http://www.opb.org/stateofwonderenArtsCopyright Oregon Public Broadcastinghttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/9e65f20bfc5f53ac47d4861c898bd231.jpghttp://www.opb.org/stateofwonderWed, 08 Jul 2026 18:02:27 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOregon Public Broadcastingpodcasts@opb.orgHosted by April Baerfalseserialhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sow-081713-1-of-3-open-theater-aaradhna--11561820https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561820Tue, 01 Oct 2013 15:23:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFIrst pilot! First segment! A Roundtable of theater pros and critical types talk about the intersection worlds of what theaters can market, and what they decide to program. Also, kiwi pop phenom Aaradhna.1330music,theaterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sow-082413-1-of-2-or-ballet-gone-home-pdx-film-fest--11561819https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561819Tue, 01 Oct 2013 15:48:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur second pilot, first half. We start with a quick chat with the new Artistic Director fo the Oregon Ballet Theatre. Then game developer Steve Gaynor checks in on his company's runaway hit, Gone Home. Also, we Honey-Badger-nasty with the founders of...1631gamers,portland film festivalfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sow-090713-1-of-2-arts-tax-jackson-tamastslikt--11567842https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567842Tue, 01 Oct 2013 15:57:23 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingToday's show starts with a check in on Portland's arts tax. Then we visit Jackson Middle School, where the arts are already a part of everything kids do. And we check out the Warhol exhibit on view at the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute.943andy warhol,confederated tribes of the uma,portland arts tax,tamastslikt cultural institutefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sow-092813-cleaning-art-call-resp-disoriented--11561806https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561806Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:23:01 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFinal segment of this week's pilot. The guy tasked with cleaning public art in Portland, Corvallis Artists' Call and Response exhibition, and Asian-American women in comedy.1217falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sow-092813-2-of-2-galileo-the-blow--11561798https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561798Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:25:45 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting2nd segment - we check out Portland Opera's CD release of a Phillip Glass work they staged last year. Also the Blow talks about their first record in 7 years.632the blowfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sow-092813-1-of-3-geniuses-maple-theft-or-trail--11561800https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561800Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:29:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingToday's pilot kicks off with hat tips to Carrie Mae Weems and Trimpin. Also, remember the old Oregon Trail video game? We go to the live simulation staged in Salem last month.1003falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sowstrayedexcerpt--11561786https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561786Wed, 02 Oct 2013 17:05:33 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWordstock is a veritable Tour de Strayed this year. One of Portland's most celebrated writers, Cheryl Strayed, will share the stage with fellow book club rock star Ayana Mathis Thursday night for the festival opener, and she'll chair a noon Saturday...430cheryl strayed,opb,think out loudfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sow-nick-jaina-extended-clip--11561784https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561784Fri, 04 Oct 2013 18:38:35 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOne of our favorite guys. Nick Jaina on what he's reading and writing. Listen for him on this week's pilot.250nick jainafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-100713-pilot-3-3-videos-jc-brooks--11561799https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561799Sat, 05 Oct 2013 18:51:58 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIfanyi gets the skinny on the Reel Music Film Festival, and talks with video director and auteur Alicia Rose about her work. We say goodbye to guest curator David Biespiel. Also, OPB Music welcomes J.C. Brooks and the Uptown Sound.1224david biespiel,jc brooks and the uptown sound,northwest film center,opb,reel music festivalfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-100713-pilot-2-3-strayed-biespiel-powell-s--11561802https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561802Sat, 05 Oct 2013 19:15:52 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur field trip to Powell's continues. We dig into the archives for Cheryl Strayed. Guest Curator David Biespiel talks about the intersection of politics and literature. And April chats up Powell's CEO Miriam Sontz.1668falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-100713-pilot-1-3-jaina-ponteri-biespiel--11561788https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561788Sat, 05 Oct 2013 19:26:04 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe're on a field trip to Powell's City of Books this week! Nick Jaina, Jay Ponteri, and more. Our guest curator this week i poet and Attic Institute founder David Biespiel.1077david biespiel,jay ponteri,nick jaina,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/david-biespiel-on-state-of-wonder--11561782https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561782Wed, 09 Oct 2013 22:43:44 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPoet, essayist, and Attic Institute founder David Biespiel drops in for our recent literary field trip.960david biespiel,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-pilot-091413-2-of-2-mitchell-jackson-co--1156178100:56 Novelist Mitchell Jackson drops by to chat with Dave Miller.
10:21 Ifanyi Bell gets Jackson and some old friends talking about growing up black in Portland.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561781Tue, 15 Oct 2013 18:58:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA segment from the Sept 14th pilot. 00:56 Novelist Mitchell Jackson drops by to chat with Dave Miller. 10:21 Ifanyi Bell gets Jackson and some old friends talking about growing up black in Portland.00:56 Novelist Mitchell Jackson drops by to chat with Dave Miller.
10:21 Ifanyi Bell gets Jackson and some old friends talking about growing up black in Portland.]]>1036mitchell jackson,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-pilot-091413-1-of-2-ray-dolby-wa-book-awards-the-digits--11561774https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561774Tue, 15 Oct 2013 19:09:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe are all over the road, getting face time with Washington Book Award winners, including Amanda Coplin. Also Ifanyi checks in with Scotty Iseri's project, educating the short set through with music.1096amanda coplin,kathleen flenniken,ray dolby,scotty iseri,state of wondr,the digitsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/darrell-grant-and-mike-horsfall-an-mjq-tribute--11561771https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561771Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:28:54 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTonight at the Mission Theater in Portland, Portland pianist Darrell Grant and friends will pay tribute to the Modern Jazz Quartet. The group had a catalytic effect on many musicians' thinking and style during the 50's and 60's, bringing both style...530darrell grant,kmhd,mike horsfall,modern jazz quartet,opb,portland jazz festivalfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-blow-state-of-wonder-interview--11561755https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561755Fri, 18 Oct 2013 18:40:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingKhaela and Melissa dish on their seven year (!!!) process, making their new, self-titled record. They're playing in Portland Sunday Oct 20.548khaela maricich,melissa dyne,opb,the blowfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-secret-language-of-color--11561758https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561758Fri, 18 Oct 2013 19:49:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMother and Daughter, duo Joann and Arielle Eckstut have teamed up to help us understand why the sky is blue, a rose, red and why the grass is actually greener on the other side. In their new book, the duo discuss how our perception of color has...677books,chemistry,color,culture,physics,science,wavelengthsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-state-of-music-and-video--11544512https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544512Sun, 20 Oct 2013 23:28:47 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDating back to the era of silent films, when many theaters employed a house pianist, music has played a fundamental role in the moviegoing experience. With a variety of events for audiences to explore, this year's Reel Music Film Festival looks to the...507falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ian-karmel-is-back-for-the-weekend--11544511https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544511Sat, 02 Nov 2013 00:01:23 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland's iconic funnyman returns to Portland for a few days. He stops by State of Wonder to tell us tales from Los Angeles, the city he now calls home. Hear about how he's doing, who he's hanging out with and that his love for the Trailblazers...676falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/royal-nebeker--11544509https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544509Sat, 02 Nov 2013 19:35:28 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAn outgoing Oregon Arts Commission member shares thoughts on the departure of the Commission's Executive Director, Chris D'Arcy, who was asked to leave.666falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-ann-hamilton--11544510https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544510Sat, 02 Nov 2013 19:44:43 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis is the long version of April's conversation with Ann Hamilton. Hamilton's exhibition is up at Elizabeth Leach Gallery through January 11.1321falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-nov-2-2013-full-show--1154451300:00-01:30 open
01:30-03:45 What are you listening to?
03:45-10:05 Ian Karmel
10:18-12:10 Fiddler accident
12:30-17:30 Oregon Arts Commission Shakeup
17:30-23:40 Oregon Symphony - War Requiem
24:00-28:30 Dia de los Muertos altar
28:45-37:00 Secret Language of Color
37:10-42:20 3d Printers in Art
42:25-47:30 Ann Hamilton]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544513Sat, 02 Nov 2013 21:27:22 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAction packed broadcast launch! Here's the rundown: 00:00-01:30 open 01:30-03:45 What are you listening to? 03:45-10:05 Ian Karmel 10:18-12:10 Fiddler accident 12:30-17:30 Oregon Arts Commission Shakeup 17:30-23:40 Oregon Symphony - War...00:00-01:30 open
01:30-03:45 What are you listening to?
03:45-10:05 Ian Karmel
10:18-12:10 Fiddler accident
12:30-17:30 Oregon Arts Commission Shakeup
17:30-23:40 Oregon Symphony - War Requiem
24:00-28:30 Dia de los Muertos altar
28:45-37:00 Secret Language of Color
37:10-42:20 3d Printers in Art
42:25-47:30 Ann Hamilton]]>2981falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/finding-laura-mvula--11544506https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544506Fri, 08 Nov 2013 21:49:44 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe singer-songwriter from the United Kingdom recently made her Portland debut at the Crystal Ballroom. After a day of cat-and-mouse, we finally caught up with Laura Mvula and talked about her musical inspirations, and the feelings behind some of her...507falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-110913-full-show-comics-mvula-graffiti--11544508https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544508Sat, 09 Nov 2013 18:21:57 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingToday we're hanging out with guest curator Douglas Wolk, and talking some comics with Allie Brosh & Kelly Sue Deconnick. Also: Arty names for Portland's new bridge, Brit-pop chanteuse Laura Mvula, Graffiti art from street to gallery, the 40th...3002falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jon-steiner-s-global-graffiti--11544505https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544505Sat, 09 Nov 2013 19:03:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHere's the long version of our conversation with Jon.1591falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/willy-vlautin--11544502https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544502Sat, 09 Nov 2013 19:26:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe film adaptation of Willy Vlautin's novel The Motel Life hits screens nationwide this weekend. Willy dropped in to tell us what it was like watching the process.494falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kelly-sue-deconnick-on-state-of-wonder--11544503https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544503Sat, 09 Nov 2013 19:57:07 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingKelly Sue DeConnick on her new series, Pretty Deadly, iconography in comics, and more1475falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/alyssa-macy--11544500https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544500Sat, 16 Nov 2013 17:42:27 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingKeep your eye on this one. After several years out of state, Alyssa Macy came back to Oregon this fall to work for The Native Arts & Cultures Foundation. This week, she was appointed to the Oregon Arts Commission. Great perspectives on art and what...303falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-nov-16-2013-full-show-symphonies-sacco-fruit-bats--11544504
01:15 - 05:50 Alyssa Macy, a new member of the Oregon Arts Commission
10:20 - 16:45 Eugene Symphony's Counterpoint Festival
18:20 - 25:40 Oregon Symphony executive search
27:58 - 34:20 Streams of Support recap with Disjecta's Bryan Suereth
35:15 - 40:25 Joe Sacco's The Great War
40:30 - 44:40 Fruit Bats final show]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544504Sat, 16 Nov 2013 18:41:28 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur guest curator this week is Ethan Sperry, who directs the PSU Chamber Choir and the Oregon Repertory Singers. Here's where to find other stories in the show. 01:15 - 05:50 Alyssa Macy, a new member of the Oregon Arts Commission 10:20 - 16:45...
01:15 - 05:50 Alyssa Macy, a new member of the Oregon Arts Commission
10:20 - 16:45 Eugene Symphony's Counterpoint Festival
18:20 - 25:40 Oregon Symphony executive search
27:58 - 34:20 Streams of Support recap with Disjecta's Bryan Suereth
35:15 - 40:25 Joe Sacco's The Great War
40:30 - 44:40 Fruit Bats final show]]>3001falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-23-2013-full-show-ann-patchett-mary-szybist-the-natasha-plays-etc--11544501
01:55 - 07:50 Mary Szybist wins National Book Award for Poetry
07:50 - 18:30 The Natasha Plays
18:45 - 26:30 Sound artists Sergei Tcherepnin comes to PICA
26:30 - 28:10 Pixies Video on All Songs Considered
28:20 - 31:25 Crow's Shadow Artists on View at Josephy Center
31:35 - 48:00 Ann Patchett]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544501Sat, 23 Nov 2013 18:34:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBig day today. Here's the rundown: 01:55 - 07:50 Mary Szybist wins National Book Award for Poetry 07:50 - 18:30 The Natasha Plays 18:45 - 26:30 Sound artists Sergei Tcherepnin comes to PICA 26:30 - 28:10 Pixies Video on All Songs Considered 28:20 -...
01:55 - 07:50 Mary Szybist wins National Book Award for Poetry
07:50 - 18:30 The Natasha Plays
18:45 - 26:30 Sound artists Sergei Tcherepnin comes to PICA
26:30 - 28:10 Pixies Video on All Songs Considered
28:20 - 31:25 Crow's Shadow Artists on View at Josephy Center
31:35 - 48:00 Ann Patchett]]>2989falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mary-szybist-wins-national-book-award-for-poetry--11544495https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544495Sat, 23 Nov 2013 19:20:01 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAn Oregon seeker finds herself onstage, accepting one of the top prizes in American letters.363falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sergei-tcherepnin--11560581https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560581Sat, 23 Nov 2013 19:23:47 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art welcomes Sergei Tcherepnin. He works with sound the way some visual artists work with paint or ceramic. He's particularly interested by the interplay between sound and feeling, and how his...469opb,sergei tcherepninfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/boom-arts-brings-the-natasha-plays-to-portland--11544494https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544494Sat, 23 Nov 2013 21:23:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe like what Ruth Wikler-Luker is doing over at Boom Arts - a theater group devoted to socially-engaged work. This week's production: The Natasha Plays.640falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-30-2013-full-show-health-care-rick-bartow-sherman-alexie-esperanza-spaulding-slater-smith--1154449902:20 - 12:00 Musicians & Health Care. Can the ACA help artists?
12:00 - 21:30 Newport's Rick Bartow on how a recent stroke affected his work
22:00 - 28:00 Art in Rural Storefronts
28:15 - 37:15 Sherman Alexie rallies authors to work at local bookstores
38:00 - 44:00 Esperanza Spaulding speaks out on Guantanamo Bay
44:00 - 50:00 Slater Smith visits 180+ state parks for music video]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544499Sat, 30 Nov 2013 18:55:15 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEverybody having a nice holiday? Here's today's rundown: 02:20 - 12:00 Musicians & Health Care. Can the ACA help artists? 12:00 - 21:30 Newport's Rick Bartow on how a recent stroke affected his work 22:00 - 28:00 Art in Rural Storefronts 28:15 - 37:15...02:20 - 12:00 Musicians & Health Care. Can the ACA help artists?
12:00 - 21:30 Newport's Rick Bartow on how a recent stroke affected his work
22:00 - 28:00 Art in Rural Storefronts
28:15 - 37:15 Sherman Alexie rallies authors to work at local bookstores
38:00 - 44:00 Esperanza Spaulding speaks out on Guantanamo Bay
44:00 - 50:00 Slater Smith visits 180+ state parks for music video]]>3057falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/william-shakespeare-s-star-wars--11544491https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544491Mon, 02 Dec 2013 19:38:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThink Out Loud host, Allison Frost interviews author Ian Doescher about his book and is joined by members of the Portland Actors Ensemble who perform scenes from the book.390falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-7-2013-state-of-wonder-full-show-nutcracker-crystal-schenk-intisar-abioto-rock-abroad--11544498
06:00 - 12:30 High Desert Nutcracker
16:15 - 21:10 Crystal Schenk's Shelter at Bullseye
23:05 - 29:40 Intisar Abioto and The Black Portlanders
30:50 - 51:30 Rock Camp in Bahrain/Rock School in Kabul

Our guest curators this week are Lena Lencek and Stephanie Snyder from Reed College, collaborators on an exhibition and symposium on Soviet-era photos and graphic arts.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544498Sat, 07 Dec 2013 19:18:20 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHere's the rundown, people: 06:00 - 12:30 High Desert Nutcracker 16:15 - 21:10 Crystal Schenk's Shelter at Bullseye 23:05 - 29:40 Intisar Abioto and The Black Portlanders 30:50 - 51:30 Rock Camp in Bahrain/Rock School in Kabul Our guest curators...
06:00 - 12:30 High Desert Nutcracker
16:15 - 21:10 Crystal Schenk's Shelter at Bullseye
23:05 - 29:40 Intisar Abioto and The Black Portlanders
30:50 - 51:30 Rock Camp in Bahrain/Rock School in Kabul

Our guest curators this week are Lena Lencek and Stephanie Snyder from Reed College, collaborators on an exhibition and symposium on Soviet-era photos and graphic arts.]]>3132falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rock-abroad-rock-camp-and-rock-school-roundtable--11544490https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544490Sat, 07 Dec 2013 20:37:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur roundtable discussion with Rock Camp for Girls and Rock School staff exploring their shows on the road in Bahrain and Afghanistan.1280falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-14-2013-full-show-seasonings-pineros-pcp-backfence-blue-moon--1154449308:30 - 15:55Portland Cello Project's Winter
16:00 - 18:00Tillamook's Cheesecracker
18:10 - 20:25Jefferson Smith at Backfence PDX
20:30 - 23:35PICA awards Precicpice Fund grants
23:50 - 31:30Chuck Krall
31:47 - 38:20Blue Moon Camera's Customer Show
38:35 - 48:40Marisa Anderson
48:50 - 50:00Know Your Divas!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544493Sat, 14 Dec 2013 20:18:29 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting02:15 - 08:25Betty Marin's Pineros project 08:30 - 15:55Portland Cello Project's Winter 16:00 - 18:00Tillamook's Cheesecracker 18:10 - 20:25Jefferson Smith at Backfence PDX 20:30 - 23:35PICA awards Precicpice Fund grants 23:50 - 31:30Chuck Krall...08:30 - 15:55Portland Cello Project's Winter
16:00 - 18:00Tillamook's Cheesecracker
18:10 - 20:25Jefferson Smith at Backfence PDX
20:30 - 23:35PICA awards Precicpice Fund grants
23:50 - 31:30Chuck Krall
31:47 - 38:20Blue Moon Camera's Customer Show
38:35 - 48:40Marisa Anderson
48:50 - 50:00Know Your Divas!]]>3061falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-21-2013-full-show-francis-bacon-pam-deer-lodge-bendfilm-more--1156777109:05 - 20:00 Robert Adams: A Question of Hope
20:26 - 27:22 Deer Lodge George Jones tribute
27:27 - 30:22 BendFilm Director Out
30:44 - 37:05 Mousai Remix @ PHAME Academy
37:30 - 41:22 Nativities exhibition
41:40 - 48:50 Genders with OPB Music
49:17 - 50:20 With apologies to Laurie Anderson...]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567771Sat, 21 Dec 2013 20:14:40 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting02:30 - 0855 Francis Bacon on view at PAM 09:05 - 20:00 Robert Adams: A Question of Hope 20:26 - 27:22 Deer Lodge George Jones tribute 27:27 - 30:22 BendFilm Director Out 30:44 - 37:05 Mousai Remix @ PHAME Academy 37:30 - 41:22 Nativities...09:05 - 20:00 Robert Adams: A Question of Hope
20:26 - 27:22 Deer Lodge George Jones tribute
27:27 - 30:22 BendFilm Director Out
30:44 - 37:05 Mousai Remix @ PHAME Academy
37:30 - 41:22 Nativities exhibition
41:40 - 48:50 Genders with OPB Music
49:17 - 50:20 With apologies to Laurie Anderson...]]>3063francis bacon,george jones,opb,robert adamsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-full-show-dec-28-2013-year-in-review--11544492https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544492Sat, 28 Dec 2013 23:42:29 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingToday's show looks back at some of the key art stories of 2013 - plus KMHD's Matt Fleeger brings us the best releases of 2013. Very, very nice selections for beefing up your heavy rotation.3106falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/seed-words-music-extra-songs-and-stories-here--11544496https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544496Fri, 03 Jan 2014 23:15:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSEED: Words + Music - extra songs and stories here by OPB's State of Wonder4844falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-4-2014-full-show-seed-words-music--11544489
03:06 - 06:45Matt Sheehy & Arthur Bradford - "Cold Feet"
16:00 - 24:00Courtenay Hameister & Swan Sovereign - "Husky"
28:00 - 34:30 Cheryl Strayed & Laura Gibson - "The Truth That Lives There"
35:45 - 48:40Laura Gibson & Cheryl Strayed - "The Fire"]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544489Sat, 04 Jan 2014 18:50:42 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week State of Wonder presents stories and songs recorded last month at SEED: Words + Music. Curated by Live Wire head writer Courtenay Hameister, this event brought together amazing writers like Cheryl Strayed and Arthur Bradford with musicians...
03:06 - 06:45Matt Sheehy & Arthur Bradford - "Cold Feet"
16:00 - 24:00Courtenay Hameister & Swan Sovereign - "Husky"
28:00 - 34:30 Cheryl Strayed & Laura Gibson - "The Truth That Lives There"
35:45 - 48:40Laura Gibson & Cheryl Strayed - "The Fire"]]>3024falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-11-2014-full-show-poets-on-stafford-kesey-shaw-bros--11544486
00:45 - 20:53 Poets on William Stafford: Jennifer Boyden, Matthew Dickman, Vince Wixon
20:55 - 37:20 Boyden, Dickman, and Wixon on their own work
37:23 - 46:03 Oregon Experience - Ken Kesey
46:20 - 50:25 Dan Halstead on Run Run Shaw]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544486Sat, 11 Jan 2014 19:20:02 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, lots of love for William Stafford. Matthew Dickman, Jennifer Boyden, and Vince Wixon share some favorite works, and talk about their own writing. Also, remembering the films of the Shaw Brothers. 00:45 - 20:53 Poets on William Stafford:...
00:45 - 20:53 Poets on William Stafford: Jennifer Boyden, Matthew Dickman, Vince Wixon
20:55 - 37:20 Boyden, Dickman, and Wixon on their own work
37:23 - 46:03 Oregon Experience - Ken Kesey
46:20 - 50:25 Dan Halstead on Run Run Shaw]]>3076falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jennifer-boyden-reads-for-stow--11560559https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560559Sat, 11 Jan 2014 19:24:14 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe love Jennifer Boyden's standout collection, The Declarable Future. The book includes one very long poem she says took years to write. The Poem's called "Which Particle the Particle". We asked her to read an excerpt.124falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-18-2014-full-show-theaters-diversity-gerard-schwarz-white-bird-diy-kids-glena-the-movie--11544484
02:40 - 06:15 NYT outs Bacon triptych owner
06:20 - 08:00 Glena the Movie
08:15 - 14:00 DIY Kids
15:45 - 18:40 OCT's Charlotte's Web
18:45 - 21:50 PCS's Chinglish
22:00 - 26:00 Profile Theatre's Eyes for Consuela
26:05 - 31:05 August Wilson's Red Door Project PEAC
32:20 - 32:40 This week's music: Arturo O'Farrill
33:10 - 39:30 White Bird Dance
39:40 - 52:25 Maestro Gerard Schwarz]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544484Sat, 18 Jan 2014 19:43:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe're all over issues in performing arts this week. Be sure to look for the long version of our interview with Maestro Gerard Schwarz, coming soon.... 02:40 - 06:15 NYT outs Bacon triptych owner 06:20 - 08:00 Glena the Movie 08:15 - 14:00 DIY Kids...
02:40 - 06:15 NYT outs Bacon triptych owner
06:20 - 08:00 Glena the Movie
08:15 - 14:00 DIY Kids
15:45 - 18:40 OCT's Charlotte's Web
18:45 - 21:50 PCS's Chinglish
22:00 - 26:00 Profile Theatre's Eyes for Consuela
26:05 - 31:05 August Wilson's Red Door Project PEAC
32:20 - 32:40 This week's music: Arturo O'Farrill
33:10 - 39:30 White Bird Dance
39:40 - 52:25 Maestro Gerard Schwarz]]>3224falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/andres-alcala-on-eyes-for-consuela--11560563https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560563Sat, 18 Jan 2014 20:40:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHere's the longer version of our interview with Andres Alcala. He stars in Eyes for Consuela at Profile Theater. And, for the record, he couldn't be less murderous and menacing than the character he's playing this month.636andres alcala,profile theatrefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/gerard-schwarz-the-full-state-of-wonder-interview--11561040
00:00 - 02:35 Building the All-Star Orchestra
02:36 - 03:45 Following Bernstein’s tradition of music education
05:45 - 09:28 Working without rehearsals
09:30 - 13:09 Digital broadcasts and local shows
15:50 - 16:57 Making the Symphony part of the community
16:58 - 18:29 Navigating compensation questions
18:30 - 27:10 MN Orchestra, music economics, and the role of conductors
27:12 - 29:07 Life since retiring at the Seattle Symphony
29:10 - 32:00 This weekend’s program at the VSO]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561040Sat, 18 Jan 2014 20:51:04 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHere’s the rough guide to our interview. 00:00 - 02:35 Building the All-Star Orchestra 02:36 - 03:45 Following Bernstein’s tradition of music education 05:45 - 09:28 Working without rehearsals 09:30 - 13:09 Digital broadcasts and local shows...
00:00 - 02:35 Building the All-Star Orchestra
02:36 - 03:45 Following Bernstein’s tradition of music education
05:45 - 09:28 Working without rehearsals
09:30 - 13:09 Digital broadcasts and local shows
15:50 - 16:57 Making the Symphony part of the community
16:58 - 18:29 Navigating compensation questions
18:30 - 27:10 MN Orchestra, music economics, and the role of conductors
27:12 - 29:07 Life since retiring at the Seattle Symphony
29:10 - 32:00 This weekend’s program at the VSO]]>1936gerard schwarz,seattle symphony,state of wonder,vancouver symphonyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/christopher-kirkley-of-sahel-sounds--11561035https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561035Sat, 25 Jan 2014 16:47:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHere's the long version of our interview with Christopher, with details on the filmmaking side of things. Listen for him on the show today at noon!1103opb,sahel soundsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-25-2014-full-show-farnell-newton-liv-warfield-cash-music-sahel-sounds-jitney--11544483https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544483Sun, 26 Jan 2014 01:35:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOh Lord was this a fun show.3155falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/liv-warfield-the-state-of-wonder-interview--11561026https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561026Sun, 26 Jan 2014 01:38:14 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBoy are we blown away by Warfield's sophomore solo release, The Unexpected. She talks to April about her four years singing with Prince's New Power Generation, and finding the strength to pursue her own writing voice.478liv warfield,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cash-music-on-state-of-wonder--11561567https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561567Sun, 26 Jan 2014 01:41:16 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA bit more with Jesse Von Doom and Maggie Vail about making it easier for musicians to navigate the digital world.931cash m,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-playhouse-presents-jitney--11561562https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561562Sun, 26 Jan 2014 01:49:20 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingRussell Hornsby and Rodney Hicks joins us to discuss August Wilson's Jitney.582august wilson,gentrification,jitney,portland playh,rodney hicks,russell hornsby,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-1-2014-stow-full-show-kaddish-for-madoff-eoff-turiya-autry-duckler-s-ragnarok--11544481
01:15 - 03:20 Arts Tax update
03:40 - 14:45 A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff
16:03 - 25:00 Eastern Oregon Film Festival
25:23 - 31:15 Poet Turiya Autry
31:33 - 37:30 Novelist Ruth Ozeki
38:50 - 44:49 Ragnarok
44:55 - 52:20 Cecile McLorin Salvant]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544481Sat, 01 Feb 2014 00:20:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat's with all the destruction this week? There's a certain apocalyptic glimmer about the place this week. Dig in for a heaping helping of Wonder to ease the passage of the End of Days. 01:15 - 03:20 Arts Tax update 03:40 - 14:45 A Kaddish for...
01:15 - 03:20 Arts Tax update
03:40 - 14:45 A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff
16:03 - 25:00 Eastern Oregon Film Festival
25:23 - 31:15 Poet Turiya Autry
31:33 - 37:30 Novelist Ruth Ozeki
38:50 - 44:49 Ragnarok
44:55 - 52:20 Cecile McLorin Salvant]]>3204falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/alicia-jo-rabins-and-a-kaddish-for-bernie-madoff--11561554https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561554Sat, 01 Feb 2014 00:38:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPoet, musician, and Torah Scholar Alicia Jo Rabins is about to premier a new staged work exploring the world of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff, the multi-billion dollar fraud he committed, and the spiritual dimension of these losses. See our show...774alicia jo rabins,financial crisis,girls in trouble,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/inside-the-eastern-oregon-film-festival--11561549https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561549Sat, 01 Feb 2014 00:47:24 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLa Grande is gearing up for the Eastern Oregon Film Festival. We sat down with the festival's director and programmers to talk about making a three-day festival work in a town of 13,000.542eoff,film,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/heidi-duckler-s-ragnarok--11544477http://www.heididuckler.org/northwest]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544477Sat, 01 Feb 2014 21:08:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingModern dance in a burned out building? Sign us up! http://www.heididuckler.org/northwesthttp://www.heididuckler.org/northwest]]>359falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jose-eduardo-gonzales-danel-malan--11560556https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560556Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:43:15 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn the beginning, all they wanted was a venue to do some theater. But as José Eduardo Gonzáles and Dañel Malán grew their small theater company. In the thirty years since they founded Miracle Theater, they've produced an enormous range of plays - many...776falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/valentines-s-day-edition-arty-couples--11544478https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544478Fri, 14 Feb 2014 22:36:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe only thing more complicated than keeping a creative career going? Keeping two going. This week, three couples who've carved out creative lives together. We meet the couples behind Miracle Theater, Plazm Magazine, and Art in the High Desert.1986falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-22-2014-full-show-rebecca-gates-music-revenue-art-fairs-peter-walters--11544480
01:44Say hello to Rebecca Gates
04:00Musicians and Revenue
23:50Cruising the Art Fairs with Oregon gallerists
36:50Peter Walters profile
46:05Sonic Art]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544480Sat, 22 Feb 2014 00:13:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNot so easy keeping up with this week’s guest curator, Rebecca Gates. But fun? You bet. 01:44Say hello to Rebecca Gates 04:00Musicians and Revenue 23:50Cruising the Art Fairs with Oregon gallerists 36:50Peter Walters profile 46:05Sonic Art
01:44Say hello to Rebecca Gates
04:00Musicians and Revenue
23:50Cruising the Art Fairs with Oregon gallerists
36:50Peter Walters profile
46:05Sonic Art]]>3181falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/liz-harris-on-music-and-revenue--11544475https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544475Sat, 22 Feb 2014 18:47:56 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLiz Harris, who records gorgeous atmospheric music as Grouper, balances work in music and visual art - neither are particularly easy places to make a living. She talked to us about how she puts it together.763falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cool-nutz-seeing-it-from-different-levels--11544474http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/feb-22-2014/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544474Sat, 22 Feb 2014 19:57:55 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTerrence Scott has seen the music industry from almost every side. As an artist, producer, promoter, and radio host, he's got a unique perspective on what is and isn't working in music revenue. To hear our broader discussion about music and revenue,...http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/feb-22-2014/]]>960falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dave-gulick-on-stow--11544471https://soundcloud.com/davegulick]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544471Sun, 23 Feb 2014 00:18:22 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDave Gulick's band, Derby, had some big years. But that didn't necessarily translate into financial success, until they got a few lucky breaks with music licensing. Dave told us what he learned about the realities of the recording industry and how...https://soundcloud.com/davegulick]]>635falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-it-better-peter-walters--11544469https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544469Sun, 23 Feb 2014 00:33:35 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSome people talk about how there's not enough going on in their hometown. Peter Walters actually did something about it.516falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cruising-the-art-fairs-with-oregon-gallerists--11561536
(BTW this construction pictured, left, is a sample of the artist BRenna Murphy's work. She's one of two Theo was showing at ALAC this month.)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561536Sun, 23 Feb 2014 00:51:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJane Beebe of PDX Contemporary and Theo Downes-LeGuin of Upfor join April & guest curator Rebecca Gates to talk about how premier art fairs are changing the game. (BTW this construction pictured, left, is a sample of the artist BRenna Murphy's...
(BTW this construction pictured, left, is a sample of the artist BRenna Murphy's work. She's one of two Theo was showing at ALAC this month.)]]>714art,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-1-2014-full-show-nikki-giovanni-dave-allen-not-a-silent-movie-tord-gustavsen--11544476

01:45 - 08:30 Nikki Giovanni
08:35 - 17:40 Dave Allen
19:50 - 25:08 This Is Not A Silent Movie
25:15 - 32:30 Tord Gustavsen Quartet
33:45 Amtrak Rail Residency
34:30 Oregon Arts & Culture Hiring
37:45 Awesome Portland
41:50 Sallie Ford
44:50 Blue Skies in Band
45:13 PYP- Kevin Walczyk
47:12 Adam Baker

See our website for links and details: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544476Sat, 01 Mar 2014 00:18:52 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLots to tall you about - most of it under OPB's roof! Here's the rundown of today's show. 01:45 - 08:30 Nikki Giovanni 08:35 - 17:40 Dave Allen 19:50 - 25:08 This Is Not A Silent Movie 25:15 - 32:30 Tord Gustavsen Quartet 33:45 Amtrak Rail...

01:45 - 08:30 Nikki Giovanni
08:35 - 17:40 Dave Allen
19:50 - 25:08 This Is Not A Silent Movie
25:15 - 32:30 Tord Gustavsen Quartet
33:45 Amtrak Rail Residency
34:30 Oregon Arts & Culture Hiring
37:45 Awesome Portland
41:50 Sallie Ford
44:50 Blue Skies in Band
45:13 PYP- Kevin Walczyk
47:12 Adam Baker

See our website for links and details: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/]]>3144falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tord-gustavsen-visits-our-sister-station-kmhd--11544466http://www.opb.org/kmhd/
(photo cred: Ifanyi Bell)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544466Sat, 01 Mar 2014 19:25:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTord and the Quartet stopped by in advance of their PDX Jazz show. Talking with Compass Points host Sean Phillips, Gustavsen talked about his philosophy of incorporating emotional intensity and and elegance. Watch for a special KMHD video package of...http://www.opb.org/kmhd/
(photo cred: Ifanyi Bell)]]>429falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sallie-ford-dishes-on-the-new-lineup--11560551https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560551Sat, 01 Mar 2014 20:03:14 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSallie Ford dishes about her new all-lady lineup. They're playing two Oregon shows this month.562sallie ford,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-8-2014-full-show-crackdown-frozen-cac-freddy-ruiz--1154447311:13 Amenta Abioto
12:40 Freddy Ruiz Jr
17:29 Cultural Advocacy Coalition's "Big Think"
30:00 Salem's David Metzger, Oscar Winner for "Frozen"
41:44 Frank Hirahara photographs at Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center
49:00 Christopher Michlig and John Zerzan sculpture vandalized
51:25 Disjecta Biennial information

See our website for links and details: www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544473Fri, 07 Mar 2014 00:34:39 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting01:35 Police and Hip-Hop 11:13 Amenta Abioto 12:40 Freddy Ruiz Jr 17:29 Cultural Advocacy Coalition's "Big Think" 30:00 Salem's David Metzger, Oscar Winner for "Frozen" 41:44 Frank Hirahara photographs at Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center 49:00 Christopher...11:13 Amenta Abioto
12:40 Freddy Ruiz Jr
17:29 Cultural Advocacy Coalition's "Big Think"
30:00 Salem's David Metzger, Oscar Winner for "Frozen"
41:44 Frank Hirahara photographs at Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center
49:00 Christopher Michlig and John Zerzan sculpture vandalized
51:25 Disjecta Biennial information

See our website for links and details: www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/]]>3186falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oregon-s-cultural-advocacy-coalition-s-big-think-full-interview--11544465
This is the full length interview.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544465Sat, 08 Mar 2014 16:20:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingApril sat down with Oregon's Cultural Advocacy Coalition's Chris Coleman and Christine Drazan to discuss their upcoming "Big Think" about arts and culture policy and funding in Oregon in the coming years. This is the full length interview.
This is the full length interview.]]>1562falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-15-2014-full-show-portland2014-st-johns-hip-hop-xray-fm-cinescopio-more--1154446819:00 North Portland hip hop
25:40 XRAY FM to launch today
32:15 GIF art explosion
37:24 Cinescopio
43:15 Bag & Baggage reimagines Lear
48:15 OAC meeting in Ashland
51:45 Poetry Out Loud]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544468Fri, 14 Mar 2014 23:42:07 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting01:25 Disjecta's Portland2014 with curator Amanda Hunt 19:00 North Portland hip hop 25:40 XRAY FM to launch today 32:15 GIF art explosion 37:24 Cinescopio 43:15 Bag & Baggage reimagines Lear 48:15 OAC meeting in Ashland 51:45 Poetry Out Loud19:00 North Portland hip hop
25:40 XRAY FM to launch today
32:15 GIF art explosion
37:24 Cinescopio
43:15 Bag & Baggage reimagines Lear
48:15 OAC meeting in Ashland
51:45 Poetry Out Loud]]>3201falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland2014-curator-amanda-hunt--11544461https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544461Sat, 15 Mar 2014 18:07:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDisjecta's biennial project, Portland2014 is on view, with a massive, multi-gallery celebration of the regional art scene. Curator Amanda Hunt of LAXART has chosen 15 artists from Western Oregon. She sat down with April to talk about her process, and...993falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fusionarte-s-cinescopio-at-hollywood-theatre--11544459https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544459Sat, 15 Mar 2014 18:26:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe radio show Fusionarte's film series screening 50's and 60's era Lucha libre films has become a surprise hit. The final installation in the series is coming up Thursday night, March 20th. Listen up!351falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oregon-arts-commission-meets-in-ashland--11544458https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544458Sat, 15 Mar 2014 18:46:07 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingCommissioners meet to get an update on the executive hiring process, and other matters.201falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bag-baggage-re-imagines-lear--11560564https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560564Tue, 18 Mar 2014 19:36:47 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingScott Palmer and actors from Hillsboro's Bag & Baggage Theater discuss their adaptation of Shakespeare's classic. Watch for an update on this story. The show's lead, Kevin Connell, was found Monday to have suffered a massive stroke.302falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/full-show-weekend-in-pendleton--11544463
00:22Oregon East Symphony
08:44Your Questions re: classical
09:22JD Kindle & the Eastern Oregon Playboys
17:28Banjo maker Verne Marr
24:57Jenny Morgan's paper cuts
30:37Rivoli Theater Restoration
39:00Hamley's Art
42:25Dakota Brown
48:00painter Arlen Clark
51:30Crow's Shadow preview]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544463Fri, 21 Mar 2014 23:31:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWho better to be snowed in with than the cats & kittens of Pendleton? We spent six wintery days smack in the middle of Umatilla County's amazing creative community. Here are some of the people we met. 00:22Oregon East Symphony 08:44Your Questions re:...
00:22Oregon East Symphony
08:44Your Questions re: classical
09:22JD Kindle & the Eastern Oregon Playboys
17:28Banjo maker Verne Marr
24:57Jenny Morgan's paper cuts
30:37Rivoli Theater Restoration
39:00Hamley's Art
42:25Dakota Brown
48:00painter Arlen Clark
51:30Crow's Shadow preview]]>3182falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/james-kindle-checks-in--11544455https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544455Sat, 22 Mar 2014 19:22:58 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe one & only James Kindle is preparing for a week-long residency at Al's Den in Portland. We caught up to talk about his band's recent record, and other happenings.338falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dakota-brown-on-state-of-wonder--11544454https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544454Sat, 22 Mar 2014 19:33:46 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDakota Brown's got a lot on his plate right now: school, gigs, a new record in the works. We caught him before a recent gig at Hamley's to find out where the songwriting is taking him these days.342falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/measure-twice-swear-three-times-verne-marr-s-custom-banjos--11544452https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544452Sat, 22 Mar 2014 20:39:42 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe met a lot of great people on our trip to Pendleton, but Verne Marr was one of our favorites. A tall, soft-spoken retired wildlife biologist, he now makes a limited number of custom banjos every year. We loved his nature-inspired designs, and his...453falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-29-2014-full-show-young-artists-st-vincent-sea-of-hooks-harry-smith-crow-s-shadow--11544460
01:35 - 00:00 Young Artists Debut
05:25 - 07:12 Classical Up Close at Ethos
07:15 - 13:26 St. Vincent
14:39 - 26:33 Lindsay Hill's Sea of Hooks
26:45 - 28:37 Phosphorescent @OPBMusic
28:40 - 36:54 Complete Works Project
38:07 - 43:10 Crow's Shadow's Frank Janzen
43:20 - 46:20 Steve LaRiccia
46:21 - 52:05 Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544460Sat, 29 Mar 2014 17:58:55 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe seem to be running into a lot of long thinkers, lately - artists who don't shirk from taking their time to do the work they want. Jump in! Here's a rough guide to this week's episode. 01:35 - 00:00 Young Artists Debut 05:25 - 07:12 Classical Up...
01:35 - 00:00 Young Artists Debut
05:25 - 07:12 Classical Up Close at Ethos
07:15 - 13:26 St. Vincent
14:39 - 26:33 Lindsay Hill's Sea of Hooks
26:45 - 28:37 Phosphorescent @OPBMusic
28:40 - 36:54 Complete Works Project
38:07 - 43:10 Crow's Shadow's Frank Janzen
43:20 - 46:20 Steve LaRiccia
46:21 - 52:05 Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music]]>3181falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/young-artists-debut--11560899https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560899Sat, 29 Mar 2014 18:02:58 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week a collection of teenage musicians from Portland and surrounding communities step onstage to take their game to the next level. The Young Artists Debut offers a select group of musicians a chance to perform challenging work with extra...491state offalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/crow-s-shadow-master-printmaker-frank-janzen--11544448https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544448Sat, 29 Mar 2014 18:16:48 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFrank Janzen spends days with artists, teaching them the art of printmaking. He's the master printmaker at Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts. But he doesn't often talk about his own work. We caught up with Frank to hear abotu what's happening at...306falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lindsay-hill-s-sea-of-hooks--11544450https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544450Sat, 29 Mar 2014 19:03:28 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLindsay Hill's debut novel is a dazzling collection of over a thousand micro-chapters, weaving together the story of 12-year-old Christopher Westall's coming of age in San Francisco. “Christopher’s trying to find his way in a world that’s been...1171falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cascadia-composers-1-jeff-winslow-s-alone-on-the-prairie--11560562https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560562Sat, 05 Apr 2014 17:16:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingListen this week for an interview with Jeff Winslow and David Bernstein as we preview the Cascadia Composers upcoming shows in Eugene and Portland.303falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cascadia-composer-2-mike-hsu-potomac--11560541https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560541Sat, 05 Apr 2014 17:21:19 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAnother sample of work from Cascadia Composers. Mike is a Portland-area physician who also plays and composes.444falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cascadia-composers-3-mark-vigil-trio-for-violin-clarinet-piano-1st-movement--11560537https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560537Sat, 05 Apr 2014 17:24:11 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting"Stylistically I prefer each piece of mine to be unlike any of its predecessors." Listen for Mark's colleagues in this week's show. We'll preview their April shows in Eugene and Portland.246falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cascadia-composers-bring-watermark-to-eugene-portland--11561484https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561484Sat, 05 Apr 2014 17:48:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDavid Steinberg and Jeff Winslow of Cascadia Composers tell us about how the group has lent strength to their process. See our website for info on the April 11th and 13th shows!490cascadia composers,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cappella-romana-to-premier-lost-russian-choral-work--11561486https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561486Sat, 05 Apr 2014 17:58:25 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingCappella Romana's upcoming show features Maximilian Steinberg's Passion Week Cycle, a work that artistic director Alexander Lingas discovered recently. See our website for show details, and some further reading.524cappella romana,state of wfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-arts-education-and-access-fund-a-work-in-progress--11561487https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561487Sat, 05 Apr 2014 18:11:27 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe tax has paid big dividends to public schools, which have funded arts teaching positions. In some cases, entire music programs have been restored. But arts groups are back to square one in the search for consistent operating support.896arts,portland,state offalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-5-2014-full-show-pdx-arts-tax-cascadia-composers-russian-choral-kneebody-etc--11544456
01:15Portland Arts Tax
15:10Cascadia Composers
23:18 Cappella Romana to premier Steinberg's Passion Week
32:00 Keith Achepohl's If It Please You, Lord
39:37 Comics for Change
51:00 Kneebody]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544456Sat, 05 Apr 2014 18:48:36 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAgonies. Ecstacies. We ran into a number of works this week exploring our relationship to the unseen, from Keith Achepohl's lovely, poignant ex-voto prints to Cappella Romana's haunting Russian choral melodies. If your taste runs more toward elephants...
01:15Portland Arts Tax
15:10Cascadia Composers
23:18 Cappella Romana to premier Steinberg's Passion Week
32:00 Keith Achepohl's If It Please You, Lord
39:37 Comics for Change
51:00 Kneebody]]>3198falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/if-it-please-you-lord-keith-achepohl-s-ex-votos--11560557https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560557Sat, 05 Apr 2014 19:45:20 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLovely objects of devotion. Eugene artist Keith Achepohl has created lovely works inspired by his collection. Hit our website for images and exhibit info.394state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oregon-repertory-singers-board-chair-mike-lindberg-speaks--11560534https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560534Sat, 12 Apr 2014 17:06:22 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMike Lindberg talks to April about the allegations of missing records that triggered a police investigation. We haven't been able to reach former executive director Jed Shay for a comment.637state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/041214-sow-kenji-bunch-alison-roper-wafaa-bilal-makoto-fujimura--11544453
1:00 — Kenji Bunch
8:18 — Oregon Rep Singers
10:44 — Alison Roper, the departing principal dancer of Oregon Ballet Theatre, checks in
21:05 — Wafaa Bilal’s installation at Linfield, bringing elegant form to the losses of the Iraq War
31:11 — What artist Makoto Fujimura has been working on during a residency with Southwest Washington’s Murdock Trust.
36:47 — We talk with Portland hip hop promoters and artists on relations with local police.
49:28 — Ural Thomas]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544453Sat, 12 Apr 2014 17:23:51 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe explore compelling installation work with Wafaa Bilal, breakout thinking with Makoto Fujimura, and Alison Roper's longtime love affair with her OBT audience. 1:00 — Kenji Bunch 8:18 — Oregon Rep Singers 10:44 — Alison Roper, the departing...
1:00 — Kenji Bunch
8:18 — Oregon Rep Singers
10:44 — Alison Roper, the departing principal dancer of Oregon Ballet Theatre, checks in
21:05 — Wafaa Bilal’s installation at Linfield, bringing elegant form to the losses of the Iraq War
31:11 — What artist Makoto Fujimura has been working on during a residency with Southwest Washington’s Murdock Trust.
36:47 — We talk with Portland hip hop promoters and artists on relations with local police.
49:28 — Ural Thomas]]>3213falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rasheed-jamal-on-state-of-wonder--11561465https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561465Sat, 12 Apr 2014 18:11:24 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingRasheed Jamal performs as a solo artist, and he's one-third of The Resistance. This is a longer version of the interview on our April 12th show. Go see the story page for more comments from some local promoters. We invited Rasheed in to talk about...845hip hop,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/041214-sow-wafaa-bilal-at-linfield-gallery--11561463https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561463Sat, 12 Apr 2014 19:15:12 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWafaa Bilal is an Iraqi American artist who is writing the names of civilians killed in the Iraq war on the walls of the Linfield gallery in McMinnville in translucent paint.600linfield gallery,state of wonder,wafaa bilalfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rene-denfeld-reads-from-the-enchanted--11560527https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560527Fri, 18 Apr 2014 08:30:33 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDenfeld is a legal investigator who works on death penalty cases, seeking out information that might be relevant during inmates' appeal process. Her new novel, The Enchanted, is about prison life, the complicated relationship between inmates and the...74falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apri-19-2014-full-show-oab-exhibtion-namita-wiggers-rene-denfeld-federale-primus-st-john--11544449https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544449Sat, 19 Apr 2014 17:32:49 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe look back at 15 years of Oregon artists on television with Oregon Art Beat. Curator Namita Wiggers helps us look back. Plus, Rene Denfeld's novel Enchanted, the spaghetti western twang of Federale, and poet Primus St. John.3203falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/namita-gupta-wiggers-on-state-of-wonder--11560532https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560532Sat, 19 Apr 2014 17:51:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNamita Gupta Wiggers is on our show this week, talking about changes in the regional art landscape since 2000, and the recent news that she's stepping down as Director/Chief Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Craft.414craft,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rene-denfeld-more-of-our-interview--11561461https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561461Sat, 19 Apr 2014 19:08:26 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingRene Denfeld's new novel draws on her professional experience as a legal investigator on death penalty cases. It weaves vivid, difficult truths about prison life with poignant explorations of inmates inner lives. Here's some additional sound from the...1159state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/federale-interview--11561459https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561459Wed, 23 Apr 2014 06:00:25 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingApril speaks with the members of Portland band Federale on the eve of their 10th Anniversary celebration at Mississippi Studios. Their music mines the sounds of spaghetti westerns.394django,federale,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/042614-guest-curator-jeff-jahn-japanese-garden-or-poet-laureate-peter-sears--11544447
01:00 — Guest Curator Jeff Jahn
04:25 — Portland Artists Sean Healy, Avantika Bawa and Chris Johanson
15:56 — Portland's Japanese Garden Polly Lauser, Diane Durston
23:55 — Blackfish Gallery Panel, Eva Lake, Paul Sutinen on difficult art
35:20 — RACC Arts Tax update
45:00 — Poet Laureate announced Peter Sears
51:20 — Black Prairie album release; Close music]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544447Sat, 26 Apr 2014 16:13:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we were joined by guest curator Jeff Jahn to talk about his take on art in Portland. We also talked to Oregon's newly announced Poet Laureate Peter Sears. 01:00 — Guest Curator Jeff Jahn 04:25 — Portland Artists Sean Healy, Avantika Bawa...
01:00 — Guest Curator Jeff Jahn
04:25 — Portland Artists Sean Healy, Avantika Bawa and Chris Johanson
15:56 — Portland's Japanese Garden Polly Lauser, Diane Durston
23:55 — Blackfish Gallery Panel, Eva Lake, Paul Sutinen on difficult art
35:20 — RACC Arts Tax update
45:00 — Poet Laureate announced Peter Sears
51:20 — Black Prairie album release; Close music]]>3203falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/050314-sow-matt-braunger-bridgetown-comedy-fest--11560525https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560525Fri, 02 May 2014 21:17:02 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingApril interviews comedian Matt Braunger about co-hosting the Bridgetown Comedy Festival388bridgetown comedy festival,comedians,matt braunger,portland,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/050314stow-b-seg-bill-rauch-laura-fritz--11544443
00:00 – Bill Rauch Directs All The Way on Broadway
05:30 – Bill Rauch collaborates on Pirates of Penzance at Portland Opera
08:25 – Laura Fritz video installation]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544443Fri, 02 May 2014 21:46:29 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingState of Wonder's second segment this week talks with Oregon Shakespeare Festival's artistic director Bill Rauch about the Tony nominated play "All the Way" staring Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad" fame. Bill Rauch is also directing a revival of...
00:00 – Bill Rauch Directs All The Way on Broadway
05:30 – Bill Rauch collaborates on Pirates of Penzance at Portland Opera
08:25 – Laura Fritz video installation]]>856falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/050314stow-c-seg-todd-snider-beth-harrington--11544439
00:00 – Musician Todd Snider
08:41 – Beth Harrington Carter Family documentary]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544439Fri, 02 May 2014 21:46:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingState of Wonder talks with musician Todd Snider about his new book "I Never Met a Story I Didn't Like" and Beth Harrington's new documentary about the Carter and Cash family's impact on country music "The Winding Stream". 00:00 – Musician Todd Snider...
00:00 – Musician Todd Snider
08:41 – Beth Harrington Carter Family documentary]]>730falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/050314stow-a-seg-matt-braunger-coveroregon-laura-gibson--11544441
01:33 – Bridgetown Comedy Festival and Matt Braunger
08:02 – Laura Gibson Cover Oregon Lisa Loeb parody]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544441Fri, 02 May 2014 21:46:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingState of Wonder talks to comedian Matt Braunger about his work wiith the Bridgetown Comedy Festival and Laura Gibson responds to the Cover Oregon parody by Lisa Loeb 01:33 – Bridgetown Comedy Festival and Matt Braunger 08:02 – Laura Gibson Cover...
01:33 – Bridgetown Comedy Festival and Matt Braunger
08:02 – Laura Gibson Cover Oregon Lisa Loeb parody]]>718falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bill-rauch-extended-interview--11561441https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561441Sat, 03 May 2014 20:22:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis is an extended conversation with Bill Rauch, Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Director of "All the Way" on Broadway, Director of the "Pirates of Penzance" at the Portland Opera.650all the way,bill rauch,bryan cranston,pirates of penzance,portland opera,state of wonder,tony awards nominationsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/051014-state-of-wonder-segment-a-abioto-family-monologues--11544438https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544438Sat, 10 May 2014 18:31:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOh the Wonder! Here's the first part of this week's show, featuring some quality time with the Abioto sisters, and a recap of the wild weekend in New York for the Red Door Project's August Wilson Monologue Competition.798falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/051014-state-of-wonder-segment-b-kaddish-for-bernie-madoff-app-the-film--11544437ON< when entering the theater. Director Bobby Boermans tells us about using second screen technology to support his film's story.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544437Sat, 10 May 2014 18:43:20 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur second segment features the revivial of one of our favorite theatrical works of 2014, Alicia Jo Rabins' "A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff". We also check out a new Dutch tech thriller that asks you to turn your phone >ON< when entering the theater....ON< when entering the theater. Director Bobby Boermans tells us about using second screen technology to support his film's story.]]>1049falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/051014-state-of-wonder-segment-c-recycled-rain-dave-stewart--11544435https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544435Sat, 10 May 2014 18:52:29 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFinal segment of this week's show! A preview of the Recycled Rain project show. Also John Rosman fills us in on the career of comics colorist Dave Stewart, a master in his field. Head over to our website - John's got some great multi-media that shows...395falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/051714-state-of-wonder-seg-a--11544432– Failed Kickstarter
– Povey Glass Studio
– Bullseye Evolve shout-out]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544432Sat, 17 May 2014 17:53:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSegment A – Failed Kickstarter – Povey Glass Studio – Bullseye Evolve shout-out– Failed Kickstarter
– Povey Glass Studio
– Bullseye Evolve shout-out]]>840falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/051714-state-of-wonder-seg-b--11544434–Marco Benevento
–George Saunders]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544434Sat, 17 May 2014 17:53:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSegment B –Marco Benevento –George Saunders–Marco Benevento
–George Saunders]]>941falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/051714-state-of-wonder-seg-c--11544436– Classical Up Close
– Spring for Music]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544436Sat, 17 May 2014 17:53:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSegment C – Classical Up Close – Spring for Music– Classical Up Close
– Spring for Music]]>1306falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-comes-to-classical-up-close-complete-session--11567855https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567855Sat, 17 May 2014 18:34:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe Musicians of the Oregon Symphony stage a series of informal concerts each year - Classical Up Close. They very kindly invited us to join the party for one of this year's shows. Here's April and OS Principal Percussionist Niel DePonte talking with...6255oregon symphony,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/guest-curator-jeff-jahn-why-portland-as-a-place-for-artists--11544431https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544431Sat, 17 May 2014 21:20:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe explore guest curator Jeff Jahn's theory of Portland as a "Capital of Conscience." Observations from three Portland artists, Sean Healy, Avantika Bawa and Chris Johanson about what it is about Portland that attracts or repels artists at certain times.810falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/052414-state-of-wonder-seg-a--11544430https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544430Fri, 23 May 2014 21:32:28 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting052414 State Of Wonder Seg A by OPB's State of Wonder869falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/052414-state-of-wonder-seg-c--11544428https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544428Fri, 23 May 2014 21:32:29 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting052414 State Of Wonder Seg C by OPB's State of Wonder1145falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/052414-state-of-wonder-seg-b--11544429https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544429Fri, 23 May 2014 21:32:29 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting052414 State Of Wonder Seg B by OPB's State of Wonder1081falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/scott-showalter-on-state-of-wonder--11560515https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560515Sat, 24 May 2014 15:38:23 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we welcome the newly-named president of the Oregon Symphony.413oregon symphony,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/053114-sow-segb--11544426https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544426Fri, 30 May 2014 17:21:57 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting053114 Sow SegB by OPB's State of Wonder616falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/053114-sow-segc--11544427https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544427Fri, 30 May 2014 17:22:34 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting053114 Sow SegC by OPB's State of Wonder1259falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/053114-sow-sega--11544425https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544425Fri, 30 May 2014 17:23:27 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting053114 Sow SegA by OPB's State of Wonder1238falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/053114-sow-frank-portman-full-interview--11567849https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567849Fri, 30 May 2014 23:44:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFrank Portman is an author of two Young Adult (YA) novels King Dork and Andromeda Klein with a sequel to King Dork due in December. He also fronted the pop-punk band Mr T Experience over two decades. Assistant Producer Jeffrey Sprague spoke to him...1952andromeda klein,frank portman,king dork,mr t experience,pop-punk,state of wonder,yafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ux-ui-u-got-to-be-kidding--11561355https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561355Sat, 31 May 2014 16:54:52 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur guest curator Simon Tam got into it a bit with SonicBids over a redesign. We spent some time talking about the interface of music and tech. Ryan Nikolaidis of Cloneless Media dropped in to join us. He was a musician and recording engineer before...604apps,state of wonder,tech,the slantsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/053114-the-doubleclicks-full-interview--11560501https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560501Sat, 31 May 2014 19:33:28 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingApril Baer talks with Angela Webber of The Doubleclicks about their Kickstarter success, Dimetrodon and Weekly Song Wednesdays294angela webber and aubrey webbe,nerd folk,state of wonder,thedoubleclicksfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sow-dustin-hamman-extended-clip--11560499https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560499Sat, 31 May 2014 20:14:24 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingApril Baer discusses the art of "practicing" with Dustin Hamman of the band Run On Sentences107dustin hammon,run on sentences,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/brian-rogers-candidate-qa--11567850https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567850Sat, 07 Jun 2014 16:02:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis is the QA Brian Rogers took part in last Monday, as part of the Oregon Arts Commission's hiring process. He talks about his background and experience, and fields some questions about advocacy and how he'd approach the challenges facing the arts...1888state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/060714-state-of-wonder-segc--11544424
08:12 – Sean Healy's "Extroverts" contemporary art opening exploring awkwardness and cigarette butts

14:21 - In remembrance of Science Fiction Author Jay Lake who passed away this week]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544424Sat, 07 Jun 2014 16:46:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBrian Rogers was named to lead the Oregon Arts Commission and the Oregon Cultural Trust 08:12 – Sean Healy's "Extroverts" contemporary art opening exploring awkwardness and cigarette butts 14:21 - In remembrance of Science Fiction Author Jay Lake...
08:12 – Sean Healy's "Extroverts" contemporary art opening exploring awkwardness and cigarette butts

14:21 - In remembrance of Science Fiction Author Jay Lake who passed away this week]]>979falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/060714-state-of-wonder-segb--11544423https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544423Sat, 07 Jun 2014 16:46:01 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFashioning Cascadia: Northwest fashion designers panel discuss the state of the industry930falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/060714-state-of-wonder-seg-a--11544421
07:52 – "Assembly" PSU's Art and Social Practice MFA event. Pedro Reyes, Sharita Towne and Betty Marin]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544421Sat, 07 Jun 2014 16:46:35 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting01:20 – Choreographer Rachel Winchester's dance theater "Girl Pool: an Adaptation" inspired by a Kurt Vonnegut short story. 07:52 – "Assembly" PSU's Art and Social Practice MFA event. Pedro Reyes, Sharita Towne and Betty Marin
07:52 – "Assembly" PSU's Art and Social Practice MFA event. Pedro Reyes, Sharita Towne and Betty Marin]]>1211falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/061414stow-quiet-music-festival--11560518https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560518Sat, 14 Jun 2014 16:27:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingChris Johanson talks about the 4th year of the Quiet Music Festival at Disjecta June 27th, 2014 - June 28th, 2014520state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/061414-state-of-wonder-segment-c--1154442008:33 - Tuileries Garden exhibit at Portland Art Museum
11:00 – Oregon Historical Society's "Clink! Taste of Oregon Wines" Oregon wines through the eyes of an artist]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544420Sat, 14 Jun 2014 16:31:51 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting00:12 – Monica Bill Barnes and One Radio Host Two Dancers with Ira Glass 08:33 - Tuileries Garden exhibit at Portland Art Museum 11:00 – Oregon Historical Society's "Clink! Taste of Oregon Wines" Oregon wines through the eyes of an artist08:33 - Tuileries Garden exhibit at Portland Art Museum
11:00 – Oregon Historical Society's "Clink! Taste of Oregon Wines" Oregon wines through the eyes of an artist]]>969falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/061414-state-of-wonder-segment-b--1154441908:52 – Ural Thomas & the Pain]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544419Sat, 14 Jun 2014 16:31:53 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting00:17 – Chris Johanson and the Quiet Music Festival at Disjecta 08:52 – Ural Thomas & the Pain08:52 – Ural Thomas & the Pain]]>1183falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/061414-state-of-wonder-segment-a--1154441807:14 - Oregon Children's Theatre's reading of "columbinus"]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544418Sat, 14 Jun 2014 17:07:11 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting01:28 - Beats Lyrics Leaders 07:14 - Oregon Children's Theatre's reading of "columbinus"07:14 - Oregon Children's Theatre's reading of "columbinus"]]>967falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/beats-lyrics-leaders-launching-16-month-hiphop-project--11560500https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560500Sat, 14 Jun 2014 17:35:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe dropped in on a studio session with the group, as they get ready to launch a long-term project. VIsion of the Drum aims to train Native youth in industry skills and create a brand new record at the end of 16 months.345beats lyrics leaders,scotty pimpn/blue flame,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/061414stow-quiet-music-festival--11561319https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561319Sat, 14 Jun 2014 20:16:11 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingChris Johanson talks about the 4th year of the Quiet Music Festival at Disjecta June 27th, 2014 - June 28th, 2014520state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/062114-state-of-wonder-recorded-live-from-bend-full-show--1154442205:09 - Panel Discussion on the impact of the recession on arts groups and the arts scene in Bend with Emily, Pamela Hulse Andrews from Cascade A&E, and Pat Clark Atelier 6000
15:03 - Young Violinist Kiarra Saito Beckman provides live music and discusses her recent Sunriver Music Festival’s Young Artists Scholarship and work with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.
23:05 - Painter Donald Yatomi discusses creating art across media: paintings, video games and other digital content
29:53 - Designer and sculptor Andrew Wachs explores his metal fabrication work and Bend’s evolving built environment, Doug LaPlaca of Visit Bend joins.
41:35 - Lisa and Lori Lubbesmeyer talk about their newly-completed work for Deschutes Brewery's 2104 Jubelale label.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544422Fri, 20 Jun 2014 21:46:39 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting02:31 - Poet Emily Carr, who also runs the Low-Residency Writing MFA program for Oregon State University-Cascades and one of this year’s Pushcart Prize nominees. 05:09 - Panel Discussion on the impact of the recession on arts groups and the arts scene...05:09 - Panel Discussion on the impact of the recession on arts groups and the arts scene in Bend with Emily, Pamela Hulse Andrews from Cascade A&E, and Pat Clark Atelier 6000
15:03 - Young Violinist Kiarra Saito Beckman provides live music and discusses her recent Sunriver Music Festival’s Young Artists Scholarship and work with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.
23:05 - Painter Donald Yatomi discusses creating art across media: paintings, video games and other digital content
29:53 - Designer and sculptor Andrew Wachs explores his metal fabrication work and Bend’s evolving built environment, Doug LaPlaca of Visit Bend joins.
41:35 - Lisa and Lori Lubbesmeyer talk about their newly-completed work for Deschutes Brewery's 2104 Jubelale label.]]>3201falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/062114-sow-kiarra-saito-beckman--11560498https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560498Fri, 20 Jun 2014 22:20:20 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingYoung Violinist from Bend, Oregon Kiarra Saito Beckman played throughout the show during breaks and transitions and also did a solo rendition of Paganini's Caprice no.5. April discussed her Sun River Music Festival Scholarship and recently winning the...387beckman,bend,classical,kiarra,oregon,paganini caprice no5,saito,state of wonder,violinfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bend-bouncing-back--11561313https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561313Fri, 20 Jun 2014 22:56:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEmily Carr, Pamela Hulse Andrews, and Pat Clark share three views on the post-recession creative economy.767arts,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/donald-yatomi-on-stow--11560513https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560513Fri, 20 Jun 2014 22:58:05 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting327falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/looking-at-bend-andrew-wachs-and-doug-la-placa--11561311https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561311Fri, 20 Jun 2014 23:04:10 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting749state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lubbesmeyers-design-new-work-for-jubelale-label--11561303https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561303Fri, 20 Jun 2014 23:09:49 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe utterly charming Lisa and Lori Lubbesmeyer dropped in with a surprise for our taping audience: their recently completed fiber work, commissioned by Deschutes Brewery. The image will grace tens of thousands of bottles of the company's seasonal...656state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/june-28-2014-state-of-wonder-segment-1--11544417https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544417Sat, 28 Jun 2014 19:10:37 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingRemember Lisa and Lori Lubbesmeyer, the totally charming twin sisters and fabric artists who came to our show in Bend? Turns out, there's a lot more to their story than we were able to get to last week. Today, they talk about the illness that almost...916falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/june-28-2014-stow-segment-2--11544416https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544416Sat, 28 Jun 2014 19:21:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTom Spanbauer's latest book, I Loved You More, is an unsparing story of entwining relationships between three lovers. Spanbuaer talked to OPB's Dave Miller about digging in to difficult, autobiographical material to write the book.970falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/june-28-2014-stow-segment-3--11544412http://www.opb.org/opbmusic/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544412Sat, 28 Jun 2014 19:27:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGorgeous sounds from the Delines, a new project from Richmond Fontaine frontman Willy Vlautin. The band also includes RF drummer Sean Oldham, Jenny Conlee on keyboards, bass player Freddy Trujillo, Tucker Jackson on pedal steel, and the vocals of...http://www.opb.org/opbmusic/]]>898falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/june-28-2014-stow-segment-3--11561297http://www.opb.org/opbmusic/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561297Sat, 28 Jun 2014 19:27:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGorgeous sounds from the Delines, a new project from Richmond Fontaine frontman Willy Vlautin. The band also includes RF drummer Sean Oldham, Jenny Conlee on keyboards, bass player Freddy Trujillo, Tucker Jackson on pedal steel, and the vocals of...http://www.opb.org/opbmusic/]]>898state of wonder,the delinesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kwame-dawes-reads-for-state-of-wonder--11560488https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560488Fri, 04 Jul 2014 18:11:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe Jamaican poet Kwame Dawes is a consistent favorite at Pacific University's Low-Residency MFA program. While he may be best known for his critical writing on the works of Bob Marley, he's written evocatively on a range of subjects, from HIV/AIDS in...188kwame dawes,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kwame-dawes-form-structure--11560490https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560490Fri, 04 Jul 2014 18:18:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHere's the segment from this week's show with poet and professor Kwame Dawes. He's on faculty at Pacific University's MFA Writing program, and makes regular visits to Forest Grove. We caught with him to talk about the poetic line, and the composition...349kwame dawes,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/porch-music-third-angle-brings-the-bucolic--11560486https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560486Fri, 04 Jul 2014 18:39:23 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe love Third Angle Ensemble's brilliant idea for previewing next season's works: a series of bite-sized, informal concerts on porches across Portland's Irvington neighborhood.268state of wonder,third angle ensemblefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/whitelandia-at-a-crossroads--11560484https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560484Fri, 04 Jul 2014 19:31:01 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe check in with OPB Arts and Life Producer Ifanyi Bell on a story he's been following: the growing chorus of comment on two white filmmakers' project examining historic discrimination against black Oregonians.299state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-5-2014-stow-segment-1-chelsea-cain-smith-henderson--11544413And we hear from the author of one of the summer's breakout titles, Smith Henderson. His novel, Fourth of July Creek takes on difficult aspects of anti-government obsession, and violence against children. Henderson, who now works at Wieden+Kennedy, talks about an earlier stint in child protective services, and how those experiences laid groundwork for the book.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544413Fri, 04 Jul 2014 19:52:51 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHope you don't mind us crashing your summer reading list, but we've got two hot ones for you. Chelsea Cain, who's publishing a new novel, One Kick, in August, schools us on surviving summer thrillers. And we hear from the author of one of the...And we hear from the author of one of the summer's breakout titles, Smith Henderson. His novel, Fourth of July Creek takes on difficult aspects of anti-government obsession, and violence against children. Henderson, who now works at Wieden+Kennedy, talks about an earlier stint in child protective services, and how those experiences laid groundwork for the book.]]>1312falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-5-2014-stow-segment-2-kwame-dawes-whitelandia-porch-music--1154441106:05 A check-in on the documentary project Whitelandia
11:03 We catch some Porch Music with Third Angle Ensemble]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544411Fri, 04 Jul 2014 19:58:14 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting00:00 Quality time with poet and Professor Kwame Dawes. 06:05 A check-in on the documentary project Whitelandia 11:03 We catch some Porch Music with Third Angle Ensemble06:05 A check-in on the documentary project Whitelandia
11:03 We catch some Porch Music with Third Angle Ensemble]]>869falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-5-2014-stow-segment-3-pda-modern-kin-sara-swink--1154441004:45 Modern Kin at opbmusic's Stagepass series
10:45 Sara Swink on Oregon Art Beat]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544410Fri, 04 Jul 2014 20:21:17 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting00:00 PDA: A work of social practice re-interpreting family 04:45 Modern Kin at opbmusic's Stagepass series 10:45 Sara Swink on Oregon Art Beat04:45 Modern Kin at opbmusic's Stagepass series
10:45 Sara Swink on Oregon Art Beat]]>882falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/chelsea-cain-how-to-survive-a-summer-thriller--11560480Her new series launches with the novel, One Kick, in August.
More over here... http://chelseacain.com/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560480Fri, 04 Jul 2014 20:35:15 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingChelsea Cain, author (and survivor) of the Archie Sheridan series, schools us on how not to get clubbed, flayed, eviscerated or mauled this summer. Her new series launches with the novel, One Kick, in August. More over here... http://chelseacain.com/Her new series launches with the novel, One Kick, in August.
More over here... http://chelseacain.com/]]>260state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-12-2014-segment-2-photographing-america-s-tribes-and-music-from-star-anna-run-on-sentence--115444081:15: Star Anna's broken heart on "Go To Hell"
7:00: Matika Wilbur's project to photograph every Indian tribe]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544408Thu, 10 Jul 2014 23:44:11 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting0:15: Run On Suntence's new music 1:15: Star Anna's broken heart on "Go To Hell" 7:00: Matika Wilbur's project to photograph every Indian tribe1:15: Star Anna's broken heart on "Go To Hell"
7:00: Matika Wilbur's project to photograph every Indian tribe]]>826falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-12-2014-segment-1-kill-rock-stars-goes-funny-competitive-gifs-and-the-art-of-trash--115444094:45: YIX and the art of the competitive gif
12:30: Kill Rock Stars Records adds comedians to roster]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544409Thu, 10 Jul 2014 23:44:12 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting1:35: Art at the waste transfer station. 4:45: YIX and the art of the competitive gif 12:30: Kill Rock Stars Records adds comedians to roster4:45: YIX and the art of the competitive gif
12:30: Kill Rock Stars Records adds comedians to roster]]>1393falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-12-2014-segment-3-wes-anderson-s-influences-dean-the-portland-mavericks--115444062:45: The Portland Mavericks baseball team
3:45: The Movies that made Wes Anderson]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544406Fri, 11 Jul 2014 18:30:06 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting0:15: Luke And Rachel Price perform as DEAN! 2:45: The Portland Mavericks baseball team 3:45: The Movies that made Wes Anderson2:45: The Portland Mavericks baseball team
3:45: The Movies that made Wes Anderson]]>895falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-19-segment-1-farnell-newton-liv-warfield--11544405https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544405Mon, 21 Jul 2014 16:13:22 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJuly 19 Segment 1: Farnell Newton, Liv Warfield by OPB's State of Wonder1185falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-19-segment-3-jitney-farnell-newton--11544403https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544403Mon, 21 Jul 2014 16:18:10 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJuly 19 Segment 3: Jitney, Farnell Newton by OPB's State of Wonder841falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-19-segment-2-sahel-sounds-cash-music-farnell-newton--11544404https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544404Mon, 21 Jul 2014 16:18:10 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJuly 19 Segment 2: Sahel Sounds, Cash Music, Farnell Newton by OPB's State of Wonder1045falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-26-segment-1-matt-sheehy-arthur-bradford--11544402https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544402Mon, 28 Jul 2014 16:29:02 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJuly 26 Segment 1: Matt Sheehy, Arthur Bradford by OPB's State of Wonder893falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-26-segment-2-courtenay-hameister-swan-sovereign--11544401https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544401Mon, 28 Jul 2014 16:30:58 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJuly 26 Segment 2: Courtenay Hameister, Swan Sovereign by OPB's State of Wonder692falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-26-segment-3-cheryl-strayed-laura-gibson--11544399https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544399Mon, 28 Jul 2014 16:33:22 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJuly 26 Segment 3: Cheryl Strayed, Laura Gibson by OPB's State of Wonder1424falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-2-2014-segment-1-victor-maldonado-crow-s-shadow-lucha--11544398https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544398Fri, 01 Aug 2014 17:05:57 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGuest curator Victor Maldonado explores stereotypes and the ideas of belonging and borders with his art. He fills us in on his latest work.1052falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-2-2014-segment-2-the-invisible-college--11544395https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544395Fri, 01 Aug 2014 17:09:58 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingVictor Maldonado and a few other Portland artists explain the idea of an invisible college that exists in the creative community.475falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-2-2014-segment-3-sean-joseph-patrick-carney--11544396https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544396Fri, 01 Aug 2014 17:48:22 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSean Joseph Patrick Carney talks talk pop songs, parodies, and his conflicted relationship with social practice art.1026falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-2-2014-segment-4-elizabeth-leon--11544393https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544393Fri, 01 Aug 2014 17:51:52 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHow one recent art school grad found her place in a setting that wasn't instantly welcoming.533falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-2-2014-full-show-guest-curator-victor-maldonado--11567852https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567852Fri, 01 Aug 2014 17:59:10 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland conceptual artist Victor Maldonado is our guest curator this week. He walks us through some of what he's been working on, and some artists he's paying attention to.3204falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/crow-s-shadow-gets-a-new-executive-director--11567820https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567820Fri, 01 Aug 2014 18:03:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingKarl Davis starts at Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts the week of Aug 3rd.210falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sean-joseph-patrick-carney-on-sow--11567846http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567846Fri, 01 Aug 2014 23:12:20 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGiven the amped-up energy of his performance works and the inspired lunacy of his video practice, you might think talking with Sean Joseph Patrick Carney would be like a free trial of street drugs. But he gave us generous and thoughtful takes on his...http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/]]>2141pncafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/david-shafer-reads-on-state-of-wonder--11560475https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560475Tue, 05 Aug 2014 21:10:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDavid Shafer's new novel, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, is both a tech thriller and a meditation on three people becoming unmoored. Listen on this week's show (Saturday Aug 9th, noon Pacific) for our full interview. Til then, here's a clip of David reading...164falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/david-shafer-whiskey-tango-foxtrot--11560526Shafer tells us about bringing the book to life.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560526Fri, 08 Aug 2014 16:28:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland writer and journalist David Shafer's new novel finds three people adrift. Their lives converge as they're drawn into a vast corporate conspiracy. The New York Times called the book a "clattering pop thriller that reads as if it were torn from...Shafer tells us about bringing the book to life.]]>515books,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-9-2014-segment-1-david-shafer-trygve-faste--11544394https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544394Fri, 08 Aug 2014 19:11:10 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe sit down with David Shafer to talk about his breakout debut novel, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Also, Trygve Faste talks about the intersection of studio art and design.999falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-9-2014-segment-2-non-finito-tisdass--11544392Also, we listen to a bit of an opbmusic session with Niger's TisDass.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544392Fri, 08 Aug 2014 19:17:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLucinda Parker shows us around Non Finito, a show she's curated featuring four artists she loves. Also, we listen to a bit of an opbmusic session with Niger's TisDass.Also, we listen to a bit of an opbmusic session with Niger's TisDass.]]>1065falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-9-2014-segment-3-art-of-the-wild-pickathon--11544391https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544391Fri, 08 Aug 2014 19:36:25 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe recap this year's Pickathon action, and meet one of the artists at a show in the Gorge, marking the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act: all it's meant to Oregon's wild places and artists inspired by them.834falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/david-shafer-whiskey-tango-foxtrot--11561267Shafer tells us about bringing the book to life.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561267Fri, 08 Aug 2014 20:03:52 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland writer and journalist David Shafer's new novel finds three people adrift. Their lives converge as they're drawn into a vast corporate conspiracy. The New York Times called the book a "clattering pop thriller that reads as if it were torn from...Shafer tells us about bringing the book to life.]]>515books,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lucinda-parker-curates-non-finito--11561271https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561271Fri, 08 Aug 2014 20:31:47 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhen Lucinda Parker was asked to curate a show this month at Laura Russo Gallery, she chose to feature artists she describes as having great focus. Ranging in age from their 40s through their 70s, George D. Green, Heidi Cody, Julie Green (no...884art,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bill-hoppe-the-state-of-wonder-interview--11561270https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561270Sat, 09 Aug 2014 18:56:27 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA self-described optic mechanic, Bill Hoppe has lived and painted in Bend for 14 years. He's got some huge, beautiful works on view this month at Laura Russo Gallery, as part of Non Finito, curated by Lucinda Parker. We sat down with Hoppe to talk...920state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/david-shafer-whiskey-tango-foxtrot--11560479Shafer tells us about bringing the book to life.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560479Tue, 12 Aug 2014 16:23:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland writer and journalist David Shafer's new novel finds three people adrift. Their lives converge as they're drawn into a vast corporate conspiracy. The New York Times called the book a "clattering pop thriller that reads as if it were torn from...Shafer tells us about bringing the book to life.]]>515books,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-25-2014-state-of-wonder-skim--11561264https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561264Wed, 13 Aug 2014 17:50:45 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJazz trumpeter Farnell Newton guest curates the show.606state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-16-2014-segment-1-stumptown-improv-remembering-robin-williams-working-kirk-reeves-mural--11544390https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544390Fri, 15 Aug 2014 18:14:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe check out Portland's inagural Stumptown Improv Festival with PDX's The Liberators. Plus: comedians remember Robin Williams, and muralist Gwenn Seemel memorializes "Working" Kirk Reeves1303falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-16-2014-segment-2-walidah-imarisha-art-from-internment-camps--11544388https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544388Fri, 15 Aug 2014 18:17:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWalidah Imarisha examines social issues and racial tension through poetry, and "Art Behind Barbed Wire" features arts and crafts made in WWII internment camps.827falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-16-2014-segment-3-portraying-lbj-sidnee-snell--11544387https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544387Fri, 15 Aug 2014 18:37:42 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPlaywright Robert Schenkkan and actor Jack Willis talk about bringing Lyndon Johnson to the stage for "All the Way" and "The Great Society" at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Sidnee Snell walks us through her fabric dying process950falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/stumptown-improv-festival-and-robin-williams--11567841
Now Portland’s improv scene is getting in on the action. Groups like The Liberators and Brainwaves have been around for years. And newer troupes like Whiskey Tango are entering the scene. This weekend, they’re joined by teams from L.A., Vancouver B.C., and Minneapolis. It’s a showcase some of the up-and-coming improv talent from around the country. We've got Shelley McLendon and John Breen from the Liberators to talk about craft, and the improv scene in Portland.

Plus, Shelley, John, and Live Wire head writer Courtenay Hameister pay their respects to the late Robin Williams (the improv bits with John Ritter we mentioned start around 48:00).]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567841Fri, 15 Aug 2014 19:45:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe first Stumptown Improv Festival is taking place in Portland this weekend, and it’s a big deal for the city. Portland’s had a comedy explosion over the past few years — particularly in its stand-up scene. People like Ian Karmel and Ron Funches have...
Now Portland’s improv scene is getting in on the action. Groups like The Liberators and Brainwaves have been around for years. And newer troupes like Whiskey Tango are entering the scene. This weekend, they’re joined by teams from L.A., Vancouver B.C., and Minneapolis. It’s a showcase some of the up-and-coming improv talent from around the country. We've got Shelley McLendon and John Breen from the Liberators to talk about craft, and the improv scene in Portland.

