Annual Artbeat Fest Packed with Talent

George Johanson, Three Kayakers, oil on canvas

There is something for everyone at Portland Community College's 19th annual Art Beat festival.

Art Beat 2006 will spread across all of the PCC campuses from May 8 through 12, offering students and the community access to local, regional and national artists, as well as an extensive collection of visual art, dance, music, theater and literary events to help expose them to art. Art Beat is free and open to the public.

"Each campus will feature a variety of performances, artists' slide presentations, interactive demonstrations and workshops," said Charles Washburn, ceramics instructor and PCC Art Beat committee member.

"I hope that Art Beat exposes our students and community members to different ways of seeing, hearing, speaking and moving. It is always entertaining and fun."

For a complete schedule, visit the Art Beat Web site, http://artbeat.pcc.edu/.

Art Beat will kick off with a reception featuring music and a buffet from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 8, in the Performing Arts Center Foyer at the Sylvania Campus. Hosted by the Sylvania Traditions, Ritual and Fun Committee, the Art Beat Reception includes music, welcoming remarks from district President Preston Pulliams and student art and music awards.
This year's featured artist is local painter George Johanson, who will host several presentations of his work around the college district. Johanson will discuss his art in relation to Renaissance and modern art, diptychs, murals, home movies and prestidigitation.

He will present from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, May 8, in the Mt. Tabor Great Hall of the Southeast Center; 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, May 9, in the Performing Arts Center at the Sylvania Campus; and 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, in Room 122C of Building 9 at the Rock Creek Campus. For a copy of his featured work,"Three Kayakers" (Oil on canvas),visit www.pcc.edu/pcc/img /news/pccphoto.jpg.

Art Beat's highlights also include:

• Deborah Horrell Glass Casting Demonstration: Horrell demonstrates, from idea to image, the process of Pate de Verre glass casting. Her work centers on the vessel form, which she uses as a metaphor for humans and their relationships.The demonstration will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday, May 8, in CT 133, Sylvania Campus.

• Boka Marimba Music Performance: A 10-member dance band, Boka Marimba will play energetic music from Zimbabwe and other areas of southeastern Africa. The group uses the Shona style of melodic themes and variations layered in polyrhythmic and cyclic patterns. The performance will run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, in the Student Center Cafeteria, Cascade Campus.

• Student and Faculty Literary Reading: The campus literary magazine, The Rock Creek Review, will host an open-mic reading in conjunction with the annual student and faculty poetry and prose reading. The reading will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 10, Room 102 of Building 3, Rock Creek Campus.

Parking at all three campuses is free during Art Beat 2006. The events will be held at the Cascade Campus, 705 N. Killingsworth St.; Rock Creek Campus, 17705 N.W. Springville Road; Southeast Center, 2305 S.E. 82nd Avenue; and the Sylvania Campus, 12000 S.W. 49th Ave.

For more information, call 503-977-4117. Those needing interpreting or other accommodations, call the Office for Students with Disabilities, 503-977-4341; voice, 503-246-4072 TTY.