Portland, OR. More than 100 guests turned out to dance the Charleston, and toast twenty years of Cast Iron Studios at its roaring twenties gala. The February 8th anniversary gala at Classic Foods in Northeast Portland was also a benefit for Stone Soup, which is a non-profit foodservice training enterprise providing life skills and hands-on culinary expertise to people who are at risk of homelessness.
Cast Iron Studios has found actors for projects including Timmy Failure, Wild, and Twilight, and over 300 hours of episodic television, including Trinkets, American Vandal, Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, and Grimm. At the event, Josh Fuhrer, Cast Iron Studios’ Founder Lana Veenker and Brian Van Flandern posed for a photo. (Photo Credit, Flo Barth)
Cholee Thompson, Taylor Harris and Jennifer Arndt. Photo credit: Deneb Catalan
Jordi Barnes and Ted Douglass. Photo credit: Deneb Catalan
Ronit and Craig Gerard of Stone Soup. Photo credit: Deneb Catalan
Katie O’Grady. Photo Credit: Flo Barth
“It was heartwarming to be surrounded by so many friends, family and longtime colleagues, many of whom flew in from distant locations to attend,” said Cast Iron Studios’ Founder Lana Veenker. “We have such a wonderful community, and we know we wouldn’t be where we are without them.”
Sammuel Murry-Hawkins and the Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra. Photo Credit: Flo Barth
Brian Van Flandern and Sean Dodder mix up “The Last Word”. Photo Credit: Flo Barth
Elegant hors d’oeuvres, cheese and charcuterie platters were prepared by the staff and students of Stone Soup, with the guidance of Chef Scott Dolich, multiple James Beard Award Nominee and former owner of Park Kitchen and The Bent Brick. A silent auction was held, with packages including everything from Blazers tickets, spa and restaurant gift cards, acting classes and hotel stays, to a private screening room at Living Room Theaters, a coffee date with Grimm star Sasha Roiz, and audition coaching with Grimm star Claire Coffee. In total, the event raised close to $10,000 for Stone Soup.
Staff and students of Stone Soup commandeered the kitchen at Classic Foods to dish out elegant hors d’oeuvres and platters. Photo credit: Lana Veenker
Dolich sourced the ingredients directly from Classic Foods, a locally-owned handmade pasta factory and purveyor of artisan specialty products located in Portland’s Dekum district.
Auction donors included the Ace Hotel, Acting for Kids & Teens, Artists Repertory Theatre, Aviation Gin, Broder Nord, Claire Coffee, Classic Foods, Gado Gado Restaurant, Hi-Lo Hotel, Hotel Eastlund, Hoxton Hotel, Kimpton Hotels, Kristen Arnett Celebrity Make-Up Artist, Levy Moroshan Photography, Living Room Theatres, My Path Wellness, Portland Center Stage at the Armory, Portland Film Festival, Portland Trail Blazers, Rejuvenation Day Spa, Sasha Roiz, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Stone Soup and The Studio NW.
Check out more photos below, and at the following link, courtesy of our generous photographers, Flo Barth of Flo Barth Photography and Deneb Catalan of NebCat Photography.
As the Northwest’s leading casting company, we’ve been forging relationships with actors, directors, and producers for two decades.
We’re proud that we’ve helped develop the impressive pool of talent in the Northwest, which now rivals those in much bigger markets. What can we say? We’ve got an eye for actors who can deliver, and more than 20 years of experience creatively casting every kind of role. Consider us the foundation for solid performances, every time.
We’re here because we love living and working in the Northwest, but that doesn’t mean we operate in a bubble. We’ve traveled the world and chose Portland as our home. Our relationships have allowed us to branch out locally, nationally and internationally. Need a casting director in Paris? A nationwide search for a specific role? A keen eye at the Berlin Film Festival? We’ve got you covered.
We set the bar high, and deliver bang for your buck. Let our expertise alleviate your worries, save you money, and get you the best cast for your project.
After finishing our 12-week program, all graduates enter the job placement network, an informal cooperative of Portland area caterers and restaurants. This network ensures our program participants will have ample opportunities for job interviews and job placements. Our staff continues to be in touch with all the graduates, bringing them back to speak with current classes. This alumni network then ensures participants all have active mentors to help them through any challenges.
We also network with local restaurant groups and catering operations to identify employment opportunities with the potential for more sustainable employment than corporate foodservice might initially offer.
Portland, OR. The nonprofit, Do Good Multnomah, which works with under-served and homeless veterans, teamed up with the Oregon Humane Society and other organizations on February 13th to provide free vaccinations and health exams for the pets of local veterans. Portland Animal Welfare Team (PAW Team) and the Oregon State Veterinary College at Sandy Studios were also part of the team. Here are some of the photos from the event:
Do Good Multnomah organizers say those companion animals are very important to the veterans and ensuring the pets are healthy and vaccinated is an incredible service.