Plus, Shelley, John, and Live Wire head writer Courtenay Hameister pay their respects to the late Robin Williams (the improv bits with John Ritter we mentioned start around 48:00).]]>780falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/courtenay-hameister-reflects-on-the-passing-of-robin-williams--11567821https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567821Fri, 15 Aug 2014 19:46:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe Portland writer Courtenay Hameister reflects on the passing of Robin Williams.201falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/walidah-imarisha-on-state-of-wonder--11561259https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561259Sat, 16 Aug 2014 00:52:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWalidah Imarisha reads from her new collection, Scars/Stars, and talks about the intersection of poetry and politics.606poetry,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/053114-state-of-wonder-music-tech-segment--11561254https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561254Tue, 19 Aug 2014 18:17:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe get into the weeds of the relationship between musicians and developers with Simon Tam of The Slants, and Ryan Nikolaidis of Cloneless Media.554state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/062114-state-of-wonder-from-bend--11560471https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560471Tue, 19 Aug 2014 22:04:04 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting600falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-23-2014-segment-1-black-prairie-eastern-oregon-arts-showcase-wheatstock-music-festival--11544385
Photo: "Twilight" by Debbie McIntosh]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544385Fri, 22 Aug 2014 17:30:29 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBlack Prairie kicks out the jams on their new album, the ArtsEast Biennial 2014 highlights some amazing art from the 541 area code, and Wheatstock brings country and alt folk to Helix, Oregon. Photo: "Twilight" by Debbie McIntosh
Photo: "Twilight" by Debbie McIntosh]]>891falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-23-2014-segment-2-physics-works-for-you-swan-sovereign-a-father-daughter-game-design-team--11544384
Photo credit: Alicia J. Rose]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544384Fri, 22 Aug 2014 18:00:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingChristine McKinley explains how the laws of the universe help us understand the laws of human behavior. Then we hear what her band, Swan Sovereign, has been up to. Plus David and Leana Galiel, a father-daughter game design team, explain their new...
Photo credit: Alicia J. Rose]]>1209falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-23-2014-segment-3-everybody-reads-mitchell-s-jackson-springfield-s-simpsons-mural--11544381
Photo courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544381Fri, 22 Aug 2014 18:20:25 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMitchell S. Jackson's novel, "The Residue Years," will be Multnomah County Library's 2015 Everybody Reads book. We revist a couple of past conversations with him. Plus, Springfield's getting a Simpsons mural. It's going to be perfectly cromulent....
Photo courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing]]>982falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/percussionist-derek-rieth-dies--11544377https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544377Sat, 23 Aug 2014 18:57:35 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDerek Rieth, who toured for years with Pink Martini, has died. He was well-known in Portland music circles for his intense dedication to Brazilian and Afro-Cuban music, and tireless devotion to sharing the music.195falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-galiels-on-crafting-jux--11560470https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560470Sat, 23 Aug 2014 19:23:02 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDavid and Leana Galiel are the father-daughter team behind Elbowfish. Their game studio is developing both online and board games. They're one of the companies incubating within Oregon Story Board. Their new game is a collaborative storytelling game...461game,oregon story board,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sleater-kinney-box-set-coming-in-october--11560468https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560468Thu, 28 Aug 2014 22:28:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe sat down with S-K256sadfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/083014-seg-1-vinyl-heaven-and-the-gospel-of-liz-vice--11544379https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544379Fri, 29 Aug 2014 16:25:26 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe stop by the Discogs record swap and hear how the company provides crucial tools for vinyl lovers. Plus Liz Vice sings some of her gorgeous gospel.792falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/083014-seg-2-monica-drake-and-ron-funches--11544378https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544378Fri, 29 Aug 2014 16:32:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMonica Drake reads a surreal and creepy bedtime story for adults, and we revist a conversation with Ron Funches when he was just beginning his comedic career.1110falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/083014-seg-3-farewell-dolorean-iraq-war-opera-and-refugee-memories--11544375https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544375Fri, 29 Aug 2014 16:41:42 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe opera The Canticle of the Black Madonna explores the life of an Iraq War vet returning home. Jim Lommasson photographs the objects Iraqi refugees took with them to the U.S. And Portland band Dolorean bids farewell with one last beautiful show.1159falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/unedited-monica-drake-s-bedtime-story-wav--11567840https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567840Fri, 29 Aug 2014 17:24:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEditor's note: This audio contains strongly suggestive language that was edited from the radio broadcast.799falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/canticle-explores-veterans-experiences-through-opera--11567827https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567827Fri, 29 Aug 2014 17:29:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA new contemporary opera, The Canticle of the Black Madonna, takes the stage in Portland this weekend.414falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/090614-seg-1-sleater-kinney-box-set-dropping-gems-at-tba-aaron-draplin-s-design-world--11544374https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544374Fri, 05 Sep 2014 17:45:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAaron Meola from the Dropping Gems record label talks TBA Fest, Corin Tucker gives us the skinny on the Sleater-Kinney remastered box set, and Aaron Draplin lets us into his design world.1099falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/090614-seg-2-cellist-in-residence-nancy-ives-mobile-photography-tahni-holt-at-tba--11544373https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544373Fri, 05 Sep 2014 17:55:43 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTahni Holt tells us what she's got planned for TBA, The Arts Center in Corvallis showcases mobile photography, and we hear what Oregon Symphony musicians were up to over the summer with our new cellist in residence, Nancy Ives.1201falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/090614-seg-3-james-lavadour-at-crystal-bridges-chanticleer-tru-and-stephanie-snyder-on-tba--11544372https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544372Fri, 05 Sep 2014 18:01:11 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingStephanie Snyder talks about revisiting Tracy + the Plastics at TBA Fest, James Lavadour explains the pieces showing at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and Chanticleer Trü brings Evelyn "Champagne" King to TBA.781falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aaron-draplin-on-state-of-wonder--11567836https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567836Fri, 05 Sep 2014 20:57:55 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOne design mag called Aaron Draplin "the hardest working designer in America". We just think his stuff looks awesome. The man behind Field Notes, and the iconic logos of Patagonia and Sasquatch shoots the breeze about what's turning him on these days,...468design,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/james-lavadour-chosen-for-crystal-bridges-museum-of-american-art-exhibit--11567825https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567825Fri, 05 Sep 2014 21:53:25 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe museum's State of the Art exhibit focuses on over 100 cutting-edge contemporary American artists.222falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sow-cellist-in-residence-nancy-ives--11561255https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561255Fri, 05 Sep 2014 21:58:57 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLook, Mom! We've got our very own cellist! Nancy Ives, principal cello for the Oregon Symphony, kicks off an occasional series of conversations about music and musicians' lives. Give her a big welcome.659cello,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mike-and-laura-allred-on-state-of-wonder--11567848https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567848Fri, 12 Sep 2014 22:36:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThese two. Not to mention world famous for their vibrant, eye-popping, classic work. They're also certifiably adorable. We made them tell the story of how they met, and also discussed their process, and what their value about each other's visual styles.889comics,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/091314-seg-1-kelly-sue-deconnick-and-matt-fraction--11544371https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544371Fri, 12 Sep 2014 23:04:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe meet comics husband-wife duo Matt Fraction and Kelly Sue DeConnick. Fraction introduces us to his Eisner Award-winning series "Sex Criminals," and DeConnick shares her Eisner-nominated "Pretty Deadly."1217falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/091314-seg-2-matt-and-kelly-sue-with-mike-and-laura-allred-taki-soma-and-mike-oeming--11544369https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544369Fri, 12 Sep 2014 23:20:04 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingKelly Sue DeConnick and Matt Fraction introduce us to a few of Oregon's other comics couples: Eugene's Mike and Laura Allred, and Portland's Taki Soma and Mike Oeming.826falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/091314-seg-3-matt-and-kelly-sue-with-mike-doughty-and-jen-van-meter--11544367
Jen Van Meter discusses the role of women in the comics industry and introduces us to Dr. Mirage and the Hopeless Savages. Mike Doughty tells us how he uses technology to gain an advantage in the new music industry.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544367Fri, 12 Sep 2014 23:30:54 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMatt Fraction and Kelly Sue DeConnick guest curate. Jen Van Meter discusses the role of women in the comics industry and introduces us to Dr. Mirage and the Hopeless Savages. Mike Doughty tells us how he uses technology to gain an advantage in the...
Jen Van Meter discusses the role of women in the comics industry and introduces us to Dr. Mirage and the Hopeless Savages. Mike Doughty tells us how he uses technology to gain an advantage in the new music industry.]]>1037falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/taki-soma-and-michael-oeming-s-collaborative-comics--11567822https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567822Sat, 13 Sep 2014 00:02:25 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting229comicsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jen-van-meter-on-dr-mirage-hopeless-savages-and-women-in-comics--11567824https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567824Sat, 13 Sep 2014 00:03:17 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting283comicsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mike-doughty-on-state-of-wonder--11567833https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567833Sat, 13 Sep 2014 00:17:25 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTalking with this week's guest curators, Kelly Sue DeConnick and Matt Fraction, about how creators are finding new paths to their audience, they suggested we check our Mike Doughty's method. Doughty. He's an indie rock survivor with a fantastically...353mike doughty,music business,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/seg-1-do-the-right-thing-bruce-guenther-retires-dreamscape--11544366https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544366Fri, 19 Sep 2014 21:08:49 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBruce Guenther, chief curator at the Portland Art Museum, retires. Hollywood Theater shows Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing," and hosts a race discussion. And "Dreamscape" brings the topic of officer involved shootings of minorities to the stage.1132falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/seg-2-science-of-seeing-art-teaching-artists-to-write-and-run-on-sentence--11544364https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544364Fri, 19 Sep 2014 21:14:14 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMonica Drake teaches artists how to write in common English, Run-On Sentence captures the West in song, and a neurobiologist uses ancient murals to find out how our brain sees art927falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/seg-3-seniors-and-sexuality-salsa-on-the-rise-and-legal-representation-for-freelancers--11544363https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544363Fri, 19 Sep 2014 21:33:48 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSalsa music and dance is becomming more popular in the U.S. and Portland, "All the Sex I've Ever Had" brings seniors on stage to talk about sexuality, and Katie Lane has legal advice for freelancers in comics.1025falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-ancient-ruins-teach-us-about-our-brains-and-art--11567830https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567830Fri, 19 Sep 2014 21:45:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFrancisco Fernandez de Miguel is using pre-Columbian art to study the neuroscience of how we perceive art.233falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/do-the-right-thing-revisited--11561265https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561265Sat, 20 Sep 2014 17:54:11 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDavid Walker, Sean Jordan, and Jason Lamb talk about where they were when Spike Lee's epic 1989 film came out, and it's come to mean to them over the years.1232film,spike lee,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wordstock-acquired-by-literary-arts--11544358https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544358Mon, 22 Sep 2014 18:08:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe low-down on Literary Arts' acquisition of Portland's festival of books.248falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/juliet-s-nurse-on-state-of-wonder--11561243http://loisleveen.com/index.php/juliets-nurse]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561243Fri, 26 Sep 2014 19:15:35 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAuthor Lois Leveen talks about re-imagining the most famous play in English. Her new novel, Juliet's Nurse, views Shakespeare's play through the perspective of a character typically plays for laughs. What follows is a story loaded with subtext about...http://loisleveen.com/index.php/juliets-nurse]]>457books,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hari-kondabolu-on-state-of-wonder--11561260
(photo credit: Mindy Tucker)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561260Fri, 26 Sep 2014 19:33:28 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur sit-down with Brooklyn's Hari Kondabolu. We can categorically say he's the only comedian we've ever talked to with a masters in human rights from the London School of Economics. And he's awesome. Shows in Portland Sept 26th and 27th. (photo...
(photo credit: Mindy Tucker)]]>1467comedy,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/anatomy-of-a-fight-scene-wait-until-dark--11560448We spoke with Clara Hillier and Sam Dinkowitz about staging this on a wet stage, in the dark, with a knife. Easy peasy, right?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560448Fri, 26 Sep 2014 19:40:46 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNorthwest Classical Theatre Company is in the midst of the show, Wait Until Dark, which includes a rather involved fight scene. We spoke with Clara Hillier and Sam Dinkowitz about staging this on a wet stage, in the dark, with a knife. Easy peasy, right?We spoke with Clara Hillier and Sam Dinkowitz about staging this on a wet stage, in the dark, with a knife. Easy peasy, right?]]>270state of wonder,theatrefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-27-2014-state-of-wonder-full-show--11544370-Joshua Wolf Shenk takes on the myth of the solitary genus and the true power of creative pairs.
-Hari Kondabolu tackles race and class in his stand-up routine.
-The Donkeys bring a summery, San Diego feel to their music.
-A fight scene takes place in near pitch dark in Northwest Classical Theatre Company’s "Wait Until Dark."
-Milagro Theater‘s "Words that Burn" dramatizes the WWII experiences of “the Pied Piper of Saipan.”
-Romeo and Juliet’s story is told from the perspective of Juliet’s Nurse.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544370Fri, 26 Sep 2014 23:55:59 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting-Museum curators battle to choose a new work for Portland Art Museum’s collection. -Joshua Wolf Shenk takes on the myth of the solitary genus and the true power of creative pairs. -Hari Kondabolu tackles race and class in his stand-up routine. -The...-Joshua Wolf Shenk takes on the myth of the solitary genus and the true power of creative pairs.
-Hari Kondabolu tackles race and class in his stand-up routine.
-The Donkeys bring a summery, San Diego feel to their music.
-A fight scene takes place in near pitch dark in Northwest Classical Theatre Company’s "Wait Until Dark."
-Milagro Theater‘s "Words that Burn" dramatizes the WWII experiences of “the Pied Piper of Saipan.”
-Romeo and Juliet’s story is told from the perspective of Juliet’s Nurse.]]>3203falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/writers-on-design--11561239Members make these conversations possible. Are you in? https://secure.opb.org/contribute/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561239Thu, 02 Oct 2014 23:07:46 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingCarl Alviani of Ziba Design, John Vieira of Nemo Design, and Sarah Mirk of Bitch Media talk about design that works in Portland, and the interplay between urban design and public dialogue. Members make these conversations possible. Are you in?...Members make these conversations possible. Are you in? https://secure.opb.org/contribute/]]>643design,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mark-takiguchi-s-furniture-porn-at-worksound--11560446https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560446Fri, 03 Oct 2014 18:23:28 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMark Takiguchi dishes about his new show at Worksound International, the manufactured world of home decor catalogues, and why it took him three years to find the perfect couch. His paintings will be up through the end of October.395state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-4-2014-david-mitchell-design-week-project-pabst-furniture-porn--1154436203:15 Design Week
14:05 Project Pabst
16:50 David Mitchell
27:50 Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial
32:40 Furniture Porn]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544362Fri, 03 Oct 2014 19:49:23 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting00:00 EDJ 03:15 Design Week 14:05 Project Pabst 16:50 David Mitchell 27:50 Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial 32:40 Furniture Porn03:15 Design Week
14:05 Project Pabst
16:50 David Mitchell
27:50 Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial
32:40 Furniture Porn]]>2167falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/david-mitchell-full-interview--11567853https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567853Fri, 03 Oct 2014 20:04:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAn extended conversation with David Mitchell, who sat down with us to discuss his new work, his writing influences, parenting a child who has autism, growing up with a stammer, and the spiritual themes that inform his work.2910books,writingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-14-bruce-guenther-farewell-linda-hornbuck-and-paul-revere-pass-bend-film-fest-ohman--115443606:10-11:20 Central Oregon Arts Summit And Bend Lodging Tax
11:20-17:25: Bruce Guenther Leaves Portland Art Museum
17:25-20:35: 40 Years of Photography at Blue Sky Gallery
20:35-24:55: Bend Film Fest Expands to Warm Springs Under New Director
24:55-28:50: James Broughton Biopic Featured in Astoria Film Fest
28:50-32:05: Jack Ohman's New California Life and Career
32:05-end: Credits and Corin Tucker Preview]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544360Fri, 10 Oct 2014 17:16:22 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting0:00-6:10: Paul Revere Dick and Linda Hornbuckle Pass Away 6:10-11:20 Central Oregon Arts Summit And Bend Lodging Tax 11:20-17:25: Bruce Guenther Leaves Portland Art Museum 17:25-20:35: 40 Years of Photography at Blue Sky Gallery 20:35-24:55: Bend...6:10-11:20 Central Oregon Arts Summit And Bend Lodging Tax
11:20-17:25: Bruce Guenther Leaves Portland Art Museum
17:25-20:35: 40 Years of Photography at Blue Sky Gallery
20:35-24:55: Bend Film Fest Expands to Warm Springs Under New Director
24:55-28:50: James Broughton Biopic Featured in Astoria Film Fest
28:50-32:05: Jack Ohman's New California Life and Career
32:05-end: Credits and Corin Tucker Preview]]>2077falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bend-film-festival-expands-to-warm-springs-under-new-director--11567823https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567823Fri, 10 Oct 2014 18:20:42 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe Bend Film Festival is taking place this weekend. The festival has a new executive director at the helm. And for the first time, festival goers will be able to see films on the Warm Springs reservation, including one by a 23 year old tribal member.256art,native americanfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/linda-hornbuckle-remembered--11560438https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560438Sat, 11 Oct 2014 16:53:23 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting199falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/louis-and-tracy-pain-remember-linda-hornbuckle--11560437https://www.facebook.com/LoveForLindaHornbuckle]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560437Sat, 11 Oct 2014 16:55:01 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFast friends for years, Tracy and Louis Pain talked to us about their good friend Linda Hornbuckle. Louis and Linda played together in various line-ups for years. They first met in Paul DeLay's band, No Delay. Linda was asked to step in when Paul...https://www.facebook.com/LoveForLindaHornbuckle]]>239falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/roger-hart-remembers-paul-revere-dick--11560435https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560435Sat, 11 Oct 2014 18:29:25 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingRoger Hart remembers his friend Paul Revere Dick, founder of Paul Revere and the Raiders.298falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/daniel-peabody-on-bruce-guenther-wav--11560432https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560432Sat, 11 Oct 2014 18:53:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDaniel Peabody of Elizabeth Leach Gallery talks about the Portland Art Museum's outgoing Chief Curator.203falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sow-101814-guest-curator-corin-tucker--11544361https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544361Sat, 18 Oct 2014 01:44:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGuest Curator Corin Tucker looks back on the Sleater-Kinney catalog, and helps us get at what's changed for musicians in Portland from the mid-90s and today.3079falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-the-heck-is-a-remaster--11560439
Image credit: Nacho Torres / Creative Commons]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560439Tue, 21 Oct 2014 17:45:58 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe remastered boxset. It’s a rite of passage for nearly every great band. But what exactly is remastering? Image credit: Nacho Torres / Creative Commons
Image credit: Nacho Torres / Creative Commons]]>347sleater kinneyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/peter-buck-on-state-of-wonder--11561238https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561238Fri, 24 Oct 2014 00:07:24 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWith platinum-selling R.E.M. records in the rear-view mirror and some gloriously weird vinyl records out on the Mississippi Records imprint, Buck talks about his evolving sound, and working with our guest curator, Corin Tucker.758peter buck,remfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-25-2014-retro-gaming-r-e-m-s-peter-buck-symphony-auditions-wallace-stegner-more--115443597:40: Author James McBride on identity and success
18:40: Part 2 of our conversation with R.E.M.’s Peter Buck
23:50: Wallace Stegner on the similarities between autobiography and fiction
32:55: When jazz bassist Andre St. James met the legendary Rahsaan Roland Kirk
38:45: Nancy Ives tells us about the terrifying audition process at the Oregon Symphony
48:15: Hiroshi Ogawa’s ceramic art]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544359Fri, 24 Oct 2014 21:36:31 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting1:30: New “homebrew” games for old video game systems 7:40: Author James McBride on identity and success 18:40: Part 2 of our conversation with R.E.M.’s Peter Buck 23:50: Wallace Stegner on the similarities between autobiography and fiction 32:55:...7:40: Author James McBride on identity and success
18:40: Part 2 of our conversation with R.E.M.’s Peter Buck
23:50: Wallace Stegner on the similarities between autobiography and fiction
32:55: When jazz bassist Andre St. James met the legendary Rahsaan Roland Kirk
38:45: Nancy Ives tells us about the terrifying audition process at the Oregon Symphony
48:15: Hiroshi Ogawa’s ceramic art]]>3195falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/diy-homebrew-games-extra-lives-for-vintage-systems--11560433https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560433Fri, 24 Oct 2014 23:25:29 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLast weekend's Portland Retro Gaming Expo showcased Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, of course. But it also featured new "homebrewed" games for decades-old systems.352falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/monica-drake-on-teaching-artists-how-to-write--11567831https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567831Fri, 31 Oct 2014 18:49:58 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting402falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-1-2014-state-of-wonder-turns-1--11544357
Image credit: "Binocular" by Bill Hoppe

00:55: Author Ann Patchett on our shared name.
03:50: Vinyl fiends get their wax on at Discog‘s Crate Diggers record swap.
10:50: Musicians with Oregon East Symphony make the most of getting snowed in while in Pendleton.
19:50: Rebecca Gates analyzes the ways revenue streams are changing in the music industry.
29:30: High school sophomore Kiarra Saito Beckman takes on Paganini.
35:10: Benjamin Dewey explains how comics can be hilarious and tragic at the same time.
45:15: West African musicians take on Prince’s Purple Rain.

Music Used:

Verner Pantons: "Leave Her Alone" live at OPB
EDJ: "A West County Girl" live at OPB
Donkeys: "West Coast Raga" live at OPB
Grouper: "Holding"
Genders: "Technicolor Vision" live at OPB
Juana Molina: "Wed 21/Eras" live at OPB
TisDass: "Yamedan" live at OPB]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544357Fri, 31 Oct 2014 23:55:26 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingState of Wonder is turning one year old. We're going to revisit some of our favorite moments from our first 52 weeks of broadcasting. Image credit: "Binocular" by Bill Hoppe 00:55: Author Ann Patchett on our shared name. 03:50: Vinyl fiends get...
Image credit: "Binocular" by Bill Hoppe

00:55: Author Ann Patchett on our shared name.
03:50: Vinyl fiends get their wax on at Discog‘s Crate Diggers record swap.
10:50: Musicians with Oregon East Symphony make the most of getting snowed in while in Pendleton.
19:50: Rebecca Gates analyzes the ways revenue streams are changing in the music industry.
29:30: High school sophomore Kiarra Saito Beckman takes on Paganini.
35:10: Benjamin Dewey explains how comics can be hilarious and tragic at the same time.
45:15: West African musicians take on Prince’s Purple Rain.

Music Used:

Verner Pantons: "Leave Her Alone" live at OPB
EDJ: "A West County Girl" live at OPB
Donkeys: "West Coast Raga" live at OPB
Grouper: "Holding"
Genders: "Technicolor Vision" live at OPB
Juana Molina: "Wed 21/Eras" live at OPB
TisDass: "Yamedan" live at OPB]]>3194falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-8-2014-new-decemberists-art-post-cancer-remembering-ben-buckley-art-from-short-stories--11544356
11:00: Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche from the Literary Arts archives.

20:30: Ben Killen Rosenberg, inspired by a devastating short story his wife wrote, curates a group show in Astoria with Holly Andress, Hickory Mertsching, Christine Lahti and others.

26:05: David Wolman on Pipino, Gentleman Thief, and the heist of a lifetime.

34:10: Art Beat tracks the progression of Portland Opera’s productions.

36:50: Vin Shambry tells a story at Backfence, remembering friend and colleague Benjamin Buckley, who took his own life in September.

44:00: Charles D’Ambrosio reflects on his family’s influence on his stories.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544356Fri, 07 Nov 2014 20:07:35 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting1:05: New Decemberists music. Plus the band's keyboardist Jenny Conlee talks about her struggle with cancer, and an effort to help others who are diagnosed young. 11:00: Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche from the Literary Arts archives. 20:30: Ben Killen...
11:00: Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche from the Literary Arts archives.

20:30: Ben Killen Rosenberg, inspired by a devastating short story his wife wrote, curates a group show in Astoria with Holly Andress, Hickory Mertsching, Christine Lahti and others.

26:05: David Wolman on Pipino, Gentleman Thief, and the heist of a lifetime.

34:10: Art Beat tracks the progression of Portland Opera’s productions.

36:50: Vin Shambry tells a story at Backfence, remembering friend and colleague Benjamin Buckley, who took his own life in September.

44:00: Charles D’Ambrosio reflects on his family’s influence on his stories.]]>3194falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decemberists-conlee-on-cancer-things-are-better-kind-of--11561231https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561231Fri, 07 Nov 2014 20:27:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJenny Conlee, the accordionist, pianist, and keyboard player for the Decemberists and Black Prairie talks about her experience going through treatment and coming out the other side.535falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/vin-shambry-remembers-ben-buckley--11560428https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560428Fri, 07 Nov 2014 21:46:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland Actor Ben Buckley took his own life in early September. Vin Shambry, who'd known Ben since high school, delivered a version of this story at a Backfence PDX event for Day of the Dead. Special thanks to Vin and to Backfence for helping us...387falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-15-2014-changes-at-portland-opera-marjane-satrapi-laura-gibson-heads-east-native-x--115443551:00: Revolution Hall will open in February
1:40: Portland Opera becomes a summer festival with smaller shows.
6:30: Cellist-in-residence Nancy Ives brings Oregon Symphony pals Greg Ewer and Joe Berger along for a conversation about innovation and classicism in music.
18:45: Iranian comics author Marjane Satrapi remembers her path to her chosen medium.
25:50: Portland musician Laura Gibson moves east to try her hand at short fiction.
29:30: Native American design is featured by Native(X).
33:30: The Confluence Project searches for sounds of Celilo Falls.
36:55: Artists Repertory Theatre helps build a musical from scratch.
42:30: Elizabeth Pitcairn walks us through adventures with The Red Violin.
45:55: Lowriders in Space brings lowrider culture to young adult literature.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544355Fri, 14 Nov 2014 20:21:50 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting0:00: Intro 1:00: Revolution Hall will open in February 1:40: Portland Opera becomes a summer festival with smaller shows. 6:30: Cellist-in-residence Nancy Ives brings Oregon Symphony pals Greg Ewer and Joe Berger along for a conversation about...1:00: Revolution Hall will open in February
1:40: Portland Opera becomes a summer festival with smaller shows.
6:30: Cellist-in-residence Nancy Ives brings Oregon Symphony pals Greg Ewer and Joe Berger along for a conversation about innovation and classicism in music.
18:45: Iranian comics author Marjane Satrapi remembers her path to her chosen medium.
25:50: Portland musician Laura Gibson moves east to try her hand at short fiction.
29:30: Native American design is featured by Native(X).
33:30: The Confluence Project searches for sounds of Celilo Falls.
36:55: Artists Repertory Theatre helps build a musical from scratch.
42:30: Elizabeth Pitcairn walks us through adventures with The Red Violin.
45:55: Lowriders in Space brings lowrider culture to young adult literature.]]>3195falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tradition-and-innovation-on-display-at-native-x--11567826https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567826Fri, 14 Nov 2014 23:47:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLast week, prominent Native American artists from around the country gathered at Union/Pine — a gallery in southeast Portland. They were here for a gallery showing of contemporary design curated by Native(X).240falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-22-2014-ursula-le-guin-margaret-atwood-horse-feathers-charles-mingus-las-cafeteras--11544354-1:30: Slim Moon talks about his career transition from punk rock godfather to Unitarian minister.
-9:15: Horse Feathers break out with an energetic new record.
-20:45: Ursula Le Guin tears into the publishing industry at the National Book Awards
-24:45: Margaret Atwood reflects on writing women in fiction after second wave feminism.
-35:30: Las Cafeteras conducts a clinic at Portland State fusing politics with Son Jarocho sounds.
-40:05: David Ackerman gets on the bad side of Charles Mingus...then back on his good side again.
-47:40: The Oregon Jewish Museum exhibits Shirley Gittelsohn's paintings in a celebration of her life’s work.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544354Fri, 21 Nov 2014 19:08:04 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting-0:00: Intro -1:30: Slim Moon talks about his career transition from punk rock godfather to Unitarian minister. -9:15: Horse Feathers break out with an energetic new record. -20:45: Ursula Le Guin tears into the publishing industry at the National...-1:30: Slim Moon talks about his career transition from punk rock godfather to Unitarian minister.
-9:15: Horse Feathers break out with an energetic new record.
-20:45: Ursula Le Guin tears into the publishing industry at the National Book Awards
-24:45: Margaret Atwood reflects on writing women in fiction after second wave feminism.
-35:30: Las Cafeteras conducts a clinic at Portland State fusing politics with Son Jarocho sounds.
-40:05: David Ackerman gets on the bad side of Charles Mingus...then back on his good side again.
-47:40: The Oregon Jewish Museum exhibits Shirley Gittelsohn's paintings in a celebration of her life’s work.]]>3191falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/slim-moon-s-leap-of-faith--11560464https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560464Fri, 21 Nov 2014 21:33:25 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingKill Rock Stars Records' co-founder Slim Moon has a new career in the ministry. He talks to us about finding his calling, and what skills translate from Saturday night to Sunday morning.480state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-29-2014-john-waters-abraham-verghese-calligraphy--115443531:20: John Waters talks about his schlocky — and acclaimed — career and tells us what to expect from A John Waters Christmas, which he's bringing to Portland's Aladdin Theater on Dec. 8.
34:10: Abraham Verghese recalls the experience that made him want to be a writer.
44:10: We hear about Reed College's efforts to preserve the art of calligraphy, even amongst post-Millennial elementary schoolers.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544353Wed, 26 Nov 2014 17:24:07 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting0:00: Intro 1:20: John Waters talks about his schlocky — and acclaimed — career and tells us what to expect from A John Waters Christmas, which he's bringing to Portland's Aladdin Theater on Dec. 8. 34:10: Abraham Verghese recalls the experience that...1:20: John Waters talks about his schlocky — and acclaimed — career and tells us what to expect from A John Waters Christmas, which he's bringing to Portland's Aladdin Theater on Dec. 8.
34:10: Abraham Verghese recalls the experience that made him want to be a writer.
44:10: We hear about Reed College's efforts to preserve the art of calligraphy, even amongst post-Millennial elementary schoolers.]]>3108falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/john-waters-i-ve-made-bad-taste-a-little-more-respectable--11567845https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567845Wed, 26 Nov 2014 17:29:22 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBeloved cult filmmaker John Waters is coming to Portland to perform his Christmas live show. We'll talk to him about the holidays, and hear about his legacy as he approaches 70.1946filmfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-cello-project-revisits-elliott-smith--11544346https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544346Thu, 04 Dec 2014 22:39:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPCP Artistic Director Douglas Jenkins and Larry Crane (Jackpot Recording Studios/Tape Op Magazine) talk to us about the new record they co-produced. "to e.s." includes both covers of and original music inspired by Elliott Smith compositions.719falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-6-2014-richard-ford-elliott-smith-tribute-saul-bellow-surreal-war-photos-living-with-hiv--115443501:25: Portland Cello Project’s new album adapts the songs of Elliott Smith.
12:00: Photographer Richard Mosse and cinematographer Trevor Tweeten bring their surreal war photography and video to Portland Art Museum.
27:20: Writer Tom Spanbauer describes living with AIDS.
35:55: Broken Bells share their collaborative songwriting process.
41:10: Pulitzer-winning novelist Richard Ford tackles race and other social issues on a micro level.
46:45: Saul Bellow blasts political correctness

Image credit: Richard Mosse]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544350Fri, 05 Dec 2014 18:06:29 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting0:00: Intro 1:25: Portland Cello Project’s new album adapts the songs of Elliott Smith. 12:00: Photographer Richard Mosse and cinematographer Trevor Tweeten bring their surreal war photography and video to Portland Art Museum. 27:20: Writer Tom...1:25: Portland Cello Project’s new album adapts the songs of Elliott Smith.
12:00: Photographer Richard Mosse and cinematographer Trevor Tweeten bring their surreal war photography and video to Portland Art Museum.
27:20: Writer Tom Spanbauer describes living with AIDS.
35:55: Broken Bells share their collaborative songwriting process.
41:10: Pulitzer-winning novelist Richard Ford tackles race and other social issues on a micro level.
46:45: Saul Bellow blasts political correctness

Image credit: Richard Mosse]]>3193falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/photographer-richard-mosse-portrays-conflict-in-surreal-light--11561234https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561234Fri, 05 Dec 2014 18:17:14 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting"The Enclave" looks at the lives of those affected by violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.910falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cheryl-strayed-on-making-a-movie-out-of-wild--11561230https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561230Fri, 12 Dec 2014 18:51:26 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingCheryl Strayed talks about the process of turning her book 'Wild' into a movie.994art,filmfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-2014-mic-crenshaw-s-afrikan-hip-hop-caravan--11561221*Since this story broadcast, Mic is making plans for a third trip, with Rasheed Jamal. Info here: http://tinyurl.com/p56b4uw]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561221Fri, 12 Dec 2014 20:47:31 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland MC Mic Crenshaw just returned from his second trip for the Afrikan Hip Hop Caravan - a series of summit meetings he helps facilitate to talk about the evolution of the form. This year's trip included stops in Cape Town, Harare (Zimbabwe),...*Since this story broadcast, Mic is making plans for a third trip, with Rasheed Jamal. Info here: http://tinyurl.com/p56b4uw]]>660mic crenshaw,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-13-2014-cheryl-strayed-wild-de-niro-s-life-african-hip-hop-frogz-sallie-ford--11544349•1:10: Wild gets its Portland premier! We were there on the red carpet, and we’ll hear from Cheryl Strayed on what’s next for her.
•18:00: Imago Theatre tells us how holiday show Frogz changed its entire history.
•23:25: Shawn Levy talk about the many faces of Robert DeNiro.
•31:00: Sallie Ford and her blasting new band play at an opbmusic session.
•33:45: KMHD‘s A Jazz Life takes us through a jam session with John Coltrane
•39:00: Mic Crenshaw debriefs on his recent trip to Africa and new sounds coming from hip-hop in Kenya, South Africa and elsewhere.


Image: scene from "Frogz"
Photo credit: April Baer]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544349Fri, 12 Dec 2014 21:56:11 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting•0:00: Intro •1:10: Wild gets its Portland premier! We were there on the red carpet, and we’ll hear from Cheryl Strayed on what’s next for her. •18:00: Imago Theatre tells us how holiday show Frogz changed its entire history. •23:25: Shawn Levy talk...•1:10: Wild gets its Portland premier! We were there on the red carpet, and we’ll hear from Cheryl Strayed on what’s next for her.
•18:00: Imago Theatre tells us how holiday show Frogz changed its entire history.
•23:25: Shawn Levy talk about the many faces of Robert DeNiro.
•31:00: Sallie Ford and her blasting new band play at an opbmusic session.
•33:45: KMHD‘s A Jazz Life takes us through a jam session with John Coltrane
•39:00: Mic Crenshaw debriefs on his recent trip to Africa and new sounds coming from hip-hop in Kenya, South Africa and elsewhere.


Image: scene from "Frogz"
Photo credit: April Baer]]>3064falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-20-2014-portland-hip-hop-dear-white-people-nancy-ives-hector-hernandez-gary-ferguson--115443481:10: Mac Smiff of We Out Here debriefs on the year in Portland’s hip hop scene.
12:40: Portland’s Independent Police Review reports on hip-hop and police relations.
19:15: Cellist Nancy Ives walks us through her process of composing music.
28:55: Hector Hernandez inherits the tradition of the great Mexican muralists, like Diego Rivera.
33:45: Justin Simien chats on Live Wire about his film, “Dear White People”.
38:50: Gary Ferguson explores how nature helped him grieve after his wife’s death.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544348Fri, 19 Dec 2014 19:43:44 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting0:00: Intro 1:10: Mac Smiff of We Out Here debriefs on the year in Portland’s hip hop scene. 12:40: Portland’s Independent Police Review reports on hip-hop and police relations. 19:15: Cellist Nancy Ives walks us through her process of composing...1:10: Mac Smiff of We Out Here debriefs on the year in Portland’s hip hop scene.
12:40: Portland’s Independent Police Review reports on hip-hop and police relations.
19:15: Cellist Nancy Ives walks us through her process of composing music.
28:55: Hector Hernandez inherits the tradition of the great Mexican muralists, like Diego Rivera.
33:45: Justin Simien chats on Live Wire about his film, “Dear White People”.
38:50: Gary Ferguson explores how nature helped him grieve after his wife’s death.]]>3194falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-27-2014-from-the-archives-kelly-sue-deconnick-and-matt-fraction--11567851https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567851Mon, 29 Dec 2014 21:00:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingQuality time with two people who've rocked the comics world in 2014. They curated our show, suggesting topics and talking about the trends shaping the industry.3151kelly sue deconnick,matt fraction,opb,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-3-2015-richard-ford-on-writing-daniel-h-wilson-and-nick-lambert-s-new-game--115443452:00: Author Daniel H. Wilson, who brought us “Robopocalypse,” talks about the launch of his new mobile game, “Mayday! Deep Space!” with collaborator of Nick Lambert from Mountain Machine Studios.
11:00: Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner Award winner Richard Ford talks about his new book “Let Me Frank With You,” which catches up with his most famous character, Frank Bascombe. We also talk about Ford’s approach to social issues.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544345Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:44:06 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting0:00: Intro 2:00: Author Daniel H. Wilson, who brought us “Robopocalypse,” talks about the launch of his new mobile game, “Mayday! Deep Space!” with collaborator of Nick Lambert from Mountain Machine Studios. 11:00: Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner...2:00: Author Daniel H. Wilson, who brought us “Robopocalypse,” talks about the launch of his new mobile game, “Mayday! Deep Space!” with collaborator of Nick Lambert from Mountain Machine Studios.
11:00: Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner Award winner Richard Ford talks about his new book “Let Me Frank With You,” which catches up with his most famous character, Frank Bascombe. We also talk about Ford’s approach to social issues.]]>3016falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mayday-deep-space--11561212https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561212Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:51:39 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting523daniel wilson,gaming,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/novelist-richard-ford-reflects-on-old-age-writing-and-frank-bascombe--11567847
We talk to him about his celebrated career and what keeps drawing him back to Frank.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567847Fri, 02 Jan 2015 23:12:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLast year, Richard Ford published a book called "Let Me Be Frank With You." It’s the fourth book he’s written about his most famous protagonist, the New Jersey-dwelling former sportswriter, Frank Bascombe. One of these books, "Independence Day," won...
We talk to him about his celebrated career and what keeps drawing him back to Frank.]]>2283booksfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oregon-story-board--11560417https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560417Fri, 09 Jan 2015 17:17:00 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting487falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-10-2015-digital-storytelling-amy-miller-jewel-heist-elizabeth-strout-art-in-isolation--115443431:20: Oregon Story Board strives to grow the field of digital storytellers.
9:30: Comedian Amy Miller explains why pursues her stand-up career in Portland.
15:50: John Simpkins journeys into the heart of solitude.
25:00: "Oliver Kitteridge" author Elizabeth Strout explores the importance of the “ickily human” in fiction.
33:00: NPR Music and OPB Music launch Pickathon video channel with sets from the festival’s Woods Stage.
37:10: Mary-Sue Tobin remembers how meeting Herbie Hancock reignited her love for the saxophone.
42:25: Matt Love recounts an infamous Portland jewelry heist.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544343Fri, 09 Jan 2015 18:32:37 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting0:00: Intro 1:20: Oregon Story Board strives to grow the field of digital storytellers. 9:30: Comedian Amy Miller explains why pursues her stand-up career in Portland. 15:50: John Simpkins journeys into the heart of solitude. 25:00: "Oliver...1:20: Oregon Story Board strives to grow the field of digital storytellers.
9:30: Comedian Amy Miller explains why pursues her stand-up career in Portland.
15:50: John Simpkins journeys into the heart of solitude.
25:00: "Oliver Kitteridge" author Elizabeth Strout explores the importance of the “ickily human” in fiction.
33:00: NPR Music and OPB Music launch Pickathon video channel with sets from the festival’s Woods Stage.
37:10: Mary-Sue Tobin remembers how meeting Herbie Hancock reignited her love for the saxophone.
42:25: Matt Love recounts an infamous Portland jewelry heist.]]>3098falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oregon-story-board--11561203https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561203Fri, 09 Jan 2015 19:24:26 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting487falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/john-simpkins--11561209https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561209Fri, 09 Jan 2015 21:56:03 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting535falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-17-2015-michael-chabon-sleater-kinney-decemberists-my-own-private-idaho-frank-mccourt--115443411:15: We preview releases by two of Portland’s biggest bands: Sleater-Kinney and theDecemberists.
9:20: Hand2Mouth Theater workshops their follow-up to Gus Van Sant’s “My Own Private Idaho” for the Fertile Ground Festival.
17:25: Michael Chabon talks about his novels, as well as his recent ventures into film and comics writing.
35:25: Christopher Kirkley checks back in now that his Tuareg homage to “Purple Rain” is set to premier at the Hollywood Theater.
40:50: Japanese tattoo artist Horisuzu walks us through his craft.
44:40: Frank McCourt offers his insights into teaching as part of Literary Arts’s Archive Project.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544341Fri, 16 Jan 2015 21:49:33 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting0:00: Intro 1:15: We preview releases by two of Portland’s biggest bands: Sleater-Kinney and theDecemberists. 9:20: Hand2Mouth Theater workshops their follow-up to Gus Van Sant’s “My Own Private Idaho” for the Fertile Ground Festival. 17:25: Michael...1:15: We preview releases by two of Portland’s biggest bands: Sleater-Kinney and theDecemberists.
9:20: Hand2Mouth Theater workshops their follow-up to Gus Van Sant’s “My Own Private Idaho” for the Fertile Ground Festival.
17:25: Michael Chabon talks about his novels, as well as his recent ventures into film and comics writing.
35:25: Christopher Kirkley checks back in now that his Tuareg homage to “Purple Rain” is set to premier at the Hollywood Theater.
40:50: Japanese tattoo artist Horisuzu walks us through his craft.
44:40: Frank McCourt offers his insights into teaching as part of Literary Arts’s Archive Project.]]>3100falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/miranda-july-s-relentless-creativity--11561205
She’s been well known in conceptual art circles for a long time, in part because of projects in the emerging discipline of social practice.

Her 2005 film "Me, You, and Everyone We Know" introduced a wide audience to the characters she had up her sleeve, lost souls and everyday seekers.

Now with “The First Bad Man," she’s created an outstandingly awkward protagonist who’s in a mad scramble toward love and connection.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561205Fri, 23 Jan 2015 22:40:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFilmmaker, writer and artist Miranda July has just published her first novel. She’s been well known in conceptual art circles for a long time, in part because of projects in the emerging discipline of social practice. Her 2005 film "Me, You, and...
She’s been well known in conceptual art circles for a long time, in part because of projects in the emerging discipline of social practice.

Her 2005 film "Me, You, and Everyone We Know" introduced a wide audience to the characters she had up her sleeve, lost souls and everyday seekers.

Now with “The First Bad Man," she’s created an outstandingly awkward protagonist who’s in a mad scramble toward love and connection.]]>920booksfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/richard-blanco-reads-queer-theory-according-to-my-grandmother--11560399https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560399Fri, 23 Jan 2015 22:44:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingRichard Blanco reads "Queer Theory According To My Grandmother" from his collection "Looking for The Gulf Motel."175poetryfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/richard-blanco-reflects-on-poetry-identity-and-cuba--11561194https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561194Fri, 23 Jan 2015 22:47:04 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingRichard Blanco talks about his path coming to terms with his cultural identity and his sexual identity.518cuba,poetryfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-24-2015-miranda-july-richard-blanco-christopher-hitchens-intel-s-futurist-p-ear--1154434010:00: Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas burn it up for an opbmusic studio session.
14:38: Miranda July talks about writing her first novel, and other recent projects.
30:10: p:ear bring stories of street kids, kids on the edge, and transitional youth to the stage in a Fertile Ground festival performance.
35:19: We listen to Christopher Hitchens from the Literary Arts Archive.
43:17: Intel's Futurist explains the collision of creative thinking and engineering in his work.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544340Fri, 23 Jan 2015 23:22:33 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting1:21: Poet Richard Blanco talks about writing a poem for Presidential Obama's second inauguration, and how sexual identity and heritage inform his writing process. 10:00: Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas burn it up for an opbmusic studio session....10:00: Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas burn it up for an opbmusic studio session.
14:38: Miranda July talks about writing her first novel, and other recent projects.
30:10: p:ear bring stories of street kids, kids on the edge, and transitional youth to the stage in a Fertile Ground festival performance.
35:19: We listen to Christopher Hitchens from the Literary Arts Archive.
43:17: Intel's Futurist explains the collision of creative thinking and engineering in his work.]]>3072falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-31-2015-rainn-wilson-and-backstrom-pnca-nick-jaina-thara-memory-nancy-ives--1154434212:56 - Actor Rainn Wilson and producer Hart Hanson talk about the new Fox TV series "Backstrom:" set in Portland, shot in Vancouver B.C. (Wait, wha—?)
24:11 - Cellist-in-residence Nancy Ives shares music that will lift you up on gloomy days—or help you embrace the gloom.
30:06 - We revisit artist John Simpkins in his psychedelic monastic retreat in southeast Oregon.
30:39 - Portland musician Nick Jaina stops by the studio to talk about his new novel and play a couple tunes.
44:23 - Grammy-winning trumpeter Thara Memory remembers trying to sit in with jazz great Eddie Harris and ending up drenched in sweat. His story is part of KMHD's awesome oral history series, "A Jazz Life."
47:35 - Bend sets a schedule for it's new cultural tourism fund. Applications are due March 31.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544342Fri, 30 Jan 2015 19:17:44 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting1:18 - We tour PNCA’s new home in the old federal post office building downtown and sit down with President Tom Manley to discuss the college’s modern metamorphosis. These digs will make you want to go back to school! 12:56 - Actor Rainn Wilson and...12:56 - Actor Rainn Wilson and producer Hart Hanson talk about the new Fox TV series "Backstrom:" set in Portland, shot in Vancouver B.C. (Wait, wha—?)
24:11 - Cellist-in-residence Nancy Ives shares music that will lift you up on gloomy days—or help you embrace the gloom.
30:06 - We revisit artist John Simpkins in his psychedelic monastic retreat in southeast Oregon.
30:39 - Portland musician Nick Jaina stops by the studio to talk about his new novel and play a couple tunes.
44:23 - Grammy-winning trumpeter Thara Memory remembers trying to sit in with jazz great Eddie Harris and ending up drenched in sweat. His story is part of KMHD's awesome oral history series, "A Jazz Life."
47:35 - Bend sets a schedule for it's new cultural tourism fund. Applications are due March 31.]]>3070falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pnca-moves-to-511-broadway--11561199https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561199Fri, 30 Jan 2015 22:15:10 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPNCA's new building, restored, renovated, and re-imagined by Brad Cloepfil and Allied Works. We get a tour and talk with Cloepfil and Tom Manley about what the rebirth of this historic building means for PNCA and for Portland.698architecture,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bend-cultural-tourism-fund-seeking-applicants--11560388https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560388Fri, 30 Jan 2015 22:57:31 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA new stream of revenue is opening up in Central Oregon. Arts and culture groups are being encouraged to apply if they have projects that will draw overnight visitors. The Bend Cultural Tourism Fund will award grants May 4th.107state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-opera-to-go-s-bilingual-barber--11567835
In director Kristine McIntyre's adaptation, there are still two young lovers, Almaviva and Rosina. There’s Bartolo, Rosina’s cranky old guardian, and one of the most famous characters in opera: wiseguy manservant-turned-barber Figaro.

But McIntyre condensed a lot of action, wrote out some characters, and transplanted the story from Spain to colonial Alta California. And that, she said, paved the way for the show’s biggest departure — a twist on the language of the libretto.

"One of the great themes of 'Barber' is Almaviva and Rosina are constantly trying to communicate using various notes, but something always gets in the way," said McIntyre. "I thought, what if we took it one step further: what if she only speaks Spanish at the beginning of the show, and he only speaks English? And what if even if they get a note passed, they can't read it? And what if, throughout the course of the show, they teach each other their language?"]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567835Fri, 06 Feb 2015 00:57:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland Opera is re-imagining Rossini’s famous comedy “The Barber of Seville” as a bi-lingual play for the company’s Opera To Go program, which performs dozens of shows around Oregon and Southwest Washington, mostly for schoolkids. In director...
In director Kristine McIntyre's adaptation, there are still two young lovers, Almaviva and Rosina. There’s Bartolo, Rosina’s cranky old guardian, and one of the most famous characters in opera: wiseguy manservant-turned-barber Figaro.

But McIntyre condensed a lot of action, wrote out some characters, and transplanted the story from Spain to colonial Alta California. And that, she said, paved the way for the show’s biggest departure — a twist on the language of the libretto.

"One of the great themes of 'Barber' is Almaviva and Rosina are constantly trying to communicate using various notes, but something always gets in the way," said McIntyre. "I thought, what if we took it one step further: what if she only speaks Spanish at the beginning of the show, and he only speaks English? And what if even if they get a note passed, they can't read it? And what if, throughout the course of the show, they teach each other their language?"]]>384opera,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-7-2015-pander-bros-nicky-finney-portland-opera-to-go-madonna-comix-opbmusic-from-tennis--11544336
1:04 - The Pander Brothers talk to Oregon Art Beat about their eye-popping visual style, and crossing genres to follow the action.
5:30 - opbmusic brings us music and conversation with husband-and-wife indie pop duo Tennis.
8:40 - Documentary filmmaker Brian Lindstrom's new film, “Mothering Inside,” follows women incarcerated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville.
11:10 - Madonna Comix is a series of arresting prints based off poems with names like "Madonna Bomb" and "Madonna of the Cigarettes" at Augen Gallery.
16:24 - At Start-Up Week, Natives Who Code seeks to help Native youth break into the tech industry.
20:56 - We listen back to poet Nikky Finney at Portland Arts and Lectures.
27:26 - Portland Opera takes the show on the road with an ambitious, bi-lingual production of Barber of Seville.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544336Fri, 06 Feb 2015 19:40:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, works in translation, from printmakers to Rossini. Things get flipped on their head with surprising results.... 1:04 - The Pander Brothers talk to Oregon Art Beat about their eye-popping visual style, and crossing genres to follow the...
1:04 - The Pander Brothers talk to Oregon Art Beat about their eye-popping visual style, and crossing genres to follow the action.
5:30 - opbmusic brings us music and conversation with husband-and-wife indie pop duo Tennis.
8:40 - Documentary filmmaker Brian Lindstrom's new film, “Mothering Inside,” follows women incarcerated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville.
11:10 - Madonna Comix is a series of arresting prints based off poems with names like "Madonna Bomb" and "Madonna of the Cigarettes" at Augen Gallery.
16:24 - At Start-Up Week, Natives Who Code seeks to help Native youth break into the tech industry.
20:56 - We listen back to poet Nikky Finney at Portland Arts and Lectures.
27:26 - Portland Opera takes the show on the road with an ambitious, bi-lingual production of Barber of Seville.]]>2062falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/madonna-comix-explores-the-ephemeral--11567829
Artist Dianne Kronberg's "The Madonna Comix" is a series of prints inspired by 11 poems with titles like "Madonna of the Cigarettes," "Madonna of the Suitcase," and "The Madonna Bomb." Featuring images of a naked pregnant dancer in dynamic poses or found images of things like pelicans and bomb vests, the prints look like frames from a weathered old graphic novel that were printed over erased backgrounds of Little Lulu cartoons, although in fact they were created in Photoshop.

Kronberg originally made a name for herself with photographs of biological specimens. But then seven years ago, after moving from Portland to the San Juan Islands, she began collaborating with a poet named Elisabeth Frost. Kronberg says that collaboration in turn caught the eye of the person she’d work with on "Madonna Comix," Celia Bland.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567829Fri, 06 Feb 2015 23:50:44 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAn arresting new show opened at Augen Gallery this week. Artist Dianne Kronberg's "The Madonna Comix" is a series of prints inspired by 11 poems with titles like "Madonna of the Cigarettes," "Madonna of the Suitcase," and "The Madonna Bomb."...
Artist Dianne Kronberg's "The Madonna Comix" is a series of prints inspired by 11 poems with titles like "Madonna of the Cigarettes," "Madonna of the Suitcase," and "The Madonna Bomb." Featuring images of a naked pregnant dancer in dynamic poses or found images of things like pelicans and bomb vests, the prints look like frames from a weathered old graphic novel that were printed over erased backgrounds of Little Lulu cartoons, although in fact they were created in Photoshop.

Kronberg originally made a name for herself with photographs of biological specimens. But then seven years ago, after moving from Portland to the San Juan Islands, she began collaborating with a poet named Elisabeth Frost. Kronberg says that collaboration in turn caught the eye of the person she’d work with on "Madonna Comix," Celia Bland.]]>306radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-14-2015-guest-curator-matt-fleeger-of-kmhd-on-jazz--11544337
Our pal Matt Fleeger of KMHD Jazz Radio turns us on to some new artists and talks about how jazz as a meta-genre — a way to better understand many forms of music.

11:10 - We’ll talk about jazz past, present and future with bassist Chuck Israels, drummer Chris Brown and drummer Tim DuRoche.
24:40 - Matt shares some of the bands he's most excited about right now, including Coco Columbia and Grammies.
30:30 - Record producer Tucker Martine talks about the sonic qualities of jazz recordings, and how he incorporates them into the seminal indie pop records he’s produced as well as Grammy-nominated records for Bill Frissell.
39:25 - Plus Matt shares some picks for the upcoming PDX Jazz Festival.

Matt is one of our favorite guys. In addition to his knowledge of jazz, he's an avid advocate for visual arts. Fun fact: he knows a ton about skateboard film. And he's got a broad view of how music works in industry and culture.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544337Sat, 14 Feb 2015 19:40:12 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week: it's Confessions of the Reluctant Jazz Guy. Our pal Matt Fleeger of KMHD Jazz Radio turns us on to some new artists and talks about how jazz as a meta-genre — a way to better understand many forms of music. 11:10 - We’ll talk about jazz...
Our pal Matt Fleeger of KMHD Jazz Radio turns us on to some new artists and talks about how jazz as a meta-genre — a way to better understand many forms of music.

11:10 - We’ll talk about jazz past, present and future with bassist Chuck Israels, drummer Chris Brown and drummer Tim DuRoche.
24:40 - Matt shares some of the bands he's most excited about right now, including Coco Columbia and Grammies.
30:30 - Record producer Tucker Martine talks about the sonic qualities of jazz recordings, and how he incorporates them into the seminal indie pop records he’s produced as well as Grammy-nominated records for Bill Frissell.
39:25 - Plus Matt shares some picks for the upcoming PDX Jazz Festival.

Matt is one of our favorite guys. In addition to his knowledge of jazz, he's an avid advocate for visual arts. Fun fact: he knows a ton about skateboard film. And he's got a broad view of how music works in industry and culture.]]>2586falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/past-and-future-tense-a-jazz-roundtable--11560389
Tension is good, in a creative sense, right? But you can't help but notice how these dyad has driven some of the most ferocious conversations about the nature of jazz, and the rightful path for the American art form.

Witness the fury over Stanley Crouch and James Mtume's epic head-to-head about Miles Davis' electric period, provided here (with added commentary from the always-excellent Ta-Nehisi Coates). Crouch basically suggests Davis was pressured by label execs to go for a broader audience. Mtume insists the decision to plug in was an artistic one, born of "technical exhaustion". It's a sample of a debate that consumes both fans and musicians.

With Matt's help, we lined up three musicians who share very different views on the subject.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560389Sat, 14 Feb 2015 21:04:49 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, our guest curator, Matt Fleeger got us thinking about the tensions between jazz's glorious history and its relentless drive toward the great new sounds. Tension is good, in a creative sense, right? But you can't help but notice how these...
Tension is good, in a creative sense, right? But you can't help but notice how these dyad has driven some of the most ferocious conversations about the nature of jazz, and the rightful path for the American art form.

Witness the fury over Stanley Crouch and James Mtume's epic head-to-head about Miles Davis' electric period, provided here (with added commentary from the always-excellent Ta-Nehisi Coates). Crouch basically suggests Davis was pressured by label execs to go for a broader audience. Mtume insists the decision to plug in was an artistic one, born of "technical exhaustion". It's a sample of a debate that consumes both fans and musicians.

With Matt's help, we lined up three musicians who share very different views on the subject.]]>802art,music,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/matt-fleeger-confessions-of-the-reluctant-jazz-guy--11560385
He's one of our favorite guys around the building. As program director of our sister station, KMHD Jazz Radio, he oversees what goes on air and works with dozens of volunteer hosts to keep operations bouncing along. His sensibility brings together respect for straight-ahead jazz classics with huge enthusiasm for forward-thinking sounds — especially those originating in the Portland scene.

Matt doesn't brag about it, but under his direction, KMHD has grown a lot. In 2012, "Jazz Times" magazine named it "Station of the Year." Matt's also written articles for NPR Music on various subjects, including Portland's progressive scene.

We asked him about how he tackles programming for a format that encompasses so many sounds, from trad jazz and ragtime to hard bop to big bands to fusion to free jazz to funk. The first thing he did was show us this clip, which had us on the floor.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560385Sat, 14 Feb 2015 21:22:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhen Matt Fleeger agreed to be our guest curator this week, we knew we'd struck gold. He's one of our favorite guys around the building. As program director of our sister station, KMHD Jazz Radio, he oversees what goes on air and works with dozens of...
He's one of our favorite guys around the building. As program director of our sister station, KMHD Jazz Radio, he oversees what goes on air and works with dozens of volunteer hosts to keep operations bouncing along. His sensibility brings together respect for straight-ahead jazz classics with huge enthusiasm for forward-thinking sounds — especially those originating in the Portland scene.

Matt doesn't brag about it, but under his direction, KMHD has grown a lot. In 2012, "Jazz Times" magazine named it "Station of the Year." Matt's also written articles for NPR Music on various subjects, including Portland's progressive scene.

We asked him about how he tackles programming for a format that encompasses so many sounds, from trad jazz and ragtime to hard bop to big bands to fusion to free jazz to funk. The first thing he did was show us this clip, which had us on the floor.]]>622jazz,music,opb,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tucker-martine-on-state-of-wonder--11560383https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560383Sun, 15 Feb 2015 15:18:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn talking with this week's guest curator, Matt Fleeger, we got to thinking about the pervasive influence of jazz on other genres. Sometimes it manifests in unexpected ways. Matt suggested we get in touch with record producer Tucker Martine. He's...557art,music,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-feb-21-2015-pam-curator-search-bibi-mcgill-carson-ellis-hailey-niswanger--11544338Melissa Lowery's new doc"Black Girl In Suburbia"
Oregon Art Beat tracks down Bibi McGill.
Survey:attitudes toward arts and culture.
Illustrator Carson Ellis
PAM's curatorial search
Saxophonist Hailey Niswanger]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544338Fri, 20 Feb 2015 02:08:36 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOscar previews Melissa Lowery's new doc"Black Girl In Suburbia" Oregon Art Beat tracks down Bibi McGill. Survey:attitudes toward arts and culture. Illustrator Carson Ellis PAM's curatorial search Saxophonist Hailey NiswangerMelissa Lowery's new doc"Black Girl In Suburbia"
Oregon Art Beat tracks down Bibi McGill.
Survey:attitudes toward arts and culture.
Illustrator Carson Ellis
PAM's curatorial search
Saxophonist Hailey Niswanger]]>3199falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/perspectives-on-pam-search--11560393https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560393Sat, 21 Feb 2015 15:27:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingCurator/artist Kristan Kennedy, gallerist Elizabeth Leach, and collector Sarah Miller Meigs share perspectives on Portland Art Museum's search for a new curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. Also, PAM director Brian Ferriso on the search status.377falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/carson-ellis-a-vision-of-home--11560379https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560379Wed, 25 Feb 2015 14:02:02 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe celebrated artist behind the Wildwood books and The Decemberists’s album covers releases her first children’s book.452state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-feb-28-2015-blond-poison-billy-childs-roman-mars-more--1154433103:12 "Blond Poison"
08:30 Edwidge Danticat from Portland Arts and Lectures
16:24 Requiem for a Carpet: Rendered + 99% Invisible
29:37 opbmusic's Stagepass with Summer Cannibals.
32:11 Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made.
38:24 Kareem Abdul-Jabar's new book
39:53 Billy Childs tribute to Laura Nyro.
47:40 Kevin Irving of Oregon Ballet Theatre.
49:07 DeConnick & Fraction to develop TV shows]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544331Fri, 27 Feb 2015 20:08:37 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting00:41 Governor Kate Brown on arts? 03:12 "Blond Poison" 08:30 Edwidge Danticat from Portland Arts and Lectures 16:24 Requiem for a Carpet: Rendered + 99% Invisible 29:37 opbmusic's Stagepass with Summer Cannibals. 32:11 Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were...03:12 "Blond Poison"
08:30 Edwidge Danticat from Portland Arts and Lectures
16:24 Requiem for a Carpet: Rendered + 99% Invisible
29:37 opbmusic's Stagepass with Summer Cannibals.
32:11 Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made.
38:24 Kareem Abdul-Jabar's new book
39:53 Billy Childs tribute to Laura Nyro.
47:40 Kevin Irving of Oregon Ballet Theatre.
49:07 DeConnick & Fraction to develop TV shows]]>3151falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/checking-in-with-brian-rogers--11560418https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560418Fri, 27 Feb 2015 21:09:29 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA few minutes with the executive director of the Oregon Arts Commission.326falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/blond-poison-the-wyden-family-story--11560414https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560414Fri, 27 Feb 2015 21:37:33 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingVerona Studio's new production, and its connection with Oregon Senator Ron Wyden's late father.308falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/temperature-check--11560378https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560378Fri, 27 Feb 2015 21:43:37 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNew Governor? Legislative session in progress? A few quick hits on what's happening with arts and culture policy in Salem.154falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-mar-7-2015-kim-gordon-ursula-le-guin-geronimo-johnson-edna-vazquez-more--11544329 1:09 - Sonic Youth bassist, vocalist and co-founder Kim Gordon has a new memoir about being on the front lines of rock called "Girl in a Band." We'll talk to fans about Gordon's pervasive legacy.
7:28 - Ursula K Le Guin talks about where ideas come from as part of Literary Arts Archives Project.
13:00 - A venerated slash metal guitarist from Japan strays into unfamiliar territory with Portland singer-songwriter Casey Neil.
18:25 - Photographer Motoya Nakamura documents the beautiful change of the cherry blossoms downtown for a show at the Nikkei Center.
20:47 - We check in with cellist-in-residence Nancy Ives.
25:50 - No Passengers plays a Stagepass set for opbmusic, who sat down with frontwoman and solo artist Edna Vazquez.
33:10 - Geronimo Johnson discusses his new novel — a story about four college students whose experiment in activism goes nightmarishly wrong. One reviewer called it "the funniest send-up of identity politics ... in years.”
38:00 - The MUSE Women's Conference is happening in Bend this weekend, and we get some poetry from speaker Marquesha Babers, who used words and rhythm to deal with her early years living on the streets.
44:25 - Artist Rodrigo Valenzuela didn’t want to photograph other cities’ urban ruins, so he built his own. We’ll visit his show at Upfor Gallery and talk about his new work.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544329Sat, 07 Mar 2015 00:14:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe flowers are abloom, and so are the arts. Get out, get out, while the sun's still shining, and turn up the volume with these stories: 1:09 - Sonic Youth bassist, vocalist and co-founder Kim Gordon has a new memoir about being on the front lines... 1:09 - Sonic Youth bassist, vocalist and co-founder Kim Gordon has a new memoir about being on the front lines of rock called "Girl in a Band." We'll talk to fans about Gordon's pervasive legacy.
7:28 - Ursula K Le Guin talks about where ideas come from as part of Literary Arts Archives Project.
13:00 - A venerated slash metal guitarist from Japan strays into unfamiliar territory with Portland singer-songwriter Casey Neil.
18:25 - Photographer Motoya Nakamura documents the beautiful change of the cherry blossoms downtown for a show at the Nikkei Center.
20:47 - We check in with cellist-in-residence Nancy Ives.
25:50 - No Passengers plays a Stagepass set for opbmusic, who sat down with frontwoman and solo artist Edna Vazquez.
33:10 - Geronimo Johnson discusses his new novel — a story about four college students whose experiment in activism goes nightmarishly wrong. One reviewer called it "the funniest send-up of identity politics ... in years.”
38:00 - The MUSE Women's Conference is happening in Bend this weekend, and we get some poetry from speaker Marquesha Babers, who used words and rhythm to deal with her early years living on the streets.
44:25 - Artist Rodrigo Valenzuela didn’t want to photograph other cities’ urban ruins, so he built his own. We’ll visit his show at Upfor Gallery and talk about his new work.]]>3025falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/geronimo-johnson-welcomes-you-to-braggsville--11560411https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560411Sat, 07 Mar 2015 03:17:16 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNovelist Geronimo Johnson has been teaching for years - at Iowa, OSU Cascades, and elsewhere. His new satirical novel sends up academia, racial politics, and more.282falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/big-bridges-span-gulf-between-portland-and-tokyo--11560376https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560376Sat, 07 Mar 2015 03:28:04 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting314falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/motoya-nakamura-s-sakura-sakura--11560374http://www.oregonnikkei.org/exhibits.htm#exhibit]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560374Fri, 13 Mar 2015 16:34:47 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPhotographer Motoya Nakamura's new show is Sakura Sakura. Here's a link if you'd like to see them in person. http://www.oregonnikkei.org/exhibits.htm#exhibithttp://www.oregonnikkei.org/exhibits.htm#exhibit]]>115falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hollywood-theatre-resurrects-70mm-film-with-2001-a-space-odyssey--11560370
But chances are you haven’t seen and heard it the way it was supposed to screen: in the exceptionally crisp, immersive and gargantuan 70 millimeter format. The film has all but vanished since the early ‘90s. But after a countrywide cinematic treasure hunt of sorts, the Hollywood Theater — on the march to becoming one of the most dynamic movie houses in the country — is bringing the storied 70mm format back to life with four screenings of the classic next weekend. The first three sold out immediately, and the fourth, on March 23 at 2pm, goes on sale today.

“I don’t know if I appreciated [the movie] that much until it showed in 70mm in 1991 at Cinemagic,” says projection technician Joel Miller, who owns NW Projection and has played an instrumental role at the Hollywood in tracking down all the sprockets, lenses, and film gates necessary to screen the film. “That was an experience that I will never forget. That made me realize this is only way to see this movie.”

Read our full story.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560370Fri, 13 Mar 2015 18:24:11 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhether you’ve seen Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi epic “2001: A Space Odyssey” or not, you know its cultural traces. There’s the opening music (actually a work by Richard Strauss). There’s the monotone, disembodied voice of Hal: “I'm sorry, Dave. I'm...
But chances are you haven’t seen and heard it the way it was supposed to screen: in the exceptionally crisp, immersive and gargantuan 70 millimeter format. The film has all but vanished since the early ‘90s. But after a countrywide cinematic treasure hunt of sorts, the Hollywood Theater — on the march to becoming one of the most dynamic movie houses in the country — is bringing the storied 70mm format back to life with four screenings of the classic next weekend. The first three sold out immediately, and the fourth, on March 23 at 2pm, goes on sale today.

“I don’t know if I appreciated [the movie] that much until it showed in 70mm in 1991 at Cinemagic,” says projection technician Joel Miller, who owns NW Projection and has played an instrumental role at the Hollywood in tracking down all the sprockets, lenses, and film gates necessary to screen the film. “That was an experience that I will never forget. That made me realize this is only way to see this movie.”

Read our full story.]]>5332001,film,movie,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-mar-14-2015-hollywood-theater-nicholas-payton-ural-thomas-more--11544328
1:13 - Oregonian reporter Bryan Denson tells us about a breaking art forgery caper.
5:34 - The Hollywood Theatre raises the curtain on its new 70mm projection system with "2001: A Space Odyssey." We hear about the treasure hunt behind tracking down the now defunct technology. Well, almost defunct: the Hollywood might just debut Quentin Tarantino's new film with it, too
15:29 - New in paperback: Rene Denfeld's affecting novel of prison life,"The Enchanted."
23:49 - KMHD sits down with Nicholas Payton for "A Jazz Life."
27:26 - More details on which historic figures will represent Oregon at the National Statuary Hall Collection.
33:23 - Feast on an opbmusic session with Ural Thomas & the Pain as the band goes on tour around the state for McMenamins' Great NW Music Tour.
37:28 - Painter Roger Shimomura's vibrant, provocative show at Hallie Ford Museum.
46:19 - A new story collection called "The Uncanny Reader" walks the line with “possibly supernatural” fiction.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544328Fri, 13 Mar 2015 21:48:35 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEverything looks different this week somehow — bigger, brighter, more vivid. Is it us? A new projector? A bird? A plane? Or is it the Wonder? Come hear what we have for you: 1:13 - Oregonian reporter Bryan Denson tells us about a breaking art...
1:13 - Oregonian reporter Bryan Denson tells us about a breaking art forgery caper.
5:34 - The Hollywood Theatre raises the curtain on its new 70mm projection system with "2001: A Space Odyssey." We hear about the treasure hunt behind tracking down the now defunct technology. Well, almost defunct: the Hollywood might just debut Quentin Tarantino's new film with it, too
15:29 - New in paperback: Rene Denfeld's affecting novel of prison life,"The Enchanted."
23:49 - KMHD sits down with Nicholas Payton for "A Jazz Life."
27:26 - More details on which historic figures will represent Oregon at the National Statuary Hall Collection.
33:23 - Feast on an opbmusic session with Ural Thomas & the Pain as the band goes on tour around the state for McMenamins' Great NW Music Tour.
37:28 - Painter Roger Shimomura's vibrant, provocative show at Hallie Ford Museum.
46:19 - A new story collection called "The Uncanny Reader" walks the line with “possibly supernatural” fiction.]]>3167falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/meet-the-guest-curator-damaso-rodriguez--11560377https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560377Tue, 17 Mar 2015 00:46:10 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe artistic director of Artists Repertory Theatre has big ideas about the role theater can play in the community. He's also developed vanguard new ways for creating community within his theater. Take a listen, get acquainted, then tune in Saturday...408falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-blues--11560371https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560371Fri, 20 Mar 2015 16:22:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLast night's taping at Artists Rep Theatre was a blast. And the icing on the cake? The musical stylings of Bourbon Jockey. The band includes Matthew Jones, managing director of Profile Theatre, and Ross McKeen, managing director of Oregon Childrens...284falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-tenuous-business-frank-talk-about-actors-money-and-systems-of-support--11561189https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561189Fri, 20 Mar 2015 21:20:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThree actors talk about facing down financial difficulty. Also, our guest curator Dámaso Rodriguez discusses the system of support Artists Rep is creating with its Resident Artists company.590falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/march-21-guest-curator-damaso-rodriguez-live-at-artists-repertory-theatre--11544325
The longest-running company in town has hit a creative artery. Under the artistic direction of Dámaso Rodriguez, the theater has both expanded its resident artist company from five people to more than 20 and opened its doors to eight other performing organizations, from Profile Theatre and Hand2Mouth to Portland Revels and the Risk/Reward Festival.

And at the center of what everyone's now calling "The ArtsHub" is Rodriguez. He's on a mission, and he lays it out for us this hour as guest curator.

0:00 - Rodriguez moved to Portland two years ago from Los Angeles, where he co-founded Furious Theatre Company and worked as associate artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse. He tells us about his original plans to grow Artists Rep's resident artists company — and how it's going thus far.

8:39 - Musical interlude by the band Bourbon Jockey

10:00 - So much is going on in the ArtsHub everyday, that we wanted to dive in to see what a day-in-the-life of the building is like. So we sent three producers to travel from dress rehearsals to the buzzing scene shop. We descended into "The Dungeon" in search of a dragon costume, before joining a roomful of singing and dancing teenagers. The result is this behind-the-scenes radio documentary. Needless to say, there wasn't a quiet minute.

30:09 - We ask Rodriguez what he was thinking inviting so many organizations under one roof (because it seems just a little crazy) and whether it's a model for nonprofits moving forward.

33:22 - Musical interlude from Bourbon Jockey

35:04 - Three working actors take us through what it takes to make a living, and Rodriguez tells us how he hopes the resident artists program might change things.

44:54 - Finally, we check in with award-winning playwright Andrea Stolowitz, who's currently in Berlin, and Rodriguez tells us about Artists Rep's ambitious program to commission eight new plays.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544325Fri, 20 Mar 2015 22:43:24 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, we take you behind-the-scenes at one of the city's most dynamic theaters, Artists Repertory Theatre, with a show recorded in front of a live audience on the Alder Stage. The longest-running company in town has hit a creative artery. Under...
The longest-running company in town has hit a creative artery. Under the artistic direction of Dámaso Rodriguez, the theater has both expanded its resident artist company from five people to more than 20 and opened its doors to eight other performing organizations, from Profile Theatre and Hand2Mouth to Portland Revels and the Risk/Reward Festival.

And at the center of what everyone's now calling "The ArtsHub" is Rodriguez. He's on a mission, and he lays it out for us this hour as guest curator.

0:00 - Rodriguez moved to Portland two years ago from Los Angeles, where he co-founded Furious Theatre Company and worked as associate artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse. He tells us about his original plans to grow Artists Rep's resident artists company — and how it's going thus far.

8:39 - Musical interlude by the band Bourbon Jockey

10:00 - So much is going on in the ArtsHub everyday, that we wanted to dive in to see what a day-in-the-life of the building is like. So we sent three producers to travel from dress rehearsals to the buzzing scene shop. We descended into "The Dungeon" in search of a dragon costume, before joining a roomful of singing and dancing teenagers. The result is this behind-the-scenes radio documentary. Needless to say, there wasn't a quiet minute.

30:09 - We ask Rodriguez what he was thinking inviting so many organizations under one roof (because it seems just a little crazy) and whether it's a model for nonprofits moving forward.

33:22 - Musical interlude from Bourbon Jockey

35:04 - Three working actors take us through what it takes to make a living, and Rodriguez tells us how he hopes the resident artists program might change things.

44:54 - Finally, we check in with award-winning playwright Andrea Stolowitz, who's currently in Berlin, and Rodriguez tells us about Artists Rep's ambitious program to commission eight new plays.]]>3143falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/giving-props-natalie-heikkinen-of-artists-repertory-theatre--11560372https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560372Fri, 20 Mar 2015 23:03:19 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTouring around Artist Rep's ArtsHub, one of our favorite moments was hanging out with prop master Natalie Heikkinen332falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/catching-up-with-andrea-stolowitz--11561200(photo credit: Sabine Samiee)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561200Sat, 21 Mar 2015 00:15:19 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA few minutes with one of Oregon's best-known playwrights, Andrea Stolowitz. (photo credit: Sabine Samiee)(photo credit: Sabine Samiee)]]>1291falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/radio-documentary-a-day-in-the-life-of-artists-rep-s-artshub--11560366
On any given day, there're plays opening, rehearsals rehearsing, scene shop saws buzzing, students singing, and pigeons making googly eyes.

We sent three producers to spend an entire day at the building exploring everything that was happening, from the first person in to the last person to turn out the lights, and this behind-the-scenes documentary is the result.

Host April Baer introduces the ArtsHub — along with our ArtsHub drinking game.

00:52 - Artists Rep artistic producer Shawn Lee is the first in most days. He circles the building looking for new graffiti and trash, and then heads in to deal with production notes from the previous evening's opening preview of "The Invisible Hand."

3:09 - Production director Brent Sullivan takes April down to the scene shop, where they're building the set for "The Price," and then into the Alder Stage, where they're hanging lights. (She also stopped in to learn about making breakable vases and blood splatters with prop master Natalie Heikkinen. Hear it here.)

6:22 - While machines fire in the belly of the building, producer Aaron Scott heads upstairs to the Artists Rep offices. Jerry Tischleder, the artistic director of the Risk/Reward Festival, plays air traffic control; pigeons soundtrack inner monologues; and managing director Sarah Horton squints and tries to figure out how to make it all work financially.

8:40 - In the lobby, curators of the Geezer Gallery are hanging artwork. Production assistant Phoebe Flanigan asks what exactly make a geezer, before heading down to "The Dungeon" with Portland Revels in search of a dragon.

11:20 - Host April Baer hangs out with Profile Theatre artistic director Adriana Baer (no relation). As the biggest tenant, Profile served as a lynchpin for the Artshub, putting on its shows between Artists Rep's shows, filling both theaters year round. And now Adriana is finding new ways to cross-pollinate: she's directing "The Price" for Artists Rep.

14:12 - On the other side of the building, a group of teenagers are singing fearlessly at the musical theater conservatory Staged. Being in the building means they're getting to see what it means to succeed in the theater.

16:02 - We head to one of the final rehearsals for "The Invisible Hand," which had its first preview the night before. The play is a tense economic thriller that has been four years in the making for director Allen Nause. Listen to his conversation on "Think Out Loud" with the Pulitzer-winning playwright, Ayad Akhtar, and lead actor Imran Sheikh.

17:55 - As "The Invisible Hand" actors warm up for the show (for resident artist John San Nicholas, that means rapping in a Pakistani dialect), the audience starts to crowd into the lobby and file into the theater. Then after the show, the production assistants reset the stage, and the janitor starts his circuit.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560366Sat, 21 Mar 2015 17:46:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingShared workspace is all the rage with start-ups, artisans, and freelancers these days, but does it work for arts nonprofits? Artists Repertory Theatre is finding out. It has invited eight other theater-related organizations to cozy up in an experiment...
On any given day, there're plays opening, rehearsals rehearsing, scene shop saws buzzing, students singing, and pigeons making googly eyes.

We sent three producers to spend an entire day at the building exploring everything that was happening, from the first person in to the last person to turn out the lights, and this behind-the-scenes documentary is the result.

Host April Baer introduces the ArtsHub — along with our ArtsHub drinking game.

00:52 - Artists Rep artistic producer Shawn Lee is the first in most days. He circles the building looking for new graffiti and trash, and then heads in to deal with production notes from the previous evening's opening preview of "The Invisible Hand."

3:09 - Production director Brent Sullivan takes April down to the scene shop, where they're building the set for "The Price," and then into the Alder Stage, where they're hanging lights. (She also stopped in to learn about making breakable vases and blood splatters with prop master Natalie Heikkinen. Hear it here.)

6:22 - While machines fire in the belly of the building, producer Aaron Scott heads upstairs to the Artists Rep offices. Jerry Tischleder, the artistic director of the Risk/Reward Festival, plays air traffic control; pigeons soundtrack inner monologues; and managing director Sarah Horton squints and tries to figure out how to make it all work financially.

8:40 - In the lobby, curators of the Geezer Gallery are hanging artwork. Production assistant Phoebe Flanigan asks what exactly make a geezer, before heading down to "The Dungeon" with Portland Revels in search of a dragon.

11:20 - Host April Baer hangs out with Profile Theatre artistic director Adriana Baer (no relation). As the biggest tenant, Profile served as a lynchpin for the Artshub, putting on its shows between Artists Rep's shows, filling both theaters year round. And now Adriana is finding new ways to cross-pollinate: she's directing "The Price" for Artists Rep.

14:12 - On the other side of the building, a group of teenagers are singing fearlessly at the musical theater conservatory Staged. Being in the building means they're getting to see what it means to succeed in the theater.

16:02 - We head to one of the final rehearsals for "The Invisible Hand," which had its first preview the night before. The play is a tense economic thriller that has been four years in the making for director Allen Nause. Listen to his conversation on "Think Out Loud" with the Pulitzer-winning playwright, Ayad Akhtar, and lead actor Imran Sheikh.

17:55 - As "The Invisible Hand" actors warm up for the show (for resident artist John San Nicholas, that means rapping in a Pakistani dialect), the audience starts to crowd into the lobby and file into the theater. Then after the show, the production assistants reset the stage, and the janitor starts his circuit.]]>1401falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-mar-28-2015-the-fiction-episode-willy-vlautin-smith-henderson-cari-luna-more--11544324
The group is made up of three debut novelists, two poets, and one past winner of the fiction prize. We've talked with three of them before, and we brought the other two into the studio to round out the cohort.

1:20 - Willy Vlautin is as skilled and prolific a polyglot as they come. His band Richmond Fontaine has released 10 studio albums; he’s penned four critically acclaimed novels including “Lean on Pete” which won both the Oregon Book Awards’ fiction prize and Reader’s Choice Award in 2011. Hollywood made a movie out of his first book, “The Motel Life.” In this conversation he tells us why he continues to write about hard-luck characters in "The Free" and what it is like to write bar songs for his new band, The Delines, who play Thursday, April 16 at Kelly’s Olympian in Portland.

11:35 - Cari Luna started writing her novel “The Revolution of Everyday” as a Dear John Letter to New York City. She was born there and lived there on and off until 2007, when she just couldn’t afford to stay any longer. Then, after she moved to Portland and got some distance, the book became a love letter as well. It’s about a group of squatters in New York City’s Lower East Side in the ‘90s.

20:11 - Smith Henderson's "Fourth of July Creek" was one of the biggest debuts last summer and made it onto best books lists everywhere from the “Washington Post” to “Entertainment Weekly.” It was so successful, in fact, that Henderson quit his job, moved to Los Angeles, and has three new novels in the works. In this conversation he talks with Dave Miller on "Think Out Loud."

