Programs

In Dialogue is an occasional series of interdisciplinary, discussion-based seminars that explore art on view at the Museum in relation to works in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. During the 2017–18 program year, we will investigate the idea of artist as citizen. How do artists participate in our social and political world through their artwork? Taking inspiration from Associate Professor of Music Darrell Grant and other PSU faculty, we will consider how “artists from a variety of disciplines intersect with institutions, social movements, and power structures; engage with communities; and connect with place.” The October seminar will address the special exhibition Representing: Vernacular Photographs of, by, and for African Americans (July 29 – December 3, 2017).

Discover the art of the Wyeths, one of America’s foremost artistic families. This fascinating exhibition features work by Andrew Wyeth, his father, his sister, and his son, spanning the golden age of illustration to mid-century portraiture. What do works by three generations of Wyeths tell us about the evolution of American art across the twentieth century? How do works by the Wyeths, with their close identification with New England, compare to Northwest art, such as the works featured in Picturing Oregon? Join us for a lively presentation, discussion, and tours.

5:15 – 6:15 p.m. Meet at Hoffman Entrance to Museum to tour The Wyeths, Picturing Oregon, and related exhibitions
6:15 – 6:30 p.m. Transition to Sunken Ballroom
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Lecture and discussion

Windows and Mirrors: Mindfulness and Empathy through Art

Art museums can be places for solitude and contemplation. They are also spaces for encountering difference and dialogue. Educators, such as Susan Harris MacKay, employ the metaphor of windows and mirrors to suggest how some works of art provide insight into experiences that are different from our own, while others seem to reflect our own experiences back to us. Taking this metaphor as our starting point, Portland Art Museum staff and docents will facilitate an exploration of mindfulness and empathy through visual art. The workshop will include guided meditation as well as sketching, writing, and conversation in the galleries.

To register for the conference, please visit the website.

Questions about this session? Please contact Hana Layson.

Founded in 2005, LAIKA has grown to occupy a unique and distinctive place in American cinema by continuously expanding the boundaries of the 120-year-old technique of stop-motion animation. LAIKA is a community of storytellers, artists, inventors, technicians, and craftspeople from around the world, committed to fusing filmmaking’s state-of-the-art technologies with a handmade animation tradition as old as film itself. Dive into their creative process and make connections to your students’ learning during an evening with LAIKA educators and artists.

5:15 p.m. Refreshments in the Sunken Ballroom
5:30 – 6:45 p.m. Presentation by LAIKA
6:45 – 7:30 p.m. Explore the exhibition

Presented in conjunction with Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA, on view October 14, 2017 through May 20, 2018.

Bridging the Museum and the Classroom

With generous support from the PGE Foundation, the Portland Art Museum has expanded the popular Poster Project and created eight, new, free posters this fall. Posters feature art across the Museum’s permanent collection by artists from Argentina, Syria, India, Oregon, and beyond. Join us for this workshop: Deepen your knowledge of the original works. Make connections to school tours. Learn strategies for teaching writing, science, critical thinking, and more through art. Take away activities, lessons, and posters—available free to all educators.

5:15 p.m. Refreshments in the Miller Gallery
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Teacher-led workshops
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Discussion in the galleries