above a rowboat full of monkyes that have their ears, eyes, or mouths covered. The water around them is littered with wine bottles, bombs, and crosses. There is a demon on the fantastical creature's back.
By Gene Flores
Poster painted on a wall depicts a very skinny man with a circus tent for a hat. He is eating popcorn. Around him is a snake, insects, and fantastical creatures, also painted on a wall.
Under the Big Top by Gene Flores

Plus, We Have Jewelry by Amarinda Alpern, Friday Only

Inspired by the beauty of the northwest, Amarinda’s jewelry collection features her interpretations of plants she finds, coupled with nature’s geometry, and reduced to classic mid-century shapes and designs.

Artist Reception Friday, October 6 with Gene Flores Plus Pop Up Jewelry Show

Join us starting at 6 p.m. for our artist’s reception with Gene Flores at Village Frame & Gallery, 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219. Afterward, do some shopping or grab a bite in Multnomah Village. On First Friday, most merchants are open late.

Multnomah Village First Friday poster: Come eat and shop late, it will be a scream!

Opening Friday, September 1st: Kaye Synoground – Personal Collection

Painting of serene orange cat
This month Village Frame and Gallery is featuring works by Kaye Synoground and other artists from her own personal collection. Kaye, a beloved artist in the Village, passed away two years ago shortly after her final show — also at Village Frame and Gallery. We have framed and unframed original works and prints by Kaye available for sale. Mark your calendar and be sure to stop by in September.

Sneak a Peek at this Month’s Exhibit

Painting of serene orange cat
By Kaye Synoground

 

Painting of elderly woman standing outside house

 

Still life of fruit in a basket on a table.
By Kaye Synoground

 

Painting of older woman and younger woman sitting at a table. There is a letter on the table and both women seem to be deep in thought over it.
By Kaye Synoground

 

Multnomah Village Businesses Will Be Open Late Friday, September 1st

Join your neighbors in the Village this Friday for shopping, dinner, and and a late summer stroll!

First Friday Poster

First Friday with Susan Kuznitsky Artist Reception and Demonstration at 6:00 pm!

Painting of beautiful woman examining foxglove blooms next to birdbath in flower garden

Join us Friday at Village Frame & Gallery where Susan Kuznitsky will be on hand to visit with you and demonstrate her craft.

About July Featured Artist Susan Kuznitsky

Susan Kuznitsky holding up one of her paintings and a ribbon it won in an art show
Susan Kuznitsky

Over 30 years of painting and teaching gives Susan Kuznitsky the experience and confidence to paint any subject in either pastels or oils. Plein air painting is her focus and passion. Susan has a keen eye for composition and detail with a great ability to turn an ordinary everyday scene into something extraordinary. Comfortable in both oils and pastels, Susan likes to work in both mediums to keep things fresh.

Born in Chicago, Susan began her art education as a teenager with the late Joe Abbreccia. This was followed by more training at the American Academy of Art. She later studied with great living masters Albert Handell and Richard Schmid. Susan currently resides in Portland.

If I can leave the world a bit more beautiful than I found it through my artwork, then I have done good. The beauty is everywhere, my job is to translate it onto canvas and share it, to make the ordinary extraordinary.

— Susan Kuznitsky

See Susan’s Artwork  at Village Frame & Gallery in July

This exhibit is open to the public, free, starting at 6 p.m. Friday, July 7th, and throughout the month during regular business hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm. We are located at 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219.

Painting of Alpenrose truck pulling away from Alpenrose gas station
Delivery Day by Susan Kuznitsky

 

Painting of beautiful woman examining foxglove blooms next to birdbath in flower garden
Summer Garden by Susan Kuznitsky

 

Painting of row of hula girl figurines
Aloha by Susan Kuznitsky

It’s a Spring Celebration with Scott Cordner June 2nd at Village Frame & Gallery

Waterfall seen behind blooming branches of a dogwood tree

Our First Friday Artist’s Reception starts at 6 p.m. — Join Us!

This month, we are showing Scott Cordner’s latest exhibit of fine art photographs: Spring Celebration. As always, our exhibit opening and artist’s reception is free to the public at Village Frame & Gallery in the heart of Multnomah Village.