The PAW Team saves lives, alleviates suffering, and keeps pets and people together by providing free veterinary care to the pets of people who are experiencing homelessness or extreme poverty.
Some of the services for the pets included vaccines, de-wormer, and flea treatments.
From Do Good Multnomah:
Do Good Multnomah is a non-profit organization that partners with the community to provide permanent supportive housing and low-barrier emergency shelter to houseless Veterans in Portland, Oregon. We emphasize relationship-building, one-on-one engagement, supportive services, and direct community participation, changing the way we serve houseless Veterans.
Our Mission: Do Good Multnomah supports Veteran-centered communities that inspire dignity, sustainability, and purpose. More information at https://dogoodmultnomah.org/who-we-are
Our Mission: Do Good Multnomah supports Veteran-centered communities that inspire dignity, sustainability, and purpose.
Portland, Or. To mark the 40th anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, the Portland Art Museum is presenting an exhibition that portrays artists’ responses to the beauty and power of the volcano. The exhibition will run through May 17th at the Portland Art Museum. Pictured above is Lucinda Parker’s painting called “The Seething Saint.” (Courtesy of the artist and Russo Lee Gallery.) The exhibit features Native American objects to contemporary paintings, drawings, and photographs. Interestingly, paintings of Mount St. Helens were historically rare compared with the numerous images of Mount Hood.
Albert Bierstadt (American, born Germany, 1830-1902), Mount St. Helens, Columbia River, Oregon, ca. 1889. Oil on canvas.
Henk Pander (American, born The Netherlands, 1937), Eruption of Saint Helens from Cable Street, 1981. Oil on linen.
The show will also trace the mountain’s changing image and significance for local peoples. Native Americans used the substance of the volcano—mainly basalt and obsidian—to create objects of great beauty and utility. While Mount St. Helens was featured in their creation stories, no depictions of the volcano in visual arts are known before the mid-1840s. Explorers Henry James Warre and Paul Kane traveled through the area and their visits ended up coinciding with the volcano’s last eruptive period and they recorded the venting of steam and ash on the north side, presaging its destruction on May 18, 1980. Volcanic eruptions have long been depicted by artists because they are the most visually spectacular manifestations of nature’s awesome power.
As the region commemorates the 40th anniversary of the volcano’s eruption, the Portland Art Museum is partnering with the Mount St. Helens Institute on a series of programs, tours, and in-gallery experiences throughout the run of the exhibition. For those who remember the eruption of 1980 and for those who know its legacy, the exhibition will bring to life one of the most momentous days in the history of the Pacific Northwest, and artists’ responses to one short period in the cycles of volcanic destruction and regeneration at Mount St. Helens.
Mathias Van Hesemans (American, born 1946), Eruption, 1983, Mount Saint Helens, 1983. Gelatin silver print.
Below is a video of what the Portland Art Museum has in store for 2020:
More from the Portland Art Museum:
The mission of the Portland Art Museum is to engage diverse communities through art and film of enduring quality, and to collect, preserve, and educate for the enrichment of present and future generations. The Portland Art Museum strives to be an inclusive institution that facilitates respectful dialogue, debate, and the free exchange of ideas. With a deep commitment to artists – past and present – and freedom of expression, the Museum and Northwest Film Center’s collections, programs and staff aspire to reveal the beauty and complexities of the world and create a deeper understanding of our shared humanity. We are a Museum for all, inviting everyone to connect with art through their own experiences, voices, and personal journeys. The following core values guide the Portland Art Museum: creativity, connection, learning, accessibility, accountability.
Portland, OR. Will the crew from Oregon based Laika studios take home an Oscar? The Yeti-themed, global-trotting adventure, Missing Link has been the front runner since it won the Golden Globe in early January. The film was written and directed by Chris Butler and produced by Arianne Sutner and Travis Knight. Laika, the stop-animation studio located in Hillsboro has been nominated six times, but this would be a first Oscar win. The 92nd Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 9th, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, and will be televised live on ABC starting at 5 p.m. on the West Coast. Missing Link features the voices of Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Emma Thompson, and Zach Galifianakis.
Arianne Sutner was a recent guest speaker at a program about the Oregon Film industry presented at the Multnomah Athletic Club. She’s pictured with the Head of Marketing for Lika, David Burke.
Here’s a video about the creation of the Missing Link:
Oregon film reports steady growth in both local productions and projects coming in from outside the state. This includes the second seasons of; SHRILL (Hulu), TRINKETS (Netflix) as well as the Emmy nominated third season of DOCUMENTARY NOW! New projects included THE BIRCH (Facebook), FIRST COW from director Kelly Reichardt, THE WATER MAN from director David Oyelowo and the Nicolas Cage project called PIG.
