ARTS
A J J )
CULTURE
5
I
PSYCHEDELIC AND NORTHWEST VIBES BROUGHT TO CCC IN THE LATEST ART GALLERY IN THE NIEMEYER CENTER
STORY AN D PHOTOS BY W ILLfAM FARRIS
THE CLACKAMAS PRINT
With 22 large canvas prints by Josh P.A.
Gross on display through Oct. 27, Happy
Daze is the latest art display to be set up
in Niemeyer Center and keep up with the
Clackamas Community College tradition
of using the space to promote new and
am azing artist on cam pus. True to its
name, Happy Daze features prints done in
a unique psychedelic punk-rock style that
make for a new and unique aesthetic, as
well as visually stunning paintings. Each
painting depicts a m esh of real-world
objects, people, and places combined
with abstract shapes and forms to create
Rorschach-like compositions. They range
in style from warm rustic landscape-
focused pieces, to macabre images done
in neon or dark shades of gray and brown.
G ross, the creator o f the gallery,
works as an artist for Vans and a graphic
artist for a variety of other projects and
commissions. “ Art is something that lives
in every nook and cranny of life and not
just the galleries,” said Gross. “ Because
I have gotten so m uch o f m y artistic
inspiration from places outside o f the
fine arts I make my art geared towards
“ I make m y a rt geared
towards the disciplines
that originally inspired
me such as music and
skateboarding.”
-J o s h Gross
the disciplines that originally inspired
m e, such as music and skateboarding.”
Gross says that he also pulls inspiration
froin th in gs like classic-ro ck album
covers, movie posters, advertisements
and even real locations like skate parks
in the Oregon City area. Most of all, Gross
wants his art to speak to people in their
lives and their creativity. It’ s, he said,
“ about making something fun that people,
can be inspired [by].”
Gross poses for a portrait with some of
his artwork in the Alexander Gallery.
M any people who cam e to see the
exhibit also expressed just how emotional
and n ostalgic the pieces fe lt. M any
described them as vibrant, spiritual or
evert somber and m ysterious. W hile
others said they were reminded of the
good tim es and injuries they got while
skating and hanging out in the very spots
in the images. But more than anything,
everyone who came said the gallery felt
it was a combination of everything about
Oregon.
“ It captures the essen ce o f the
Northwest,” said Jordy Hargrove, a visitor
of the gallery.
All of this culminates in a gallery that
is both unique and utterly am azing to
look at. “ It’s just interesting to see stuff
like this versus what they’re teaching us
in art class right now . . . ” said Marjorie
Griffiths, another visitor to the gallery.
So, if y o u ’ re in terested , stop by
Niemeyer Center between now and Oct.
27 to see some truly captivating art.
You can also see more of Gross’ s work
on his Tumblr page at ji44-art.tum blr.
com or buy one of the prints of the art
being displayed for $150 by contacting
Kate Simmons through the art department
or by email at kates@clackamas.edu from
now until the end of the show.
If you love Oregon and its culture, or
just want to see some fun prints that will
make your day, then you should definitely
stop by Happy Daze.
Students and community members gathered in the Alexander Gallery on Oct. 5 to attend an artist reception and listen to Gross speak about his work.
Clackamas Print
theclackam asprint.net
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OCTOBER 11, 2017