Celebrate May the 4th and Sol Neelman’s exhibition Weird Sports at Blue Sky Gallery with an artist talk, book signing, lightsaber classes, and photo op with the Unipiper.

This is an in-person event, masks are encouraged.

At 1PM, Sol will be at the gallery to have a virtual fireside chat about his photo book series with BFF and D.C. photographer, Melissa Lyttle. Following that, Sol will answer your questions and sign copies of his latest book, More Weird Sports. There will be two 45-minute lightsaber tutorials, one beginning at 2PM and the other at 4PM. Each session is limited to 24 students. Lightsabers will be provided for the class. Kids 13-17 may participate with an adult (18+) parent / guardian. Reservations can be made by clicking the button above. Come dressed up as your favorite Star Wars character and have your photo taken with Portland’s favorite unicycling bagpiper. The Unipiper will make his appearance at 3PM.

We suggest a $10 donation per lightsaber student reservation.

We look forward to your attendance, and of course, May the Force be with you!

Event Timeline 

1 - 1:45 PM

In-Person Artist Talk with Sol Neelman and D.C. Photographer Melissa Lyttle (Zoomed in)
&
Book Signing

2 - 2:45 PM

First Lightsaber Class (24 Spots Available)

3 - 4 PM

Unipiper Performance/Photo Op

4 - 4:45 PM

2nd Lightsaber Class (24 Spots Available)

Join us in the evening to celebrate the opening of our May exhibitions

5 - 9 PM | This is an in-person event, masks are encouraged

Please join us on Zoom for an artist talk from André Ramos-Woodard, whose 2023 Critical Mass Exhibition, BLACK SNAFU, will be on view at Blue Sky from Apr 4 to 27.

This artist talk will take on Zoom.

Please join us on Zoom for an artist conversation with Toni Pepe and Renee Brown, Pepe’s exhibition, Mothercraft, will be on view at Blue Sky from Apr 4 to 27. Renèe Brown is a PhD candidate at Boston University. Her research explores photo archives, text-image relationships, visual anthropology, and photo-based philosophies of knowledge. She is currently working on a dissertation about photo librarian Paul Vanderbilt.

This artist talk will take on Zoom.

Join us in the evening to celebrate the opening of our April exhibitions

5 - 9 PM | This is an in-person event, masks encouraged

Please join us in the gallery for an artist talk from Sarah Malakoff, whose exhibition, Personal History, will be on view at Blue Sky from Mar 7 to 30.

This artist talk will take place in the gallery, mask is encouraged.

Please join us in the gallery for an artist talk from Fazilat Soukhakian, whose exhibition, Queer in Utah, will be on view at Blue Sky from Mar 7 to 30.

This artist talk will take place in the gallery, mask is encouraged.

Join us in the evening to celebrate the opening of our March Exhibitions

5 - 8 PM | This is an in-person event, mask encouraged

Please join us in the gallery for an event from our Exhibitions Committee member Edis Jurčys, who will be signing his new book Being Near at Blue Sky during March First Thursday Opening.

This event will take place in the gallery, mask is encouraged.

Edvardas (Edis) Jurčys grew up in a small beach town, Klaipeda, Lithuania. His first camera was a Russian made plastic camera that he was given during middle school. This was his introduction to the world of art. After high school Jurčys studied film in the prestigious Soviet Union Film Institute VGIK. He spent eight years working as a cameraman for Moscow State Television. Today Jurčys lives in Portland Oregon and work full time as a still photographer.

Jurčys has been a member of the Lithuanian Photographic Artists' Union, since 2006. Jurčys actively participates in cultural and art projects in Lithuania, maintaining close creative ties with his homeland. He has created photography projects on highly relevant social topics, organized over 30 solo exhibitions, and has won significant awards and evaluations. His work is in hundreds of private collections, Portland Art Museum and Hallie Ford Museum.

Jurčys actively serves on the Blue Sky Exhibition Committee and his work was exhibited at Blue Sky’s Hoyt street location in 1996.

Please join us on Zoom for an artist conversation between Sage Sohier and Christopher Rauschenberg. Sohier’s exhibition, Passing Time, wis on view at Blue Sky through Sat, Mar 2.

This artist talk will take place on Zoom.

We invite you to join our community town hall event to get a glimpse of our strategic vision and help frame our future.

This event will take place on Zoom

During this town hall, we will present an overview of our strategic plan and its key components. We believe that your insights and perspectives are crucial in shaping the direction of Blue Sky, and we are eager to hear your thoughts, suggestions, and concerns.

Agenda:

• Presentation of the Strategic Plan

• Open Floor for Community Feedback

Thank you for being an integral part of the Blue Sky community. Your participation is essential in helping us create a plan that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our community. We value your input and look forward to a productive and engaging discussion. We look forward to your presence and contribution at the town hall.

Please join us in the gallery for an artist talk from Terra Fondriest, whose exhibition, Ozark Life, will be on view at Blue Sky from Feb 1 to March 2.

This artist talk will take place in the gallery, mask is encouraged.

