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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2001)
ART y interview with Walt Curtis starts with enthusiasm. He is still high from his recent 60th birthday party (July 4, no less) and opening at Mark Woolley Gallery. He is animated and vocal as he cele brates with a waterfall of words what seems to be a life enjoyed and frilly lived. Unofficially deemed Portland’s “Street Poet Laureate” for 30 years, he has supplied this city with a broad mix of poetry, prose, essays and art. He is eclecticism incarnate, with a résumé reaching into nearly every facet of the local arts community. Curtis authored Mala Noche, a novella that became director Gus Van Sant’s first film. He is the subject of Bill Plympton’s documentary Peckemeck Poet. Small-press collec tions of his poetry include 1971’s The Erotic Flying Machine, 1974’s The Roses of Portland and 1983’s Rhymes for Alice Blue Light. In addition, for 30 years he has served as host of the KBOO-FM show Talking Earth. But right now, Curtis is excited about his new collection of paintings, Native Spirits. A lthough not a N ative Am erican, he proudly stakes his claim as a native of the Pacific Northwest. He has immersed himself in the wilds of Oregon, fre quently m entioning the Clackamas and Molalla rivers and the energy he draws from them . As he says, “T he landscape is in my blood and brain • 1 nc — somehow.” Curtis’ paintings are a bright mix of color, sexuality and Native American imagery. Some are on canvas, others on wood or rock; occa sionally, he paints over other people’s castoff “sofa" paintings he’s come across, judicially allowing some of the previous work to play through his own strokes. At times his painting moves past the can vas, enveloping the entire frame. He even merges poetry and art, including poems on the hacks of some paintings. Many of Curtis’ recent works are inspired by the famous Columbia Gorge petroglyph “She M I Walt of all trades Portland legend looks back on his life by R ich a rd B ray W ho Watches,” which he has visited at least eight times and has inspired his past poetry. He attempts to capture the essence of primitive symbols and rock art from around The Dalles and whar used to be Celilo Falls before the dams were built. Worth noting is Curtis’ sensitiv ity to “borrowing” these Native American images, particularly “She W ho Watches.” He consulted with Lillian Pitt, an important local Native American artist, about the themes of these pieces. Her response: “Do what you feel is right, do what your heart tells you.” Curtis explains: “I didn’t think it was fair for me to deal with Native American stuff when I’m not Native American, unless I knew and had some respect for it. I’m not trying to take risks or be disrespect ful to native culture; I’m saying that that’s part of all of our culture, our heritage in the Pacific Northwest.” To drive his point home, C ur tis adds, “I’m not a white Indian, but I identify with the primordial and archetypal sim plicity of native rock art.” According to Curtis, response to the show and its origins has been posi tive and supportive, no doubt reflecting his rever ence and intent for his sub- ect matter. “I don’t want people to feel I’ve disre spected them by dealing with their often religious symbols.” In a reflective mood, Curtis says of his art and process: “I’m a poet and a writer who’s also been painting, and in my work, just as in my poems, images come up.... 1 have to have an image.” Explaining further, he adds: “For me, a painting is more of a discov ery than a poem or an essay. It’s something I can really get involved in, and then I end up with a beautiful or interest ing object.” Curtis brings a unique personal vision and philoso phy to his art. “Nature is part of our sexual and spiri tual life, and possi bly that’s a recurring theme in my work— the vitality of life itself as man ifested in nature and as manifested in our healthy, vibrant spirits if we will really go with the best part of ourselves.” More than once, Curtis pays homage to others in Portland’s cultural community who have been supportive of his work and life and who also take risks. He cites Van Sant; Wool- ley; Thomas Lauderdale of Pink Martini; W illiam Jamison, the late gay gallery owner; and John Gogol, an ethnographer and expert on N ative Am erican basketry. C urtis easily moves from subject to subject, seamlessly t sliding into a short discus sion of hom osexuality in N ative A m erican culture and th eir acceptance, alm ost rever ence, for the power of w hat they som etim es referred to as the “third sex.” He says native people believe hom osexuals are “natural, they have more more potency th an h e t erosexuals— male or female— because they know both sides of the sexual para digm ... sham en were often gay m en .” Walt au naturel EASTSIDE MOVING & STORAGE Co. bodiesinbalance • • • • Full Structural Inpections Reinspections Roof Inspections • Pest & Dry Rot Loans for Conventional, FHA, VA & H U D Financing 203K Re-Hab Loans ( 503 ) 307-9180 www.inspecteckwest.com H o u se h o ld G oods In tern a tio n a l T rade S h ow s Calling Portlander Tom Spanbauer one of our most important authors, Curtis reveres The Man Who Fell in Love with the Moon for its N ative Am erican sensitivity. O n the larger subject of being gay in society today, C urtis has clear opinions. “W e gays have to become part of the larger com munity, too. We have to be somewhat fearless about presenting w hat we’re interested in, but we also have to be gra cious and under stand where o th er peo ple are com ing from. I would really feel Sun M an bad to be in a totally gated gay com m unity someplace myself.” Today, Curtis finds himself at a turning point. Having lived for many years in Oregon City with his mother, who recently passed away, new horizons and options are presenting them selves. He would like to travel more, especially in the Northwest. As we finish our interview, Curtis’ appreci ation for the life he has led, and still is lead ing, is evident. He seems to be in a reflective and grateful mood, surveying where he’s been and where he is and eminently aware that before him lies the ultimate empty canvas— his own future. “This town really loves me, and I love this town. There are such wonderful people in this community, and it’s a great privilege and honor to be part of it. I feel humble and grateful that I’ve been able to do so much work...my life has been a feast.” Given Curtis’ past 30 years in Portland and his penchant for living life without boundaries, his next chapter promises to be scintillating. Stay tuned. JP1 Paintings by W a l t CURTIS will be on display through July 28 at Mark Woolley Gallery, 120 N .W . Ninth Ave. Without a travel agent, you’re on your own. " (Plan jfo w f o r ) loliday Travel of Portland, inc. n il A TC C ■ IL M IC O therapeutic exercise Private 8t semi private lessons Small group m at classes Teacher training center 503/248-4483 • 852 SW 21st www.bodiesinbalance.citysearch.com • & Toni. C. 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