junefi.2003’
ART
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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
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Advanced Tickets: 503.238.5588
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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.”
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