1st Thursday with Fernandez, Hashitani, Tivey (& Me?)

Friday, 07 January 2011 13:23 | Written by Byron

"Byron" by Eduardo Fernandez

TALKING THE WALK: The First Thursday Art Walk through Portland's Pearl District and Old Town are always a bit different in January, due to its timing right after the holidays and that its damn cold outside.

But last night's First Thursday was really different for me.

Sure, I loved getting a chance to see Hap Tivey (who, by the way, is the son-in-law of Elizabeth Taylor) stunning light work at Elizabeth Leach Gallery where I also had a chance to chat with Portland Art Museum's Bruce Guenther. It was also great to see Gabe Manca's pieces at Froelick Gallery, and Nan Curtis's art "rekindling" project at Nine Gallery next to Natan Divr's superb photo show at Blue Sky of Middle Eastern teens.

But what was really different about last was (gulp) seeing "me" at not one—but two—galleries. And no they weren't mug shots.

First up was Nisus Gallery. Brad Nelson's Everett Street Station loft-sized gallery is the site for painter Eduardo Fernandez's "Portrait and Process" show. You might have heard about Fernandez recently as his official portrait of Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski was just unveiled in the state Capitol.

At Nisus Fernandez showcased other recent work, including a piece he says he is still working on...and that would be of me. Yes, over several months last year, I sat for Fernandez in his North Portland studio where we talked about a lot of things and I tried not to fidget.

"A Nightmare on Beck Street" by Kaebel Hashitani

The second show where I had a chance to see my mug was just a few doors down at Sequential Art Gallery + Studio. Graphic artist Kaebel Hashitani re-invisioned the cast of The Cort and Fatboy Show as classic movie monsters and, well, I became "Freddy Krueger" aka "A Nightmare on Beck Street." It's cool that he included my camera, glasses and love of black briefs in the image.

Here are a few more pics from the night:

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