OUR MISSION: New Oregon Arts & Letters creates and presents arts, literature,
and media. Our programming encourages collaboration, supports
interdisciplinary practices, and contextualizes creative culture. We are committed to fostering innovation,
integrity, and critical dialogue across a broad range of communities.
PLAZM MAGAZINE
New Oregon is proud to announce that we are the new publisher of Plazm magazine and the Plazm blog, under the direction of Joshua Berger. Plazm was founded in 1991 as a resource for artists, writers, and designers in Portland, Oregon; since then, it has published 29 issues of Plazm magazine and presented hundreds of artists, musicians, and performers. Aligning with New Oregon, Plazm magazine returns to its roots as a nonprofit, community-based arts entity. The magazine will retain its editorial staff.
TSA GALLERY
The
Temporary Semi-Autonomous Gallery explores the confluence of public, private, and domestic space. Meg McHutchison is our first featured artist, opening First Friday, July 2nd. August and September feature Gary Wiseman's new work, "Monument (Couldn't Have Done It Without You)."
NEW OREGON INTERVIEW SERIES
Where is our creative culture going, and how did it get here to begin with? At live events, online, and in print, Nora Robertson interviews local
artists, filmmakers, designers, writers, and others involved in the
evolution of the new regional creative culture. Interviewees include fashion designer Adam Arnold, musician Mic Crenshaw, writer Monica Drake, painter Michael Brophy, and Portland mayor Sam Adams. More information and audio downloads are right here.
THE EASTER ISLAND PROJECT
An
interdisciplinary experiment in participatory art, social practice,
performance, and writing by Tiffany Lee Brown and collaborating audiences. Musical soundtrack by Tiffany and Eric Hausmann. After touring the US with casual art gatherings and performances, the Project just returned from Rapa Nui, a.k.a. Easter Island in the South Pacific. More at www.2GQ.org/easterisland.html.
2GQ.ORG
Since 2003, 2GQ has published original literary works, reviews, event previews, and feature articles online at 2GQ.org.
EXQUISITE LANGUAGE
Over
70 artists, musicians, and writers worldwide contributed to this
interdisciplinary work culminating in an event at the Heathman Hotel and the publication of a journal. Contributors to the
exquisite corpses included authors Elissa Schappell and Dave Eggers, and musicians Alan Sparhawk of Low and Rachel Blumberg (The Decemberists, Norfolk &
Western). Performers included performer/choreographer Linda Austin and the stylings of Haiku Inferno. Pictured: Sarah Dougher performing at the Heathman; photo by Steve Fritz.
2GQ: 2 GYRLZ QUARTERLY
Our
printed journal is on haitus. Back issues are available on a very
limited basis as a full set with collector's letterpressed box, from Plazm Books. Contributors include Jon Raymond, Richard Speer, Erin Bow, Leanne Grabel, TJ Norris, Steffen Silvis, Todd Grimson, John Chandler, Shane Allison, Cortney Harding, and Kevin Sampsell.
LIGHT + SHADOWS
Using
natural light on the longest day of the year, this showcase of creativity was a prelude to the New Oregon Interview series. Over 24 artists and performers were featured, including filmmaker Vanessa Renwick, musicians Meaghan Gannett and Michael
Stirling, songstress Grey Anne, and installation artist Lena Munday. Karl Lind curated a series of short videos. Full list here. Pictured: Vanessa DeWolf; photo by Steve Fritz.
PUBLIC WORKS
Six weeks of live, raw works-in-progress, rough cuts, and experiments of a literary, performative, musical, and artistic nature, at Portland's Someday Lounge featured Sarah Dougher, Pecos B., Jemiah Jefferson, Julian Tulip, and others, along with the artists of Works Corps (Nora Robertson, Emily Stone, Lilian Gael, Clare Carpenter, Tiffany Lee Brown).
A COMPENDIUM OF MINIATURES
Book artist Clare Carpenter's limited edition of the Compendium redefines language with the poetry of stories and the beauty of letterpressed, hand crafted book arts. Purchase online at Etsy.com, Powell's, or Plazm Books. The project's interdisciplinary aspects encompassed performance art, lecture, and literary readings, along with "Against the Wall," a 24' x 8' installation at Construct/ReConstruct.
HOUSE BOUND
2GQ/New Oregon co-presented "House Bound" with Performance Works NorthWest, as part of the Alembic series. Led by Lilian Gael, the five women artists of Works Corps created a "kinesthetic salon" of art, food, performance, and installation with roving audience participation. Pictured left: artist Emily Stone.
PERPETUATING RESPONSE
2 Gyrlz Performative Arts, our original parent organization, presented free art and performance events regularly at various venues around Portland. 2GQ launched our first publication on Friday the 13th, 2003, at Gallery 500 with music from Soriah, and visual art by Dan Sweeney and Joshua Camozzi Milligan. Pictured: audience at a Medicine Hat event.
Under our former name, 2GQ, we regularly presented multidisciplinary shows at:
- The Enteractive Language Festival (EL-fest)
- Hail Santa! (an annual cabaret at the Jasmine Tree)
- Ground Kontrol (several charming evenings puttin' the fun in fundraising) (no, really...)
- And other events/collaborations.
