— Apr 11, 02:31 AM — 

Habit Forming

Contemporary Art from Portland Collections
April 23 – May 30, 2007

Roy Arden, Uta Barth, John Currin, Tracy Emin, Kota Ezawa, Tony Feher, Ellen Gallagher, Toland Grinnell, Cameron Hayes, Glenn Ligon, Adam McEwan, Yoshitomo Nara, Catherine Opie, Julian Opie, Paul Pfeiffer, Ed Ruscha, Tom Sachs, Shi/ Reload Crew, Larry Sultan, Sarah Sze, Su-Mei Tse, Kara Walker and Nari Ward.

Six of Portland’s best and boldest collectors have loaned a significant selection of innovative art in all media to The Feldman Gallery for this exhibition. The ties that bind the art in this show are less theoretical (a dominant theme) than geographic (showcasing work from local art collections.) Nevertheless certain topics – including differing social mores, race, figurative art and minimalism – emerge and bind many of the works to each other. What ultimately makes Habit Forming convincing is how placing these strong individual pieces from different collections together strengthens and re-defines the ideas inside each of the works of art displayed.

With 23 artists (from 9 different countries) in Habit Forming there are far too many highlights to mention them all in this press release, but here are a few engaging examples; a humorously graphic cutout by Kara Walker, an animated video re-creation of the O.J. Simpson verdict by Kota Ezawa, a whirling, masterful print by Sarah Sze, a mischievous piece by Tom Sachs where a pair of Nikes has been altered into a pair of Adidas, and a brutal yet oddly affectionate photo by Catherine Opie. As much as the work will surprise, what is also in evidence is the daring of the participating collectors, a list which includes John Jay, Marjorie Myers, Sarah Meigs, Erik Schneider, Jordan Schnitzer and George Stroemple.

Habit Forming’s curator is recent Portland transplant Joel Leib. Leib is well versed in the ins and outs of the contemporary art world having run his own space, Ten in One Gallery, from 1989-99 in Chicago and from 1999 to 2004 in New York’s Chelsea Arts District. Leib’s main focus has always been on emerging and cutting edge art and he has given many artists their first gallery shows, including such diverse talents as David Altmejd, Kelley Walker and Chris Ware. Last September Leib curated The Inside Game at Portland Art Center, his first foray into the local scene.

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