Artist’s Statement

Scott Cordner in front of glacial mountains
Photographer Scott Cordner

As a photographer and artist, my goal is to create realistic images and prints of natural landscapes that encourage people to spend time in the wild, appreciating and protecting it. And for when those people are not in the wild, I want my prints to remind them of the natural world and help shape the choices they make.

About Fine Art Photographer Scott Cordner

Scott Cordner was destined to become a fine-art landscape photographer. A browse through his portfolio illustrates his passion for the medium and the outdoors.

The pure, unaltered and uncomplicated scenes are captured in the finest light. His exacting prints are made with the best materials that last lifetimes. Hand made hardwood frames from renewable and managed forests are enhanced and finished with environmentally friendly oils and a water-based polyurethane (made from whey, a byproduct of cheese). No detail is overlooked, and it is apparent.

Field of wildflowers, dotted with trees, in evening light.
Field of Dreams by Scott Cordner

Scott grew up in the rural Allegheny Mountains of northwest Pennsylvania in the town of Bradford. He spent most of his childhood outdoors, exploring the hills and forests, observing the flora and fauna, cementing his relationship with nature. But when indoors, Scott drew inspiration from his Grandfather, Jack McCutcheon.

Scott loved to draw just like his Grandfather, a self-taught painter and award-winning advertising manager for Zippo Lighters. Like many children, Scott’s artistic creativity was nurtured. In the 8th grade ‘Design an Ad’ contest, Scott took first place with a hand-drawn advertisement for a local Chrysler dealership.

His Grandfather also had a deep connection with the outdoors and wrote a weekly hunting and fishing column for the Bradford Era. He also respected Native American people and their culture, which were often the subject of his paintings.

During middle school Scott took some photography classes, where he learned to develop and print his own photographs. He excelled in math and science, and learned from his father how to take apart and fix things. It was a more traditional career path and one he pursued academically in high school and in college. While his passion for photography still consumed his free time, a degree in Electrical Engineering guaranteed him work and a job designing test equipment brought him to Southern California.

Frustrated with the confines of employment, Scott decided to put his engineering career on hold and set out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in its entirety – from the Mexican border to Canada. He brought along his first SLR to document the trip, a Canon Rebel 35mm with a kit zoom lens. Six months, four pairs of shoes, thirty-five pounds, 50 rolls of Fuji Velvia later Scott knew he had rekindled his love for the outdoors and his passion for photography. Even now, more than 20 years later, Scott entertains audiences with that early slide show of that 2700-mile trek.

Hiking had put things in perspective for Scott and he took a pragmatic approach when he returned to the workforce. He earned his living mostly through technical work as an engineer while honing his craft as a photographer and printmaker. Those years were special for Scott because weekends were devoted to road trips that introduced him to the iconic landscapes of the American West.

Mist engulfed trees viewed from under the forest canopy
Mystery of the Forest by Scott Cordner

It would still take another ten years before Scott could pursue photography full time but those years weren’t wasted. During those years and after, Scott continued to combine adventure travel with fine art and outdoor photography. He has trekked and mountaineered in Peru documenting the remarkable landscape and the Quechua culture. Scott climbed and stood on the summit of Denali, North America’s tallest peak, and has captured the magnificent hostility of the mountains.

He traveled to Russia’s Lake Baikal – the largest and deepest fresh water lake in the world – in 2002 as part of a team of four to kayak the remote northeast shoreline. While the Russian landscape was stunning, it was the Russian people who captivated him and set the stage for a return visit.

It was then that Scott developed his interest in using his travels and his images to document people and places that matter. Scott used his second trip to Russia’s Far East to promote ‘sustainable travel.’ He photographed the entire month-long expedition to Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, including the people and his team’s use of public transportation for self-powered, ski touring instead of the normal skiing style – heli-skiing. His images appeared in Backcountry magazine in connection with an article written about the remote region of Mount Bakening, a now extinct volcano located in the center of the Kamchatka Peninsula.

With the explosion of digital photography and printing, Scott drew from his technical background and started scanning his film and slides. Using digital cameras, he eliminated film and the harsh chemicals used to develop it from his practice. He started producing images with pigment inkjet printers. His printing style removes chemical processing from the equation and will last hundreds of years instead of fading like traditional color prints.

