Blackfish Gallery Celebrates
The GRAND OPENING of Our New Space
With a Group Show of Works by All 33 Current Gallery Artists
Creative Diversity Abides highlights the extraordinary range of artwork being made in Oregon in the first quarter of the 21st century.
A diversity of strong voices is a Blackfish Gallery signature and we are proud to showcase the breadth of talent sheltered and nurtured under our creative “tent.”
Formed as an artist collective 44 years ago, Blackfish Gallery survives and thrives by constantly reinventing itself. The move to our new, larger digs initiated the latest metamorphosis. Boasting 1500 square feet of exhibition space and 250 feet of wall space, the gallery can be configured into three separate exhibition rooms, or opened up for large-scale exhibits, such as the group show this month. As a result, Blackfish looks forward to offering more exhibits and more varied and ambitious programming in 2023 and beyond.
Blackfish first opened its doors on April 22, 1979, a feat that took a year of planning and countless hours of elbow grease, as the 18 founding members labored to convert an old storefront on NW Sixth Avenue into a white-walled exhibition space. Now in its fourth location and 45th year, Blackfish has represented over 160 Oregon artists and mounted over 525 exhibits in its main gallery spaces, not to mention hundreds of smaller shows in its “Backroom” space at our former location on NW Ninth.
Through all the changes, several constants remain: Our commitment to present and promote innovative art and our belief in the value of artists assuming responsibility for the exhibition and dissemination of their own work. Blackfish has charted a rich history of “significant accomplishments and numerous contributions to the cultural life of Portland and beyond,” vouches art historian Roger Hull, Professor Emeritus at Willamette University and guest Curator at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art.
Thank you Portland for supporting our vision and legacy. Here’s to 44 more years!
As part of our grand opening celebration, we invite you to join us for these special events:
• Thursday, March 2 (from 6-9pm) — First Thursday Grand Opening Celebration
• Saturday, March 18 @ 7:30 — Tickets at the door, sliding scale ($10 suggested)
An evening of music with the world-influenced, progressive folk ensemble Bug Toast, featuring Blackfish artist-owner Christopher Shotola-Hardt.
• Saturday, March 25 @ 2pm
A gallery talk hosted by artist-owner Clint Brown. During this group show on the theme of resilience, please join Blackfish artists in a lively discussion of how their work is influenced and inspired by the collective spirit.
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GALLERY 3
David Selleck: Early Works
David Selleck — Rinky Dink, charcoal, 26" x 40"
When Blackfish made the move to its new location, a treasure trove of early work by painter David Selleck was unearthed. Selleck, an artist of enormous inventiveness and skill, passed away in 2017. To discover these early, black-and-white, mixed media drawings that showcase the artist’s powerful imagery juxtapositions and knack for off- the-wall humor was a delight and a kind of visit from the beyond. This month, thanks to the generosity of David’s widow, Connie Selleck, Blackfish is happy to present a selection of these drawings in Gallery 3.
David Selleck’s long career in art began with an MFA, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Iowa, and progressed through countless exhibits in the Pacific Northwest, including outings at Lynn McAllister Gallery and Jackson Street Gallery in Seattle, along with regular shows at his Portland home, Blackfish Gallery. In addition, Selleck’s work was included in juried shows at the Portland Art Museum and in many academic gallery shows. His work is in the permanent collection of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art.
Blackfishers
Doing
Cool
Stuff
See what Blackfish Artists are involved with outside the gallery this month.