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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2003)
junefi.2003’ ART ..............▼.............. June 7th—I2th Apt friendly the greatest movie of all time! Cozy up to Kirk P. Linder’s new exhibit by e all know that Portland is a queer-friendly city— less known is how queer-arts- friendly it is. And no wonder, considering the still fairly affordable rents, the large number of venues for performance and exhibition, and a definite sense that art is an important part of community and deserves to he embraced and nurtured. One of the more welcoming spaces in this regard is TJ Norris’ Pearl District gallery Soundvision, which in the past year has shown important work by such notable queer artists as Chris Komater, Ira Tattelman, Richard Chartier, Heyd Fontenot, Bruce Eves, Cary (Candyass) Leibowitz and J.S. Adams. In June, two new queer names are being added to Sound vision’s list: Terre Thaemlitz of Japan, exhibiting the video piece Interstices, and Kirk P. Linder, a sculptor making his dehut in a one-man show. Linder works with wcxxJ assem blages painted in vibrant mono chromes and sometimes containing found objects encased in an amber like resin. Norris describes the Port lander as a “pure artist,” working methodically through the process of building, painting and finishing. “There is a lot of sweat involved. His sense of color is immediate and resonant...a physical vs. a cerebral process.” Linder takes large wood pieces, sculpts them into sections and configures them like pieces of a puzzle in way that strikes the viewer as both playful and provocative. The works are most reminiscent of the wood assemblages of midcentury artist Louise Nevelson, whose origins arguably go hack to her fathers work in the timber business of Maine. Linder also takes this kind of approach, utilizing basic materials in dramatic ways. Extrapolation of art from the prcxlucts of the earth extends to his day job, too, as a gar den designer. “Creating my art and my gardens are separate, hut both activities do feed off each other,” he notes. Also like Nevelson, he’s a self-described “found object junkie," happily abetted by friends "who are always keeping an eye out for me.” These objects can be anything that strikes his, or their, fancy— from screws and Kilts to spark plugs and fish hooks— some of which end up memorialized in a niche of one of his assemblages. Despite their heavy, fixed quality, Linder’s sculptures also have an unexpected sense of surprise— what Norris calls "the use of void/negative space” that “leaves the equation up to chance, in synergy with improv." G ary M o r r is W **< * 4 Schmader (June 6 Only) t M *' // y * <m> , *. Advanced Tickets: 503.238.5588 ** ’ ■» # J f la t, y ; . ' j* ’i ^ i i munity outside of the bar scene,” he says. “One thing that I think is great about the gay softball league is that it encompasses all skill levels, and it is all aKiut having fun." Linder’s art is labor intensive, making the relaxation of sports a must. Still, creating is a fundamental process for him and one that he sees as a kind of communication with the viewer. The idea of a hermetic, untouchable inder grew up in upstate New York. “I art is not one he shares. He hates the idea of remember a neighKir kid calling me 'gay being quiet in a gallery, of being overly Kiy,’ ’’ he says. W hen he asked his parents what “gay" meant, they said, naturally, “happy.” respectful toward the art. “I want to take this opportunity to tell any casual observer to “I remember a neighKir kid asking me if I please feel was gay,” he adds. “I would say, ‘a little.’ I wasn’t sad, I wasn’t mad, I wasn’t jolly. Just a little free to touch any of my happy. The kids all thought that was work... lick very funny...it it if you want to,” he makes me chuckle suggests. a bit now, too.” Linder This “not sad, also has a not mad, a little friend in his gay” guy came to North Portland in the Portland summer of 1997 house/studio and found it a who helps simpatico envi him relax ronment, Kith and stay in personally and touch with professionally. —K irk P. Linder the essen “Although I am tials. “I do have a dog, Francine Fishpaw”— not into the named after Divine’s character in the John ‘scene,’ I think Waters trash classic Polyester. “She helps keep Portland does me focused on being human." JH have a lot to offer artists,” he says. K irk P. L inder ’ s painted sculpture and trans artist “It’s just a matter of going out and getting Terre Thaem htz’s Interstices are on display what you want." through June 28 at Soundvision, 625 N.W. One thing Linder goes out and gets is gay Everett St. HI08. sports. Having done Kiwling and tennis, he’s on the Gay Yellow Pages team of the Rose City G ary M orris is a Portland free-lance wnter who Softball Association. also gathers found objects, but then just throws It’s “a gtxxJ place to get gtxxJ exercise and them in a drawer. spend time with other people in the gay com Clinton Street ii heater 504.238.8899 www.clintonsttheater.com 2522 SE Clinton St “It’s all aKiut the process for me,” Linder explains. "The work is more aKiut my experi ence than the final image. My art is my cathar sis." He’s also involved in a fascinating round- robin project with several friends in which an old door is passed around from artist to artist for further enhancements and transformations. I want to take this opportunity to tell any casual observer to please feel free to touch any of m y w ork..lick It If you want to.” Connacting Portland to thm World since 1985 P ortland's o ld est lo u d ly ow n ed ISP! 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