32:00 - Amy Schutzer began writing poetry as a college student. Since then, she’s published numerable poems, a chapbook, and now two novels. Her newest, “Spheres of Disturbance,” is the kind of book that had the Lambda Literary reviewer weeping openly for the beauty of it and the questions it raised.

41:10 - Since we last talked with poet Lindsay Hill about his wildly ambitious debut novel, “Sea of Hooks,” the book won the Pen Center USA Fiction Award, was a finalist for the Chautauqua Prize, and made a number of top 10 lists, from “New York” magazine to “Publishers Weekly” (in fact, “Publishers Weekly” named it the Most Underrated Book of 2013). He tells us about how the book took more than 20 years and five thousand pages to write.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544324Fri, 27 Mar 2015 15:58:45 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe’ve got a special show for you this week: it’s the Wonder homage to fiction. With the Oregon Book Awards coming up on April 13, we spend the hour with the five finalists for the Ken Kesey Award for Fiction. The group is made up of three debut...
The group is made up of three debut novelists, two poets, and one past winner of the fiction prize. We've talked with three of them before, and we brought the other two into the studio to round out the cohort.

1:20 - Willy Vlautin is as skilled and prolific a polyglot as they come. His band Richmond Fontaine has released 10 studio albums; he’s penned four critically acclaimed novels including “Lean on Pete” which won both the Oregon Book Awards’ fiction prize and Reader’s Choice Award in 2011. Hollywood made a movie out of his first book, “The Motel Life.” In this conversation he tells us why he continues to write about hard-luck characters in "The Free" and what it is like to write bar songs for his new band, The Delines, who play Thursday, April 16 at Kelly’s Olympian in Portland.

11:35 - Cari Luna started writing her novel “The Revolution of Everyday” as a Dear John Letter to New York City. She was born there and lived there on and off until 2007, when she just couldn’t afford to stay any longer. Then, after she moved to Portland and got some distance, the book became a love letter as well. It’s about a group of squatters in New York City’s Lower East Side in the ‘90s.

20:11 - Smith Henderson's "Fourth of July Creek" was one of the biggest debuts last summer and made it onto best books lists everywhere from the “Washington Post” to “Entertainment Weekly.” It was so successful, in fact, that Henderson quit his job, moved to Los Angeles, and has three new novels in the works. In this conversation he talks with Dave Miller on "Think Out Loud."

32:00 - Amy Schutzer began writing poetry as a college student. Since then, she’s published numerable poems, a chapbook, and now two novels. Her newest, “Spheres of Disturbance,” is the kind of book that had the Lambda Literary reviewer weeping openly for the beauty of it and the questions it raised.

41:10 - Since we last talked with poet Lindsay Hill about his wildly ambitious debut novel, “Sea of Hooks,” the book won the Pen Center USA Fiction Award, was a finalist for the Chautauqua Prize, and made a number of top 10 lists, from “New York” magazine to “Publishers Weekly” (in fact, “Publishers Weekly” named it the Most Underrated Book of 2013). He tells us about how the book took more than 20 years and five thousand pages to write.]]>3070falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cari-luna-on-the-revolution-of-everyday--11560362
The story is about a group of people squatting in New York City’s Lower East Side in the ‘90s. It was the early days of gentrification, when then Mayor Rudy Guliani was cracking down on squats, meaning the characters are living under constant threat that their building will get torn down.

Now the novel is one of five finalists for the Oregon Book Award’s Ken Kesey Award for Fiction. You can hear our conversations with the other four finalists in our Fiction Episode.

In this extended interview, we cover a range of topics:

What Luna wanted to write about
“What came first was the idea of how new york had changed in the time I’d been there and gentrification.”

Gentrification
“It’s one thing to move into a neighborhood that already has an existing population and culture and try to fit yourself into that and join the neighborhood and be part of the community. It’s another thing to try to change the neighborhood to resemble what you came from.”

Occupy Wall Street
“It was wonderful to see there was a genuine appetite for radical protest in the country. It was really disheartening, though unsurprising, to see how it was squashed. My daughter…was eighteen months old when the Portland campus cleared, and I had been going down there for general assembly that day. We watched the Occupy Portland get evicted from a safe distance, because she was a little one. That was hard and really disappointing. I thought we were placed in a moment where real change might happen”

New York and Portland’s fights for affordable housing
“I feel a little guilty as a transplant from New York. Though I think we are less vilified than the transplants from California. I’m hoping that Portland does a better job at protecting its citizens and its housing than New York has…”

And here’s Luna’s full reading that we excerpted in the Fiction Episode.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560362Sat, 28 Mar 2015 17:24:11 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingCari Luna originally started writing her debut novel, “The Revolution of Everyday,” as a Dear John Letter to New York City. She was born there and lived there on and off until 2007, when she just couldn’t afford to stay any longer. But after she moved...
The story is about a group of people squatting in New York City’s Lower East Side in the ‘90s. It was the early days of gentrification, when then Mayor Rudy Guliani was cracking down on squats, meaning the characters are living under constant threat that their building will get torn down.

Now the novel is one of five finalists for the Oregon Book Award’s Ken Kesey Award for Fiction. You can hear our conversations with the other four finalists in our Fiction Episode.

In this extended interview, we cover a range of topics:

What Luna wanted to write about
“What came first was the idea of how new york had changed in the time I’d been there and gentrification.”

Gentrification
“It’s one thing to move into a neighborhood that already has an existing population and culture and try to fit yourself into that and join the neighborhood and be part of the community. It’s another thing to try to change the neighborhood to resemble what you came from.”

Occupy Wall Street
“It was wonderful to see there was a genuine appetite for radical protest in the country. It was really disheartening, though unsurprising, to see how it was squashed. My daughter…was eighteen months old when the Portland campus cleared, and I had been going down there for general assembly that day. We watched the Occupy Portland get evicted from a safe distance, because she was a little one. That was hard and really disappointing. I thought we were placed in a moment where real change might happen”

New York and Portland’s fights for affordable housing
“I feel a little guilty as a transplant from New York. Though I think we are less vilified than the transplants from California. I’m hoping that Portland does a better job at protecting its citizens and its housing than New York has…”

And here’s Luna’s full reading that we excerpted in the Fiction Episode.]]>882arts & entertainment,books,podcast,radio,state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cari-luna-reading-from-the-revolution-of-everyday--11560361https://soundcloud.com/opb-state-of-wonder/cari-luna-on-the-revolution-of-everyday.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560361Sat, 28 Mar 2015 17:29:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNovelist Cari Luna reads an excerpt from her debut "The Revolution of Everyday." You can hear our full conversation with Luna here: https://soundcloud.com/opb-state-of-wonder/cari-luna-on-the-revolution-of-everyday.https://soundcloud.com/opb-state-of-wonder/cari-luna-on-the-revolution-of-everyday.]]>369arts & entertainment,books,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/damien-rice-on-state-of-wonder--11560396http://www.portland5.com/keller-auditorium/events/damien-rice]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560396Thu, 02 Apr 2015 23:37:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNew sounds from Rice - his first record in eight years. We talk with him about getting back int he studio and working with Rick Rubin. He'll be in Portland April 20th. Info's over here! http://www.portland5.com/keller-auditorium/events/damien-ricehttp://www.portland5.com/keller-auditorium/events/damien-rice]]>436falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-apr-4-2015-damien-rice-portland-photo-month-third-rail-rep-lost-lander-more--11544322
1:30 - Damien Rice talks about finding his way back to music with "My Favorite Faded Fantasy," a much-anticipated record — and his first in eight years. He's at the Keller Auditorium on April 20th.

8:45 - We drop in on a rehearsal with two of Portland's best known actors, Isaac Lamb and Rebecca Lingafelter. They have a growing body of collaborations (they seem to always play either lovers or siblings), including Third Rail Repertory Theatre's new production, "Belleville," which they perform in the evenings while Lamb directs Lingafelter in rehearsals for the one-woman show "Grounded" by day.

18:10 - We update the case of Larry Ulvi, the Portland man who's accused of wire fraud. Prosecutors say they believe he forged works by Mark Tobey and other artists.

22:05 - As part of Portland Photo Month, we talk with two excellent artists with shows this month. Photographer Colleen Plumb explores the relationships between humans, animals, and the natural world at Blue Sky Gallery. Meanwhile, David Hilliard's emotionally charged portraits of people in natural settings at Elizabeth Leach Gallery walk the line between autobiography and fabrication.

36:30 - An opbmusic session with Lost Lander. They've got a date in Eugene April 11th.

43:27 - Think Out Loud introduced a new series this week: TOL in the Tub, because thinking and conversation just go better in a body of warm water. Serious. Well, not really. It was an April Fool's joke and a wonderful improvisational romp with sketch comic Shelley McLendon.

For more about these stories and links to their events, visit our site: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-apr-4-2015/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544322Fri, 03 Apr 2015 22:01:04 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWonderous sounds this week! And feasts for the eyes, too. 1:30 - Damien Rice talks about finding his way back to music with "My Favorite Faded Fantasy," a much-anticipated record — and his first in eight years. He's at the Keller Auditorium on April...
1:30 - Damien Rice talks about finding his way back to music with "My Favorite Faded Fantasy," a much-anticipated record — and his first in eight years. He's at the Keller Auditorium on April 20th.

8:45 - We drop in on a rehearsal with two of Portland's best known actors, Isaac Lamb and Rebecca Lingafelter. They have a growing body of collaborations (they seem to always play either lovers or siblings), including Third Rail Repertory Theatre's new production, "Belleville," which they perform in the evenings while Lamb directs Lingafelter in rehearsals for the one-woman show "Grounded" by day.

18:10 - We update the case of Larry Ulvi, the Portland man who's accused of wire fraud. Prosecutors say they believe he forged works by Mark Tobey and other artists.

22:05 - As part of Portland Photo Month, we talk with two excellent artists with shows this month. Photographer Colleen Plumb explores the relationships between humans, animals, and the natural world at Blue Sky Gallery. Meanwhile, David Hilliard's emotionally charged portraits of people in natural settings at Elizabeth Leach Gallery walk the line between autobiography and fabrication.

36:30 - An opbmusic session with Lost Lander. They've got a date in Eugene April 11th.

43:27 - Think Out Loud introduced a new series this week: TOL in the Tub, because thinking and conversation just go better in a body of warm water. Serious. Well, not really. It was an April Fool's joke and a wonderful improvisational romp with sketch comic Shelley McLendon.

For more about these stories and links to their events, visit our site: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-apr-4-2015/]]>3086falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/trial-date-set-for-forgery-case--11560364https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560364Fri, 03 Apr 2015 23:32:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAn update on the art forgery case that popped up in Portland last month.236falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fact-fiction-two-perspectives-on-photography--11561181https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561181Fri, 03 Apr 2015 23:46:20 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPhotographers David Hilliard and Colleen Plumb talk about their respective shows at Elizabeth Leach Gallery and Blue Sky Gallery this month. (The image to the side is merely one section of a David Hilliard triptych. We STRONGLY recommend going to see...849falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/third-rail-highlights-two-of-portland-s-most-collaborative-actors--11567839
They were on-again, off-again lovers in the Apple Family cycle of plays at Third Rail. They were siblings in “Three Sisters” at Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble last year. And now, they’re doing two projects in tandem. They’re playing husband and wife in “Belleville" by night, and by day Lamb is directing Lingafelter in a one-woman show called “Grounded” that opens shortly after “Belleville” closes.

Read the full story at: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/third-rail-rep-highlights-two-of-portlands-most-collaborative-actors]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567839Sat, 04 Apr 2015 00:43:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThird Rail Repertory Theatre's production of “Belleville” is a complex, Hitchockian-style psychological thriller by hotshot playwright Amy Herzog. But what caught our eyes was its pairing of actors. Isaac Lamb and Rebecca Lingafelter are both highly...
They were on-again, off-again lovers in the Apple Family cycle of plays at Third Rail. They were siblings in “Three Sisters” at Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble last year. And now, they’re doing two projects in tandem. They’re playing husband and wife in “Belleville" by night, and by day Lamb is directing Lingafelter in a one-woman show called “Grounded” that opens shortly after “Belleville” closes.

Read the full story at: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/third-rail-rep-highlights-two-of-portlands-most-collaborative-actors]]>524art,arts & entertainment,post rock,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-apr-11-2015-sleater-kinney-essential-gus-van-sant-samantha-wall-obt-more--11544321
1:15 - Sleater-Kinney joins us in the studio. All three members. Swoon.

19:35 - The NW Film Center kicks off the festival Essential Gus Van Sant (and His Influences). Film critic Shawn Levy and writer Mario Falsetto, author of "Conversations with Gus Van Sant," join us in the studio to talk about Portland's cinematic bard.

29:07 - A crazy indie-choir crossover strikes April 18 when local musicians Alan Singley and Sama Dams joins forces with the 150-voice Camas High School choir to perform new works by local bands and international composers. It's called "Joined Voices."

37:30 - "Oregon Art Beat" takes a look at the emerging artist Samantha Wall, whose striking portraits of women spark the imagination.

43:40 - Superstar choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie has worked with everyone from Beyonce to Harlem Dance Theatre, and now he's bringing his moves to OBT's spring show, Impact.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544321Fri, 10 Apr 2015 20:20:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis is the show you've been waiting for! And we, at least, can't wait any longer: 1:15 - Sleater-Kinney joins us in the studio. All three members. Swoon. 19:35 - The NW Film Center kicks off the festival Essential Gus Van Sant (and His Influences)....
1:15 - Sleater-Kinney joins us in the studio. All three members. Swoon.

19:35 - The NW Film Center kicks off the festival Essential Gus Van Sant (and His Influences). Film critic Shawn Levy and writer Mario Falsetto, author of "Conversations with Gus Van Sant," join us in the studio to talk about Portland's cinematic bard.

29:07 - A crazy indie-choir crossover strikes April 18 when local musicians Alan Singley and Sama Dams joins forces with the 150-voice Camas High School choir to perform new works by local bands and international composers. It's called "Joined Voices."

37:30 - "Oregon Art Beat" takes a look at the emerging artist Samantha Wall, whose striking portraits of women spark the imagination.

43:40 - Superstar choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie has worked with everyone from Beyonce to Harlem Dance Theatre, and now he's bringing his moves to OBT's spring show, Impact.]]>3154falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/joined-voices-brings-together-the-camas-high-school-choir-with-indie-acts-sama-dams-and-adam-singley--11560357
Maybe it’s because instead of practicing the same old choir tunes by long dead composers, they’re rehearsing a series of new compositions written for the choir by four composers from around the globe, including local indie rockers Sama Dams and Alan Singley. The 150-student strong choir will join with the two bands on April 18 for a concert called “Joined Voices” at the First Congregation Church in downtown Portland

“The rationale,” says choir director Ethan Chessin, “was in English class you study Hamlet, but you also learn to write essays. Why is it that in music class we just perform works that have already been composed – we just study the master works? Why don’t we give the students the tools to write their own music?”

Read our full story at: opb.org/radio/article/joined-voices]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560357Fri, 10 Apr 2015 21:17:25 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt’s 7:05 a.m. on a Friday morning, but the students getting ready for choir practice inside the Camas High School theater building are wide awake. Maybe it’s because instead of practicing the same old choir tunes by long dead composers, they’re...
Maybe it’s because instead of practicing the same old choir tunes by long dead composers, they’re rehearsing a series of new compositions written for the choir by four composers from around the globe, including local indie rockers Sama Dams and Alan Singley. The 150-student strong choir will join with the two bands on April 18 for a concert called “Joined Voices” at the First Congregation Church in downtown Portland

“The rationale,” says choir director Ethan Chessin, “was in English class you study Hamlet, but you also learn to write essays. Why is it that in music class we just perform works that have already been composed – we just study the master works? Why don’t we give the students the tools to write their own music?”

Read our full story at: opb.org/radio/article/joined-voices]]>407choir,music,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sleater-kinney-in-the-opb-studio--11561185https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561185Sat, 11 Apr 2015 04:40:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNothing but awesome here, as Carrie Brownstein, Corin Tucker, and Janet Weiss breeze in to talk about powering up for their reunion, and recording the new record, "No Cities to Love".1021falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/essential-van-sant-on-state-of-wonder--11561155https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561155Sat, 11 Apr 2015 04:51:19 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMario Falsetto is the author of the recently-published, "Conversations with Gus Van Sant". He's teaching a new class at the Northwest Film Center focusing on Van Sant's features and influences. We also hear from film critic Shawn Levy, who's...573falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-apr-18-2015-playa-summer-lake-rick-bartow-revolution-hall--1154431934:00 Revolution Hall, a new music venue that hits the sweet spot on Portland's music venue map.
43:50 Rick Bartow gets a retrospective at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544319Fri, 17 Apr 2015 23:23:56 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting00:40 A Wonderful tour through PLAYA - Summer Lake. it's a residency program for artists and scientists, the kind of place where time stops and ideas hit the ground running. 34:00 Revolution Hall, a new music venue that hits the sweet spot on...34:00 Revolution Hall, a new music venue that hits the sweet spot on Portland's music venue map.
43:50 Rick Bartow gets a retrospective at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art]]>3139falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-new-revolution-hall-finds-its-niche-in-a-glorious-historic-building--11560356
Revolution Hall is in the original auditorium at the heart of Washington High School, has stood empty for years at the corner of Southeast Stark and 14th Avenue. The building is now beginning a second life as home to New Season’s corporate office, a number of creative agencies, two bars, and a new music venue that’s positioning itself to fill a hole in Portland’s live music ecosystem.

In a classroom-turned-greenroom, the band Alialujah Choir is preparing for the first performance in the new Revolution Hall during its preview weekend last February.

“This is a gleaming star on crest of what appeals to me: half theater, half standing, big room, amazing acoustics, fabulous people behind it,” said Adam Shearer, one-third of the trio, after the three finalized their playlist with a run through of the songs.“It doesn’t get any better.”

Read our full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/revolution-hall-finds-its-niche]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560356Sat, 18 Apr 2015 17:18:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThere’s a shining new music venue opening this weekend. Or shall we say, shining old venue. Revolution Hall is in the original auditorium at the heart of Washington High School, has stood empty for years at the corner of Southeast Stark and 14th...
Revolution Hall is in the original auditorium at the heart of Washington High School, has stood empty for years at the corner of Southeast Stark and 14th Avenue. The building is now beginning a second life as home to New Season’s corporate office, a number of creative agencies, two bars, and a new music venue that’s positioning itself to fill a hole in Portland’s live music ecosystem.

In a classroom-turned-greenroom, the band Alialujah Choir is preparing for the first performance in the new Revolution Hall during its preview weekend last February.

“This is a gleaming star on crest of what appeals to me: half theater, half standing, big room, amazing acoustics, fabulous people behind it,” said Adam Shearer, one-third of the trio, after the three finalized their playlist with a run through of the songs.“It doesn’t get any better.”

Read our full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/revolution-hall-finds-its-niche]]>494arts & entertainment,music,podcast,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-visit-to-playa-at-summer-lake--11567844https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567844Sun, 19 Apr 2015 01:03:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis place blew us away - the scenery, the creative vibe, the conversations between resident artists and scientists. Take a listen.1903state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/get-ready-for-ben-percy-on-state-of-wonder--11560347https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560347Mon, 20 Apr 2015 22:29:33 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting11falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ben-percy-on-state-of-wonder--11567838http://latenightlibrary.org/allfines/

(Photo cred. Jennifer Percy)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567838Tue, 21 Apr 2015 17:56:01 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMust be heard to be believed: a great Oregon-born writer and definitely one of our favorite voices. Ben Percy's new book is The Dead Lands. He'll read at this event Wednesday night. April 22nd: http://latenightlibrary.org/allfines/ (Photo cred....http://latenightlibrary.org/allfines/

(Photo cred. Jennifer Percy)]]>491falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/chin-sun-lee-reads-from-the-ravine--11567834http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/the-earth-says-have-a-place-visiting-playa-at-summer-lake/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567834Tue, 21 Apr 2015 18:20:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHere's a longer excerpt from Chin-Sun Lee's chilling, evocative short story, inspired by the landscape at Summer Lake. She wrote this on her first residency at PLAYA. You can learn more here:...http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/the-earth-says-have-a-place-visiting-playa-at-summer-lake/]]>205falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nancy-ives-on-auditions-more--11561132https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561132Thu, 23 Apr 2015 23:48:52 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNancy Ives, Principal Cello for the Oregon Symphony and State of Wonder's Cellist-in-Residence, regales us with scary stories of Symphony auditions, parity in musical hires, and takes your questions. This segment originally aired in October 2014.569falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nancy-friends-innovation-and-classicism--11561134
(Photo cred. Wikimedia Commons)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561134Fri, 24 Apr 2015 00:02:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNancy Ives brings Oregon Symphony pals Greg Ewer and Joe Berger along for a conversation about innovation and classicism in music. This segment originally aired in November 2014 (Photo cred. Wikimedia Commons)
(Photo cred. Wikimedia Commons)]]>660falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-apr-25-2015-grimm-etsy-portland-cello-project-jackson-pollock-more--11544320
For links and more details about the stories below, visit our page: www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-apr-25-2015/

1:21 - Etsy's IPO roils the waters among makers and sellers. Check out the great story our friends at "Rendered" produced about this!

4:02 - A panel of the federal court of appeals issues a decision against The Slants' trademark case.

6:19 - University of Oregon physicist/psychologist Richard Taylor has discovered that computers can determine a real Jackson Pollock from a fake based on mathematic patterns called fractals.

13:25 - opbmusic premieres a new video project with Oregon bands performing on location in state parks. It's called Road Sessions, and it's spearheaded by Weather Machine frontman Slater Smith.

16:23 - "Oregon Art Beat" gets (hexen)beastly on the set of "Grimm." We talk with producer Jule Gilfillan about their special 30-minute documentary that will air on OPB TV this Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m.

21:36 - Writer Benjamin Percy grew up living off the land in rural Oregon. His new novel, "The Dead Lands," re-imagines wild places post-apocalypse, with a futuristic Lewis and Clark as our guides.

30:09 - Cellist-in-residence Nancy Ives introduces us to the new artistic director of Portland Cello Project, and outgoing AD Doug Jenkins checks in, too.

36:31 - Encore! We listen back to our Classical Up Close event, as Oregon Symphony Musicians prepare for another season of free public events around metro Portland.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544320Fri, 24 Apr 2015 00:07:02 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingToday's show feels a bit rough around the edges — in a good way, like rugged-smelling aftershave or good-quality field-dressed jerky. OK, maybe it's not quite so chewy as all that, but every bit as satisfying. For links and more details about the...
For links and more details about the stories below, visit our page: www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-apr-25-2015/

1:21 - Etsy's IPO roils the waters among makers and sellers. Check out the great story our friends at "Rendered" produced about this!

4:02 - A panel of the federal court of appeals issues a decision against The Slants' trademark case.

6:19 - University of Oregon physicist/psychologist Richard Taylor has discovered that computers can determine a real Jackson Pollock from a fake based on mathematic patterns called fractals.

13:25 - opbmusic premieres a new video project with Oregon bands performing on location in state parks. It's called Road Sessions, and it's spearheaded by Weather Machine frontman Slater Smith.

16:23 - "Oregon Art Beat" gets (hexen)beastly on the set of "Grimm." We talk with producer Jule Gilfillan about their special 30-minute documentary that will air on OPB TV this Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m.

21:36 - Writer Benjamin Percy grew up living off the land in rural Oregon. His new novel, "The Dead Lands," re-imagines wild places post-apocalypse, with a futuristic Lewis and Clark as our guides.

30:09 - Cellist-in-residence Nancy Ives introduces us to the new artistic director of Portland Cello Project, and outgoing AD Doug Jenkins checks in, too.

36:31 - Encore! We listen back to our Classical Up Close event, as Oregon Symphony Musicians prepare for another season of free public events around metro Portland.]]>3085falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nancy-ives-on-composition--11560420https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560420Fri, 24 Apr 2015 16:17:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn this segment (initially broadcast December 20th 2014), our cellist-in-residence talks about composing for the Portland Cello Project's new record, "to e.s." She also shares thoughts from colleagues about what happens during productive composition.536falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-cello-project-plays-taylor-swift-s-shake-it-off-exclusive-listen--11560343
Listen to the full conversation here: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-apr-25-2015/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560343Fri, 24 Apr 2015 22:44:42 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur cellist-in-residence, Nancy Ives, invited in outgoing Portland Cello Project artistic director Doug Jenkins and incoming director Skip vonKuske to discuss the passing of the baton (bow?). While talking about some of the music they love covering...
Listen to the full conversation here: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-apr-25-2015/]]>226artfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nancy-ives-on-composition--11561128https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561128Fri, 24 Apr 2015 23:01:20 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn this segment (initially broadcast December 20th 2014), our cellist-in-residence talks about composing for the Portland Cello Project's new record, "to e.s." She also shares thoughts from colleagues about what happens during productive composition.536falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nancy-ives-on-music-to-get-you-through-winter--11560350https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560350Fri, 24 Apr 2015 23:12:44 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe talk with Nancy about what kind of sounds sustain us through the long dark nights, and the joys of finding new and challenging music. This broadcast first aired January 31st 2015.373falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nancy-ives-on-the-music-of-louis-andriessen--11560345https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560345Fri, 24 Apr 2015 23:19:35 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPreparing for a performance with Fear No Music, our Cellist-In-Residence introduces us to an influential but little-known European composer.292falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/changing-of-the-guard-nancy-ives-portland-cello-project--11560346https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560346Fri, 24 Apr 2015 23:22:26 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNancy Ives, our Cellist-in-Residence, introduces us to the outgoing and incoming artistic directors of Portland Cello Project. We talk about transitions, and favorite moments from the group's repertoire. This segment originally aired April 25th 2015.380falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-may-2-2015-pdx-gamers-katherine-boo-guster-willie-nelson-in-vancouver--11544316
2:07 - A Triangle Productions world premiere, "Storefront Revue: The Babes Are Back," tells the story of the anything-goes creative maelstrom that was Portland's Storefront Theater in the 70s and 80s.

12:30 - Video game developers large and small come together for a PIGSquad challenge: build a game in 48 hours. Sleep? Who needs it?

21:17 - Katherine Boo talks about revealing the hidden world of a Mumbai slum in "The Beautiful Forevers" on "Think Out Loud" during a live show at Literary Arts.

29:36 - Guster is just one of many national bands that come to Portland to record their albums with one of our talented record producers. In their case, it was at the Cottage Grove studio of producer Richard Swift, who also tours with The Shins and The Black Keys. During a recent opbmusic session, Guster talks about the role Swift played in their new album, which many critics have hailed as a modern update on their guitar pop sound.

35:28 - Paisley School, which has a total K-12 student body of 83, stages "Hamlet." Performances May 6th and 7th at Paisley School!

40:04 - We dip into the Portland Arts & Lectures archive to hear from Joan Didion. You can hear her whole talk with her late husband, the writer John Dunne, at Literary Arts: The Archive Project.

We end with a request for audio: Do you remember hearing Willie Nelson on the air back when he was DJing in Vancouver, Washington? If so, email us at stateofwonder@opb.org.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544316Fri, 01 May 2015 22:55:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we're mashing up past and present. 2:07 - A Triangle Productions world premiere, "Storefront Revue: The Babes Are Back," tells the story of the anything-goes creative maelstrom that was Portland's Storefront Theater in the 70s and 80s....
2:07 - A Triangle Productions world premiere, "Storefront Revue: The Babes Are Back," tells the story of the anything-goes creative maelstrom that was Portland's Storefront Theater in the 70s and 80s.

12:30 - Video game developers large and small come together for a PIGSquad challenge: build a game in 48 hours. Sleep? Who needs it?

21:17 - Katherine Boo talks about revealing the hidden world of a Mumbai slum in "The Beautiful Forevers" on "Think Out Loud" during a live show at Literary Arts.

29:36 - Guster is just one of many national bands that come to Portland to record their albums with one of our talented record producers. In their case, it was at the Cottage Grove studio of producer Richard Swift, who also tours with The Shins and The Black Keys. During a recent opbmusic session, Guster talks about the role Swift played in their new album, which many critics have hailed as a modern update on their guitar pop sound.

35:28 - Paisley School, which has a total K-12 student body of 83, stages "Hamlet." Performances May 6th and 7th at Paisley School!

40:04 - We dip into the Portland Arts & Lectures archive to hear from Joan Didion. You can hear her whole talk with her late husband, the writer John Dunne, at Literary Arts: The Archive Project.

We end with a request for audio: Do you remember hearing Willie Nelson on the air back when he was DJing in Vancouver, Washington? If so, email us at stateofwonder@opb.org.]]>3090falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/triangle-productions-revisits-portland-s-anything-goes-theater-heyday--11560337
During its twenty year run, Storefront was infamous for productions that pushed every boundary imaginable. They put on over-the-top shows involving nudity, drugs, and a fabulous DIY aesthetic of glitter and glue guns—shows that ranged from Sam Shepherd (who came out to work with the theater) to a radical sex play about a porn store called “Quarters” to a reimagining of “Beauty and the Beast,” where the Beast bit the dust (and Beauty got naked).

“It was unsafe and a mess and the most magical, amazing, astounding place I had ever been in in my life,” recalls actor Wendy Westerwelle, a charismatic local actor who first performed with Storefront in 1974 and continues to grace stages today. “There was no, ‘what if it sells?’ There was no, ‘what’s our season?’ The politics of it was ‘screw it – we’re artists and we’re going to do what we do.’”

To introduce Triangle's show, "Storefront Revue: The Babes Are Back," we invited four Storefront vets to take us back in time. Here are some of the highlights from our interview with Don Horn, Henk Pander, and actors Wendy Westerwelle and Vana O’Brien.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560337Sat, 02 May 2015 00:23:47 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTriangle Productions is closing its 25th anniversary season with a tribute to another long-running Portland theater institution: Storefront Theatre. During its twenty year run, Storefront was infamous for productions that pushed every boundary...
During its twenty year run, Storefront was infamous for productions that pushed every boundary imaginable. They put on over-the-top shows involving nudity, drugs, and a fabulous DIY aesthetic of glitter and glue guns—shows that ranged from Sam Shepherd (who came out to work with the theater) to a radical sex play about a porn store called “Quarters” to a reimagining of “Beauty and the Beast,” where the Beast bit the dust (and Beauty got naked).

“It was unsafe and a mess and the most magical, amazing, astounding place I had ever been in in my life,” recalls actor Wendy Westerwelle, a charismatic local actor who first performed with Storefront in 1974 and continues to grace stages today. “There was no, ‘what if it sells?’ There was no, ‘what’s our season?’ The politics of it was ‘screw it – we’re artists and we’re going to do what we do.’”

To introduce Triangle's show, "Storefront Revue: The Babes Are Back," we invited four Storefront vets to take us back in time. Here are some of the highlights from our interview with Don Horn, Henk Pander, and actors Wendy Westerwelle and Vana O’Brien.]]>658arts & entertainment,theaterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pigsquad-challenges-gamers-to-make-a-new-game-in-48-hours--11561129https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561129Tue, 05 May 2015 01:06:29 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe're up late with game developers large and small for Ludum Dare, a global 48-hour challenge. This year, Portland Indie Game Squad hosted a Ludum Dare event at Urban Airship. Take a listen.597arts & entertainment,opb,podcast,radio,videofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/awards-granted-for-bend-cultural-tourism-fund--11560398https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560398Fri, 08 May 2015 22:19:47 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting$125,000 in grants to help market arts and culture events. The endgame? Getting heads in beds during Bend's shoulder season.451falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-s-most-legendary-art-party-pica-s-dada-ball--11560340
This year, to mark its 20th anniversary, PICA is bringing the Dada Ball back on March 16 at the Southeast warehouse space The Redd. They're combining it with their annual gala, TaDa, and calling it TaDaDa – and the now veteran arts organization is hoping it’ll be like no fundraiser you’ve ever attended. In place of an auction, ticket holders can whack their way through an enchanted forest of piñatas stuffed with original art works and gorge themselves at a bacchanalian feast prepared by six different chefs. The evening will also feature the Bizarre Bazaar, an adults-only twist on classic carnival games (think vape toss).

At 9pm the doors open to the public for a raucous after party, with music by White Hinterland, DJ Beyonda, and more.

To commemorate the event, State of Wonder producer Aaron Scott put together this oral history.

Read our full story:]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560340Sat, 09 May 2015 16:11:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn the 1990s, Portland’s Dada Ball was the stuff of legends. An unorthodox gala thrown each year by the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA), the ball was as debaucherous as it was provocative. It happened everywhere from abandoned warehouses...
This year, to mark its 20th anniversary, PICA is bringing the Dada Ball back on March 16 at the Southeast warehouse space The Redd. They're combining it with their annual gala, TaDa, and calling it TaDaDa – and the now veteran arts organization is hoping it’ll be like no fundraiser you’ve ever attended. In place of an auction, ticket holders can whack their way through an enchanted forest of piñatas stuffed with original art works and gorge themselves at a bacchanalian feast prepared by six different chefs. The evening will also feature the Bizarre Bazaar, an adults-only twist on classic carnival games (think vape toss).

At 9pm the doors open to the public for a raucous after party, with music by White Hinterland, DJ Beyonda, and more.

To commemorate the event, State of Wonder producer Aaron Scott put together this oral history.

Read our full story:]]>551arts & entertainment,podcast,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-may-9-2015-pica-s-dada-ball-other-lives-haunting-of-sunshine-girl-bend-arts--11544310
11:00 - We check in on winners of Bend's inaugural Cultural Tourism Fund grants — a brand new system of support for arts & culture organizations like BendFilm and Atelier 6000.

18:55 - Opbmusic's Jerad Walker shares his love of one of Portland's newer musical transplants Other Lives. Their new album, "Rituals," reflects their newfound home. They play Monday, May 11 at Doug Fir.

20:55 - PICA's debaucherous art party, the DaDa Ball, was legendary in its day. And now the contemporary arts organization is bringing it back for its 20th anniversary on May 16, calling it TaDaDa. We hear what all the fuss was about from some of its organizers. More info on the arty craziness and all night party here.

30:45 - Los Portenos writing collective reads selections from an upcoming event, drawing inspiration from the poems of Miguel Hernandez and William Stafford.

For full stories, go to: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-may-9-2015/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544310Sat, 09 May 2015 16:31:50 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting1:25 - Paige McKenzie, perhaps the Pacific Northwest's biggest homegrown YouTube star, talks about creating the runaway-hit series The Haunting of Sunshine Girl from her house outside Portland. She reads from her new YA novel on Saturday, May 9 at 4...
11:00 - We check in on winners of Bend's inaugural Cultural Tourism Fund grants — a brand new system of support for arts & culture organizations like BendFilm and Atelier 6000.

18:55 - Opbmusic's Jerad Walker shares his love of one of Portland's newer musical transplants Other Lives. Their new album, "Rituals," reflects their newfound home. They play Monday, May 11 at Doug Fir.

20:55 - PICA's debaucherous art party, the DaDa Ball, was legendary in its day. And now the contemporary arts organization is bringing it back for its 20th anniversary on May 16, calling it TaDaDa. We hear what all the fuss was about from some of its organizers. More info on the arty craziness and all night party here.

30:45 - Los Portenos writing collective reads selections from an upcoming event, drawing inspiration from the poems of Miguel Hernandez and William Stafford.

For full stories, go to: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-may-9-2015/]]>2319falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-s-most-legendary-art-party-pica-s-dada-ball--11561126
This year, to mark its 20th anniversary, PICA is bringing the Dada Ball back on March 16 at the Southeast warehouse space The Redd. They're combining it with their annual gala, TaDa, and calling it TaDaDa – and the now veteran arts organization is hoping it’ll be like no fundraiser you’ve ever attended. In place of an auction, ticket holders can whack their way through an enchanted forest of piñatas stuffed with original art works and gorge themselves at a bacchanalian feast prepared by six different chefs. The evening will also feature the Bizarre Bazaar, an adults-only twist on classic carnival games (think vape toss).

At 9pm the doors open to the public for a raucous after party, with music by White Hinterland, DJ Beyonda, and more.

To commemorate the event, State of Wonder producer Aaron Scott put together this oral history.

Read our full story:]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561126Sat, 09 May 2015 17:00:52 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn the 1990s, Portland’s Dada Ball was the stuff of legends. An unorthodox gala thrown each year by the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA), the ball was as debaucherous as it was provocative. It happened everywhere from abandoned warehouses...
This year, to mark its 20th anniversary, PICA is bringing the Dada Ball back on March 16 at the Southeast warehouse space The Redd. They're combining it with their annual gala, TaDa, and calling it TaDaDa – and the now veteran arts organization is hoping it’ll be like no fundraiser you’ve ever attended. In place of an auction, ticket holders can whack their way through an enchanted forest of piñatas stuffed with original art works and gorge themselves at a bacchanalian feast prepared by six different chefs. The evening will also feature the Bizarre Bazaar, an adults-only twist on classic carnival games (think vape toss).

At 9pm the doors open to the public for a raucous after party, with music by White Hinterland, DJ Beyonda, and more.

To commemorate the event, State of Wonder producer Aaron Scott put together this oral history.

Read our full story:]]>551arts & entertainment,podcast,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-haunting-of-sunshine-girl-oregon-s-surprising-youtube-star--11560332
With no promotion whatsoever, the first few episodes quickly wracked up five million views. The series now has had more than 140 million views, making Sunshine Girl one of the most successful YouTube stars in the Northwest.

And all this has been accomplished by a mother-daughter duo and a producer friend with a flip cam.

Now the actor behind sunshine girl, Paige McKenzie, has a YA book out and a TV deal with the Weinstein company. She'll read from "The Haunting of Sunshine Girl" on Saturday, May 9 at 4 p.m. at Jacobsen's Books in Hillsboro.

McKenzie inhabits a virtual world of contradictions only possible in our digital age. She is on one hand wholly authentic and unfiltered, and yet her very nature is utterly calculated. She is intimately accessible, broadcasting from her bedroom and talking with fans via social media, and yet she's incredibly cloistered. Nobody except her blood relatives even have her cell number. In a way, she’s a ghost in the machine, tethered to her flipcam and haunting her Youtube network.

Aaron Scott has the story.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560332Sat, 09 May 2015 18:37:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn 2010, a series of videos started appearing on YouTube called "The Haunting of Sunshine Girl." They were DIY, Blair Witch-style episodes following a charismatic 16-year-old who wanted to prove the existence of ghosts to her mom. Consider it...
With no promotion whatsoever, the first few episodes quickly wracked up five million views. The series now has had more than 140 million views, making Sunshine Girl one of the most successful YouTube stars in the Northwest.

And all this has been accomplished by a mother-daughter duo and a producer friend with a flip cam.

Now the actor behind sunshine girl, Paige McKenzie, has a YA book out and a TV deal with the Weinstein company. She'll read from "The Haunting of Sunshine Girl" on Saturday, May 9 at 4 p.m. at Jacobsen's Books in Hillsboro.

McKenzie inhabits a virtual world of contradictions only possible in our digital age. She is on one hand wholly authentic and unfiltered, and yet her very nature is utterly calculated. She is intimately accessible, broadcasting from her bedroom and talking with fans via social media, and yet she's incredibly cloistered. Nobody except her blood relatives even have her cell number. In a way, she’s a ghost in the machine, tethered to her flipcam and haunting her Youtube network.

Aaron Scott has the story.]]>572arts & entertainment,podcast,radio,youtubefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/los-portenos-poetry-from-the-interior--11560358http://tinyurl.com/oe6vvy3]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560358Sun, 10 May 2015 06:44:43 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLos Porteños - a Latino writers' collective from metro Portland - is about to present works in response to two guiding stars of the poetry world - Spanish poet Miguel Hernandez and Oregon's William Stafford. We talked with four members of the group,...http://tinyurl.com/oe6vvy3]]>460falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/q-a-with-1939-ensemble--11560335https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560335Tue, 12 May 2015 21:35:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingApril chats up Jose Medelles and David Coniglio. With John Thomas, they are 1939 Ensemble. Their style? Jazz goes to a party with avant-garde, raises a glass with funk and Latin. The new record is "Black Diamond Pearl". Watch for the opbmusic Studio...314falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/grimm-stars-take-on-three-days-of-rain--11560334http://www.pcs.org/threedays/
They've also got a few observations about Grimm's Season Four finale... listen up!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560334Thu, 14 May 2015 22:18:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSilas Weir Mitchell and Sasha Roiz chat with April about their roles in "Three Days of Rain" at Portland Center Stage. Production info over here: http://www.pcs.org/threedays/ They've also got a few observations about Grimm's Season Four finale......http://www.pcs.org/threedays/
They've also got a few observations about Grimm's Season Four finale... listen up!]]>370grimm,nbcfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pacific-crest-jazz-orchstra-takes-ellington-prize--11560333https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560333Thu, 14 May 2015 23:53:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingYouth orchestra dazzles New York audience; Thara Memory talks to KMHD about the big night.375jazz,kmhdfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-may-16-2015-grimm-actors-at-pcs-1939-ensemble-the-simpsons-get-theatrical--11544314
1:17 - "Grimm" stars Sasha Roiz and Silas Weir Mitchell on their stage turn with PCS's "Three Days of Rain."

7:25 - Just when we'd had our fill of post-apocalyptica, here comes Portland Playhouse with "Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play." It's an absurd send-up of the form, where "The Simpsons" have become the stuff of myth and legend, written by former Oregonian Anne Washburn.

12:33 - Likewise, a fab new bar with bleachers for seating, serves up perhaps the first-ever bartender-in-residency program, inviting local artists to mix cocktails and creativity. Plus, one menu item includes shutting down the bar and driving to the coast for a seafood dinner.

24:45 - 1939 Ensemble expands to a trio and bowls us over with its new record.

31:44 - Summer reading recommendations from Paisley's librarian.

34:54 - Celebrated author Kazuo Ishiguro ("The Remains of the Day" and "The Buried Giant," released in March) from the Portland Arts & Lectures Archive Project.

43:22 - KMHD talks with Portland jazz legend Thara Memory about the Pacific Crest Jazz Orchestra, one of the ensembles in his American Music Program, who just took home the grand prize at the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition in New York City — not to mention made Wynton Marsalis cry.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544314Fri, 15 May 2015 00:25:43 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingReady for some new? Here comes an hour of creative horsepower. 1:17 - "Grimm" stars Sasha Roiz and Silas Weir Mitchell on their stage turn with PCS's "Three Days of Rain." 7:25 - Just when we'd had our fill of post-apocalyptica, here comes Portland...
1:17 - "Grimm" stars Sasha Roiz and Silas Weir Mitchell on their stage turn with PCS's "Three Days of Rain."

7:25 - Just when we'd had our fill of post-apocalyptica, here comes Portland Playhouse with "Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play." It's an absurd send-up of the form, where "The Simpsons" have become the stuff of myth and legend, written by former Oregonian Anne Washburn.

12:33 - Likewise, a fab new bar with bleachers for seating, serves up perhaps the first-ever bartender-in-residency program, inviting local artists to mix cocktails and creativity. Plus, one menu item includes shutting down the bar and driving to the coast for a seafood dinner.

24:45 - 1939 Ensemble expands to a trio and bowls us over with its new record.

31:44 - Summer reading recommendations from Paisley's librarian.

34:54 - Celebrated author Kazuo Ishiguro ("The Remains of the Day" and "The Buried Giant," released in March) from the Portland Arts & Lectures Archive Project.

43:22 - KMHD talks with Portland jazz legend Thara Memory about the Pacific Crest Jazz Orchestra, one of the ensembles in his American Music Program, who just took home the grand prize at the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition in New York City — not to mention made Wynton Marsalis cry.]]>3037falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-playhouse-takes-on-the-simpsons-and-the-apocalypse--11560323
Montgomery Burns, of course.

But after twenty-six excellent years as America’s most laughably despicable super villain, Mr. Burns’ character is facing a big shakeup. Harry Shearer, the voice of Mr. Burns (as well as Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, and others) announced this week that he’s leaving "The Simpsons."

It’s a sad day for Simpsons’ fans – but the ripples go far beyond TV. Shearer’s portrayal of Mr. Burns was so iconic that it even played a role in the development of a play. It’s called “Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play,” and you can find it onstage at Portland Playhouse this spring. Though the play draws its title from "The Simpsons," the show’s comedic namesake is outweighed by the attention it gives to darker subject matter.

The show starts with a group of friends around a campfire. They’re hanging out, drinking beers, and trying to remember the details of a Simpsons episode called Cape Feare. It’s utterly pedestrian – until an unexpected noise in the background prompts the cast to draw guns and knives.

“The conceit of the play,” says director Brian Weaver, “is that it’s a post-electric world.”

Post-electric and post-apocalyptic. Somehow, and the playwright leaves it to her audience to fill in the blanks, 99% of the human population has died off. With no one left to man the nuclear power plants, they’ve all melted down, making electricity a thing of the past. So humanity – or what’s left of it anyway – is back to good old-fashioned flint and tinder (and not the ‘swipe right’ kind). They make fires, and they do what humans have pretty much always done around the fire: they tell stories.

“It’s a play about how we use stories,” says playwright Anne Washburn, “how we use stories to divert us, how we use stories to comfort us, how we use stories to explain things to us, how we use stories to talk about things which it’s too frightening to speak about directly.”

Read our full story: www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/portland-playhouse-takes-on-the-simpsons-and-the-apocalypse/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560323Fri, 15 May 2015 20:54:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat has four fingers, a yellow face, and is totally evil? Montgomery Burns, of course. But after twenty-six excellent years as America’s most laughably despicable super villain, Mr. Burns’ character is facing a big shakeup. Harry Shearer, the voice...
Montgomery Burns, of course.

But after twenty-six excellent years as America’s most laughably despicable super villain, Mr. Burns’ character is facing a big shakeup. Harry Shearer, the voice of Mr. Burns (as well as Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, and others) announced this week that he’s leaving "The Simpsons."

It’s a sad day for Simpsons’ fans – but the ripples go far beyond TV. Shearer’s portrayal of Mr. Burns was so iconic that it even played a role in the development of a play. It’s called “Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play,” and you can find it onstage at Portland Playhouse this spring. Though the play draws its title from "The Simpsons," the show’s comedic namesake is outweighed by the attention it gives to darker subject matter.

The show starts with a group of friends around a campfire. They’re hanging out, drinking beers, and trying to remember the details of a Simpsons episode called Cape Feare. It’s utterly pedestrian – until an unexpected noise in the background prompts the cast to draw guns and knives.

“The conceit of the play,” says director Brian Weaver, “is that it’s a post-electric world.”

Post-electric and post-apocalyptic. Somehow, and the playwright leaves it to her audience to fill in the blanks, 99% of the human population has died off. With no one left to man the nuclear power plants, they’ve all melted down, making electricity a thing of the past. So humanity – or what’s left of it anyway – is back to good old-fashioned flint and tinder (and not the ‘swipe right’ kind). They make fires, and they do what humans have pretty much always done around the fire: they tell stories.

“It’s a play about how we use stories,” says playwright Anne Washburn, “how we use stories to divert us, how we use stories to comfort us, how we use stories to explain things to us, how we use stories to talk about things which it’s too frightening to speak about directly.”

Read our full story: www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/portland-playhouse-takes-on-the-simpsons-and-the-apocalypse/]]>580arts & entertainment,theaterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/likewise-an-art-bar-that-mixes-cocktails-and-creativity--11560321
Likewise.

The floor-to-ceiling curtains conceal one of the city's most outlandish business establishments by day. But by night, they part to reveal a set of stadium bleachers facing the street and a bar that is as much an art project as a business endeavor, complete with the nation’s first ‘Bartender in Residency’ program.

But how did owners Nancy Prior and Adam Moser go about converting a dive bar into a one-of-a-kind Portland hangout?

Read our story:]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560321Fri, 15 May 2015 23:02:33 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat do you get when two artists walk into a bar? Likewise. The floor-to-ceiling curtains conceal one of the city's most outlandish business establishments by day. But by night, they part to reveal a set of stadium bleachers facing the street and a...
Likewise.

The floor-to-ceiling curtains conceal one of the city's most outlandish business establishments by day. But by night, they part to reveal a set of stadium bleachers facing the street and a bar that is as much an art project as a business endeavor, complete with the nation’s first ‘Bartender in Residency’ program.

But how did owners Nancy Prior and Adam Moser go about converting a dive bar into a one-of-a-kind Portland hangout?

Read our story:]]>435falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-may-23-2015-philip-glass-shy-girls-helio-sequence-maker-movement-more--11544312
1:25 - Dan Vidmar of Shy Girls talks about his new mixtape release and the challenges of keeping emotional honesty in performance.

11:55 - Where are they? A screaming lack of women artists on the summer festival circuit.

16:25 - Josh Lifton of Crowd Supply and Kelley Roy of ADX Portland on makers' mad month of May.

26:50 - An opbmusic Studio Session with Helio Sequence.

33:30 - Producer Aaron Scott checks in from the Southeast Oregon Symposium on the Arts and Economic Development.

35:05 - Philip Glass, in conversation with Portland Opera General Director Christopher Mattaliano at a Powell's Books event.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544312Fri, 22 May 2015 17:39:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe kick off the Memorial Day Weekend (and dare we say summer) with a show about music and makers. 1:25 - Dan Vidmar of Shy Girls talks about his new mixtape release and the challenges of keeping emotional honesty in performance. 11:55 - Where...
1:25 - Dan Vidmar of Shy Girls talks about his new mixtape release and the challenges of keeping emotional honesty in performance.

11:55 - Where are they? A screaming lack of women artists on the summer festival circuit.

16:25 - Josh Lifton of Crowd Supply and Kelley Roy of ADX Portland on makers' mad month of May.

26:50 - An opbmusic Studio Session with Helio Sequence.

33:30 - Producer Aaron Scott checks in from the Southeast Oregon Symposium on the Arts and Economic Development.

35:05 - Philip Glass, in conversation with Portland Opera General Director Christopher Mattaliano at a Powell's Books event.]]>3022falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pdx-makers-mad-may--11561127https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561127Fri, 22 May 2015 18:09:07 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingKelley Roy of ADX Portland and Joshua Lifton of Crowd Supply talk about the joys of locally made goods, and what was said at this month's White House Roundtable.628falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/shy-girls-new-mixtape-more--11561125https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561125Fri, 22 May 2015 18:13:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDan Vidmar of Shy Girls talks about his recent 13-song drop, how a tough year affected his music, and his synthesis of old-school R&B sounds with a modern sensibility. He's onstage at the Wonder Ballroom May 29th.628falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/women-missing-from-summer-fests--11560319
(photo cred: opbmusic)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560319Fri, 22 May 2015 18:16:45 +0000Oregon Public Broadcastingopbmusic's Jerad Walker runs the numbers on women's representation at summer music festivals. Also, Bitch Magazine' Sarah Mirk has thoughts on the big disparities in bookings. (photo cred: opbmusic)
(photo cred: opbmusic)]]>253falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-may-30-2015-ai-wei-wei-at-pam-obt-s-new-home-mark-doty-gabe-fernandez-more--11544309
1:00 - Karen Karbo is railbound! She's one of 24 writers out of 16,000 to score the first round of the Amtrak writers' residency.

3:00 - Walidah Imarisha and Adrienne Marée Brown on editing the sci-fi anthology "Octavia's Brood."

10:14 - Oregon Ballet announces that it's found a new home: the South Waterfront.

11:44 - What Are You Looking At? Namita Gupta Wiggers reviews work by Ai Weiwei at the Portland Art Museum.

19:19 - We remember Alvin Josephy, who laid the groundwork for Wallowa County's thriving cultural scene.

23:20 - KPAI's Morning Host Larry Duckworth introduces us to his favorite spins.

28:32 - From the Literary Arts Archives: Poet Mark Doty.

37:36 - opbmusic session with one of Portland's most dynamic new transplants, Robin Bacior.

44:30 - "Oregon Art Beat" introduces us to painter Gabe Fernandez.

To read more, visit our site: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-may-30-2015/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544309Fri, 29 May 2015 00:06:52 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week's crop of wonders finds the fantastic in familiar things, and the inspiration in the extraordinary: 1:00 - Karen Karbo is railbound! She's one of 24 writers out of 16,000 to score the first round of the Amtrak writers' residency....
1:00 - Karen Karbo is railbound! She's one of 24 writers out of 16,000 to score the first round of the Amtrak writers' residency.

3:00 - Walidah Imarisha and Adrienne Marée Brown on editing the sci-fi anthology "Octavia's Brood."

10:14 - Oregon Ballet announces that it's found a new home: the South Waterfront.

11:44 - What Are You Looking At? Namita Gupta Wiggers reviews work by Ai Weiwei at the Portland Art Museum.

19:19 - We remember Alvin Josephy, who laid the groundwork for Wallowa County's thriving cultural scene.

23:20 - KPAI's Morning Host Larry Duckworth introduces us to his favorite spins.

28:32 - From the Literary Arts Archives: Poet Mark Doty.

37:36 - opbmusic session with one of Portland's most dynamic new transplants, Robin Bacior.

44:30 - "Oregon Art Beat" introduces us to painter Gabe Fernandez.

To read more, visit our site: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-may-30-2015/]]>3038falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-are-you-looking-at-ai-weiwei-at-pam--11560322https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560322Fri, 29 May 2015 20:14:26 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe're launching a new series of reviews. Curator Namita Wiggers looks at Ai Weiwei's "Circle of Animals: Zodiac Heads" at Portland Art Museum.450falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cascade-record-pressing-open-for-business--11560308https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560308Fri, 29 May 2015 20:16:43 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting53falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sci-fi-social-justice-octavia-s-brood--11560318https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560318Fri, 29 May 2015 20:31:48 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWalidah Imarisha and adrienne maree brown talk about editing the new anthology of speculative fiction with a social justice lens.428falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/one-flaming-arrow-year-one--11560309https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560309Fri, 05 Jun 2015 00:44:11 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFestival of Native contemporary artists breaks through goals to launch.304falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/suite-sandy-boulevard--11560307https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560307Fri, 05 Jun 2015 00:48:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLou Watson's new experimental work, created and conceived on her block.194falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/karan-karbo-s-rail-odyssey--11560310https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560310Fri, 05 Jun 2015 00:53:16 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWriter Karen Karbo talks about spending two weeks train-bound: what she wrote, what she saw.424falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-june-6-2015-sherlock-holmes-karen-karbo-tango-at-reed-indigenous-art-fest--11544308
1:33 - A quick hello to the entrepreneurs behind Cascade Record Pressing, the new vinyl record press in Milwaukie.

2:37 - One Flaming Arrow — a new feast of a festival featuring music, vis art, film, and more from contemporary Native American artists.

7:40 - KMHD previews the Reed College Tango symposium.

19:13 - Zach Dundas dives deep into the world of Sherlock Holmes with his new book, "The Great Detective:The Amazing Rise and Immortal Life of Sherlock Holmes".

29:10 - Oregon Art Beat's Eric Slade profiles conductor Andres Lopera of Metropolitan Youth Symphony. Their season finale show is June 6 at the Newmark Theater. Watch the full Art Beat profile here.

34:54 - Artist Lou Watson unveils an experimental composition built around the sounds of Sandy Boulevard, from leaf blowers to how that McDonald's billboard would sing if it could sing songs. It's called "Suite Sandy Boulevard," and it plays on June 7 at the Hollywood Theatre.

38:07 - Painter Joan Nelson talks process and her new show on view through June at Adams & Ollman.

41:43 - Karen Karbo regales us with tails from her recent Amtrak railroad residency. (We loved the pics on her Instagram feed.)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544308Fri, 05 Jun 2015 23:30:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe are stoked, stoked, and stoked about summer — too much good stuff happening. Here's what's coming up on this week's show to help you kick down the door on your weekend. 1:33 - A quick hello to the entrepreneurs behind Cascade Record Pressing, the...
1:33 - A quick hello to the entrepreneurs behind Cascade Record Pressing, the new vinyl record press in Milwaukie.

2:37 - One Flaming Arrow — a new feast of a festival featuring music, vis art, film, and more from contemporary Native American artists.

7:40 - KMHD previews the Reed College Tango symposium.

19:13 - Zach Dundas dives deep into the world of Sherlock Holmes with his new book, "The Great Detective:The Amazing Rise and Immortal Life of Sherlock Holmes".

29:10 - Oregon Art Beat's Eric Slade profiles conductor Andres Lopera of Metropolitan Youth Symphony. Their season finale show is June 6 at the Newmark Theater. Watch the full Art Beat profile here.

34:54 - Artist Lou Watson unveils an experimental composition built around the sounds of Sandy Boulevard, from leaf blowers to how that McDonald's billboard would sing if it could sing songs. It's called "Suite Sandy Boulevard," and it plays on June 7 at the Hollywood Theatre.

38:07 - Painter Joan Nelson talks process and her new show on view through June at Adams & Ollman.

41:43 - Karen Karbo regales us with tails from her recent Amtrak railroad residency. (We loved the pics on her Instagram feed.)]]>2963falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/zach-dundas-explores-the-immortal-life-of-sherlock-holmes--11560298
Longtime Portland journalist and co-editor of "Portland Monthly" Zach Dundas happens to be a lifetime Sherlock fan. For his second book, “The Great Detective: The Amazing Rise and Immortal Life of Sherlock Holmes,” Dundas set out to ask: what is it about this brainy, unlikely hero that continues to capture our imagination.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560298Fri, 05 Jun 2015 23:59:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPerhaps no fictional character has stood the test of time like Sherlock Holmes. From his creation by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887, he has deduced his way, pipe in hand, through countless radio plays, movies, TV shows, video games, and even a...
Longtime Portland journalist and co-editor of "Portland Monthly" Zach Dundas happens to be a lifetime Sherlock fan. For his second book, “The Great Detective: The Amazing Rise and Immortal Life of Sherlock Holmes,” Dundas set out to ask: what is it about this brainy, unlikely hero that continues to capture our imagination.]]>591arts & entertainment,booksfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/goonies-30th-draws-fans-some-eye-rolls-in-astoria--11560305https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560305Mon, 08 Jun 2015 17:40:24 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPhoebe Flanigan mixes with Goonies fans at the film's 30th anniversary celebration. This film's locations still draw thousands of tourists. At the same time, its popularity can feel like a mixed blessing for Astorians. Take a listen!335gooniesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-june-13-2015-third-angle-new-music-new-yorker-music-critic-alex-ross--11544306
In his history of 20th century music, "The Rest is Noise," Ross wrote about the role West Coast composers played in shaping classical music, as well as jazz and rock idioms, writing that, among other things, they expanded the boundaries of their era, creating work that still has power and playfulness in equal measures. So Third Angle put together a special program that included the likes of Steve Reich, Portland-born Lou Harrison, and more, and brought Ross to town to talk about the works between performances.

Also on the show: Past and future — "The Goonies" persistent hold on Astoria, Oregon. It's a story in anticipation of our live show recording in Astoria on June 15.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544306Fri, 12 Jun 2015 23:49:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis spring, Third Angle New Music knocked our socks off with its unique partnership with "New Yorker" music critic Alex Ross. In his history of 20th century music, "The Rest is Noise," Ross wrote about the role West Coast composers played in shaping...
In his history of 20th century music, "The Rest is Noise," Ross wrote about the role West Coast composers played in shaping classical music, as well as jazz and rock idioms, writing that, among other things, they expanded the boundaries of their era, creating work that still has power and playfulness in equal measures. So Third Angle put together a special program that included the likes of Steve Reich, Portland-born Lou Harrison, and more, and brought Ross to town to talk about the works between performances.

Also on the show: Past and future — "The Goonies" persistent hold on Astoria, Oregon. It's a story in anticipation of our live show recording in Astoria on June 15.]]>2983falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/blind-pilot-s-israel-nebeker-and-ryan-dobrowski-on-making-music-in-astoria--11560296
“This landscape has always resonated with me,” says guitarist and singer Israel Nebeker, who grew up south of Astoria. “This place has always been a really important place where the river meets the ocean. That’s the biggest draw for me, the energy that buzzes in the tides and in the land.”

Nebeker and bandmate/drummer Dobrowski joined us for our live Astoria show to talk about what drew them back to Astoria and what they’re working on, as well as to play two songs with cellist Sergey Antonov: “3 Rounds and a Sound” and the brand new “And Then Like Lions.”

You can read the full story here: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/blind-pilots-israel-nebeker-and-ryan-dobrowski-on-making-music-in-astoria]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560296Fri, 19 Jun 2015 00:18:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTaking its name from the pilot boats that guide freighters through the treacherous mouth of the Columbia River, the band Blind Pilot sprang from Astoria’s swirling nexus of tides and mountains. “This landscape has always resonated with me,” says...
“This landscape has always resonated with me,” says guitarist and singer Israel Nebeker, who grew up south of Astoria. “This place has always been a really important place where the river meets the ocean. That’s the biggest draw for me, the energy that buzzes in the tides and in the land.”

Nebeker and bandmate/drummer Dobrowski joined us for our live Astoria show to talk about what drew them back to Astoria and what they’re working on, as well as to play two songs with cellist Sergey Antonov: “3 Rounds and a Sound” and the brand new “And Then Like Lions.”

You can read the full story here: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/blind-pilots-israel-nebeker-and-ryan-dobrowski-on-making-music-in-astoria]]>1185falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/where-we-make-astoria-s-creative-culture--11561123https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561123Fri, 19 Jun 2015 00:33:14 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSarah Nebeker, Jack Harris, and Darren Orange talk with us about how Astoria built its creative community, and the pressures the city is dealing with to maintain critical mass.645falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/astoria-music-festival-surrounds-town-with-sound--11561148http://tinyurl.com/qyt3mol]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561148Fri, 19 Jun 2015 00:37:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHow did a festival this wide-ranging take root in a town under ten-thousand? We talk with AMF artistic director Keith Clark, Cary Lewis, pianist and AMF director of Chamber Music. Also, music from Cary, Oregon Symphony Concertmaster Sarah Kwak, and...http://tinyurl.com/qyt3mol]]>1156falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-june-20-2015-astoria-show-with-blind-pilot-the-astoria-music-festival-more--11560293
This show was recorded before a live audience at the glorious Liberty Theater, home to the Astoria Music Festival and seasonal programming of all kinds.

1:29 - We start out the show with one of Astoria's most vocal recent converts, writer Matt Love. He recently penned a self-declared love letter, "A Nice Piece of Astoria: A Narrative Guide."

7:12 - Astoria Music Festival's artistic director Keith Clark and chamber music director Cary Lewis tell us about the history of festival, before being joined by Oregon Symphony concertmaster Sarah Kwak and Russian cellist Sergey Antonov for performances of Brahms Sonata for Piano and Violin, No. 2 in A major and Scriabin’s romance for Horn & Piano.

28:16 - We sit down with Fort George Brewery co-founder Jack Harris, Clatsop County Commissioner Sarah Nebeker, and visual artist Darren Orange to talk about what what makes Astoria such an inspirational place for visual art, music, and the written word, and what might keep it that way in years to come.

36:56 - After recording their first EP in an old cannery building in Astoria (and drawing their name from the Pilot boats that help guide freighters down the Columbia), Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski gained national attention with their band Blind Pilot. They were living in Portland at the time, but they've since moved to the Astoria area. They share the reasons for their move, as well as play a couple songs, including a new one, "And Then Like Lions."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560293Fri, 19 Jun 2015 01:42:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOver the past decade, Astoria quietly became a hotbed for creatives looking for inspiration, community, space, and affordability. Now that economic times are on the rebound, how can Astoria keep its lifestyle affordable? This show was recorded before...
This show was recorded before a live audience at the glorious Liberty Theater, home to the Astoria Music Festival and seasonal programming of all kinds.

1:29 - We start out the show with one of Astoria's most vocal recent converts, writer Matt Love. He recently penned a self-declared love letter, "A Nice Piece of Astoria: A Narrative Guide."

7:12 - Astoria Music Festival's artistic director Keith Clark and chamber music director Cary Lewis tell us about the history of festival, before being joined by Oregon Symphony concertmaster Sarah Kwak and Russian cellist Sergey Antonov for performances of Brahms Sonata for Piano and Violin, No. 2 in A major and Scriabin’s romance for Horn & Piano.

28:16 - We sit down with Fort George Brewery co-founder Jack Harris, Clatsop County Commissioner Sarah Nebeker, and visual artist Darren Orange to talk about what what makes Astoria such an inspirational place for visual art, music, and the written word, and what might keep it that way in years to come.

36:56 - After recording their first EP in an old cannery building in Astoria (and drawing their name from the Pilot boats that help guide freighters down the Columbia), Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski gained national attention with their band Blind Pilot. They were living in Portland at the time, but they've since moved to the Astoria area. They share the reasons for their move, as well as play a couple songs, including a new one, "And Then Like Lions."]]>3030arts & entertainment,music,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/cascade-record-pressing-finds-its-groove--11560291http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/cascade-record-pressing-starts-oregons-first-vinyl-factory/?t=812115]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560291Mon, 22 Jun 2015 13:28:58 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA powerhouse Portland start-up secures six coveted presses to begin operations. More pics here http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/cascade-record-pressing-starts-oregons-first-vinyl-factory/?t=812115http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/cascade-record-pressing-starts-oregons-first-vinyl-factory/?t=812115]]>458falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/new-orleans-legend-allen-toussaint-takes-center-stage--11561122
(photo credit: Tina Antolini)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561122Fri, 26 Jun 2015 22:00:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe ever-elegant, deeply influential Crescent City songwriter and composer talks to us about his life and music. Watch our website for the full story and show info. (photo credit: Tina Antolini)
(photo credit: Tina Antolini)]]>769falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oregon-shakespeare-festival-mashes-up-the-go-go-s-with-the-elizabethan-story-old-arcadia--11561118
(photo credit: Oregon Shakespeare Festival)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561118Fri, 26 Jun 2015 22:07:16 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTony-winning playwright Jeff Whitty combines the the music of The Go-Gos with Sir Richard Sidney's 'Old Arcadia' for a deliciously over-the-top glam musical. (photo credit: Oregon Shakespeare Festival)
(photo credit: Oregon Shakespeare Festival)]]>555falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-june-27-2015-allen-toussaint-shakespeare-meets-the-go-go-s-new-record-press--11544304
1:19 - We meet the dream team behind Cascade Record Pressing, Oregon's new vinyl record plant in Oregon City.

8:53 - We remember painter Shirley Gittelsohn with Oregon Art Beat, who died June 12. The celebration of her life will be held at Reed College on Aug. 1.

12:28 - OPB's All Things Considered Host Kate Davidson reports on Portland's no-pay phone, Futel Phones.

17:03 - We talk with New Orleans songwriting and producing legend Allen Toussaint. He's bringing his band to play the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival on July 3 at 7 p.m.

29:52 - Oregon Shakespeare Festival mashes up the music of the Go-Go's with an Elizabethan comedy in a new play, "Head Over Heels," by Tony Award-winning playwright Jeff Whitty (he's a Coos Bay boy).

39:13 - Oregon Art Beat reprises a spellbinding story about painter John Simpkins, pursuing his practice in the Alvord Desert.

42:33 - The high school jazz band to end all high school jazz bands: Thara Memory's prize-winning Pacific Crest Jazz Orchestra. You can listen to their full performance on Think Out Loud at noon on July 3.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544304Sat, 27 Jun 2015 00:26:49 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWho says the past is behind us? This week, creators are bringing new life to traditional forms. 1:19 - We meet the dream team behind Cascade Record Pressing, Oregon's new vinyl record plant in Oregon City. 8:53 - We remember painter Shirley...
1:19 - We meet the dream team behind Cascade Record Pressing, Oregon's new vinyl record plant in Oregon City.

8:53 - We remember painter Shirley Gittelsohn with Oregon Art Beat, who died June 12. The celebration of her life will be held at Reed College on Aug. 1.

12:28 - OPB's All Things Considered Host Kate Davidson reports on Portland's no-pay phone, Futel Phones.

17:03 - We talk with New Orleans songwriting and producing legend Allen Toussaint. He's bringing his band to play the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival on July 3 at 7 p.m.

29:52 - Oregon Shakespeare Festival mashes up the music of the Go-Go's with an Elizabethan comedy in a new play, "Head Over Heels," by Tony Award-winning playwright Jeff Whitty (he's a Coos Bay boy).

39:13 - Oregon Art Beat reprises a spellbinding story about painter John Simpkins, pursuing his practice in the Alvord Desert.

42:33 - The high school jazz band to end all high school jazz bands: Thara Memory's prize-winning Pacific Crest Jazz Orchestra. You can listen to their full performance on Think Out Loud at noon on July 3.]]>3069falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lidia-yuknavitch-explores-a-scorching-new-world--11567828https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567828Fri, 03 Jul 2015 19:16:46 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe talk to one of Portland's most evocative and fearless writers about her new novel, The Small Backs of Children. Visit our show page for info on her July 8th reading.377falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-art-museum-hires-new-mod-contempo-curator--11567837http://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-art-museum-taps-new-modern-contemporary-art-curator/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567837Fri, 03 Jul 2015 19:25:47 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSara Krajewski is coming back to the Northwest, to steer PAM's Modern and Contemporary Collection. Get the whole scoop, and click over here to read a longer interview with Krajewski....http://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-art-museum-taps-new-modern-contemporary-art-curator/]]>256pdxart,visualartfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/quintana-galleries-closing-down--11567965https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567965Fri, 03 Jul 2015 19:30:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland's much beloved Rose and Cecil Quintana are closing their eponymously-named gallery after 42 years representing Native American artists. Phoebe Flanigan has the story.354indigen,visualartfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-july-4-2015-death-cab-for-cutie-pam-s-new-modern-art-curator-more--11544303
Rumors flying about superstar mandolinist and Portland transplant Chris Thile's possible ascension as the next host of "A Prairie Home Companion."
Portland Art Museum hires a new curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.
Hip-hop artist Glenn Waco's day in court.
Seasoned session man Dave Depper talks about stepping onto the big stage with Death Cab For Cutie. The band plays Portland's Edgefield on July 8th and then at Bend's Les Schwab Ampitheater on July 9th.
Portland's oldest gallery, Quintana Galleries, prepares to close its doors, after 42 years representing Native American artists.
Lidia Yuknavitch talks about her new book, examining war, and those who witness it.
Other Lives drops in for an opbmusic session.
Curator Henry Skerritt talks about "No Boundaries," the Australian Aboriginal abstract paintings on view now at PICA.
KHMD's Neighborhood Series visits the Polyrhythmics. The band plays in Bend July 21st.
We listen back to Chimamanda Adichie's 2012 appearance with Portland Arts & Lectures for Literary Arts.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544303Fri, 03 Jul 2015 20:08:24 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe've got a picnic of music and news for you this week. So grab a plate; we're going to pile it high. Rumors flying about superstar mandolinist and Portland transplant Chris Thile's possible ascension as the next host of "A Prairie Home...
Rumors flying about superstar mandolinist and Portland transplant Chris Thile's possible ascension as the next host of "A Prairie Home Companion."
Portland Art Museum hires a new curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.
Hip-hop artist Glenn Waco's day in court.
Seasoned session man Dave Depper talks about stepping onto the big stage with Death Cab For Cutie. The band plays Portland's Edgefield on July 8th and then at Bend's Les Schwab Ampitheater on July 9th.
Portland's oldest gallery, Quintana Galleries, prepares to close its doors, after 42 years representing Native American artists.
Lidia Yuknavitch talks about her new book, examining war, and those who witness it.
Other Lives drops in for an opbmusic session.
Curator Henry Skerritt talks about "No Boundaries," the Australian Aboriginal abstract paintings on view now at PICA.
KHMD's Neighborhood Series visits the Polyrhythmics. The band plays in Bend July 21st.
We listen back to Chimamanda Adichie's 2012 appearance with Portland Arts & Lectures for Literary Arts.]]>3070falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portlander-dave-depper-on-touring-with-death-cab-for-cutie--11560275
But now he’s stepping onto a bigger stage— much bigger stage. Last year, Death Cab for Cutie announced that Chris Walla, it’s original guitarist and primary producer, was leaving after 17 years. Then it asked Depper to take Walla’s place for the world tour of its newest album, Kintsugi [kint-SU-gi].

Depper made the late night rounds with the band. He’s and just returned from a month long tour in Europe. He has a few days off before playing Edgefield in Portland and Les Schwab in Bend.

Then he’s on the road for basically the rest of the year. State of Wonder producer Aaron Scott sat down with him to find out what it's like to be an overnight rockstar.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560275Fri, 03 Jul 2015 20:21:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThere are musicians in Portland who seem like they’ve played with everyone. And then there’s Dave Depper. His resume is a who’s who of local acts: Menomena, Loch Lomond, Fruit Bats, Laura Gibson, and at least 18 others. He’s also toured with national...
But now he’s stepping onto a bigger stage— much bigger stage. Last year, Death Cab for Cutie announced that Chris Walla, it’s original guitarist and primary producer, was leaving after 17 years. Then it asked Depper to take Walla’s place for the world tour of its newest album, Kintsugi [kint-SU-gi].

Depper made the late night rounds with the band. He’s and just returned from a month long tour in Europe. He has a few days off before playing Edgefield in Portland and Les Schwab in Bend.

Then he’s on the road for basically the rest of the year. State of Wonder producer Aaron Scott sat down with him to find out what it's like to be an overnight rockstar.]]>493falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-july-11-2015-artists-repertory-theatre-s-artshub--11544301
The longest-running company in town has hit a creative artery. Under the artistic direction of Dámaso Rodriguez, the theater has both expanded its resident artist company from five people to more than 20 and opened its doors to eight other performing organizations, from Profile Theatre and Hand2Mouth to Portland Revels and the Risk/Reward Festival.

And at the center of what everyone's now calling "The ArtsHub" is Rodriguez. He is on a mission, and he lays it out for us this hour as guest curator.

0:00 - Rodriguez moved to Portland two years ago from Los Angeles, where he co-founded Furious Theatre Company and worked as associate artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse. He tells us about his original plans to grow Artists Rep's resident artists company — and how it's going thus far.
9:17 - Musical interlude by the band Bourbon Jockey.
9:45 - So much is going on in the ArtsHub everyday that we wanted to dive in to see what a day-in-the-life of the building is like. So we sent three producers to travel from dress rehearsals to the buzzing scene shop. We descended into "The Dungeon" in search of a dragon costume, before joining a roomful of singing and dancing teenagers. The result is this behind-the-scenes radio documentary. Needless to say, there wasn't a quiet minute. Also, watch our slide show.
29:54 - We ask Rodriguez what he was thinking inviting so many organizations under one roof (because it seems just a little crazy) and whether it's a model for nonprofits moving forward.
33:48 - Musical interlude from Bourbon Jockey.
34:49 - Three working actors take us through what it takes to make a living, and Rodriguez tells us how he hopes the resident artists program might change things.
44:31 - Finally, we check in with award-winning playwright Andrea Stolowitz, who's currently in Berlin, and Rodriguez tells us about Artists Rep's ambitious program to commission eight new plays. Hear our full interview with Stolowitz here.

If you want to learn more about Rodriguez, you can listen to our preview interview with him.

Finally, here are just a few of the shows going on at the ArtsHub this summer:

Hand2Mouth Theatre: "Time, A Fair Hustler" (July 28–Aug 16)
Portland Shakespeare Project: "Twelfth Night" (July 8–Aug 2) and "Proscenium Live" staged readings (July 14, 19, 20)
Profile Theatre's In Dialogue Stage Readings: "The Lady Onstage" (July 13, 14)
Risk/Reward Festival of New Performance (July 10–19)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544301Fri, 10 Jul 2015 19:56:13 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, we take you behind-the-scenes at one of the city's most dynamic theaters, Artists Repertory Theatre, with a show recorded in front of a live audience on the Alder Stage. The longest-running company in town has hit a creative artery. Under...
The longest-running company in town has hit a creative artery. Under the artistic direction of Dámaso Rodriguez, the theater has both expanded its resident artist company from five people to more than 20 and opened its doors to eight other performing organizations, from Profile Theatre and Hand2Mouth to Portland Revels and the Risk/Reward Festival.

And at the center of what everyone's now calling "The ArtsHub" is Rodriguez. He is on a mission, and he lays it out for us this hour as guest curator.

0:00 - Rodriguez moved to Portland two years ago from Los Angeles, where he co-founded Furious Theatre Company and worked as associate artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse. He tells us about his original plans to grow Artists Rep's resident artists company — and how it's going thus far.
9:17 - Musical interlude by the band Bourbon Jockey.
9:45 - So much is going on in the ArtsHub everyday that we wanted to dive in to see what a day-in-the-life of the building is like. So we sent three producers to travel from dress rehearsals to the buzzing scene shop. We descended into "The Dungeon" in search of a dragon costume, before joining a roomful of singing and dancing teenagers. The result is this behind-the-scenes radio documentary. Needless to say, there wasn't a quiet minute. Also, watch our slide show.
29:54 - We ask Rodriguez what he was thinking inviting so many organizations under one roof (because it seems just a little crazy) and whether it's a model for nonprofits moving forward.
33:48 - Musical interlude from Bourbon Jockey.
34:49 - Three working actors take us through what it takes to make a living, and Rodriguez tells us how he hopes the resident artists program might change things.
44:31 - Finally, we check in with award-winning playwright Andrea Stolowitz, who's currently in Berlin, and Rodriguez tells us about Artists Rep's ambitious program to commission eight new plays. Hear our full interview with Stolowitz here.

If you want to learn more about Rodriguez, you can listen to our preview interview with him.

Finally, here are just a few of the shows going on at the ArtsHub this summer:

Hand2Mouth Theatre: "Time, A Fair Hustler" (July 28–Aug 16)
Portland Shakespeare Project: "Twelfth Night" (July 8–Aug 2) and "Proscenium Live" staged readings (July 14, 19, 20)
Profile Theatre's In Dialogue Stage Readings: "The Lady Onstage" (July 13, 14)
Risk/Reward Festival of New Performance (July 10–19)]]>3118falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bobbie-conner-at-summer-fishtrap--11560287https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560287Tue, 14 Jul 2015 19:33:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe ED of Tamástlikt Cultural Institute talks about stories hidden from history.442falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/timothy-egan-on-stories-hiding-in-plain-sight--11560283(Photo cred. Mike Midlo, Fishtrap)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560283Wed, 15 Jul 2015 18:45:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSeattle native Timothy Egan talks about his work digging for hidden narratives in American history. He delivered the keynote at this year's Summer Fishtrap. For more writers at the conference, check out our show this Saturday. (Photo cred. Mike...(Photo cred. Mike Midlo, Fishtrap)]]>420falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-july-18-2015-live-from-summer-fishtrap-writers-gathering-at-wallowa-lake--11544300
We couldn't resist the draw of a roadtrip to the mountains, so we invited a number of Fishtrap founders and visiting writers to join us for a live show at the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture.

A round table with festival founders Kim Stafford (writer and Lewis and Clark professor) and Rich Wandschneider (former longtime Fishtrap director and now head of the Josephy library), as well as festival board president Rose Caslar, a Wallowa County native who took her first Fishtrap class at 15. They talk about Josephy's influence, the place of Western writing, the reaction to hanging a four-point buck rack in a Lewis and Clark College dormitory and the area's troubled relationship with its original inhabitants, the Nez Perce.
13:30 - Josephy Center director Cheryl Coughlan tells us about how the center helps to culture a creative life in a rural community.
17:56 - Keynote speaker Timothy Egan discusses reporting on stories hidden in plain site. Best known for his National Book Award–winning “The Worst Hard Time,” chronicling Dust Bowl stories, Egan has also written about the photographer Edward Curtis, the wildfire that gave rise to the U.S. Forest Service and western issues of all types for his regular op-eds in the "New York Times."
25:10 - We venture to Fishtrap's lodge for a youth workshop on writing hip-hop theater with poet Myrlin Hepworth.
29:10 - Roberta Connor, the director of the Tamastlikt Cultural Institute whose family includes Nez Perce, Umatilla and Cayuse ancestry, was invited to Fishtrap to talk about what happens when Native stories are told by white writers and to share some of the hidden stories that speak most deeply to her.
36:57 - We close with a discussion with two of this year's most rambunctious workshop leaders, writers Erika Wurth and Sherwin Bitsui. Wurth, who is Apache, Chickasaw and Cherokee, most recently published "Crazy Horse's Girlfriend" and is working on a novel about Native gangs. Bitsui is a Diné from the Navajo Reservation in White Cone, Arizona, and his most recent poetry collection, "Floodsong," won the American Book Award and the PEN Open Book Award.

The music in this week's show comes from Tony Furtado's newest album, "The Bell." Furtado has a slew of Oregon shows coming up, including one near the Wallowas at Enterprise's OK Theater on July 30.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544300Fri, 17 Jul 2015 20:55:33 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEvery summer, writers from all over the country head to the base of the towering Wallowa Mountains for Summer Fishtrap, a conference about writing and the West. This year, they celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of the festival's...
We couldn't resist the draw of a roadtrip to the mountains, so we invited a number of Fishtrap founders and visiting writers to join us for a live show at the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture.