Speakers at the program on Oregon film included: the project manager at Portland Film Office Brian Lord, Arianne Sutner from Laika. Back row: Lisa Cicala, Executive Director of OMPA Lisa Cicala, Executive Director of Oregon film Tim Williams and president of SAG-AFTRA Michelle Damis.
For over a century, largely due to the variety of landscapes it offers and its proximity to California, Oregon has been a popular location for the film and entertainment industry, lending sites to some of Hollywood’s iconic movies. Oregon’s popularity continues to grow, with an increasing number of shows produced for television and the big screen being filmed in the state.
About Oregon Film:
Oregon Film, a state agency, has a mission to promote, support and advance the film, video, interactive, animation and creative content industries within the state by fostering connections between production, business and public sectors and strengthening this industry’s profile and reputation locally, nationally and internationally.
Portland, Or. The Portland Winter Light Festival (PDXWLF) presented by Portland General Electric featured over 100 artists in varied media such as video projection mapping, fire sculpture, and live performance. This was the fifth year for the festival and the theme was Into the Dreamscape. The festival weekend kicked off on February 6th and showcased installations like Mihaly’s Gate which was originally created for the Pacific Fire Gathering on the Oregon Coast.
Ring of Fire by Wildstone Arts.
Here’s a video about the festival:
Circus Luminescence is a local circus entertainment group performing at the festival.
Some special highlights included fire dancing, hoop performances, circus acts, a lantern parade, and an illuminated bike ride. It also had the Glow Bar featuring artisan cocktails and a Silent Disco dance party, pop-up art installations by local design and architecture firms, which includes an immersive 2,500 square foot “Light Forest” by Henry V.
Winter Light Festival 2018. Photo by Brooke Hoyer.
Below is another video showing some highlights from 2019 Winter Light Festival:
The Portland Winter Light Festival is an annual event of the Willamette Light Brigade, a non-profit arts organization. PDXWLF is presented to guests for free, and builds community by bringing art and technology to inclusive audiences while invigorating Portland in the winter. Our 5th year will take place February 6-8, 2020. If you would like to find out more, explore our website for information on artists, performer schedules, and to see full maps. Last year’s PDXWLF showcased over 114 illuminated art installations, over 60 vibrant performances and live events, educational programs, stunning kinetic fire sculptures throughout our city, and hosted over 150,000 guests. Our 2020 festival promises another year of magic and art.
The Willamette Light Brigade (WLB) founded PDXWLF in an effort to propel forward its mission of connecting community and enriching the public realm through artful lighting. The Festival began as a coalescence of ideas in 2016, and was propelled into existence by dedicated community members too numerous to mention. We are committed to keeping the Portland Winter Light Festival family-friendly, free to attend, and open to everyone. So bundle up and celebrate the power of light and community with us!
Portland, OR. The Concordia University gala that was anything but common, even though the keynote speaker uses “Common” as his moniker. He posed for a photo with interim president Rev. Dr. Tom Ries, event honoree Swati Adarkar, (Keynote speaker Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., better known as Common) and emcee Kimberely Dixon. The event drew 530 supporters and raised more than $355,000. The ninth annual Governor Victor Atiyeh Leadership in Education Awards Gala was held on February 4th at the new Hyatt Hotel in Portland. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus)
Gary Withers (left) and Tom Ries present the award and flowers to Children’s Institute CEO, president and co-founder Swati Adarkar in recognition of her work promoting early childhood development and education.
Carilyn Alexander, Rich Brown and Ken Thrasher enjoy the gala’s pre-reception.
Loretta Smith, Brek Nelson and Oregon Supreme Court Justice Adrienne Nelson
The team from IMS Capital Management, one of the gala sponsors. The funds will support Concordia student scholarships and the university’s groundbreaking 3toPhD® collaborative model for education, which co-locates Concordia’s College of Education with Faubion School in N.E. Portland.
Ron Shoals and LaRhonda Steele were part of a five-person music group that entertained the crowd.
Here’s a video about Children’s Institute CEO, president and co-founder Swati Adarkar:
From Concordia University:
The array of local dignitaries at the gala included past award recipients Ken Thrasher, Kay Toran, and, Marcia Randall, as well as Oregon Supreme Court Justice Adrienne Nelson and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.
HotChalk served as the gala’s lead sponsor. Other sponsors included Orbis Education, Stoel Rives LLP, Gloria and Ross Edwards, The Jessie F. Richardson Foundation, CCL-Concepts in Community Living, and Pacific Office Automation.
IMPACT OF SCHOLARSHIPS
Adarkar and Concordia senior Antonio Martinez both told the crowd about the huge impact college scholarships had on them.
Adarkar, her grandfather, father and mother all received scholarships, which brought her family from India to the United States and shaped its future, she stated.
Martinez had at one point worried he might not be able to finish college, but a timely scholarship is now making that possible, he said.