Waterfall seen behind blooming branches of a dogwood tree
Waters from Above by Scott Cordner

Desiring to create a better overall presentation of his photographs, six years ago Scott experimented with woodworking and now crafts his own frames. His process includes milling the wood by hand to create strikingly simple frames that naturally complement his photographs.

Scott is fast-becoming known for his large, panoramic prints, which capture the quiet magnificence and individuality of ordinary scenes. In fact, he shies away from more common and well-known iconic landscapes. “I am so proud to hang Scott’s work in our Gallery. His photos have such emotion, movement and vibrancy,” says Tamara Breunig, owner of United Wood Craftsmen Gallery. “You feel like they are a window to his world. His talent for capturing the moment is so real. It’s as if one could just walk into the photos and explore the spot where he took them. His work has such a sense of peace, and our clientele thinks so too.”

Collectors demand for his prints has grown because they feel a connection to the scene. Scott shows his work at art exhibits and fairs, in lifestyle retail stores and in fine art galleries. Scott has also sold collections of his finished prints to corporate offices. One of his corporate clients said this of his work, “Everyone is still raving about the prints, Scott. Thanks again for sharing your talent!”

Scott is focusing on conservation photography. He believes if someone notices an image of his, it becomes an opportunity to start a dialog about nature in general and the importance of preservation specifically. His ultimate goal is to create more stewardship of these important though lesser-known places throughout the world.

Spring Celebration Will Be On Exhibit Throughout June at the Gallery

Can’t make it on First Friday? No problem. Stop by any time during regular business hours in June. We’re open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm, at 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219.

More First Friday Goodness

We’re not the only business in Multnomah Village that stays open late on First Fridays. Come to the Village for dinner, shopping, art, and a nice walk on a summer evening.

First Friday June 2nd poster: Multnomah Village businesses open 6 pm - 9 pm

Scott Johnson Exhibit Opens First Friday May 5th

Watercolor of trees surrounding a pond

This year, First Friday and Cinco de Mayo fall on the same day — what a great excuse to get out of the house and spend the evening in Multnomah Village! We’re open late and have a brand new show featuring the work of local artist Scott C. Johnson.

About Watercolor Artist Scott Colin Johnson

The artist at work
Scott Colin Johnson, Watercolorist

Although Scott C. Johnson’s landscape studies are rooted in plein air painting, early-on he began to add the little touches that rouse the imagination—the faint treetops that indicate a valley beyond the hill, or the tiny glint of water that tantalizes over a grassy dune. These hints at an unseen landscape beyond the one we see, were an introduction to his dream world.

Scott developed the soft washes of the Japanese tradition, as well as the refined linework of the Persian miniature. As he grew more confident with the brush, he also became more involved in meditational techniques, and the painting became more concerned with recording a process, a trance state, a finding of the happy accident, and less with a specific reality.

He is a developed sensual being, with an appreciation for music, dance and garden design. Scott’s love of nature, refreshed by frequent trips and hikes, is evident in his work, but its mood, often portrayed by impending weather, dominates the objects in the landscape. There are subtle references to change in the clouds and stronger references to death and loneliness in the leafless trees of his latest work, yet the mood is never hopeless, but lets us know that the next season, bringing the tiny leaves of Spring, is just beyond and approaching.

Scott’s work has been exhibited on the west coast since 1986 and is represented in private collections throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan.

Artist’s Statement

Watercolor of blue, pink, and gray pastel ocean and sky framed by a few naked tree branches emerging from right side and rocky coastline in the foreground
By Scott Johnson

In the act of painting
it is my intent to express a beauty
my soul yearns to manifest
in imagery of lush colors and
open space.

The images often arrive out of waking or,
quiet [trance like] moments in their entirety.
When I am available to chase them down,
the ceremony of starting blossoms
into a myriad of new directions.
Thus the chase continues
and I will often not know the direction of a painting
until it is over half way done.
Mastering patience of the medium
and perserverance of vision
is the practice I have chosen.

Join us First Friday for the Exhibit Opening and Artist’s Reception

We’re starting at 6 p.m. and everyone is invited. Village Frame and Gallery is located at 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219. Can’t make it this Friday? Our exhibits are always open to the public during regular business hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm.

