STEVE SHOW OPENS THIS THURSDAY, 6-10PM! IT’S ALSO OUR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! (Well, two years if you count old Street Level gallery)

WHAT: Steve Mathews and 1 Year Anniversary!

WHEN: Thurs. Sept. 25th, 6-10pm

WHERE: NE 10th and Alberta

DJs: Ancheta Apolinario and Stephen Quirke

Q: Can you give us the basics? Name, age, hometown, family status etc.
A: Steve Mathews, 36, Omaha, Together forever.

Q: What were you like when you were 16?
A: I had a torrid love affair with a 1967 Ford Fairlane, which made me cheat on my first love: skateboarding.

Q: How long have you been an artist?
A: I have made marks on stuff for as long as I can remember.

Q: What kind of mediums do you work with?
A: Primarily I work with paint and wood, but we are not exclusive.

Q: What do you think of Portland’s art scene compared to other cities? What do you see in its future?
A: I think that PDX has an amazingly supportive art community, which I have not seen elsewhere. There are more multi-talented artists in this town than one can shake the proverbial stick at. I see rain, lots and lots of rain.

Q: You’ve lived in the NE Alberta neighborhood for a while now, what are your thoughts on Last Thursdays?
A: I love that anyone can put their work out there for free. It has changed, I am unsure if for the better, over the years though and I think that it’s future is shaky.

Q: Where do you see your art career in five years?
A: Do I have an art career?

What?! Yeah, I know. Kind of a surprise to me too. But things are going so well here that we’re ready to upgrade to a more long-term space.

We are actively seeking out a bigger and better location in the Alberta, China Town, or E. Burnside neighborhoods. Please let us know if you have any leads! Also, the new space will likely have more art/sewing/craft studios for rent, so holla if you’re interested. Stay posted…we’ll let you know as soon as we find the spot. Stoked!

So I’ll admit I was a bit star-struck when MEAR ONE stopped by Breeze Block from LA on the way to his show for the opening of the new Upper Playground in Seattle. But wow, he’s a super nice, down to earth guy. Always cool when you meet a successful artist without an ego. He also had his buddy named Motion with him…the two of them are working on a documentary of Mear’s life that will hopefully come out in the next year or so.

Anyhow, we have some of Mear’s dope posters for sale. Each one is signed by him with a silver Krink marker - a total steal for only $10 for the small ones and $20 for the larger ones. Only a couple of each style so come and get em!

The flyer says it all…see you there!

WHAT: Sprockettes Show!

SPROCKETTES PERFORMANCE AT 8PM

WHO: Sarah Eastman, Jonathan Maus, Tiago de Jerk, Nickey Robare

DJ: Ronin Roc of The Fix

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 28th 7pm

SPOCKETTES PERFORM AT 8PM! PARTY STARTS AT 7PM!

Tomorrow we will be celebrating our local lovelies, The Sprockettes. For those of you not familiar with this amazing female group, these ladies are a rad mini-bike dance troupe who perform locally and nationally. The Sprockettes have a passion for dancing, bicycles, DIY ideology, and striving to promote a healthy body image.

Jonathan Maus (of BikePortland.org) and Sarah Eastman have documented the performances, practices, and tours of the Sprockettes with their beautiful photography. Tiago de Jerk, a NE local stencil artist, will also be showing some Sprockettes/bicycle themed pieces - amazing!

Sprockettes documentary by Nickey Robare, Small Movements, will show after the 8pm performance.

Bike Farm, BikePortland.org, Black Star Bags, and Belladonna Cycles will have informational tables as well! Come celebrate bikes, bike culture, and these fabulous gals who wil be performing at 8pm!

Click HERE for show pics from last week!

Q:  Can you give us the basics – age, hometown, years in Portland etc.?

A: I’ve been around the sun 24 times. I was raised in San Diego and moved up to Portland about a year and a half ago, basically for the art, music and the trees.

Q: How do you know your buddy in the show, hydEON?

A: hydEON runs a DIY label called Community Work Effort. He put out a record I made under the name Idioflux, and has just been a super supportive homie and inspiration ever since. When I saw his art I flipped out. He’s a really solid dude, the kind you want to keep in your life.

Q: And what’s your background in art?

A: I don’t have any official background in art education, but I did grow up with some awesome parents who were both artists and taught me a lot about anatomy and drawing. I would draw comic book characters every day, and they would help me sort out my ideas a lot.

Q: What types of art mediums have you worked with over the years?

A: I did illustrations with pencil and ink for most of my life, until I moved to Portland, where I did some of my first paintings with acrylic and picked up my first fatty markers. I am in love with it. I dig the way you can layer over and over with acrylics. 

Q: When it comes to your art gods, who are they?

A: Barry McGee, Brendan Monroe, Thomas Campbell, Jeff Soto, Jeremy Fish, and Ed Templeton. Those guys kill it, and I most likely wouldn’t be painting if it wasn’t for them.

Q: Now I know you are super involved in music as well. Are there any overlaps between music and art?

A: Totally. Music gives me imagery in my head that makes me want to make art, and art makes me want to make music. I also do a lot of artwork for musical things, which forces me to do things that I wouldn’t normally do. They are pretty inseparable for me.

Q: How stoked are you for your show at Breeze Block?

A:  Stoked to the tenth power. I love the gallery. Every opening has inspired me a lot, so it’s awesome to be showing this time. Life is pretty good in 2008.

I don’t usually point out new merch online that often, but I’m so excited about these two earring designers I had to include them.  Local ladies of Hubris and Sophrosyne (recycled leather) and Carry Rose (feathers and bones) dropped off brand new handmade earrings this afternoon. I had to take one of each for myself.  Welcome to the shop!

LAST THURSDAY TOMORROW 7PM: STEPHEN WILLIAMS
WHAT: Stephen Williams solo show
WHEN: Thursday, June 26th, 7pm
WHERE: NE 10th and Alberta
AND: DJ Jammotron
AND: Keg of New Belgium!!

Now that the real summer months have hit home, we are honestly a bit scared for the crowds rolling up and down Alberta. Come help us hold it down on 10th St and celebrate the solo show of Stephen Williams. With a long history of spray paint use, Stephen has moved onto the canvas and has an amazing attention to detail and flow. He is definitely one of Portland’s hidden gems.

Stephen is working on an instore mural right now (behind my desk, yeah!). That blue wall was lookin a little boring so thanks Stephen.

DJ Jammotron, an old school hip hop DJ hailing from Chicago, is kind enough to grace us with his talent tomorrow night. All you music heads should know who this cat is…

AND - New Belgium Brewing is so effing rad for sponsoring the show this month. Thank you soooo much!