A round table with festival founders Kim Stafford (writer and Lewis and Clark professor) and Rich Wandschneider (former longtime Fishtrap director and now head of the Josephy library), as well as festival board president Rose Caslar, a Wallowa County native who took her first Fishtrap class at 15. They talk about Josephy's influence, the place of Western writing, the reaction to hanging a four-point buck rack in a Lewis and Clark College dormitory and the area's troubled relationship with its original inhabitants, the Nez Perce.
13:30 - Josephy Center director Cheryl Coughlan tells us about how the center helps to culture a creative life in a rural community.
17:56 - Keynote speaker Timothy Egan discusses reporting on stories hidden in plain site. Best known for his National Book Award–winning “The Worst Hard Time,” chronicling Dust Bowl stories, Egan has also written about the photographer Edward Curtis, the wildfire that gave rise to the U.S. Forest Service and western issues of all types for his regular op-eds in the "New York Times."
25:10 - We venture to Fishtrap's lodge for a youth workshop on writing hip-hop theater with poet Myrlin Hepworth.
29:10 - Roberta Connor, the director of the Tamastlikt Cultural Institute whose family includes Nez Perce, Umatilla and Cayuse ancestry, was invited to Fishtrap to talk about what happens when Native stories are told by white writers and to share some of the hidden stories that speak most deeply to her.
36:57 - We close with a discussion with two of this year's most rambunctious workshop leaders, writers Erika Wurth and Sherwin Bitsui. Wurth, who is Apache, Chickasaw and Cherokee, most recently published "Crazy Horse's Girlfriend" and is working on a novel about Native gangs. Bitsui is a Diné from the Navajo Reservation in White Cone, Arizona, and his most recent poetry collection, "Floodsong," won the American Book Award and the PEN Open Book Award.

The music in this week's show comes from Tony Furtado's newest album, "The Bell." Furtado has a slew of Oregon shows coming up, including one near the Wallowas at Enterprise's OK Theater on July 30.]]>3061falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/celebrating-portland-musician-dave-camp--11560271
Camp was a renaissance artist, Portland style. He played and sang with a slew of bands, especially some of the more colorful, art rock projects like the Nowhere Band, which performed the Beatles’ ‘White Album’ every Christmas with seasonally themed hijinks, in addition to other concept albums. He composed music for commercials and documentaries like “Andy Warhol’s Factory People” and “The Wanted” through his publishing company, Lift. And he had his own band, a psychedelic, disco glam extravaganza, Stereovision, with his business partner, Nancy Hess.

“Dave was the person who said yes to everything, and then figured out how to do it,” said Hess. “Nike wanted a song that sounded like a ‘20s big band horn section. I was horrified, and he was like, ‘no problem.’ He pulled out his guitar and whipped out some chords. It was the kind of thing where he could play guitar, and you’d be like, right, he’s a great country guitarist. Then he’d play drums, and it’s right, he’s great disco drummer.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560271Tue, 21 Jul 2015 19:50:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLast week, Portland lost someone who breathed glittering joy into the local music scene. Dave Camp passed on July 15 after a months-long, profoundly public struggle with stomach cancer that rallied a community around him. Camp was a renaissance...
Camp was a renaissance artist, Portland style. He played and sang with a slew of bands, especially some of the more colorful, art rock projects like the Nowhere Band, which performed the Beatles’ ‘White Album’ every Christmas with seasonally themed hijinks, in addition to other concept albums. He composed music for commercials and documentaries like “Andy Warhol’s Factory People” and “The Wanted” through his publishing company, Lift. And he had his own band, a psychedelic, disco glam extravaganza, Stereovision, with his business partner, Nancy Hess.

“Dave was the person who said yes to everything, and then figured out how to do it,” said Hess. “Nike wanted a song that sounded like a ‘20s big band horn section. I was horrified, and he was like, ‘no problem.’ He pulled out his guitar and whipped out some chords. It was the kind of thing where he could play guitar, and you’d be like, right, he’s a great country guitarist. Then he’d play drums, and it’s right, he’s great disco drummer.”]]>546art,opb,podcast,portland,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-july-25-2015-calexico-helio-sequence-lost-lander-y-la-bamba-joseph-more--11544299
Which is why we’re going to spend the hour hearing from some of the bands who’re currently ruling our playlists and also happen to be touring through this summer.

1:21 - Last week, we traveled to Joseph to record a show from the writers’ festival, Summer Fishtrap. In preparation, we started looking at some of the amazing artists linked to the area, and one in particular stood out. The band Joseph is made up of three sisters: Allison, Meegan, and Natalie Closner. Unlike many musical siblings, they didn’t grow up singing together, but you can't tell from their pristine harmonies.
10:40 - The band Calexico is named after the border town of Calexico, California, and their music is all about crossing borders, mixing Americana, indie rock, Tex-Mex, jazz, and Latin rhythms. This month, opbmusic caught up with them before a performance at McMenamins Edgefield.
17:46 - Edna Vasquez first made her name in the male world of mariachi music, but now her fingers strum through bands and genres as easily as they do chords. There’s a solo project, a four-piece called No Passengers, and frequent collaborations (watch her opbmusic session).
24:28 - Oregon Art Beat produced this story about Luz Elena Mendoza. She's best known for her band Y La Bamba, which caught the national ear with its infectious blend of mexican folk and indie rock, and her newest project, Tiburones, was voted one of the city’s best new bands in Willamette Week last year and has an album slated for November. And rejoice, all ye Y La Bamba lovers: two and a half years after disbanding the group, Mendoza is picking the mantle back up with a new lineup. She is currently crowdfunding to record a new Y La Bamba album.
32:35 - Lost Lander broke onto the Portland scene in 2012 with the album “DRRT.” It was one of those dreamy local collaborations — singer-songwriter Matt Sheehy and producer Brent Knopf, the acoustic and the electronic. As Lost Lander toured, it evolved into a four piece.
37:18 - Historically, The Helio Sequence has disappeared into its studio for months — if not a year — to fine tune its albums, which is why the duo only has five albums under its belt after nearly 18 years playing together. But the band changed the rules of the game for its eponymous sixth album. Forget polishing in secret; they decided to take on a little challenge called the 20-song game and then let their friends vote on the tracklist. They told us about letting go during an opbmusic session.
41:18 - We close the show with a goodbye to someone who breathed joy into Portland’s music scene. Dave Camp was a renaissance artist, Portland style. He played and sang with a slew of bands. He was a central figure in the colorful, art rock project the Nowhere Band, which performed the Beatles White Album every Christmas. He had his own band, a psychedelic, disco glam extravaganza, Stereovision, and was in the middle of writing a graphic novel trilogy with the same name. And by day, he composed music for commercials and documentaries like “Andy Warhol’s Factory People” and “The Wanted.”
Camp had one of those prolific Facebook feeds that reads like the intimate musings of a modern mystic. It was there where he described his months-long struggle with stomach cancer in posts of extreme candour and grace – posts that rallied a community around him and continue to deeply affect friends and strangers both.

For concert dates and videos of most of these performances, see our show page: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-july-25-2015-summer-music-special]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544299Fri, 24 Jul 2015 22:01:37 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis is it, folks: we’re in the peak heat of the summer music season. PDX Pop Now is this weekend. Pickathon plucks through Happy Valley next weekend. Then there’s MusicFestNW, the Britt Festival, Sisters Folk Festival. It’s a never-ending cavalcade...
Which is why we’re going to spend the hour hearing from some of the bands who’re currently ruling our playlists and also happen to be touring through this summer.

1:21 - Last week, we traveled to Joseph to record a show from the writers’ festival, Summer Fishtrap. In preparation, we started looking at some of the amazing artists linked to the area, and one in particular stood out. The band Joseph is made up of three sisters: Allison, Meegan, and Natalie Closner. Unlike many musical siblings, they didn’t grow up singing together, but you can't tell from their pristine harmonies.
10:40 - The band Calexico is named after the border town of Calexico, California, and their music is all about crossing borders, mixing Americana, indie rock, Tex-Mex, jazz, and Latin rhythms. This month, opbmusic caught up with them before a performance at McMenamins Edgefield.
17:46 - Edna Vasquez first made her name in the male world of mariachi music, but now her fingers strum through bands and genres as easily as they do chords. There’s a solo project, a four-piece called No Passengers, and frequent collaborations (watch her opbmusic session).
24:28 - Oregon Art Beat produced this story about Luz Elena Mendoza. She's best known for her band Y La Bamba, which caught the national ear with its infectious blend of mexican folk and indie rock, and her newest project, Tiburones, was voted one of the city’s best new bands in Willamette Week last year and has an album slated for November. And rejoice, all ye Y La Bamba lovers: two and a half years after disbanding the group, Mendoza is picking the mantle back up with a new lineup. She is currently crowdfunding to record a new Y La Bamba album.
32:35 - Lost Lander broke onto the Portland scene in 2012 with the album “DRRT.” It was one of those dreamy local collaborations — singer-songwriter Matt Sheehy and producer Brent Knopf, the acoustic and the electronic. As Lost Lander toured, it evolved into a four piece.
37:18 - Historically, The Helio Sequence has disappeared into its studio for months — if not a year — to fine tune its albums, which is why the duo only has five albums under its belt after nearly 18 years playing together. But the band changed the rules of the game for its eponymous sixth album. Forget polishing in secret; they decided to take on a little challenge called the 20-song game and then let their friends vote on the tracklist. They told us about letting go during an opbmusic session.
41:18 - We close the show with a goodbye to someone who breathed joy into Portland’s music scene. Dave Camp was a renaissance artist, Portland style. He played and sang with a slew of bands. He was a central figure in the colorful, art rock project the Nowhere Band, which performed the Beatles White Album every Christmas. He had his own band, a psychedelic, disco glam extravaganza, Stereovision, and was in the middle of writing a graphic novel trilogy with the same name. And by day, he composed music for commercials and documentaries like “Andy Warhol’s Factory People” and “The Wanted.”
Camp had one of those prolific Facebook feeds that reads like the intimate musings of a modern mystic. It was there where he described his months-long struggle with stomach cancer in posts of extreme candour and grace – posts that rallied a community around him and continue to deeply affect friends and strangers both.

For concert dates and videos of most of these performances, see our show page: 3147falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-aug-1-2015-seattle-art-fair-and-portland-jazz-with-kmhd-s-matt-fleeger--11544297
1) We've got advance coverage of the Seattle Art Fair with a Think Out Loud discussion on the Pacific Northwest's foray into the high-end art fair market. If you're just tuning in, art fairs have become a driving force in how artists and gallerists move new work. Seattle dealers are trying to connect with high-level patrons with their own four-day event. We hear from Portland gallerist Elizabeth Leach and art critic Jen Graves of The Stranger.

2) Also we revisit a special show guest-curated by KMHD's program director Matt Fleeger, one of our favorite guys in the building. While he shapes the sound of Portland's jazz radio station, he's actually somewhat of a reluctant jazz guy. He'll share some top spins on his radar this year, talk about artists he thinks are breaking boundaries and show us some new ways to think about a traditional American form.
• 13:35 - We talk about jazz past, present and future with bassist and composer Chuck Israels, drummer Chris Brown, and drummer and writer Tim DuRoche.
• 35:58 - Matt shares some of the bands he's most excited about right now, including Coco Columbia, Grammies, 1939 Ensemble and Roberto Rodriguez.
• 41:48 - Record producer Tucker Martine talks about the sonic qualities of jazz recordings, and how he incorporates them into the seminal indie pop records he’s produced as well as Grammy-nominated records for Bill Frissell.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544297Thu, 30 Jul 2015 23:42:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, a tasty sound sandwich consisting of two ingredients: 1) We've got advance coverage of the Seattle Art Fair with a Think Out Loud discussion on the Pacific Northwest's foray into the high-end art fair market. If you're just tuning in, art...
1) We've got advance coverage of the Seattle Art Fair with a Think Out Loud discussion on the Pacific Northwest's foray into the high-end art fair market. If you're just tuning in, art fairs have become a driving force in how artists and gallerists move new work. Seattle dealers are trying to connect with high-level patrons with their own four-day event. We hear from Portland gallerist Elizabeth Leach and art critic Jen Graves of The Stranger.

2) Also we revisit a special show guest-curated by KMHD's program director Matt Fleeger, one of our favorite guys in the building. While he shapes the sound of Portland's jazz radio station, he's actually somewhat of a reluctant jazz guy. He'll share some top spins on his radar this year, talk about artists he thinks are breaking boundaries and show us some new ways to think about a traditional American form.
• 13:35 - We talk about jazz past, present and future with bassist and composer Chuck Israels, drummer Chris Brown, and drummer and writer Tim DuRoche.
• 35:58 - Matt shares some of the bands he's most excited about right now, including Coco Columbia, Grammies, 1939 Ensemble and Roberto Rodriguez.
• 41:48 - Record producer Tucker Martine talks about the sonic qualities of jazz recordings, and how he incorporates them into the seminal indie pop records he’s produced as well as Grammy-nominated records for Bill Frissell.]]>3093falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-oregon-shakespeare-festival-sweats-amercia-s-de-industrialization-with-a-new-play--11560269
“This is the first time I’ve been out of my apartment in a week,” reads actor Terri McMahon. “Do you know what it’s like to get up and have no place to go? I am a worker. I’ve worked since I could count money. That’s me!”

And writing plays about work, and how our work defines who we are, is very much in tune with Lynn Nottage, who has won just about every honor a playwright can win: Pulitzer, Macarthur, Guggenheim awards. There’s the seamstress in her best known work, “Intimate Apparel,” who expresses herself through fabric. There’s the high-powered African American publicist in “Fabulation,” who loses her money and must return to her working-class roots. And there are the Congolese women in Nottage’s Pulitzer-winning play, “Ruined,” who have survived horrendous war crimes, only to have to make their living in a brothel.

And “Sweat,” which opens on August 2 and runs through October 31, explores America’s de-industrialization, asking what happens when the jobs we measure ourselves and our community by disappear.

“With this play, I think Lynn is following in the footsteps of Arthur Miller's ‘The Death of a Salesman’ or (Clifford) Odet's ‘Paradise Lost,’” says the play’s director, Kate Whoriskey, who has worked with Nottage on several plays over the past 15 years. “She's really exploring the new economic paradigm and how it affects ourselves as individuals and the community.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560269Fri, 31 Jul 2015 01:02:47 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA half dozen actors run through a scene in one of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s rehearsal rooms. The setting is a bar in Reading, Pennsylvania, after the financial crises. A group of steelworkers are talking about the factory that locked them out....
“This is the first time I’ve been out of my apartment in a week,” reads actor Terri McMahon. “Do you know what it’s like to get up and have no place to go? I am a worker. I’ve worked since I could count money. That’s me!”

And writing plays about work, and how our work defines who we are, is very much in tune with Lynn Nottage, who has won just about every honor a playwright can win: Pulitzer, Macarthur, Guggenheim awards. There’s the seamstress in her best known work, “Intimate Apparel,” who expresses herself through fabric. There’s the high-powered African American publicist in “Fabulation,” who loses her money and must return to her working-class roots. And there are the Congolese women in Nottage’s Pulitzer-winning play, “Ruined,” who have survived horrendous war crimes, only to have to make their living in a brothel.

And “Sweat,” which opens on August 2 and runs through October 31, explores America’s de-industrialization, asking what happens when the jobs we measure ourselves and our community by disappear.

“With this play, I think Lynn is following in the footsteps of Arthur Miller's ‘The Death of a Salesman’ or (Clifford) Odet's ‘Paradise Lost,’” says the play’s director, Kate Whoriskey, who has worked with Nottage on several plays over the past 15 years. “She's really exploring the new economic paradigm and how it affects ourselves as individuals and the community.”]]>535art,arts & entertainment,opb,podcast,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/game-developers-at-jumpdrive-studios-talk-about-their-new-title-xo--11560277https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560277Thu, 06 Aug 2015 07:06:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDevelopers at Portland's Jumpdrive Studios give us the skinny on the radical crowd-sourcing that's shaping their first title, XO. It'll be available on STEAM next year.396gamedevfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-aug-8-pickathon-jason-isbell-kamasi-washington-video-games-more--11544294
Visual artist Christos Koutsouras talks about his compulsion to paint, and new work on view at Imogen Gallery.
A quick preview of Jason Isbell's upcoming show in Portland.
opbmusic's Dave Christensen and Jerad Walker share some faves from Pickathon.
KHMD's Derek Smith chats up saxophonist Kamasi Washington, who's having an "Epic" year.
Artists we met at Pickathon tell us what songs are turning them on this summer.
Jumpdrive Studios opens up the crowd-sourced development process that hatched its new game.
Rinker Buck re-traces the pioneers' Oregon Trail experience in a covered wagon for OPB's Think Out Loud.
A new play premiers at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival: SWEAT by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544294Sat, 08 Aug 2015 00:16:19 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe got mixed up with some seriously talented people this week: Visual artist Christos Koutsouras talks about his compulsion to paint, and new work on view at Imogen Gallery. A quick preview of Jason Isbell's upcoming show in Portland....
Visual artist Christos Koutsouras talks about his compulsion to paint, and new work on view at Imogen Gallery.
A quick preview of Jason Isbell's upcoming show in Portland.
opbmusic's Dave Christensen and Jerad Walker share some faves from Pickathon.
KHMD's Derek Smith chats up saxophonist Kamasi Washington, who's having an "Epic" year.
Artists we met at Pickathon tell us what songs are turning them on this summer.
Jumpdrive Studios opens up the crowd-sourced development process that hatched its new game.
Rinker Buck re-traces the pioneers' Oregon Trail experience in a covered wagon for OPB's Think Out Loud.
A new play premiers at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival: SWEAT by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage.]]>3084falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/greek-sailor-turned-international-artist-paints-astoria-blue--11560266
Now Koutsouras calls Astoria home and paints big, tumultuous landscapes of Fort Stevens. His newest exhibition, “Accessible to All,” opens at Imogen Gallery and a pop up retail space in downtown Astoria during the Second Saturday Art Walk on August 8 and runs through September 8.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560266Sat, 08 Aug 2015 05:43:46 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe life of Astoria painter Christos Koutsouras sounds like it was ripped from a classic adventure novel. Born in 1957 on the island of Samos, the birthplace of people like Epicurus and Pythagoros (you know, the guy with the theorem), Koutsouras...
Now Koutsouras calls Astoria home and paints big, tumultuous landscapes of Fort Stevens. His newest exhibition, “Accessible to All,” opens at Imogen Gallery and a pop up retail space in downtown Astoria during the Second Saturday Art Walk on August 8 and runs through September 8.]]>542arts & entertainment,podcast,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/remade-for-residency-jennings-hotel-under-construction--11560273https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560273Wed, 12 Aug 2015 00:53:04 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGreg Hennes talks about his new project renovating the Jennings Hotel on Joseph's Main Street. He's converting it for short stays and maker space.439falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-tiny-tieton-transformed-into-central-washington-s-mighty-arts-titan--11560254
What are bookbinders, cheesemakers, cider-pressers and others doing in a town of 1,200 about a half hour outside Yakima?

This story ran as part of a bigger show about the love affair between small towns and the arts that also included stops in Mighty Tieton and Joseph. You can hear the whole thing here: www.opb.org/radio/programs/stat…towns-a-love-story/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560254Fri, 14 Aug 2015 15:59:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe ran across lots of interesting case studies of rural towns leveraging arts and culture. But Tieton, Washington, might be unique. This story came to us from producers Phoebe Flanigan and Julie Sabatier of Rendered. What are bookbinders,...
What are bookbinders, cheesemakers, cider-pressers and others doing in a town of 1,200 about a half hour outside Yakima?

This story ran as part of a bigger show about the love affair between small towns and the arts that also included stops in Mighty Tieton and Joseph. You can hear the whole thing here: www.opb.org/radio/programs/stat…towns-a-love-story/]]>828arts & entertainment,opb,podcast,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/joseph-oregon-from-poster-child-for-economic-depression-to-arts-powerhouse--11560264
But it wasn’t always that way.

“It was the poster child for economic depression,” said sculptor Shelley Curtis, who moved there in the early 80s. “Probably 70 percent of the storefronts on Main Street were vacant.”

But whereas Joseph was once just a grocery stop on the way to Wallowa Lake, it is now an arts and recreation destination. Since Main Street’s facelift in 2000, visitor spending in the county has grown from $16.5 million to $26.5 million, according to Travel Oregon.

What was it that made Joseph such a perfect melting pot for arts and the economy? We find out.

This story ran as part of a bigger show about the love affair between small towns and the arts that also included stops in Mighty Tieton and Joseph. You can hear the whole thing here: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-august-15-2015-arts-and-small-towns-a-love-story/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560264Fri, 14 Aug 2015 16:23:36 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat can you say about Joseph? It’s a picture perfect town at the base of the picture perfect Wallowa Mountains. But it wasn’t always that way. “It was the poster child for economic depression,” said sculptor Shelley Curtis, who moved there in the...
But it wasn’t always that way.

“It was the poster child for economic depression,” said sculptor Shelley Curtis, who moved there in the early 80s. “Probably 70 percent of the storefronts on Main Street were vacant.”

But whereas Joseph was once just a grocery stop on the way to Wallowa Lake, it is now an arts and recreation destination. Since Main Street’s facelift in 2000, visitor spending in the county has grown from $16.5 million to $26.5 million, according to Travel Oregon.

What was it that made Joseph such a perfect melting pot for arts and the economy? We find out.

This story ran as part of a bigger show about the love affair between small towns and the arts that also included stops in Mighty Tieton and Joseph. You can hear the whole thing here: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-august-15-2015-arts-and-small-towns-a-love-story/]]>1363arts & entertainment,opb,podcast,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/could-an-arts-center-be-harney-county-s-salvation--11560252
Now a dedicated group of artists, arts educators and arts supporters think they should try something new: a Performing Arts and Education Center. The group, spearheaded by the Harney County Arts in Education Foundation, organized a symposium in May around the center's potential to drive economic development.

This story ran as part of a bigger show about the love affair between small towns and the arts that also included stops in Mighty Tieton and Joseph. You can hear the whole thing here: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-august-15-2015-arts-and-small-towns-a-love-story/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560252Fri, 14 Aug 2015 18:22:20 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn the 1970s, Burns was one of the wealthiest counties in the state by per capita. Now, it’s near the bottom. They’ve tried everything to turn things around: secondary wood products, agricultural products, restarting the lumber industry. Now a...
Now a dedicated group of artists, arts educators and arts supporters think they should try something new: a Performing Arts and Education Center. The group, spearheaded by the Harney County Arts in Education Foundation, organized a symposium in May around the center's potential to drive economic development.

This story ran as part of a bigger show about the love affair between small towns and the arts that also included stops in Mighty Tieton and Joseph. You can hear the whole thing here: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-august-15-2015-arts-and-small-towns-a-love-story/]]>861arts & entertainment,podcast,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-15-small-towns-the-arts-a-love-story-joseph-burns-tieton--11544292
First Stop: Burns, Oregon

In the 1970s, Burns was one of the wealthiest counties in the state per capita. Now, it's near the bottom.


They’ve tried everything to turn things around: secondary wood products, agricultural products, restarting the lumber industry.

Now a dedicated group of artists, arts educators and arts supporters think they should try something new: a Performing Arts and Education Center. The group, spearheaded by the Harney County Arts in Education Foundation, organized a symposium in May around the center potential to drive economic development.

14:20 - Next Up: Tieton, Washington.

You can get your whole community together to talk about the arts and spend years getting buy-in from partners at all levels. Or you can just have one person come in, open the wallet, and re-set the playing field.

That's what happened in Tieton, Washington.

After publisher Ed Marquand got stuck patching a flat tire while riding through the small hamlet, he noticed a number of empty warehouses and storefronts. So he rallied some of his Seattle friends and started buying up to properties and converting them into creative workshops, live/work spaces and condos. This is the story of how they transformed the town into a creative destination with a project they dubbed "Might Tieton."
28:08 - Final Festination: Joseph, Oregon.

What can you say about Joseph? It's a picture perfect town at the base of the picture perfect Wallowa Mountains.

But it wasn't always that way.

"It was the poster child for economic depression," said sculptor Shelley Curtis, who moved there in the early 80s. "Probably 70 percent of the storefronts on Main Street were vacant."

What was it that made Joseph such a perfect melting pot for arts and the economy? We find out.

42:05 - Parting Treat: The Jennings Hotel.

Greg Hennes knows a thing or two about the romance of rusticity. He created both Campfire Cologne, which is basically a chunk of wood and a match, and Antler and Company, which sells all things made of antlers. But now he's taking his love to Joseph. Earlier this year, he bought the hundred-year-old Jennings Hotel and then raised $100,000 via Kickstarter to remodel it into a boutique hotel and artist residency. And that's just the beginning.

For more, see our show page:
http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-august-15-2015-arts-and-small-towns-a-love-story/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544292Fri, 14 Aug 2015 18:33:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat happens when small towns try to jump-start their economies with arts centers and cultural offerings? We find out with a road trip to Joseph, Burns, and Mighty Tieton, Washington. First Stop: Burns, Oregon In the 1970s, Burns was one of the...
First Stop: Burns, Oregon

In the 1970s, Burns was one of the wealthiest counties in the state per capita. Now, it's near the bottom.


They’ve tried everything to turn things around: secondary wood products, agricultural products, restarting the lumber industry.

Now a dedicated group of artists, arts educators and arts supporters think they should try something new: a Performing Arts and Education Center. The group, spearheaded by the Harney County Arts in Education Foundation, organized a symposium in May around the center potential to drive economic development.

14:20 - Next Up: Tieton, Washington.

You can get your whole community together to talk about the arts and spend years getting buy-in from partners at all levels. Or you can just have one person come in, open the wallet, and re-set the playing field.

That's what happened in Tieton, Washington.

After publisher Ed Marquand got stuck patching a flat tire while riding through the small hamlet, he noticed a number of empty warehouses and storefronts. So he rallied some of his Seattle friends and started buying up to properties and converting them into creative workshops, live/work spaces and condos. This is the story of how they transformed the town into a creative destination with a project they dubbed "Might Tieton."
28:08 - Final Festination: Joseph, Oregon.

What can you say about Joseph? It's a picture perfect town at the base of the picture perfect Wallowa Mountains.

But it wasn't always that way.

"It was the poster child for economic depression," said sculptor Shelley Curtis, who moved there in the early 80s. "Probably 70 percent of the storefronts on Main Street were vacant."

What was it that made Joseph such a perfect melting pot for arts and the economy? We find out.

42:05 - Parting Treat: The Jennings Hotel.

Greg Hennes knows a thing or two about the romance of rusticity. He created both Campfire Cologne, which is basically a chunk of wood and a match, and Antler and Company, which sells all things made of antlers. But now he's taking his love to Joseph. Earlier this year, he bought the hundred-year-old Jennings Hotel and then raised $100,000 via Kickstarter to remodel it into a boutique hotel and artist residency. And that's just the beginning.

For more, see our show page:
http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-august-15-2015-arts-and-small-towns-a-love-story/]]>3051falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/new-book-tells-the-story-of-the-aftermath-of-huricane-katrina--11560250
The book follows the intersecting lives of two mothers and two daughters.

Urbani will read from Landfall at the Powell’s City of Books store in downtown Portland on Aug. 29, the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall in New Orleans.

Urbani started her conversation with State of Wonder's April Baer by reading an excerpt set in the Ninth Ward the morning after the hurricane hit. It was that brief moment when everyone thought they were safe and had no idea what was about to happen.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560250Wed, 19 Aug 2015 01:28:23 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland author Ellen Urbani lived through the final years of Guatemala’s horrific civil war — an experience she wrote about in her first book, "When I Was Elena." She then spent 13 years as an art therapist working with oncology patients and disaster...
The book follows the intersecting lives of two mothers and two daughters.

Urbani will read from Landfall at the Powell’s City of Books store in downtown Portland on Aug. 29, the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall in New Orleans.

Urbani started her conversation with State of Wonder's April Baer by reading an excerpt set in the Ninth Ward the morning after the hurricane hit. It was that brief moment when everyone thought they were safe and had no idea what was about to happen.]]>650art,arts & entertainment,opb,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-aug-22-2015-frank-mccourt-phame-divers-papi-fimbres-ellen-urbani-more--11544291
But there're also some hellos! A world premiere, a best new band. Plus, sandwiches.

For over thirty years, PHAME has provided opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to pursue their passion in the arts, sharing the stage with acts such as Pink Martini and putting on plays like "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Grease." But their new production, “Up The Fall,” is unlike anything they’ve done before: PHAME commissioned an original, full-length musical from local playwright Debbie Lamedman and singer-songwriter Laura Gibson. It runs Aug. 22–29 at Artists Repertory Theatre.

9:10 - Portland author Ellen Urbani lived through the final years of Guatemala’s horrific civil war—an experience she wrote about in her first book, 'When I Was Elena.' She then spent 13 years as an art therapist working with oncology patients and disaster survivors. Both experiences primed her for dealing with trauma in her first novel, 'Landfall,' about the days after Hurricane Katrina.

19:12 - In a city where it seems like everyone plays in five bands, there are few as booked up as Papi Fimbres. He’s a lynchpin in a whopping 23 bands, including Orquestra Pacifico Tropical, Sun Angle, Minden, and Mascaras. And he’s putting them all on hold as he moves to Germany for a year. He told us about his decision to leave – and five things every prospective Portlander needs to know.

27:22 - Divers live shows are so electrically sweaty and infamous that they topped Willamette Week’s best new bands poll this year. They stopped by opbmusic to test the sound proofing capability of the opb studio.

32:31 - Uncage the Soul Productions has produced all kinds of gorgeous, viral time-lapse videos of Portland and Oregon. We talked with the filmmakers about how they do it.

36:43 - Something went up online this week that caught our eyes. It’s a video of Daniel Giron of 11: Dance Co. dancing on the Portland waterfront when he's threatened by a man with a sledge hammer. But instead of stopping, Giron rips his shirt off, ups his twirls, and prances right into the Salmon Street Springs Fountain, while his friends go crazy cheering. He and 11's artistic director, B.B. DeLano, told us about the experience.

41:43 - Frank McCourt honed his storytelling skills as a teacher in a vocational high school in New York. He found stories were one way to keep the kids engaged, particularly since he didn’t know how to teach. But it wasn’t until he retired to Ireland 30 years later that he started putting those stories down on paper in memoirs. His first, 'Angela’s Ashes,' won the Pulitzer Prize in 1997.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544291Fri, 21 Aug 2015 23:08:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingToday on the show: lots of goodbyes. A writer says goodbye to the New Orleans she used to know. A musical phenom gives Portland a big farewell smooch, as he takes off for the continent. And a dancer bids farewell to a measure of safety, during a...
But there're also some hellos! A world premiere, a best new band. Plus, sandwiches.

For over thirty years, PHAME has provided opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to pursue their passion in the arts, sharing the stage with acts such as Pink Martini and putting on plays like "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Grease." But their new production, “Up The Fall,” is unlike anything they’ve done before: PHAME commissioned an original, full-length musical from local playwright Debbie Lamedman and singer-songwriter Laura Gibson. It runs Aug. 22–29 at Artists Repertory Theatre.

9:10 - Portland author Ellen Urbani lived through the final years of Guatemala’s horrific civil war—an experience she wrote about in her first book, 'When I Was Elena.' She then spent 13 years as an art therapist working with oncology patients and disaster survivors. Both experiences primed her for dealing with trauma in her first novel, 'Landfall,' about the days after Hurricane Katrina.

19:12 - In a city where it seems like everyone plays in five bands, there are few as booked up as Papi Fimbres. He’s a lynchpin in a whopping 23 bands, including Orquestra Pacifico Tropical, Sun Angle, Minden, and Mascaras. And he’s putting them all on hold as he moves to Germany for a year. He told us about his decision to leave – and five things every prospective Portlander needs to know.

27:22 - Divers live shows are so electrically sweaty and infamous that they topped Willamette Week’s best new bands poll this year. They stopped by opbmusic to test the sound proofing capability of the opb studio.

32:31 - Uncage the Soul Productions has produced all kinds of gorgeous, viral time-lapse videos of Portland and Oregon. We talked with the filmmakers about how they do it.

36:43 - Something went up online this week that caught our eyes. It’s a video of Daniel Giron of 11: Dance Co. dancing on the Portland waterfront when he's threatened by a man with a sledge hammer. But instead of stopping, Giron rips his shirt off, ups his twirls, and prances right into the Salmon Street Springs Fountain, while his friends go crazy cheering. He and 11's artistic director, B.B. DeLano, told us about the experience.

41:43 - Frank McCourt honed his storytelling skills as a teacher in a vocational high school in New York. He found stories were one way to keep the kids engaged, particularly since he didn’t know how to teach. But it wasn’t until he retired to Ireland 30 years later that he started putting those stories down on paper in memoirs. His first, 'Angela’s Ashes,' won the Pulitzer Prize in 1997.]]>3092falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/phame-partners-with-laura-gibson-for-world-premiere-musical--11560248
Read the full article: http://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-inclusive-portland-performing-group-presents-1st-world-premiere/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560248Fri, 21 Aug 2015 23:23:14 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFor over thirty years, PHAME has provided opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to pursue their passion in the arts, sharing the stage with acts such as Pink Martini and putting on plays like “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Grease.” But their...
Read the full article: http://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-inclusive-portland-performing-group-presents-1st-world-premiere/]]>445arts & entertainmentfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-comics-artist-spells-it-out-on-latino-vs-hispanic--11560251https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560251Thu, 27 Aug 2015 10:34:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPeriscope Studios' Terry Blas got 170,000 shares on a comic in which he breaks down his bi-cultural identity. Every used "Latino" and "Hispanic" interchangeably? So did Terry. Listen up.218falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/slim-moon-s-leap-of-faith--11560492https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560492Fri, 28 Aug 2015 16:25:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingKill Rock Stars Records' co-founder Slim Moon has a new career in the ministry. He talks to us about finding his calling, and what skills translate from Saturday night to Sunday morning.480state of wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nate-fasold-hunts-down-famous-guitars--11560245
His father, David Fasold, spent his youth in the Merchant Marines. After marrying and settling down to start a family in Key West, Florida, he opened up a marine salvage company that sat out at the end of a long cement pier. There, Fasold's father helped his fellow treasure hunters dredge ancient wrecks from the sea floor. It was also where Nate Fasold's fascination with the thrill of the hunt began.

"Ever since I was a kid, I was into finding treasures, and most importantly the history behind the treasures," says Fasold. "I was brought up with this pirate fantasy."

Now he's applied that fantasy to hunting down famous guitars belonging to the likes of Elliott Smith and Kurt Cobain.

Read our full story: http://www.opb.org/news/article/nate-fasold-hunts-down-six-string-treasures]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560245Fri, 28 Aug 2015 20:26:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAs a vintage guitar collector and owner of Black Book Guitars, Nate Fasold is a master excavator. He's dogged, detail-oriented and knows how to stay the course. In fact, treasure hunting runs in the Fasold family. His father, David Fasold, spent his...
His father, David Fasold, spent his youth in the Merchant Marines. After marrying and settling down to start a family in Key West, Florida, he opened up a marine salvage company that sat out at the end of a long cement pier. There, Fasold's father helped his fellow treasure hunters dredge ancient wrecks from the sea floor. It was also where Nate Fasold's fascination with the thrill of the hunt began.

"Ever since I was a kid, I was into finding treasures, and most importantly the history behind the treasures," says Fasold. "I was brought up with this pirate fantasy."

Now he's applied that fantasy to hunting down famous guitars belonging to the likes of Elliott Smith and Kurt Cobain.

Read our full story: http://www.opb.org/news/article/nate-fasold-hunts-down-six-string-treasures]]>501arts & entertainmentfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/time-for-a-re-set-arts-business-interface-in-portland--11561116
Photo credit: Third Rail Repertory Theatre)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561116Fri, 28 Aug 2015 21:18:24 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWith a long-time advocacy group winding down operations, what's going to bridge the gap between metro Portland's business and creative communities? Photo credit: Third Rail Repertory Theatre)
Photo credit: Third Rail Repertory Theatre)]]>510falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-aug-29-2015-latino-vs-hispanic-business-the-arts-tin-house-more--11544288
1:06 - This week, members of the nonprofit Business for Culture and the Arts closed up shop. The group’s members worked for nearly 30 years to build bridges between the arts and business communities. But the board and members voted Thursday to dissolve operations, handing over some of its programs to the Regional Arts and Culture Council, RACC. We look at what a healthy business/arts relationship might look like.
9:52 - Portland comics artist and illustrator Terry Blas's dad was born in the U.S. and his mom in Mexico. He used to use the terms “Latino” and “Hispanic” interchangeably, but he doesn’t any more. This summer, he published a comic on Vox-dot-com about how he explains his heritage. And, as of this week, it’s been shared over 170-thousand times.
14:43 - The son of a professional treasure hunter, Nate Fasold hunts down famous guitars played by the like of Elliott Smith and Kurt Cobain from his shop on North Mississippi Avenue.
23:06 - Tonight is a fundraiser for the next stage in Portland MC Mic Crenshaw’s African Hip-Hop Caravan. It's a group made up of hip-hop collectives across the continent, including in Cape Town, Harare, Arusha and Nairobi, that aims to talk about the current state of African hip-hop. Crenshaw tells us about his last caravan trip.
33:17 - Sure, you shouldn't judge a book by a cover. But don't tell that to the designers behind some of the excellent and award-winning covers at the local publisher Tin House. They lay out their hands-on process.
39:43 - The Britt Music and Arts Festival in Jacksonville commissioned a new work about Crater Lake by composer Michael Gordon. Gordon co-founded Bang On A Can, a music festival and collective, and his compositions have been performed around the world by the likes of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Kronos Quartet. Think Out Loud's Dave Miller talked with Gordon about the lakes serenity and violence.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544288Fri, 28 Aug 2015 21:49:10 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur "How To" episode: how to design a book cover, how to correctly use the terms “Latino” and “Hispanic,” and how to revive your relationship with the arts. 1:06 - This week, members of the nonprofit Business for Culture and the Arts closed up...
1:06 - This week, members of the nonprofit Business for Culture and the Arts closed up shop. The group’s members worked for nearly 30 years to build bridges between the arts and business communities. But the board and members voted Thursday to dissolve operations, handing over some of its programs to the Regional Arts and Culture Council, RACC. We look at what a healthy business/arts relationship might look like.
9:52 - Portland comics artist and illustrator Terry Blas's dad was born in the U.S. and his mom in Mexico. He used to use the terms “Latino” and “Hispanic” interchangeably, but he doesn’t any more. This summer, he published a comic on Vox-dot-com about how he explains his heritage. And, as of this week, it’s been shared over 170-thousand times.
14:43 - The son of a professional treasure hunter, Nate Fasold hunts down famous guitars played by the like of Elliott Smith and Kurt Cobain from his shop on North Mississippi Avenue.
23:06 - Tonight is a fundraiser for the next stage in Portland MC Mic Crenshaw’s African Hip-Hop Caravan. It's a group made up of hip-hop collectives across the continent, including in Cape Town, Harare, Arusha and Nairobi, that aims to talk about the current state of African hip-hop. Crenshaw tells us about his last caravan trip.
33:17 - Sure, you shouldn't judge a book by a cover. But don't tell that to the designers behind some of the excellent and award-winning covers at the local publisher Tin House. They lay out their hands-on process.
39:43 - The Britt Music and Arts Festival in Jacksonville commissioned a new work about Crater Lake by composer Michael Gordon. Gordon co-founded Bang On A Can, a music festival and collective, and his compositions have been performed around the world by the likes of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Kronos Quartet. Think Out Loud's Dave Miller talked with Gordon about the lakes serenity and violence.]]>3023falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/you-can-judge-publisher-tin-house-by-its-covers--11560242
The Portland publisher release about a dozen books a year, and it has started to win attention and awards for its covers. Last year, its illustrated version of Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” won one of the more prestigious graphic design awards in the industry: It was selected by the trade group Communication Arts for its 2015 Design Annual for book design, and it was the only book to be included in the Typography annual.

We visited the famous tin-sided house in Northwest Portland and spoke with art director Diane Chonette and designer Jakob Vala in order to get a behind-the-scenes look at the process behind their success.

Their newest work, “Dryland” by Portland author Sarah Jaffe, is out this week. Jaffe will read from it at Powell’s Books on Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. To celebrate, there will be Voodoo Donuts with blue plaid frosting in the pattern of the cover.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560242Sun, 30 Aug 2015 01:32:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe old adage may say, “Don’t judge a book by a cover,” but don’t tell that to the designers at the Tin House. The Portland publisher release about a dozen books a year, and it has started to win attention and awards for its covers. Last year, its...
The Portland publisher release about a dozen books a year, and it has started to win attention and awards for its covers. Last year, its illustrated version of Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” won one of the more prestigious graphic design awards in the industry: It was selected by the trade group Communication Arts for its 2015 Design Annual for book design, and it was the only book to be included in the Typography annual.

We visited the famous tin-sided house in Northwest Portland and spoke with art director Diane Chonette and designer Jakob Vala in order to get a behind-the-scenes look at the process behind their success.

Their newest work, “Dryland” by Portland author Sarah Jaffe, is out this week. Jaffe will read from it at Powell’s Books on Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. To celebrate, there will be Voodoo Donuts with blue plaid frosting in the pattern of the cover.]]>387art,arts & entertainmentfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-trace-history-a-painter-s-take-on-change-in-china--11561117
(credit: "Balance", Rachel Davis, 2015. Courtesy of Charles A. Hartmann Fine Art)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561117Tue, 01 Sep 2015 22:28:28 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWatercolorist Rachel Davis' graceful meditations on changes in China's built environment. (credit: "Balance", Rachel Davis, 2015. Courtesy of Charles A. Hartmann Fine Art)
(credit: "Balance", Rachel Davis, 2015. Courtesy of Charles A. Hartmann Fine Art)]]>543falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wallowa-fiddle-camp-attracts-pickers-fiddlers-from-all-over--11560237
If you like what you hear, Fiddle Tunes Camp are sponsoring a big music festival in Enterprise this weekend called the Juniper Jam.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560237Fri, 04 Sep 2015 17:18:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOne day in July we were driving through the small town of Wallowa in the far Northeast corner of Oregon on our way to Joseph to record a show from the Fishtrap writers’ retreat. As we drove past the school, we couldn’t help but notice the front lawn...
If you like what you hear, Fiddle Tunes Camp are sponsoring a big music festival in Enterprise this weekend called the Juniper Jam.]]>309falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-5-cartoonist-craig-thompson-musician-craig-finn-astoria-music-festival-fiddle-camp-more--11544287
Graphic Novelist Craig Thompson
We start with the singular Craig Thompson. His incredible, 600-page autobiography “Blankets,” about growing up in a fundamentalist Christian family in Wisconsin, was a game-changer, sweeping the awards and redefining the literary depths a graphic novel memoir could reach. Then Thompson completely changed gears with “Habibi,” an epic set in a modern Arabian Nights fantasia. Now Thompson has released “Space Dumplins.” It’s the zany adventure of a girl who has to save her family from giant planet-eating whales whose excrement has replaced oil as the universe’s fuel. Did we mention there are sartorial, talking chickens?

How Do Bands Decide?
As you check out the fall concert calendar — you probably noticed we have some big acts coming to town, like Madonna’s first visit in years — have you ever wondered how bands decide where to book stops on their tours? Our pal Mitchell Hartmann looked into it for Marketplace.

Musician Craig Finn
Best known as the frontman of the Hold Steady, Craig Finn is famous for his storytelling, both in his songs and between them. He’s on tour this summer to promote his new solo album, “Faith In The Future.” During a live session for OPB Music, Finn performed the song “Newmyer’s Roof” and told the story behind the music.

Alien She
This weekend the Museum of Contemporary Craft and the Pacific Northwest College of Arts opens the exhibition called “Alien She” designed to unlock the history and impact of the Riot Girl Movement. The curators tell us about it.

Painter Rachel Davis
Rachel Davis’s newest exhibition, “A Trace History,” explores the interplay of ancient and modern China. In her whimsical watercolors, skyscrapers spring up as tall as mountains, and trucks go barrelling over land while terra cotta warriors wait buried below the surface. It’s a juxtaposition close to Davis’s heart. Both of her adopted daughters were born in Central China. Davis told us about how she’s riveted by the speed with which China has hurtled ahead during her daughters’ childhood here.

The Astoria Music Festival Gets A New Board
The festival’s onstage presence can be peaceful and sublime. But offstage, there’s been some drama. The Festival’s entire board announced in late July they were resigning, en masse. This week, a new board has signed on. We talk check in with “Daily Astorian” reporter Erick Bengel for an update.

A Jazz Life
Our sister station KMHD runs a series called “A Jazz Life,” where jazz artists and fans talk about moments when a musical experience changed their lives. They’re starting up a new season with this story from Jennifer Mayerle, a Portland-based marketing content strategist, who happened to sit behind an idol at a small New York jazz club.

Wallowa Fiddle Tunes Camp
One day in July we were driving through the small town of Wallowa in the far Northeast corner of Oregon on our way to Joseph to record a show from the Fishtrap writers’ retreat. As we drove past the school, we couldn’t help but notice the front lawn was filled with tents. What was the reason for a full-scale summer camp out at school? Meet Fiddle Tunes Camp.

Fire Fighting Meets Photography
Alan Thornton’s photography career has taken him from the deserts of the Southwest U.S. to distant lands like Turkey and Cambodia, but there was one shot that he could never get close enough to snap: a forest fire. So this spring, Thornton took a wildland firefighting course. Since then, he has found a new job working as a photographer and a firefighter. You can hear to the full conversation on Think Out Loud.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544287Fri, 04 Sep 2015 23:43:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week: we travel from the front lines of forest fires to the trailer parks of outer space. It's all in a day's work for the Labor Day weekend. Graphic Novelist Craig Thompson We start with the singular Craig Thompson. His incredible, 600-page...
Graphic Novelist Craig Thompson
We start with the singular Craig Thompson. His incredible, 600-page autobiography “Blankets,” about growing up in a fundamentalist Christian family in Wisconsin, was a game-changer, sweeping the awards and redefining the literary depths a graphic novel memoir could reach. Then Thompson completely changed gears with “Habibi,” an epic set in a modern Arabian Nights fantasia. Now Thompson has released “Space Dumplins.” It’s the zany adventure of a girl who has to save her family from giant planet-eating whales whose excrement has replaced oil as the universe’s fuel. Did we mention there are sartorial, talking chickens?

How Do Bands Decide?
As you check out the fall concert calendar — you probably noticed we have some big acts coming to town, like Madonna’s first visit in years — have you ever wondered how bands decide where to book stops on their tours? Our pal Mitchell Hartmann looked into it for Marketplace.

Musician Craig Finn
Best known as the frontman of the Hold Steady, Craig Finn is famous for his storytelling, both in his songs and between them. He’s on tour this summer to promote his new solo album, “Faith In The Future.” During a live session for OPB Music, Finn performed the song “Newmyer’s Roof” and told the story behind the music.

Alien She
This weekend the Museum of Contemporary Craft and the Pacific Northwest College of Arts opens the exhibition called “Alien She” designed to unlock the history and impact of the Riot Girl Movement. The curators tell us about it.

Painter Rachel Davis
Rachel Davis’s newest exhibition, “A Trace History,” explores the interplay of ancient and modern China. In her whimsical watercolors, skyscrapers spring up as tall as mountains, and trucks go barrelling over land while terra cotta warriors wait buried below the surface. It’s a juxtaposition close to Davis’s heart. Both of her adopted daughters were born in Central China. Davis told us about how she’s riveted by the speed with which China has hurtled ahead during her daughters’ childhood here.

The Astoria Music Festival Gets A New Board
The festival’s onstage presence can be peaceful and sublime. But offstage, there’s been some drama. The Festival’s entire board announced in late July they were resigning, en masse. This week, a new board has signed on. We talk check in with “Daily Astorian” reporter Erick Bengel for an update.

A Jazz Life
Our sister station KMHD runs a series called “A Jazz Life,” where jazz artists and fans talk about moments when a musical experience changed their lives. They’re starting up a new season with this story from Jennifer Mayerle, a Portland-based marketing content strategist, who happened to sit behind an idol at a small New York jazz club.

Wallowa Fiddle Tunes Camp
One day in July we were driving through the small town of Wallowa in the far Northeast corner of Oregon on our way to Joseph to record a show from the Fishtrap writers’ retreat. As we drove past the school, we couldn’t help but notice the front lawn was filled with tents. What was the reason for a full-scale summer camp out at school? Meet Fiddle Tunes Camp.

Fire Fighting Meets Photography
Alan Thornton’s photography career has taken him from the deserts of the Southwest U.S. to distant lands like Turkey and Cambodia, but there was one shot that he could never get close enough to snap: a forest fire. So this spring, Thornton took a wildland firefighting course. Since then, he has found a new job working as a photographer and a firefighter. You can hear to the full conversation on Think Out Loud.]]>3085falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/planet-eating-space-whales-and-sartorial-talking-chickens-fill-craig-thompson-s-space-dumplins--11560238
He burst onto the scene with the semi-autobiographical work about his move to Portland called “Goodbye, Chunky Rice.” Its delightfully quirky writing and cartoony style won him the Harvey Award for Best New Talent.

He followed up with the incredible autobiography “Blankets,” about growing up in a fundamentalist Christian family in Wisconsin. The 600-page tome was a game-changer, sweeping the comic awards and redefining the literary depths a graphic novel memoir could plumb.

Then Thompson completely changed gears with “Habibi,” an epic allegory set in a modern Arabian Nights fantasia.

Now, he just released “Space Dumplins” on Scholastic Books. It’s the zany adventure of a girl who has to save her family from giant planet-eating whales whose excrement has replaced oil as the universe’s fuel. Did we mention there’s a sartorial talking chicken named Elliot?

We reached Thompson in his home in Los Angeles, where he moved earlier this year. Our conversation spanned his blue-collar roots, the friends who inspired the characters in “Space Dumplins,” and what attracted him to writing a children’s book. Also, he reads his manifesto in the voice of the character Gar, the lumberjack father who harvests space whale, well, “dumplings."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560238Sat, 05 Sep 2015 16:12:44 +0000Oregon Public Broadcastingn the galaxy of graphic novels, Craig Thompson is a singular talent. His books don’t just tell different stories: they take place in entirely different universes. He burst onto the scene with the semi-autobiographical work about his move to Portland...
He burst onto the scene with the semi-autobiographical work about his move to Portland called “Goodbye, Chunky Rice.” Its delightfully quirky writing and cartoony style won him the Harvey Award for Best New Talent.

He followed up with the incredible autobiography “Blankets,” about growing up in a fundamentalist Christian family in Wisconsin. The 600-page tome was a game-changer, sweeping the comic awards and redefining the literary depths a graphic novel memoir could plumb.

Then Thompson completely changed gears with “Habibi,” an epic allegory set in a modern Arabian Nights fantasia.

Now, he just released “Space Dumplins” on Scholastic Books. It’s the zany adventure of a girl who has to save her family from giant planet-eating whales whose excrement has replaced oil as the universe’s fuel. Did we mention there’s a sartorial talking chicken named Elliot?

We reached Thompson in his home in Los Angeles, where he moved earlier this year. Our conversation spanned his blue-collar roots, the friends who inspired the characters in “Space Dumplins,” and what attracted him to writing a children’s book. Also, he reads his manifesto in the voice of the character Gar, the lumberjack father who harvests space whale, well, “dumplings."]]>995art,arts & entertainment,books,opb,podcast,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/new-performance-venue-in-old-town--11560236https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560236Wed, 09 Sep 2015 07:35:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe chat up Shelley McClendon about the new performance venue she is preparing for a mid-October opening - The Siren Theater.170falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/one-woman-publisher-c-spike-trotman-gives-voice-to-underrepresented-characters-in-comics--11560234
After realizing that no one was publishing the kind of stories she wanted to read — stories about people of color, queer people, people dealing with the everyday issues of being human — she decided to start her own publishing house, Iron Circus Comics. She has since used Kickstarter to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for a half dozen graphic novels and comic anthologies, including two collections of erotica comics written by women ("Smut Pedler"), a horror anthology ("The Sleep of Reason"), and two books about living life with less called "Poorcraft."

Producer Aaron Scott spoke with Trotman about the growth of webcomics, the state of diversity in comics, and her love of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”

We asked her to recommend several webcomics for anyone interested in wading into their world. You can find her recs at: http://www.opb.org/news/article/c-spike-trotman-gives-voice-to-underrepresented-characters-in-web-comics]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560234Fri, 11 Sep 2015 20:45:16 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingC. Spike Trotman got her start in comics with the web series “Templar, Arizona,” about a slightly irregular town filled with junkies, millionaires, strange subcultures, and weird religions. After realizing that no one was publishing the kind of...
After realizing that no one was publishing the kind of stories she wanted to read — stories about people of color, queer people, people dealing with the everyday issues of being human — she decided to start her own publishing house, Iron Circus Comics. She has since used Kickstarter to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for a half dozen graphic novels and comic anthologies, including two collections of erotica comics written by women ("Smut Pedler"), a horror anthology ("The Sleep of Reason"), and two books about living life with less called "Poorcraft."

Producer Aaron Scott spoke with Trotman about the growth of webcomics, the state of diversity in comics, and her love of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”

We asked her to recommend several webcomics for anyone interested in wading into their world. You can find her recs at: http://www.opb.org/news/article/c-spike-trotman-gives-voice-to-underrepresented-characters-in-web-comics]]>538art,arts & entertainment,opb,podcast,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/patrick-dewitt-s-undermajordomo-minor--11560241https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560241Sat, 12 Sep 2015 00:49:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDeWitt talks about his newest novel, a propulsive, playful fable for grown-ups. We also get an update on the film treatment of his 2011 runaway hit, "The Sisters Brothers".415patrick dewittfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-sept-12-2015-patrick-dewitt-c-spike-trotman-hector-tobar-bed-more--11567995
04:05 XOXO Fest welcomes C. Spike Trotman to town this weekend.

13:05 Dreamy, resonant sounds from Natasha Kmeto. She gives us a taste of her new release, "Inevitable"

16:30 Novelist Patrick DeWitt sharpened his knives on fairy tale archtypes for his new novel, "Undermajordomo Minor".

23:28 An opbmusic session with Bed, a slo-fi trio that's coming off well-received gigs at Treefort and PDX Pop Now.

28:02 Sounds from Holcombe Waller's newest composition, a requiem commissioned by PICA for this year's Time Based Art Festival.

35:23 Oregon Art Beat sits down with poet Primus St. John.

39:44 Hats off: Lou Watson is a finalist for th Seattel Art Museum's Betty Bowen prize!

42:56 Hector Tobar talks about weaving the narrative of the 33 Chilean miners who spent 69 days trapped underground]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567995Sat, 12 Sep 2015 01:01:08 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting00:52 How a white guy from Indiana tricked his way past northwest poet Sheman Alexie, to get published in Best American Poetry 2015. 04:05 XOXO Fest welcomes C. Spike Trotman to town this weekend. 13:05 Dreamy, resonant sounds from Natasha Kmeto....
04:05 XOXO Fest welcomes C. Spike Trotman to town this weekend.

13:05 Dreamy, resonant sounds from Natasha Kmeto. She gives us a taste of her new release, "Inevitable"

16:30 Novelist Patrick DeWitt sharpened his knives on fairy tale archtypes for his new novel, "Undermajordomo Minor".

23:28 An opbmusic session with Bed, a slo-fi trio that's coming off well-received gigs at Treefort and PDX Pop Now.

28:02 Sounds from Holcombe Waller's newest composition, a requiem commissioned by PICA for this year's Time Based Art Festival.

35:23 Oregon Art Beat sits down with poet Primus St. John.

39:44 Hats off: Lou Watson is a finalist for th Seattel Art Museum's Betty Bowen prize!

42:56 Hector Tobar talks about weaving the narrative of the 33 Chilean miners who spent 69 days trapped underground]]>3197falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-are-you-looking-at-wendy-red-star-reviews-edward-curtis-shadow-catcher--11560233https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560233Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:49:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA collection of Edward Curtis' portraits of Native people are on view through October 31st at Bend's Atelier 6000. We tagged along with visual artist Wendy Red Star to see the show.470arts & entertainment,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/towne-storage-closes-leaving-hundreds-of-artists-looking-for-new-studios--11560226https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560226Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:49:42 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe meet a few of the artists in the midst of the Towne Storage exodus, and hear about the forces driving the change.255arts & entertainment,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/q-a-commissioner-nick-fish-on-affordable-artist-space--11560225https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560225Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:52:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFish talks about the city's toolbox for dealing with a scarcity of maker space.324arts & entertainment,news,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-19-2015-artists-displaced-natasha-kmeto-twilight-high-design-bonsai-edward-curtis-more--11544285
Hundreds Of Artists Lose Their Studios At Towne Storage - 5:08
Towne Storage has occupied a special place in the Central Eastside arts scene, housing hundreds of artists. But now, Towne Storage’s managers have informed everyone they need to be out by November; the building has been sold.

Q&A: Commission Nick Fish On Artists' Space - 5:25
Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish told us he definitely has some concerns about how development in the Central Eastside is playing out.

The New American Bonsai + The Artisan's Cup - 10:54
When most Americans think of bonsai — the art of pruning and shaping small trees — they probably think of an ancient gardening craft practiced by lovers of Japanese culture. Ryan Neil thinks it’s anything but. With a story ripped from the movie “The Karate Kid,” he has created Bonsai Mirai, a leading international school in the hills outside Portland. And he’s partnered with cutting-edge architects and designers in an effort to make bonsai cool for a new generation.

Now they’re staging an ambitious exhibition of juried bonsai from around the country called The Artisan's Cup at the Portland Art Museum from Sept 25–27. Their goal: to elevate bonsai into a contemporary art form worthy of, well, museums.

What Are You Looking At: Wendy Red Star on "Edward Curtis: Shadow Catcher" - 18:36
This fall, the Bend arts space Atelier 6000 is showing photographs by Edward Curtis in “Edward Curtis: Shadow Catcher.” At the turn of the 20th century, Curtis vowed to record, with his camera, the way Indian people lived. We sent Portland artist Wendy Red Star to check it out for an installment of our series “What Are You Looking At.”

New Film Profiles Afghan Photographers - 26:30
When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, from 1996 to 2001, photography was illegal. Since then, photojournalists have taken cautious steps toward a free press. Local filmmaker Mo Scarpelli went to Afghanistan to see what life is like behind the lens for her new documentary “Frame by Frame,” which follows the lives of four Afghani photgraphers. You can see it at Vancouver's Kiggins Theater on Sept. 21 at 7:30pm.

opbmusic session: Natasha Kmeto - 34:15
Portland-based electronic music artist Natasha Kmeto's record from a couple of years ago, “Crisis,” emphasized mood and sound. But her new one record, “Inevitable,” is all about soul. Her robust vocals dominate the mix, and she’s singing personal lyrics that are more raw and confident than ever.

Tilikum Crossing - 41:09
You’re a person, right? Well, your bridge is ready for you. Tilikum Crossing, literally, “the Bridge of the People,” is carrying its first walkers, bikers and public transit riders between Portland’s South Waterfront and East Side. It’s Bridgetown’s first new bridge over the Willamette River in four decades. Think Out Loud’s Dave Miller spoke with the bridge’s architect, Don McDonald.

Ten Years After "Twilight" Dawned, Forks Remains A Mecca For Vampire Fan - 45:20
Last weekend, vampires were afoot in a small town on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Fans of the bestselling teen vampire romance series flooded into the town of Forks from all over the country to mark the 10th anniversary of the publication of the first book in the Twilight Saga. Correspondent Tom Banse reports on the love story that injected new blood into the economy of a once hobbled logging town.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544285Fri, 18 Sep 2015 21:28:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week: artists get kicked out of Towne Storage, Natasha Kmeto gets vocal, bonsai gets a high design update, vampires get all touristy and so much more. Hundreds Of Artists Lose Their Studios At Towne Storage - 5:08 Towne Storage has occupied a...
Hundreds Of Artists Lose Their Studios At Towne Storage - 5:08
Towne Storage has occupied a special place in the Central Eastside arts scene, housing hundreds of artists. But now, Towne Storage’s managers have informed everyone they need to be out by November; the building has been sold.

Q&A: Commission Nick Fish On Artists' Space - 5:25
Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish told us he definitely has some concerns about how development in the Central Eastside is playing out.

The New American Bonsai + The Artisan's Cup - 10:54
When most Americans think of bonsai — the art of pruning and shaping small trees — they probably think of an ancient gardening craft practiced by lovers of Japanese culture. Ryan Neil thinks it’s anything but. With a story ripped from the movie “The Karate Kid,” he has created Bonsai Mirai, a leading international school in the hills outside Portland. And he’s partnered with cutting-edge architects and designers in an effort to make bonsai cool for a new generation.

Now they’re staging an ambitious exhibition of juried bonsai from around the country called The Artisan's Cup at the Portland Art Museum from Sept 25–27. Their goal: to elevate bonsai into a contemporary art form worthy of, well, museums.

What Are You Looking At: Wendy Red Star on "Edward Curtis: Shadow Catcher" - 18:36
This fall, the Bend arts space Atelier 6000 is showing photographs by Edward Curtis in “Edward Curtis: Shadow Catcher.” At the turn of the 20th century, Curtis vowed to record, with his camera, the way Indian people lived. We sent Portland artist Wendy Red Star to check it out for an installment of our series “What Are You Looking At.”

New Film Profiles Afghan Photographers - 26:30
When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, from 1996 to 2001, photography was illegal. Since then, photojournalists have taken cautious steps toward a free press. Local filmmaker Mo Scarpelli went to Afghanistan to see what life is like behind the lens for her new documentary “Frame by Frame,” which follows the lives of four Afghani photgraphers. You can see it at Vancouver's Kiggins Theater on Sept. 21 at 7:30pm.

opbmusic session: Natasha Kmeto - 34:15
Portland-based electronic music artist Natasha Kmeto's record from a couple of years ago, “Crisis,” emphasized mood and sound. But her new one record, “Inevitable,” is all about soul. Her robust vocals dominate the mix, and she’s singing personal lyrics that are more raw and confident than ever.

Tilikum Crossing - 41:09
You’re a person, right? Well, your bridge is ready for you. Tilikum Crossing, literally, “the Bridge of the People,” is carrying its first walkers, bikers and public transit riders between Portland’s South Waterfront and East Side. It’s Bridgetown’s first new bridge over the Willamette River in four decades. Think Out Loud’s Dave Miller spoke with the bridge’s architect, Don McDonald.

Ten Years After "Twilight" Dawned, Forks Remains A Mecca For Vampire Fan - 45:20
Last weekend, vampires were afoot in a small town on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Fans of the bestselling teen vampire romance series flooded into the town of Forks from all over the country to mark the 10th anniversary of the publication of the first book in the Twilight Saga. Correspondent Tom Banse reports on the love story that injected new blood into the economy of a once hobbled logging town.]]>3044falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/is-portland-the-epienter-of-a-cool-new-american-bonsai-movement--11560224
Ryan Neil thinks it’s anything but.

With a story ripped from the movie “The Karate Kid,” he founded Bonsai Mirai, a leading international school in the hills outside Portland, and he’s partnered with cutting-edge architects and designers in an effort to make bonsai cool for a new generation.

From Sept. 25–27, they’re staging an ambitious exhibition of bonsai from around the country at the Portland Art Museum called the Artisan's Cup with design help from Skylab Architecture. Their goal: to elevate bonsai into a contemporary art form worthy of, well, museums.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560224Fri, 18 Sep 2015 21:53:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhen most Americans think of bonsai — the craft of pruning and shaping small trees — they probably think of an ancient gardening craft practiced by lovers of Japanese culture. Ryan Neil thinks it’s anything but. With a story ripped from the movie...
Ryan Neil thinks it’s anything but.

With a story ripped from the movie “The Karate Kid,” he founded Bonsai Mirai, a leading international school in the hills outside Portland, and he’s partnered with cutting-edge architects and designers in an effort to make bonsai cool for a new generation.

From Sept. 25–27, they’re staging an ambitious exhibition of bonsai from around the country at the Portland Art Museum called the Artisan's Cup with design help from Skylab Architecture. Their goal: to elevate bonsai into a contemporary art form worthy of, well, museums.]]>444arts & entertainment,news: localfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-sept-26th-2015-tiempo-libre-elizabeth-gilbert-wild-ones-more--11567999



Where the Wonderful talk about doing what they do!


01:18-03:31Blitzen Trapper's about to drop a new record! Here's a preview, with Eric Earley telling us about remaining an old logging town for one of the songs, "Cadillac Road".

03:31-12:39Denny Swofford, the co-founder of Cavity Search Records, talks with Matt Drenik (Battleme, Lions) about the label's early days. Their conversation is being released as an opbmusic podcast this week.

12:40-21:00 Elizabeth Gilbert talks about coming back from a creative slump, and kicking her creativity in the gear. Her new book is called "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear". Check her out in Portland October 4th.

21:50-28:10Oregon Art Beat's Robe Imbriano gives us the lowdown on an ambitious new musical from Artists Repertory Theatre, "Cuba Libre" — a collaboration with playwright Carlos Lacamara, and Grammy--Nominated Afro-Carribean band Tiempo Libre.

28:10-36:40An opbmusic session with Wild Ones, who are showing some ferocious on "Heatwave"

37:38-45:37What do buildings sound like? Third Angle New Music creates a new performance for the library at Mt. Angel Abbey. The building was designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, and the work draws on both Finnish tradition and the ethos of the building. But Third Angle takes it one step further - they're actually using the building as an instrument.

45:38-52:30Just hanging out with a living legend. Soul jazz giant Les McCann, on his 80th birthday, stops in to talk to Derek Smith of KMHD's Morning Shift, to talk about his music and photography.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567999Sat, 26 Sep 2015 00:18:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhere the Wonderful talk about doing what they do! Where the Wonderful talk about doing what they do! 01:18-03:31Blitzen Trapper's about to drop a new record! Here's a preview, with Eric Earley telling us about remaining an old logging town...



Where the Wonderful talk about doing what they do!


01:18-03:31Blitzen Trapper's about to drop a new record! Here's a preview, with Eric Earley telling us about remaining an old logging town for one of the songs, "Cadillac Road".

03:31-12:39Denny Swofford, the co-founder of Cavity Search Records, talks with Matt Drenik (Battleme, Lions) about the label's early days. Their conversation is being released as an opbmusic podcast this week.

12:40-21:00 Elizabeth Gilbert talks about coming back from a creative slump, and kicking her creativity in the gear. Her new book is called "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear". Check her out in Portland October 4th.

21:50-28:10Oregon Art Beat's Robe Imbriano gives us the lowdown on an ambitious new musical from Artists Repertory Theatre, "Cuba Libre" — a collaboration with playwright Carlos Lacamara, and Grammy--Nominated Afro-Carribean band Tiempo Libre.

28:10-36:40An opbmusic session with Wild Ones, who are showing some ferocious on "Heatwave"

37:38-45:37What do buildings sound like? Third Angle New Music creates a new performance for the library at Mt. Angel Abbey. The building was designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, and the work draws on both Finnish tradition and the ethos of the building. But Third Angle takes it one step further - they're actually using the building as an instrument.

45:38-52:30Just hanging out with a living legend. Soul jazz giant Les McCann, on his 80th birthday, stops in to talk to Derek Smith of KMHD's Morning Shift, to talk about his music and photography.]]>3239falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-podcast-092615--11544275
00:45-02:58Blitzen Trapper's about to drop a new record! Here's a preview, with Eric Earley telling us about remaining an old logging town for one of the songs, "Cadillac Road".

02:59-12:07Denny Swofford, the co-founder of Cavity Search Records, talks with Matt Drenik (Battleme, Lions) about the label's early days. Their conversation is being released as an opbmusic podcast this week.

12:08-20:20Elizabeth Gilbert talks about coming back from a creative slump, and kicking her creativity in the gear. Her new book is called "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear". Check her out in Portland October 4th.

21:25-27:44Oregon Art Beat's Robe Imbriano gives us the lowdown on an ambitious new musical from Artists Repertory Theatre, "Cuba Libre" — a collaboration with playwright Carlos Lacamara, and Grammy--Nominated Afro-Carribean band Tiempo Libre.

27:45-36:10An opbmusic session with Wild Ones, who are showing some ferocious on "Heatwave"

37:13-45:11What do buildings sound like? Third Angle New Music creates a new performance for the library at Mt. Angel Abbey. The building was designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, and the work draws on both Finnish tradition and the ethos of the building. But Third Angle takes it one step further - they're actually using the building as an instrument.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544275Sat, 26 Sep 2015 00:31:23 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhere the Wonderful talk about doing what they do! 00:45-02:58Blitzen Trapper's about to drop a new record! Here's a preview, with Eric Earley telling us about remaining an old logging town for one of the songs, "Cadillac Road". 02:59-12:07Denny...
00:45-02:58Blitzen Trapper's about to drop a new record! Here's a preview, with Eric Earley telling us about remaining an old logging town for one of the songs, "Cadillac Road".

02:59-12:07Denny Swofford, the co-founder of Cavity Search Records, talks with Matt Drenik (Battleme, Lions) about the label's early days. Their conversation is being released as an opbmusic podcast this week.

12:08-20:20Elizabeth Gilbert talks about coming back from a creative slump, and kicking her creativity in the gear. Her new book is called "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear". Check her out in Portland October 4th.

21:25-27:44Oregon Art Beat's Robe Imbriano gives us the lowdown on an ambitious new musical from Artists Repertory Theatre, "Cuba Libre" — a collaboration with playwright Carlos Lacamara, and Grammy--Nominated Afro-Carribean band Tiempo Libre.

27:45-36:10An opbmusic session with Wild Ones, who are showing some ferocious on "Heatwave"

37:13-45:11What do buildings sound like? Third Angle New Music creates a new performance for the library at Mt. Angel Abbey. The building was designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, and the work draws on both Finnish tradition and the ethos of the building. But Third Angle takes it one step further - they're actually using the building as an instrument.]]>2874falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oregon-shakespeare-festival-to-modernize-shakespeare-s-entire-canon--11560220
“I'll be really honest to say I can't understand all of it all the time,” says Lue Douthit, the director of literary development and dramaturgy at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival — and she makes her living studying theater.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival announced today it plans to bridge that comprehension gap with an unprecedented project underwritten by the foundation of tech entrepreneur David Hitz. “Play On” will commission 36 dramatists to translate the Bard’s entire canon of 38 plays into contemporary modern English. Ranging from award-winning playwrights to up-and-comers and translators, the writers represent a wide diversity of voices: more than half are women and more than half people of color.

“The goal is to keep all of the structure of the language intact, and the setting intact,” says artistic director Bill Rauch. “But to actually take words that may have lost their meaning or may have different meanings today and look at translating those words.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-shakespeare-festival-to-modernize-shakespeares-entire-canon]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560220Tue, 29 Sep 2015 06:43:54 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNo one debates that Shakespeare is one of the greatest writers in the English language. What is debatable is just how much today’s audiences actually understand that language. “I'll be really honest to say I can't understand all of it all the...
“I'll be really honest to say I can't understand all of it all the time,” says Lue Douthit, the director of literary development and dramaturgy at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival — and she makes her living studying theater.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival announced today it plans to bridge that comprehension gap with an unprecedented project underwritten by the foundation of tech entrepreneur David Hitz. “Play On” will commission 36 dramatists to translate the Bard’s entire canon of 38 plays into contemporary modern English. Ranging from award-winning playwrights to up-and-comers and translators, the writers represent a wide diversity of voices: more than half are women and more than half people of color.

“The goal is to keep all of the structure of the language intact, and the setting intact,” says artistic director Bill Rauch. “But to actually take words that may have lost their meaning or may have different meanings today and look at translating those words.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-shakespeare-festival-to-modernize-shakespeares-entire-canon]]>242arts,arts & entertainment,literature,local_oregon,performance,shakespearefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/third-angle-merges-sound-with-architecture-in-frozen-music--11560217
The Mount Angel Abbey library in St. Benedict, Oregon, is one of only two buildings in the U.S. designed by noted Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. From its facade, it looks like an unassuming, one-story structure on the edge of a hill. But as you enter, the building opens up like a giant fan, two floors spreading out in a big arc with each aisle radiating from the circulation desk. And despite the “Quiet” signs, it’s no stranger to music: Duke Ellington and his orchestra played its opening in 1970.

“We love context and we love telling stories,” said Ron Blessinger, the artistic director of Third Angle. “ We love the way that music can function at the center of all these disciplines and enrich the experience of a visual space.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/news/article/third-angle-and-cappella-romana-collaborate-to-merge-sound-with-architecture]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560217Wed, 30 Sep 2015 00:21:37 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingInspired by Goethe’s quote, “music is liquid architecture, and architecture is frozen music,” the Portland new music ensemble Third Angle will team up with the choir group Cappella Romana to transform one of Oregon’s most famous buildings — one you...
The Mount Angel Abbey library in St. Benedict, Oregon, is one of only two buildings in the U.S. designed by noted Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. From its facade, it looks like an unassuming, one-story structure on the edge of a hill. But as you enter, the building opens up like a giant fan, two floors spreading out in a big arc with each aisle radiating from the circulation desk. And despite the “Quiet” signs, it’s no stranger to music: Duke Ellington and his orchestra played its opening in 1970.

“We love context and we love telling stories,” said Ron Blessinger, the artistic director of Third Angle. “ We love the way that music can function at the center of all these disciplines and enrich the experience of a visual space.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/news/article/third-angle-and-cappella-romana-collaborate-to-merge-sound-with-architecture]]>481arts & entertainmentfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-3-2015-jessica-jackson-hutchins-toni-morrison-vinnie-dewayne-more--11544274
Shaking Up Shakespeare - 01:44
Oregon Shakespeare Festival commissions modern-English rewrites of all the plays.

Log Love - 05:54
Actor Catherine Coulson, beloved of OSF audiences & Twin Peaks fans, died this week at 71.


The Confessions of Jessica Jackson Hutchins - 07:27
The Portland visual artist talks about works on view in "Confessions", an unprecedented show spanning Reed College's Cooley Gallery & The Lumber Room.

Obscure Terrain - 17:02
Pianist Jennifer Wright has teamed up with the Agnieska Laska Dancers for performances of "Obscure Terrain" this weekend.

Laura Heit on OAB Season Premiere - 23:33

A preview: multi-disciplinary artist Laura Heit. Watch for her on the season premiere of Oregon Art Beat.


Taking Notes with the St John's Scholar - 24:35
With a Gates Millenial Scholarship and a business degree under his belt, the St. Johns Scholar is firing up a series of live shows.

More Bounce To the Ounce - 25:45

It's not the gin & tonics putting the glide in your stride. The secret beneath the floor of McMenamins' Crystal Ballroom is a mechanical dance floor, built to bounce.

Exhibiting Edward Curtis - 32:30

A roundtable discussion on the challenges of showing the photographs of Edward Curtis. We're joined by Dawn Boone of Atelier 6000, Portland Art Museum's Curator of Native American Art, Deana Dartt, and by PAM Curator of Photography, Julia Dolan.

Toni Morrison At Literary Arts - 41:45
Literary Arts Archive Project brings back a 1992 lecture by Nobel Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison. Morrison takes us inside her process for the writing of her Pulitzer-winning 1987 book, "Beloved".]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544274Sat, 03 Oct 2015 01:01:29 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSpoiler alert: this week's State of Wonder includes shocking revelation, ticklish truth, and true-to-life stories of art on the make. Shaking Up Shakespeare - 01:44 Oregon Shakespeare Festival commissions modern-English rewrites of all the plays....
Shaking Up Shakespeare - 01:44
Oregon Shakespeare Festival commissions modern-English rewrites of all the plays.

Log Love - 05:54
Actor Catherine Coulson, beloved of OSF audiences & Twin Peaks fans, died this week at 71.


The Confessions of Jessica Jackson Hutchins - 07:27
The Portland visual artist talks about works on view in "Confessions", an unprecedented show spanning Reed College's Cooley Gallery & The Lumber Room.

Obscure Terrain - 17:02
Pianist Jennifer Wright has teamed up with the Agnieska Laska Dancers for performances of "Obscure Terrain" this weekend.

Laura Heit on OAB Season Premiere - 23:33

A preview: multi-disciplinary artist Laura Heit. Watch for her on the season premiere of Oregon Art Beat.


Taking Notes with the St John's Scholar - 24:35
With a Gates Millenial Scholarship and a business degree under his belt, the St. Johns Scholar is firing up a series of live shows.

More Bounce To the Ounce - 25:45

It's not the gin & tonics putting the glide in your stride. The secret beneath the floor of McMenamins' Crystal Ballroom is a mechanical dance floor, built to bounce.

Exhibiting Edward Curtis - 32:30

A roundtable discussion on the challenges of showing the photographs of Edward Curtis. We're joined by Dawn Boone of Atelier 6000, Portland Art Museum's Curator of Native American Art, Deana Dartt, and by PAM Curator of Photography, Julia Dolan.

Toni Morrison At Literary Arts - 41:45
Literary Arts Archive Project brings back a 1992 lecture by Nobel Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison. Morrison takes us inside her process for the writing of her Pulitzer-winning 1987 book, "Beloved".]]>3191falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/skeleton-piano-strikes-whimsical-chord-with-dance-troupe--11560223https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560223Sat, 03 Oct 2015 01:26:49 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting285arts,music,performancefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/showing-edward-curtis--11561087https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561087Sat, 03 Oct 2015 01:38:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe talk with Atelier 6000’s executive director, Dawn Boone, and Portland Art Museum's curator of Native American Art Deana Dartt and also and PAM's curator of photography, Julia Dolan about the challenges of exhibiting works by photography pioneer...548falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-confessions-of-jessica-jackson-hutchins--11560216
Are two shows enough to contain all Hutchins' ideas about intimacy, domestic life, and control? Probably not. But Reed College's Cooley Gallery and The Lumber Room are trying. See our website for more info.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560216Sat, 03 Oct 2015 08:45:33 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting"I like accident. I like impulse to be reflected in the final product." Are two shows enough to contain all Hutchins' ideas about intimacy, domestic life, and control? Probably not. But Reed College's Cooley Gallery and The Lumber Room are trying....
Are two shows enough to contain all Hutchins' ideas about intimacy, domestic life, and control? Probably not. But Reed College's Cooley Gallery and The Lumber Room are trying. See our website for more info.]]>245falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/showing-edward-curtis--11560246https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560246Sat, 03 Oct 2015 16:05:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe talk with Atelier 6000’s executive director, Dawn Boone, and Portland Art Museum's curator of Native American Art Deana Dartt and also and PAM's curator of photography, Julia Dolan about the challenges of exhibiting works by photography pioneer...548falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-10-2015-blitzen-trapper-edward-curtis-jessica-jackson-hutchins-laura-heit--11544270
Blitzen Trapper Live
Last week, Blitzen Trapper unleashed its eighth studio album, All Across This Land. After some fascinating swings across genres, the band has delivered ten songs grounded in the warm, sun-drenched folk-rock that’s always underpinned their sound.

The Confessions of Jessica Jackson Hutchins - 8:21
The Portland visual artist talks about works on view in "Confessions," a show spanning Reed College's Cooley Gallery & The Lumber Room. Hutchins' constructions are full of deliciously subtle ideas about the elasticity of domestic relations, femininity, and the ways life leaves a mark.

Laura Heit on Oregon Art Beat's Season Premiere - 12:19
A preview: multi-disciplinary artist Laura Heit. Watch for her on the season premiere of Oregon Art Beat. Each work may have the feel of an amuse bouche, but tensions lie just below the surface of her frank, humorous images.

Taking Notes with the St. John's Scholar - 13:37
Rapper Vinnie DeWayne on his new release. He takes us for a tour around the neighborhood that inspired the record. With a Gates Millenial Scholarship and a business degree under his belt, the St. Johns Scholar is firing up a series of live shows.

Shaking Up Shakespeare - 19:41
No one debates that Shakespeare is one of the greatest writers in the English language. What is debatable is just how much today’s audiences actually understand him. So the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is commissioning 36 dramatists to translate his entire canon into contemporary English. Goodbye, thee's. Farewell, thou's.

Exhibiting Edward Curtis - 23:40
A roundtable discussion on the challenges of showing the photographs of Edward Curtis. We're joined by Dawn Boone of Atelier 6000 and the Portland Art Museum's Curator of Native American Art, Deana Dartt, and Curator of Photography, Julia Dolan.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544270Fri, 09 Oct 2015 23:47:19 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSpoiler alert: This week's State of Wonder includes shocking revelation, ticklish truth, and true-to-life stories of art on the make. Blitzen Trapper Live Last week, Blitzen Trapper unleashed its eighth studio album, All Across This Land. After some...
Blitzen Trapper Live
Last week, Blitzen Trapper unleashed its eighth studio album, All Across This Land. After some fascinating swings across genres, the band has delivered ten songs grounded in the warm, sun-drenched folk-rock that’s always underpinned their sound.

The Confessions of Jessica Jackson Hutchins - 8:21
The Portland visual artist talks about works on view in "Confessions," a show spanning Reed College's Cooley Gallery & The Lumber Room. Hutchins' constructions are full of deliciously subtle ideas about the elasticity of domestic relations, femininity, and the ways life leaves a mark.

Laura Heit on Oregon Art Beat's Season Premiere - 12:19
A preview: multi-disciplinary artist Laura Heit. Watch for her on the season premiere of Oregon Art Beat. Each work may have the feel of an amuse bouche, but tensions lie just below the surface of her frank, humorous images.