CHALLENGING THE AUDIENCE
Keynote speaker Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr. (better known as Common) and Adarkar challenged the audience to dig deep and work hard for children and education.
“As we begin this new decade, let’s challenge ourselves to be even bolder in our actions and our generosity, recognizing that education, in fact, is our greatest hope to transform children’s lives, shape our future generations and create a more just and equitable society,” said Adarkar.
Common — an actor, author, activist and hip-hop artist — sprinkled some rap into his remarks. His mother is a former teacher and principal. She introduced him to writing, literature and self-discipline by assigning him weekly book reports. This sparked his interest as a teenager in a career as a writer, music artist, actor and storyteller, he said.
The film, television and recording star’s mother also taught him the importance of helping others less fortunate. This led him to start his own foundation to support children and to open a charter arts school, he said.
Common quoted a number of people in his speech, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., authors Kahlil Gibran and Marianne Williamson, New York Times columnist David Brooks, U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young and even, lastly, a San Quentin prisoner on death row who told him, “I like what you’re doing. But make sure you give back.”
Common concluded his half-hour speech with a quote from his hero, Muhammad Ali: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.”
“So, to all my educators, our rent is due,” Common added.
ABOUT THE ATIYEH LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION AWARD
The Atiyeh Award is given annually to one or more philanthropic, business, civic, and political leaders for their unique and significant contributions to improving education in the Pacific Northwest or beyond. Named after Oregon’s highly esteemed former Governor Victor Atiyeh for his leadership and lifelong passion for education, this award is presented to a changemaker: a leader who – through professional, philanthropic, business, civic, and/or political actions and advocacy – has profoundly improved the odds for our children to succeed in school and in life.
ABOUT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY
Concordia University-Portland was founded in 1905 as a Lutheran university with a mission of preparing leaders for the transformation of society. The university serves more than 6,000 students on its campuses and online, through its College of Education, College of Health & Human Sciences, School of Management, and Concordia University School of Law in Boise, Idaho. For more about Concordia University, visit www.cu-portland.edu and law.cu-portland.edu.
Portland, OR. Disney Plus held the premiere of “Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made” at the 10-day Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The festival wraps on February 2nd. Directed by Tom McCarthy, a filmmaker known for “Spotlight,” the best picture winner at the 2016 Academy Awards, “Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made” was included as part of the festival’s children’s slate and was filmed in Portland. (Photo credit, Susan Young.)
From naked cyclists to an imaginary 1,500-pound polar bear roaming the streets, Portland’s quirks are getting more screen time in a new original Disney+ movie. Here’s a trailer for the new film which will be available February 7th on the Disney Plus paid streaming service which costs about $7-per month.
Reviewers note: “Portland also fits with the story setting. Timmy’s mother has a hipster vibe. Some characters, who conceivably could have been extras in a show such as Portlandia, appear in the film as incidental cheerleaders to the young boy’s efforts.”
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, directed by Tom McCarthy, starring WInslow Fegley as Timmy Failure, Disney Enterprises, Inc.
The film is based on the first book in a popular series by Stephan Pastis, who also created the comic strip Pearls Before Swine. The plot focuses on a self-confident boy detective who tools around town on his mother’s Segway.
Stephan Pastis is the creator of Pearls Before Swine, an acclaimed comic strip that appears in more than six hundred newspapers and boasts a devoted following.
In 2013, Pastis was inspired to break out of the comic-strip box, penning his first children’s book, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, which became an instant New York Times bestseller. Mistakes Were Made was quickly followed by three other installments in the popular middle-grade series starring a brilliantly bad detective with a sidekick polar bear. Critics have praised the author for appealing to young readers with his knack for comic timing and the interplay between cartoons, text, and elements of the absurd in his storytelling.
About Timmy Failure, Stephan says, “For me as a kid, I liked to laugh. And I’m hoping these books do that for both kids and their parents. I just really want to give them stories that have something humorous in every chapter.”“Timmy is a detective who can take any mystery and make it more mysterious.”– Stephan Pastis
Here’s a blurb about the film, it’s recommended for ages 8 and up:
Timmy Failure is the president, founder, and CEO of Total Failure, Inc., detective agency. With his partner, Total, a 1,500-pound polar bear, Timmy strives to keep the streets of Portland safe by solving seemingly unsolvable mysteries like finding missing backpacks and thwarting the plans of a nefarious criminal gang. Though he is focused on finding a new global headquarters, he endures school, where he must contend with his fellow students and his teacher and nemesis, Mr. Crocus. While he is on a case, the “Failure Mobile,” his mother’s off-limits Segway scooter and his main source of transportation, disappears. Interpreting the theft as part of a secret plan devised by his adversaries, he begins a search that leads him through a series of misadventures that ultimately threaten the existence of his agency. Based on the best-selling books by Stephan Pastis, who also co-wrote the screenplay, and directed by award-winning Sundance Film Festival alumnus Tom McCarthy, this heartwarming and entertaining film celebrates the idea that being different isn’t a bad thing.About Sundance 2020: The winners have been named.After 10 days and 128 feature films, the 2020 Sundance Film Festival’s Awards Ceremony took place, with jurors presenting 28 prizes for feature filmmaking. Honorees, named in total below, represent new achievements in global independent storytelling. Bold, intimate, and humanizing stories prevailed across categories, with Grand Jury Prizes awarded to Minari (U.S. Dramatic), Boys State (U.S. Documentary), Epicentro (World Cinema Documentary) and Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness (World Cinema Dramatic).