Watercolor of trees surrounding a pond
By Scott Johnson
Watercolor silhouette of tree in front of sunset grassland and sky
By Scott Johnson
Watercolor of rowboat in the grass at the edge of water in dark, muted colors
Moors Embrace by Scott Johnson

It’s First Friday, Come to the Gallery to Meet Shirona Lurie

Photos of Shirona Lurie
Photos of Shirona Lurie
Shirona Lurie

Artist Reception Starts at 6 pm Tonight at Village Frame & Gallery

Subconscious Revelations:  The Art of Spontaneous Collage by Shirona Lurie opened Tuesday. Tonight, meet Shirona and learn more about the intriguing images she creates in collage.

Your Sneak Peek of the Exhibit

All of Shirona’s work is collage, constructed from cut or torn paper, and she has developed two very different, yet complementary series. “Color Meditations” and “Origins.”

Take a look — you can enlarge these images by clicking on them.

More in the Village

As always, our neighborhood shops are open late. Come eat, browse, shop, and meet up with friends in Multnomah Village.

 

First Friday Poster: Eat, Open Late, Shop in Multnomah Village

Opening Today: Subconscious Revelations: The Art of Spontaneous Collage by Shirona Lurie

Exhibit Dates: Tuesday, April 4th through Saturday, April 29th

Subconscious Revelations: The Art of Spontaneous Collage is open to the public at Village Frame & Gallery, 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm. No charge.

Artist Reception: Friday, April 7th, 6:00-7:30 pm

Come meet Shirona and see her intriguing collage work in person on First Friday. (Click images below to enlarge.)

About the Artist: Shirona Lurie

Photos of Shirona Lurie
Shirona Lurie

What strikes one immediately upon looking at Shirona’s art is its stunning beauty. This is a rare thing. We are bombarded with images that are intended to be ironic, cynical, or that even celebrate ugliness, and so we have lost much of the power of beauty. But for thousands of years, the primary purpose of art was to elevate the human heart and spirit by showing us images of transcendent beauty. Through the contemplation of these images we glimpse a reality that is higher and truer than the mundane existence to which we can all too easily succumb. Beauty deeply moves us because it is ego-less; it is a servant that seeks only to discover and transmit. In this way, the experience of beauty is a spiritual encounter. This is exactly what one feels when looking at Shirona’s art.

All of Shirona’s work is collage, constructed from cut or torn paper, and she has developed two very different, yet complementary series. Her “Color Mediations” series are composed of carefully arranged squares of subtle and saturated colors. The rigor of the format focuses attention on the subtle relationship where edge meets edge, and reveals the beautiful sensuality of color itself. These glow with an inner light that seems to shine through the paper, sometimes pulsating, sometimes gently shimmering, and then dissolving back into the deep. Like Buddhist mandalas, these are images of contemplation and revelation.

Her “Origins” series, though also collages, break free from any formal constraints. They are made from dense layers of torn or cut paper, and at times use recognizable images: bodies, faces, flowers, rocks, and water. These works seem both mythic and monumental, as through we are witnessing primordial acts from hidden realms. The imagery in these is not literal or cerebral, but is intuitive and sensual. In one we sense a feminine sexuality bursting forth in an orgasmic flow of creation. In another we come through an opening, as though from one state of consciousness to the next. And in another we see what may be the formation of essential energies that seem to come from the beginning of time.

In both series, Shirona’s art is informed by a sense of reverence and seriousness in her craft. And all, unfailingly, come through Shirona’s ever-present eye for beauty.

The Source by Shirona Lurie

Spring Fever Art Sale – Save 20% to 70% Starting First Friday March 3rd!

Painting of string trio playing music

Big Artwork Inventory Sale

Been looking at your walls all winter?  Time for an art refresh?  This month at Village Frame and Gallery we have beautifully framed fine art pieces at stock up prices!  Stop in this month and get your spring on! Be here on First Friday for the biggest selection and best sale prices. Village Frame & Gallery will be open late and we’re looking forward to seeing you. Here’s a small sample of the deals available this month:

 

Image of Richard Hall's painting Horizon II
Horizon II by Richard Hall
Classical Code II by Richard Hall
Close up of heron in watercolor with gold matte and frame
Original watercolor by Beki Killorin
Painting of table with tea pot, candle, and strawberries on it.
Still life by Dan Mitra
Painting of string trio playing music
By Fran Kivet

We the People Posters are Selling Fast, Get Yours Before They’re Gone!