Taking Notes with the St. John's Scholar - 13:37
Rapper Vinnie DeWayne on his new release. He takes us for a tour around the neighborhood that inspired the record. With a Gates Millenial Scholarship and a business degree under his belt, the St. Johns Scholar is firing up a series of live shows.

Shaking Up Shakespeare - 19:41
No one debates that Shakespeare is one of the greatest writers in the English language. What is debatable is just how much today’s audiences actually understand him. So the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is commissioning 36 dramatists to translate his entire canon into contemporary English. Goodbye, thee's. Farewell, thou's.

Exhibiting Edward Curtis - 23:40
A roundtable discussion on the challenges of showing the photographs of Edward Curtis. We're joined by Dawn Boone of Atelier 6000 and the Portland Art Museum's Curator of Native American Art, Deana Dartt, and Curator of Photography, Julia Dolan.]]>2036falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-17-alela-diane-ryan-francesconi-portland-building-disjecta-greg-robinson-more--11544269
The Future Of Portland's Most Loved/Hated Building
This week the Portland City Council will consider legislation to start renovating one of the city’s most recognizable works of architecture: The Portland Building. It's both Portland's most famous building (it's the text book case for postmodern architect) and perhaps its most reviled. First up, we take a look at what's wrong with the building. Hint: the problems run deeper than a color scheme that feels drawn from your grandma's kitchen.

Then we listen to an excerpt of the building's architect, Michael Graves, before hearing the case for remodeling the building smartly from Randy Gragg, the director of the University of Oregon's John Yeon Center for Architecture and the Landscape.

Adrienne Truscott's "Asking For It"
There’s been a lot of talk in the comedy world over the last several years about rape jokes: are they funny, or seriously unfunny? Now there’s a show that tackles the issue head-on. The politically-minded theater presenters Boom Arts are bringing performer Adrienne Truscott to town for a show the New York Times called “as upsetting as it is hilarious." Truscott sports a blonde wig, jean jacket, and little else. Literally, she’s naked from the waist down. The show’s called “Adrienne Truscott’s Asking For It" (actually, the name’s quite a bit longer, but we’ll let Truscott explain it to producer Aaron Scott), and it runs through Oct. 24 at the Headwaters Theater.

opbmusic Session: Alela Diane and Ryan Francesconi
Musicians Alela Diane and Ryan Francesconi didn’t set out to make an album, but they did. It’s called “Cold Moon,” and it came out Oct. 23. You can see videos of their opbmusic Session here, or catch them live at Revolution Hall on Oct. 17.

Oregon Experience: The Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Oregon Experience opens its season on Monday with a special about one of the brightest jewels in Oregon’s arts crown: the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Sure, you might know that it's the biggest regional theater in the country with the biggest resident acting company. Sure, you know that it attracts folks from around the world. But did you know it has a mammoth costume warehouse for rentals to everyone from Justin Timberlake on "Saturday Night Live" to Al Pacino in "Richard III."

Disjecta Brings On The Noise
Chiara Giovando, the new curator-in-residence at the north Portland contemporary art center Disjecta, gives us a tour of her first show, "The Book Of Scores." It's all about sound art.

Oregon Art Beat: Artist Greg Robinson
This weekend the Portland Art Museum opens a brand new Center for Contemporary Native Arts with an exhibition featuring the work of three Oregon Native artists. One of those artists is Greg Robinson, who taught himself to produce pieces in the traditional style of his tribe, the Chinook. If you have a picture in your mind right now of what his pieces look like, think again. Chinook art isn’t anything like the popular stereotypes of Pacific Northwest native art.

The music for today came from the local band Black Prairie’s album “Wild Ones,” who did the album in tandem with a book by Jon Mooallem about the strange and wonderful relationship between humans and animals. Mooallem will be one of several public radio personalities sharing stories at the singular Pop-up Magazine on Oct. 20 at the Aladdin Theater. It’s a touring show that’s like watching a magazine get performed live, with journalists and writers doing everything from reading short humorous essays to telling feature length stories with documentary footage and photographs.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544269Fri, 16 Oct 2015 19:55:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we tackle the big subjects: the future of the Portland Building, the humor (or lack thereof) of rape jokes, the history of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival & more. Join us! The Future Of Portland's Most Loved/Hated Building This week the...
The Future Of Portland's Most Loved/Hated Building
This week the Portland City Council will consider legislation to start renovating one of the city’s most recognizable works of architecture: The Portland Building. It's both Portland's most famous building (it's the text book case for postmodern architect) and perhaps its most reviled. First up, we take a look at what's wrong with the building. Hint: the problems run deeper than a color scheme that feels drawn from your grandma's kitchen.

Then we listen to an excerpt of the building's architect, Michael Graves, before hearing the case for remodeling the building smartly from Randy Gragg, the director of the University of Oregon's John Yeon Center for Architecture and the Landscape.

Adrienne Truscott's "Asking For It"
There’s been a lot of talk in the comedy world over the last several years about rape jokes: are they funny, or seriously unfunny? Now there’s a show that tackles the issue head-on. The politically-minded theater presenters Boom Arts are bringing performer Adrienne Truscott to town for a show the New York Times called “as upsetting as it is hilarious." Truscott sports a blonde wig, jean jacket, and little else. Literally, she’s naked from the waist down. The show’s called “Adrienne Truscott’s Asking For It" (actually, the name’s quite a bit longer, but we’ll let Truscott explain it to producer Aaron Scott), and it runs through Oct. 24 at the Headwaters Theater.

opbmusic Session: Alela Diane and Ryan Francesconi
Musicians Alela Diane and Ryan Francesconi didn’t set out to make an album, but they did. It’s called “Cold Moon,” and it came out Oct. 23. You can see videos of their opbmusic Session here, or catch them live at Revolution Hall on Oct. 17.

Oregon Experience: The Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Oregon Experience opens its season on Monday with a special about one of the brightest jewels in Oregon’s arts crown: the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Sure, you might know that it's the biggest regional theater in the country with the biggest resident acting company. Sure, you know that it attracts folks from around the world. But did you know it has a mammoth costume warehouse for rentals to everyone from Justin Timberlake on "Saturday Night Live" to Al Pacino in "Richard III."

Disjecta Brings On The Noise
Chiara Giovando, the new curator-in-residence at the north Portland contemporary art center Disjecta, gives us a tour of her first show, "The Book Of Scores." It's all about sound art.

Oregon Art Beat: Artist Greg Robinson
This weekend the Portland Art Museum opens a brand new Center for Contemporary Native Arts with an exhibition featuring the work of three Oregon Native artists. One of those artists is Greg Robinson, who taught himself to produce pieces in the traditional style of his tribe, the Chinook. If you have a picture in your mind right now of what his pieces look like, think again. Chinook art isn’t anything like the popular stereotypes of Pacific Northwest native art.

The music for today came from the local band Black Prairie’s album “Wild Ones,” who did the album in tandem with a book by Jon Mooallem about the strange and wonderful relationship between humans and animals. Mooallem will be one of several public radio personalities sharing stories at the singular Pop-up Magazine on Oct. 20 at the Aladdin Theater. It’s a touring show that’s like watching a magazine get performed live, with journalists and writers doing everything from reading short humorous essays to telling feature length stories with documentary footage and photographs.]]>2261falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-building-renovation-on-council-agenda-this-week--11560214https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560214Sat, 17 Oct 2015 00:39:48 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland City Council is about to consider renovations at one of the city's most iconic buildings. We talk with Randy Gragg of the U of O's Yeon Center for Architecture and the Landscape about what might lie ahead.508falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mixed-feelings-at-portland-hip-hop-day--11560212https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560212Sat, 17 Oct 2015 00:57:46 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMayor Hales declared a day to recognize hip hop artists. Is it more than lip service?231falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/book-of-scores-at-disjecta--11560211https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560211Sat, 17 Oct 2015 01:12:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingCurator-In-Residence Chiara Giovando walks us through her first full group show at Disjecta.361falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-24-eugene-indie-game-con--11544267
While larger studios like Pipeworks tend to employee the most people, there's also an active indie scene that is nowhere more apparent than at the second annual Indie Game Con. Hundreds of people filled Lane Community College in early October to play new titles, from space shooters like "XO" and "Star Mazer" to fantasy games like "Villagers & Heroes" to the more unusual, like a game of dueling narwhales called "Fail Whale" and a game of dueling tongues called "Smooth Operator."

On today's show we talk to developers about making games and getting game face on for taking their creations out into the world. Press "play" to begin!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544267Fri, 23 Oct 2015 22:54:24 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEugene is a surprising hotbed of video games. "Tribes," "Godzilla: Destroy All Monster's Melee," and "Red Baron" are just a few games to be developed in its local studios. While larger studios like Pipeworks tend to employee the most people, there's...
While larger studios like Pipeworks tend to employee the most people, there's also an active indie scene that is nowhere more apparent than at the second annual Indie Game Con. Hundreds of people filled Lane Community College in early October to play new titles, from space shooters like "XO" and "Star Mazer" to fantasy games like "Villagers & Heroes" to the more unusual, like a game of dueling narwhales called "Fail Whale" and a game of dueling tongues called "Smooth Operator."

On today's show we talk to developers about making games and getting game face on for taking their creations out into the world. Press "play" to begin!]]>3066falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-31-wordstock-preview-with-sunshine-girl-ben-percy-carson-ellis-lidia-yuknavith-more--11544268
On this episode of State of Wonder, we dip into the archives to revisit interviews with some of our favorite Wordstock authors, a surprising number of which are more than fitting for Halloween.

Sunshine Girl
In 2010, a series of videos appeared on YouTube called "The Haunting of Sunshine Girl." They were DIY, Blair Witch-style episodes that followed a charismatic 16-year-old who wanted to prove the existence of ghosts to her mom. With over 180 million views, it became one of the most successful YouTube series in the Northwest. This year, the actor behind it all, Paige McKenzie, released a young adult book and inked a TV deal with the Weinstein Company.

Benjamin Percy
Author Benjamin Percy's writing has racked up a stack of awards — two Pushcart Prizes, an NEA fellowship. Percy has written for GQ, The Paris Review, Tin House and Esquire, where he's a contributing editor. He also has several TV and movie projects in development.

Percy's most recent novel, "The Dead Lands" is set in a post-apocalyptic St. Louis where water is rapidly disappearing. A bookish scholar named Lewis Meriwether and a free-spirited alcoholic soldier named Mina Clark form an uneasy partnership to lead a small group west toward Oregon, searching for a new home.

Sound familiar?

Lidia Yuknavitch
Lidia Yuknavitch found a wide audience with her 2011 memoir, "The Chronology of Water." It's an inventive and harrowing account of her youth, her parent's abuses, her career as a champion swimmer, and her later drug abuse and recovery.

Her newest book, “The Small Backs of Children,” imagines a young girl whose life was destroyed by a Balkan war. A photographer snaps an award-winning photo of the girl at the pinnacle of tragedy, and the rest of the story explores lives spiraling outward in the grip of grief and guilt.

Carson Ellis
If you don’t recognize Carson Ellis’s name, chances are you do know her detailed, fanciful drawings of Victorian soldiers, talking badgers, and storybook towns. You see them on the album covers and posters of the iconic local band The Decemberists, and they lace through the best-selling young adult fantasy series, "Wildwood."

In February, she wrote and illustrated her first children’s book, "Home," which is exactly where we visited her for this story. Now, Ellis is wrapping up a new book, and she and her husband, Colin Meloy of The Decemberists, are about to get to work on another illustrated novel.

Zach Dundas
Zach Dundas is a longtime Portland journalist and co-editor of "Portland Monthly."

He also happens to be a lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan. In his book “The Great Detective: The Amazing Rise and Immortal Life of Sherlock Holmes,” he set out to ask: what is it about this brainy, unlikely hero that continues to capture our imagination?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544268Fri, 30 Oct 2015 22:51:44 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFor the past two years, Portland's biggest literary festival has been on a bit of a hiatus. But next Saturday, another Portland nonprofit for word nerds is resurrecting Wordstock from the grave. On this episode of State of Wonder, we dip into the...
On this episode of State of Wonder, we dip into the archives to revisit interviews with some of our favorite Wordstock authors, a surprising number of which are more than fitting for Halloween.

Sunshine Girl
In 2010, a series of videos appeared on YouTube called "The Haunting of Sunshine Girl." They were DIY, Blair Witch-style episodes that followed a charismatic 16-year-old who wanted to prove the existence of ghosts to her mom. With over 180 million views, it became one of the most successful YouTube series in the Northwest. This year, the actor behind it all, Paige McKenzie, released a young adult book and inked a TV deal with the Weinstein Company.

Benjamin Percy
Author Benjamin Percy's writing has racked up a stack of awards — two Pushcart Prizes, an NEA fellowship. Percy has written for GQ, The Paris Review, Tin House and Esquire, where he's a contributing editor. He also has several TV and movie projects in development.

Percy's most recent novel, "The Dead Lands" is set in a post-apocalyptic St. Louis where water is rapidly disappearing. A bookish scholar named Lewis Meriwether and a free-spirited alcoholic soldier named Mina Clark form an uneasy partnership to lead a small group west toward Oregon, searching for a new home.

Sound familiar?

Lidia Yuknavitch
Lidia Yuknavitch found a wide audience with her 2011 memoir, "The Chronology of Water." It's an inventive and harrowing account of her youth, her parent's abuses, her career as a champion swimmer, and her later drug abuse and recovery.

Her newest book, “The Small Backs of Children,” imagines a young girl whose life was destroyed by a Balkan war. A photographer snaps an award-winning photo of the girl at the pinnacle of tragedy, and the rest of the story explores lives spiraling outward in the grip of grief and guilt.

Carson Ellis
If you don’t recognize Carson Ellis’s name, chances are you do know her detailed, fanciful drawings of Victorian soldiers, talking badgers, and storybook towns. You see them on the album covers and posters of the iconic local band The Decemberists, and they lace through the best-selling young adult fantasy series, "Wildwood."

In February, she wrote and illustrated her first children’s book, "Home," which is exactly where we visited her for this story. Now, Ellis is wrapping up a new book, and she and her husband, Colin Meloy of The Decemberists, are about to get to work on another illustrated novel.

Zach Dundas
Zach Dundas is a longtime Portland journalist and co-editor of "Portland Monthly."

He also happens to be a lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan. In his book “The Great Detective: The Amazing Rise and Immortal Life of Sherlock Holmes,” he set out to ask: what is it about this brainy, unlikely hero that continues to capture our imagination?]]>3104falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-7-wordstock-ursula-le-guin-patterson-hood-willie-vlautin-patrick-dewitt--11544265
Ursula K. Le Guin
Think about the pleasure you felt when a favorite teacher showed you something new. That feeling takes on an entirely new dimension in this year’s revival of Ursula K. Le Guin’s "Steering the Craft." Le Guin, one of Oregon’s most decorated living writers, gave us epic novels that set the template for so much in science fiction and fantasy, plus poetry and nonfiction that changed the way we think. We’ll hear about how she pulls off her best literary tricks, along with her reflections after almost a half century in the industry.

Patrick DeWitt and Michael Hurley
Patrick DeWitt has a gift for laying out a very complete situation with very few well-chosen words. The Booker Prize Foundation, when awarding him a prize for his 2011 western, "The Sisters Brothers," called DeWitt’s writing “stark, unsettling and with a keen eye for the perversity of human motivation.” Those words also apply to his latest novel, "Undermajordomo Minor." But it’s a completely different story — less "Deadwood," more Magic Mountain. Patrick DeWitt is going to read for us today, accompanied by one of the most singular performers you will meet, today, or ever: Michael Hurley.

Patterson Hood and Willy Vlautin
Patterson Hood and Willy Vlautin are both the voices behind two breakthrough country rock bands — The Drive-by Truckers and Richmond Fontaine. Aside from their Southern-tinged vocals, they also turn to literature as a creative outlet. Hood has published stories for The New Yorker and Vlautin’s new novel “The Free” is his fourth title to date. They join April Baer to talk about the relationship between music and writing along with a look at what’s on their bookshelves.

We'll be rolling out more Wordstock interviews in the coming weeks with myriad authors, including Jesse Eisenberg, John Irving, Diana Nyad, Colin Meloy, Carson Ellis, Sandra Cisneros and more. Sign up for the "State of Wonder" podcast to make sure you don't miss them.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544265Sat, 07 Nov 2015 22:53:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe're broadcasting live today from the Portland Art Museum for the city's biggest book extravaganza, Wordstock. We're going to be talking with a couple of our literary superheroes. Ursula K. Le Guin Think about the pleasure you felt when a favorite...
Ursula K. Le Guin
Think about the pleasure you felt when a favorite teacher showed you something new. That feeling takes on an entirely new dimension in this year’s revival of Ursula K. Le Guin’s "Steering the Craft." Le Guin, one of Oregon’s most decorated living writers, gave us epic novels that set the template for so much in science fiction and fantasy, plus poetry and nonfiction that changed the way we think. We’ll hear about how she pulls off her best literary tricks, along with her reflections after almost a half century in the industry.

Patrick DeWitt and Michael Hurley
Patrick DeWitt has a gift for laying out a very complete situation with very few well-chosen words. The Booker Prize Foundation, when awarding him a prize for his 2011 western, "The Sisters Brothers," called DeWitt’s writing “stark, unsettling and with a keen eye for the perversity of human motivation.” Those words also apply to his latest novel, "Undermajordomo Minor." But it’s a completely different story — less "Deadwood," more Magic Mountain. Patrick DeWitt is going to read for us today, accompanied by one of the most singular performers you will meet, today, or ever: Michael Hurley.

Patterson Hood and Willy Vlautin
Patterson Hood and Willy Vlautin are both the voices behind two breakthrough country rock bands — The Drive-by Truckers and Richmond Fontaine. Aside from their Southern-tinged vocals, they also turn to literature as a creative outlet. Hood has published stories for The New Yorker and Vlautin’s new novel “The Free” is his fourth title to date. They join April Baer to talk about the relationship between music and writing along with a look at what’s on their bookshelves.

We'll be rolling out more Wordstock interviews in the coming weeks with myriad authors, including Jesse Eisenberg, John Irving, Diana Nyad, Colin Meloy, Carson Ellis, Sandra Cisneros and more. Sign up for the "State of Wonder" podcast to make sure you don't miss them.]]>3089falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/paige-powell-s-magnificent-ride-through-new-york-city-in-the-1980s--11560210
Then, when she moved back to Oregon, she put all the photos and videos in boxes and didn’t look at them for years.

Now she’s showing them for the first time in an installation at the Portland Art Museum called “The Ride,” through Feb. 21.

Read our full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/paige-powells-magnificent-ride-through-new-york-city-in-the-1980s]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560210Fri, 13 Nov 2015 20:24:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhen Portland-native Paige Powell worked at “Interview Magazine” in New York City in the 1980s, she traveled in rarified circles. There were lunches with Bianca Jagger, dinners with David Bowie, and an endless parade of parties with Andy Warhol. And...
Then, when she moved back to Oregon, she put all the photos and videos in boxes and didn’t look at them for years.

Now she’s showing them for the first time in an installation at the Portland Art Museum called “The Ride,” through Feb. 21.

Read our full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/paige-powells-magnificent-ride-through-new-york-city-in-the-1980s]]>517arts,arts & entertainment,local_opb,photo,photographyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/salem-chamber-orchestra-in-bankruptcy--11560235(photo credit: Salem Chamber Orchestra)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560235Fri, 13 Nov 2015 20:45:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe ensemble ends 31 years of concerts, insolvent. We talk with musicians and former staff. (photo credit: Salem Chamber Orchestra)(photo credit: Salem Chamber Orchestra)]]>452classicalfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/darrell-grant-explores-further-territory--11567986https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567986Fri, 13 Nov 2015 23:03:29 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingCD release show scheduled for Grant's love letter to Oregon. KMHD's Matt Fleeger talked to Darrell about the latest incarnation.934opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/marc-acito-pledges-allegiance-a-new-broadway-production--11561084(Photo credit: Matthew Murphy)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561084Fri, 13 Nov 2015 23:27:16 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPlaywright Marc Acito - a longtime Portlander - talks to us about collaborating with a team that included George Takei on the new musical, "Allegiance". (Photo credit: Matthew Murphy)(Photo credit: Matthew Murphy)]]>625theaterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-14-george-takei-marc-acito-darrell-grant-paige-powell-liminal-more--11544264
Salem Chamber Orchestra Files For Bankruptcy
Last month, the Salem Chamber Orchestra board announced the season would be cancelled because of financial difficulties. Now it has informed its musicians it will also file for bankruptcy.

Frank Almond’s Famous Stradivarius
Violinist and concertmaster Frank Almond, the man behind the best-selling CD “A Violin’s Life,” will perform on Tuesday in Corvallis at Oregon State University and on Friday in Bend as part of the High Desert Chamber Music’s Spotlight Series.

The real star of the show, though, is Almond’s famous, 300-year-old Lipinski Stradivarius. That Almond is playing it at all is a small miracle: a couple of winters ago, thieves tased him and ran off with the instrument, which is valued at $5 million to $6 million.

Paige Powell’s Magnificent Ride Through New York City
When Portland native Paige Powell worked at “Interview” magazine in New York City in the 80s, she traveled in rarified circles. There were lunches with Bianca Jagger, dinners with David Bowie, late nights with Madonna, and an endless parade of parties with Andy Warhol. And she documented it all with her camera.

When Powell moved back to Oregon, she put all the photos and videos in boxes and didn’t look at them for years. Now she’s showing them for the first time in a multimedia installation at the Portland Art Museum called “The Ride.” She gave producer Aaron Scott a tour.

Marc Acito’s Broadway Breakthrough, Starring George Takei
The life of the “Star Trek” actor-turned-civil rights activist is inspiring a new musical on Broadway. “Allegiance” tells the story of George Takei and his family, who were sent to internment camps by the U.S. government during World War II. The New York “Observer” called “Allegiance” “fresh,” “original,” and “passionate.” And the play’s co-writer happens to be someone who worked in Portland for 20 years before returning to New York and Broadway: Marc Acito. We caught up with Acito between the play’s rehearsals.

Liminal Wants To Offend You

Liminal Performance Group has a reputation for brassy, experimental, tech-rich theater productions, so we were intrigued when they announced that they were going to re-vamp a seminal anti-theatre work called “Offending the Audience” for “a modern age of pan-surveillance and fractured media self-reflections.”

What happens when you slap a pandemonium of surveillance and interactive technology, plus nude interpretive dances, onto the 50 year-old play by Peter Handke? For our ongoing series “What Are You Looking At,” we invited James Engberg and Eric Kilgore to see the show. You might know them from a theater podcast and XRAY-FM show they hosted called “5 Useless Degrees & A Bottle of Scotch.”
“Offending the Audience" runs through Nov. 22 at Action/Adventure Theater.

Amazon Goes Old School With Brick And Mortar
Last week, while we were whooping it up at Wordstock, book lovers in Seattle were treated to the latest high-tech, new-fangled idea in e-commerce, cooked up by Amazon: the opening of a store. With books.

From Seattle’s KUOW, Kate Walters reports on the retail giant's first permanent brick and mortar retail shop in Seattle. Then we call up Knute Berger, a writer for the blog “Crosscut” and “Seattle Magazine,” who wrote about the opening.

Jazz Composer Darrell Grant's Oregon Sojourn

In 2012, pianist, composer and Portland State University professor Darrell Grant started work on a song cycle called “The Territory,” about his relationship with Oregon, its history, and its geography. “The Territory” premiered last January in New York, and it’s now being released on PJCE Records. Grant stopped by KMHD Jazz Radio this week to talk with Matt Fleeger about the genesis of the project in advance of a record release concert on Nov. 14 at the First Unitarian Church.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544264Sat, 14 Nov 2015 01:37:42 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingToday on the show: creativity and geography. Salem Chamber Orchestra Files For Bankruptcy Last month, the Salem Chamber Orchestra board announced the season would be cancelled because of financial difficulties. Now it has informed its musicians it...
Salem Chamber Orchestra Files For Bankruptcy
Last month, the Salem Chamber Orchestra board announced the season would be cancelled because of financial difficulties. Now it has informed its musicians it will also file for bankruptcy.

Frank Almond’s Famous Stradivarius
Violinist and concertmaster Frank Almond, the man behind the best-selling CD “A Violin’s Life,” will perform on Tuesday in Corvallis at Oregon State University and on Friday in Bend as part of the High Desert Chamber Music’s Spotlight Series.

The real star of the show, though, is Almond’s famous, 300-year-old Lipinski Stradivarius. That Almond is playing it at all is a small miracle: a couple of winters ago, thieves tased him and ran off with the instrument, which is valued at $5 million to $6 million.

Paige Powell’s Magnificent Ride Through New York City
When Portland native Paige Powell worked at “Interview” magazine in New York City in the 80s, she traveled in rarified circles. There were lunches with Bianca Jagger, dinners with David Bowie, late nights with Madonna, and an endless parade of parties with Andy Warhol. And she documented it all with her camera.

When Powell moved back to Oregon, she put all the photos and videos in boxes and didn’t look at them for years. Now she’s showing them for the first time in a multimedia installation at the Portland Art Museum called “The Ride.” She gave producer Aaron Scott a tour.

Marc Acito’s Broadway Breakthrough, Starring George Takei
The life of the “Star Trek” actor-turned-civil rights activist is inspiring a new musical on Broadway. “Allegiance” tells the story of George Takei and his family, who were sent to internment camps by the U.S. government during World War II. The New York “Observer” called “Allegiance” “fresh,” “original,” and “passionate.” And the play’s co-writer happens to be someone who worked in Portland for 20 years before returning to New York and Broadway: Marc Acito. We caught up with Acito between the play’s rehearsals.

Liminal Wants To Offend You

Liminal Performance Group has a reputation for brassy, experimental, tech-rich theater productions, so we were intrigued when they announced that they were going to re-vamp a seminal anti-theatre work called “Offending the Audience” for “a modern age of pan-surveillance and fractured media self-reflections.”

What happens when you slap a pandemonium of surveillance and interactive technology, plus nude interpretive dances, onto the 50 year-old play by Peter Handke? For our ongoing series “What Are You Looking At,” we invited James Engberg and Eric Kilgore to see the show. You might know them from a theater podcast and XRAY-FM show they hosted called “5 Useless Degrees & A Bottle of Scotch.”
“Offending the Audience" runs through Nov. 22 at Action/Adventure Theater.

Amazon Goes Old School With Brick And Mortar
Last week, while we were whooping it up at Wordstock, book lovers in Seattle were treated to the latest high-tech, new-fangled idea in e-commerce, cooked up by Amazon: the opening of a store. With books.

From Seattle’s KUOW, Kate Walters reports on the retail giant's first permanent brick and mortar retail shop in Seattle. Then we call up Knute Berger, a writer for the blog “Crosscut” and “Seattle Magazine,” who wrote about the opening.

Jazz Composer Darrell Grant's Oregon Sojourn

In 2012, pianist, composer and Portland State University professor Darrell Grant started work on a song cycle called “The Territory,” about his relationship with Oregon, its history, and its geography. “The Territory” premiered last January in New York, and it’s now being released on PJCE Records. Grant stopped by KMHD Jazz Radio this week to talk with Matt Fleeger about the genesis of the project in advance of a record release concert on Nov. 14 at the First...]]>3038falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-21-wordstock-with-colin-maile-meloy-chelsea-cain-carson-ellis-and-more--11544263
Portland's Most Infamous Writing Group
We begin the hour with a veritable Justice League of Portland writers: Chelsea Cain, Suzy Vitello and Lidia Yuknavitch. Together with other aces like Chuck Palahniuk and Monica Drake, they make up perhaps Portland's most infamous writers’ group. We talk about why poisonous octopi wouldn't cut it in the Willamette, the literary virtues of dolmas and red wine, the role of tension, and how they stoke each other's creativity.

The Meloy Family Hour
For the second half of the show, we turn to a family that packs more talent into a single generation than most of us can manage in an entire family tree: brother and sister Colin and Maile Meloy and Colin's wife, Carson Ellis. They discuss their creative histories, why Colin used to steal Maile's Depeche Mode tapes, what they're working on next (hint: pickpockets in Marseilles!), whether LAIKA is going to make a "Wildwood" animated movie, and more.

See the whole rundown here: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/state-of-wonder-nov-21-2015]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544263Fri, 20 Nov 2015 00:41:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFor our second show recorded live at Wordstock, we sit down with two amazing groups of writers: Portland's Most Infamous Writing Group We begin the hour with a veritable Justice League of Portland writers: Chelsea Cain, Suzy Vitello and Lidia...
Portland's Most Infamous Writing Group
We begin the hour with a veritable Justice League of Portland writers: Chelsea Cain, Suzy Vitello and Lidia Yuknavitch. Together with other aces like Chuck Palahniuk and Monica Drake, they make up perhaps Portland's most infamous writers’ group. We talk about why poisonous octopi wouldn't cut it in the Willamette, the literary virtues of dolmas and red wine, the role of tension, and how they stoke each other's creativity.

The Meloy Family Hour
For the second half of the show, we turn to a family that packs more talent into a single generation than most of us can manage in an entire family tree: brother and sister Colin and Maile Meloy and Colin's wife, Carson Ellis. They discuss their creative histories, why Colin used to steal Maile's Depeche Mode tapes, what they're working on next (hint: pickpockets in Marseilles!), whether LAIKA is going to make a "Wildwood" animated movie, and more.

See the whole rundown here: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/state-of-wonder-nov-21-2015]]>3123falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-28-wordstock-with-jesse-eisenberg-alicia-jo-rabins-wendell-pierce--11544262
Actor and activist Wendell Pierce put an indelible mark on the TV landscape with his role as William “Bunk” Moreland on the iconic television series, “The Wire.” He has produced and acted in movies, TV, and theater. This year, he made his debut in the literary world, with his book, "The Wind in the Reeds." It’s a meditation on his return to his hometown of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, where he performed in a staging of the play “Waiting for Godot” in the Lower Ninth Ward. At Wordstock this year, Wendell Pierce spoke with Think Out Loud’s Dave Miller.

Alicia Jo Rabins: Mystic Ideas and a Modern Sensibility

Portland’s Alicia Jo Rabins is a renaissance woman - she writes mystical poetry, she’s a gifted storyteller, she composes and performs beautiful song cycles about Biblical women for her rock band project, called Girls in Trouble, and she’s a Jewish scholar. At Wordstock this year, Rabins talked with OPB’s reporter Conrad Wilson and read the title poem of her award-winning new book, “Divinity School,” about the emotional pitfalls of a contemplative life. You can see her reprise her critically lauded song cycle about the economy, called “A Kadish for Bernie Madoff,” on December 4 and 5 at Disjecta.

[image: 20151107_wordstock_jesse-eisenberg_ru_img_9591_ps,left,300x390,5654e93624e477000e9cc31c]

Jesse Eisenberg Emerges as a Humorist

Jesse Eisenberg is best known for starring in movies such as “The Social Network” and “Zombieland.” But he’s quickly gaining attention for his writing as well, in the form of both plays and humor. In 2015 alone, Eisenberg starred in three films, spent two months acting in an off-Broadway play of his own writing, and released his first book, "Bream Gives Me Hiccups: and Other Stories." It takes its name from a series of restaurant reviews he penned for The New Yorker from the perspective of a privileged child. Eisenberg spoke with OPB’s Aaron Scott at Wordstock.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544262Tue, 24 Nov 2015 22:38:16 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThree authors with fascinating and atypical histories talk about works they published in 2015: Actor and activist Wendell Pierce put an indelible mark on the TV landscape with his role as William “Bunk” Moreland on the iconic television series, “The...
Actor and activist Wendell Pierce put an indelible mark on the TV landscape with his role as William “Bunk” Moreland on the iconic television series, “The Wire.” He has produced and acted in movies, TV, and theater. This year, he made his debut in the literary world, with his book, "The Wind in the Reeds." It’s a meditation on his return to his hometown of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, where he performed in a staging of the play “Waiting for Godot” in the Lower Ninth Ward. At Wordstock this year, Wendell Pierce spoke with Think Out Loud’s Dave Miller.

Alicia Jo Rabins: Mystic Ideas and a Modern Sensibility

Portland’s Alicia Jo Rabins is a renaissance woman - she writes mystical poetry, she’s a gifted storyteller, she composes and performs beautiful song cycles about Biblical women for her rock band project, called Girls in Trouble, and she’s a Jewish scholar. At Wordstock this year, Rabins talked with OPB’s reporter Conrad Wilson and read the title poem of her award-winning new book, “Divinity School,” about the emotional pitfalls of a contemplative life. You can see her reprise her critically lauded song cycle about the economy, called “A Kadish for Bernie Madoff,” on December 4 and 5 at Disjecta.

[image: 20151107_wordstock_jesse-eisenberg_ru_img_9591_ps,left,300x390,5654e93624e477000e9cc31c]

Jesse Eisenberg Emerges as a Humorist

Jesse Eisenberg is best known for starring in movies such as “The Social Network” and “Zombieland.” But he’s quickly gaining attention for his writing as well, in the form of both plays and humor. In 2015 alone, Eisenberg starred in three films, spent two months acting in an off-Broadway play of his own writing, and released his first book, "Bream Gives Me Hiccups: and Other Stories." It takes its name from a series of restaurant reviews he penned for The New Yorker from the perspective of a privileged child. Eisenberg spoke with OPB’s Aaron Scott at Wordstock.]]>3241falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/q-a-actor-jesse-eisenberg-gives-us-hiccups-of-laughter--11560204
In 2015 alone, Eisenberg starred in three films, spent two months acting in an award-winning off-Broadway play of his own writing, and released his first book. It’s called “Bream Gives Me Hickups & Other Stories," and it takes its name from a series of restaurant reviews he penned for the “New Yorker” from the perspective of a privileged child.

Eisenberg spoke with OPB and and two selections from "Bream Gives Me Hiccups" on a pop-up stage at the book festival Wordstock. You can read an edited version here: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/actor-jesse-eisenberg-gives-us-hiccups]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560204Wed, 25 Nov 2015 00:10:46 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJesse Eisenberg is best known for starring in movies like “The Social Network,” “Zombieland” and next year's "Batman v. Superman." But he’s quickly gaining attention for his writing as well, in the form of both plays and humor. In 2015 alone,...
In 2015 alone, Eisenberg starred in three films, spent two months acting in an award-winning off-Broadway play of his own writing, and released his first book. It’s called “Bream Gives Me Hickups & Other Stories," and it takes its name from a series of restaurant reviews he penned for the “New Yorker” from the perspective of a privileged child.

Eisenberg spoke with OPB and and two selections from "Bream Gives Me Hiccups" on a pop-up stage at the book festival Wordstock. You can read an edited version here: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/actor-jesse-eisenberg-gives-us-hiccups]]>1064arts,arts & entertainment,author_interview,book,books,film,local_opb,movie-interviews,moviesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/alicia-jo-rabins-divinity-school--11560202
(photo courtesy of Alicia Jo Rabins)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560202Thu, 26 Nov 2015 01:54:27 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPoet, performer, & scholar talks about her first book of poems. (photo courtesy of Alicia Jo Rabins)
(photo courtesy of Alicia Jo Rabins)]]>702faith,poetry,writingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/john-malkovich-plato-and-the-vampire-life--11560208
(photo cred. April Baer, OPB)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560208Sat, 28 Nov 2015 04:50:07 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe actor, his longtime collaborator Sandro, and the composer Eric Alexandrakis talk about working on their new vinyl-only drop, "Like A Puppet Show", released at Portland's Music Millenium for Record Store Day. (photo cred. April Baer, OPB)
(photo cred. April Baer, OPB)]]>345falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/darren-orange-further-along-the-slipstream--11560201https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560201Fri, 04 Dec 2015 18:39:51 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe catch up with Darren Orange, one of Astoria's most dynamic artists. He's got a show on view through the end of December, "Cascadian Slipstream".204artfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/elton-cray-reads-favorite-popebars--11560199https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560199Fri, 04 Dec 2015 19:50:43 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe just could not resist. A dip into the week's best Twitter meme, with a little help from Portland MC Elton Cray.127falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-5-john-malkovich-carol-review-sneaker-culture-powells-most-expensive-book-more--11544260
Malkovich On Vinyl
Actor and director John Malkovich has powerhouse interpretive skills and a knack for transformation that has carried iconic performances in films such as “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Of Mice and Men,” “In the Line of Fire” and, of course, as a fictional actor-turned-puppeteer in "Being John Malkovich." His greatest asset might be his voice, which is front and center in a new avant-garde record, “Like a Puppet Show.” We talked with him during the album's national release at Music Millennium.

Portland filmmaker Todd Haynes’ "Carol"
One of Portland’s most famous directors, Todd Haynes, captured our attention with experimental classics “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story” and “Poison” and held it with "Far From Heaven” and the HBO miniseries “Mildred Pierce.” His latest film, "Carol," about the love that dare not speak its name, stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. It’s racking up raves, including a best actress award for Mara at Cannes, and one of the most insightful reviews comes from critic David Edelstein for Fresh Air. It opens in Portland on Dec. 25.

Dreamscapes in Astoria
Darren Orange of Astoria paints large, bold, abstract landscapes that are collected inside and outside Oregon. His moody treatments and strong color communicate coastal land and water with force and energy. He tells us about his latest exhibition, “Cascadian Slipstream,” which opens in downtown Astoria at 1198 Commercial St. on Dec. 12 and runs through Jan. 3.

Drive-By Trucker Rolls Into Portland
Over the past couple of decades, Patterson Hood and his band, the Drive-By Truckers, have become standard-bearers for a unique strain of Southern rock – scorching and also super-thoughtful. Now, as the band releases a sprawling live album, Hood is spreading his wings. He turned heads with a recent essay in The New York Times Magazine about the Confederate flag and he recently relocated to Portland. Jerad Walker of opbmusic caught up with Patterson at Wordstock. Hood plays solo shows at the Doug Fir Lounge Dec. 9 and 16.

A YA Sensation About Portland Gentrification
As a teenager in the 1990s, Renee Watson watched her friends and neighbors get priced out of Northeast Portland. Although she has since moved to New York, Watson’s new young adult novel, “This Side of Home,” is set in Portland and explores gentrification through the eyes of teenaged twins who come down on different sides of the issue.

What’s The Most Expensive Book At Powell’s?
Thousands wander through Powell’s City of Books in downtown Portland everyday, browsing through more than one million titles. As OPB’s John Rosman learned, there is one book that almost no one — including staff — is able to see. It’s locked away in a secret location and only taken out for serious buyers.

Portland: The Center Of The Sneaker Universe?
Portland has been called the Paris or Milan of sneakers, and that’s a big deal. “Sneakerheads,” who collect the shoes, have helped U.S. sales for Nike, Adidas and Under Armour sneakers soar 47 percent since 2009, and all three companies have major presences in Portland. OPB’s John Sepulvado hit the pavement to find out more about how sneaker fashion transforms Portland’s streets.

Rapping Like The Pope
This week, Pope Francis set the Twitterverse on fire with a photo taken during his historic tour of Africa that looks like his Holiness is … well, rapping. Wags have been posting papal rhymes to Twitter with the hashtag #popebars. We asked Portland’s own Elton Cray, of Elton Cray and the Pariahs, to read some of the best ones for us. For example:

“I murder these bars like Cain did to Abel /
Better call me Charlie cause I'm surrounded by angels"]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544260Fri, 04 Dec 2015 20:52:02 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJohn Malkovich make a record, a Southern rocker relocates to Portland, kids confront gentrification and sneakers become high fashion. Change is afoot in this week’s State of Wonder. Malkovich On Vinyl Actor and director John Malkovich has powerhouse...
Malkovich On Vinyl
Actor and director John Malkovich has powerhouse interpretive skills and a knack for transformation that has carried iconic performances in films such as “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Of Mice and Men,” “In the Line of Fire” and, of course, as a fictional actor-turned-puppeteer in "Being John Malkovich." His greatest asset might be his voice, which is front and center in a new avant-garde record, “Like a Puppet Show.” We talked with him during the album's national release at Music Millennium.

Portland filmmaker Todd Haynes’ "Carol"
One of Portland’s most famous directors, Todd Haynes, captured our attention with experimental classics “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story” and “Poison” and held it with "Far From Heaven” and the HBO miniseries “Mildred Pierce.” His latest film, "Carol," about the love that dare not speak its name, stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. It’s racking up raves, including a best actress award for Mara at Cannes, and one of the most insightful reviews comes from critic David Edelstein for Fresh Air. It opens in Portland on Dec. 25.

Dreamscapes in Astoria
Darren Orange of Astoria paints large, bold, abstract landscapes that are collected inside and outside Oregon. His moody treatments and strong color communicate coastal land and water with force and energy. He tells us about his latest exhibition, “Cascadian Slipstream,” which opens in downtown Astoria at 1198 Commercial St. on Dec. 12 and runs through Jan. 3.

Drive-By Trucker Rolls Into Portland
Over the past couple of decades, Patterson Hood and his band, the Drive-By Truckers, have become standard-bearers for a unique strain of Southern rock – scorching and also super-thoughtful. Now, as the band releases a sprawling live album, Hood is spreading his wings. He turned heads with a recent essay in The New York Times Magazine about the Confederate flag and he recently relocated to Portland. Jerad Walker of opbmusic caught up with Patterson at Wordstock. Hood plays solo shows at the Doug Fir Lounge Dec. 9 and 16.

A YA Sensation About Portland Gentrification
As a teenager in the 1990s, Renee Watson watched her friends and neighbors get priced out of Northeast Portland. Although she has since moved to New York, Watson’s new young adult novel, “This Side of Home,” is set in Portland and explores gentrification through the eyes of teenaged twins who come down on different sides of the issue.

What’s The Most Expensive Book At Powell’s?
Thousands wander through Powell’s City of Books in downtown Portland everyday, browsing through more than one million titles. As OPB’s John Rosman learned, there is one book that almost no one — including staff — is able to see. It’s locked away in a secret location and only taken out for serious buyers.

Portland: The Center Of The Sneaker Universe?
Portland has been called the Paris or Milan of sneakers, and that’s a big deal. “Sneakerheads,” who collect the shoes, have helped U.S. sales for Nike, Adidas and Under Armour sneakers soar 47 percent since 2009, and all three companies have major presences in Portland. OPB’s John Sepulvado hit the pavement to find out more about how sneaker fashion transforms Portland’s streets.

Rapping Like The Pope
This week, Pope Francis set the Twitterverse on fire with a photo taken during his historic tour of Africa that looks like his Holiness is … well, rapping. Wags have been posting papal rhymes to Twitter with the hashtag #popebars. We asked Portland’s own Elton Cray, of Elton Cray and the Pariahs, to read some of the best ones for us. For example:

“I murder these bars like Cain did to Abel /
Better call me Charlie cause I'm surrounded by angels"]]>3028falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/powells-most-expensive-book--11560205https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560205Sat, 05 Dec 2015 00:14:56 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingVisitors to Portland's famous bookstore may never know there's one very rare and VERY expensive volume hidden away beyond the stacks. John Rosman investigates.372falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-12-pdx-grammy-nods-jaw-dropping-bug-art-the-heartless-bastards-rejected-santa-photos-more--11544259The model-turned-Salem artist Christopher Marley transforms dead things into art. We’re not talking butterfly boxes or taxidermy here. Marley preserves exotic birds, insects, snakes, and even octopi using state-of-the-art techniques and then composes them in frames. They’re so exquisite, they’ve ended up on the walls of museums, high-end galleries, fancy furniture stores. And Beyonce herself has one! Marley's new book, "Biophilia," is available in stores.

The Santa Photos Nobody Wanted
Every year this time, families bundle up their children and take them to meet Santa and have a picture taken. The shoots are always memorable, for better or worse - either they’re adorable, or the child is crying, or the person sitting in poor Santa’s lap is no child. Now, a batch of vintage Santa photos too awkward to be taken home is the focus of installation at Newspace Center for Photography. Don't miss this slide show of the photos.

Outgoing PNCA President Reflects on His Legacy
Pacific Northwest College of Art's longtime president, Tom Manley, has taken a job leading Ohio's Antioch College. In his 12 years at Oregon’s top school for fine arts, Manley oversaw tremendous growth, including six new MFA programs and the expansion of PNCA’s footprint. Here, Manley opens up about what drove his decision-making.

Portlanders Go Grammying
Portland rocked the 2016 Grammy nominations. Hometown heroes include the Oregon Symphony, Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers, The Decemberists, and remix artist R.A.C. And the toast of the kindie set, Lori Henriques, is nominated for Best Children’s Album for her snappy, Frischberg-esque release, “How Great Can This Day Be.” We invited her into the studio as soon as we heard.

Family, Unexpectedly Dissected
Three women, three new novels: Kathleen Alcott’s “Infinite Home” concerns the tenants of a Brooklyn brownstone, Mary Gaitskill’s “The Mare” is about a Dominican girl who learns to ride, Claire Vaye Watkins’ “Gold Fame Citrus” is set in a drought-scarred California of the near future. Think Out Loud’s Allison Frost brought the authors together at Wordstock for a panel called “Unexpected Family,” and the result was unexpectedly intense.

Heartless, But Soulful
While the Austin band Heartless Bastards was in town for a sold out Wonder Ballroom show recently, they stopped by opbmusic to play acoustic versions of songs from their newest release, “Restless Ones.” Two of the Bastards - lead vocal and guitarist Erika Wennerstrom and bassist Jesse Ebaugh - took a trip down memory lane with opbmusic’s Matt Drenik.

A Tribute to the Godfather of Astoria Art
Royal Nebeker spent 40 years living and teaching on the Oregon Coast, and he left an indelible imprint on the Northwest art world. In his honor, Clatsop Community College faculty have mounted a tribute art show at the newly renamed Royal Nebeker Art Gallery. Hear Nebeker's family and colleagues talk about why he was so important to the region’s creative scene.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544259Fri, 11 Dec 2015 20:11:13 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingVibrant Masterpieces From The Bodies Of Exotic Animals The model-turned-Salem artist Christopher Marley transforms dead things into art. We’re not talking butterfly boxes or taxidermy here. Marley preserves exotic birds, insects, snakes, and even...The model-turned-Salem artist Christopher Marley transforms dead things into art. We’re not talking butterfly boxes or taxidermy here. Marley preserves exotic birds, insects, snakes, and even octopi using state-of-the-art techniques and then composes them in frames. They’re so exquisite, they’ve ended up on the walls of museums, high-end galleries, fancy furniture stores. And Beyonce herself has one! Marley's new book, "Biophilia," is available in stores.

The Santa Photos Nobody Wanted
Every year this time, families bundle up their children and take them to meet Santa and have a picture taken. The shoots are always memorable, for better or worse - either they’re adorable, or the child is crying, or the person sitting in poor Santa’s lap is no child. Now, a batch of vintage Santa photos too awkward to be taken home is the focus of installation at Newspace Center for Photography. Don't miss this slide show of the photos.

Outgoing PNCA President Reflects on His Legacy
Pacific Northwest College of Art's longtime president, Tom Manley, has taken a job leading Ohio's Antioch College. In his 12 years at Oregon’s top school for fine arts, Manley oversaw tremendous growth, including six new MFA programs and the expansion of PNCA’s footprint. Here, Manley opens up about what drove his decision-making.

Portlanders Go Grammying
Portland rocked the 2016 Grammy nominations. Hometown heroes include the Oregon Symphony, Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers, The Decemberists, and remix artist R.A.C. And the toast of the kindie set, Lori Henriques, is nominated for Best Children’s Album for her snappy, Frischberg-esque release, “How Great Can This Day Be.” We invited her into the studio as soon as we heard.

Family, Unexpectedly Dissected
Three women, three new novels: Kathleen Alcott’s “Infinite Home” concerns the tenants of a Brooklyn brownstone, Mary Gaitskill’s “The Mare” is about a Dominican girl who learns to ride, Claire Vaye Watkins’ “Gold Fame Citrus” is set in a drought-scarred California of the near future. Think Out Loud’s Allison Frost brought the authors together at Wordstock for a panel called “Unexpected Family,” and the result was unexpectedly intense.

Heartless, But Soulful
While the Austin band Heartless Bastards was in town for a sold out Wonder Ballroom show recently, they stopped by opbmusic to play acoustic versions of songs from their newest release, “Restless Ones.” Two of the Bastards - lead vocal and guitarist Erika Wennerstrom and bassist Jesse Ebaugh - took a trip down memory lane with opbmusic’s Matt Drenik.

A Tribute to the Godfather of Astoria Art
Royal Nebeker spent 40 years living and teaching on the Oregon Coast, and he left an indelible imprint on the Northwest art world. In his honor, Clatsop Community College faculty have mounted a tribute art show at the newly renamed Royal Nebeker Art Gallery. Hear Nebeker's family and colleagues talk about why he was so important to the region’s creative scene.]]>3077falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tom-manley-on-leaving-pnca-extended-qa--11560195https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560195Fri, 11 Dec 2015 21:16:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPacific Northwest College of Art's President Tom Manley is ending a 12-year run steering Oregon's biggest art school. We talk about the transformational changes he brought about, his response to student and staff concerns, and his advice for his...1140falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/clatsop-faculty-pays-tribute-to-royal-nebeker--11560196https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560196Fri, 11 Dec 2015 21:41:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingClatsop Community College has renamed its gallery after the dynamic painter and educator Royal Nebeker, who died in 2014. A faculty show now on view also looks back at Nebeker's contributions, through his own works, and those of his colleagues.223falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oregon-grammy-nominees-lori-henriques-more--11560197https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560197Fri, 11 Dec 2015 21:44:44 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGrammy nominations are out! We review who's who, what's what, and chat with Lori Henriques, the amazing composer whose witty, brisk songs for kids are up for an award in the Best Children's Record category.274falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oregon-artist-finds-eye-popping-beauty-in-dead-insects-snakes-birds--11560192
Read our full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/eye-popping-art-made-from-iridescent-insects-poisonous-snakes-and-color-drunk-parrots]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560192Sat, 12 Dec 2015 01:59:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe Salem-artist Christopher Marley transforms dead things into art. We’re not talking butterfly boxes or your favorite hipster bar taxidermy here. Marley preserves exotic birds, insects, snakes, and even octopi using state of the art techniques and...
Read our full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/eye-popping-art-made-from-iridescent-insects-poisonous-snakes-and-color-drunk-parrots]]>640animals,arts & entertainment,books,local_opb,photography,photos,sciencefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-19-philanthropy-japanese-garden-pica-guest-curator-dorie-vollum--11544258
We’re talking about giving and philanthropy, and Dorie is what we’d consider an expert. She’s been instrumental in the growth of the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art and the Portland Japanese Garden, leading a capital campaign for the Garden’s current expansion. Her husband, Larry, has been on the board of the Oregon Symphony for six years, plus several others. And his parents, Howard and Jean Vollum, were leading philanthropists for half a decade.

Dorie helps us explore what giving means — not just to the individual giving, but for the arts organizations on the receiving end, and how those relationships work. We look at her family’s deep history in the Portland economy. We get personal with the people and institutions the Vollums have benefacted.

Grist For The Mill: PICA's Origins
The firebrand founder of the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Kristy Edmunds, was a big part of what drew Dorie to join in among PICA's early supporters. But there's more to the story. We hear from Edmunds, architect Pat Harrington, fundraiser Phyllis Oster, and former board member Peter Koehler Jr. about what drew each of them to the idea of a maverick contemporary art group that would form a link between Portland and the wider world.

Seeding the Portland Japanese Garden
The Garden is near and dear to Dorie’s heart. Not only is it the first place her mother-in-law took her in Portland (the Vollums played a big role in its early years), but now she's chairing the garden's $33.5 million capital campaign. It's thanks in part to her that this popular attraction keeps growing, up from 100,000 annual visitors to 350,000 in the last decade. A newly expanded Garden will reopen to the public next spring, but construction won’t be done until 2017 and the campaign is still about $9 million short. What's the plan?

How Will Shifts at Meyer Memorial Trust Impact Artists?
Significant changes are afoot in the upper end of Oregon foundations. This year, the Meyer Memorial Trust sent a shock wave through the nonprofit world, announcing it was taking a temporary hiatus on new grants. The Trust is the third largest foundation in Oregon. It gives a lot of money to a lot of groups, including arts and cultural groups. And it's rethinking everything. We spoke with Doug Stamm, the ex-Nike executive who runs the Trust, and asked him how the changes Meyer will impact Oregon artists.

The Gift that Changed Everything
In 2011, the Oregon Community Foundation got a call no one saw coming. The Portland manufacturer Fred Fields had died and left $150 million to OCF. He left two instructions: spend the money on education and the arts in Oregon. OCF did not have much arts infrastructure and suddenly found itself the biggest arts funder in the state. What do they do with that extra $3 or so million a year? They gamble it on innovation.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544258Fri, 18 Dec 2015 23:35:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPhilanthropist. Instigator. Friend to the arts. Dorie Vollum is all of these, and also, this week’s guest curator on “State of Wonder.” We’re talking about giving and philanthropy, and Dorie is what we’d consider an expert. She’s been instrumental...
We’re talking about giving and philanthropy, and Dorie is what we’d consider an expert. She’s been instrumental in the growth of the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art and the Portland Japanese Garden, leading a capital campaign for the Garden’s current expansion. Her husband, Larry, has been on the board of the Oregon Symphony for six years, plus several others. And his parents, Howard and Jean Vollum, were leading philanthropists for half a decade.

Dorie helps us explore what giving means — not just to the individual giving, but for the arts organizations on the receiving end, and how those relationships work. We look at her family’s deep history in the Portland economy. We get personal with the people and institutions the Vollums have benefacted.

Grist For The Mill: PICA's Origins
The firebrand founder of the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Kristy Edmunds, was a big part of what drew Dorie to join in among PICA's early supporters. But there's more to the story. We hear from Edmunds, architect Pat Harrington, fundraiser Phyllis Oster, and former board member Peter Koehler Jr. about what drew each of them to the idea of a maverick contemporary art group that would form a link between Portland and the wider world.

Seeding the Portland Japanese Garden
The Garden is near and dear to Dorie’s heart. Not only is it the first place her mother-in-law took her in Portland (the Vollums played a big role in its early years), but now she's chairing the garden's $33.5 million capital campaign. It's thanks in part to her that this popular attraction keeps growing, up from 100,000 annual visitors to 350,000 in the last decade. A newly expanded Garden will reopen to the public next spring, but construction won’t be done until 2017 and the campaign is still about $9 million short. What's the plan?

How Will Shifts at Meyer Memorial Trust Impact Artists?
Significant changes are afoot in the upper end of Oregon foundations. This year, the Meyer Memorial Trust sent a shock wave through the nonprofit world, announcing it was taking a temporary hiatus on new grants. The Trust is the third largest foundation in Oregon. It gives a lot of money to a lot of groups, including arts and cultural groups. And it's rethinking everything. We spoke with Doug Stamm, the ex-Nike executive who runs the Trust, and asked him how the changes Meyer will impact Oregon artists.

The Gift that Changed Everything
In 2011, the Oregon Community Foundation got a call no one saw coming. The Portland manufacturer Fred Fields had died and left $150 million to OCF. He left two instructions: spend the money on education and the arts in Oregon. OCF did not have much arts infrastructure and suddenly found itself the biggest arts funder in the state. What do they do with that extra $3 or so million a year? They gamble it on innovation.]]>3202falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-s-next-after-trust-hiatus--11560190https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560190Sat, 19 Dec 2015 06:57:48 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe talk with Meyer Memorial Trust CEO Doug Stamm about why the foundation has taken a hiatus from accepting new grant applications. Our guest curator, Dorie Vollum, has thoughts, too...778falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-2-2016-arts-rural-love-stories--11567994https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567994Wed, 23 Dec 2015 00:32:55 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat happens when small towns try to jump-start their economies with arts centers and cultural offerings? We find out with road trips to Joseph, Burns, and Mighty Tieton, Washington.3158falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-26-quentin-tarantino-hollywood-theatre-the-go-go-s-allen-toussaint-miranda-july-more--11544257
The Hollywood Theatre Redefines the Modern Movie Palace
You haven’t seen “2001: A Space Odyssey” unless you've seen it the way it was supposed to be seen: on ultrawide, deliciously detailed 70-millimeter celluloid. Local Kubrick buffs were lucky enough to enjoy that experience in March thanks to the Hollywood Theatre, which revived the storied 70 mm format after a cinematic treasure hunt.

Now, the theater is one of only 100 on the continent to screen the 70mm extended edition of Quentin Tarantino’s newest, “The Hateful Eight.” The Hollywood is on its way to becoming one of the most dynamic movie houses in the country, and the guys who run the venue gave us a sneak preview of what's planned for 2016, including its unlikely expansion to the C Concourse at the Portland Airport. (Movies while we wait for our flights? Count us in!)

The Ethereal Harmonies of Joseph - 10:09
We’ve had the pleasure of having many amazing musicians into the OPB studio this year. It’s nearly impossible to pick favorites, but we just can’t get the sound of the band Joseph out of our head. The band is three sisters, Allison, Meegan and Natalie Closner, who grew up on a small farm in Estacada. Unlike many musical siblings, they didn’t grow up harmonizing, but they've made up for lost time. Watch their performance in the OPB studio, and then catch them live in February in Bend, Eugene and Portland.

A Debut Novel From a Former Portland Poster Girl - 17:35
Renaissance woman Miranda July has won filmmaking awards at Cannes and Sundance, captured a prestigious Frank O’Connor award for her short stories, been included in Whitney Biennials for her multimedia and performance art, and even designed an app. But she had never published a novel until this year, when she released “The First Bad Man." Turns out, the book’s awkward protagonist fit in quite nicely with July’s other creations.

"Shy" R&B Crooner Flirts with the Big Time - 23:12
So here's the confusing state of music monikers in Oregon: Joseph is three women, and the R&B outfit Shy Girls is one guy, Dan Vidmar. But like the sisters, he's doing it for himself. Early this year, Vidmar dropped his much-anticipated first full-length release, a mixtape dubbed “4WZ." And he's splitting his days between Portland and the big-time scene in Los Angeles, which is where we found him. You can here the full interview here. and find "4WZ" and many of his other tracks on his Soundcloud page.

Shakespeare Gets the Beat with The Go-Go's - 31:15
Playwright Jeff Whitty is best known for writing the book for “Avenue Q,” the Tony-winning adult puppet musical that featured songs like “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” and “The Internet is for Porn.” Whitty grew up in Coos Bay, and he returned to the state this year to premiere a new musical at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival called “Head Over Heels.” It mashes up an Elizabethan epic, “The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia,” with, of all things, the music of the ‘80s all-girl rock band The Go-Go’s. And, spoiler alert: The Go-Go's loved it.

Remembering Allen Touissant - 40:53
On November 10, we lost one of the architects of the Crescent City sound. Allen Toussaint produced hundreds of records — including Dr. John’s “Right Place Wrong Time,” Patti LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade,” and many influential records with his studio’s house band, The Meters — and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Allen Toussaint spoke to us in June from his home studio in New Orleans, leading us through a life of legendary music, before appearing at the Waterfront Blues Festival for what would be his final performance in Portland.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544257Wed, 23 Dec 2015 22:57:36 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingShows, records, openings, performances, books, festivals — we've enjoyed an unusual amount of beauty in 2015. So we thought we’d take a look back at some of our favorite moments. The Hollywood Theatre Redefines the Modern Movie Palace You haven’t...
The Hollywood Theatre Redefines the Modern Movie Palace
You haven’t seen “2001: A Space Odyssey” unless you've seen it the way it was supposed to be seen: on ultrawide, deliciously detailed 70-millimeter celluloid. Local Kubrick buffs were lucky enough to enjoy that experience in March thanks to the Hollywood Theatre, which revived the storied 70 mm format after a cinematic treasure hunt.

Now, the theater is one of only 100 on the continent to screen the 70mm extended edition of Quentin Tarantino’s newest, “The Hateful Eight.” The Hollywood is on its way to becoming one of the most dynamic movie houses in the country, and the guys who run the venue gave us a sneak preview of what's planned for 2016, including its unlikely expansion to the C Concourse at the Portland Airport. (Movies while we wait for our flights? Count us in!)

The Ethereal Harmonies of Joseph - 10:09
We’ve had the pleasure of having many amazing musicians into the OPB studio this year. It’s nearly impossible to pick favorites, but we just can’t get the sound of the band Joseph out of our head. The band is three sisters, Allison, Meegan and Natalie Closner, who grew up on a small farm in Estacada. Unlike many musical siblings, they didn’t grow up harmonizing, but they've made up for lost time. Watch their performance in the OPB studio, and then catch them live in February in Bend, Eugene and Portland.

A Debut Novel From a Former Portland Poster Girl - 17:35
Renaissance woman Miranda July has won filmmaking awards at Cannes and Sundance, captured a prestigious Frank O’Connor award for her short stories, been included in Whitney Biennials for her multimedia and performance art, and even designed an app. But she had never published a novel until this year, when she released “The First Bad Man." Turns out, the book’s awkward protagonist fit in quite nicely with July’s other creations.

"Shy" R&B Crooner Flirts with the Big Time - 23:12
So here's the confusing state of music monikers in Oregon: Joseph is three women, and the R&B outfit Shy Girls is one guy, Dan Vidmar. But like the sisters, he's doing it for himself. Early this year, Vidmar dropped his much-anticipated first full-length release, a mixtape dubbed “4WZ." And he's splitting his days between Portland and the big-time scene in Los Angeles, which is where we found him. You can here the full interview here. and find "4WZ" and many of his other tracks on his Soundcloud page.

Shakespeare Gets the Beat with The Go-Go's - 31:15
Playwright Jeff Whitty is best known for writing the book for “Avenue Q,” the Tony-winning adult puppet musical that featured songs like “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” and “The Internet is for Porn.” Whitty grew up in Coos Bay, and he returned to the state this year to premiere a new musical at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival called “Head Over Heels.” It mashes up an Elizabethan epic, “The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia,” with, of all things, the music of the ‘80s all-girl rock band The Go-Go’s. And, spoiler alert: The Go-Go's loved it.

Remembering Allen Touissant - 40:53
On November 10, we lost one of the architects of the Crescent City sound. Allen Toussaint produced hundreds of records — including Dr. John’s “Right Place Wrong Time,” Patti LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade,” and many influential records with his studio’s house band, The Meters — and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Allen Toussaint spoke to us in June from his home studio in New Orleans, leading us through a life of legendary music, before appearing at the Waterfront Blues Festival for what would be his final performance in Portland.]]>3105falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-9-2016-bitch-planet-lily-tomlin-oregon-story-board-revolution-hall--11544255
This week's show features trailblazers, plus a couple of lookbacks at stories from last year, with updates on what happened after the tape stopped rolling.

Kelly Sue DeConnick and Taki Soma talk about collaborating on this month's special issue of Bitch Planet

Lauren Redniss lets us in on her process for the stunning graphic novel-cum-collage book, "Thunder and Lightening".

Oregon Story Board - an incubator for creative tech projects - gets a new lease on life ... and a new lease!

Comedy legend Lily Tomlin talks about recent projects and her upcoming one-woman show in Portland.

Revolution Hall packs 'em in! The story behind Portland's newest mid-sized venue.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544255Fri, 08 Jan 2016 22:38:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingUppity Women and Then Some... This week's show features trailblazers, plus a couple of lookbacks at stories from last year, with updates on what happened after the tape stopped rolling. Kelly Sue DeConnick and Taki Soma talk about collaborating on...
This week's show features trailblazers, plus a couple of lookbacks at stories from last year, with updates on what happened after the tape stopped rolling.

Kelly Sue DeConnick and Taki Soma talk about collaborating on this month's special issue of Bitch Planet

Lauren Redniss lets us in on her process for the stunning graphic novel-cum-collage book, "Thunder and Lightening".

Oregon Story Board - an incubator for creative tech projects - gets a new lease on life ... and a new lease!

Comedy legend Lily Tomlin talks about recent projects and her upcoming one-woman show in Portland.

Revolution Hall packs 'em in! The story behind Portland's newest mid-sized venue.]]>3191falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kelly-sue-deconnick-and-taki-soma-extended-interview--11567980https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567980Sat, 09 Jan 2016 16:18:36 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHere's the supercut of our talk with Kelly and Taki. They're pals, but had never worked together before Issue 6 of Kelly's Image Comics series, Bitch Planet. It tells the backstory for Meiko Maki, the whip-smart engineer who's the lynchpin of a...1227falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-16-pdx-musicians-remember-david-bowie-beat-connection-ibrahim-moustafa-more--11544253
The Many Lives of Davie Bowie
David Bowie’s decades of recording, filmmaking and trendsetting led many to feel he was super-human, immortal, even alien. Of course, he was all too human, dying this week at age 69 after an 18-month struggle with cancer. The outpouring of love and grief online and across the world is staggering, and Oregon is no exception.

[image: 011616_david-bowie-and-dandy-warhols,right,300x390,5698388dd073400035a111b3] We decided to go in search of how Bowie changed our small neck of the solar system. We talked with the Dandy Warhols about playing with Bowie; heard from Grandfather's Jason Lydle about finding out Bowie was a fan; caught up with Matt Sheehy, who covered "Let's Dance" on the "Late Show With Stephen Colbert"; spent some time with fans singing Bowie-oke; and learned about Bowie's impact on the gay community from filmmaker David Weissman.

You can hear the Dandy Warhols' extended interview and watch their performance with Bowie here.

Artist Ibrahim Moustafa - 22:13
The Egyptian-American artist Ibrahim Moustafa has helped reboot the classic DC Comics series "Doctor Fate," with Dr. Fate as an Egyptian-American medical student. We talked with Moustafa about how his own dual heritage influenced the comic, which is out Jan. 20, as well as his own hit series, "High Crimes," about international intrigue on the slopes of Mt. Everest.

Beat Connection - 29:42
The Seattle electropop outfit Beat Connection mixes a stew of influences: pop, calypso, hip-hop, jazz, funk, and hatred of Matchbox 20. These disparate sounds are tied together by the soulful voice of lead singer Tom Eddy. Beat Connection stopped by the OPB studios to perform songs from their new album "Product 3."

First Edition Shakespeare -35:24
One of William Shakespeare's rare First Folios is on display at the University of Oregon’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in Eugene. Several of the so-called First Folios are touring the country, marking the 400th anniversary of the playwright’s death. The museum’s associate curator, Danielle Knapp, talked to Oregon Art Beat’s Katrina Sarson about the folio, which elevated the Bard from the low masses to high art.

The Mostly Blind But Colorful Painter of Enterprise, Oregon - 36:32
Bob Fergison has been compared to the Dos Equis commercial — y'know, the most interesting guy in the world. The 82-year-old marketing exec turned rural arts impresario turned fine artist continues to paint bold, expressionist nudes and fighters, despite having mostly lost his eyesight and repeatedly beaten back incurable cancer. Now the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture in Joseph is exhibiting his work through Feb. 17. Producer Aaron Scott visited Fergison in his cluttered studio.

Burke Jam's Natural Music - 42:52
Sound artist Burke Jam uses landscapes as the raw material for new music. We're not talking simply taking inspiration from the national natural world. It’s more like a translation of the physical world into sound. It’s known as sonification. Burke Jam spoke with OPB’s Think Out Loud and shared one composition made in Iceland called “Within the Violence of Fractured Light,” using the dripping of melting icebergs.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544253Fri, 15 Jan 2016 22:57:47 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on State of Wonder: Oregonians mourn the death of a legend (including some who shared his stage), a Portland artist helps reboot DC Comics’ Dr. Fate, and a blind but colorful painter in Wallowa County. The Many Lives of Davie Bowie David...
The Many Lives of Davie Bowie
David Bowie’s decades of recording, filmmaking and trendsetting led many to feel he was super-human, immortal, even alien. Of course, he was all too human, dying this week at age 69 after an 18-month struggle with cancer. The outpouring of love and grief online and across the world is staggering, and Oregon is no exception.

[image: 011616_david-bowie-and-dandy-warhols,right,300x390,5698388dd073400035a111b3] We decided to go in search of how Bowie changed our small neck of the solar system. We talked with the Dandy Warhols about playing with Bowie; heard from Grandfather's Jason Lydle about finding out Bowie was a fan; caught up with Matt Sheehy, who covered "Let's Dance" on the "Late Show With Stephen Colbert"; spent some time with fans singing Bowie-oke; and learned about Bowie's impact on the gay community from filmmaker David Weissman.

You can hear the Dandy Warhols' extended interview and watch their performance with Bowie here.

Artist Ibrahim Moustafa - 22:13
The Egyptian-American artist Ibrahim Moustafa has helped reboot the classic DC Comics series "Doctor Fate," with Dr. Fate as an Egyptian-American medical student. We talked with Moustafa about how his own dual heritage influenced the comic, which is out Jan. 20, as well as his own hit series, "High Crimes," about international intrigue on the slopes of Mt. Everest.

Beat Connection - 29:42
The Seattle electropop outfit Beat Connection mixes a stew of influences: pop, calypso, hip-hop, jazz, funk, and hatred of Matchbox 20. These disparate sounds are tied together by the soulful voice of lead singer Tom Eddy. Beat Connection stopped by the OPB studios to perform songs from their new album "Product 3."

First Edition Shakespeare -35:24
One of William Shakespeare's rare First Folios is on display at the University of Oregon’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in Eugene. Several of the so-called First Folios are touring the country, marking the 400th anniversary of the playwright’s death. The museum’s associate curator, Danielle Knapp, talked to Oregon Art Beat’s Katrina Sarson about the folio, which elevated the Bard from the low masses to high art.

The Mostly Blind But Colorful Painter of Enterprise, Oregon - 36:32
Bob Fergison has been compared to the Dos Equis commercial — y'know, the most interesting guy in the world. The 82-year-old marketing exec turned rural arts impresario turned fine artist continues to paint bold, expressionist nudes and fighters, despite having mostly lost his eyesight and repeatedly beaten back incurable cancer. Now the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture in Joseph is exhibiting his work through Feb. 17. Producer Aaron Scott visited Fergison in his cluttered studio.

Burke Jam's Natural Music - 42:52
Sound artist Burke Jam uses landscapes as the raw material for new music. We're not talking simply taking inspiration from the national natural world. It’s more like a translation of the physical world into sound. It’s known as sonification. Burke Jam spoke with OPB’s Think Out Loud and shared one composition made in Iceland called “Within the Violence of Fractured Light,” using the dripping of melting icebergs.]]>3023falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/good-guys-win-comics-artist-ibrahim-moustafa--11560181https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560181Sat, 16 Jan 2016 16:47:07 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAfter a big 2015 finale to his mountaineering thriller, "High Crimes", Moustafa is back with a special issue of DC's "Doctor Fate".443falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/half-blind-enterprise-artist-paints-in-vivid-colors--11560182
“There’s a great artist here named Bob Fergison, who just turned 82, and he’s at least three-quarters blind,” said Seth Kinzie, the web developer at the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture.

“He’s very Max Beckmann–like,” said the center’s executive director, Cheryl Coughlan. “Oil painting with a lot of heavy brush strokes that are textural. Lots of nudes. He has one woman that was his model for years, that was very obese, but she only had one breast. If you take him a bottle of wine, he’ll open his studio.”

“He will also be happy to draw you naked if you feel the need to disrobe in front of a great live drawer,” added Kinzie dryly.


I wasn’t keen on disrobing, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to meet Fergison, who currently has a show on display at the Josephy Center through Feb. 17.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560182Sat, 16 Jan 2016 17:17:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhile we were in Joseph for a show about art in rural communities last summer, we heard about a painter you might not expect to find in cowboy country, where most of the art leans towards landscapes and wildlife. “There’s a great artist here named...
“There’s a great artist here named Bob Fergison, who just turned 82, and he’s at least three-quarters blind,” said Seth Kinzie, the web developer at the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture.

“He’s very Max Beckmann–like,” said the center’s executive director, Cheryl Coughlan. “Oil painting with a lot of heavy brush strokes that are textural. Lots of nudes. He has one woman that was his model for years, that was very obese, but she only had one breast. If you take him a bottle of wine, he’ll open his studio.”

“He will also be happy to draw you naked if you feel the need to disrobe in front of a great live drawer,” added Kinzie dryly.


I wasn’t keen on disrobing, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to meet Fergison, who currently has a show on display at the Josephy Center through Feb. 17.]]>369art,local_opb,paintingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dandy-warhols-on-playing-with-david-bowie--11561079
In 2002, Bowie headlined the Meltdown Festival in London, and he invited the Dandies to be the first band since Lou Reed to share his stage. Then he took them on tour as his opening act. Then he came out to shoot pool and jam with them in their Portland warehouse, the Odditorium.

In other words, the Dandies probably came closer into the orbit of the star that was Bowie than any other Portlanders. Band members Courtney Taylor-Taylor, Zia McCabe, and Peter Homlstrom told us what it was like to know the man.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561079Sat, 16 Jan 2016 19:21:09 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe Dandy Warhols first met Bowie because he was singing along. It was Glastonbury in 2000, and the band looked to the side of the stage during their set to see Bowie and his band, in their black suits, belting along. In 2002, Bowie headlined the...
In 2002, Bowie headlined the Meltdown Festival in London, and he invited the Dandies to be the first band since Lou Reed to share his stage. Then he took them on tour as his opening act. Then he came out to shoot pool and jam with them in their Portland warehouse, the Odditorium.

In other words, the Dandies probably came closer into the orbit of the star that was Bowie than any other Portlanders. Band members Courtney Taylor-Taylor, Zia McCabe, and Peter Homlstrom told us what it was like to know the man.]]>596art,arts,david bowie,local_news,local_opb,music,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-23-from-space-ships-to-parking-meters-ux-design-with-guest-curator-elena-moon--11544252
User Experience 101 - 00:00
We kick off with a quick primer on UX. Whether you’re talking about everyday objects or brand new apps, solid design is anything but accidental. Elena explains why some brands stand out. Take Uber, for example. Whatever you may think of the company’s business practices, the interface of the Uber app is a gold standard for how to serve up visual information.

Portland’s Parking Meters: Design Fail? - 04:13
We explore how design is in play in even the simplest of tasks. Elena and April scout out a hub of meter activity in the Pearl District and speak with some of the people who maintain the meters, technicians Anto Bayu Aji and Molly Twoohey.

How to Teach Grandmothers to Install Solar Panels - 14:19
UX isn’t just for software. Elena talks about working on a project with India’s Barefoot College on a project that trained grandmothers to do their own solar engineering in rural communities in India. How can teachers work across language barriers? How do you keep learning going after everyone heads home to their village? As Elena explains, the conversation gave rise to some unexpected answers.

How Do You Improve on the Coolest Hotel in Town? - 19:06
We eavesdrop on Elena’s meeting with the Ace Hotel design team for a look inside the design process. The company already has a robust brand and online presence, but it enlisted Elena to help refine the experience of visiting its website. What’s most intuitive to potential customers?

Designers' Film Club - 24:52
A few years ago, Elena and her partner, Jos Vaught, had the chance to work on some UX projects for NASA and SpaceX. Can a designer who’s seen a real space capsule interface ever look at Ridley Scott the same way again? We reality-check "The Martian,” “Minority Report,” and “Star Trek: Into Darkness.”

On the Designers Shelf Life and the Accumulated Wisdom of Fly Fishing - 34:45
It’s no secret that, within tech circles, the industry is not kind to workers over 35. Elena contrasts this for us with another discipline in which practitioners don’t get anywhere without decades of hard-won knowledge: fly fishing. We head out to Maupin with seasoned guide Amy Hazel of Deschutes Angler to find out about the beauty and craft to be found on the river.

Are Tiny Hobbit Homes the Way of the Future? - 44:27
Are Tiny Hobbit Homes the Way of the Future? - 44:27
Elena turned us on to the amazing work of Abel Zimmerman Zyl: the totally charming gypsy caravans that look plucked right out of "The Hobbit." Zyl tells us about the nuts and bolts of tiny house construction.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544252Fri, 22 Jan 2016 22:01:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we welcome user experience (UX) designer Elena Moon as our guest curator. She has this fantastic way of explaining what works and why, and she’s going to lead us through her own work and the designed world, from parking meters to space...
User Experience 101 - 00:00
We kick off with a quick primer on UX. Whether you’re talking about everyday objects or brand new apps, solid design is anything but accidental. Elena explains why some brands stand out. Take Uber, for example. Whatever you may think of the company’s business practices, the interface of the Uber app is a gold standard for how to serve up visual information.

Portland’s Parking Meters: Design Fail? - 04:13
We explore how design is in play in even the simplest of tasks. Elena and April scout out a hub of meter activity in the Pearl District and speak with some of the people who maintain the meters, technicians Anto Bayu Aji and Molly Twoohey.

How to Teach Grandmothers to Install Solar Panels - 14:19
UX isn’t just for software. Elena talks about working on a project with India’s Barefoot College on a project that trained grandmothers to do their own solar engineering in rural communities in India. How can teachers work across language barriers? How do you keep learning going after everyone heads home to their village? As Elena explains, the conversation gave rise to some unexpected answers.

How Do You Improve on the Coolest Hotel in Town? - 19:06
We eavesdrop on Elena’s meeting with the Ace Hotel design team for a look inside the design process. The company already has a robust brand and online presence, but it enlisted Elena to help refine the experience of visiting its website. What’s most intuitive to potential customers?

Designers' Film Club - 24:52
A few years ago, Elena and her partner, Jos Vaught, had the chance to work on some UX projects for NASA and SpaceX. Can a designer who’s seen a real space capsule interface ever look at Ridley Scott the same way again? We reality-check "The Martian,” “Minority Report,” and “Star Trek: Into Darkness.”

On the Designers Shelf Life and the Accumulated Wisdom of Fly Fishing - 34:45
It’s no secret that, within tech circles, the industry is not kind to workers over 35. Elena contrasts this for us with another discipline in which practitioners don’t get anywhere without decades of hard-won knowledge: fly fishing. We head out to Maupin with seasoned guide Amy Hazel of Deschutes Angler to find out about the beauty and craft to be found on the river.

Are Tiny Hobbit Homes the Way of the Future? - 44:27
Are Tiny Hobbit Homes the Way of the Future? - 44:27
Elena turned us on to the amazing work of Abel Zimmerman Zyl: the totally charming gypsy caravans that look plucked right out of "The Hobbit." Zyl tells us about the nuts and bolts of tiny house construction.]]>3118falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tiny-house-meet-roving-caravan-olympia-s-zyl-vardos--11567971
Just ask Abel Zimmerman Zyl, a Washingtonian whose company, Zyl Vardos, makes decidedly whimsical tiny-house caravans. The company specializes in organic shapes and has been happily installing undulating rooflines, circular Hobbit-esque doors, and bright expanses of cedar shingles into the tiny house design lexicon since 2007.

The tiny house movement may have gained traction in austere times, but, for Zyl, building small, movable houses is about more than saving money. “Culturally we are due for a little change from the manufactured, expensive world,” he says. “Not only is the money part of it, but also people finding a more zen way to live.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/tiny-house-meet-roving-caravan-olympa-abel-zimmerman-zyl/

(Photo credit: Courtesy of Abel Zimmerman Zyl)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567971Fri, 22 Jan 2016 22:41:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTen years ago, the quintessential tiny house was a re-purposed shipping container, industrial-modern and proud of it. That was fitting for a movement whose rising appeal was tethered to the global financial crisis, but the aesthetic is changing. Just...
Just ask Abel Zimmerman Zyl, a Washingtonian whose company, Zyl Vardos, makes decidedly whimsical tiny-house caravans. The company specializes in organic shapes and has been happily installing undulating rooflines, circular Hobbit-esque doors, and bright expanses of cedar shingles into the tiny house design lexicon since 2007.

The tiny house movement may have gained traction in austere times, but, for Zyl, building small, movable houses is about more than saving money. “Culturally we are due for a little change from the manufactured, expensive world,” he says. “Not only is the money part of it, but also people finding a more zen way to live.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/tiny-house-meet-roving-caravan-olympa-abel-zimmerman-zyl/

(Photo credit: Courtesy of Abel Zimmerman Zyl)]]>496arts & entertainment,local_opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-unexamined-river-isn-t-worth-fishing--11560176
Amy Hazel, who co-owns a fly fishing shop in Maupin, the Deschutes Angler, has traveled the world looking for great places to fish. But if you’re wondering where the best spots in the world—or just on the Deschutes—are, she makes it clear that you’re going to need far more than GPS coordinates. What you’ll need is an expert in foam, someone attuned to the vagaries of bubbles and intimate with current.

“No foam, no fish,” Hazel recites, “Foam is home.” It’s traditional wisdom on how to read the river.

Hazel, who has been fishing for 30 years, has lived in fishing meccas like Vermont and Wyoming, and in her twenties traveled to 19 different countries to fish, including some where she had to pick her way around land-mines. She’s seen a lot of foam, and she’s gone through a lot to do it.

“I went full-hog,” Hazel says, chuckling as she recalls the beginning of her journey into the world of fly fishing.