Portland, OR. The Northwest Film Center will showcase and celebrate its 43rd international and regional storytelling through film. The 10-day festival will take place on March 6-15, 2020 at various locations. Some goals of the Portland International Film Festival (PIFF) are, “to gather film lovers and makers, have people be open to new ways of creative expression, and shine a spotlight on artists who go against the status quo.” Disney Pixar’s Onward will have a free community screening at noon on February 7th. (More info below.)
A three-film opening night program on Friday, March 6th will feature an off-beat indie buddy film called The Climb. Below is a look at the film’s trailer:
Portland International Film Festival organizers hope that patrons will embrace the idea of Cinema Unbound for the first time. Through this concept, PIFF aims to challenge how cinematic stories are told. 2020 also features renowned visiting curators, esteemed guests, industry leaders, and jury members in attendance—all of whom represent major film festivals, museums, and distribution companies around the globe.
Here’s information about the festival from Northwest Film Center:
Ticket information listed below:
Advance Tickets: The Northwest Film Center, 934 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR 97205 Opens March 1 — daily from 12 noon – 6 p.m. Advance tickets by phone at (503) 276-4310
Festival Passes: Currently available for sale here
Members of the Northwest Film Center’s Silver Screen Club get discounts or free entry (at the Director level and above) to Festival screenings. To learn more about membership click here
Admission prices: $14 General; $12 Portland Art Museum Members, Students, Seniors; $10 children (12 years and younger); $9 Silver Screen Club Friends, Supporters, and New Wave.
Opening Night Film and Party: $25 general; $20 Silver Screen Friends, Supporters, and New Wave. PLEASE NOTE: Attendees can purchase tickets to Opening Night for either the Whitsell Auditorium or Cinema 21 location. Opening Night party to follow in the Portland Art Museum’s Fred & Suzanne Fields (Sunken) Ballroom.
Tickets to individual screenings will be available on February 7, 2020
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS:
Thursday, March 5, 2020
The Eyeslicer Season Two by Dan Schoenbrun and Vanessa McDonnell
United States | 2019
7 p.m. | Whitsell Auditorium | 90 mins
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Northwest Film Center
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Movie Madness Miniplex
Recently featured in GQ’s Time Capsule for the 2010s, this bonkers-yet-thoughtful 13-episode TV show blends the boldest new American filmmaking into mind-expanding, mixtape-style episodes that feature work from over 70 filmmakers.
Three-film Opening Night program features The Climb, as well as shorts America and The Giverny Document (Single Channel). One ticket includes all screenings, which will screen back-to-back at both venues. Attendees are welcome to come to one, or stay for all three!
PIFF 43 Opening Night radically presents varying perspectives on what it means to be alive at this moment while reflecting on the past that’s shaped us. This multi-perspective Opening Night panorama dives deep into unexpected places, expounding upon notions of race, gender, time, and nowness. Funny, painful, powerful, and electric in equal measure, PIFF 43 Opening Night subverts the notion that any one film is worthy of “Opening Night” attention. Instead, we embrace the interplay between these three storytellers and their collaborators.
America Directed by Garrett Bradley
United States | 2019 | 29 mins.
A cinematic omnibus rooted in New Orleans, challenging the idea of black cinema as a “wave” or “movement in time,” proposing instead a continuous thread of achievement.
The Giverny Document (Single Channel) Directed by Ja’Tovia Gary
United States | 2019 | 45 mins.
Filmed on location in Harlem and in Monet’s historic gardens in Giverny, this multi-textured cinematic poem meditates on the bodily integrity and creative virtuosity of black women.
This buddy comedy starts with a simple premise—two lifelong pals struggle to bike up a French mountaintop—but what comes next is anyone’s guess. With incredible cinematic reinvention, ambitious long-takes, dramatic time-leaps, and a cappella interludes, the audience is invited along for the ride, no matter where it leads.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Disney Pixar’s Onward Directed by Dan Scanlon
United States | 2020 | 91 mins.
12:00 noon – Whitsell Auditorium – Free Community Screening
5:00 p.m. – Hollywood Theatre – Silver Screen Club member presale until February 7, 2020.
