| Hi, One of the most important skills for an artist to cultivate is a receptive perception of the world. To create stirring art necessitates being open to the full depth of feeling contained in phenomena. Beyond being secondary, the technical skill needed for effective art may even be impossible without this underlying sensitivity. In few places is this emotional perception more acute then in nature; where color and shape are abundant in emotive impact. It should come as no surprise then that many artists feel themselves deeply impacted by the seasons. This tendency is no doubt doubly true in the vibrant and seasonally temperamental Pacific Northwest. This April, I am excited to highlight shows that focus in on the blossoming abundance of Spring. With numerous openings directly, or indirectly tying in to this theme, this Friday should be the perfect compliment to a world in flower and blossom. Hope to see you tomorrow, Noah Alexander Isaac Stein First Friday PDX President |
| APRIL ART EVENTS |
 SAVINA MONET | WATER AVENUE COFFEE Featuring art works from Savina Monet. 6 PM – 8 PM @ 1028 SE Water Ave., STE 125, Portland, OR 97214 |
 A CLOSER LOOK: DEB STONER | PUSHDOT STUDIO GALLERY Deb Stoner is an American artist, born in 1957. Deb received a BS in Geology from University of California at Davis, and her MFA from San Diego State University. She taught jewelry and metalsmithing classes at the Oregon College of Art and Craft in Portland, Oregon for over twenty years, and is known for creating innovative approaches to making handmade eyewear through material and design research. She taught over fifty workshops on these techniques at craft-based schools and universities, and lectured widely at symposia and conferences. Deb served on the Board of Trustees at the Haystack School from 2001-2010. Deb’s work in photography followed similar craft informed investigations that continue to yield innovative work. From early work in black and white in the 1970’s through experimental work in graduate school and while teaching at OCAC, Deb’s radar always included a lookout for darkroom access. While learning about wet plate techniques, a chance demo on the use of a flatbed scanner to create digital negatives caught her imagination, leading to an obsession with making complex still life images of the flora and tiny fauna of the gardens in her neighborhood. A recent commission by the Oregon State Treasury Resiliency Building brought her curiosity to investigate the endangered Fender’s Blue Butterfly with its nectar and food sources. And although her commission to wrap the exterior of a building, the Palos Verdes Art Center, resulted in the very largest scale work she’s ever done, most people’s introduction to Deb’s work is on their way through the Portland International Airport whose permanent collection includes twelve of her works from “A Year in the Willamette Valley”. 6 PM – 8 PM @ 2505 SE 11th Ave., Suite 104 – in the Ford Building, enter on Division Street |
 GREENBELT AND CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER | ART AT THE CAVE Join us for the First Friday Artists Reception. Meet a multitude of artists, and representatives from the Watershed Alliance of Southwest Washington. Invite your friends to join you at the gallery. It is a great place to meet before continuing on to a lovely dinner downtown. Spring has arrived — come enjoy it. 4 PM – 8 PM @ 108 E Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98660 |
 FIRST FRIDAY OPEN STUDIOS | EAST CREATIVE COLLECTIVE See the art and meet the artists! Featuring the work of artist / members of East Creative, and the work of @mircat.magick.arts and @thecosmicpepper . Also, enjoy live music and community karaoke by Community Jams. 6 PM – 9 PM @ 211 SE Madison St., Portland, OR 97214 |
 YOUNG ARTISTS EXHIBIT | AFRU GALLERY AFRU Gallery presents our 5th edition of the Young Artists Exhibition featuring works and performances from young artists (under 18). The past year’s shows were a huge success and expect this year will be more so. 6 PM – 10 PM @ 534 SE Oak St., Portland, OR 97214 |
 FIRST FRIDAY | BITE STUDIO First Friday April 7th at Bite Studio! Featuring new prints from Bite Studio artists Rosemary Cohen, Leslie Pohl-Kosbau, and Eila Gustina!Come join us from 6-10 PM for art and merriment! 6 PM – 10 PM @ 2000 SE 7th Ave., Portland, OR 97214 |
 CAT LADIES | SIDESTREET ARTS Chat with out artists while they share their inspiration and ideas behind their artwork. Drinks and Treats will be served. 5 PM – 7 PM @ 140 SE 28th Ave., Portland, OR 97214 |
 FEARS AND PHOBIAS | SPLENDORPORIUM This show features new work by sculptor and mixed media artist Troy Hileman as well as over 20 other local artists confronting and expressing their deepest fears through creativity. 7 PM – 9 PM @ 3421 SE 21ST Ave., Portland, OR 97214 |
 DIVERGENT | BRASSWORKS ANNEX Coming to The Brassworks Annex – DIVERGENT featuring the works of Tom Tucker, Roger Gillies & Tom Mattox – opening reception 4/7|23 – come on down for this amazing show & the first Friday SE PDX Art Openings 5 PM – 9 PM @ 1127 SE 10th Ave., Portland, OR 97214 |
 CLUB V: CLOSING RECEPTION | FORD GALLERY PDX Miss out on our opening reception a few weeks ago? Not to fret! Join us Friday, April 7th for our First Friday edition of “Club V!”We’ve got pieces from 40 working PNW artists in celebration of Women’s History Month. This show is EPIC! 6 PM -9 PM @ 2505 SE 11th Ave. Portland, OR 97202 United States |
 FIRST FRIDAY | MANIFESTATION 6 PM – 9PM @ 2020 SE Bush St., Portland, OR 97214 |
 APRIL COOLS | MINI GO GO 4 PM – 7 PM @ 700 SW Fifth Ave., Portland, OR 97204 |
 HOW WE HEGEMONY: ANGELA ANH NGUYEN | ONE GRAND GALLERY One Grand is excited to welcome textile artist Angela Anh Nguyen (@pile _height) to Portland for her first solo with the gallery. ‘How We Hegemony’ documents the reaching effects of authority and positions of power on news, culture, and ideologies in our contemporary society. Anh Nguyen’s tufted rugs are inspired by the chaos of our modern age – large collage works and figural characters will be displayed at the gallery, speaking to a cultural status quo and a general playful levity. 6 PM – 9 PM @ 1000 E Burnside St., Portland, OR 97214 |
 FAUX SHOW | ADX PORTLAND 4 PM – 8 PM @ 417 SE 11th Ave., Portland, OR 97202 |
| Contact UsWe love to promote art events involving our participating galleries and artists, please be sure to send your news and any feedback to: press@firstfridaypdx.org Or use our online event submission form! General inquires: info@firstfridaypdx.org |