“I loved fishing, but then when I found fly fishing I thought, This is really a thinking sport. You’re not just throwing something out there and hoping that something will grab your fly. You have to actually imitate the insects. It’s active.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/the-unexamined-river-isnt-worth-fishing]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560176Fri, 22 Jan 2016 22:52:31 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDo designers have a shelf life? That's the question State of Wonder guest curator, the user experience designer Elena Moon, asked that set us in search of a craft that only improves with age. Amy Hazel, who co-owns a fly fishing shop in Maupin, the...
Amy Hazel, who co-owns a fly fishing shop in Maupin, the Deschutes Angler, has traveled the world looking for great places to fish. But if you’re wondering where the best spots in the world—or just on the Deschutes—are, she makes it clear that you’re going to need far more than GPS coordinates. What you’ll need is an expert in foam, someone attuned to the vagaries of bubbles and intimate with current.

“No foam, no fish,” Hazel recites, “Foam is home.” It’s traditional wisdom on how to read the river.

Hazel, who has been fishing for 30 years, has lived in fishing meccas like Vermont and Wyoming, and in her twenties traveled to 19 different countries to fish, including some where she had to pick her way around land-mines. She’s seen a lot of foam, and she’s gone through a lot to do it.

“I went full-hog,” Hazel says, chuckling as she recalls the beginning of her journey into the world of fly fishing.

“I loved fishing, but then when I found fly fishing I thought, This is really a thinking sport. You’re not just throwing something out there and hoping that something will grab your fly. You have to actually imitate the insects. It’s active.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/the-unexamined-river-isnt-worth-fishing]]>578arts & entertainment,fishing,outside,recreation,sportsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-30-candidates-forum-on-arts-and-culture--11568004
Here's a breakdown of what we asked them with some highlights.

02:16 What arts and creative work have you checked out over the past two months?

07:10 What's your vision for Portland's future? And how do arts and culture fit into that?
"We’re this close to a city that can be fantastic." —Stuart Emmons

21:40 What candidates will commit to regarding funding RACC's arts work.
"As mayor, I’m committing to increasing funding for RACC." —Jules Bailey
"I’m not going to promise every group that we’re going to increase their budget. You can look back at my past performance and see that I am a champion of the arts." —Ted Wheeler

27:43 The 2015 budget surplus: why none of the $49 million dollars went toward arts and culture.
"We need to take care of people who are living on our streets, we need to stop people dying on our streets because of lack of infrastructure, and to take care of A&C. It’s not either/or." —Amanda Fritz
"We did frankly spend some money on things in this budget that I think we should have discussed whether investing in the arts would have been a good alternative." —Steve Novick

35:43 What the Mayoral hopefuls intend to do with the arts portfolio — keep it or assign to another commissioner?
"Sam [Adams] set the right tone, but I want to work with other champions on the city council." — Ted Wheeler
"I won’t make any commitments until I sit down with the other commissioners. That said, I will have one arts and culture [person] on my staff." — Jules Bailey

37:18 One priority that's central to mayoral candidates' housing policies.
"If we have a fast-track process for working families that need to live in Portland, we can waive fees, have a faster process and make sure that housing gets built." —Jules Bailey
"I will pick the design review process combined with permitting and inspection process. It needs to be reformed." —Ted Wheeler

43:22 What the city should do to mitigate soaring commercial real estate costs, which have decimated available maker space.
"[The city should] help arts groups buy their own buildings, so they can stay in their spaces." — Stuart Emmons
"We need to learn from the lesson of the past 25 years. The pearl is now the pearl, and it’s too expensive now." — Amanda Fritz
"I do want to say something about the general issue of affordability: One of the most important things we can do to address affordable housing is elect Bernie Sanders as our next president." — Steve Novick

52:51 What will candidates do to address equity in publicly-supported arts.
"Make it a condition of receiving the dollars." — Ted Wheeler

57:50 What candidates want voters to know about Portland's arts tax.
"I want people to know the arts tax is making a huge difference in the schools." — Steve Novick

01:04:54 Has Portland turned its back on the creative community? Is the city's soul slipping away?
"I grew up acting, playing the violin in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. It made a big difference in who I am." — Jules Bailey

01:14:07 Audience question: What will you do to make sure Portland's hip-hop artists survive and thrive?
"We need to embrace the role that hip hop can play. It’s an important part of our service provision." — Jules Bailey

01:16:50 Audience question: Would you support the development of a right-sized performance venue, i.e. Lincoln Center Portland?
"I am guessing it is probably cheaper to renovate an existing facility than to build from scratch. I’d be open to that brainstorming and planning." — Stuart Emmons]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11568004Fri, 29 Jan 2016 23:01:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we moderated a candidates' forum hosted by the Regional Arts and Culture Council and the Creative Advocacy Coalition. The purpose was to talk with candidates for mayor and council about hot issues like Portland's arts tax, city funding for...
Here's a breakdown of what we asked them with some highlights.

02:16 What arts and creative work have you checked out over the past two months?

07:10 What's your vision for Portland's future? And how do arts and culture fit into that?
"We’re this close to a city that can be fantastic." —Stuart Emmons

21:40 What candidates will commit to regarding funding RACC's arts work.
"As mayor, I’m committing to increasing funding for RACC." —Jules Bailey
"I’m not going to promise every group that we’re going to increase their budget. You can look back at my past performance and see that I am a champion of the arts." —Ted Wheeler

27:43 The 2015 budget surplus: why none of the $49 million dollars went toward arts and culture.
"We need to take care of people who are living on our streets, we need to stop people dying on our streets because of lack of infrastructure, and to take care of A&C. It’s not either/or." —Amanda Fritz
"We did frankly spend some money on things in this budget that I think we should have discussed whether investing in the arts would have been a good alternative." —Steve Novick

35:43 What the Mayoral hopefuls intend to do with the arts portfolio — keep it or assign to another commissioner?
"Sam [Adams] set the right tone, but I want to work with other champions on the city council." — Ted Wheeler
"I won’t make any commitments until I sit down with the other commissioners. That said, I will have one arts and culture [person] on my staff." — Jules Bailey

37:18 One priority that's central to mayoral candidates' housing policies.
"If we have a fast-track process for working families that need to live in Portland, we can waive fees, have a faster process and make sure that housing gets built." —Jules Bailey
"I will pick the design review process combined with permitting and inspection process. It needs to be reformed." —Ted Wheeler

43:22 What the city should do to mitigate soaring commercial real estate costs, which have decimated available maker space.
"[The city should] help arts groups buy their own buildings, so they can stay in their spaces." — Stuart Emmons
"We need to learn from the lesson of the past 25 years. The pearl is now the pearl, and it’s too expensive now." — Amanda Fritz
"I do want to say something about the general issue of affordability: One of the most important things we can do to address affordable housing is elect Bernie Sanders as our next president." — Steve Novick

52:51 What will candidates do to address equity in publicly-supported arts.
"Make it a condition of receiving the dollars." — Ted Wheeler

57:50 What candidates want voters to know about Portland's arts tax.
"I want people to know the arts tax is making a huge difference in the schools." — Steve Novick

01:04:54 Has Portland turned its back on the creative community? Is the city's soul slipping away?
"I grew up acting, playing the violin in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. It made a big difference in who I am." — Jules Bailey

01:14:07 Audience question: What will you do to make sure Portland's hip-hop artists survive and thrive?
"We need to embrace the role that hip hop can play. It’s an important part of our service provision." — Jules Bailey

01:16:50 Audience question: Would you support the development of a right-sized performance venue, i.e. Lincoln Center Portland?
"I am guessing it is probably cheaper to renovate an existing facility than to build from scratch. I’d be open...]]>5134arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,politicsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-santa-photos-never-picked-up--11567963https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567963Mon, 01 Feb 2016 19:06:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGetting a photo taken while sitting on Santa's lap can be awkward in the best of circumstances, but these misfit shots are another level of Christmas weird. John Strieder reports for us.181falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fred-stewart-candidate-for-portland-pos-4--11561082
Fred Stewart is an impatient Portlander. That’s why, he told us this week, he’s running for Portland city council. We talk to Stewart about about his ideas on housing for artists, public funding for art, and the policy issues he’s most impatient about.

0:30 - On art that's influenced him:
“I grew up with an artist, my grandfather. So, I grew up in an artistic household. It taught me another way of communicating.”

6:10 - Stewart's vision for Portland's future:
“Our city no longer plans with our values in mind. We say we are for diversity but we are not very diverse in any area of our life, including art. I think art would help with that.”
“I’d like to see something along the lines of an art trust and specific projects for displaying art within the city.“

11:10 - On the RACC budget:
“RACC has always talked about being inclusive and doing what is best for the community, but they did neither. And they did it brazenly.”
“RACC has hurt a lot of dear, dear friends. I don’t necessarily think that RACC excluded me [from their candidates’ forum] because I’m black, but a significant number of the people I grew up with in this town that are white, they feel that way. And that has frightened them.”

14:00 - On RACC's performance:
“I would like to see RACC prove to the people of Portland that they are committed to inclusiveness. Not just black people, but also women, other cultures. They owe that to the city of Portland. That’s what people in Portland have been trying to do since the old hippie days. That’s what Portland is to me.”

15:00 - On equity goals instituted by Sam Adams:
“Very poor, obviously.” As a citizen of Portland, I’d like to see clear evidence that they are inclusive.”
“ I’d like to see artists more involved in the design of the city, in the urban designing.”

18:00 - On the Portland Arts Tax:
“It has done more harm than good.”
“I don’t see this tax bringing art classes back to Jefferson, helping us get back to inclusiveness. I look at the arts tax now and it’s not fair. It’s not inclusive.”

22:50 - Policies with respect to housing and commercial real estate:
“The city has to start planning for low income people.”
“I miss those old apartment buildings that were full of artists when I was growing up in Portland 32 or 34 years ago. I miss the coffee shops, I miss the atmosphere.”

28:25 Can you choose one part of town and talk about what is working there, or what isn’t, in terms of urban design and development?
“I think it’s too late for 82nd and west, but I don’t think it’s too late for 82nd and east. 82nd should have an art component.”
“We know the culture of artists, what they need.There are some things we may be able to do with zoning that can help protect some of that.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561082Tue, 02 Feb 2016 20:44:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOne of a series of candidate interviews regarding Portland's future and the arts. Fred Stewart is an impatient Portlander. That’s why, he told us this week, he’s running for Portland city council. We talk to Stewart about about his ideas on housing...
Fred Stewart is an impatient Portlander. That’s why, he told us this week, he’s running for Portland city council. We talk to Stewart about about his ideas on housing for artists, public funding for art, and the policy issues he’s most impatient about.

0:30 - On art that's influenced him:
“I grew up with an artist, my grandfather. So, I grew up in an artistic household. It taught me another way of communicating.”

6:10 - Stewart's vision for Portland's future:
“Our city no longer plans with our values in mind. We say we are for diversity but we are not very diverse in any area of our life, including art. I think art would help with that.”
“I’d like to see something along the lines of an art trust and specific projects for displaying art within the city.“

11:10 - On the RACC budget:
“RACC has always talked about being inclusive and doing what is best for the community, but they did neither. And they did it brazenly.”
“RACC has hurt a lot of dear, dear friends. I don’t necessarily think that RACC excluded me [from their candidates’ forum] because I’m black, but a significant number of the people I grew up with in this town that are white, they feel that way. And that has frightened them.”

14:00 - On RACC's performance:
“I would like to see RACC prove to the people of Portland that they are committed to inclusiveness. Not just black people, but also women, other cultures. They owe that to the city of Portland. That’s what people in Portland have been trying to do since the old hippie days. That’s what Portland is to me.”

15:00 - On equity goals instituted by Sam Adams:
“Very poor, obviously.” As a citizen of Portland, I’d like to see clear evidence that they are inclusive.”
“ I’d like to see artists more involved in the design of the city, in the urban designing.”

18:00 - On the Portland Arts Tax:
“It has done more harm than good.”
“I don’t see this tax bringing art classes back to Jefferson, helping us get back to inclusiveness. I look at the arts tax now and it’s not fair. It’s not inclusive.”

22:50 - Policies with respect to housing and commercial real estate:
“The city has to start planning for low income people.”
“I miss those old apartment buildings that were full of artists when I was growing up in Portland 32 or 34 years ago. I miss the coffee shops, I miss the atmosphere.”

28:25 Can you choose one part of town and talk about what is working there, or what isn’t, in terms of urban design and development?
“I think it’s too late for 82nd and west, but I don’t think it’s too late for 82nd and east. 82nd should have an art component.”
“We know the culture of artists, what they need.There are some things we may be able to do with zoning that can help protect some of that.”]]>2048falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pnca-to-close-the-portland-museum-of-contemporary-craft-and-sell-its-location--11567968
Now the museum will undergo perhaps its greatest change yet: dissolving entirely into a new Center for Contemporary Art & Culture within PNCA’s main campus building.

"The collection from MOCC will come into PNCA to be combined with our existing programs at PNCA," says the college’s interim president Casey Mills. "So it would span not only craft, but craft, art, design, and show that these are actually all interrelated and that they actually feed off one another."

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/news/article/pnca-to-close-the-museum-of-contemporary-craft-and-sell-its-pearl-space]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567968Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:06:46 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe Museum of Contemporary Craft is no stranger to changes in name and location. It was originally founded in 1937 as the Oregon Ceramics Studio on SW Corbett Avenue. It went through several titles before settling on its current name when it moved...
Now the museum will undergo perhaps its greatest change yet: dissolving entirely into a new Center for Contemporary Art & Culture within PNCA’s main campus building.

"The collection from MOCC will come into PNCA to be combined with our existing programs at PNCA," says the college’s interim president Casey Mills. "So it would span not only craft, but craft, art, design, and show that these are actually all interrelated and that they actually feed off one another."

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/news/article/pnca-to-close-the-museum-of-contemporary-craft-and-sell-its-pearl-space]]>243arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-6-director-todd-haynes-on-carol-and-bowie-craft-museum-to-close-portland-biennial-more--11544244
Portland's Second Largest Art Museum to Close - 1:14
Pacific Northwest College of Art is folding Oregon's 79-year-old Museum of Contemporary Craft into a new Center for Contemporary Art and Culture, laying off most employees, and selling the building. We hear some background and hopes/fears for the collection.

Disjecta Announces the Portland2016 Artists - 5:22
Curator Michelle Grabner announced the names of almost 40 top shelf contemporary artists who will be featured in Disjecta's Portland2016 biennial this summer (see the full list). Among them: the sculptor and conceptual artist Tannaz Farsi, who is the subject of a gorgeous Oregon Art Beat profile this week.

Todd Haynes on "Carol" and Bowie - 9:07
One of Portland's brightest cinematic minds talks about his new Oscar-nominated film, "Carol," and reflects on the loss of David Bowie, who inspired Haynes glam rock film "Velvet Goldmine." You can hear the full conversation on Think Out Loud.

Randy Gragg in Conversation with Kengo Kuma - 21:20
Say hello to our new guest columnist: We loved reading Randy Gragg as the editor-in-chief in "Portland Monthly" and at his long-time post as architecture critic at the "Oregonian." Randy now directs the John Yeon Center for Architecture and the Landscape at the U of O. We're kicking off a year-long series with Randy, beginning with the renovation of Portland's Japanese Garden by one of the top names in international architecture, Kengo Kuma.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544244Fri, 05 Feb 2016 19:26:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt's pledge week, people! Of course we're putting out the good china: one of the season's most sumptuous films, a new way to look at a Portland icon, and the unveiling of the Portland 2016 Biennial artists. Portland's Second Largest Art Museum to...
Portland's Second Largest Art Museum to Close - 1:14
Pacific Northwest College of Art is folding Oregon's 79-year-old Museum of Contemporary Craft into a new Center for Contemporary Art and Culture, laying off most employees, and selling the building. We hear some background and hopes/fears for the collection.

Disjecta Announces the Portland2016 Artists - 5:22
Curator Michelle Grabner announced the names of almost 40 top shelf contemporary artists who will be featured in Disjecta's Portland2016 biennial this summer (see the full list). Among them: the sculptor and conceptual artist Tannaz Farsi, who is the subject of a gorgeous Oregon Art Beat profile this week.

Todd Haynes on "Carol" and Bowie - 9:07
One of Portland's brightest cinematic minds talks about his new Oscar-nominated film, "Carol," and reflects on the loss of David Bowie, who inspired Haynes glam rock film "Velvet Goldmine." You can hear the full conversation on Think Out Loud.

Randy Gragg in Conversation with Kengo Kuma - 21:20
Say hello to our new guest columnist: We loved reading Randy Gragg as the editor-in-chief in "Portland Monthly" and at his long-time post as architecture critic at the "Oregonian." Randy now directs the John Yeon Center for Architecture and the Landscape at the U of O. We're kicking off a year-long series with Randy, beginning with the renovation of Portland's Japanese Garden by one of the top names in international architecture, Kengo Kuma.]]>2002falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/starchitect-kengo-kuma-s-ambitious-plans-for-the-portland-japanese-garden--11560169
For our first story together, we’re going to look at one of the most significant building projects going on in the city right now: the expansion of the Portland Japanese Garden. It’s a $33.5 million dollar project that will transform the garden from one of the leading facilities in the country into one of the leaders in the world. And its being speared by Kengo Kuma, perhaps the leading Japanese architect of his generation who recently won the right to design the stadium for the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“This Japanese garden is as beautiful as Japanese garden in Japan,” Kuma told Gragg during a tour of the site on why he chose to make this his first project in the United States. "More than that, it's more unique, it's more strong, because of the landscape.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/starchitect-kengo-kumas-ambitious-plans-for-the-portland-japanese-garden]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560169Fri, 05 Feb 2016 23:25:54 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingState of Wonder is starting a new series focused on architecture, design, and the changing face of the city with columnist-in-residence Randy Gragg. Gragg is the executive director of the John Yeon Center for Architecture and the Landscape at the...
For our first story together, we’re going to look at one of the most significant building projects going on in the city right now: the expansion of the Portland Japanese Garden. It’s a $33.5 million dollar project that will transform the garden from one of the leading facilities in the country into one of the leaders in the world. And its being speared by Kengo Kuma, perhaps the leading Japanese architect of his generation who recently won the right to design the stadium for the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“This Japanese garden is as beautiful as Japanese garden in Japan,” Kuma told Gragg during a tour of the site on why he chose to make this his first project in the United States. "More than that, it's more unique, it's more strong, because of the landscape.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/starchitect-kengo-kumas-ambitious-plans-for-the-portland-japanese-garden]]>630arts & entertainment,local_opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/chloe-eudaly-candidate-for-pos-4--11561085
City council candidate Chloe Eudaly has seen a lot change in the arts community since she opened her bookstore, Reading Frenzy, in 1994. Listen in as she catches us up on that history and gives us a peek into her vision for the future of arts and culture in Portland.

2:32 - Portland's future and how arts & culture play into it.
“If we don't have affordable housing for our low-income residents, for our workforce, for our artists and creatives, we are not going to have a vibrant cultural landscape left.”

5:50 - Do you think RACC is doing a good job?
“When I opened my bookstore in 1994, there were grants available for people like me…and those dollars have by-and-large gone away…I do feel that the city has really neglected this grassroots, kind of unacknowledged category of cultural workers.”

07:40 - On why small scale arts institutions are important:
“My pivotal cultural experiences did not happen at well-funded arts institutions, they happened at all-ages music venues, at quirky little bookstores, at cafes that had galleries in the back.”

09:00 - On how the 80’s and 90s inform her current thinking about expanding arts and cultural access across Portland:
“What was essential at the time for all of these really interesting, quirky, slightly improbable businesses—like mine or like the X-Ray [Cafe]—was cheap rent. Cheap relative to wages. That's really disappearing and I fear for what our cultural landscape will look like in a few years if we do nothing.”

14:27 - On strategies to improve residential real estate problems in Portland:
“I'd love it if the city and PDC could figure out a plan to assist with the succession of ownership within low-income families because that house is many people’s most valuable asset.”

23:23 - On the changes in the close-in SE industrial district:
“The tech industry doesn't need that neighborhood. I think the maker's community has a much more compelling argument for their need to stay in that area, and they are being displaced.”

24:50 - Is there a creative class war developing between artists and creative tech workers? As an elected official would you try to take sides or broker a peace?
“I’m more concerned with preserving existing communities and creating affordable spaces than I am with accommodating people coming in with a lot of capital.”

27:18 - On what can be done to ensure that public dollars in Portland are reaching everyone and not just white, middle-class audiences:
“I think it’s a real challenge to create equity in the arts community when we don’t have it in housing, and we don’t have it in schools, and people are being forced out to the edges of the city where there is little-to-no cultural programming going on.”

29:00 - On the Arts Tax:
“Whatever problems I might have with the tax, knowing that every kid [K-5] in Portland public schools is getting arts education goes a long way toward smoothing those concerns over.”
“I’d like to see the exemption raised…a graduated tax based on income, and I would like see more money going towards access....I do not support sending people to collections over the Arts Tax.”

31:30What would you do to influence the city's built environment. Tell us about one place in the city that's an example of something to work on or something to celebrate.
"North-Northeast Portland is one of the areas most impacted by gentrification and displacement."
"I have to wonder what African-American residents have to come back to."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561085Tue, 09 Feb 2016 22:15:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis spring we're sharing a series of candidate interviews regarding Portland's future and the arts. City council candidate Chloe Eudaly has seen a lot change in the arts community since she opened her bookstore, Reading Frenzy, in 1994. Listen in as...
City council candidate Chloe Eudaly has seen a lot change in the arts community since she opened her bookstore, Reading Frenzy, in 1994. Listen in as she catches us up on that history and gives us a peek into her vision for the future of arts and culture in Portland.

2:32 - Portland's future and how arts & culture play into it.
“If we don't have affordable housing for our low-income residents, for our workforce, for our artists and creatives, we are not going to have a vibrant cultural landscape left.”

5:50 - Do you think RACC is doing a good job?
“When I opened my bookstore in 1994, there were grants available for people like me…and those dollars have by-and-large gone away…I do feel that the city has really neglected this grassroots, kind of unacknowledged category of cultural workers.”

07:40 - On why small scale arts institutions are important:
“My pivotal cultural experiences did not happen at well-funded arts institutions, they happened at all-ages music venues, at quirky little bookstores, at cafes that had galleries in the back.”

09:00 - On how the 80’s and 90s inform her current thinking about expanding arts and cultural access across Portland:
“What was essential at the time for all of these really interesting, quirky, slightly improbable businesses—like mine or like the X-Ray [Cafe]—was cheap rent. Cheap relative to wages. That's really disappearing and I fear for what our cultural landscape will look like in a few years if we do nothing.”

14:27 - On strategies to improve residential real estate problems in Portland:
“I'd love it if the city and PDC could figure out a plan to assist with the succession of ownership within low-income families because that house is many people’s most valuable asset.”

23:23 - On the changes in the close-in SE industrial district:
“The tech industry doesn't need that neighborhood. I think the maker's community has a much more compelling argument for their need to stay in that area, and they are being displaced.”

24:50 - Is there a creative class war developing between artists and creative tech workers? As an elected official would you try to take sides or broker a peace?
“I’m more concerned with preserving existing communities and creating affordable spaces than I am with accommodating people coming in with a lot of capital.”

27:18 - On what can be done to ensure that public dollars in Portland are reaching everyone and not just white, middle-class audiences:
“I think it’s a real challenge to create equity in the arts community when we don’t have it in housing, and we don’t have it in schools, and people are being forced out to the edges of the city where there is little-to-no cultural programming going on.”

29:00 - On the Arts Tax:
“Whatever problems I might have with the tax, knowing that every kid [K-5] in Portland public schools is getting arts education goes a long way toward smoothing those concerns over.”
“I’d like to see the exemption raised…a graduated tax based on income, and I would like see more money going towards access....I do not support sending people to collections over the Arts Tax.”

31:30What would you do to influence the city's built environment. Tell us about one place in the city that's an example of something to work on or something to celebrate.
"North-Northeast Portland is one of the areas most impacted by gentrification and displacement."
"I have to wonder what African-American residents have to come back to."]]>2325falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/eugene-symphony-marks-50th-with-three-commissions--11560173https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560173Fri, 12 Feb 2016 19:07:15 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe Eugene Symphony pushes itself to a new level for its 50th anniversary season with three new commissions.400falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/latest-on-bullseye-uroboros-emissions--11561075https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561075Fri, 12 Feb 2016 19:57:45 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting638falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-13-pussy-riot-diana-nyad-cheryl-strayed-rac-s-grammy-nominated-remix-more--11544247
Portland's Brittle Glass House
One of the world’s top makers of art glass is reeling after revelations that its plant in Southeast Portland has been emitting vastly more cadmium and arsenic than previously known. Bullseye Glass suspended production of some products this week, and a second Portland-based glass-maker, Uroboros, followed suit. Earthfix's Cassandra Profita fills us in, and we talk with some of the artists who use Bullseye.

Master of the Stone Mosaic - 11:50
Jeffrey Bale is a designer and stone artist whose mosaics will keep you gazing at the ground for hours. His dizzying and intricate spirals and organic patterns have attracted high-end clientele and rave reviews from the New York Times and reams of landscape design publications. Bale lives in Portland and is the subject of an Oregon Art Beat profile this week.

How Do You Make a Grammy-Nominated Remix? 15:55
Portlander Andre Allen Anjos, who works under the name RAC, is up for a Grammy for Best Remixed Recording for his work on "Say My Name" by Odesza. He has become the go-to guy for remixing indie bands, from The Shins to Foster the People, as well as mega artists like U2, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, and he hopscotches the globe performing his own music and DJ massive parties. But what exactly does it take to make a Grammy-winning remix? Anjos takes us into the studio to show us how he takes songs apart and puts them back together again.

Pussy Riot Ruffles Portland's Feathers - 25:40
The Russian art-punk outfit Pussy Riot have become international activists after staging demonstrations against Russia's totalitarian government under President Vladimir Putin. This week, they visited Portland for a talk moderated by Storm Large and OPB's John Sepulvado. Sepulvado tells us how it went.

The Eugene Symphony Turns 50 with Three World Premieres - 33:05
The Eugene Symphony has a reputation for programming challenging works, but the symphony is pushing itself to a new level for its 50th anniversary with three new commissions by world class composers, including the University of Oregon's composition department chair, Robert Kyr.

Diana Nyad & Cheryl Strayed - 39:54
A few minutes with two of the fiercest ladies you’ll ever meet: Diana Nyad and Cheryl Strayed. They shared a stage at Wordstock last November. Nyad had just released her memoir, "Find A Way," about swimming from Cuba to Florida. She was the first person to do it without a shark cage, and she pulled this off at the ripe and wonderful age of 64. And Strayed, of course, is the local author who became a household name with the release of her book "Wild," about her solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. Bringing these two together on stage produced combustion of the highest order, not to mention some harmonies on a Neil Young classic.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544247Sat, 13 Feb 2016 05:06:07 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe are all feeling positively giddy because of everyone sending their nickles and dimes during pledge week. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. Portland's Brittle Glass House One of the world’s top makers of art glass is reeling after revelations that...
Portland's Brittle Glass House
One of the world’s top makers of art glass is reeling after revelations that its plant in Southeast Portland has been emitting vastly more cadmium and arsenic than previously known. Bullseye Glass suspended production of some products this week, and a second Portland-based glass-maker, Uroboros, followed suit. Earthfix's Cassandra Profita fills us in, and we talk with some of the artists who use Bullseye.

Master of the Stone Mosaic - 11:50
Jeffrey Bale is a designer and stone artist whose mosaics will keep you gazing at the ground for hours. His dizzying and intricate spirals and organic patterns have attracted high-end clientele and rave reviews from the New York Times and reams of landscape design publications. Bale lives in Portland and is the subject of an Oregon Art Beat profile this week.

How Do You Make a Grammy-Nominated Remix? 15:55
Portlander Andre Allen Anjos, who works under the name RAC, is up for a Grammy for Best Remixed Recording for his work on "Say My Name" by Odesza. He has become the go-to guy for remixing indie bands, from The Shins to Foster the People, as well as mega artists like U2, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, and he hopscotches the globe performing his own music and DJ massive parties. But what exactly does it take to make a Grammy-winning remix? Anjos takes us into the studio to show us how he takes songs apart and puts them back together again.

Pussy Riot Ruffles Portland's Feathers - 25:40
The Russian art-punk outfit Pussy Riot have become international activists after staging demonstrations against Russia's totalitarian government under President Vladimir Putin. This week, they visited Portland for a talk moderated by Storm Large and OPB's John Sepulvado. Sepulvado tells us how it went.

The Eugene Symphony Turns 50 with Three World Premieres - 33:05
The Eugene Symphony has a reputation for programming challenging works, but the symphony is pushing itself to a new level for its 50th anniversary with three new commissions by world class composers, including the University of Oregon's composition department chair, Robert Kyr.

Diana Nyad & Cheryl Strayed - 39:54
A few minutes with two of the fiercest ladies you’ll ever meet: Diana Nyad and Cheryl Strayed. They shared a stage at Wordstock last November. Nyad had just released her memoir, "Find A Way," about swimming from Cuba to Florida. She was the first person to do it without a shark cage, and she pulled this off at the ripe and wonderful age of 64. And Strayed, of course, is the local author who became a household name with the release of her book "Wild," about her solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. Bringing these two together on stage produced combustion of the highest order, not to mention some harmonies on a Neil Young classic.]]>3035falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-indie-remix-pioneer-rac-on-his-grammy-nominated-work--11560149
As a college student in Greenville, Illinois, Andre Allen Anjos didn’t aspire to be a globe-trotting artist and DJ whose songs have racked up millions of listens.

“My highest aspiration was to be a studio assistant, where I could work with recording equipment and make a living, but not necessarily be a musician,” he says.

But he wasn’t getting anywhere, so he decided to create his own agency called the Remix Artist Collective, or RAC. His first cold call: the Shins. The band was putting out its third album, “Wincing the Night Away.” The manager asked for some demos. Weeks later, he called Anjos in the middle of history class — Anjos had a green light to remix “Sleeping lessons.”

“James mercer, he’s like super nice,” says Anjos of meeting the bandleader backstage after finishing the remix. “I was just this little kid — so scared to meet them. He told me he liked my version better than his.”

The music taste-making blog Pitchfork picked up the remix, and the band released it as a B-side. Suddenly Anjos had real cred, and he saw an opening.

“At the time, remixing was just dance beats underneath a vocal,” he recalls. “Not a lot of people were remixing indie bands or remixing more rock-oriented stuff.”

Pretty soon, bands were soliciting Anjos. He’s worked with a who’s who of indie royalty: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Death Cab for Cutie, Tokyo Police Club, not to mention mega acts like U2, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/portland-indie-remix-pioneer-rac-on-grammy-nominated-work]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560149Sat, 13 Feb 2016 05:49:37 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortlander Andre Allen Anjos is up for a Grammy on Monday for best remixed recording. He works under the name RAC, and he’s become the go-to guy for remixing indie bands, from The Arcade Fire to Foster the People. As a college student in Greenville,...
As a college student in Greenville, Illinois, Andre Allen Anjos didn’t aspire to be a globe-trotting artist and DJ whose songs have racked up millions of listens.

“My highest aspiration was to be a studio assistant, where I could work with recording equipment and make a living, but not necessarily be a musician,” he says.

But he wasn’t getting anywhere, so he decided to create his own agency called the Remix Artist Collective, or RAC. His first cold call: the Shins. The band was putting out its third album, “Wincing the Night Away.” The manager asked for some demos. Weeks later, he called Anjos in the middle of history class — Anjos had a green light to remix “Sleeping lessons.”

“James mercer, he’s like super nice,” says Anjos of meeting the bandleader backstage after finishing the remix. “I was just this little kid — so scared to meet them. He told me he liked my version better than his.”

The music taste-making blog Pitchfork picked up the remix, and the band released it as a B-side. Suddenly Anjos had real cred, and he saw an opening.

“At the time, remixing was just dance beats underneath a vocal,” he recalls. “Not a lot of people were remixing indie bands or remixing more rock-oriented stuff.”

Pretty soon, bands were soliciting Anjos. He’s worked with a who’s who of indie royalty: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Death Cab for Cutie, Tokyo Police Club, not to mention mega acts like U2, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/portland-indie-remix-pioneer-rac-on-grammy-nominated-work]]>589arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,music,opb,rac,remixfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/filmmaker-irene-taylor-brodsky-on-her-newest-films-open-your-eyes-and-beware-the-slenderman--11560151
Now, Brodsky has two very different films coming out in quick succession. The first, "Open Your Eyes," is about a blind Nepali couple who see for the first time after unexpected cataract treatment. It screens on Sunday at the Portland International Film Festival.

The second, "Beware the Slenderman," tells the story of two 12-year-old girls who attacked their friend after being inspired by the horror meme of Slender Man and premieres at South By Southwest in March. Both will air later this year on HBO.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/portland-documentarian-irene-taylor-brodskys-films-about-blindness-in-nepal-and-slenderman]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560151Fri, 19 Feb 2016 00:18:04 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIrene Taylor Brodsky has made a number of award-winning documentaries, ranging from "Hear and Now," which followed her deaf parents as they heard for the first time after cochlear implants, to "Saving Pelican 895," which tracked the rescue of a single...
Now, Brodsky has two very different films coming out in quick succession. The first, "Open Your Eyes," is about a blind Nepali couple who see for the first time after unexpected cataract treatment. It screens on Sunday at the Portland International Film Festival.

The second, "Beware the Slenderman," tells the story of two 12-year-old girls who attacked their friend after being inspired by the horror meme of Slender Man and premieres at South By Southwest in March. Both will air later this year on HBO.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/portland-documentarian-irene-taylor-brodskys-films-about-blindness-in-nepal-and-slenderman]]>1125arts & entertainment,documentary,film,local_news,local_opb,moviesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sex-love-death-james-canfield-and-nicolo-fonte-s-choreography--11561073
Aaron Scott sat down with Canfield, who founded OBT in 1989, and Fonte to get some insight into the process of choreographing these two very different — but equally dark — ballets.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561073Fri, 19 Feb 2016 18:34:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe bloom of youth and the stillness of maturity hit the stage at Oregon Ballet Theatre this season with James Canfield’s take on "Romeo and Juliet," opening Feb. 27, and Nicolo Fonte’s "Beautiful Decay," set to open in April. Shakespeare’s remains...
Aaron Scott sat down with Canfield, who founded OBT in 1989, and Fonte to get some insight into the process of choreographing these two very different — but equally dark — ballets.]]>554arts & entertainment,ballet,dance,local_news,local_opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-20-black-violin-obt-choreographers-james-canfield-nico-fonte-irene-taylor-brodsky-more--11544245
Glass Houses
In Southeast Portland, residents continue to reel from news that they've been exposed to unhealthy levels of heavy metals in the air. As we reported last week, environmental regulators admitted they didn't know how much cadmium and arsenic were coming out of the Bullseye Glass facility. That is, until experimental testing using moss revealed this pollution hot spot. A lot of people have been asking how environmental rules allowed these pollutants to go undetected for years. EarthFix reporter Cassandra Profita looked into this, and into how the glass businesses are responding.

Is Law Enforcement: A Laughing Matter? 5:42
Hillsboro's Police Department is trying something new to improve the quality of its training.: officers are working with improv performers from Portland's Curious Comedy Theater. The Curious team usually goes for laughs, but there's nothing even remotely funny about the scenes they were acting out at the police training facility in Hillsboro recently.

Portland Candidates on the Arts - 12:42
We've got a new page up charting where the mayoral and city council candidates stand on arts and culture issues — and it’s pretty revealing. This week, we introduce you to several more of the people seeking elected office in Portland: Fred Stewart, Chloe Eudaly, and Sean Davis.

Filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky: Blindness in Nepal and the Slender Man - 20:56
Irene Taylor Brodsky has made a number of award-winning documentaries ranging from "Hear and Now," which followed her deaf parents as they heard for the first time with cochlear implants, to "Saving Pelican 895," which tracked the rescue of a single pelican from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Now, Brodsky has two films coming out in quick succession. The first, ‘Open Your Eyes,’ is about a blind Nepali couple who see for the first time after unexpected cataract treatment. It screens on Sunday at the Portland International Film Festival. The second, "Beware the Slender Man," takes an unblinking look at the recent case where two 12-year-old girls tried to murder their friend to impress a mysterious internet figure known as the Slender Man.

Samantha Wall Wins the Contemporary NW Art Awards - 32:07
Last week, the Portland Art Museum announced the top honor of the 2016 Contemporary Northwest Art Awards, the Arlene Schnitzer prize. The winner is a young artist who’s quickly rising to the top of the Portland art scene: Samantha Wall. The award comes with a cool $10,000 check and an exhibition at the art museum this fall. OPB’s Kelsey Wallace had a story on Oregon Art Beat last year about Wall’s unique background and artistic practice.

Oregon Ballet Theatre: Choreographers James Canfield and Nicolo Fonte - 37:42
James Canfield founded Oregon Ballet Theater in 1989. One of the first ballets he choreographed for the nascent company was "Romeo and Juliet," to the famous score by Sergei Prokofiev. Canfield returned this season to remount the ballet for the first time in more than 15 years, running Feb. 27–Mar. 5. At the same time he was working with the dancers, choreographer Nicolo Fonte was starting rehearsals for "Beautiful Decay," which opens in April. It’s a meditation on life and aging that pairs OBT dancers with older Portland dancers. We sit down with both choreographers to discuss their shared attractions to the darker themes in life.

Classical-Fused Hip-Hop with Black Violin - 47:01
The Florida-based duo Black Violin consists of two classically-trained musicians who are pushing the boundaries on what can be done with the instruments. NPR’s Lindsay Totty caught up with the duo to discuss their latest release, "Stereotypes," and to find out how they’re defying them. The duo plays the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Feb. 24.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544245Fri, 19 Feb 2016 23:03:33 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe arts news is coming in size XL this week. Glass Houses In Southeast Portland, residents continue to reel from news that they've been exposed to unhealthy levels of heavy metals in the air. As we reported last week, environmental regulators...
Glass Houses
In Southeast Portland, residents continue to reel from news that they've been exposed to unhealthy levels of heavy metals in the air. As we reported last week, environmental regulators admitted they didn't know how much cadmium and arsenic were coming out of the Bullseye Glass facility. That is, until experimental testing using moss revealed this pollution hot spot. A lot of people have been asking how environmental rules allowed these pollutants to go undetected for years. EarthFix reporter Cassandra Profita looked into this, and into how the glass businesses are responding.

Is Law Enforcement: A Laughing Matter? 5:42
Hillsboro's Police Department is trying something new to improve the quality of its training.: officers are working with improv performers from Portland's Curious Comedy Theater. The Curious team usually goes for laughs, but there's nothing even remotely funny about the scenes they were acting out at the police training facility in Hillsboro recently.

Portland Candidates on the Arts - 12:42
We've got a new page up charting where the mayoral and city council candidates stand on arts and culture issues — and it’s pretty revealing. This week, we introduce you to several more of the people seeking elected office in Portland: Fred Stewart, Chloe Eudaly, and Sean Davis.

Filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky: Blindness in Nepal and the Slender Man - 20:56
Irene Taylor Brodsky has made a number of award-winning documentaries ranging from "Hear and Now," which followed her deaf parents as they heard for the first time with cochlear implants, to "Saving Pelican 895," which tracked the rescue of a single pelican from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Now, Brodsky has two films coming out in quick succession. The first, ‘Open Your Eyes,’ is about a blind Nepali couple who see for the first time after unexpected cataract treatment. It screens on Sunday at the Portland International Film Festival. The second, "Beware the Slender Man," takes an unblinking look at the recent case where two 12-year-old girls tried to murder their friend to impress a mysterious internet figure known as the Slender Man.

Samantha Wall Wins the Contemporary NW Art Awards - 32:07
Last week, the Portland Art Museum announced the top honor of the 2016 Contemporary Northwest Art Awards, the Arlene Schnitzer prize. The winner is a young artist who’s quickly rising to the top of the Portland art scene: Samantha Wall. The award comes with a cool $10,000 check and an exhibition at the art museum this fall. OPB’s Kelsey Wallace had a story on Oregon Art Beat last year about Wall’s unique background and artistic practice.

Oregon Ballet Theatre: Choreographers James Canfield and Nicolo Fonte - 37:42
James Canfield founded Oregon Ballet Theater in 1989. One of the first ballets he choreographed for the nascent company was "Romeo and Juliet," to the famous score by Sergei Prokofiev. Canfield returned this season to remount the ballet for the first time in more than 15 years, running Feb. 27–Mar. 5. At the same time he was working with the dancers, choreographer Nicolo Fonte was starting rehearsals for "Beautiful Decay," which opens in April. It’s a meditation on life and aging that pairs OBT dancers with older Portland dancers. We sit down with both choreographers to discuss their shared attractions to the darker themes in life.

Classical-Fused Hip-Hop with Black Violin - 47:01
The Florida-based duo Black Violin consists of two classically-trained musicians who are pushing the boundaries on what can be done with the instruments. NPR’s Lindsay Totty caught up with the duo to discuss their latest release, "Stereotypes," and to find out how they’re defying them. The duo plays the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Feb. 24.]]>3117falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/stela-comics-wants-to-remake-your-comics-experience--11560150https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560150Fri, 26 Feb 2016 16:07:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDigital startup Stēla Comics leverages Portland's talent pool to make made-for-mobile publisher/reader app.290falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-mayoral-candidate-s-walking-tour-of-portland--11560145
Wheeler, Oregon's state Treasurer and a former Multnomah County chair, elected to stroll through Montavilla, one of Southeast Portland’s increasingly rare beasts: a desirable yet still affordable neighborhood.

Bailey, former state representative and county commissioner, chose to revisit the neighborhood he grew up in, Sunnyside, the home of popular SE strips Belmont and Hawthorne.

Read the full story and see video highlights of their tours: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/a-mayoral-candidates-walking-tour-of-portland]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560145Fri, 26 Feb 2016 18:20:27 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week our resident architecture critic, Randy Gragg, joined mayoral candidates Jules Bailey and Ted Wheeler on walkabout. Gragg took the candidates through their paces, pushing them to get specific about the architecture and design issues facing...
Wheeler, Oregon's state Treasurer and a former Multnomah County chair, elected to stroll through Montavilla, one of Southeast Portland’s increasingly rare beasts: a desirable yet still affordable neighborhood.

Bailey, former state representative and county commissioner, chose to revisit the neighborhood he grew up in, Sunnyside, the home of popular SE strips Belmont and Hawthorne.

Read the full story and see video highlights of their tours: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/a-mayoral-candidates-walking-tour-of-portland]]>890architecture,arts,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,portland,urban planningfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/harrow-county-makes-horror-comics-beautiful-and-frightening--11560139
The two have created a Gothic fairy tale called that follows a girl, as she deals with her connection to the town witch, Hester Beck, and to the undead that reside in the woods outside her small Southern town. Bunn's Faulkner-esque prose weaves together with Crook's watercolors to bring out a dark, haunting vision of the American South.

The graphic novel collecting the first year of "Harrow County," "Countless Haints," received a nomination for the Bram Stoker Award, and the series is being developed for television.

State of Wonder's April Baer spoke with Crook and Bunn.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/harrow-county]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560139Fri, 26 Feb 2016 19:02:10 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingCan a horror comic be beautiful? In the hands of Portland comic book artist Tyler Crook and author Cullen Bunn it can. The two have created a Gothic fairy tale called that follows a girl, as she deals with her connection to the town witch, Hester...
The two have created a Gothic fairy tale called that follows a girl, as she deals with her connection to the town witch, Hester Beck, and to the undead that reside in the woods outside her small Southern town. Bunn's Faulkner-esque prose weaves together with Crook's watercolors to bring out a dark, haunting vision of the American South.

The graphic novel collecting the first year of "Harrow County," "Countless Haints," received a nomination for the Bram Stoker Award, and the series is being developed for television.

State of Wonder's April Baer spoke with Crook and Bunn.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/harrow-county]]>598arts & entertainment,books,comics,local_news,local_opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bright-lights-portland-s-mayoral-candidates-talk-urban-design--11561072
Gragg took the candidates for a walk around to go further in depth: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/a-mayoral-candidates-walking-tour-of-portland]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561072Fri, 26 Feb 2016 20:55:54 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMayoral candidates Jules Bailey and Ted Wheeler talk about architecture, urban planning, and design with Randy Gragg at the Bright Lights conversation series at Jimmy Mak's. Gragg took the candidates for a walk around to go further in depth:...
Gragg took the candidates for a walk around to go further in depth: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/a-mayoral-candidates-walking-tour-of-portland]]>4475archite,arts,arts & entertainment,design,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-27-stela-comics-harrow-county-rucka-le-guin-on-harper-lee-deep-sea-diver-bullseye-glass--11544242
00:58 Stēla Comics
Digital comics are big business. Sales in 2014 topped $100 million dollars — and that was before Amazon acquired the main online marketplace Comixology last year. But have you ever tried reading a digital comic book? It's not easy. Which is why the start-up Stēla is developing brand new titles written and drawn to be read on a smart phone, and instead of charging per issue, they're offering it as a monthly subscription. A Netflix for comics? We say yes.

5:51 Harrow County
Portland comic artist Tyler Crook and writer Cullen Bunn are the dark masterminds behind "Harrow County," a beautiful new comic series that tells the story of Emmy, a teenage girl growing up in a small Southern town with a spiritual connection to the deceased town witch. The graphic novel collecting Harrow County’s first year, “Countless Haints,” was just nominated for a Bram Stoker Award, and there's a TV adaptation in the works. Read more.

15:47 Harper Lee Remembered
Author Harper Lee passed away last week, just a few months short of her 90th birthday. Her novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" moved millions of readers, and the recent follow up "Go Set a Watchman" set off a sea of controversy. Portland writers Greg Rucka and Ursula Le Guin spoke to us about her impact on their own work.

22:17 Mayoral Jules Bailey and Ted Wheeler on What Makes for a Well Designed City
Columnist-in-residence Randy Gragg decided to go for a walk with two of Portland's mayoral candidates, Jules Bailey and Ted Wheeler. The topic of focus was urban design and planning, a hot button issue in town. The candidates chose the neighborhood and Randy dug in to find out how they'd approach development in these areas if they were elected as mayor. What videos of the candidates responses, as well as a slide show of buildings they loved (and hated).

37:35 Deep Sea Diver
Seattle-based Deep Sea Diver has been making deeply personal music for years now, but their most recent album, "Secrets," may be their most personal release yet. It explores the relationship between singer-guitarist Jessica Dobson and her husband, drummer Peter Mansen. Watch their opbmusic Stagepass Concert.

43:08 The Global Reach of Bullseye Glass
A follow-up on the controversy coming out of Portland's glass plants, Bullseye and Uroboros. The companies have suspended production of certain color glasses following the discovery that the surrounding areas were showing high levels of heavy metals. The impact of this production freeze has been felt around the world. We spoke to artists in Australia and Denmark as well as Bullseye CEO Dan Schwoerer.

(photo credit - Tyler Crook)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544242Sat, 27 Feb 2016 01:27:14 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe are up to our eyeballs this week in Interesting. 00:58 Stēla Comics Digital comics are big business. Sales in 2014 topped $100 million dollars — and that was before Amazon acquired the main online marketplace Comixology last year. But have you...
00:58 Stēla Comics
Digital comics are big business. Sales in 2014 topped $100 million dollars — and that was before Amazon acquired the main online marketplace Comixology last year. But have you ever tried reading a digital comic book? It's not easy. Which is why the start-up Stēla is developing brand new titles written and drawn to be read on a smart phone, and instead of charging per issue, they're offering it as a monthly subscription. A Netflix for comics? We say yes.

5:51 Harrow County
Portland comic artist Tyler Crook and writer Cullen Bunn are the dark masterminds behind "Harrow County," a beautiful new comic series that tells the story of Emmy, a teenage girl growing up in a small Southern town with a spiritual connection to the deceased town witch. The graphic novel collecting Harrow County’s first year, “Countless Haints,” was just nominated for a Bram Stoker Award, and there's a TV adaptation in the works. Read more.

15:47 Harper Lee Remembered
Author Harper Lee passed away last week, just a few months short of her 90th birthday. Her novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" moved millions of readers, and the recent follow up "Go Set a Watchman" set off a sea of controversy. Portland writers Greg Rucka and Ursula Le Guin spoke to us about her impact on their own work.

22:17 Mayoral Jules Bailey and Ted Wheeler on What Makes for a Well Designed City
Columnist-in-residence Randy Gragg decided to go for a walk with two of Portland's mayoral candidates, Jules Bailey and Ted Wheeler. The topic of focus was urban design and planning, a hot button issue in town. The candidates chose the neighborhood and Randy dug in to find out how they'd approach development in these areas if they were elected as mayor. What videos of the candidates responses, as well as a slide show of buildings they loved (and hated).

37:35 Deep Sea Diver
Seattle-based Deep Sea Diver has been making deeply personal music for years now, but their most recent album, "Secrets," may be their most personal release yet. It explores the relationship between singer-guitarist Jessica Dobson and her husband, drummer Peter Mansen. Watch their opbmusic Stagepass Concert.

43:08 The Global Reach of Bullseye Glass
A follow-up on the controversy coming out of Portland's glass plants, Bullseye and Uroboros. The companies have suspended production of certain color glasses following the discovery that the surrounding areas were showing high levels of heavy metals. The impact of this production freeze has been felt around the world. We spoke to artists in Australia and Denmark as well as Bullseye CEO Dan Schwoerer.

(photo credit - Tyler Crook)]]>3203falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-global-reach-of-bullseye-glass--11560135https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560135Sat, 27 Feb 2016 01:59:19 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe Portland glassmaker's emission problem sends ripples through global art glass community.569falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sean-davis-candidate-for-portland-mayor--11560141
2:00-4:21
Sean's work in arts: film, friend’s bands, an original opera, etc.

4:22-5:46 - On Portland’s unique art scene:
“Artists happen in a couple different ways. People turn to art because all of their needs are met and they’re able to do art. The second group turn to art despite their needs not being met and these people have chosen art over money. Then because of that they struggle because they have to get whatever jobs that are available…That struggle creates character.”

7:57-10:12 On the Regional Arts & Culture Council [RACC]:
“Art is huge in my life and I credit it with saving my life… The general fund is half of the budget and our roads are falling apart, we can’t pay our police officers… Art will always be in that list of priorities, but I cannot commit to saying I’m going to give them the same amount or more of budget. What I will commit to is working with the community.”

10:55-11:35 On RACC and diversity:
“I love the equity grants, but I don’t think they spend enough on diversity. I’d put out more grants where it says in order to get this grant a certain percentage has to be minorities or women."

12:08-13:45 On taking an active role in the arts as mayor:
“I’d be an art liaison between RACC and the city… When people’s voices are being heard in the community, they are invested in that community. When they’re invested in that community, art organically will grow from it."

14:20-14:48 On bringing the state legislature into housing talks:
“We need more support… If we have developers on our side, if we have property owners on our side, and we go down there and say 'We want this to happen', then I don’t think they can keep it from happening.”

15:42-16:44 On innovations in housing policy:
“My idea is to look at the inventory of buildable land that the city owns and say we’re going to start a couple projects… We’re going to put a priority on everything that you do in these different projects and shorten that time and save you money."

18:23-18:54 On creative housing solutions:
“What they’re doing there [at Right2Dream2] I’ve never seen before… these guys are looking out for each other. It’s not a homeless camp, it’s a conduit to get people back on their feet."

19:47-21:03 On the community’s role:
“I think the big thing I’d try to change is our leaders… when they see the issues we’re facing they see dollar signs instead of people, they see spreadsheets instead of neighborhoods… We have to respect the work they did in those communities.”

22:30-23:09 On Portland’s Art Tax:
“I think it does great. I’d like it to be a little more transparent… Art in our schools is very important. So important that the voters voted that to be a permanent tax. The thing I’ve heard is that it’s too difficult to figure out how to pay it.”

24:32-25:40 On saving Portland’s soul:
“Portland is unique because of the people who live here… The person who sells you your coffee is in a band, the person giving you your food at night is an actor… The last mayor we elected had a history of lobbying for developers and we’ve become overdeveloped. We have to save our soul.”

26:36-28:23 A place representing your focus on planning:
“When I first moved to Alberta Street seven years ago [Last Thursday] was an organic, artist-run event… It was a beautiful, small, low-key thing… now it’s just thousands of people moving shoulder to shoulder, young kids looking to get into trouble, some of them at least. It just got out of control because we lost the artists that wanted to deal with it.”

29:00-30:05 On solutions:
“The problems Portland is facing — houselessness, housing issues, wages — I think it’s an oversimplification to say these are separate categories and we have to attack them one at a time… The solution for one thing might go in through the other."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560141Sun, 28 Feb 2016 16:42:28 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMayoral candidate Sean Davis teaches writing at Mt. Hood and Clackamah Community Colleges. His memoir, "The Wax Bullet War", was published in 2014 on Ooligan Press. He’s also a U.S. military veteran. 2:00-4:21 Sean's work in arts: film, friend’s...
2:00-4:21
Sean's work in arts: film, friend’s bands, an original opera, etc.

4:22-5:46 - On Portland’s unique art scene:
“Artists happen in a couple different ways. People turn to art because all of their needs are met and they’re able to do art. The second group turn to art despite their needs not being met and these people have chosen art over money. Then because of that they struggle because they have to get whatever jobs that are available…That struggle creates character.”

7:57-10:12 On the Regional Arts & Culture Council [RACC]:
“Art is huge in my life and I credit it with saving my life… The general fund is half of the budget and our roads are falling apart, we can’t pay our police officers… Art will always be in that list of priorities, but I cannot commit to saying I’m going to give them the same amount or more of budget. What I will commit to is working with the community.”

10:55-11:35 On RACC and diversity:
“I love the equity grants, but I don’t think they spend enough on diversity. I’d put out more grants where it says in order to get this grant a certain percentage has to be minorities or women."

12:08-13:45 On taking an active role in the arts as mayor:
“I’d be an art liaison between RACC and the city… When people’s voices are being heard in the community, they are invested in that community. When they’re invested in that community, art organically will grow from it."

14:20-14:48 On bringing the state legislature into housing talks:
“We need more support… If we have developers on our side, if we have property owners on our side, and we go down there and say 'We want this to happen', then I don’t think they can keep it from happening.”

15:42-16:44 On innovations in housing policy:
“My idea is to look at the inventory of buildable land that the city owns and say we’re going to start a couple projects… We’re going to put a priority on everything that you do in these different projects and shorten that time and save you money."

18:23-18:54 On creative housing solutions:
“What they’re doing there [at Right2Dream2] I’ve never seen before… these guys are looking out for each other. It’s not a homeless camp, it’s a conduit to get people back on their feet."

19:47-21:03 On the community’s role:
“I think the big thing I’d try to change is our leaders… when they see the issues we’re facing they see dollar signs instead of people, they see spreadsheets instead of neighborhoods… We have to respect the work they did in those communities.”

22:30-23:09 On Portland’s Art Tax:
“I think it does great. I’d like it to be a little more transparent… Art in our schools is very important. So important that the voters voted that to be a permanent tax. The thing I’ve heard is that it’s too difficult to figure out how to pay it.”

24:32-25:40 On saving Portland’s soul:
“Portland is unique because of the people who live here… The person who sells you your coffee is in a band, the person giving you your food at night is an actor… The last mayor we elected had a history of lobbying for developers and we’ve become overdeveloped. We have to save our soul.”

26:36-28:23 A place representing your focus on planning:
“When I first moved to Alberta Street seven years ago [Last Thursday] was an organic, artist-run event… It was a beautiful, small, low-key thing… now it’s just thousands of people moving shoulder to shoulder, young kids looking to get into trouble, some of them at least. It just got out of control because we lost the artists that wanted to deal with it.”

29:00-30:05 On solutions:
“The problems Portland is facing — houselessness,...]]>1857falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/crack-comedians-amy-miller-and-sean-jordan-say-goodbye-to-portland--11561060
The duo are doing a final gig on Sunday, Mar. 13 called Amy Miller and Sean Jordan's Friendship and Pizza Party. Joining them will be a number of veteran comedians including Bri Pruett, Nathan Brannon, Hutch Harris, Chris Funk and more. We caught up with them to find out what's drawing them to L.A. and what they'll miss about Portland.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/amy-miller-and-sean-jordan-say-goodbye-to-portland]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561060Fri, 04 Mar 2016 21:29:31 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIf Portland's stand-up scene can seem a crowded one, it's about to get a bit smaller. Amy Miller and Sean Jordan have been working their comedic magic for years in Portland, but the two are moving to Los Angeles this month, following in the footsteps...
The duo are doing a final gig on Sunday, Mar. 13 called Amy Miller and Sean Jordan's Friendship and Pizza Party. Joining them will be a number of veteran comedians including Bri Pruett, Nathan Brannon, Hutch Harris, Chris Funk and more. We caught up with them to find out what's drawing them to L.A. and what they'll miss about Portland.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/amy-miller-and-sean-jordan-say-goodbye-to-portland]]>560arts,arts & entertainment,comedyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-3-robin-coste-lewis-m-ward-sandra-cisneros-robert-rauschenberg-more--11544243
The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Brings Copyright Law Into the 21st Century - 00:59
The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation announced this week it will no longer charge copyright fees except for commercial uses (did you know artists can sue you for posting a photo of their work online?). Producer Aaron Scott explains why this is a big deal and speaks with Rauschenberg's son, who just so happens to be Portlander Christopher Rauschenberg, a photographer and co-founder of Blue Sky Gallery.

Bullseye Glass Update - 5:05
The air emissions story that began at two Portland art-glass makers has boiled over into state government and soon into the court room. Oregon’s top environmental administrator and an air quality regulator stepped down this week. Earthfix's Tony Schick stopped by to give us an update.

The Electric Poetry of Robin Coste Lewis - 11:05
Robin Coste Lewis won the National Book Award last year for her debut poetry collection, Voyage of the Sable Venus. The structure of the book's titular poem was guided by one simple rule: it is made up entirely of the titles, catalog entries and exhibit descriptions of artistic depictions of black female figures. Coste Lewis spoke with Think Out Loud's Dave Miller and read several poems.

M. Ward Sings to His Baby (and opbmusic) - 22:44
The latest release from M. Ward, More Rain, might sound like a Portland soundtrack, but it belies its name with sunny sounds of doo-wop and golden era AM radio sensibilities. The artist came by the OPB studios to play a few songs with a power backing band (REM's Scott McCoy, Mike Coykendall, and Alialujah Choir's Adam Selzer and Alia Farah), who he insists he did not find on Craigslist.

The Book of Unknown Americans at Milagro Theater - 29:55
The Multnomah County Library's Everybody Reads this year focuses on Cristina Henríquez's lauded novel, The Book of Unknown Americans. Henríquez will be in town on Tuesday (we'll have excerpts for you next week), but in preparation, Milagro Theatre brought in a group of actors to read her work. We share one of our favorites.

Sandra Cisneros at Wordstock - 34:48
One of Henríquez's influences was Sandra Cisneros' 1984 novel, The House on Mango Street. The story revolves around a girl trying to escape her poor Chicago neighborhood and is one of the few novels from a Latina perspective to be embraced by the literary establishment. We interviewed Cisneros at Wordstock last November shortly after the release of her latest work, A House of My Own: Stories From My Life.

Farewell, Sweet Comedy: Amy Miller and Sean Jordan - 41:15
Stand-up veterans Sean Jordan and Amy Miller are leaving for Los Angeles this month but not before one final farewell at Aladdin Theater on Mar. 13. The comedians talk with April Baer about what they love about Portland and why they have to leave.

Visit our website for videos and full interviews: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/m-ward-robin-coste-lewis-robert-rauschenberg-sandra-cisneros-amy-miller-sean-jordan]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544243Sat, 05 Mar 2016 02:09:26 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe’re laughing on the outside and crying on the inside this week. The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Brings Copyright Law Into the 21st Century - 00:59 The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation announced this week it will no longer charge copyright fees...
The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Brings Copyright Law Into the 21st Century - 00:59
The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation announced this week it will no longer charge copyright fees except for commercial uses (did you know artists can sue you for posting a photo of their work online?). Producer Aaron Scott explains why this is a big deal and speaks with Rauschenberg's son, who just so happens to be Portlander Christopher Rauschenberg, a photographer and co-founder of Blue Sky Gallery.

Bullseye Glass Update - 5:05
The air emissions story that began at two Portland art-glass makers has boiled over into state government and soon into the court room. Oregon’s top environmental administrator and an air quality regulator stepped down this week. Earthfix's Tony Schick stopped by to give us an update.

The Electric Poetry of Robin Coste Lewis - 11:05
Robin Coste Lewis won the National Book Award last year for her debut poetry collection, Voyage of the Sable Venus. The structure of the book's titular poem was guided by one simple rule: it is made up entirely of the titles, catalog entries and exhibit descriptions of artistic depictions of black female figures. Coste Lewis spoke with Think Out Loud's Dave Miller and read several poems.

M. Ward Sings to His Baby (and opbmusic) - 22:44
The latest release from M. Ward, More Rain, might sound like a Portland soundtrack, but it belies its name with sunny sounds of doo-wop and golden era AM radio sensibilities. The artist came by the OPB studios to play a few songs with a power backing band (REM's Scott McCoy, Mike Coykendall, and Alialujah Choir's Adam Selzer and Alia Farah), who he insists he did not find on Craigslist.

The Book of Unknown Americans at Milagro Theater - 29:55
The Multnomah County Library's Everybody Reads this year focuses on Cristina Henríquez's lauded novel, The Book of Unknown Americans. Henríquez will be in town on Tuesday (we'll have excerpts for you next week), but in preparation, Milagro Theatre brought in a group of actors to read her work. We share one of our favorites.

Sandra Cisneros at Wordstock - 34:48
One of Henríquez's influences was Sandra Cisneros' 1984 novel, The House on Mango Street. The story revolves around a girl trying to escape her poor Chicago neighborhood and is one of the few novels from a Latina perspective to be embraced by the literary establishment. We interviewed Cisneros at Wordstock last November shortly after the release of her latest work, A House of My Own: Stories From My Life.

Farewell, Sweet Comedy: Amy Miller and Sean Jordan - 41:15
Stand-up veterans Sean Jordan and Amy Miller are leaving for Los Angeles this month but not before one final farewell at Aladdin Theater on Mar. 13. The comedians talk with April Baer about what they love about Portland and why they have to leave.

Visit our website for videos and full interviews: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/m-ward-robin-coste-lewis-robert-rauschenberg-sandra-cisneros-amy-miller-sean-jordan]]>3083falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bullseye-subject-of-class-action-suit-and-complaints--11560129https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560129Sat, 05 Mar 2016 16:16:49 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn depth on the complaints about glassmakers that led two top officials to resign at DEQ. Also, we talk to one of the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against Bullseye Glass.350opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/painfully-honest-job-descriptions-for-pdx-women-in-tech--11567973https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567973Fri, 11 Mar 2016 20:45:07 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat would job descriptions sound look like if they really reflected what goes down for women in tech workplaces? April chats it up with Megan Bigelow, Kasey Tonsfelt, and Amanda Brooks of PDX Women in Tech.530opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-12-women-in-tech-stupid-f-king-bird-cristina-henriquez-dirty-revival-more--11544241
Qcut And The Quest For Jeans That Fit -
A new Oregon start-up is hoping to provide relief from long, torturous hours of finding jeans that fit. Owner Crystal Beasley, a former Mozilla software developer, has developed an algorithm that pairs users with the right blue jeans out of a selection of some 300 different fits. We learn about some of the potential behind the new technology.

PDX Women In Tech -
A recent report from SmartAsset.com lists the top towns for women in tech. Of 58 American cities, Portland placed dead last. Megan Bigelow of Jama Software, Kaset Tonsfeldt of Young Lions Collective, Amanda Brooks of 24 Seven Inc. help us imagine what a truthful tech job posting would sound like. Hint: it's not pretty (despite it paying to be pretty).

The Environmental Photojournalism Of Gary Braasch -
Environmentalist Gary Braasch died this week while documenting coral bleaching on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. OPB News' Kate Davidson spoke with Allison Jones, a senior fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers who says Braasch has been a huge influence on her work, about Braasch's life and legacy.

What Are You Looking At: Stupid F**king Bird -
Portland theaters have staged a number of Eugene-born playwright Aaron Posner's more traditional adaptations. Now Portland Center Stage is producing the first of what he calls his irreverent adaptations: "Stupid F**king Bird." A play on Chekhov’s "The Seagull," it was developed at Washington, DC’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre to great acclaim and featured a number of PCS regulars, who reprise their roles here. Producer Aaron Scott invited "Portland Monthly" arts editor Fiona McCann to a showing as part of our "What Are You Looking At?" series.

The Soul-Hop of Dirty Revival -
Dirty Revival brought their seven piece down to the OPB studios to play some funky, energetic tracks off their 2015 self-titled album. The group sat down with host April Baer to talk touring, song reworks, and the social consciousness that permeates their music. You can watch videos of their performance here.

Portland Candidates: Bim Ditson & Jim Lee -
We continue our coverage of Portland candidates and the arts with two unique perspectives. Mayoral candidate Bim Ditson, a local music promoter and drummer for indie rock band And And And, talks with us about how to make a living with art. Our other guest is Jim Lee, who is running for city council Position 4, a seat currently held by Steve Novick. Lee prioritizes revitalizing Portland's venues and speaks with us about why he feels it's such an important move.

Wendy Red Star -
Portland artist Wendy Red Star is blowing up. In the last 18 months, she has had her work featured across the country, including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and at the Portland Art Museum twice. Oregon Art Beat's Katrina Sarson followed Red Star over that time and gives us the download on what makes the multidisciplinary artist so unique. Watch the Oregon Art Beat piece on Red Star here.

Cristina Henriquez And "The Book of Unknown Americans" -
Each year the Multnomah County Library chooses one novel to feature as part of their Everybody Reads series with the idea that the books might spur conversation throughout the community. This year's pick is The Book of Unknown Americans by author Cristina Henriquez. We share an excerpt of Think Our Loud's Dave Miller speaking with Henriquez in front of an audience at Literary Arts last week. You can hear the full interview here.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544241Sat, 12 Mar 2016 06:43:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe have binders full of stuff for you today. As it turns out, many are full of women. Qcut And The Quest For Jeans That Fit - A new Oregon start-up is hoping to provide relief from long, torturous hours of finding jeans that fit. Owner Crystal...
Qcut And The Quest For Jeans That Fit -
A new Oregon start-up is hoping to provide relief from long, torturous hours of finding jeans that fit. Owner Crystal Beasley, a former Mozilla software developer, has developed an algorithm that pairs users with the right blue jeans out of a selection of some 300 different fits. We learn about some of the potential behind the new technology.

PDX Women In Tech -
A recent report from SmartAsset.com lists the top towns for women in tech. Of 58 American cities, Portland placed dead last. Megan Bigelow of Jama Software, Kaset Tonsfeldt of Young Lions Collective, Amanda Brooks of 24 Seven Inc. help us imagine what a truthful tech job posting would sound like. Hint: it's not pretty (despite it paying to be pretty).

The Environmental Photojournalism Of Gary Braasch -
Environmentalist Gary Braasch died this week while documenting coral bleaching on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. OPB News' Kate Davidson spoke with Allison Jones, a senior fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers who says Braasch has been a huge influence on her work, about Braasch's life and legacy.

What Are You Looking At: Stupid F**king Bird -
Portland theaters have staged a number of Eugene-born playwright Aaron Posner's more traditional adaptations. Now Portland Center Stage is producing the first of what he calls his irreverent adaptations: "Stupid F**king Bird." A play on Chekhov’s "The Seagull," it was developed at Washington, DC’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre to great acclaim and featured a number of PCS regulars, who reprise their roles here. Producer Aaron Scott invited "Portland Monthly" arts editor Fiona McCann to a showing as part of our "What Are You Looking At?" series.

The Soul-Hop of Dirty Revival -
Dirty Revival brought their seven piece down to the OPB studios to play some funky, energetic tracks off their 2015 self-titled album. The group sat down with host April Baer to talk touring, song reworks, and the social consciousness that permeates their music. You can watch videos of their performance here.

Portland Candidates: Bim Ditson & Jim Lee -
We continue our coverage of Portland candidates and the arts with two unique perspectives. Mayoral candidate Bim Ditson, a local music promoter and drummer for indie rock band And And And, talks with us about how to make a living with art. Our other guest is Jim Lee, who is running for city council Position 4, a seat currently held by Steve Novick. Lee prioritizes revitalizing Portland's venues and speaks with us about why he feels it's such an important move.

Wendy Red Star -
Portland artist Wendy Red Star is blowing up. In the last 18 months, she has had her work featured across the country, including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and at the Portland Art Museum twice. Oregon Art Beat's Katrina Sarson followed Red Star over that time and gives us the download on what makes the multidisciplinary artist so unique. Watch the Oregon Art Beat piece on Red Star here.

Cristina Henriquez And "The Book of Unknown Americans" -
Each year the Multnomah County Library chooses one novel to feature as part of their Everybody Reads series with the idea that the books might spur conversation throughout the community. This year's pick is The Book of Unknown Americans by author Cristina Henriquez. We share an excerpt of Think Our Loud's Dave Miller speaking with Henriquez in front of an audience at Literary Arts last week. You can hear the full interview here.]]>3077falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/stupid-f-king-bird-twists-checkhov-to-hilarious-effect--11560183
Portland is no stranger to the works of Eugene-born playwright Aaron Posner. Portland Center Stage and Artist Repertory Theater have staged his adaptations "Sometimes a Great Notion," "The Chosen" and three short stories by Kurt Vonnegut. Now, Portland Center Stage is producing the first of what he calls his irreverent adaptations: "Stupid F**king Bird," which runs through March 27.

A play on Chekhov's "The Seagull," the fowl-named play was originally developed at Washington D.C.'s Woolly Mammoth Theater. Producer Aaron Scott and Portland Monthly arts editor, Fiona McCann, went to see the show as part of State Of Wonder's "What Are You Looking At?" series. What follows are some highlights from their conversation.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/stupid-f-ing-bird]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560183Sat, 12 Mar 2016 06:57:52 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting[image: 20160310_stupidbird_pw,right,300x390,56e209465487d8005522ce05] Portland is no stranger to the works of Eugene-born playwright Aaron Posner. Portland Center Stage and Artist Repertory Theater have staged his adaptations "Sometimes a Great...
Portland is no stranger to the works of Eugene-born playwright Aaron Posner. Portland Center Stage and Artist Repertory Theater have staged his adaptations "Sometimes a Great Notion," "The Chosen" and three short stories by Kurt Vonnegut. Now, Portland Center Stage is producing the first of what he calls his irreverent adaptations: "Stupid F**king Bird," which runs through March 27.

A play on Chekhov's "The Seagull," the fowl-named play was originally developed at Washington D.C.'s Woolly Mammoth Theater. Producer Aaron Scott and Portland Monthly arts editor, Fiona McCann, went to see the show as part of State Of Wonder's "What Are You Looking At?" series. What follows are some highlights from their conversation.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/stupid-f-ing-bird]]>432art,arts,arts & entertainment,local_opb,theaterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bim-ditson-candidate-for-mayor--11560130
Bim Ditson's a well-known guy in rock circles, as the drummer for And And And, also for his work on Red Bull's Sound Select series of showcases. He talked to State of Wonder's Rene Bermudez.

00:06 What Bim's checking out lately: bands, bands and more bands
"Amazing culture happens in third spaces. It's what makes Portland: this creative class that's a middle class."

01:08 Bim's vision for Portland and the arts
"The way that we look at arts and culture in Portland needs to be really different than how we maintained standards in the past."

02:34 On RACC's budget:
"Talking about RACC when we're talking about Portland artists is like talking about the drop that's going into the wrong bucket."

04:45On last year's budget surplus:
"Supporting any space that's a third space for artists. That's a space I think we should be investing in."

05:45 On the city's noise ordinance
"It basically makes it illegal to mow your lawn. If you make rules where basically everyone is breaking them, it's impossible not to enforce them in a predatory way."

07:00On access to the arts

09:02 On an arts liaison in the mayor's office.
"Definitely. That happens right away. I'd also bring back the Mayor's Ball. That would do a lot to tell Portland artists, 'Hey, we're here with you'."

10:41 On housing:
"We can charge whatever fee we want for developers who are planning multi-family housing. We should have that fee be in ratio to the cost of a city offsetting affordable housing."

12:40On influencing the commercial real estate market:
"That's extremely complicated but I think one of the best things we can do is support local business in every way we can."

13:45On the Portland arts tax:
"Like most ideas, you don't just go with the first way you implement it and cruise with that….For someone who makes $200,000 $35 is nothing. If you make more money, you should pay more to that tax."

16:10 On one place that represents what Porltand needs to work on:
"The Firkin Tavern…They get crushed with the noise ordinance and rising rent prices….it's just a place to go and hang out and share ideas."

17:50 On publicly-owned performance venues

20:15 More on equity in the arts
"Arts don't come up from well-funded systems. They come up from people who are allowed freedom."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560130Sat, 12 Mar 2016 16:47:42 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBim annotation Bim Ditson's a well-known guy in rock circles, as the drummer for And And And, also for his work on Red Bull's Sound Select series of showcases. He talked to State of Wonder's Rene Bermudez. 00:06 What Bim's checking out lately:...
Bim Ditson's a well-known guy in rock circles, as the drummer for And And And, also for his work on Red Bull's Sound Select series of showcases. He talked to State of Wonder's Rene Bermudez.

00:06 What Bim's checking out lately: bands, bands and more bands
"Amazing culture happens in third spaces. It's what makes Portland: this creative class that's a middle class."

01:08 Bim's vision for Portland and the arts
"The way that we look at arts and culture in Portland needs to be really different than how we maintained standards in the past."

02:34 On RACC's budget:
"Talking about RACC when we're talking about Portland artists is like talking about the drop that's going into the wrong bucket."

04:45On last year's budget surplus:
"Supporting any space that's a third space for artists. That's a space I think we should be investing in."

05:45 On the city's noise ordinance
"It basically makes it illegal to mow your lawn. If you make rules where basically everyone is breaking them, it's impossible not to enforce them in a predatory way."

07:00On access to the arts

09:02 On an arts liaison in the mayor's office.
"Definitely. That happens right away. I'd also bring back the Mayor's Ball. That would do a lot to tell Portland artists, 'Hey, we're here with you'."

10:41 On housing:
"We can charge whatever fee we want for developers who are planning multi-family housing. We should have that fee be in ratio to the cost of a city offsetting affordable housing."

12:40On influencing the commercial real estate market:
"That's extremely complicated but I think one of the best things we can do is support local business in every way we can."

13:45On the Portland arts tax:
"Like most ideas, you don't just go with the first way you implement it and cruise with that….For someone who makes $200,000 $35 is nothing. If you make more money, you should pay more to that tax."

16:10 On one place that represents what Porltand needs to work on:
"The Firkin Tavern…They get crushed with the noise ordinance and rising rent prices….it's just a place to go and hang out and share ideas."

17:50 On publicly-owned performance venues

20:15 More on equity in the arts
"Arts don't come up from well-funded systems. They come up from people who are allowed freedom."]]>1249opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jim-lee-candidate-for-portland-council-pos-4--11560134
00:28 Jim talks about art that's affected him.
"In 1995 I was in Ferrara, Italy, giving an acoustics paper at a convention. Ferrara has a provincial opera house that dates from the 1790s. They put on Mozart's "Magic Flute" for us. A period opera in a period house. Period instruments. That absolutely blew my mind."

03:30 On his vision for Portland and its arts and cultural landscape in the next five years?
"Portland needs a world-class symphony orchestra,world-class ballet, world-class opera."

08:54 On RACC’s budget?
"It's partly because of the mess-up we've done with the Coliseum, we do not have enough operating funds for other artistic facilities."

13:00 On priorities if Jim were elected and named to oversee the city's arts portfolio
"Increasing the funding, getting Memorial Coliseum back into an operation where it provides operating funds. That's things you can do."

15:30 On housing issues.
"In my neighborhood, Southwest Woodstock, we've seen a lot of tearing down of old houses… They will tear one down and put up two slot-houses….the whole financial situation now is set up to benefit high income-earners."

19:25 On rising costs for commercial real estate.

23:15 On ensuring equity in the arts

29:00One place in the city Jim wants to work on.
"Washington High School. It happens to be the high school that educated the world's only two-time solo Nobel Laureate winner — Linus Pauling….I'm wondering why given we can claim this tremendous scientific character, why we can't use this high school — call it the Ava and Linus Pauling High School for the Humanities and put arts in there and sciences."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560134Tue, 15 Mar 2016 22:46:16 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJim Lee is a regular visitor to city council meetings, frequently encouraging leaders to improve the quality of the city's publicly-owned venues. 00:28 Jim talks about art that's affected him. "In 1995 I was in Ferrara, Italy, giving an acoustics...
00:28 Jim talks about art that's affected him.
"In 1995 I was in Ferrara, Italy, giving an acoustics paper at a convention. Ferrara has a provincial opera house that dates from the 1790s. They put on Mozart's "Magic Flute" for us. A period opera in a period house. Period instruments. That absolutely blew my mind."

03:30 On his vision for Portland and its arts and cultural landscape in the next five years?
"Portland needs a world-class symphony orchestra,world-class ballet, world-class opera."

08:54 On RACC’s budget?
"It's partly because of the mess-up we've done with the Coliseum, we do not have enough operating funds for other artistic facilities."

13:00 On priorities if Jim were elected and named to oversee the city's arts portfolio
"Increasing the funding, getting Memorial Coliseum back into an operation where it provides operating funds. That's things you can do."

15:30 On housing issues.
"In my neighborhood, Southwest Woodstock, we've seen a lot of tearing down of old houses… They will tear one down and put up two slot-houses….the whole financial situation now is set up to benefit high income-earners."

19:25 On rising costs for commercial real estate.

23:15 On ensuring equity in the arts

29:00One place in the city Jim wants to work on.
"Washington High School. It happens to be the high school that educated the world's only two-time solo Nobel Laureate winner — Linus Pauling….I'm wondering why given we can claim this tremendous scientific character, why we can't use this high school — call it the Ava and Linus Pauling High School for the Humanities and put arts in there and sciences."]]>2014opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/thao-and-the-get-down-stay-down-breaking-down-walls-for-a-man-alive--11567964http://www.opb.org/opbmusic/series/sessions/thao-the-get-down-stay-down-live-at-opb/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567964Thu, 17 Mar 2016 19:45:42 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down teamed up with Merrill Garbus of tUnE yArDs for the new record. Here's music and conversation from this week's show. Catch the full opbmusic session over here:...http://www.opb.org/opbmusic/series/sessions/thao-the-get-down-stay-down-live-at-opb/]]>466opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/artists-rep-s-explosive-hilarious-play-about-race-we-are-proud-to-present--11560128
The play follows a troupe of actors — half black, half white — as they struggle to prepare for a presentation about the first genocide of the 20th century, the extermination of the Herero people of Namibia by German soldiers. However, rehearsals devolve and the group is nudged over the edge by simmering questions about race, authenticity, and truth.

As part of our “What Are You Looking At?” series, State of Wonder sent producer Aaron Scott to see and discuss the play with Kimberly Howard, program officer at the PGE Foundation and former head of the Oregon Cultural Trust and the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/artists-rep-we-are-proud-to-present]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560128Sat, 19 Mar 2016 00:24:04 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingArtists Repertory Theatre production of Jackie Sibblies Drury’s "We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915" is a nervy...
The play follows a troupe of actors — half black, half white — as they struggle to prepare for a presentation about the first genocide of the 20th century, the extermination of the Herero people of Namibia by German soldiers. However, rehearsals devolve and the group is nudged over the edge by simmering questions about race, authenticity, and truth.

As part of our “What Are You Looking At?” series, State of Wonder sent producer Aaron Scott to see and discuss the play with Kimberly Howard, program officer at the PGE Foundation and former head of the Oregon Cultural Trust and the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/artists-rep-we-are-proud-to-present]]>637art,arts & entertainment,local_opb,theaterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-19-esperanza-spalding-thao-nguyen-sharon-olds-artists-rep-s-explosive-play-more--11544239Thao & the Get Down Stay Down's latest release, A Man Alive, is a striking alliance with tUnE-yArDs' electropop virtuoso Merril Garbus, where the band stretches its sound in inventive ways. Host April Baer spoke with Thao about working with Garbus, the band's new direction and how her relationship with her father propelled the direction of the album.

Margaret Malone Gets Nominated for a PEN/Hemingway - 9:00
This week, PEN New England revealed that Portland author Margaret Malone is a finalist for this year's PEN/Hemingway award, given to first books of fiction in honor of Ernest Hemingway. Malone's short story collection, People Like You, tells the stories of regular people (mostly women) who do petty, dark and often hysterical things.

Oregon Libraries Check Out...3-D Printers? 15:26
A growing number of public libraries, including Multnomah County and Eugene, are trying something new: letting patrons use their library cards to access cutting-edge creative tools, including 3-D printers, robots, digital editing software, and more.

Artists Rep Tackles Race and Genocide with an Explosive and Hilarious Show - 20:45
Artists Repertory Theater opened a work by Jackie Sibblies Drury with a mouthful of a name: "We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915." Producer Aaron Scott invited Kimberly Howard, the program officer of the PGE Foundation who formerly headed up the Oregon Cultural Trust and the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, to check it out for the next installment in our series "What Are You Looking At?"