Set in a suburban fantasy world, Disney and Pixar’s Onward introduces two teenage elf brothers (voices of Chris Pratt and Tom Holland) who embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there. Pixar Animation Studios’ all-new original feature film is directed by Dan Scanlon and produced by Kori Rae—the team behind Monsters University. Onward releases in theaters on March 6, 2020.
Trailer:
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Anthem: Homunculus Live Listening Party by John Cameron Mitchell
Time & Location: TBA
A creative, multi-media feast featuring a tangled story of visits to other planets, talking tumors, and song-filled telethons pitched to save the life of the protagonist, Ceann. This game-changing, audio-based story—performed LIVE—is based on Mitchell’s genre-busting podcast by the same name and defies all conventions and expectations, with audiences experiencing a wild, 6.5-hour extravaganza of over 30 songs ranging from indie-rock to dream pop to avant-garde.
Featuring the vocal talent of Glenn Close, Cynthia Erivo, Patti LuPone, Denis O’Hare, Mari Moriarty, Alan Mandell, Ben Foster and Shalewa Sharpe.
Creator and star John Cameron Mitchell and guests in attendance.
Presented by Luminary.
Thursday, March 12, 2020
The Armory Presents: Off-Center Stage
9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Off-Center Stage is a series of late-night programming that will feature unconventional performances from musicians, visual artists, comedians, dance, and open-format shows for the 21-and-over crowd. Each show will take place on the stages and other communal spaces in the historic surroundings of The Armory.
PERFORMANCES AND PRESENTATIONS:
Reese Bowes — light/sound design and video projections
Auvie Sinclair — instrumental hip hop producer/beatmaker
Just Pretend — a live band featuring Darian Patrick, band member for Hedwig & The Angry Inch and In The Heights.
Disco Montana — live band fusing elements of pop, disco, country, and folk
Monday, March 9, 2020 | 7 p.m.
The Cinema Unbound Awards
Kridel Grand Ballroom, Portland Art Museum, 1119 SW Park Avenue
The Cinema Unbound Awards celebrates artists who are trying new things, thinking bigger, and pushing forward to transform filmmaking—and the world. We’ve assembled a small-but-mighty band of internationally renowned artists, creatives, and curators working against traditional constraints of cinema.
Honoring:
Astonishing Auteur Todd Haynes (Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning writer and director; Carol, Far from Heaven, Mildred Pierce)
Creative Powerhouse John Cameron Mitchell (Tony Award-winning writer, director, and actor; Hedwig & The Angry Inch, Anthem: Homunculus, Hulu’s Shrill)
Documentary Doyenne Julie Goldman (Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning producer of over 50 feature documentaries, including Life, Animated, Buck, Weiner)
Immersive Maestro Michel Reilhac (Filmmaker, Experiential Artist and Head of VR, Venice Biennale)
Animation Arts Wizard Rose Bond (Internationally-recognized, large-scale, site-specific animations)
Curatorial Mastermind Rajendra Roy (The Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of Film, MoMA)
PIFF 43 Closing Weekend centerpiece film First Cow
Directed by Kelly Reichardt
United States | 2020 | 121 mins
8:00 p.m. – Whitsell Auditorium
Returning to the Oregon wilderness for her seventh feature, Kelly Reichardt continues her examination of the American expansionist myth via the Western genre. John Magaro stars as a loner cook who teams up with a Chinese immigrant (Orion Lee) to create a new business—one that is dependent on a wealthy landowner’s prize milk cow, but without his knowledge. First Cow will open in Portland, Oregon, on Friday, March 20.
Trailer:
Saturday, March 14, 2020
The Personal History of David Copperfield
Directed by Armando Iannucci
United States | 2020 | 119 mins
6 p.m. – Cinema 21
The Personal History of David Copperfield re-imagines Charles Dickens’ classic ode to grit and perseverance through the comedic lens of its award-winning filmmakers—giving the Dickensian tale new life for a cosmopolitan age with a diverse ensemble cast of stage and screen actors from across the world. Emmy® winners and Oscar® nominees Armando Iannucci (In the Loop, The Death of Stalin, HBO’s Veep) and Simon Blackwell (In the Loop, HBO’s Succession) lend their wry yet heart-filled storytelling style to revisiting Dickens’ iconic hero on his quirky journey from impoverished orphan to a burgeoning writer in Victorian England.
Photo by Geoff Robinson Photography/Shutterstock
March 14-16, 2020
Berio’s Sinfonia by Rose Bond | IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OREGON SYMPHONY
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Animator and Cinema Unbound Award honoree Rose Bond presents a program of eye-popping experiential animation set to and illustrating Luciano Bario’s monumental musical-cultural portrait of New York in the late 1960s. An incredible visual and sound experience for cinema-goers, animators, experiential designers, and music lovers alike.