Join us in the evening to celebrate the opening of our February Exhibitions

5 - 8 PM | This is an in-person event, mask encouraged

Please join us in the gallery for an artist talk from Ebenezer Galluzzo, whose exhibition, As a Home Changes, is on view at Blue Sky through Jan 27.

This artist talk will take place in the gallery, mask is encouraged.

Please join us in the gallery for a conversation between David Paul Bayles and special guest Fred Swanson. Bayles’ exhibition, Following Fire: A Resilient Forest / An Uncertain Future, is on view at Blue Sky through Sat, Jan 27.

This event will take place in the gallery, mask is encouraged.

Fred Swanson is a retired US Forest Service scientist specializing in studies of geophysical and other disturbance processes in forest and stream ecosystems. He has partnered with David throughout this Following Fire project, contributing insights about forest history and environmental change. Principle sites of Fred's work include the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest in the Oregon Cascades and Mount St. Helens.

We invite you to join our community town hall event to get a glimpse of our strategic vision and help frame our future.

This event will take place in the gallery, mask is encouraged.

During this town hall, we will present an overview of our strategic plan and its key components. We believe that your insights and perspectives are crucial in shaping the direction of Blue Sky, and we are eager to hear your thoughts, suggestions, and concerns.

Agenda:

• Presentation of the Strategic Plan

• Open Floor for Community Feedback

Thank you for being an integral part of the Blue Sky community. Your participation is essential in helping us create a plan that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our community. We value your input and look forward to a productive and engaging discussion. We look forward to your presence and contribution at the town hall.

Join us in the evening to celebrate the opening of our January Exhibitions

5 - 8 PM | This is an in-person event, mask encouraged

Please join us in the gallery for a presentation on Zaharia Cușnir Archive with Victor Marian. Cușnir’s exhibition, The Joy of Living, will be on view at Blue Sky through Dec 30.

This event will take place on Zoom.

Victor Maxian (Moldovan, b. 1993, he/him/his), graduated from the Academy of Arts in Chisinau in 2016, is a filmmaker and curator. While working on his diploma film he discovered in an abandoned house the collection of photographs made by Zaharia Cușnir. He is the curator of several exhibitions made in Italy, Poland, Romania and in the Republic of Moldova. He directed a documentary film about Zaharia Cușnir which is in a post-production phase.

Please join us in the gallery for an artist talk from Ada Trillo, whose exhibition, La Caravana Del Diablo, will be on view at Blue Sky through Dec 30.

This artist talk will take place in the gallery, mask is encouraged.

Join us in the evening to celebrate the opening of our December Exhibitions

5 - 8 PM | This is an in-person event, mask encouraged

Meet participating 2023 Pacific Northwest Drawers Artists on Sat, Nov 18 from 1 - 4 PM. Chat with them about their prints and get an inside look into their creative process.

It’s a perfect moment to give the gift of photography while supporting our Pacific Northwest Artists. We look forward to seeing you!

This event is FREE and open to the public.

Please join us in the gallery for an artist talk from M.O.E, whose exhibition, The World I Dream Of, will be on view at Blue Sky through Dec 2.

This artist talk will take place in the gallery, mask is encouraged.

Please join us in the gallery for an artist talk from Carmen Lizardo, whose exhibition, To Swallow a River, will be on view at Blue Sky through Dec 2.

This artist talk will take place in the gallery, mask is encouraged.

Please join us in the gallery for an artist talk from Danny Aros-Aguilar, whose exhibition, Sandunga Nunca Muere, will be on view at Blue Sky through Dec 2.

This artist talk will take place in the gallery, mask is encouraged.

Join us in the evening to celebrate the opening of our November Exhibitions

5 - 8 PM | This is an in-person event, mask encouraged

Please join us on Zoom for an artist talk from Richard Mosse, whose exhibition, Occidental, is on view at Blue Sky through Sun, Oct 22.

This artist talk will take place on Zoom.

Richard Mosse: Occidental is curated by Christian Viveros-Fauné and organized by Converge 45 and its institutional partners as part of its 2023 citywide biennial program Social Forms: Art As Global Citizenship.

Join us in the gallery and online for the YouTube Premiere of our 2023 Members Show: Balance

6:30 PM (PT)

YouTube Premiere link

Join us in the evening to celebrate the opening of Richard Mosse’s exhibition.

2 - 8 PM

Richard Mosse: Occidental is curated by Christian Viveros-Fauné and organized by Converge 45 and its institutional partners as part of its 2023 citywide biennial program Social Forms: Art As Global Citizenship. This exhibition runs concurrently to the Pacific Northwest premiere of Richard Mosse’s Broken Spectre, presented at the Ronna and Eric Hoffman Gallery of Contemporary Art at Lewis & Clark College in partnership with Converge 45.

For more information on Converge 45 and Social Forms, please visit converge45.org

Please join us on Zoom for an artist talk from Erik Östensson, whose exhibition, Tjärnen, is on view at Blue Sky through Aug 12.

This artist talk will take place on Zoom.

Please join us in the gallery for an artist talk from Rebecca Marimutu, whose exhibition, Portraits, Adhered, is on view at Blue Sky through Aug 12.

This artist talk will take place in the gallery, mask is encouraged.