The High-Concept Funk-Rock of Grammy-Winner Esperanza Spalding - 31:20
She may have left Portland, but we still like to claim the first jazz musician to take home a Best New Artist Grammy as our own. Esperanza Spalding's taking her neo-soul in a new direction with her first release in four years, "Emily's D+ Evolution."

Bullseye & Uroboros Updates - 36:33
In February, heavy metal air pollution was dedicated near two Portland glass plants. The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission decided Tuesday to postpone a vote on new air pollution rules that would cover both Bullseye and Uroboros. Neighborhood advocates requested the postponement, claiming the proposed rules were written behind closed doors and released to the public less than a day before the scheduled vote. We also have an update from OPB's Kristian Foden-Vencil on the lawsuit filed by some of Bullseye's neighbors, as well as the results of some state tests.

Poet Sharon Olds on Literary Arts' Archive Project - 41:54
This week, Literary Arts' Archive Project features an evening with Pulitzer Prize–winner Sharon Olds, whose work celebrates the body, explores the family and tackles global issues in her writing. We share one of our favorite pieces as well as a short audience Q&A.

Pochas Radicales and the Revolutionary Art of Queer Latina Podcasting - 45:48
Elizabeth Leon, Blanca 'Stacey' Villalobos and Andrea Telles are a collective of queer-identified Latina artists called Pochas Radicales. Last month, the group launched a podcast called "echo/hecho," which at it's heart is a storytelling podcast. The trio, along with the occasional guest, explore concepts of identity, language and culture.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/esperanza-spalding-thao-margaret-malone-sharon-olds-artists-rep/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544239Sat, 19 Mar 2016 02:06:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThao & the Get Down Stay Down on opbmusic Thao & the Get Down Stay Down's latest release, A Man Alive, is a striking alliance with tUnE-yArDs' electropop virtuoso Merril Garbus, where the band stretches its sound in inventive ways. Host April Baer...Thao & the Get Down Stay Down's latest release, A Man Alive, is a striking alliance with tUnE-yArDs' electropop virtuoso Merril Garbus, where the band stretches its sound in inventive ways. Host April Baer spoke with Thao about working with Garbus, the band's new direction and how her relationship with her father propelled the direction of the album.

Margaret Malone Gets Nominated for a PEN/Hemingway - 9:00
This week, PEN New England revealed that Portland author Margaret Malone is a finalist for this year's PEN/Hemingway award, given to first books of fiction in honor of Ernest Hemingway. Malone's short story collection, People Like You, tells the stories of regular people (mostly women) who do petty, dark and often hysterical things.

Oregon Libraries Check Out...3-D Printers? 15:26
A growing number of public libraries, including Multnomah County and Eugene, are trying something new: letting patrons use their library cards to access cutting-edge creative tools, including 3-D printers, robots, digital editing software, and more.

Artists Rep Tackles Race and Genocide with an Explosive and Hilarious Show - 20:45
Artists Repertory Theater opened a work by Jackie Sibblies Drury with a mouthful of a name: "We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915." Producer Aaron Scott invited Kimberly Howard, the program officer of the PGE Foundation who formerly headed up the Oregon Cultural Trust and the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, to check it out for the next installment in our series "What Are You Looking At?"

The High-Concept Funk-Rock of Grammy-Winner Esperanza Spalding - 31:20
She may have left Portland, but we still like to claim the first jazz musician to take home a Best New Artist Grammy as our own. Esperanza Spalding's taking her neo-soul in a new direction with her first release in four years, "Emily's D+ Evolution."

Bullseye & Uroboros Updates - 36:33
In February, heavy metal air pollution was dedicated near two Portland glass plants. The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission decided Tuesday to postpone a vote on new air pollution rules that would cover both Bullseye and Uroboros. Neighborhood advocates requested the postponement, claiming the proposed rules were written behind closed doors and released to the public less than a day before the scheduled vote. We also have an update from OPB's Kristian Foden-Vencil on the lawsuit filed by some of Bullseye's neighbors, as well as the results of some state tests.

Poet Sharon Olds on Literary Arts' Archive Project - 41:54
This week, Literary Arts' Archive Project features an evening with Pulitzer Prize–winner Sharon Olds, whose work celebrates the body, explores the family and tackles global issues in her writing. We share one of our favorite pieces as well as a short audience Q&A.

Pochas Radicales and the Revolutionary Art of Queer Latina Podcasting - 45:48
Elizabeth Leon, Blanca 'Stacey' Villalobos and Andrea Telles are a collective of queer-identified Latina artists called Pochas Radicales. Last month, the group launched a podcast called "echo/hecho," which at it's heart is a storytelling podcast. The trio, along with the occasional guest, explore concepts of identity, language and culture.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/esperanza-spalding-thao-margaret-malone-sharon-olds-artists-rep/]]>3114falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pochas-radicales-the-radical-act-of-conversation--11560133https://soundcloud.com/pochasradicales]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560133Sat, 19 Mar 2016 02:31:48 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe catch up with Precipice Fund grantees Pochas Radicales - you can hear their podcast, echo/hecho right here on Soundcloud. https://soundcloud.com/pochasradicaleshttps://soundcloud.com/pochasradicales]]>316opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/shelley-mclendon-wendi-mclendon-covey-sisters-of-comedy--11560132
Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/shelley-mclendon-and-wendi-mclendon-covey]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560132Fri, 25 Mar 2016 21:52:37 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSisters Wendi McLendon-Covey ('Bridesmaids,' 'The Goldbergs,' 'Reno 911') and Portland performer Shelley McLendon on growing up Baptist, how their mom inspired Wendi's character Beverly Goldberg, kissing Nicolas Cage, and the time Shelley grew a tail...
Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/shelley-mclendon-and-wendi-mclendon-covey]]>2535art,arts & entertainment,comedy,local_opb,podcastfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-26-what-s-funny-about-portland-with-shelley-mclendon--11544238
And she's our guest curator this week, taking us on a voyage through her world of comedy.

Sisters of Comedy: Shelley & Wendi McLendon-Covey - 0:00
It just so happens that Shelley isn’t the only one with the funny gene in the McLendon family. Her sister is Wendi McLendon-Covey, who you might know from “Bridesmaids,” "The Goldbergs," “Reno 911,” or any number of other movies and TV shows. We got the two in the studio to talk about the roots of their comedic talents, playing Twister with Christian co-eds, making out with Nicholas Cage, and the time Shelley grew a tail (or why you should check in with your coccyx). You can hear the full interview, plus watch them perform together, here.

The Aces: Sketch Comedy Kings - 12:00
Shelley, along with Michael Fetters, make up our favorite local sketch duo, the Aces. They performed a scene for our pleasure about a 19th century pioneer couple sitting for a 10-minute photo portrait. Life was rougher then. All we can say is, don't eat the stew — and make sure to get Grandma out of the bear trap.

Siren Theater and the Portland Performance Crises - 18:35
When Shelley started her company, Bad Reputation Productions, she rented out venues like Theater Theatre. Over time, she found spaces increasingly hard to come by, so she set out to start her own. It took her two years to find something that worked and that she could afford: the Siren. And it's one of only a few new theaters to open in years.

Shelly’s far from the only one struggling to find affordable performance and rehearsal space in Portland’s booming real estate market. A spate of theater and dance companies have been pushed from their homes as their rents spike or their buildings get torn down.

Is it time for a new arts center? We take a look on why it's so hard to find space and what can be done about it.

Leviathan: The Monster of All Improv Shows - 29:30
Producer Aaron Scott tests his skill — and his dignity — at Leviathan. It's a show where a storyteller has to come up with stories on-the-fly based off of audience suggestions, and then a group of able improvisers riff off the stories to create new sketches. Aaron's stories ranged from an exotic animal menagerie/B&B in Kansas, of all places, to a group of Sri Lankan monks with a secret.

Bubbles and Giggles: TOL in the Tub - 45:00
Think Out Loud, In The Tub. It was a visionary idea: interviews with local chefs… in hot tubs. The first chef was Miranda Bjornsen, owner of Nooks & Cranberries. Unfortunately, she was also the last, as this was one of the best April Fool's spoofs ever, starring Shelley and TOL host Dave Miller.

Full Story: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/shelley-mclendon-wendi-leviathan-miranda-bjornsen/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544238Sat, 26 Mar 2016 00:29:14 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOne of the prime movers we have to thank for Portland’s incendiary comedy scene is Shelley McLendon. She’s the mastermind behind Bad Reputation Productions, which has staged hilarious adaptations of movies like "Road House" and "The Lost Boys." She's...
And she's our guest curator this week, taking us on a voyage through her world of comedy.

Sisters of Comedy: Shelley & Wendi McLendon-Covey - 0:00
It just so happens that Shelley isn’t the only one with the funny gene in the McLendon family. Her sister is Wendi McLendon-Covey, who you might know from “Bridesmaids,” "The Goldbergs," “Reno 911,” or any number of other movies and TV shows. We got the two in the studio to talk about the roots of their comedic talents, playing Twister with Christian co-eds, making out with Nicholas Cage, and the time Shelley grew a tail (or why you should check in with your coccyx). You can hear the full interview, plus watch them perform together, here.

The Aces: Sketch Comedy Kings - 12:00
Shelley, along with Michael Fetters, make up our favorite local sketch duo, the Aces. They performed a scene for our pleasure about a 19th century pioneer couple sitting for a 10-minute photo portrait. Life was rougher then. All we can say is, don't eat the stew — and make sure to get Grandma out of the bear trap.

Siren Theater and the Portland Performance Crises - 18:35
When Shelley started her company, Bad Reputation Productions, she rented out venues like Theater Theatre. Over time, she found spaces increasingly hard to come by, so she set out to start her own. It took her two years to find something that worked and that she could afford: the Siren. And it's one of only a few new theaters to open in years.

Shelly’s far from the only one struggling to find affordable performance and rehearsal space in Portland’s booming real estate market. A spate of theater and dance companies have been pushed from their homes as their rents spike or their buildings get torn down.

Is it time for a new arts center? We take a look on why it's so hard to find space and what can be done about it.

Leviathan: The Monster of All Improv Shows - 29:30
Producer Aaron Scott tests his skill — and his dignity — at Leviathan. It's a show where a storyteller has to come up with stories on-the-fly based off of audience suggestions, and then a group of able improvisers riff off the stories to create new sketches. Aaron's stories ranged from an exotic animal menagerie/B&B in Kansas, of all places, to a group of Sri Lankan monks with a secret.

Bubbles and Giggles: TOL in the Tub - 45:00
Think Out Loud, In The Tub. It was a visionary idea: interviews with local chefs… in hot tubs. The first chef was Miranda Bjornsen, owner of Nooks & Cranberries. Unfortunately, she was also the last, as this was one of the best April Fool's spoofs ever, starring Shelley and TOL host Dave Miller.

Full Story: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/shelley-mclendon-wendi-leviathan-miranda-bjornsen/]]>3107falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/leviathan-where-storytelling-meets-improv--11561063
When Leviathan producer Shelley McLendon invited be to risk my dignity on stage, I demurred, intimidated the idea of having to generate not one but multiple stories off the cuff. But as we talked further about her guest curating an episode of State of Wonder, it became hard to resist the opportunity, if only because spectacular failure can make for great radio. (Then again, it can also make for truly awful radio.)

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/leviathan-siren-theater/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561063Sat, 26 Mar 2016 17:26:51 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLeviathan bills itself as the monster of all improv shows, and a canny beast it is. It works like this: a guest storyteller tells a series of stories based on suggestions from the audience, and then a group of hardy improvisers riff off those stories...
When Leviathan producer Shelley McLendon invited be to risk my dignity on stage, I demurred, intimidated the idea of having to generate not one but multiple stories off the cuff. But as we talked further about her guest curating an episode of State of Wonder, it became hard to resist the opportunity, if only because spectacular failure can make for great radio. (Then again, it can also make for truly awful radio.)

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/leviathan-siren-theater/]]>920art,arts & entertainment,comedy,opb,podcast,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-crisis-facing-portland-theaters-extended--11561058
“It wasn’t just affecting me — it was affecting everybody else,” McLendon told State of Wonder during an episode she guest curated. “So you had all these companies, from comedy to straight-up drama to dance to poetry, looking for places to put up a show—places that were not only available, but affordable. We were all in competition.”

McLendon decided to go in search of her own space. After two years of hunting for the right building, she opened the city’s first new theater in some time, the Siren Theater.

McLendon’s story is a bright light in an otherwise darkening theater landscape. The list of performing companies who have lost their homes or struggled to find new ones as a result of Portland’s booming real estate market continues to grow at an alarming rate, starting with the companies sent scrambling after the close of Theater Theatre in 2013 and most recently seen in the displacement of three of the city’s dance companies — Northwest Dance Project, Conduit Dance and Polaris Dance Theater.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/could-the-arts-get-pushed-out-of-portland]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561058Mon, 28 Mar 2016 21:42:11 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingShelley McLendon struggled for years to find affordable theaters to stage her sell-out adaptations of movies like “Road House” and “The Lost Boys,” as well as sketch and improv comedy shows. “It wasn’t just affecting me — it was affecting everybody...
“It wasn’t just affecting me — it was affecting everybody else,” McLendon told State of Wonder during an episode she guest curated. “So you had all these companies, from comedy to straight-up drama to dance to poetry, looking for places to put up a show—places that were not only available, but affordable. We were all in competition.”

McLendon decided to go in search of her own space. After two years of hunting for the right building, she opened the city’s first new theater in some time, the Siren Theater.

McLendon’s story is a bright light in an otherwise darkening theater landscape. The list of performing companies who have lost their homes or struggled to find new ones as a result of Portland’s booming real estate market continues to grow at an alarming rate, starting with the companies sent scrambling after the close of Theater Theatre in 2013 and most recently seen in the displacement of three of the city’s dance companies — Northwest Dance Project, Conduit Dance and Polaris Dance Theater.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/could-the-arts-get-pushed-out-of-portland]]>634art,arts & entertainment,comedy,local_,local_news,local_opb,opb,podcast,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-2-the-thermals-dandy-warhols-beverly-cleary-bodyvox-more--11544237
BodyVox Brings Its A-Team - 1:01
The dance company BodyVox does not do normal, choosing instead to push boundaries of genre and form. So how are they pushing forward with their new performance, “The Pearl Dive Project”? How about asking eight top-tier artists to choreograph for them. Only thing: none of the artists are actually dancers. Instead, they're folks like Pink Martini singer China Forbes, Oregon Symphony music director Carlos Kalmar, and visual artist Malia Jensen.

Elizabeth Woody Names New Oregon Poet Laureate - 9:40
Governor Kate Brown has appointed Elizabeth Woody as Oregon’s next poet laureate. Her mandate: to represent the poetic powers, to encourage the reading and writing of poetry, and to be our mirror, reflecting on public life. Woody’s maternal family is part of the Confederated Tribe of the Warm Springs, but she was born on the Navajo Reservation — among her father’s folks — and identifies as Buddhist.

Pioneer Mall Shows Its Galleries the Door - 14:45
For the past several years, one of downtown Portland’s most unusual art hubs in has been on the top floor of the Pioneer Place Mall. Mark Woolley Gallery, People’s Art of Portland, Artist in Residence Gallery and One Der Gallery have lured the art walk crowds past J. Crews and Forever 21s and up escalators to take in fine art in a building where skill and quality is generally associated with Louis Vuitton. Now, mall management has informed the galleries they need to make way for a new commercial tenant by the end of April.

opbmusic Session with The Thermals - 16:28
The Thermals’ newest release, “We Disappear,” dives deep, exploring concepts of love, loss and technology’s role in both. Of course, the dark subject matter doesn’t mean Hutch Harris, Kathy Foster and Westin Glass have ditched their penchant for writing fun, catchy sing-a-longs, like “My Heart Went Cold.”

What Can Portland Learn From San Francisco? 24:14
What are we supposed to make of what’s happening in the Bay Area. Is it a cautionary tale of what could happen as Portland’s Oregon’s growth keeps surging? Or a preview of things that are definitely coming, no matter what we do? We sit down with Gil Kelley, San Francisco's citywide planning director who formerly directed Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, to talk about his unique view on how the city's compare.

Beverly Cleary Turns 100 - 36:58
We are celebrating a huge 100th birthday for a true Oregon original: the one and only Beverly Cleary. Mrs. Cleary’s books, featuring Ramona, Beezus, Henry Huggins, and other kids, helped invent what we understand today as children’s literature, and remade the rules for how girls are represented in books. While she was at it, she brought a slice of Northeast Portland’s Klickitat Street to vivid life for people all over the world. We listen in on part of Cleary's conversation with Oregon Art Beat in preview of Art Beat's half-hour special, "Discovering Beverly Cleary."

Chris Arellano - 44:20
In Albany and Corvallis, people know Chris Arellano as a music teacher and guitarist. In New Mexico, he’s quickly becoming a star.

Be the First to Hear the Dandy Warhol's Newest Record: At a Dive Bar Near You - 47:57
There are two places the public can hear the Dandy Warhol's first album in four years, "Distortland," in advance of its Apr. 8 release: on the jukebox at Tony's Tavern on West Burnside and at Tony's Tavern on Northeast Sandy. The band held a listening party at the Burnside dive on Saturday because, according to bandleader Courtney Taylor-Taylor, it has the single best sound system in any Portland bar.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/beverly-cleary-on-turning-100-the-thermals-go-dark-what-portland-can-learn-from-san-francisco]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544237Fri, 01 Apr 2016 20:51:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHear the Dandy Warhol's new record early at a dive bar near you; get moved by BodyVox's big collaboration with A-list non-dancers; tune in to an opbmusic session with the Thermals; meet Oregon's new poet laureate and more. BodyVox Brings Its A-Team...
BodyVox Brings Its A-Team - 1:01
The dance company BodyVox does not do normal, choosing instead to push boundaries of genre and form. So how are they pushing forward with their new performance, “The Pearl Dive Project”? How about asking eight top-tier artists to choreograph for them. Only thing: none of the artists are actually dancers. Instead, they're folks like Pink Martini singer China Forbes, Oregon Symphony music director Carlos Kalmar, and visual artist Malia Jensen.

Elizabeth Woody Names New Oregon Poet Laureate - 9:40
Governor Kate Brown has appointed Elizabeth Woody as Oregon’s next poet laureate. Her mandate: to represent the poetic powers, to encourage the reading and writing of poetry, and to be our mirror, reflecting on public life. Woody’s maternal family is part of the Confederated Tribe of the Warm Springs, but she was born on the Navajo Reservation — among her father’s folks — and identifies as Buddhist.

Pioneer Mall Shows Its Galleries the Door - 14:45
For the past several years, one of downtown Portland’s most unusual art hubs in has been on the top floor of the Pioneer Place Mall. Mark Woolley Gallery, People’s Art of Portland, Artist in Residence Gallery and One Der Gallery have lured the art walk crowds past J. Crews and Forever 21s and up escalators to take in fine art in a building where skill and quality is generally associated with Louis Vuitton. Now, mall management has informed the galleries they need to make way for a new commercial tenant by the end of April.

opbmusic Session with The Thermals - 16:28
The Thermals’ newest release, “We Disappear,” dives deep, exploring concepts of love, loss and technology’s role in both. Of course, the dark subject matter doesn’t mean Hutch Harris, Kathy Foster and Westin Glass have ditched their penchant for writing fun, catchy sing-a-longs, like “My Heart Went Cold.”

What Can Portland Learn From San Francisco? 24:14
What are we supposed to make of what’s happening in the Bay Area. Is it a cautionary tale of what could happen as Portland’s Oregon’s growth keeps surging? Or a preview of things that are definitely coming, no matter what we do? We sit down with Gil Kelley, San Francisco's citywide planning director who formerly directed Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, to talk about his unique view on how the city's compare.

Beverly Cleary Turns 100 - 36:58
We are celebrating a huge 100th birthday for a true Oregon original: the one and only Beverly Cleary. Mrs. Cleary’s books, featuring Ramona, Beezus, Henry Huggins, and other kids, helped invent what we understand today as children’s literature, and remade the rules for how girls are represented in books. While she was at it, she brought a slice of Northeast Portland’s Klickitat Street to vivid life for people all over the world. We listen in on part of Cleary's conversation with Oregon Art Beat in preview of Art Beat's half-hour special, "Discovering Beverly Cleary."

Chris Arellano - 44:20
In Albany and Corvallis, people know Chris Arellano as a music teacher and guitarist. In New Mexico, he’s quickly becoming a star.

Be the First to Hear the Dandy Warhol's Newest Record: At a Dive Bar Near You - 47:57
There are two places the public can hear the Dandy Warhol's first album in four years, "Distortland," in advance of its Apr. 8 release: on the jukebox at Tony's Tavern on West Burnside and at Tony's Tavern on Northeast Sandy. The band held a listening party at the Burnside dive on Saturday because, according to bandleader Courtney Taylor-Taylor, it has the single best sound system in any Portland bar.

Read the full story: 3055falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bodyvox-invites-famous-non-dancers-to-make-dance--11560125
To start out, you get words and descriptions like “floorography” and “it’s jazz crabs versus hot rocks.” That is, if you’re working with the likes of Pink Martini singer China Forbes, Oregon Symphony music director Carlos Kalmar, and artist Malia Jensen.

The dance company BodyVox has always delighted in pushing boundaries, whether defying genre by mixing in things like opera or monsters, or defying physical laws by using video projection to make it look like they’re dancing on the wall. Now they’ve invited eight well-known local artists to choreograph new dances for “The Pearl Dive Project.” Only catch? None of the artists are choreographers. Alongside Forbes, Kalmar and Jensen, there’s a landscape architecture firm, a film director, a composer, and more.

“We thought this has never been done: you find very highly evolved creative people in their field and then they jump from that field to our own and apply their creativity and imagination in choreography,” says BodyVox’s co-artistic director Jamey Hampton. “So we became the curators of an absolute gusher of creativity.”

Full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/bodyvox-china-forbes-carlos-kalmar]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560125Fri, 01 Apr 2016 23:26:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat happens when a conductor, a chanteuse, and a visual artist walk into a dance studio? To start out, you get words and descriptions like “floorography” and “it’s jazz crabs versus hot rocks.” That is, if you’re working with the likes of Pink...
To start out, you get words and descriptions like “floorography” and “it’s jazz crabs versus hot rocks.” That is, if you’re working with the likes of Pink Martini singer China Forbes, Oregon Symphony music director Carlos Kalmar, and artist Malia Jensen.

The dance company BodyVox has always delighted in pushing boundaries, whether defying genre by mixing in things like opera or monsters, or defying physical laws by using video projection to make it look like they’re dancing on the wall. Now they’ve invited eight well-known local artists to choreograph new dances for “The Pearl Dive Project.” Only catch? None of the artists are choreographers. Alongside Forbes, Kalmar and Jensen, there’s a landscape architecture firm, a film director, a composer, and more.

“We thought this has never been done: you find very highly evolved creative people in their field and then they jump from that field to our own and apply their creativity and imagination in choreography,” says BodyVox’s co-artistic director Jamey Hampton. “So we became the curators of an absolute gusher of creativity.”

Full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/bodyvox-china-forbes-carlos-kalmar]]>513art,arts & entertainment,dance,local_opb,opb,portland,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/gil-kelley-on-parallel-planning-worlds-portland-and-san-francisco--11567988
On the magnitude of the planning challenges facing the Bay Area and Portland:
"We tracked [the years]1980-2014, a 35-year period. Portland, over that span, grew at a population rate of 2%, whereas for SF it was only 0.8%. So Portland has gained population at twice the rate of its sister cities."

On what Portland might expect in coming years, based on San Francisco's experience:
"Some of that [population] "churn," is people moving to places in the region that are affordable. But for the most part it's tech workers and higher income individuals moving into San Francisco and moderate and middle income people, especially with families, moving out with this new flush of economic activity. I would ask Portlanders to consider: How do you maintain that economic diversity in a city that will increasingly experience this affordability gap?"

On what measures Portland should consider to deal with growth:
"I would suggest Portland look at things it hasn't looked at before: inclusionary zoning, linkage fees with new economic development is another thing we do in San Francisco — new office developments pay some amount into a housing fund to build moderate and low income housing. The city here passed a bond measure recently $300 million bond to underwrite a number of 100% affordable housing projects. That sounds like a lot but won't go far."

On whether Portland has a leg up, in some respects:
"Portland's planning history have really put [the city] in a position that it knows where it wants to go and has policy consensus around some of the basic land use and transport questions. And there is a capacity for Portland to accommodate growth. The closer questions are how does it deal with some of these potential inequities as this growth occurs.

On whether the Portland Development Commission is on the right track to shape growth:
"The important question is "who are they?" Are they the cities' economic development agency? Des that really belong in the mayor's office? What can PDC do? how does that match with really being the city's real estate development entity? They need to be very engaged not just in attracting business but in helping build the infrastructure for these new companies that will be looking for a home in Portland."

On what Portlanders should be looking for in their next mayor:
"The new mayor really needs to be a champion for good planning again. We have risen to the occasion at a number of critical moments in our history, including late '60s to mid-'70s, and another period in the '80s when we doubled down on transportation investments. But we can't just live on the fumes of those past efforts. There is no substitute for a mayor as champion of good planning."

Listen to the full interview for more on how Portland's form of government influences planning culture, and Kelley's thoughts on central city hot-spots, and strengthening neighborhoods east of 82nd without giving way to gentrification.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567988Sat, 02 Apr 2016 00:18:57 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur columnist in residence, Randy Gragg, directs the John Yeon Center for Architecture and the Landscape. This week he suggested we talk with Gil Kelley about Portland and San Francisco's parallel tracks. Gil is director of citywide planning for the...
On the magnitude of the planning challenges facing the Bay Area and Portland:
"We tracked [the years]1980-2014, a 35-year period. Portland, over that span, grew at a population rate of 2%, whereas for SF it was only 0.8%. So Portland has gained population at twice the rate of its sister cities."

On what Portland might expect in coming years, based on San Francisco's experience:
"Some of that [population] "churn," is people moving to places in the region that are affordable. But for the most part it's tech workers and higher income individuals moving into San Francisco and moderate and middle income people, especially with families, moving out with this new flush of economic activity. I would ask Portlanders to consider: How do you maintain that economic diversity in a city that will increasingly experience this affordability gap?"

On what measures Portland should consider to deal with growth:
"I would suggest Portland look at things it hasn't looked at before: inclusionary zoning, linkage fees with new economic development is another thing we do in San Francisco — new office developments pay some amount into a housing fund to build moderate and low income housing. The city here passed a bond measure recently $300 million bond to underwrite a number of 100% affordable housing projects. That sounds like a lot but won't go far."

On whether Portland has a leg up, in some respects:
"Portland's planning history have really put [the city] in a position that it knows where it wants to go and has policy consensus around some of the basic land use and transport questions. And there is a capacity for Portland to accommodate growth. The closer questions are how does it deal with some of these potential inequities as this growth occurs.

On whether the Portland Development Commission is on the right track to shape growth:
"The important question is "who are they?" Are they the cities' economic development agency? Des that really belong in the mayor's office? What can PDC do? how does that match with really being the city's real estate development entity? They need to be very engaged not just in attracting business but in helping build the infrastructure for these new companies that will be looking for a home in Portland."

On what Portlanders should be looking for in their next mayor:
"The new mayor really needs to be a champion for good planning again. We have risen to the occasion at a number of critical moments in our history, including late '60s to mid-'70s, and another period in the '80s when we doubled down on transportation investments. But we can't just live on the fumes of those past efforts. There is no substitute for a mayor as champion of good planning."

Listen to the full interview for more on how Portland's form of government influences planning culture, and Kelley's thoughts on central city hot-spots, and strengthening neighborhoods east of 82nd without giving way to gentrification.]]>1449opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rick-bartow-stunning-nw-artist-dies-at-age-69--11560108
Bartow's sculptures, paintings, and prints have shown everywhere from the White House to the Smithsonian, and they hang in museum collections around the country.

His boldly colorful, emotive, and idiosyncratic works refuse to be contained by medium or style or even species. Inspired by his Native American heritage and travels to Mexico, Japan, and beyond, his works depict beings that blend the human and the animal. They are creatures on the cusp of the material and the spiritual world, like stories and myths made flesh.

"We all are given a gift," Bartow told Think Out Loud last year during a major retrospective of his work at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in Eugene. "My job is to be an artist. As I tell my son, who's a hip-hop artist — I told him early on that we were given a blessing, and we were given a curse. Because sometimes it's not much fun, but you have to do it."

When we first heard Bartow was not well in February, we invited Bartow’s longtime friend and gallerist, Charles Froelick, into the studio to talk about his legacy. You can hear the conversation above.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/rick-bartow-stunning-nw-artist-dies-at-69]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560108Tue, 05 Apr 2016 21:34:57 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingRick Bartow, one of the region’s most striking and accomplished artists, died on Apr. 2 at the age of 69 from complications arising from congestive heart failure. Bartow's sculptures, paintings, and prints have shown everywhere from the White House...
Bartow's sculptures, paintings, and prints have shown everywhere from the White House to the Smithsonian, and they hang in museum collections around the country.

His boldly colorful, emotive, and idiosyncratic works refuse to be contained by medium or style or even species. Inspired by his Native American heritage and travels to Mexico, Japan, and beyond, his works depict beings that blend the human and the animal. They are creatures on the cusp of the material and the spiritual world, like stories and myths made flesh.

"We all are given a gift," Bartow told Think Out Loud last year during a major retrospective of his work at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in Eugene. "My job is to be an artist. As I tell my son, who's a hip-hop artist — I told him early on that we were given a blessing, and we were given a curse. Because sometimes it's not much fun, but you have to do it."

When we first heard Bartow was not well in February, we invited Bartow’s longtime friend and gallerist, Charles Froelick, into the studio to talk about his legacy. You can hear the conversation above.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/rick-bartow-stunning-nw-artist-dies-at-69]]>656art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,opb,portland,visual artfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/swedish-singer-seinabo-sey-extended-interview--11560109
Sey's powerful, soulful delivery betrays the complicated uncertainty that lies beneath the surface of her music. Sey came to the OPB studio to perform and to speak with State of Wonder's Aaron Scott. Highlights from their conversation are below.

On her song "Pretend":
"I feel sometimes that I know what I should think. I know reasonably how things should be, but it's hard to feel it and to really believe it. So, the song is about if the world would end tomorrow, you'd be alright with it and it wouldn't feel like a catastrophe. I feel like I'm always preparing for a catastrophe in my music, but I don't know if that's a good thing. I'm trying to teach myself how to take it easy, calm down and take each moment as it comes."

On what drew her to music and soul in particular:
"I grew up listening to reggae a lot. I feel like Luciano or Beres Hammond are definitely soul singers. Those were the first voices I heard when I was a kid. Then I learned to listen to soul through Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Destiny's Child. A lot of people think I listen to really old music. I haven't listened to an entire Nina Simone record ever, but I feel like I've received those influences through a Lauryn or an Erykah. I've listened to a lot of voices and I feel like soul is not a genre. It's more an expression or a timbre in your voice and telling the truth."

On her performance of "Hard Times" at the Swedish Grammys:
"I started googling magazine covers of Swedish magazines, and I realized that no one was black on the cover for a year. I got really pissed off one night on Instagram and started posting about that, because a lot of our business is about being nice to magazines because you want the press to cover you. I just flipped out and started calling them out.

"I felt the main argument in Sweden is 'we don't know who to put on the cover' or 'where are the black people?' I put 100 black women on the stage to show that we do exist and this is a fragment of us here. Take a [screen shot] and put it on your magazine."

On the similarity between her Grammy performance and Beyonce's Super Bowl show:
"I've been obsessed with Beyonce since I was 10 years old. Whatever Beyonce tells me to do, I will do. I did come up with the whole performance thing before she did it, but I don't care, because I feel like for her to take those steps and to be brave enough to do those things that I, as a teeny weeny artist from Sweden — for me it's not very brave, but for her and the whole machinery of her to do those things, I think is crazy. I'm totally looking forward to her new album and I hope she just flips the f--k out, so that everyone else can do that."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560109Thu, 07 Apr 2016 19:51:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAlmost since the release of her first single, "Younger," at the ripe age of 23 in 2013, Gambian-Swedish singer Seinabo Sey has been hailed as a pop sensation. She went on to win the Swedish Grammy for Best Newcomer in 2014 and, after the release of...
Sey's powerful, soulful delivery betrays the complicated uncertainty that lies beneath the surface of her music. Sey came to the OPB studio to perform and to speak with State of Wonder's Aaron Scott. Highlights from their conversation are below.

On her song "Pretend":
"I feel sometimes that I know what I should think. I know reasonably how things should be, but it's hard to feel it and to really believe it. So, the song is about if the world would end tomorrow, you'd be alright with it and it wouldn't feel like a catastrophe. I feel like I'm always preparing for a catastrophe in my music, but I don't know if that's a good thing. I'm trying to teach myself how to take it easy, calm down and take each moment as it comes."

On what drew her to music and soul in particular:
"I grew up listening to reggae a lot. I feel like Luciano or Beres Hammond are definitely soul singers. Those were the first voices I heard when I was a kid. Then I learned to listen to soul through Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Destiny's Child. A lot of people think I listen to really old music. I haven't listened to an entire Nina Simone record ever, but I feel like I've received those influences through a Lauryn or an Erykah. I've listened to a lot of voices and I feel like soul is not a genre. It's more an expression or a timbre in your voice and telling the truth."

On her performance of "Hard Times" at the Swedish Grammys:
"I started googling magazine covers of Swedish magazines, and I realized that no one was black on the cover for a year. I got really pissed off one night on Instagram and started posting about that, because a lot of our business is about being nice to magazines because you want the press to cover you. I just flipped out and started calling them out.

"I felt the main argument in Sweden is 'we don't know who to put on the cover' or 'where are the black people?' I put 100 black women on the stage to show that we do exist and this is a fragment of us here. Take a [screen shot] and put it on your magazine."

On the similarity between her Grammy performance and Beyonce's Super Bowl show:
"I've been obsessed with Beyonce since I was 10 years old. Whatever Beyonce tells me to do, I will do. I did come up with the whole performance thing before she did it, but I don't care, because I feel like for her to take those steps and to be brave enough to do those things that I, as a teeny weeny artist from Sweden — for me it's not very brave, but for her and the whole machinery of her to do those things, I think is crazy. I'm totally looking forward to her new album and I hope she just flips the f--k out, so that everyone else can do that."]]>1098art,arts & entertainment,interview,music,opb,pop music,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/swedish-pop-sensation-seinabo-sey-in-studio--11560106
Sey's powerful, soulful delivery betrays the complicated uncertainty that lies beneath the surface of her music. Sey came to the OPB studio to perform and to speak with State of Wonder's Aaron Scott. Highlights from their conversation are below.

On her song "Pretend":
"I feel sometimes that I know what I should think. I know reasonably how things should be, but it's hard to feel it and to really believe it. So, the song is about if the world would end tomorrow, you'd be alright with it and it wouldn't feel like a catastrophe. I feel like I'm always preparing for a catastrophe in my music, but I don't know if that's a good thing. I'm trying to teach myself how to take it easy, calm down and take each moment as it comes."

On her performance of "Hard Times" at the Swedish Grammys:
"I started googling magazine covers of Swedish magazines, and I realized that no one was black on the cover for a year. I got really pissed off one night on Instagram and started posting about that, because a lot of our business is about being nice to magazines because you want the press to cover you. I just flipped out and started calling them out.

"I felt the main argument in Sweden is 'we don't know who to put on the cover' or 'where are the black people?' I put 100 black women on the stage to show that we do exist and this is a fragment of us here. Take a [screen shot] and put it on your magazine."

On the similarity between her Grammy performance and Beyonce's Super Bowl show:
"I've been obsessed with Beyonce since I was 10 years old. Whatever Beyonce tells me to do, I will do. I did come up with the whole performance thing before she did it, but I don't care, because I feel like for her to take those steps and to be brave enough to do those things that I, as a teeny weeny artist from Sweden — for me it's not very brave, but for her and the whole machinery of her to do those things, I think is crazy. I'm totally looking forward to her new album and I hope she just flips the f--k out, so that everyone else can do that."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11560106Thu, 07 Apr 2016 20:18:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAlmost since the release of her first single, "Younger," at the ripe age of 23 in 2013, Gambian-Swedish singer Seinabo Sey has been hailed as a pop sensation. She went on to win the Swedish Grammy for Best Newcomer in 2014 and, after the release of...
Sey's powerful, soulful delivery betrays the complicated uncertainty that lies beneath the surface of her music. Sey came to the OPB studio to perform and to speak with State of Wonder's Aaron Scott. Highlights from their conversation are below.

On her song "Pretend":
"I feel sometimes that I know what I should think. I know reasonably how things should be, but it's hard to feel it and to really believe it. So, the song is about if the world would end tomorrow, you'd be alright with it and it wouldn't feel like a catastrophe. I feel like I'm always preparing for a catastrophe in my music, but I don't know if that's a good thing. I'm trying to teach myself how to take it easy, calm down and take each moment as it comes."

On her performance of "Hard Times" at the Swedish Grammys:
"I started googling magazine covers of Swedish magazines, and I realized that no one was black on the cover for a year. I got really pissed off one night on Instagram and started posting about that, because a lot of our business is about being nice to magazines because you want the press to cover you. I just flipped out and started calling them out.

"I felt the main argument in Sweden is 'we don't know who to put on the cover' or 'where are the black people?' I put 100 black women on the stage to show that we do exist and this is a fragment of us here. Take a [screen shot] and put it on your magazine."

On the similarity between her Grammy performance and Beyonce's Super Bowl show:
"I've been obsessed with Beyonce since I was 10 years old. Whatever Beyonce tells me to do, I will do. I did come up with the whole performance thing before she did it, but I don't care, because I feel like for her to take those steps and to be brave enough to do those things that I, as a teeny weeny artist from Sweden — for me it's not very brave, but for her and the whole machinery of her to do those things, I think is crazy. I'm totally looking forward to her new album and I hope she just flips the f--k out, so that everyone else can do that."]]>729art,arts & entertainment,interview,music,opb,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/seinabo-sey-sings-you--11567967https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567967Thu, 07 Apr 2016 20:23:24 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting266bluesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/seinabo-sey-sings-pretend--11567966https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567966Thu, 07 Apr 2016 20:23:43 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting170bluesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-9-rick-bartow-rip-seinabo-sey-obt-s-beautiful-decay-au-s-choir-collaboration-more--11544236
The Passing of an Oregon Giant - 1:03
Last week the beloved artist Rick Bartow passed away. His boldly colorful, emotive and idiosyncratic works featured creatures on the cusp of the material and the spiritual world, like stories and myths made flesh.

Seinabo Sey - 12:49
Swedish performer Seinabo Sey's powerful, soulful delivery betrays the complicated uncertainty that lies beneath the surface of her music. She won the Swedish Grammy for Best Newcomer last year and another this year for Best Pop Song, and her performance at the Grammys, where she invited dozens of black women on stage, drew comparisons to Beyonce. Sey came to the OPB studio to perform and talk about why she'd do anything Beyonce told her to, even though the Queen Bey might learn a thing or two from Sey.

Joined Voices - 24:52
Last year, Phoebe Flanigan reported on the unique melding of indie rock bands and the choirs of Camas High School known as Joined Voices. This year, Joined Voices returns with the band AU composing 45 minutes of new choral music, plus special guests Edna Vasquez and Luz Elena Mendoza. The concert is on April 15 at Yale Union.

Candidates on the Arts - 34:31
As part of our ongoing coverage of the upcoming elections we've been sitting down with local candidates to gather their views on arts and culture in the city. This time around we're talking with mayoral candidates Sarah Iannarone and David Schor, and city council candidate Shannon Estabrook.

Sex, Love and Death: OBT Choreographers James Canfield and Nicolo Fonte - 41:40
Oregon Ballet Theatre's founder, James Canfield, and new resident choreographer, Nicolo Fonte, came into the studio to discuss their two works that are being staged this season. Set to Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons," Fonte's full-length ballet, "Beautiful Decay," pairs veteran local dancers Susan Banyas and Gregg Bielemeier with OBT's company in an exploration of aging and death. Both choreographers agreed, though: whether contemporary or classic, it's all about sex, death, and love.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544236Fri, 08 Apr 2016 23:31:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week's show is filled with joy and sorrow, because there're always two sides to every coin. The Passing of an Oregon Giant - 1:03 Last week the beloved artist Rick Bartow passed away. His boldly colorful, emotive and idiosyncratic works featured...
The Passing of an Oregon Giant - 1:03
Last week the beloved artist Rick Bartow passed away. His boldly colorful, emotive and idiosyncratic works featured creatures on the cusp of the material and the spiritual world, like stories and myths made flesh.

Seinabo Sey - 12:49
Swedish performer Seinabo Sey's powerful, soulful delivery betrays the complicated uncertainty that lies beneath the surface of her music. She won the Swedish Grammy for Best Newcomer last year and another this year for Best Pop Song, and her performance at the Grammys, where she invited dozens of black women on stage, drew comparisons to Beyonce. Sey came to the OPB studio to perform and talk about why she'd do anything Beyonce told her to, even though the Queen Bey might learn a thing or two from Sey.

Joined Voices - 24:52
Last year, Phoebe Flanigan reported on the unique melding of indie rock bands and the choirs of Camas High School known as Joined Voices. This year, Joined Voices returns with the band AU composing 45 minutes of new choral music, plus special guests Edna Vasquez and Luz Elena Mendoza. The concert is on April 15 at Yale Union.

Candidates on the Arts - 34:31
As part of our ongoing coverage of the upcoming elections we've been sitting down with local candidates to gather their views on arts and culture in the city. This time around we're talking with mayoral candidates Sarah Iannarone and David Schor, and city council candidate Shannon Estabrook.

Sex, Love and Death: OBT Choreographers James Canfield and Nicolo Fonte - 41:40
Oregon Ballet Theatre's founder, James Canfield, and new resident choreographer, Nicolo Fonte, came into the studio to discuss their two works that are being staged this season. Set to Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons," Fonte's full-length ballet, "Beautiful Decay," pairs veteran local dancers Susan Banyas and Gregg Bielemeier with OBT's company in an exploration of aging and death. Both choreographers agreed, though: whether contemporary or classic, it's all about sex, death, and love.]]>3102falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/david-schor-candidate-for-portland-mayor--11559778
0:00 On his musical background and art he has recently enjoyed

1:40 On his vision for arts and culture in Portland in the next 5 years

2:35 on the Regional Arts and Culture Council
“A lot of our minority communities are feeling that they have been somewhat underserved by the efforts of RACC, so I’d like to see us reach out into those communities more and make sure that we have a more equitable dispersion.”

4:19 On whether budget surplus money should go towards the arts
“I think we need to accept that art is a basic service, it’s a basic part of what makes living in Portland worthwhile. Even if it’s a one-time surplus that we see, it’s worthwhile to consider how we could use that to fund art that might pay dividends on a long-term basis.”

6:04 On his biggest priority: the housing affordability crisis
“We need to change how the market in Portland works at a really fundamental level. My proposal to do that is to make some of the housing in Portland community-owned, to take some of the housing essentially out of the market.”

9:07 Should we ban no-cause evictions?
“I propose that we follow the example of cities like Seattle that are trying to minimize or eliminate no-cause evictions, by creating a just-cause eviction type of system, where you can be removed from your tenancy, but only with a good reason.”

10:14 On inclusionary zoning and rent control
“I would push for us to have the preemption on inclusionary zoning lifted completely at the state level. I would like to see the city of Portland given a little bit more of a free hand to experiment and see what works…and I think the same applies to rent control.”

14:00 On the Portland Arts Tax
“The funding mechanism, relying on a $35 flat rate, is unfortunately about the most regressive tax that Portland could have created to fund the arts. I would like to see the funding level increased, but the rates changed in a way that fairly reflects the income of the people who are paying for it.”

15:57 What we can learn from the Burnside Skatepark
“That’s an example of something that was created organically by the community that the city then went on to embrace. I think that’s a good model for the kind of thing that we should be trying to do as a city: identifying when the community has already made an investment in something that’s really important, and then to support that.”

17:00 On development that doesn’t serve Portlanders well
“We see housing being built that is simply unaffordable to people in Portland…I think it’s a shame that we’re allowing developers to use our limited land resource to build housing that doesn’t serve the needs of our people.”

18:52 On how to maintain open spaces in the city
“I’d like to look at ways to designate trees as historic in order to protect them…our tree code has the potential to be a really powerful tool for shaping how development works on a broader scale.”

19:47 On what makes his campaign distinctive
“I have decided that I will not be taking any money from corporations or political action committees. I’m trying to run this as a grassroots campaign where my focus is on talking to the people of Portland about the issues that are important to them.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559778Sat, 09 Apr 2016 18:15:44 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe latest mayoral candidate to hit the State of Wonder hot seat is David Schor, an assistant attorney general at the Oregon Department of Justice. For a lawyer, Schor is surprisingly artsy: he holds a degree in music from the University of Oregon and...
0:00 On his musical background and art he has recently enjoyed

1:40 On his vision for arts and culture in Portland in the next 5 years

2:35 on the Regional Arts and Culture Council
“A lot of our minority communities are feeling that they have been somewhat underserved by the efforts of RACC, so I’d like to see us reach out into those communities more and make sure that we have a more equitable dispersion.”

4:19 On whether budget surplus money should go towards the arts
“I think we need to accept that art is a basic service, it’s a basic part of what makes living in Portland worthwhile. Even if it’s a one-time surplus that we see, it’s worthwhile to consider how we could use that to fund art that might pay dividends on a long-term basis.”

6:04 On his biggest priority: the housing affordability crisis
“We need to change how the market in Portland works at a really fundamental level. My proposal to do that is to make some of the housing in Portland community-owned, to take some of the housing essentially out of the market.”

9:07 Should we ban no-cause evictions?
“I propose that we follow the example of cities like Seattle that are trying to minimize or eliminate no-cause evictions, by creating a just-cause eviction type of system, where you can be removed from your tenancy, but only with a good reason.”

10:14 On inclusionary zoning and rent control
“I would push for us to have the preemption on inclusionary zoning lifted completely at the state level. I would like to see the city of Portland given a little bit more of a free hand to experiment and see what works…and I think the same applies to rent control.”

14:00 On the Portland Arts Tax
“The funding mechanism, relying on a $35 flat rate, is unfortunately about the most regressive tax that Portland could have created to fund the arts. I would like to see the funding level increased, but the rates changed in a way that fairly reflects the income of the people who are paying for it.”

15:57 What we can learn from the Burnside Skatepark
“That’s an example of something that was created organically by the community that the city then went on to embrace. I think that’s a good model for the kind of thing that we should be trying to do as a city: identifying when the community has already made an investment in something that’s really important, and then to support that.”

17:00 On development that doesn’t serve Portlanders well
“We see housing being built that is simply unaffordable to people in Portland…I think it’s a shame that we’re allowing developers to use our limited land resource to build housing that doesn’t serve the needs of our people.”

18:52 On how to maintain open spaces in the city
“I’d like to look at ways to designate trees as historic in order to protect them…our tree code has the potential to be a really powerful tool for shaping how development works on a broader scale.”

19:47 On what makes his campaign distinctive
“I have decided that I will not be taking any money from corporations or political action committees. I’m trying to run this as a grassroots campaign where my focus is on talking to the people of Portland about the issues that are important to them.”]]>1334politicsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/shannon-estabrook-candidate-for-council-pos-4--11559776
3:34 On what art can do for students
“[Art] is what motivates us and it’s what young, 20s, and 30s, and older students can get exposed to and motivate a creativity that perhaps they didn’t even know they had.”

7:01 On what is working
“I’m apprehensive that many of the programs for youth and adults are too costly in the private sector. It’s rare that a family of four can afford tickets to go see the symphony. So I applaud the efforts made by the private sector for concerts in the park in the summer, and bringing art to schools.”

9:36 On the 2015 budget surplus that was not spent on arts and culture
“It’s shameful in any budget that education and arts and math and science are put on the bottom rung. I can’t imagine what they spent [the budget surplus] for…I’ve taught for over 30 years now. It never ceases to amaze me that they put education at the bottom.”

12:03 On the Arts Tax
I support [the Arts Tax] 100%—I believe in my entire life since age 18 I have never voted down any bond or tax that funds education. I have some complaints that they have made it very complicated for people…it’s punitive to the working poor. However they do need to collect from those who can afford it.”

15:56 On the real estate market and its impact on affordable housing
“I am adamant in the fact that this [housing] bubble will break. You can look back in the 80s, 90s, and 2010 and 2012. It won’t last forever and it’s funny money.”

16:44 On rent control
“I am adamant about supporting [rent control]… I am all for that. The state is leading the way on that, and Portland needs to follow it. This bubble will drop, and we will get rent control.”

21:47 On how we can encourage access to the arts for a more diverse group of Portlanders
“We need children, we need youth, we need the elderly…we need all voices. And in that regard we need to have the folks that can afford it help advertise it and help fund it, with no strings attached.”

22:27 On the section of SW 12th downtown, stretching from PSU to Burnside
“I’ve lived in every part of the city, nearly…and I observe. I walk 6-8 miles a day. I love what they are doing on 12th street, I love it…it’s alive with the elderly, children, homeless folks…it keeps our heritage.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559776Sat, 09 Apr 2016 18:29:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur candidate interview series continues this week with Shannon Estabrook, a retired Portland Community College instructor and seasoned political campaigner who has volunteered with Democratic Party campaigns stretching back to Robert Kennedy’s in...
3:34 On what art can do for students
“[Art] is what motivates us and it’s what young, 20s, and 30s, and older students can get exposed to and motivate a creativity that perhaps they didn’t even know they had.”

7:01 On what is working
“I’m apprehensive that many of the programs for youth and adults are too costly in the private sector. It’s rare that a family of four can afford tickets to go see the symphony. So I applaud the efforts made by the private sector for concerts in the park in the summer, and bringing art to schools.”

9:36 On the 2015 budget surplus that was not spent on arts and culture
“It’s shameful in any budget that education and arts and math and science are put on the bottom rung. I can’t imagine what they spent [the budget surplus] for…I’ve taught for over 30 years now. It never ceases to amaze me that they put education at the bottom.”

12:03 On the Arts Tax
I support [the Arts Tax] 100%—I believe in my entire life since age 18 I have never voted down any bond or tax that funds education. I have some complaints that they have made it very complicated for people…it’s punitive to the working poor. However they do need to collect from those who can afford it.”

15:56 On the real estate market and its impact on affordable housing
“I am adamant in the fact that this [housing] bubble will break. You can look back in the 80s, 90s, and 2010 and 2012. It won’t last forever and it’s funny money.”

16:44 On rent control
“I am adamant about supporting [rent control]… I am all for that. The state is leading the way on that, and Portland needs to follow it. This bubble will drop, and we will get rent control.”

21:47 On how we can encourage access to the arts for a more diverse group of Portlanders
“We need children, we need youth, we need the elderly…we need all voices. And in that regard we need to have the folks that can afford it help advertise it and help fund it, with no strings attached.”

22:27 On the section of SW 12th downtown, stretching from PSU to Burnside
“I’ve lived in every part of the city, nearly…and I observe. I walk 6-8 miles a day. I love what they are doing on 12th street, I love it…it’s alive with the elderly, children, homeless folks…it keeps our heritage.”]]>1508bluesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sarah-iannarone-candidate-for-portland-mayor--11559777
First-time candidate Sarah Iannarone is a program manager at Portland State University, where she is also a PhD candidate in the School of Urban Studies and Planning. She is on the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Mixed Use Zones Project Advisory Committee and is a small business owner.

1:50 On her vision for Portland arts and culture
“[Art] is part of the DNA of who we are as a city. The question for our future is, what is the relationship between arts, livability, and our economy?”

3:00 On the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC)

7:40 On how we can address the rising costs of housing and studio space in Portland
“I haven’t heard anyone else talk about thinking of ways we can innovate in our current zoning to make better use of existing space in neighborhoods. […] What does it look like for the government to get out of the way for some community-based solutions? What does it mean to look beyond the standard single-family home on a lot?”

14:46 On how to make sure there is room for artists in commercial spaces
“Another thing we can be doing is making sure that our artists are connected to real, paying work—that we are not seeing artisans as always in need of a handout. Artists are really productive members of society. They contribute a great deal beyond things that are superficial or superfluous to our lives.”

19:55 On how we can afford to invest in infrastructure for the arts
“We’ve worked so hard the last few decades to make Portland an amazing place. Our arts are community investments, our public spaces are community investments, the civic culture that we have here is a community investment […] this is something that the real estate investors are valuing. So we need to capture that.”

21:30 On the role of subsidies for arts
“We subsidize as a public the things that we value that the market doesn’t necessarily value on the surface. That means that we don’t have to do the work that the market will do for us. What we have to do is the work that the market won’t do for us. And the market won’t build things like The Gerding for us.”

22:13 On how to extend access to arts and culture in Portland

24:08 on the importance of arts education and public art
“While we need the math and science for skill-building, we also need a core understanding of the complexity of human experience […] and art is a way that you connect intellect to the heart, so that people in our society can connect to each other, they can connect to place.”

30:25 On how to ensure Portland survives growth with its soul intact
“We need someone with a bold vision of what is on the other side of these growing pains that we are experiencing right now. To characterize that as ‘losing our soul’ almost predisposes us to losing our soul, instead of having a leader who is saying, ‘We can keep our soul. We have our soul, this is what our soul looks like in Portland. This is how we do things.’”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559777Sat, 09 Apr 2016 18:32:33 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAs the 2016 mayoral race picks up speed, we continue to bring candidates in to the studio to talk about the future of arts and culture in Portland. First-time candidate Sarah Iannarone is a program manager at Portland State University, where she is...
First-time candidate Sarah Iannarone is a program manager at Portland State University, where she is also a PhD candidate in the School of Urban Studies and Planning. She is on the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Mixed Use Zones Project Advisory Committee and is a small business owner.

1:50 On her vision for Portland arts and culture
“[Art] is part of the DNA of who we are as a city. The question for our future is, what is the relationship between arts, livability, and our economy?”

3:00 On the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC)

7:40 On how we can address the rising costs of housing and studio space in Portland
“I haven’t heard anyone else talk about thinking of ways we can innovate in our current zoning to make better use of existing space in neighborhoods. […] What does it look like for the government to get out of the way for some community-based solutions? What does it mean to look beyond the standard single-family home on a lot?”

14:46 On how to make sure there is room for artists in commercial spaces
“Another thing we can be doing is making sure that our artists are connected to real, paying work—that we are not seeing artisans as always in need of a handout. Artists are really productive members of society. They contribute a great deal beyond things that are superficial or superfluous to our lives.”

19:55 On how we can afford to invest in infrastructure for the arts
“We’ve worked so hard the last few decades to make Portland an amazing place. Our arts are community investments, our public spaces are community investments, the civic culture that we have here is a community investment […] this is something that the real estate investors are valuing. So we need to capture that.”

21:30 On the role of subsidies for arts
“We subsidize as a public the things that we value that the market doesn’t necessarily value on the surface. That means that we don’t have to do the work that the market will do for us. What we have to do is the work that the market won’t do for us. And the market won’t build things like The Gerding for us.”

22:13 On how to extend access to arts and culture in Portland

24:08 on the importance of arts education and public art
“While we need the math and science for skill-building, we also need a core understanding of the complexity of human experience […] and art is a way that you connect intellect to the heart, so that people in our society can connect to each other, they can connect to place.”

30:25 On how to ensure Portland survives growth with its soul intact
“We need someone with a bold vision of what is on the other side of these growing pains that we are experiencing right now. To characterize that as ‘losing our soul’ almost predisposes us to losing our soul, instead of having a leader who is saying, ‘We can keep our soul. We have our soul, this is what our soul looks like in Portland. This is how we do things.’”]]>1894politicsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-16-from-space-ships-to-hobbit-houses-ux-design-with-guest-curator-elena-moon--11544235
User Experience 101 - 01:08
We kick off with a quick primer on UX. Whether you’re talking about everyday objects or brand new apps, solid design is anything but accidental. Elena explains why some brands stand out. Take Uber, for example. Whatever you may think of the company’s business practices, the interface of the Uber app is a gold standard for how to serve up visual information.

Portland’s Parking Meters: Design Fail? - 05:04
We explore how design is in play in even the simplest of tasks. Elena and April scout out a hub of meter activity in the Pearl District and speak with some of the people who maintain the meters, technicians Anto Bayu Aji and Molly Twoohey.

How to Teach Grandmothers to Install Solar Panels - 15:20
UX isn’t just for software. Elena talks about working on a project with India’s Barefoot College on a project that trained grandmothers to do their own solar engineering in rural communities in India. How can teachers work across language barriers? How do you keep learning going after everyone heads home to their village? As Elena explains, the conversation gave rise to some unexpected answers.

How Do You Improve on the Coolest Hotel in Town? - 20:10
We eavesdrop on Elena’s meeting with the Ace Hotel design team for a look inside the design process. The company already has a robust brand and online presence, but it enlisted Elena to help refine the experience of visiting its website. What’s most intuitive to potential customers?

Designers' Film Club - 25:55
A few years ago, Elena and her partner, Jos Vaught, had the chance to work on some UX projects for NASA and SpaceX. Can a designer who’s seen a real space capsule interface ever look at Ridley Scott the same way again? We reality-check "The Martian,” “Minority Report,” and “Star Trek: Into Darkness.”

On the Designers Shelf Life and the Accumulated Wisdom of Fly Fishing - 36:20
It’s no secret that, within tech circles, the industry is not kind to workers over 35. Elena contrasts this for us with another discipline in which practitioners don’t get anywhere without decades of hard-won knowledge: fly fishing. We head out to Maupin with seasoned guide Amy Hazel of Deschutes Angler to find out about the beauty and craft to be found on the river.

Are Tiny Hobbit Homes the Way of the Future? - 45:58
Elena turned us on to the amazing work of Abel Zimmerman Zyl: the totally charming gypsy caravans that look plucked right out of "The Hobbit." Zyl tells us about the nuts and bolts of tiny house construction.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544235Thu, 14 Apr 2016 23:38:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTo prep for Design Week Portland, we're listening back to our guest curator show with user experience (UX) designer Elena Moon. She has this fantastic way of explaining what works and why, and she’s going to lead us through her own work and the...
User Experience 101 - 01:08
We kick off with a quick primer on UX. Whether you’re talking about everyday objects or brand new apps, solid design is anything but accidental. Elena explains why some brands stand out. Take Uber, for example. Whatever you may think of the company’s business practices, the interface of the Uber app is a gold standard for how to serve up visual information.

Portland’s Parking Meters: Design Fail? - 05:04
We explore how design is in play in even the simplest of tasks. Elena and April scout out a hub of meter activity in the Pearl District and speak with some of the people who maintain the meters, technicians Anto Bayu Aji and Molly Twoohey.

How to Teach Grandmothers to Install Solar Panels - 15:20
UX isn’t just for software. Elena talks about working on a project with India’s Barefoot College on a project that trained grandmothers to do their own solar engineering in rural communities in India. How can teachers work across language barriers? How do you keep learning going after everyone heads home to their village? As Elena explains, the conversation gave rise to some unexpected answers.

How Do You Improve on the Coolest Hotel in Town? - 20:10
We eavesdrop on Elena’s meeting with the Ace Hotel design team for a look inside the design process. The company already has a robust brand and online presence, but it enlisted Elena to help refine the experience of visiting its website. What’s most intuitive to potential customers?

Designers' Film Club - 25:55
A few years ago, Elena and her partner, Jos Vaught, had the chance to work on some UX projects for NASA and SpaceX. Can a designer who’s seen a real space capsule interface ever look at Ridley Scott the same way again? We reality-check "The Martian,” “Minority Report,” and “Star Trek: Into Darkness.”

On the Designers Shelf Life and the Accumulated Wisdom of Fly Fishing - 36:20
It’s no secret that, within tech circles, the industry is not kind to workers over 35. Elena contrasts this for us with another discipline in which practitioners don’t get anywhere without decades of hard-won knowledge: fly fishing. We head out to Maupin with seasoned guide Amy Hazel of Deschutes Angler to find out about the beauty and craft to be found on the river.

Are Tiny Hobbit Homes the Way of the Future? - 45:58
Elena turned us on to the amazing work of Abel Zimmerman Zyl: the totally charming gypsy caravans that look plucked right out of "The Hobbit." Zyl tells us about the nuts and bolts of tiny house construction.]]>3248falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pica-finds-a-permanent-home-after-years-of-roaming--11559766
“We’re moving into a space and not having a capital campaign,” said Ethan Seltzer, PICA’s board president and a professor of urban studies and planning at Portland State University. “This is mind-blowing.”

For 21 years, PICA has been a pied piper of contemporary art, leading audiences into overlooked parts of town, transforming empty warehouses into art hot-spots for events like the Time-Based Arts Festival, or TBA, and building a community and an international reputation around creative DIY barn raising.

However, with the real estate market exploding across inner Portland, the nonprofit found it increasingly difficult to find affordable venues, particularly for TBA. It used to be PICA’s leaders could make a few phone calls; now, they found themselves spending months searching and still pushing deadlines when they couldn’t secure space until mid-summer.

In recent years, the organization began to question their itinerant model and whether it was time to settle down.

No one thought it would happen this fast.

Located behind the Toyota dealership on the northeast end of the Broadway Bridge, the complex includes a 10,000-square-foot warehouse, a smaller 3,000-square-foot warehouse, offices, and a retail space that PICA will convert into its public facing Resource Room. Drone footage exclusive to OPB shows the inside of the venue.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/portland-institute-contemporary-art-new-venue/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559766Fri, 22 Apr 2016 01:53:07 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe Portland Institute for Contemporary Art announced Thursday that a patron has bought a 16,000-square-foot compound at 15 NE Hancock St. and offered it to PICA rent-free for 10 years, with an option to extend the lease 10 more. “We’re moving into a...
“We’re moving into a space and not having a capital campaign,” said Ethan Seltzer, PICA’s board president and a professor of urban studies and planning at Portland State University. “This is mind-blowing.”

For 21 years, PICA has been a pied piper of contemporary art, leading audiences into overlooked parts of town, transforming empty warehouses into art hot-spots for events like the Time-Based Arts Festival, or TBA, and building a community and an international reputation around creative DIY barn raising.

However, with the real estate market exploding across inner Portland, the nonprofit found it increasingly difficult to find affordable venues, particularly for TBA. It used to be PICA’s leaders could make a few phone calls; now, they found themselves spending months searching and still pushing deadlines when they couldn’t secure space until mid-summer.

In recent years, the organization began to question their itinerant model and whether it was time to settle down.

No one thought it would happen this fast.

Located behind the Toyota dealership on the northeast end of the Broadway Bridge, the complex includes a 10,000-square-foot warehouse, a smaller 3,000-square-foot warehouse, offices, and a retail space that PICA will convert into its public facing Resource Room. Drone footage exclusive to OPB shows the inside of the venue.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/portland-institute-contemporary-art-new-venue/]]>387art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/funk-flows-forward-remembering-prince--11567977https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567977Sat, 23 Apr 2016 00:16:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingToo soon! Too soon! What are we doing here again, eulogizing one of our musical icons? And yet, there it was: Thursday’s news about the death of Prince. Even Portland's Morrison Bridge (left) went all purple in mourning. We hear an appreciation of his...665opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/meet-the-bradfords--11567982See "Katherine Bradford: Divers and Dreamers" at Adams and Ollman gallery this month.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567982Sat, 23 Apr 2016 00:23:13 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPainter Katherine Bradford and her son Arthur (a Portland writer and filmmaker) are having entirely too much fun talking about each other's work. See "Katherine Bradford: Divers and Dreamers" at Adams and Ollman gallery this month.See "Katherine Bradford: Divers and Dreamers" at Adams and Ollman gallery this month.]]>637opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/two-nw-drag-queens-boldly-go-where-no-queens-have-gone-before--11559811
Kaj-Anne Pepper started out as the youngest member of the infamous performance art drag troupe Sissy Boy in the mid-aughts. He’s since matured into Portland’s youngest grand dame, hosting TBA’s hugely popular Critical Mascara Drag Ball. He also does club nights across town. His show is called “D.I.V.A. Practice” and runs Apr. 29–May 1 at New Expressive Works: http://kpepper.net/.

When Seattle’s alt weekly The Stranger gave a Genius Award last year to Cherdonna Shinatra, the paper characterized her as an “uncategorizable spectacle.” Cherdonna is the alter ego of dancer Jody Keuhner, who will bring the show “Worth My Salt” to Portland Center Stage from Apr. 29–May 1: http://risk-reward.org/upcoming/cherdonna-shinatra/

Producer Aaron Scott began by asking Keuhner how, as a biological woman, she got her start as a drag queen.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559811Sat, 23 Apr 2016 00:29:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIs it possible for there to be too much glitter? We think not, but it will surely be put to the test next weekend. Two of the Northwest’s most ambitious drag queens are presenting full length shows that blend dance, drag, comedy, blistering...
Kaj-Anne Pepper started out as the youngest member of the infamous performance art drag troupe Sissy Boy in the mid-aughts. He’s since matured into Portland’s youngest grand dame, hosting TBA’s hugely popular Critical Mascara Drag Ball. He also does club nights across town. His show is called “D.I.V.A. Practice” and runs Apr. 29–May 1 at New Expressive Works: http://kpepper.net/.

When Seattle’s alt weekly The Stranger gave a Genius Award last year to Cherdonna Shinatra, the paper characterized her as an “uncategorizable spectacle.” Cherdonna is the alter ego of dancer Jody Keuhner, who will bring the show “Worth My Salt” to Portland Center Stage from Apr. 29–May 1: http://risk-reward.org/upcoming/cherdonna-shinatra/

Producer Aaron Scott began by asking Keuhner how, as a biological woman, she got her start as a drag queen.]]>556art,arts & entertainment,drag,local_opb,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-23-prince-rip-pica-s-new-digs-pnca-protests-pdx-jazz-town-and-more--11544233
Full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/prince-protests-pnca-pica-new-building-bradford/

The Passing Of The Purple One
We can’t quite believe we’re once again eulogizing a musical icon, but music fans have been thrown into mourning after Thursday’s news about the death of Prince. We talk with the DJ Rev Shines and musicians Farnell Newton and Tony Ozier about the role the legend played in their musical paths, as well as look at some of the ways Prince pushed gender, genre, and the world at large.

Reflecting On Art And Loss
Host April Baer reflects on the loss of Oregon painter Rick Bartow, the death of Merle Haggard, and the passing of her own father. Sometimes art is the conduit to grief.

Meet The Bradfords
As a single mother in New York City, Katherine Bradford raised two children and pursued the life of a painter. She succeeded at both activities. One of those children grew up to be the Portland author and filmmaker Arthur Bradford. And now, at age 73, Katherine is blowing up in the art world. April sat down with mother and son in preview of Katherine's show at Adams and Ollman Gallery (April 22–June 3) to discuss her newfound success and how their work is connected.

PICA Gets Huge New Digs
For 21 years, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art has been a pied piper on the art scene, leading audiences into overlooked parts of town and transforming empty warehouses into art hot spots for events like the Time-Based Arts Festival. Now a patron has bought a 16,000-square foot complex near NE Williams and Broadway and is turning it over to PICA rent free. What will this mean for a roving band of arts instigators who’ve staked their identity on impermanence? We have exclusive video from a drone fly thru, because drones+art=awesome.

Protests At PNCA
If you passed by Portland’s North Park Blocks this week, you surely noticed the protesters: dozens of students and staff at Pacific Northwest College of Art marched to ask for changes in the college’s hiring and financial practices. The protesters say the school's treatment of part-time, short-contract instructors has consequences for what happens in the classroom. We'll hear from organizers and the college administration, which is taking first steps to cease the protest.

The Slants And The Supreme Court?
Portland band The Slants are currently in dispute with the United States Patent and Trade Office, which has refused to grant a trademark for the band's name, citing racist connotations. The band, made up of Asian-American musicians, say that they're reclaiming the term. Now the patent office has appealed to the Supreme Court. If the court takes it up, it could have ramifications far beyond the band.

Drag And Dance
Next weekend, two of the Northwest’s most ambitious drag queens are presenting full length shows that blend dance, drag, comedy blistering soundscapes, and utter hijinkx … with wigs the size of Volkswagons. Kaj-Anne Pepper started out as the youngest member of the infamous performance art drag troupe Sissy Boy in the mid-aughts and has since matured into Portland’s youngest grand dame. His show is called “D.I.V.A. Practice” (Apr. 29–May 1). And Seattle artist Cherdonna Shinatra (Jody Keuhner) was described by Seattle’s alt-weekly The Stranger as an “uncategorizable spectacle” when it gave her a Genius Award last year. She will bring the show “Worth My Salt” to Portland Center Stage from Apr. 29–May 1.

Jazz Town
We're sharing excerpts from KMHD's Oregon Experience documentary Jazz Town. In this segment, we hear from those with ties to the historic Albina neighborhood and the jazz scene that thrived there throughout the 50s and 60s. Find more at the Jazz Town page.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544233Sat, 23 Apr 2016 17:11:44 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on State of Wonder we have stories of love, loss, law and looking back. Full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/prince-protests-pnca-pica-new-building-bradford/ The Passing Of The Purple One We can’t quite...
Full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/prince-protests-pnca-pica-new-building-bradford/

The Passing Of The Purple One
We can’t quite believe we’re once again eulogizing a musical icon, but music fans have been thrown into mourning after Thursday’s news about the death of Prince. We talk with the DJ Rev Shines and musicians Farnell Newton and Tony Ozier about the role the legend played in their musical paths, as well as look at some of the ways Prince pushed gender, genre, and the world at large.

Reflecting On Art And Loss
Host April Baer reflects on the loss of Oregon painter Rick Bartow, the death of Merle Haggard, and the passing of her own father. Sometimes art is the conduit to grief.

Meet The Bradfords
As a single mother in New York City, Katherine Bradford raised two children and pursued the life of a painter. She succeeded at both activities. One of those children grew up to be the Portland author and filmmaker Arthur Bradford. And now, at age 73, Katherine is blowing up in the art world. April sat down with mother and son in preview of Katherine's show at Adams and Ollman Gallery (April 22–June 3) to discuss her newfound success and how their work is connected.

PICA Gets Huge New Digs
For 21 years, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art has been a pied piper on the art scene, leading audiences into overlooked parts of town and transforming empty warehouses into art hot spots for events like the Time-Based Arts Festival. Now a patron has bought a 16,000-square foot complex near NE Williams and Broadway and is turning it over to PICA rent free. What will this mean for a roving band of arts instigators who’ve staked their identity on impermanence? We have exclusive video from a drone fly thru, because drones+art=awesome.

Protests At PNCA
If you passed by Portland’s North Park Blocks this week, you surely noticed the protesters: dozens of students and staff at Pacific Northwest College of Art marched to ask for changes in the college’s hiring and financial practices. The protesters say the school's treatment of part-time, short-contract instructors has consequences for what happens in the classroom. We'll hear from organizers and the college administration, which is taking first steps to cease the protest.

The Slants And The Supreme Court?
Portland band The Slants are currently in dispute with the United States Patent and Trade Office, which has refused to grant a trademark for the band's name, citing racist connotations. The band, made up of Asian-American musicians, say that they're reclaiming the term. Now the patent office has appealed to the Supreme Court. If the court takes it up, it could have ramifications far beyond the band.

Drag And Dance
Next weekend, two of the Northwest’s most ambitious drag queens are presenting full length shows that blend dance, drag, comedy blistering soundscapes, and utter hijinkx … with wigs the size of Volkswagons. Kaj-Anne Pepper started out as the youngest member of the infamous performance art drag troupe Sissy Boy in the mid-aughts and has since matured into Portland’s youngest grand dame. His show is called “D.I.V.A. Practice” (Apr. 29–May 1). And Seattle artist Cherdonna Shinatra (Jody Keuhner) was described by Seattle’s alt-weekly The Stranger as an “uncategorizable spectacle” when it gave her a Genius Award last year. She will bring the show “Worth My Salt” to Portland Center Stage from Apr. 29–May 1.

Jazz Town
We're sharing excerpts from KMHD's Oregon Experience documentary Jazz Town. In this segment, we hear from those with ties to the historic Albina neighborhood and the jazz scene that...]]>3168falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-funk-remembers-prince--11561057
This man meant so much to dancers, deviants and DJs.

XRAY-FM radio host and DJ for Lifesavas Rev Shines started us down the path. He’s scheduled to work at a Three Kings night next month, featuring the music of Prince alongside Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. He says it’s going to be nuts.

“It’s making me do my homework,” Rev told us. “I grabbed everything I could find.”

As Portland’s Hollywood Theatre gears up for a Thursday showing of “Purple Rain,” and Voodoo Doughnuts cranks out a line of purple-frosted, raspberry-filled donuts in honor of the late, genre-busting genius, we went out to talk to two guys carrying the funk forward: Trumpet guru Farnell Newton and funk bandleader Tony Ozier.

They joined forces two years ago as the record label FN Beats Galore. Their celebrated lineup, Othership Connection, had a big gig opening for George Clinton this month. And they join in the global remembrance of Prince.

“It’s a part of the lineage of the music that we play,” said Farnell.

We chatted them up about what Prince meant to funk, and what’s new with FN Beats. They’re hatching plans for a festival of black music this fall — something they promise will showcase Portland’s best. Take a listen.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561057Mon, 25 Apr 2016 21:46:54 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingToo soon! Too soon! What are we doing here again, eulogizing one of our musical icons? And yet, there it was: Thursday’s news about the death of Prince. This man meant so much to dancers, deviants and DJs. XRAY-FM radio host and DJ for Lifesavas Rev...
This man meant so much to dancers, deviants and DJs.

XRAY-FM radio host and DJ for Lifesavas Rev Shines started us down the path. He’s scheduled to work at a Three Kings night next month, featuring the music of Prince alongside Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. He says it’s going to be nuts.

“It’s making me do my homework,” Rev told us. “I grabbed everything I could find.”

As Portland’s Hollywood Theatre gears up for a Thursday showing of “Purple Rain,” and Voodoo Doughnuts cranks out a line of purple-frosted, raspberry-filled donuts in honor of the late, genre-busting genius, we went out to talk to two guys carrying the funk forward: Trumpet guru Farnell Newton and funk bandleader Tony Ozier.

They joined forces two years ago as the record label FN Beats Galore. Their celebrated lineup, Othership Connection, had a big gig opening for George Clinton this month. And they join in the global remembrance of Prince.

“It’s a part of the lineage of the music that we play,” said Farnell.

We chatted them up about what Prince meant to funk, and what’s new with FN Beats. They’re hatching plans for a festival of black music this fall — something they promise will showcase Portland’s best. Take a listen.]]>665falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/an-international-architecture-firm-wants-to-reshape-portland--11559759
Now, Snøhetta is focusing its gaze on Portland. The company is currently working on designs for redevelopment of the Willamette Falls site in Oregon City, as well as the proposed James Beard Public Market in Portland.

Our columnist-in-residence, Randy Gragg, and producer Aaron Scott met with Snøhetta founding partner Craig Dykers and discipline partner Michelle Delk to take a tour of the exhibition "Snøhetta: People, Process, Projects." It's the first U.S. retrospective of the firm's work and is on view at the Portland AIA Center for Architecture through June 30.

See the full story and slide show:
http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/snhetta-willamette-falls-james-beard-market]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559759Thu, 28 Apr 2016 22:34:12 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhile the architectural firm Snøhetta might not be a household name in Portland, it has become one of the biggest players in architecture internationally. Its designers are the process of remaking New York City’s Times Square, they created the newly...
Now, Snøhetta is focusing its gaze on Portland. The company is currently working on designs for redevelopment of the Willamette Falls site in Oregon City, as well as the proposed James Beard Public Market in Portland.

Our columnist-in-residence, Randy Gragg, and producer Aaron Scott met with Snøhetta founding partner Craig Dykers and discipline partner Michelle Delk to take a tour of the exhibition "Snøhetta: People, Process, Projects." It's the first U.S. retrospective of the firm's work and is on view at the Portland AIA Center for Architecture through June 30.

See the full story and slide show:
http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/snhetta-willamette-falls-james-beard-market]]>610architecture,art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-30-maurice-sendak-at-portland-opera-radiation-city-holly-andres-snohetta-portland-ballet--11544230
Mauric Sendak Goes to the Opera - 0:00
Maurice Sendak is beloved for his emotionally stormy and distinctive children’s books like "Where the Wild Things Are" and "In the Night Kitchen," but the Portland Opera is giving us a chance to appreciate his lesser-known work — as a passionate fan of and set designer for opera. The Portland Opera's general director, Christopher Mattaliano, worked with Sendak on his first opera, "The Magic Flute," in 1981 and is restaging it May 6-14 for the first time in over a decade. Mattaliano tells us about his friendship with Sendak and how the great artist simply loved opera.

Radiation City - 7:30
Local indie-pop band Radiation City's lineup was famous for featuring two couples...and infamous for its in-fighting. So when co-founders Lizzy Ellison and Cameron Spies finally split, it was an open question: could the show go on? Their new album, Synesthetica, charts calamity and a path out of it, adding a new level of polish and maturity to the band's signature take on retro-pop.

Holly Andres - 15:08
Photographer Holly Andres — who has shot for "Vanity Fair," the "New York Times," and other A-list clients — captures scenes packed with emotion, intrigue, and mystery. She has a show on view at Charles Hartman Fine Art in Portland called “The Fallen Fawn” (through May 28) about two young girls who discover an unexpected treasure. We dive into it with Tricia Hoffman, executive director of The Newspace Gallery (which currently has a show up featuring photography shot inside prisons), for another review in our "What Are You Looking At?" series.

Snøhetta - 21:00
Columnist-in-residence Randy Gragg takes us into the world of Snøhetta, an internationally-renowned architecture firm (think Times Square, the new SF Museum of Modern Art, and the Library of Alexandria) about to embark on two projects in Oregon: the James Beard Public Market in Portland, and the Willamette Falls Riverwalk in Oregon City. The first ever U.S. retrospective of the firm's work, "Snøhetta: People, Process, Projects," is on-view at the AIA Center for Architecture through June 30.

The Portland Ballet - 31:10
Oregon Art Beat recently profiled some big changes at the Portland Ballet, a ballet school in Hillsdale that seeks to bridge the gap between Balanchine and Queen (yes, as in "Bohemian Rhapsody") in their quest to train professional dancers. Their spring concert (May 6–7) features the Portland premiere of Trey McIntyre's Queen-fueled ballet, "Mercury Half-Life," alongside Balanchine and a world premiere from Portland's own Gregg Bielemeier.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544230Fri, 29 Apr 2016 18:56:20 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on State of Wonder, Maurice Sendak goes to the opera, retro-tinged indie pop with Radiation City, darkness and light with photographer Holly Andres, and Snohetta's big plans for Portland's James Beard Market and Willamette Falls, and the...
Mauric Sendak Goes to the Opera - 0:00
Maurice Sendak is beloved for his emotionally stormy and distinctive children’s books like "Where the Wild Things Are" and "In the Night Kitchen," but the Portland Opera is giving us a chance to appreciate his lesser-known work — as a passionate fan of and set designer for opera. The Portland Opera's general director, Christopher Mattaliano, worked with Sendak on his first opera, "The Magic Flute," in 1981 and is restaging it May 6-14 for the first time in over a decade. Mattaliano tells us about his friendship with Sendak and how the great artist simply loved opera.

Radiation City - 7:30
Local indie-pop band Radiation City's lineup was famous for featuring two couples...and infamous for its in-fighting. So when co-founders Lizzy Ellison and Cameron Spies finally split, it was an open question: could the show go on? Their new album, Synesthetica, charts calamity and a path out of it, adding a new level of polish and maturity to the band's signature take on retro-pop.

Holly Andres - 15:08
Photographer Holly Andres — who has shot for "Vanity Fair," the "New York Times," and other A-list clients — captures scenes packed with emotion, intrigue, and mystery. She has a show on view at Charles Hartman Fine Art in Portland called “The Fallen Fawn” (through May 28) about two young girls who discover an unexpected treasure. We dive into it with Tricia Hoffman, executive director of The Newspace Gallery (which currently has a show up featuring photography shot inside prisons), for another review in our "What Are You Looking At?" series.

Snøhetta - 21:00
Columnist-in-residence Randy Gragg takes us into the world of Snøhetta, an internationally-renowned architecture firm (think Times Square, the new SF Museum of Modern Art, and the Library of Alexandria) about to embark on two projects in Oregon: the James Beard Public Market in Portland, and the Willamette Falls Riverwalk in Oregon City. The first ever U.S. retrospective of the firm's work, "Snøhetta: People, Process, Projects," is on-view at the AIA Center for Architecture through June 30.

The Portland Ballet - 31:10
Oregon Art Beat recently profiled some big changes at the Portland Ballet, a ballet school in Hillsdale that seeks to bridge the gap between Balanchine and Queen (yes, as in "Bohemian Rhapsody") in their quest to train professional dancers. Their spring concert (May 6–7) features the Portland premiere of Trey McIntyre's Queen-fueled ballet, "Mercury Half-Life," alongside Balanchine and a world premiere from Portland's own Gregg Bielemeier.]]>2069falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-are-you-looking-at-holly-andres-the-fallen-fawn--11567969
Her series, “Holly Andres: The Fallen Fawn” is on view through May 28th at Charles Hartman Fine Art in Portland.