Tickets available to the March 14, 15 & 16 shows via Oregon Symphony.
PANELS AND WORKSHOPS
Over the course of the two weekends, PIFF will host eight panels, three workshops, and one special un-conference. PIFF will also host multi-day happy hour networking events with industry professionals to provide assistance and services to independent filmmakers. Date, Time and Location TBA.
Docs on the Rise — Cinema Unbound Award honoree Julie Goldman and Academy Award nominee and Portland documentary filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky discuss opportunities for expanded creativity in emerging marketplaces.
The Sustainability and Ethics Un-Conference — A participatory town hall about fostering an inclusive and ethically conscious media-making community, with breakout sessions on topics such as power dynamics on-set, setting contractual boundaries, and practicing empathy in production.
Beyond Cancel Culture — Cinema Unbound Award honoree Rajendra Roy and curatorial colleagues discuss approaches to critically engaging with problematic narratives.
Interactive Media Performance by Reese Bowes
An evening of multi-format audio and visual experiences courtesy of guest curator Reese Bowes. who will also present two short film works by Portland-based filmmakers: Remembrance, by Sabina Haque, and Spooky Girls, by The Hand and The Shadow production company.
Date, Time and Location TBA.
Why I Love and Fear VR
Presented by Guest Curator, Cinema Unbound Award honoree, and Head of Venice Biennale XR Michel Reilhac
Prince’s Purple Rain (1984) date, time and Location: TBA
About the Northwest Film Center:
The Northwest Film Center is a regional media arts organization offering a variety of exhibitions, education programs, and artist services throughout the region. The Center presents a program of foreign, classic, experimental, and independent works year-round at the Whitsell Auditorium, located in the Portland Art Museum. For more information, visit www.nwfilm.org.
About the Portland Art Museum
The seventh oldest museum in the United States, the Portland Art Museum is internationally recognized for its permanent collection and ambitious special exhibitions drawn from the Museum’s holdings and the world’s finest public and private collections. The Museum’s collection of more than 45,000 objects, displayed in 112,000 square feet of galleries, reflects the history of art from ancient times to today. The collection is distinguished for its holdings of arts of the native peoples of North America, English silver, and the graphic arts. An active collecting institution dedicated to preserving great art for the enrichment of future generations, the Museum devotes 90 percent of its galleries to its permanent collection.
The Museum’s campus of landmark buildings, a cornerstone of Portland’s cultural district, includes the Jubitz Center for Modern and Contemporary Art, the Gilkey Center for Graphic Arts, the Schnitzer Center for Northwest Art, the Northwest Film Center, and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Center for Native American Art. With a membership of more than 22,000 households and serving more than 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum is a premier venue for education in the visual arts. For information on exhibitions and programs, call 503-226-2811 or visit portlandartmuseum.org.
The Portland Art Museum welcomes all visitors and affirms its commitment to making its programs and collections accessible to everyone. The Museum offers a variety of programs and services to ensure a quality experience and a safe, inclusive environment for every member of our diverse community. Learn more at portlandartmuseum.org/access.
Portland, OR. Once a year the nonprofit Brides for a Cause offers wedding dresses for just $150. Brides started lining up at 4:00 am on Saturday morning and by the end of the day, hundreds had found their dream dresses. The sale featured more than 500 wedding dresses. Brides for a Cause is a nonprofit organization that collects and resells wedding dresses to raise funds for a variety of women-focused charities.
There was a long line for the 7th annual Dress Dash. The event took place on January 25th at the Exchange Ballroom.
Brides for a Cause raised $350,000 last year which was twice the amount from the previous year. In total, the organization has raised $1,000,000 for nonprofits.
Thousands of wedding dresses are donated each year by individuals, bridal stores, manufacturers and designers, which are resold at discounted prices to local brides.
Brides for a Cause also teams up with Brides Across America every July and November to offer free wedding dresses to local military brides and first responders during their annual “Operation Wedding Gown” events, which are held at over 60 bridal salons around the country.
Brides Across America gives away dresses for brides who are on active duty, a veteran of the military within the past 5 years, a first responder – or is marrying someone who is.
From Brides for a Cause:
Brides for a Cause has three locations:
Portland Boutique: Brides for a Cause 2505 SE 11th Ave, Suite 120 Portland, OR 97202
Tacoma Boutique: Brides for a Cause 2711 6th Avenue Tacoma, WA 98406
Seattle Boutique
Brides for a Cause
6514 Roosevelt Way
NE Seattle, WA 98115
If you are interested in donating a dress you can do that. Brides for a Cause is currently accepting wedding gowns from the past 5 years.
Please mail your gown to: Brides for a Cause 2505 SE 11th Ave, Suite 120 Portland, OR 97202
In 2019, we have given away a record-breaking $350,000 for the year! This is DOUBLE the amount we gave away in 2018! We also reached our $1,000,000 milestone of total money given away! Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way!
