I'm thrilled to announce another creative endeavor to Fontana Studios. I was recently asked to be the curator of 19TEN. A private events space in North Portland, OR. Adjoind to The Hop & Vine, we will be hosting monthly art shows showcasing some of the Northwest's brightest and avant garde visual artists.

Zach Johsen's newest body of work deals with the human form and how it interacts with outside influences.. most notably the pull of nature and the world of ghosts and unseen energies. Much of his work implies an act of violence or revulsion amongst something cute and cuddly. It is a sea of stuffed animals filled with cacti. It is a lollipop that tastes like tar and oil. It is a moment of pure revelation while drinking your morning coffee or tea. It is a sudden realization that everything we deal with on a day to day isn't all that there is. That there is in fact, so much more around us if we open our senses to it.

INAUGURAL OPENING:

19TEN
1910 N Killingsworth
Portland, OR 97217
503.954.3322
5pm - 9pm
Sunday, December 6th
*show runs till december 30th
*available for appointment only after opening

www.zachjohnsen.com

www.thehopandvine.com

via pdx art zine

Upper Playground in Association with FIFTY 24PDX Gallery present:
“Pioneers” The Portland Group Show

FIFTY 24PDX Gallery presents to you a group show for the months of December and January featuring some of the best visual artists Portland has to offer. “Pioneers” will feature a diverse body of work from some of Portland's biggest names. While these talented artists vary in style, medium and message, the common thread that binds them together is the City of Roses.

“Pioneers” runs December 3rd-January 31st 2009.

Ian Anderson - Ian Michael Anderson has been a Portland resident for over three years, originally hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah. Much of his work is based on subconscious narratives in which a sort of personal mythology is manifested with few ties to the natural world, if only through metaphor.

Craig Brown - Craig Brown is a tattoo artist and painter. He works at Historic Tattoo. His paintings are bold, colorful and inspired by his craft in tattoo.

Guy Burwell – Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, he started his commercial art career providing illustration for local newspapers, murals in nightclubs, and posters for underground rock clubs. Moving to Portland provided a more dynamic, progressive and supportive artistic landscape and his work flourished. His client list is impressive and includes: Flight of the Conchords, My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon, K2 Snowboards, Dark Horse Comics, Nemo Design and Guitar Hero, just to name a few.

Adam Crispin – Adam graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1997. Adam moved to Portland Oregon in 2005 and continues to develop in the Pearl District, where he focuses on the abstract while retaining an element of landscape.

Blaine Fontana – Blaine was born in Seattle, WA and raised on Bainbridge Island. In 2003 Blaine left hisArt Direction position for the title of self – employed artist and designer. He is represented in numerous galleries across the United States. His work can be described as “Urban-Organic Contemporary Surrealism” Paintings.

Mark McCormick – Mark has been riding bikes, drinking beer and listening to metal while creating posters and illustrations since 2003 or so. He is an illustrator, graphic designer and screen-printer now based in Brooklyn, NY although he grew up in Oregon and used to call Portland home.

Ashley Montague - Ashley Montague has worked in the medium of acrylics and mixed media techniques since his youth. His paintings are direct extensions of his ideas and feelings, sometimes trailing concepts for weeks. He currently works and resides in NE Portland, OR at his home studio.

Martin Ontiveros - Martin is a self described painter and a legend living in Portland, Oregon. He has produced posters for the Portland metal band Red Fang, shown work at Giant Robot, and provided cover art for Willamette Week and Portland Mercury.

Jesse Reno - Jesse Reno was born in 1974 in Teaneck, NJ and now lives and works in his home studio in Portland, Oregon. He is a prolific painter and muralist and also works as an illustrator and designer. His work explores his personal mythology and often references the connection between humans and nature.

Joe Shea - Shea was influenced at an early age by the art of the Catholic Church, classic sci-fi film, the pride of the Boston Celtics, and the music and posters of punk rock. His work is always handmade in mixed media with a recycled twist, combining influences of folk art, assemblage art, and all forms of street art.

Clae Welch – Clae Welch is a tattooist, painter and printmaker originally from the Bay Area. He now works out of his own studio, Historic Tattoo in South East Portland. His tattoo work has been featured with great praise in the following magazines: International tattoo, Northwest Tattoo and Tattoo Revue.

An opening reception for “Pioneers” will be held
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 from 6pm-9pm
Featuring beverages from Red Hook and music from DJ Mr. Mumu

An encore reception will held be held
Thursday, January 7th, 2010 from 6pm-9pm
Featuring beverages from Red Hook and music from Skinny Miracles


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Fifty24 PDX Gallery
Brad Delay- Gallery Director
23 NW 5th Ave.
Portland OR, 97209
ph. 503.548.4835
fifty24pdxgallery.com

"This has been considered by many to be one of Blaine's most loved pieces. A favorite of his also, he has decided to release 2 limited edition sizes. 18" x 24" ltd edition of 100 @$150 and 24" x 40" ltd edition of 50 @$300 each."

http://www.blainefontana.com/storefront_holiday.html

My wife and I have recently been asked to be the co-curators of the new extension of The Hop and Vine Art/Wine bar in Portland, OR. The ANNEX, a private event space that will also be hosting monthly art openings on the first saturday of every month in North Portland. The Annex will focus on showing local contemporary artists in varied mediums and genre's. The innaguration/open house will be held on December 6th from 12pm - 10pm. The artists reception will be held from 5 - 9 pm. We will launch this new destination showcasing the work of the Portland fine artist, illustrator and designer, Zach Johnsen.

Below is a little sample of the series Zach will be presenting at the opening.

this is a little late, but better i post this than not. MY NAME IS did a very flattering interview/feature on my art, and i was lucky enough to also get the cover. this publication is more book than magazine. european publishing and culture is a decade ahead of us here in the states. a quarterly "mag" thats an 1" thick featuring contemporary artists from "the movement" i was honored by their 20 page feature and being in company of several other visionaries.