Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 19, 2002)
July. 19,2002 ART " " ▼ Elemental roots Continued, from Page 1 The vastness of space in this large oil on canvas plays with twilight, and its starred sky and teal waters absorb the mysterious light source. The jagged little islands, like embossed anthropomorphic paw prints, have an admit ted inherent irony with its pert, almost sodlike opaque green grasses. Shelton explains that her paint is applied from the center out, like the body’s chakras. By using an opaque projector she is able to apply repetitive shapes with a quirky post-Van Gogh effect. It’s hung alongside “Island Is Four Logs in Green Sea,” and the two almost act as a dip tych behind the main counter of this fashion ably appointed but minimalist shop retrofitted with some of the best vintage wines in the city. Shelton was overjoyed at the pairing of the pieces in that they depict a continuous horizon line and unfold a story of sorts. Proprietor David Cowling, aka Bald Guy (as it reads on his business card), wants his new business to act as a unique community info center for the finer points of the special vintages he stocks. B om and raised in Salem, Shelton has identi fied as an artist since a young child and as a lesbian since 1976. With a master of fine “ I s la n d w ith T h r e e T r e e s a n d G r e e n S e a ” is a s u b s t a n t ia l 3 - b y - 5 o il o n c a n v a s arts from Washington State University, she is a certified arts educator in Portland— a city she Shelton’s “Tree Light” uses a radiant tech leaving the interpretation to the viewer. breathtaking truth when you view the work appreciates for its gay-friendly atmosphere. She’s nique to cast its trees’ shadows. The street lamp In this salon-style installation Shaffer presents here, in which she takes a subject and multiplies also working as a parent/child development spe light source is not visibly present, and the illu her piece “Birth of a Dream” (ink and colored it with such a committed, organic purpose. cialist with Portland Impact, an organization sion here makes the light seem to be stemming pencil on ragboard), a piercing image of moun “It’s really important to me,” Shelton contin that helps alleviate the effects of poverty. from the earth. The trees, with caricaturelike tainous entities coming apart. ues, “that people Shelton has shown her work in numerous lifelines, are veiny, living beings. Shelton origi Its intrinsic, nurturing energy is have the opportunity locations around the Pacific Northwest since the nally sketched this recent work on a black based on a dream of reawaken to make their own late 1970s; currently she’s part of the Art About paper, discovering that light was at its core. ing a desert lightning storm. interpretations of the Agriculture series, on view through Sept. 2 at the “Fire Ring” is Shelton’s psychedelic ripple of The artist forthrightly confesses, work.” This is cer High Desert Museum in Bend. The exhibit was cylindrical repeating rings paying certain “You cannot always know the tainly the case right designed to encourage artists to visually explore homage to Harold “Doc” Edgerton, the MIT intention of the work; your now at Everyday the resources of agriculture, the science that sus photographer who made significant develop reactions may be latent.” This Wine, where many of tains human life. She’s also supported by Port ments in the area of stroboscopy. The piece untailored approach allows both the images could be land’s Full Spectrum Health Center, which dis centers in its dynamism of flaming fire water, women to be improvisers, open dually seen as sci plays some of her paintings year-round. to fluidity as an opportunity ence-fiction encoun Shaffer, who holds a master’s in sociolo ! to let go of initial intent. ters or out-of-body gy and markets and promotes a Portland Having recently experiences. photographer, says she has always felt a nur returned from a shamanic turing, familial spirit in her own many cre workshop in Joshua Tree, The art of M onte ative endeavors. Calif., Shaffer quotes a for S helton a n d D ebra D e b ra S h a ffe r ’s “ T re e G iv in g B ir th ” The common themes of birth, energy, mer teacher who once said, S haffer shows organics and fire bring Shelton and Shaffer “Look at the magic of a piece and go with it; through July 24 at Everyday Wine, 1520 N .E . together in a unique way. Almost simulta don’t look back as you move ahead.” Alberta St. Hours are 11 a.m . to 7 p.m. Tuesday neously based in the human subconscious, Shelton follows this lead in her work and through Saturday. See Shelton’s work at stresses that letting go of the process a bit and both speak eloquently about chakra and www.paintmonte.com. aura as primary energies driving their cre standing back from a work in progress makes ative expression. They see the animated self M o n te S h e lt o n ( le f t ) a n d D e b r a S h a f f e r g a t h e r w ith you realize that “within one piece there are TJ NORRIS is a Portland visual artist, writer and in the elements they paint and draw. many pieces.” These words ring with a fr ie n d s a t E v e r y d a y W in e curator. See his work at www.tjnorris.net. in Su n days Sw in y ABOARD PORTLAND SPIRIT America's most treasured art form returns to the city's only floating venue. Portland Spirit’s 2n d annual Jazz Brunch series is under way. Every Sunday though September 29th, musicians send notes sailing. Different artists and sounds w ill be explored weekly. Join us fo r one, multiple, or all performances. Upcoming Cruise Events: C all (503) 224-3900 or (800) 224-3901 • Live Jazz Brunch Series - E very Sunday. Ju ly ~ Septem ber 2 9 th F rid a y E a rly Escapes C ru ises com ing in Ju ly book o n lin e now at www . p o r t la n d spir it . com