Portland, OR. The Portland Art Museum announced a landmark gift of $10 million from philanthropist Arlene Schnitzer. This represents the largest contribution from an individual donor in the 127-year history of the institution.
The gift was announced at the Museum by her son, Jordan Schnitzer. Gov. Kate Brown spoke of Mrs. Schnitzer’s extraordinary leadership to approximately 200 invitees, underscoring the importance of investing in the arts in our state.
Jordan and Arlene Schnitzer in 2015 at the PNCA Grand Opening
U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici also announced a $750,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in support of the Museum’s Connections Campaign. Through that campaign, the Museum will transform its campus by connecting its two buildings via the new Mark Rothko Pavilion and by growing its endowment in support of access, exhibitions, and programs.
The Schnitzer gift now represents the lead gift in the Museum’s ongoing Connection Campaign, which is currently in the quiet phase. An official announcement of the public campaign is anticipated in 2021.
“This extraordinary gift is a profound investment in our role as Portland’s museum for art and film, but also in the future of the arts in our region,” said Brian Ferriso, Director and Chief Curator of the Museum. “We are so grateful to the Schnitzer family for their leadership in continually reinforcing that the arts are essential for vibrant, equitable communities. This gift, and the gifts it will inspire, will shape the future of the arts in this community in ways we cannot foresee today.”
The Portland Art Museum released the video below to thank Arlene Schnitzer:
Arlene Schnitzer’s relationship with the Portland Art Museum began when she enrolled as a student at the Museum Art School.
Harold and Arlene Schnitzer are pictured in the Japanese Garden in 2010. Arlene Schnitzer and her late husband, Harold Schnitzer (1923–2011) have been close partners of the Museum for almost half a century.
Their passion for art, and our city, led to leadership roles at the Museum. The Schnitzers have provided financial support of important acquisitions, exhibitions, and capital campaigns; donated their Chinese Han Dynasty collection and other works to the Museum’s collection; and made significant investments in furthering the scholarship of the curatorial team through endowments of Northwest and Asian art, whose curatorial positions are named in their honor. The Schnitzers’ vision and generosity led to the creation of the Museum’s Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Center for Northwest Art, celebrating the creative vitality of the region.
When asked about what drives her philanthropy, Mrs. Schnitzer said, “Enough is never enough giving back. And Harold felt it as strongly as I do. And that’s it.”
In recognition of their commitment and contributions, in 2007 Harold and Arlene Schnitzer were named the first-ever Life Trustees of the Museum. In 2014, the Museum showcased Arlene and Harold’s distinguished collection with the exhibition and publication In Passionate Pursuit: The Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Collection and Legacy. That exhibition displayed artwork by many of the Northwest artists whose careers Mrs. Schnitzer nurtured through her Fountain Gallery, including Robert Colescott, the focus of the special exhibition Art and Race Matters: The Career of Robert Colescott, opening February 15 at the Museum. The Schnitzers’ legacy and impact on the arts in Portland and throughout the Northwest are undeniable.
“It has been very exciting to see the Museum change and grow, and to watch interest in the art of the Northwest region blossom,” Mrs. Schnitzer said. “It’s what Harold and I envisioned.”
“I am so proud of my mother, Arlene, and my late father, Harold,” said Jordan Schnitzer. “My mother recently said the reason they have given to the art museum was ‘You either put up, or shut up!’ It doesn’t get any more succinct than that!
“While their financial contributions have been important, I believe their leadership and lifelong effort to enlist many others to support the arts is their greatest legacy,” Mr. Schnitzer continued. “My late father often said, ‘You can’t have too many yellow school buses in front of the Museum!’”
About Portland Art Museum:
Mission
The mission of the Portland Art Museum is to engage diverse communities through art and film of enduring quality, and to collect, preserve, and educate for the enrichment of present and future generations.
PHILOSOPHY AND CORE VALUES
The Portland Art Museum strives to be an inclusive institution that facilitates respectful dialogue, debate, and the free exchange of ideas. With a deep commitment to artists – past and present – and freedom of expression, the Museum and Northwest Film Center’s collections, programs and staff aspire to reveal the beauty and complexities of the world, and create a deeper understanding of our shared humanity. We are a Museum for all, inviting everyone to connect with art through their own experiences, voices, and personal journeys. The following core values guide the Portland Art Museum:
Creativity The arts are at the core of our humanity, representing a timeless human impulse.
Connection The arts touch us and connect us across time, geography, and cultural differences, shedding light on how humans interact with their world.
Learning The arts open us to diverse ideas and ways of knowing ourselves, our community, and our world.
Accessibility The arts must be economically, intellectually, and physically accessible to everyone.
Accountability Transparency and careful stewardship of resources—including collections, staff, facilities, and investments – are essential for mission fulfillment now and in the future.
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