We are happy to report our We the People posters fundraiser and Amarinda Alpern trunk show raised over $320 in February for the ACLU. We still have some of the posters and 100% of poster profits will be donated to the ACLU, so if you want a set of your own, don’t wait — quantities are limited.

See you tomorrow for First Friday — because community is everything!

Village Frame & Gallery is located at 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219, right in the heart of Multnomah Village.

 

First Friday poster for March 3rd 2017 in Multnomah Village: Shops are open from 6 pm - 9 pm

 

 

 

Featured Artist Amarinda Alpern Kicks Off Fabulous February on the 3rd

Aritst Amarinda Alpern

February is an exciting month at Village Frame and Gallery!

Amarinda Alpern Trunk Show — First Friday, February 3rd Only

Find that perfect gift for someone you love. This First Friday only, from 6 pm – 9 pm, we have a Trunk Show of fine jewelry by Amerinda Alpern, with new pieces sure to quicken someone’s heart! Check these out (click to enlarge):

 

Light, Shadow & Form by Amarinda Alpern Throughout February

In this series of glass sculpture there are endless visual metaphors at play. The works on glass and paper are interactive with both electric light and natural sunlight, during the course of a day and during the seasons of a year. Symbolically the shapes of structure, home or temple mirror the light and shadow that we both live in and the light that lives within us. Ten percent of all sales from Amerinda’s show will be donated to the ACLU (click to enlarge):

 

Aritst Amarinda Alpern
Artist Amarinda Alpern

About Amarinda Alpern

Inspired by the beauty of the northwest, my jewelry collection features my interpretations of plants I found growing in Portland Oregon coupled with nature’s geometry and reduced to classic mid-century shapes and designs. I am fascinated with how nature grows, whether it’s the slight difference between leaves on a tree or the subtle variations in the human form. Geometry continues to hold my visual and emotional attention.

Also in the Gallery this Month

Hand Thrown Fine Ceramics by Carson Culp

Carson Culp is a self-taught ceramic artist who shared a double duty at the Multnomah Arts Center for three years as a Ceramic Technician and Youth Clay Instructor. During his time in Portland he was employed at Mudshark Studios and an apprentice at Kelly Pottery. Carson is influenced by traditional Japanese ceramics expressing that with his wood fired and high-fired celadon work. He is drawn to making functional forms that show balance and quality with a fluid and inorganic style. Carson has been accepted to a one year apprenticeship at the Leach Pottery in Cornwall, UK where he will work alongside the production team and focus on his craft. His
goal is to start a wood fire pottery/gallery and pass on his life experiences to other emerging ceramic artists.

Life Beyond My Body: A Transgender Journey to Manhood by Lei Ming and Lura Frazey

The First Memoir Published by a Trans Man from China

Cover of Life Beyond My Body: A Transgender Journey to Manhood in ChinaBorn in a rural Chinese village and identified as a girl at birth, Lei Ming, is barely cared for during his childhood. Often lonely, terrified and abused, he learns early to fend for himself and look within for answers, but there he discovers a paradox that threatens to undo him. Although he does not yet know the word “transsexual,” at 16, Ming sets out on a secret mission to find relief. Life Beyond My Body tells the true story of his quest to find answers in a society that is closed-mouthed about men like Ming.

Along the way, Ming finds solace and judgement in the Christian church, loves and loses a woman, begins his physical transition using black market testosterone, is jailed over his identity, and arranges for top surgery without blowing his cover. But ultimately, understanding the true meaning of being a man will require reckoning with God.

Buy your copy at Village Frame & Gallery today!

See You in February

We are at 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219. Our regular business hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm.

Village Frame & Gallery, 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219 ● (503) 245-8001
Open Tuesday - Friday, 10am - 5pm, and Saturday 10am - 4pm, or by appointment.