We stopped by with Tricia Hoffman, the executive Director of Newspace Center for Photography for the latest installment of our series, “What Are You Looking At?”

The exhibition begins with a striking night-time image of a car, with a dear in its headlights. It’s an ambiguous situation: is the driver ready to run the deer down, or paused to marvel? That’s the kind of precipice moment Andres revels in.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567969Sat, 30 Apr 2016 17:51:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHolly Andres is not just one of the best working photographers in Portland — she’s also one of the busiest. Her work has appeared in Vanity Fair, the New York Times, Elle Magazine, and has shown her work nationally and internationally. She’s won...
Her series, “Holly Andres: The Fallen Fawn” is on view through May 28th at Charles Hartman Fine Art in Portland.

We stopped by with Tricia Hoffman, the executive Director of Newspace Center for Photography for the latest installment of our series, “What Are You Looking At?”

The exhibition begins with a striking night-time image of a car, with a dear in its headlights. It’s an ambiguous situation: is the driver ready to run the deer down, or paused to marvel? That’s the kind of precipice moment Andres revels in.]]>352opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/peter-pan-prequel-sparkles-at-portland-playhouse--11559758
We might never know the real reason (at least according to author J.M. Barrie), but the authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson sure dreamed up a fabulous possibility in the book “Peter and the Starcatcher.” Billed as a "grown-up's prequel," it was adapted for the stage by Rick Elice and ultimately won five Tonys on Broadway in 2012.

Now the musical is having its local premiere at Portland Playhouse, through May 29. We thought, who better to see it with than actor Rodney Hicks for the next stop in our “What Are You Looking At?” series. Hicks has starred in a number of Broadway productions, including the original production of Rent. He also happens to have seen the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of “Peter and the Starcatcher.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/peter-starcatcher-portland-playhouse]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559758Wed, 04 May 2016 18:53:19 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEver wondered how Peter Pan came to be the boy who never grew up? Or how he and Captain Hook came to be arch nemeses? We might never know the real reason (at least according to author J.M. Barrie), but the authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson sure...
We might never know the real reason (at least according to author J.M. Barrie), but the authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson sure dreamed up a fabulous possibility in the book “Peter and the Starcatcher.” Billed as a "grown-up's prequel," it was adapted for the stage by Rick Elice and ultimately won five Tonys on Broadway in 2012.

Now the musical is having its local premiere at Portland Playhouse, through May 29. We thought, who better to see it with than actor Rodney Hicks for the next stop in our “What Are You Looking At?” series. Hicks has starred in a number of Broadway productions, including the original production of Rent. He also happens to have seen the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of “Peter and the Starcatcher.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/peter-starcatcher-portland-playhouse]]>480art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,opb,portland,review,theaterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/may-7-charles-bradley-mohsin-hamid-qdoc-film-fest-peter-pan-prequel-and-more--11544231
Into the Beautiful North
An adaptation of Luis Alberto Urrea’s bestselling novel “Into the Beautiful North” premieres at Milagro Theatre this week. The story follows three women from a small town in Mexico—a town with a total male population of zero. Immigration to the US has lured their community's men away, but our heroines, spurred on by the classic western flick “The Magnificent Seven,” are determined to bring back at least half a dozen of the good ones.

Rough Waters for Arts Central - 4:50
For twenty years, the Bend-based nonprofit Arts Central has brought arts education to central Oregon under the leadership of executive director Cate O’Hagan. Last month, though, O’Hagan quit after coming into conflict with the organization’s board over her role and the nonprofit's office space. We look at what this could mean for the region.

Changes, from Charles Bradley - 8:47
NPR called Charles Bradley’s “the most unlikely soul career of the millennium,” and the singer’s new album, “Changes,” reflects this and more. Bradley talks with NPR's David Greene about the album's unlikely starting place in a Black Sabbath cover, before opening up about how deeply the album is influenced by the loss of his mother. Bradley plays the Crystal Ballroom on May 19.

The Portland Queer Documentary Film Festival Is One of a Kind - 16:33
Every year, the Portland Queer Documentary Film Festival, or QDoc for short, brings films (and often their makers) from around the world to Portland, about subjects ranging from gay athletes to New Zealand's favorite yodeling lesbian twins. It's the only such festival in the world, and this year it celebrates its 10th year May 19–22 at the Hollywood Theater. The co-founder David Weissman, a filmmaker best known for his docs "The Cockettes" and "We Were Here," stops by to talk about the festival and his newest project, "Conversations with Gay Elders."

Eugene Symphony's Big 5-0 - 23:30
The Eugene Symphony has a reputation for programming challenging works, but the symphony is pushing itself to a new level for its 50th anniversary with three new commissions by world class composers. Hear Oregon composer Robert Kyr's “Dawning of the World (Piano Concerto No. 1)” during the season finale on May 12.

Return to Neverland with Peter and the Starcatcher - 30:45
What does it take to recapture the wonder of being a kid? Turns out, the Tony-winning musical "Peter and the Starcatcher," which bills itself as a grown-ups' prequel to Peter Pan. We ask Broadway veteran Rodney Hicks to see the Portland Playhouse's local premiere for the next stop in our “What Are You Looking At?” series, and are rewarded with a night of uproarious laughs and unbridled imagination, playing through May 29.

Mohsin Hamed - 38:58
Pakistani and British author Mohsin Hamed reliably produces books with painfully clever titles and wisely-portioned doses of experimentation. His novels “The Reluctant Fundamentalist" and "How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia,” were short listed for the Man Booker Prize and made the New York Times Best Seller list, respectively. “Discontent and Its Civilizations,” a collection of essays, came out last year and his newest novel, “Exit West,” is slated for release in 2017. Hamed visited Portland recently and found time to sit down with Think Out Loud’s Dave Miller. It's always good to go out with a bang, so listen in for that conversation at the end of the show.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544231Fri, 06 May 2016 21:34:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn honor of Mothers everywhere, we have several stories about new projects being brought into the world this week: a film project that's all about learning from the past, the Eugene Symphony's three ambitious new compositions, and a play that takes us...
Into the Beautiful North
An adaptation of Luis Alberto Urrea’s bestselling novel “Into the Beautiful North” premieres at Milagro Theatre this week. The story follows three women from a small town in Mexico—a town with a total male population of zero. Immigration to the US has lured their community's men away, but our heroines, spurred on by the classic western flick “The Magnificent Seven,” are determined to bring back at least half a dozen of the good ones.

Rough Waters for Arts Central - 4:50
For twenty years, the Bend-based nonprofit Arts Central has brought arts education to central Oregon under the leadership of executive director Cate O’Hagan. Last month, though, O’Hagan quit after coming into conflict with the organization’s board over her role and the nonprofit's office space. We look at what this could mean for the region.

Changes, from Charles Bradley - 8:47
NPR called Charles Bradley’s “the most unlikely soul career of the millennium,” and the singer’s new album, “Changes,” reflects this and more. Bradley talks with NPR's David Greene about the album's unlikely starting place in a Black Sabbath cover, before opening up about how deeply the album is influenced by the loss of his mother. Bradley plays the Crystal Ballroom on May 19.

The Portland Queer Documentary Film Festival Is One of a Kind - 16:33
Every year, the Portland Queer Documentary Film Festival, or QDoc for short, brings films (and often their makers) from around the world to Portland, about subjects ranging from gay athletes to New Zealand's favorite yodeling lesbian twins. It's the only such festival in the world, and this year it celebrates its 10th year May 19–22 at the Hollywood Theater. The co-founder David Weissman, a filmmaker best known for his docs "The Cockettes" and "We Were Here," stops by to talk about the festival and his newest project, "Conversations with Gay Elders."

Eugene Symphony's Big 5-0 - 23:30
The Eugene Symphony has a reputation for programming challenging works, but the symphony is pushing itself to a new level for its 50th anniversary with three new commissions by world class composers. Hear Oregon composer Robert Kyr's “Dawning of the World (Piano Concerto No. 1)” during the season finale on May 12.

Return to Neverland with Peter and the Starcatcher - 30:45
What does it take to recapture the wonder of being a kid? Turns out, the Tony-winning musical "Peter and the Starcatcher," which bills itself as a grown-ups' prequel to Peter Pan. We ask Broadway veteran Rodney Hicks to see the Portland Playhouse's local premiere for the next stop in our “What Are You Looking At?” series, and are rewarded with a night of uproarious laughs and unbridled imagination, playing through May 29.

Mohsin Hamed - 38:58
Pakistani and British author Mohsin Hamed reliably produces books with painfully clever titles and wisely-portioned doses of experimentation. His novels “The Reluctant Fundamentalist" and "How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia,” were short listed for the Man Booker Prize and made the New York Times Best Seller list, respectively. “Discontent and Its Civilizations,” a collection of essays, came out last year and his newest novel, “Exit West,” is slated for release in 2017. Hamed visited Portland recently and found time to sit down with Think Out Loud’s Dave Miller. It's always good to go out with a bang, so listen in for that conversation at the end of the show.]]>2962falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/katie-chase-s-superbly-off-kilter-take-on-coming-of-age-stories--11559808
“Man and Wife,” the title story, won the Pushcart Prize and was chosen as a Best American Short Story in 2008. Katie Chase sat down with State of Wonder’s April Baer last week to discuss the book and the larger forces that shape its characters’ lives — forces we will all recognize well.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559808Wed, 11 May 2016 22:28:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt’s a cliche that children are full of questions, but certain types of questioning — far from the innocent realms of “why is the sky blue?” — mark the end of childhood. Katie Chase, whose new book “Man and Wife” came out this week, has produced a...
“Man and Wife,” the title story, won the Pushcart Prize and was chosen as a Best American Short Story in 2008. Katie Chase sat down with State of Wonder’s April Baer last week to discuss the book and the larger forces that shape its characters’ lives — forces we will all recognize well.]]>549falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ann-sanderson-candidate-for-portland-council-pos-1--11559853
00:18On checking out art as she’s knocking campaigning
“I started an Instagram account just to collect all the little pieces of art people have in their yards.”

01:17 On her vision for Portland’s future
“I’ve lived here for 23 years… I knew Portland before it was built up and gentrified… we’re going through some growing pains. And we’re going to have to handle them in ways that are mindful.”

03:00On the city’s contributions to RACC
“I think we could do more to fund tiny operations. Encouraging artists who are small scale is also good.”

04:40On how RACC distributes city funds
"There’s only a couple of us running for office that are as far east as I am. We don’t see enough out there, certainly.”

0550 On that should be done with Portland’s budget surpluses
“If you take the back of a napkin and list the things we owe money on, there is huge debt coming onto us. We need to get not hat sooner rather than later. Should we be saying that this [art] is a separate fund or should we be integrating art into everything we do?”

07:35On whether she’d welcome a chance to supervise the city’s arts portfolio.
“I think that would be great! However I think it would be possible to have that connection to art in any bureau. We can incorporate artists and the way they think and look at the world, into what we’re doing no matter what bureau I’m in charge of.”

09:55On housing solutions
“We can’t build ourselves out of this…I think we’ve missed the boat on creative solutions like tiny houses. I’m not sure why we don’t have a way to streamline permitting and abatement of taxes to increase the ADUs in our backyards.”

12:20 On incentives in the commercial real estate market
"A lot of the new permitting going on is mixed use. We’re going to have mixed use in many neighborhoods where it wasn’t there before. How can we have some of that commercial space be affordable as well?”

15:10 On Portland’s arts tax
“I'm not anti-tax, I’m anti-stupid tax. The arts tax was badly designed, badly implemented. When you want to hold up something about the city that doesn’t work, if you are anti-tax, then you hold up the arts tax.”

18:24 On whether Portland is losing its soul
“I was feeling really disconnected from my city for a while…But campaigning I fell in love with Portland again. If I get elected, I’m just going to keep knocking on doors.”

2045On why East Portland embodies what she wants to work on, if elected
“When I talk to people in Brentwood-Darlington who say they feel they haven’t been heard in years, they’re my neighbors. East Portland is not a check-box you pay attention to during elections… We could incentivize remodeling, keeping older buildings in place.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559853Thu, 12 May 2016 15:21:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSanderson is well-known as an advocate against a proposed Portland street tax. She's a small business owner, proprietor of Odango! Hair Salon on Woodstock. 00:18On checking out art as she’s knocking campaigning “I started an Instagram account just to...
00:18On checking out art as she’s knocking campaigning
“I started an Instagram account just to collect all the little pieces of art people have in their yards.”

01:17 On her vision for Portland’s future
“I’ve lived here for 23 years… I knew Portland before it was built up and gentrified… we’re going through some growing pains. And we’re going to have to handle them in ways that are mindful.”

03:00On the city’s contributions to RACC
“I think we could do more to fund tiny operations. Encouraging artists who are small scale is also good.”

04:40On how RACC distributes city funds
"There’s only a couple of us running for office that are as far east as I am. We don’t see enough out there, certainly.”

0550 On that should be done with Portland’s budget surpluses
“If you take the back of a napkin and list the things we owe money on, there is huge debt coming onto us. We need to get not hat sooner rather than later. Should we be saying that this [art] is a separate fund or should we be integrating art into everything we do?”

07:35On whether she’d welcome a chance to supervise the city’s arts portfolio.
“I think that would be great! However I think it would be possible to have that connection to art in any bureau. We can incorporate artists and the way they think and look at the world, into what we’re doing no matter what bureau I’m in charge of.”

09:55On housing solutions
“We can’t build ourselves out of this…I think we’ve missed the boat on creative solutions like tiny houses. I’m not sure why we don’t have a way to streamline permitting and abatement of taxes to increase the ADUs in our backyards.”

12:20 On incentives in the commercial real estate market
"A lot of the new permitting going on is mixed use. We’re going to have mixed use in many neighborhoods where it wasn’t there before. How can we have some of that commercial space be affordable as well?”

15:10 On Portland’s arts tax
“I'm not anti-tax, I’m anti-stupid tax. The arts tax was badly designed, badly implemented. When you want to hold up something about the city that doesn’t work, if you are anti-tax, then you hold up the arts tax.”

18:24 On whether Portland is losing its soul
“I was feeling really disconnected from my city for a while…But campaigning I fell in love with Portland again. If I get elected, I’m just going to keep knocking on doors.”

2045On why East Portland embodies what she wants to work on, if elected
“When I talk to people in Brentwood-Darlington who say they feel they haven’t been heard in years, they’re my neighbors. East Portland is not a check-box you pay attention to during elections… We could incentivize remodeling, keeping older buildings in place.”]]>1421opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/victoria-jamieson-clobbers-ya-tropes-in-roller-girl--11559757
The book became a "New York Times" best seller and recently won a Newberry Honor.

State of Wonder host April Baer sat down with Jamieson to discuss the subtle but salient messages running through the story and how much of "Roller Girl" is a reflection of her own experience.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/victoria-jamieson-roller-girl]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559757Thu, 12 May 2016 18:38:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingVictoria Jamieson has written books for kids and teaches children’s literature at Pacific Northwerst College of Art, but in her spare time, she skates with the Rose City Rollers Wreckers team under the name of Winnie the Pow. So perhaps it was just...
The book became a "New York Times" best seller and recently won a Newberry Honor.

State of Wonder host April Baer sat down with Jamieson to discuss the subtle but salient messages running through the story and how much of "Roller Girl" is a reflection of her own experience.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/victoria-jamieson-roller-girl]]>589art,arts & entertainment,books,local_news,local_opb,opb,portland,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/monica-drake-haunts-portland-with-her-new-short-story-collection--11559756
This week, we had Monica in to tell us about her newest adventure: into the world of interconnected short stories. The book is called "The Folly of Loving Life."

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/monica-drake-folly-loving-life]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559756Thu, 12 May 2016 18:43:24 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMonica Drake is one of Portland’s better known contemporary bards. Her 2007 novel "Clown Girl" followed a young woman navigating a scene not unlike Northeast Portland’s famous Alberta St. Clown House. "The Stud Book," which followed in 2013, was a...
This week, we had Monica in to tell us about her newest adventure: into the world of interconnected short stories. The book is called "The Folly of Loving Life."

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/monica-drake-folly-loving-life]]>586art,arts & entertainment,books,local_,local_opb,opb,portland,radiofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mo-daviau-s-spirited-novel-explores-love-and-music-with-a-time-traveling-twist--11559754
That little gem is the seed of the central conceit in “Every Anxious Wave,” a light-but-heavy love story about a dive-bar owner, Karl Bender, who discovers a time warp in the back of his closet. One of Karl’s first moves is to sell trips through the wormhole to history's most epic rock shows—and to accidentally send his friend Kyle to the year 980 instead of 1980.

Enter Love, stage left, the only force more warpy and weird than Time. The physicist hired by Karl to help rescue Kyle is a woman named Lena, with whom he shares a passion for music and, eventually, a relationship. Like the novel as a whole, their entanglement is fun, funny, and suffused with 90's indie rock—but it hits deeper notes as well. Lena, who survived a rape, could undo it with time travel, expunging a profound and formative trauma. But where would that leave Karl, the man who fell in love with her as she was?

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/mo-daviau-every-anxious-wave]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559754Thu, 12 May 2016 18:57:42 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland writer Mo Daviau’s new novel, “Every Anxious Wave,” grew out of her cocktail-party ice-breaker: "If you could go back in time and see any rock show, what would you choose?" That little gem is the seed of the central conceit in “Every Anxious...
That little gem is the seed of the central conceit in “Every Anxious Wave,” a light-but-heavy love story about a dive-bar owner, Karl Bender, who discovers a time warp in the back of his closet. One of Karl’s first moves is to sell trips through the wormhole to history's most epic rock shows—and to accidentally send his friend Kyle to the year 980 instead of 1980.

Enter Love, stage left, the only force more warpy and weird than Time. The physicist hired by Karl to help rescue Kyle is a woman named Lena, with whom he shares a passion for music and, eventually, a relationship. Like the novel as a whole, their entanglement is fun, funny, and suffused with 90's indie rock—but it hits deeper notes as well. Lena, who survived a rape, could undo it with time travel, expunging a profound and formative trauma. But where would that leave Karl, the man who fell in love with her as she was?

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/mo-daviau-every-anxious-wave]]>598art,arts & entertainment,author interview,books,local_news,local_opb,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/may-14-summer-reads-katherine-dunn-rip-phil-knight-monica-drake-mo-daviau-victoria-jamieson--11544228
"Every Anxious Wave" by Mo Daviau

Mo Daviau is a former college radio DJ who dreamt up her novel, "Every Anxious Wave," over the turntable. It centers around a middle-age dive bar owner named Karl Bender, who’s only kind of hung up about the loss of his glory days playing guitar in an indie rock sensation. When a super-smart friend opens up a wormhole in the space-time continuum, Karl does what any self-respecting middle-aged hipster would do: he starts going back in time to see his favorite shows. And he meets his match, a brainy physicist named Lena.

Remembering Katherine Dunn, the author of "Geek Love" - 11:34

We remember writer Katherine Dunn with Willamette Week editor and publisher Mark Zusman. Dunn, best known for her 1989 award-winning novel “Geek Love,” passed away Wednesday at the age of 70. (This story replaced the interview with Katie Chase about "Man and Wife" in the original podcast. It will air next week.)

"On the Folly of Loving Life" by Monica Drake - 20:24

Monica Drake is one of Portland’s better known contemporary bards. Her 2007 novel, "Clown Girl," followed a young woman navigating a scene not unlike Northeast Portland’s famous Alberta Street Clown House. "The Stud Book," which followed in 2013, was a scathing, hilarious, and surprisingly tender meditation on how we create family. This week we had Monica in to tell us about her newest adventure — into the world of interconnected short stories — with "The Folly of Loving Life."

"Shoe Dog" by Phil Knight - 30:28

The notoriously private Nike founder and philanthropist Phil Knight has taken to the court and the spotlight with the release of his memoir, "Shoe Dog." "Complex" magazine called it “more like 'The Lord of the Rings' than a typical mogul memoir,” and it brought ESPN’s Darren Rovel to tears. Earlier this month, Knight sat down with “New Yorker” writer and essayist Adam Gopnik at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall to talk everything from the origins of the swoosh to going to school with Ken Kesey. You can hear their full conversation at the Literary Arts' Archive Project.

"Roller Girl" by Victoria Jamieson - 39:10

Victoria Jamieson has written other books for kids and teaches children’s literature at Pacific Northwerst College of Art, but in her spare time, she skates with the Rose City Rollers Wreckers team under the name of Winnie the Pow. So perhaps it's no surprise her graphic novel for middle-grade readers, "Roller Girl," is a coming-of-age tale in which girls get in touch with their deeper selves by skating around and hitting each other. The book is also about the very messy social geometry that happens when kids move beyond their elementary school friendships. The book was published last year, and this year was listed for a Newberry Honor.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544228Thu, 12 May 2016 21:30:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSummer came early this year, and it has us already dreaming of weekends at the beach or up in the mountains, kicking back in a hammock with a book between our hands. So we put together a show to highlight some of the season's top reads, in case you're...
"Every Anxious Wave" by Mo Daviau

Mo Daviau is a former college radio DJ who dreamt up her novel, "Every Anxious Wave," over the turntable. It centers around a middle-age dive bar owner named Karl Bender, who’s only kind of hung up about the loss of his glory days playing guitar in an indie rock sensation. When a super-smart friend opens up a wormhole in the space-time continuum, Karl does what any self-respecting middle-aged hipster would do: he starts going back in time to see his favorite shows. And he meets his match, a brainy physicist named Lena.

Remembering Katherine Dunn, the author of "Geek Love" - 11:34

We remember writer Katherine Dunn with Willamette Week editor and publisher Mark Zusman. Dunn, best known for her 1989 award-winning novel “Geek Love,” passed away Wednesday at the age of 70. (This story replaced the interview with Katie Chase about "Man and Wife" in the original podcast. It will air next week.)

"On the Folly of Loving Life" by Monica Drake - 20:24

Monica Drake is one of Portland’s better known contemporary bards. Her 2007 novel, "Clown Girl," followed a young woman navigating a scene not unlike Northeast Portland’s famous Alberta Street Clown House. "The Stud Book," which followed in 2013, was a scathing, hilarious, and surprisingly tender meditation on how we create family. This week we had Monica in to tell us about her newest adventure — into the world of interconnected short stories — with "The Folly of Loving Life."

"Shoe Dog" by Phil Knight - 30:28

The notoriously private Nike founder and philanthropist Phil Knight has taken to the court and the spotlight with the release of his memoir, "Shoe Dog." "Complex" magazine called it “more like 'The Lord of the Rings' than a typical mogul memoir,” and it brought ESPN’s Darren Rovel to tears. Earlier this month, Knight sat down with “New Yorker” writer and essayist Adam Gopnik at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall to talk everything from the origins of the swoosh to going to school with Ken Kesey. You can hear their full conversation at the Literary Arts' Archive Project.

"Roller Girl" by Victoria Jamieson - 39:10

Victoria Jamieson has written other books for kids and teaches children’s literature at Pacific Northwerst College of Art, but in her spare time, she skates with the Rose City Rollers Wreckers team under the name of Winnie the Pow. So perhaps it's no surprise her graphic novel for middle-grade readers, "Roller Girl," is a coming-of-age tale in which girls get in touch with their deeper selves by skating around and hitting each other. The book is also about the very messy social geometry that happens when kids move beyond their elementary school friendships. The book was published last year, and this year was listed for a Newberry Honor.]]>2995falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sue-stahl-candidate-for-council-pos-4--11559755https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559755Thu, 12 May 2016 22:19:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSue Stahl is a long-time civil rights activist best known in Portland for her advocacy work for people with disabilities. She is the vice-chair of the Portland Commission on Disability and chair of the Accessibility in the Built Environment...1011falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ann-sanderson-candidate-for-portland-council-pos-1--11561056
00:18On checking out art as she’s knocking campaigning
“I started an Instagram account just to collect all the little pieces of art people have in their yards.”

01:17 On her vision for Portland’s future
“I’ve lived here for 23 years… I knew Portland before it was built up and gentrified… we’re going through some growing pains. And we’re going to have to handle them in ways that are mindful.”

03:00On the city’s contributions to RACC
“I think we could do more to fund tiny operations. Encouraging artists who are small scale is also good.”

04:40On how RACC distributes city funds
"There’s only a couple of us running for office that are as far east as I am. We don’t see enough out there, certainly.”

0550 On that should be done with Portland’s budget surpluses
“If you take the back of a napkin and list the things we owe money on, there is huge debt coming onto us. We need to get not hat sooner rather than later. Should we be saying that this [art] is a separate fund or should we be integrating art into everything we do?”

07:35On whether she’d welcome a chance to supervise the city’s arts portfolio.
“I think that would be great! However I think it would be possible to have that connection to art in any bureau. We can incorporate artists and the way they think and look at the world, into what we’re doing no matter what bureau I’m in charge of.”

09:55On housing solutions
“We can’t build ourselves out of this…I think we’ve missed the boat on creative solutions like tiny houses. I’m not sure why we don’t have a way to streamline permitting and abatement of taxes to increase the ADUs in our backyards.”

12:20 On incentives in the commercial real estate market
"A lot of the new permitting going on is mixed use. We’re going to have mixed use in many neighborhoods where it wasn’t there before. How can we have some of that commercial space be affordable as well?”

15:10 On Portland’s arts tax
“I'm not anti-tax, I’m anti-stupid tax. The arts tax was badly designed, badly implemented. When you want to hold up something about the city that doesn’t work, if you are anti-tax, then you hold up the arts tax.”

18:24 On whether Portland is losing its soul
“I was feeling really disconnected from my city for a while…But campaigning I fell in love with Portland again. If I get elected, I’m just going to keep knocking on doors.”

2045On why East Portland embodies what she wants to work on, if elected
“When I talk to people in Brentwood-Darlington who say they feel they haven’t been heard in years, they’re my neighbors. East Portland is not a check-box you pay attention to during elections… We could incentivize remodeling, keeping older buildings in place.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561056Thu, 12 May 2016 23:27:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSanderson is well-known as an advocate against a proposed Portland street tax. She's a small business owner, proprietor of Odango! Hair Salon on Woodstock. 00:18On checking out art as she’s knocking campaigning “I started an Instagram account just to...
00:18On checking out art as she’s knocking campaigning
“I started an Instagram account just to collect all the little pieces of art people have in their yards.”

01:17 On her vision for Portland’s future
“I’ve lived here for 23 years… I knew Portland before it was built up and gentrified… we’re going through some growing pains. And we’re going to have to handle them in ways that are mindful.”

03:00On the city’s contributions to RACC
“I think we could do more to fund tiny operations. Encouraging artists who are small scale is also good.”

04:40On how RACC distributes city funds
"There’s only a couple of us running for office that are as far east as I am. We don’t see enough out there, certainly.”

0550 On that should be done with Portland’s budget surpluses
“If you take the back of a napkin and list the things we owe money on, there is huge debt coming onto us. We need to get not hat sooner rather than later. Should we be saying that this [art] is a separate fund or should we be integrating art into everything we do?”

07:35On whether she’d welcome a chance to supervise the city’s arts portfolio.
“I think that would be great! However I think it would be possible to have that connection to art in any bureau. We can incorporate artists and the way they think and look at the world, into what we’re doing no matter what bureau I’m in charge of.”

09:55On housing solutions
“We can’t build ourselves out of this…I think we’ve missed the boat on creative solutions like tiny houses. I’m not sure why we don’t have a way to streamline permitting and abatement of taxes to increase the ADUs in our backyards.”

12:20 On incentives in the commercial real estate market
"A lot of the new permitting going on is mixed use. We’re going to have mixed use in many neighborhoods where it wasn’t there before. How can we have some of that commercial space be affordable as well?”

15:10 On Portland’s arts tax
“I'm not anti-tax, I’m anti-stupid tax. The arts tax was badly designed, badly implemented. When you want to hold up something about the city that doesn’t work, if you are anti-tax, then you hold up the arts tax.”

18:24 On whether Portland is losing its soul
“I was feeling really disconnected from my city for a while…But campaigning I fell in love with Portland again. If I get elected, I’m just going to keep knocking on doors.”

2045On why East Portland embodies what she wants to work on, if elected
“When I talk to people in Brentwood-Darlington who say they feel they haven’t been heard in years, they’re my neighbors. East Portland is not a check-box you pay attention to during elections… We could incentivize remodeling, keeping older buildings in place.”]]>1421opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-is-timber-rock-ask-scott-pemberton--11559746
That’s the name of his latest album, which came out last year, but it’s also the name of the subgenre he is pioneering, harvesting funk, grunge, jazz, blues, and hippie jam vibes with the epic sweep of his roaring guitar.

The resulting music is both tight and loose; recognizable as part of a lineage yet unorthodox; full of evolutions and improvisational concepts that may come and go. For some bands, the live show is a place for experimentation, the record a place for distillation. For Pemberton, even the album is just a slice of time.

"I came from very much a jazz background, so I think I naturally approached the songs that way," he says. "Within jazz, there is more of a skeletal song structure, that then every time you play the song, you add the flesh.”

Born and raised in Portland, the guitarist spent time in legendary jazz drummer Mel Brown’s band and has worked with heavy-hitting blues and soul vocalists Curtis Salgado and Linda Hornbuckle.

But Pemberton also wears his classic rock influences on his sleeve. The last track on “Timber Rock,” for example, is a cover of The Beatles’ “Dear Prudence.” This track, he says, epitomizes his way of approaching musical creation: play the songs live and see what works, both for the musicians and the audience.

“I think that’s part of what the audience enjoys," he says. "Every show is different. You might hear some of the same songs from one show to the next, but they won’t be played the same way."

Scott Pemberton—undoubtedly in his patented fedora and bushy beard—is on tour now and will be performing at Star Theatre on May 28th.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559746Thu, 19 May 2016 21:48:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThrough the lens of some of Portland’s most influential music scenes—think Satyricon, X-Ray Cafe, and Jimmy Mak’s—Scott Pemberton has channelled a ray of sunlight he calls “timber rock.” That’s the name of his latest album, which came out last year,...
That’s the name of his latest album, which came out last year, but it’s also the name of the subgenre he is pioneering, harvesting funk, grunge, jazz, blues, and hippie jam vibes with the epic sweep of his roaring guitar.

The resulting music is both tight and loose; recognizable as part of a lineage yet unorthodox; full of evolutions and improvisational concepts that may come and go. For some bands, the live show is a place for experimentation, the record a place for distillation. For Pemberton, even the album is just a slice of time.

"I came from very much a jazz background, so I think I naturally approached the songs that way," he says. "Within jazz, there is more of a skeletal song structure, that then every time you play the song, you add the flesh.”

Born and raised in Portland, the guitarist spent time in legendary jazz drummer Mel Brown’s band and has worked with heavy-hitting blues and soul vocalists Curtis Salgado and Linda Hornbuckle.

But Pemberton also wears his classic rock influences on his sleeve. The last track on “Timber Rock,” for example, is a cover of The Beatles’ “Dear Prudence.” This track, he says, epitomizes his way of approaching musical creation: play the songs live and see what works, both for the musicians and the audience.

“I think that’s part of what the audience enjoys," he says. "Every show is different. You might hear some of the same songs from one show to the next, but they won’t be played the same way."

Scott Pemberton—undoubtedly in his patented fedora and bushy beard—is on tour now and will be performing at Star Theatre on May 28th.]]>229art,arts & entertainment,blues,concerts,local_opb,music,rockfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/from-jazz-hippies-to-hit-makers-the-return-of-nu-shooz--11559745
Behind it all are two self-described "jazz hippies," Valerie Day and John Smith aka Nu Shooz. When pressed to reveal their favorite take on the track? Well, the two agreed without hesitation that it was 2010 hip-hop hit "Buzzin" from Mann and 50 Cent.

The two have continued to make and teach music since 1988's "Told U So," but had largely abstained from touring as they focused on raising their son. That changed last year when he graduated.

"We got these calls to come out and do these 80s tours, and we always said no because we were too busy," says Day. "So when he graduated, we finally we felt like we're free! We can go out into the world again and have a great time!"

They got the band back together and began writing new music which would become the "Bagtown" album. They play a record release show at the Star Theater on May 21, featuring the indubitably groovy DJ Bobby D.

The wife and husband duo don't shy away from their past success, but say they've moved in a new direction with their latest album. It's a departure from the sound that originally earned them a place as 80s dance music legends. Smith tells us that ""Bagtown" is square in the middle of 1974. "There's not a synthesizer on the record, it's real piano," he says. "I was getting interested in vocal arranging in a new way and also interested in the Philly soul producers, Gamble and Huff, and that kind of thing. So, I wanted to go for a real organic sounding record."

The band stopped by the OPB studio to play a live show during a recent open house. We have highlights from the interview and performance above, and stay tuned for a future feature on Oregon Art Beat.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559745Thu, 19 May 2016 22:37:26 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIf you've stepped onto a dance floor in the last few decades, then you've likely heard "I Can't Wait." It's the song that held sway over the pop charts for a good chunk of 1986 and inspired a generation of musicians. Countless DJs, producers and...
Behind it all are two self-described "jazz hippies," Valerie Day and John Smith aka Nu Shooz. When pressed to reveal their favorite take on the track? Well, the two agreed without hesitation that it was 2010 hip-hop hit "Buzzin" from Mann and 50 Cent.

The two have continued to make and teach music since 1988's "Told U So," but had largely abstained from touring as they focused on raising their son. That changed last year when he graduated.

"We got these calls to come out and do these 80s tours, and we always said no because we were too busy," says Day. "So when he graduated, we finally we felt like we're free! We can go out into the world again and have a great time!"

They got the band back together and began writing new music which would become the "Bagtown" album. They play a record release show at the Star Theater on May 21, featuring the indubitably groovy DJ Bobby D.

The wife and husband duo don't shy away from their past success, but say they've moved in a new direction with their latest album. It's a departure from the sound that originally earned them a place as 80s dance music legends. Smith tells us that ""Bagtown" is square in the middle of 1974. "There's not a synthesizer on the record, it's real piano," he says. "I was getting interested in vocal arranging in a new way and also interested in the Philly soul producers, Gamble and Huff, and that kind of thing. So, I wanted to go for a real organic sounding record."

The band stopped by the OPB studio to play a live show during a recent open house. We have highlights from the interview and performance above, and stay tuned for a future feature on Oregon Art Beat.]]>360art,arts & entertainment,concerts,local_opb,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/friends-of-noise-aims-for-a-non-profit-all-ages-venue--11559752https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=friends%20of%20noise]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559752Thu, 19 May 2016 23:10:35 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis weekend a concert series kicks off in North Portland. Organizers say the shows are stepping stones toward a new non-profit all-ages music venue. Full show info here: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=friends%20of%20noisehttps://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=friends%20of%20noise]]>413opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/may-21-art-glass-apocalypse-scott-pemberton-bonsai-murai-katie-chase--11544222
1:00 GLASSAPOCALYPSE NOW - Spectrum Glass of Woodinville, WA, one of the top art-glass makers in the region, has announced that it will cease production in the next 75 days. Art glass has had it rough lately; earlier this year Portland companies Bullseye and Uroboros came under fire when the state Department of Environmental Quality revealed that they were releasing dangerous levels of cadmium and arsenic into the air. And now Oregon DEQ finds Bullseye has been spewing unhealthy levels of lead, and puts production on ice for ten days. We get reaction.

10:38 Waterfront Blues Festival to Charge Entry - The Waterfront Blues Festival, an annual benefit for the Oregon Food Bank, will celebrate its 29th year this July—and charge for tickets for the first time. Entry to the festival has traditionally been a suggested donation of $10 and two cans of food. In 2013 the festival experimented with charging entry for its Sensational Sunday; this year the entire event will require a cover.

14:40 Scott Pemberton - Guitarist Scott Pemberton's musical education involved stints in several of the Rose City's influential music scenes, ranging from jazz to grunge. That background has produced a unique style that melds those genres, plus funk, blues, and hippie jam vibes. Pemberton's style is called "Timber Rock," and so is his latest album.

18:54 The PSU Chamber Choir - The PSU Chamber Choir has triumphed in international choral competitions and even cuts records. Their next album will be the first American recording of Latvian composer Eriks Esenvalds’ work, and the ensemble will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a concert this May, slated to include the US premier of Esenvalds’ “First Tears.”

27:40 Friends of Noise - Portland's music scene, hemmed in by strict OLCC regulations and a tradition of bar-based venues, has long had to live with a glaring lack of all-ages shows and venues. Now a community group, Friends of Noise, has appeared on the scene hoping to change all that. They have big plans, but creating venues that cater to underserved sections of the city's youth won't necessarily be easy.

33:04 Katie Chase, author of "Man and Wife" - It’s a cliche that children are full of questions, but certain types of questioning—far from the innocent realms of “why is the sky blue?”—mark the end of childhood. Katie Chase, whose new book “Man and Wife” came out this month, has produced a short story collection that balances largely on the edge of that turning point. Chase won the Pushcart Prize in 2008.

40:11 Bonsai Mirai - Bonsai, the practice of pruning and shaping small trees, is an ancient Japanese art. But make no mistake, it isn't just the sculptures that are alive. The tradition of bonsai is alive, too, and constantly evolving. Aaron Scott takes us to Bonsai Mirai, a bonsai school and nursery in the hills just west of Portland, to learn more.

47:44 Nu Shooz - If you were in Portland in the mid-80s, you will probably recognize Nu Shooz's electronic-dance-meets-R&B song "I Can't Wait," which reached #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in 1986. If you weren't, you still might; the song has permeated pop culture since, making appearances in Girl Talk's "No Pause," the "Grand Theft Auto IV" soundtrack, and even Target commercials. This year the husband-and-wife duo behind Nu Shooz, Valerie Day and John Smith, released a new album. It's called "Bagtown," and it is quite a departure from their 1980s output.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544222Sat, 21 May 2016 00:38:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBask in the glorious variety of Portland's spring musical offerings, then head to the hills with a book and a yen for natural beauty. Be here now, this week on State of Wonder. 1:00 GLASSAPOCALYPSE NOW - Spectrum Glass of Woodinville, WA, one of the...
1:00 GLASSAPOCALYPSE NOW - Spectrum Glass of Woodinville, WA, one of the top art-glass makers in the region, has announced that it will cease production in the next 75 days. Art glass has had it rough lately; earlier this year Portland companies Bullseye and Uroboros came under fire when the state Department of Environmental Quality revealed that they were releasing dangerous levels of cadmium and arsenic into the air. And now Oregon DEQ finds Bullseye has been spewing unhealthy levels of lead, and puts production on ice for ten days. We get reaction.

10:38 Waterfront Blues Festival to Charge Entry - The Waterfront Blues Festival, an annual benefit for the Oregon Food Bank, will celebrate its 29th year this July—and charge for tickets for the first time. Entry to the festival has traditionally been a suggested donation of $10 and two cans of food. In 2013 the festival experimented with charging entry for its Sensational Sunday; this year the entire event will require a cover.

14:40 Scott Pemberton - Guitarist Scott Pemberton's musical education involved stints in several of the Rose City's influential music scenes, ranging from jazz to grunge. That background has produced a unique style that melds those genres, plus funk, blues, and hippie jam vibes. Pemberton's style is called "Timber Rock," and so is his latest album.

18:54 The PSU Chamber Choir - The PSU Chamber Choir has triumphed in international choral competitions and even cuts records. Their next album will be the first American recording of Latvian composer Eriks Esenvalds’ work, and the ensemble will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a concert this May, slated to include the US premier of Esenvalds’ “First Tears.”

27:40 Friends of Noise - Portland's music scene, hemmed in by strict OLCC regulations and a tradition of bar-based venues, has long had to live with a glaring lack of all-ages shows and venues. Now a community group, Friends of Noise, has appeared on the scene hoping to change all that. They have big plans, but creating venues that cater to underserved sections of the city's youth won't necessarily be easy.

33:04 Katie Chase, author of "Man and Wife" - It’s a cliche that children are full of questions, but certain types of questioning—far from the innocent realms of “why is the sky blue?”—mark the end of childhood. Katie Chase, whose new book “Man and Wife” came out this month, has produced a short story collection that balances largely on the edge of that turning point. Chase won the Pushcart Prize in 2008.

40:11 Bonsai Mirai - Bonsai, the practice of pruning and shaping small trees, is an ancient Japanese art. But make no mistake, it isn't just the sculptures that are alive. The tradition of bonsai is alive, too, and constantly evolving. Aaron Scott takes us to Bonsai Mirai, a bonsai school and nursery in the hills just west of Portland, to learn more.

47:44 Nu Shooz - If you were in Portland in the mid-80s, you will probably recognize Nu Shooz's electronic-dance-meets-R&B song "I Can't Wait," which reached #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in 1986. If you weren't, you still might; the song has permeated pop culture since, making appearances in Girl Talk's "No Pause," the "Grand Theft Auto IV" soundtrack, and even Target commercials. This year the husband-and-wife duo behind Nu Shooz, Valerie Day and John Smith, released a new album. It's called "Bagtown," and it is quite a departure from their 1980s output.]]>3190falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bullseye-glass-responds-on-lead-levels--11559741https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559741Sat, 21 May 2016 08:37:07 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur full conversation with Jim Jones, a Vice President at Bullseye Glass.466bluesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/deq-responds-on-bullseye-lead-tests--11559747
(photo cred. Oregon DEQ)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559747Sat, 21 May 2016 08:53:46 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDEQ's Jennifer Flynt responds to concerns raised by Bullseye Glass regarding recent enforcement actions. (photo cred. Oregon DEQ)
(photo cred. Oregon DEQ)]]>284opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/can-bonsai-be-high-art-updated-story--11559732
Ryan Neil thinks it’s anything but.

With a story ripped from the movie “The Karate Kid,” he founded Bonsai Mirai, a leading international school in the hills outside Portland, and he’s partnered with cutting-edge architects and designers in an effort to make bonsai cool for a new generation.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/portland-bonsai-mirai-movement-art-museum/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559732Sat, 21 May 2016 17:14:35 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhen most Americans think of bonsai — the craft of pruning and shaping small trees — they probably think of an ancient gardening craft practiced by lovers of Japanese culture. Ryan Neil thinks it’s anything but. With a story ripped from the movie...
Ryan Neil thinks it’s anything but.

With a story ripped from the movie “The Karate Kid,” he founded Bonsai Mirai, a leading international school in the hills outside Portland, and he’s partnered with cutting-edge architects and designers in an effort to make bonsai cool for a new generation.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/portland-bonsai-mirai-movement-art-museum/]]>470art,arts & entertainment,bonsai,local_opb,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-just-says-no-to-many-marijuana-related-summer-events--11559730
Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-just-says-no-to-many-marijuana-related-summer-events]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559730Fri, 27 May 2016 20:38:46 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSince the legalization of recreational marijuana in Oregon last year, there’s been an explosion or pot-related events: from big celebrations like Weed the People and the Cultivation Classic, to yoganja classes and house concerts. But now all these...
Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-just-says-no-to-many-marijuana-related-summer-events]]>256arts,local_opb,music,news,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/curtis-cook-throws-curveballs--11567985Cook has been on fire lately, telling tales on his own post-feminist angst, calling out racial hang-ups, and generally skewering progressive Portland. He’s co-hosting several showcases around town, including Earthquake Hurricane and the new Do What You Love show at We Work. And he’s writing columns for Willamette Week.
We sat down with Curtis to talk about how working in Portland has affected his writing and style. Spoiler alert: this is the extra-long version of our conversation.

Just a few highlights:

On why Oberlin was good training for working stages in Portland: I grew up outside of Cleveland in a small, relatively conservative town. I spent a lot of time thinking one day I’d grow up and move to a place full of liberals and hippies and they’d get it. And going to Oberlin showed me that liberals and hippies can also be awful people. It was just a lot of people screaming about their beliefs, having very important meetings about nothing. We were all going through different phases — it’s college. Some people decided “I”-statements and trust falls were their thing. I decided Old Crow and PBR were my thing, and that I should have gone to a different school.

On how Portland has changed his performance style: I’m more relaxed. Before…there was this big push. We were post Richard Pryor, post-Bill Hicks, post-Lenny Bruce… everyone started leaning toward social consciousness [in stand-up]… I got suckered into this feeling that stand-up was inherently brave. Then I moved to Portland and I realized that it’s only brave if you’re taking your ideas to people who don’t necessarily agree with you.

On keeping his work fresh:
I’ve been doing stand-up for a little over five years now, which is nothing. It’s a drop int he bucked. But what I’ve started to realize is the performative aspect of [stand up] should be able to change for every performance. Maybe I tell this joke every time, but every single time, a person in one of the front three rows reacts and I can talk to them for thirty seconds. That thirty seconds is the magic of the performance for me. That’s thirty seconds you’ll never be able to duplicate. That’s something that’s just for you and the audience.

Curtis Cook is part of seven showcases at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival — five intense days of nonstop comedy with performers from around the country. It runs June 1st through the 5th. Check him out.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567985Fri, 27 May 2016 22:59:15 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingComedian Curtis Cook excels at a kind of curveball - unassuming riffs that steer you right where he wants you. Cook has been on fire lately, telling tales on his own post-feminist angst, calling out racial hang-ups, and generally skewering...Cook has been on fire lately, telling tales on his own post-feminist angst, calling out racial hang-ups, and generally skewering progressive Portland. He’s co-hosting several showcases around town, including Earthquake Hurricane and the new Do What You Love show at We Work. And he’s writing columns for Willamette Week.
We sat down with Curtis to talk about how working in Portland has affected his writing and style. Spoiler alert: this is the extra-long version of our conversation.

Just a few highlights:

On why Oberlin was good training for working stages in Portland: I grew up outside of Cleveland in a small, relatively conservative town. I spent a lot of time thinking one day I’d grow up and move to a place full of liberals and hippies and they’d get it. And going to Oberlin showed me that liberals and hippies can also be awful people. It was just a lot of people screaming about their beliefs, having very important meetings about nothing. We were all going through different phases — it’s college. Some people decided “I”-statements and trust falls were their thing. I decided Old Crow and PBR were my thing, and that I should have gone to a different school.

On how Portland has changed his performance style: I’m more relaxed. Before…there was this big push. We were post Richard Pryor, post-Bill Hicks, post-Lenny Bruce… everyone started leaning toward social consciousness [in stand-up]… I got suckered into this feeling that stand-up was inherently brave. Then I moved to Portland and I realized that it’s only brave if you’re taking your ideas to people who don’t necessarily agree with you.

On keeping his work fresh:
I’ve been doing stand-up for a little over five years now, which is nothing. It’s a drop int he bucked. But what I’ve started to realize is the performative aspect of [stand up] should be able to change for every performance. Maybe I tell this joke every time, but every single time, a person in one of the front three rows reacts and I can talk to them for thirty seconds. That thirty seconds is the magic of the performance for me. That’s thirty seconds you’ll never be able to duplicate. That’s something that’s just for you and the audience.

Curtis Cook is part of seven showcases at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival — five intense days of nonstop comedy with performers from around the country. It runs June 1st through the 5th. Check him out.]]>1364opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wework-comedy-showcase-builds-a-bridge--11559737https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559737Fri, 27 May 2016 23:01:22 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn hanging around with Curtis Cook, we stumbled across a pretty interesting event he’s involved with. The Do What You Love comedy showcase at We Work. Check it out - next edition is June 16th. Watch for full info on our website soon.222opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/may-28-city-cracks-down-on-pot-parties-comedian-curtis-cook-secret-lives-of-tour-managers-more--11544224
Portland Just Says No To Many Marijuana-Related Events

Since the legalization of recreational marijuana in Oregon last year, there’s been an explosion or pot-related events: from big celebrations like Weed the People and the Cultivation Classic, to yoganja classes and house concerts. But now all these events are up in the air due to a confluence of clarifications from state and city authorities, including the city's pot officials saying they will begin to crack down on events that sell tickets and then give away marijuana, meaning a major buzz kill for a number of events already in the works.

Tales of the Portland Jazz Scene: Lorna Bracken Baxter - 5:45

Our friends at KMHD Jazz Radio have been working on a special series of stories you will want to check out: Tales of the Portland Jazz Scene. This is in connection with the great "Jazz Town" documentary recently broadcast on Oregon Experience. This week, we isten to a personal story from Portland vocalist Lorna Bracken Baxter, who offers up a window into the values identified with blackness in Portland during her childhood years.

Writer Andi Zeisler on the Commodification of Feminism - 9:42

As a founding editor of Bitch Media and an astute observer of popular culture, Andi Zeisler has noticed a curious trend over the past two decades: Feminism went from being ridiculed or reviled to being embraced, and it even turned into a kind of cottage industry. But what happens when a political and social movement becomes a brand? Just another way to sell a celebrity, a yogurt or a pair of underwear? Zeisler explores that question in her new book “We Were Feminists Once: From Riot Grrrl to CoverGirl, the Buying and Selling of a Political Movement.” Listen to the full Think Out Loud interview here.

Comedian Curtis Cook - 17:21

The comedian Curtis Cook is not from Portland, but certain things about him seem made for this place: he excels at a kind of unassuming riff that doesn’t hit you so much as quietly steer you right where he wants you. He tells us why he didn't fit into the liberal crowd at Oberlin College, and how his view about what it takes to be brave in comedy has changed. Curtis performs in seven showcases at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival (June 1–5), including a special Earthquake Hurricane show on June 1 and New Negroes with Baron Vaughn on June 4.

We Work on Comedy - 26:22

In hanging around with Curtis Cook, we stumbled across a pretty interesting event he’s involved with: the Do What You Love Comedy Series at the We Work co-working space in the old U.S. Customs Building in downtown Portland. It's introducing a whole different crowd to comedy. The next show is June 16.

Tour Managers: An Interview with the Unsung Heroes of Rock - 30:21

With summer fast approaching, touring season is now in full swing with thousands of bands criss-crossing the continent. Out there, anything can go wrong: a van accident, broken gear, missing instrument, or sick band member. Something as basic as a simple lack of attention to detail can derail a tour. Often times, there’s only one person holding it all together: the tour manager. Here the extended interview at opbmusic.

Subversive Comics at the University of Oregon - 44:45

Ben Saunders has created the first in the nation academic minor program dedicated to comics and cartoon at the University of Oregon. Sanders stopped by Think Out Loud to talk with Dave Miller about why comics are worth studying academically, the early provocateurs at EC Comics and Mad Magazine, and "Aliens, Monsters and Madmen," the exhibition he curated at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art showcasing the comics that influenced the creative minds of Stephen King, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and others.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544224Fri, 27 May 2016 23:07:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on State of Wonder, the city's plans to enforce pot policy puts many marijuana-related events on hold, the comedian Curtis Cook on what it takes to be brave, writer Andi Zeisler on the commodification of feminism & more. Portland Just Says...
Portland Just Says No To Many Marijuana-Related Events

Since the legalization of recreational marijuana in Oregon last year, there’s been an explosion or pot-related events: from big celebrations like Weed the People and the Cultivation Classic, to yoganja classes and house concerts. But now all these events are up in the air due to a confluence of clarifications from state and city authorities, including the city's pot officials saying they will begin to crack down on events that sell tickets and then give away marijuana, meaning a major buzz kill for a number of events already in the works.

Tales of the Portland Jazz Scene: Lorna Bracken Baxter - 5:45

Our friends at KMHD Jazz Radio have been working on a special series of stories you will want to check out: Tales of the Portland Jazz Scene. This is in connection with the great "Jazz Town" documentary recently broadcast on Oregon Experience. This week, we isten to a personal story from Portland vocalist Lorna Bracken Baxter, who offers up a window into the values identified with blackness in Portland during her childhood years.

Writer Andi Zeisler on the Commodification of Feminism - 9:42

As a founding editor of Bitch Media and an astute observer of popular culture, Andi Zeisler has noticed a curious trend over the past two decades: Feminism went from being ridiculed or reviled to being embraced, and it even turned into a kind of cottage industry. But what happens when a political and social movement becomes a brand? Just another way to sell a celebrity, a yogurt or a pair of underwear? Zeisler explores that question in her new book “We Were Feminists Once: From Riot Grrrl to CoverGirl, the Buying and Selling of a Political Movement.” Listen to the full Think Out Loud interview here.

Comedian Curtis Cook - 17:21

The comedian Curtis Cook is not from Portland, but certain things about him seem made for this place: he excels at a kind of unassuming riff that doesn’t hit you so much as quietly steer you right where he wants you. He tells us why he didn't fit into the liberal crowd at Oberlin College, and how his view about what it takes to be brave in comedy has changed. Curtis performs in seven showcases at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival (June 1–5), including a special Earthquake Hurricane show on June 1 and New Negroes with Baron Vaughn on June 4.

We Work on Comedy - 26:22

In hanging around with Curtis Cook, we stumbled across a pretty interesting event he’s involved with: the Do What You Love Comedy Series at the We Work co-working space in the old U.S. Customs Building in downtown Portland. It's introducing a whole different crowd to comedy. The next show is June 16.

Tour Managers: An Interview with the Unsung Heroes of Rock - 30:21

With summer fast approaching, touring season is now in full swing with thousands of bands criss-crossing the continent. Out there, anything can go wrong: a van accident, broken gear, missing instrument, or sick band member. Something as basic as a simple lack of attention to detail can derail a tour. Often times, there’s only one person holding it all together: the tour manager. Here the extended interview at opbmusic.

Subversive Comics at the University of Oregon - 44:45

Ben Saunders has created the first in the nation academic minor program dedicated to comics and cartoon at the University of Oregon. Sanders stopped by Think Out Loud to talk with Dave Miller about why comics are worth studying academically, the early provocateurs at EC Comics and Mad Magazine, and "Aliens, Monsters and Madmen," the exhibition he curated at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art...]]>3120falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tsunamis-demolitions-and-dog-poop-vanessa-renwick-takes-it-to-the-next-level--11559729
We can’t actually say the full title of Renwick’s installation at Portland Art Museum’s APEX Gallery (“Next-Level F—ed Up”) on air, but we can tell you how affecting and oddly poignant it is. Here’s a bit of our conversation.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/tsunamis-demolitions-and-dog-poop-vanessa-renwick-takes-it-to-the-next-level]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559729Fri, 03 Jun 2016 17:30:12 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingVisual artist Vanessa Renwick has created a new installation that speaks to the “hodgepodge of horrible” we meet in modern life — a multi-screen installation featuring everything from tsunamis to coal train fires, neighborhood demolitions to cats...
We can’t actually say the full title of Renwick’s installation at Portland Art Museum’s APEX Gallery (“Next-Level F—ed Up”) on air, but we can tell you how affecting and oddly poignant it is. Here’s a bit of our conversation.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/tsunamis-demolitions-and-dog-poop-vanessa-renwick-takes-it-to-the-next-level]]>443art,arts & entertainment,film,local_opb,opb,portland,videofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/june-4-architect-brad-cloepfil-artist-vanessa-renwick-at-pdx-art-museum-youth-silent-film-more--11544218
Brad Cloepfil Normally Designs Museums; Now He's Featured in One - 1:01

Portland's preeminent living architect, Brad Cloepfil, the founding principal of Allied Works, is not just an architect, but also an artist. A new exhibit at the Portland Art Museum, "Case Work," demonstrates this with over 60 sculptural works that are far from the sterile blueprints or uptight models you might expect. Cloepfil walks us through the exhibit and his globe-trotting buildings, from the Clifford Still Museum in Denver to the Museum of Art and Design in New York to the National Music Center in Calgary to Wieden+Kennedy here in Portland, the building that started it all (thanks to a gig he did designing Saucebox for $2,000 plus a $2,000 bar tab).

Art Glass Moratorium Extended by the State as Glassmakers Struggle to Install Pollution Controls - 11:01

Earlier this year, a study revealed dangerous amounts of heavy metals around Bullseye Glass, whose factory is located near residential areas in SE Portland. Now Governor Kate Brown has extended a moratorium on the processes that require these metals into June, despite impassioned pleas from Bullseye.

International Youth Silent Film Festival Winners Declared - 16:43

Started in Portland, the International Youth Silent Film Festival is a global competition that brings a unique challenge to aspiring filmmakers under 20: create a silent film using bare-bones production resources and one of ten original organ scores. The films are screened in theaters with live musical accompaniment, and regional champions travel to Portland to compete for the global prize on June 8 at the Hollywood Theater (it's open to the public). We speak with festival founder Jon Palanuk and the reigning NW regional winners, brothers Austin and Connor Fitzpatrick, about their incredible CGI noir short.

Vietnam Vet Pulls Together Film, Photos, Memoir and Music in His Quest to Document the War - 25:41

Marc Waszkiewicz is a former US Marine who did three tours in Vietnam, beginning when he was 19. But even though he is now retired, the experience is far from over. While deployed, Waszkiewicz gathered more than 4,000 photographs and hours of 8 millimeter film footage, and has been creating art from this raw material ever since. With a book of photographs, a memoir, and an album of original songs under his belt, he is now in the process of producing a documentary film on the experience.

Vanessa Renwick's Next-Level F---ed Up at the Portland Art Museum - 36:33

Installation and film artist Vanessa Renwick has created a sound and video piece that rapid-fires both a sense of impending disaster and a zen-like acceptance of change. "Next-Level F*cked Up” plays on our fears of environmental, social and cultural change, orphan seal pups and abandoned dog poop bags commingling with Portland gentrification and Hurricane Katrina footage in hodgepodge of horribleness loops — although fret not: it's not all lost. On view at the Portland Art Museum through July 19.

Following A Spiritual Path, Literally - 44:02

Following a medieval tradition, Bend-based writer Ellen Waterston undertook to walk one of the most famous Christian pilgrimage routes in Europe, the Camino de Santiago. Her journey inspired a verse novel, “Via Lactea: A Woman of a Certain Age Walks the Camino,” which has now been adapted into the opera "Via Lactea." Opera Bend will premiere it June 10–12 at the Tower Theater.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544218Fri, 03 Jun 2016 22:06:54 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, State of Wonder's all about the journey: we travel the world with starchitect Brad Cloepfil, meditate on environmental disaster with installation artist Vanessa Renwick, tromp through the war memories of Vietnam vet Mark Waszkiewicz, go on...
Brad Cloepfil Normally Designs Museums; Now He's Featured in One - 1:01

Portland's preeminent living architect, Brad Cloepfil, the founding principal of Allied Works, is not just an architect, but also an artist. A new exhibit at the Portland Art Museum, "Case Work," demonstrates this with over 60 sculptural works that are far from the sterile blueprints or uptight models you might expect. Cloepfil walks us through the exhibit and his globe-trotting buildings, from the Clifford Still Museum in Denver to the Museum of Art and Design in New York to the National Music Center in Calgary to Wieden+Kennedy here in Portland, the building that started it all (thanks to a gig he did designing Saucebox for $2,000 plus a $2,000 bar tab).

Art Glass Moratorium Extended by the State as Glassmakers Struggle to Install Pollution Controls - 11:01

Earlier this year, a study revealed dangerous amounts of heavy metals around Bullseye Glass, whose factory is located near residential areas in SE Portland. Now Governor Kate Brown has extended a moratorium on the processes that require these metals into June, despite impassioned pleas from Bullseye.

International Youth Silent Film Festival Winners Declared - 16:43

Started in Portland, the International Youth Silent Film Festival is a global competition that brings a unique challenge to aspiring filmmakers under 20: create a silent film using bare-bones production resources and one of ten original organ scores. The films are screened in theaters with live musical accompaniment, and regional champions travel to Portland to compete for the global prize on June 8 at the Hollywood Theater (it's open to the public). We speak with festival founder Jon Palanuk and the reigning NW regional winners, brothers Austin and Connor Fitzpatrick, about their incredible CGI noir short.

Vietnam Vet Pulls Together Film, Photos, Memoir and Music in His Quest to Document the War - 25:41

Marc Waszkiewicz is a former US Marine who did three tours in Vietnam, beginning when he was 19. But even though he is now retired, the experience is far from over. While deployed, Waszkiewicz gathered more than 4,000 photographs and hours of 8 millimeter film footage, and has been creating art from this raw material ever since. With a book of photographs, a memoir, and an album of original songs under his belt, he is now in the process of producing a documentary film on the experience.

Vanessa Renwick's Next-Level F---ed Up at the Portland Art Museum - 36:33

Installation and film artist Vanessa Renwick has created a sound and video piece that rapid-fires both a sense of impending disaster and a zen-like acceptance of change. "Next-Level F*cked Up” plays on our fears of environmental, social and cultural change, orphan seal pups and abandoned dog poop bags commingling with Portland gentrification and Hurricane Katrina footage in hodgepodge of horribleness loops — although fret not: it's not all lost. On view at the Portland Art Museum through July 19.

Following A Spiritual Path, Literally - 44:02

Following a medieval tradition, Bend-based writer Ellen Waterston undertook to walk one of the most famous Christian pilgrimage routes in Europe, the Camino de Santiago. Her journey inspired a verse novel, “Via Lactea: A Woman of a Certain Age Walks the Camino,” which has now been adapted into the opera "Via Lactea." Opera Bend will premiere it June 10–12 at the Tower Theater.]]>3115falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/architect-brad-cloepfil-extended-interview-at-the-portland-art-museum--11559735
You’ve probably seen architectural models: they’re made of wood, are generally nice looking, and offer an idea of what’s under construction.

But the exhibition "Case Works," on view at Portland Art Museum through Sept. 4, offers a much more elaborate, dreamy, often jewel-like kind of architectural model. These are buildings designed by Allied Works, the firm founded by Portland native and rock star architect Brad Cloepfil. With just a few drawings and a lot of elaborately crafted models, these works offer a window into the high-concept process that’s made Allied one of the most sought-after firms in its field.

We walked through the exhibition with Cloepfil as the museum was putting on the finishing touches to discuss the models and some of the most famous buildings in his career — Wieden+Kennedy's headquarters in the Pearl, the Clifford Still Museum in Denver, the National Music Center in Calgary — as well as the state of architecture and design in Portland today.

See a slide show of Cloepfil's work: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/architect-brad-cloepfil-portland-art-museum-case-works]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559735Sat, 04 Jun 2016 00:02:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBefore architects make buildings, they make tiny buildings. You’ve probably seen architectural models: they’re made of wood, are generally nice looking, and offer an idea of what’s under construction. But the exhibition "Case Works," on view at...
You’ve probably seen architectural models: they’re made of wood, are generally nice looking, and offer an idea of what’s under construction.

But the exhibition "Case Works," on view at Portland Art Museum through Sept. 4, offers a much more elaborate, dreamy, often jewel-like kind of architectural model. These are buildings designed by Allied Works, the firm founded by Portland native and rock star architect Brad Cloepfil. With just a few drawings and a lot of elaborately crafted models, these works offer a window into the high-concept process that’s made Allied one of the most sought-after firms in its field.

We walked through the exhibition with Cloepfil as the museum was putting on the finishing touches to discuss the models and some of the most famous buildings in his career — Wieden+Kennedy's headquarters in the Pearl, the Clifford Still Museum in Denver, the National Music Center in Calgary — as well as the state of architecture and design in Portland today.

See a slide show of Cloepfil's work: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/architect-brad-cloepfil-portland-art-museum-case-works]]>2203architecture,art,arts & entertainment,interview,local_opb,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/teens-take-a-step-back-in-time-to-create-silent-films--11559727
Jon Palanuk started the festival in 2007 in Portland, and it quickly spread to schools and theaters in Australia, New Zealand and the Midwest. This year’s big global competition is June 8 at the Hollywood Theater.

Our producer Aaron Scott sat down with Palanuk and the reigning Pacific NW regional champions, the brothers Austin (20) and Connor (18) Fitzpatrick, who used cutting-edge CGI to create a black-and-white-and-red film noir tale of love and kidnapping.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559727Sat, 04 Jun 2016 16:58:15 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe International Youth Silent Film Festival challenges people 20 and younger to take a step back in time. Using one of ten original organ soundtracks and whatever equipment they have access to, whether 8mm cameras or cell phones, the aspiring...
Jon Palanuk started the festival in 2007 in Portland, and it quickly spread to schools and theaters in Australia, New Zealand and the Midwest. This year’s big global competition is June 8 at the Hollywood Theater.

Our producer Aaron Scott sat down with Palanuk and the reigning Pacific NW regional champions, the brothers Austin (20) and Connor (18) Fitzpatrick, who used cutting-edge CGI to create a black-and-white-and-red film noir tale of love and kidnapping.]]>516art,arts & entertainment,film,local_opb,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/june-11-women-led-comics-shops-summer-cannibals-allan-mccollum-brad-cloepfil-pt-2-more--11544217
1:10 Books With Pictures - Portland has a new comic book shop, officially open for business. Books With Pictures is a cozy storefront in southeast Portland with a mission to be Portland’s most welcoming comic book shop for the people outside the industry’s marketing plan — the LGTBQ community, families, women, people of color — complete with gender neutral restrooms and comics with female protagonists and protagonists of color.

7:10 Excalibur Books & Comics: A Personal History - Of course, it’s not an entirely new thing to have women running comic book stores. We also stop in and chat with Debbie Smith, the co-owner of Excalibur Books & Comics (her parents opened it 42 years ago).

11:40 Summer Cannibals Barrel Us Into Summer With Addictive Poppy Punk - Summer Cannibals are a hard rocking punk band in an acoustic-loving town, and their lyrics and videos play sardonically on the anger and angst of this modern life. The band stopped by the OPB studio to play a few songs from their new album, “Full of It.”

20:31 Architect Brad Cloepfil On The State Of Portland Architecture (And His Amazing National Music Centre) - Last week we took a stroll through the Portland Art Museum’s new exhibition, “Case Work,” with architect Brad Cloepfil. The show features the sketches and sculptural concept models of Cloepfil’s firm, Allied Works. This week we bring you more of that conversation, moving from his current slate of projects to the state of Portland’s building boom.

31:12 The Lost Boys Of Portlandia - This week, a group of homeless youth debuted a film that takes an iconic childhood story and puts it in the gutter — literally. Called “The Lost Boys of Portlandia,” it uses the story of Peter Pan as a vehicle to tell their story.

36:20 Rhe Benefits of Gusbandry - Portland-based photographer and director Alicia J. Rose finds something magical about the relationship between a woman and her gusband (that’s short for gay husband) — a modern relationship she plumbs to hilarious effect in her new webseries, “The Benefits of Gusbandry.” Think Out Loud's Dave Miller talked with Rose and co-creator Courtenay Hameister just as their national spotlight was heating up. If social binge-watching sounds fun, check out the screening of season 1 at the Clinton Theater on June 11 for a Pride kickoff.

44:22 WPA At The High Desert Museum - The High Desert Museum has a very interesting exhibition on through Oct. 2: “Art for a Nation” tells the story of creative projects in the Works Progress Administration. In addition to historic works of art, the museum commissioned three new works in the spirit of the WPA by contemporary artists, including Allan McCollum, who shows around the world at prestigious places like MOMA, the Guggenheim, and the Whitney. For the show, he teamed up with one of Bend’s busiest makers, Delia Paine. This is the story of their collaboration.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544217Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:50:25 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt's been one of those weeks when we almost got lost in the sheer enjoyment of the prep. 1:10 Books With Pictures - Portland has a new comic book shop, officially open for business. Books With Pictures is a cozy storefront in southeast Portland...
1:10 Books With Pictures - Portland has a new comic book shop, officially open for business. Books With Pictures is a cozy storefront in southeast Portland with a mission to be Portland’s most welcoming comic book shop for the people outside the industry’s marketing plan — the LGTBQ community, families, women, people of color — complete with gender neutral restrooms and comics with female protagonists and protagonists of color.

7:10 Excalibur Books & Comics: A Personal History - Of course, it’s not an entirely new thing to have women running comic book stores. We also stop in and chat with Debbie Smith, the co-owner of Excalibur Books & Comics (her parents opened it 42 years ago).

11:40 Summer Cannibals Barrel Us Into Summer With Addictive Poppy Punk - Summer Cannibals are a hard rocking punk band in an acoustic-loving town, and their lyrics and videos play sardonically on the anger and angst of this modern life. The band stopped by the OPB studio to play a few songs from their new album, “Full of It.”

20:31 Architect Brad Cloepfil On The State Of Portland Architecture (And His Amazing National Music Centre) - Last week we took a stroll through the Portland Art Museum’s new exhibition, “Case Work,” with architect Brad Cloepfil. The show features the sketches and sculptural concept models of Cloepfil’s firm, Allied Works. This week we bring you more of that conversation, moving from his current slate of projects to the state of Portland’s building boom.

31:12 The Lost Boys Of Portlandia - This week, a group of homeless youth debuted a film that takes an iconic childhood story and puts it in the gutter — literally. Called “The Lost Boys of Portlandia,” it uses the story of Peter Pan as a vehicle to tell their story.

36:20 Rhe Benefits of Gusbandry - Portland-based photographer and director Alicia J. Rose finds something magical about the relationship between a woman and her gusband (that’s short for gay husband) — a modern relationship she plumbs to hilarious effect in her new webseries, “The Benefits of Gusbandry.” Think Out Loud's Dave Miller talked with Rose and co-creator Courtenay Hameister just as their national spotlight was heating up. If social binge-watching sounds fun, check out the screening of season 1 at the Clinton Theater on June 11 for a Pride kickoff.

44:22 WPA At The High Desert Museum - The High Desert Museum has a very interesting exhibition on through Oct. 2: “Art for a Nation” tells the story of creative projects in the Works Progress Administration. In addition to historic works of art, the museum commissioned three new works in the spirit of the WPA by contemporary artists, including Allan McCollum, who shows around the world at prestigious places like MOMA, the Guggenheim, and the Whitney. For the show, he teamed up with one of Bend’s busiest makers, Delia Paine. This is the story of their collaboration.]]>3186falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/books-with-pictures--11559733https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559733Fri, 10 Jun 2016 23:39:23 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingKatie Proctor's vision for a more inclusive experience in a brick and mortar comic book store. Her shop, Books With Pictures, is the latest iteration of a national discussion about women as readers and vendors.365opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/high-desert-museum-commissions-new-work-for-art-for-a-nation--11559734https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559734Fri, 10 Jun 2016 23:43:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingContemporary Artist Allan McCollum and Bend button czar Delia Paine, talk about their collaboration for an installation on view through October 2.458opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/political-buttons-changed-my-life-delia-paine-s-election-year-odyssey--11559721https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559721Sat, 11 Jun 2016 06:09:21 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn 2008, Bend-based Delia Paine found herself swept up in a moment that fused art, message, and community. She told us this story when we visited her to discuss her part in an installation at the High Desert Museum. Take a listen.647opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/june-18-peter-sagal-mary-roach-darcelle-lindy-west-big-thief-more--11544215
After the shooting at the Pulse night club in Orlando, leaders of Portland Pride and community members have organized several candlelight vigils, and many artists, arts groups and pride parties are re-configuring their plans to lend their support to the victims of the tragedy. We talk with Don Horn, the founder of Triangle Productions, a theater well-known for producing LGBT plays. Currently, they're sending a percentage of ticket sales for "American Idiot" (June 9–July 2) to the Orlando's LGBT community Center.

Portland Music Distributor Closes Doors, Leaving Hundreds of Bands And Labels In The Lurch - 1:50

Several hundred small music labels and recording artists around the world — including Portland's Pink Martini, Cappella Roman, Three Leg Torso, and more — are faced with buying their own music back from Portland distributor, Allegro Media Group. Several labels and artists affected by the liquidation told OPB they were not notified by the company about what was happening, and have been desperate to get information.

Writer Lindy West Takes On The Trolls With Humor - 8:15

Lindy West started her writing career focused on comedy and popular culture at “The Stranger,” a Seattle weekly. But a funny thing happened on the way to a career of movie reviews and standup listings. West started writing about things she couldn’t avoid any more: About being fat. About finding rape jokes offensive and culturally corrosive. And about the vicious responses she got to her outspoken feminism. She captures her hilarious, and at times troubling, experience in "Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman."

Darcelle XV Shines As America's Oldest Drag Queen - 18:44

Oregon-native Walter Cole had no idea when he opened a small, lesbian-geared bar in 1967 that it would become a drag club, least of all what's widely believed to be the longest-running drag show west of the Mississippi. Since he first put on a gown, he's gone on to perform two shows a night, five nights a week for decades, transforming his bar into an institution that has influenced generations of Oregonians.

Writer Mary Roach On Maggots And Penis Transplants - 24:38

Mary Roach has made a name for herself for bringing humor to the darker corners of science with books like "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" and "Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex." Now she takes on the science of modern warfare with "Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War,” plumbing into why diarrhea is a threat to national security and how maggots became and FDA-approved medical device.

opbmusic Big SXSW Discovery: Big Thief - 34:19

When opbmusic producers stumbled on to Big Thief at South by Southwest this year, they couldn’t wait to get the word out. Just a week later, the folk-tinged indie rock band from Brooklyn trekked to Portland for its first ever radio session. The band’s first album, “Masterpiece,” was released by Saddle Creek Records in May.

Peter Sagal Takes Us Behind The Scenes On "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" - 44:45

There’s likely no one in less need of an introduction to public radio listeners than NPR host Peter Sagal, who is bringing "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" back to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on June 23–24. We got Sagal on the phone to talk about what it was like to transition from writing plays to comedy, why he has to write 20 jokes just to get one good one, and why it's so hard to poke fun at Donald Trump.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544215Fri, 17 Jun 2016 19:45:19 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland Pride Stands Up For Orlando After the shooting at the Pulse night club in Orlando, leaders of Portland Pride and community members have organized several candlelight vigils, and many artists, arts groups and pride parties are re-configuring...
After the shooting at the Pulse night club in Orlando, leaders of Portland Pride and community members have organized several candlelight vigils, and many artists, arts groups and pride parties are re-configuring their plans to lend their support to the victims of the tragedy. We talk with Don Horn, the founder of Triangle Productions, a theater well-known for producing LGBT plays. Currently, they're sending a percentage of ticket sales for "American Idiot" (June 9–July 2) to the Orlando's LGBT community Center.

Portland Music Distributor Closes Doors, Leaving Hundreds of Bands And Labels In The Lurch - 1:50

Several hundred small music labels and recording artists around the world — including Portland's Pink Martini, Cappella Roman, Three Leg Torso, and more — are faced with buying their own music back from Portland distributor, Allegro Media Group. Several labels and artists affected by the liquidation told OPB they were not notified by the company about what was happening, and have been desperate to get information.

Writer Lindy West Takes On The Trolls With Humor - 8:15

Lindy West started her writing career focused on comedy and popular culture at “The Stranger,” a Seattle weekly. But a funny thing happened on the way to a career of movie reviews and standup listings. West started writing about things she couldn’t avoid any more: About being fat. About finding rape jokes offensive and culturally corrosive. And about the vicious responses she got to her outspoken feminism. She captures her hilarious, and at times troubling, experience in "Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman."

Darcelle XV Shines As America's Oldest Drag Queen - 18:44

Oregon-native Walter Cole had no idea when he opened a small, lesbian-geared bar in 1967 that it would become a drag club, least of all what's widely believed to be the longest-running drag show west of the Mississippi. Since he first put on a gown, he's gone on to perform two shows a night, five nights a week for decades, transforming his bar into an institution that has influenced generations of Oregonians.

Writer Mary Roach On Maggots And Penis Transplants - 24:38

Mary Roach has made a name for herself for bringing humor to the darker corners of science with books like "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" and "Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex." Now she takes on the science of modern warfare with "Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War,” plumbing into why diarrhea is a threat to national security and how maggots became and FDA-approved medical device.

opbmusic Big SXSW Discovery: Big Thief - 34:19

When opbmusic producers stumbled on to Big Thief at South by Southwest this year, they couldn’t wait to get the word out. Just a week later, the folk-tinged indie rock band from Brooklyn trekked to Portland for its first ever radio session. The band’s first album, “Masterpiece,” was released by Saddle Creek Records in May.

Peter Sagal Takes Us Behind The Scenes On "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" - 44:45

There’s likely no one in less need of an introduction to public radio listeners than NPR host Peter Sagal, who is bringing "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" back to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on June 23–24. We got Sagal on the phone to talk about what it was like to transition from writing plays to comedy, why he has to write 20 jokes just to get one good one, and why it's so hard to poke fun at Donald Trump.]]>3105falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/allegro-stockpiled-inventory-in-advance-of-liquidation--11559726https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559726Fri, 17 Jun 2016 21:26:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMore on what's happening to hundreds of independent record labels left in the lurch by Allegro Media Group's liquidation.380opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/june-25-kd-lang-neko-case-laura-veirs-m-ward-blind-pilot-joseph-and-more--11567996
You can find videos of all these performances at www.opb.org/stateofwonder.

Iconic Supergroup case/lang/veirs Teams Up
Neko Case, k.d. lang and Laura Veirs finished three years of work on a lush, soulful new record and played their entire album, “case/lang/veirs,” in an exclusive opbmusic session. If you do nothing else today, go enjoy the video. You can also catch the trio live at the Oregon Zoo in Portland on July 2 and at the Les Schwab Ampitheater in Bend on July 5.

M. Ward Sings to His Baby (and opbmusic) 

The latest release from M. Ward, "More Rain," might sound like a Portland soundtrack, but it belies its name with sunny sounds of doo-wop and golden era AM radio sensibilities. The artist came by the OPB studios to play a few songs with a power backing band (REM’s Scott McCoy, Mike Coykendall, and Alialujah Choir’s Adam Selzer and Alia Farah), who he insists he did not find on Craigslist. Watch the videos, and see Ward at Revolution Hall on July 16 and 17.

Joseph Heats Up On Late Night
It’s shaping up to be a great summer for the band Joseph, as the sister trio (Allison, Meegan, and Natalie Closner) blew it up this week on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," performing their new single "White Flag." We had the pleasure of talking with the sisters in a cozy acoustic session last year. The trio grew up on a small farm in Estacada. Currently, they are on tour for their new album, “I’m Alone, No You’re Not.” They'll be at Pickathon in Happy Valley, Oregon, August 5-7 and will circle back to Eugene in September.

The Soul-Hop of Dirty Revival
Dirty Revival brought their seven piece band down to the OPB studios to play some funky, energetic tracks off their 2015 self-titled album. The group sat down with host April Baer to talk touring, song reworks, and the social consciousness that permeates their music. You can watch videos of their performance here, and catch them live at the Doug Fir on June 25, Bend's Deschutes Brewery on June 27, and Portland's Columbia Park Annex for a Summer Free For All show on July 12.

Blind Pilot Sails Back into Harbor with a New Album
Blind Pilot’s 2008 debut album, “3 Rounds and a Sound,” made national headlines after they took the album on tour, by bike, riding down the west coast with their instruments in tow. We caught up with the band’s founders Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski last summer in Astoria for a special performance with classical cello star Sergey Antonov. Their new album, “And Then Like Lions,” is set to be released on Aug. 12. Catch the band live at the Liberty Theatre in Astoria on August 19 or see them in Portland and Eugene in October.

1939 Ensemble Soar With Instrumental Power 

Jose Medeles and David Coniglio built the sonic equivalent of a sweet ‘67 Camaro when they got together to play drums and vibraphones. The two artists came in for an opbmusic session to talk about where they’re headed. See them live at the PDX Pop Now Festival, alongside a roster of stellar local acts, July 22-24.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567996Fri, 24 Jun 2016 22:22:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHey people! It’s summer! Time to hit some shows. And to help you get your calendar arranged, this week we're cranking up the volume on some of the best bands we met in studio sessions this year who happen to have shows in the area, plus a super fancy,...
You can find videos of all these performances at www.opb.org/stateofwonder.

Iconic Supergroup case/lang/veirs Teams Up
Neko Case, k.d. lang and Laura Veirs finished three years of work on a lush, soulful new record and played their entire album, “case/lang/veirs,” in an exclusive opbmusic session. If you do nothing else today, go enjoy the video. You can also catch the trio live at the Oregon Zoo in Portland on July 2 and at the Les Schwab Ampitheater in Bend on July 5.

M. Ward Sings to His Baby (and opbmusic) 

The latest release from M. Ward, "More Rain," might sound like a Portland soundtrack, but it belies its name with sunny sounds of doo-wop and golden era AM radio sensibilities. The artist came by the OPB studios to play a few songs with a power backing band (REM’s Scott McCoy, Mike Coykendall, and Alialujah Choir’s Adam Selzer and Alia Farah), who he insists he did not find on Craigslist. Watch the videos, and see Ward at Revolution Hall on July 16 and 17.

Joseph Heats Up On Late Night
It’s shaping up to be a great summer for the band Joseph, as the sister trio (Allison, Meegan, and Natalie Closner) blew it up this week on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," performing their new single "White Flag." We had the pleasure of talking with the sisters in a cozy acoustic session last year. The trio grew up on a small farm in Estacada. Currently, they are on tour for their new album, “I’m Alone, No You’re Not.” They'll be at Pickathon in Happy Valley, Oregon, August 5-7 and will circle back to Eugene in September.

The Soul-Hop of Dirty Revival
Dirty Revival brought their seven piece band down to the OPB studios to play some funky, energetic tracks off their 2015 self-titled album. The group sat down with host April Baer to talk touring, song reworks, and the social consciousness that permeates their music. You can watch videos of their performance here, and catch them live at the Doug Fir on June 25, Bend's Deschutes Brewery on June 27, and Portland's Columbia Park Annex for a Summer Free For All show on July 12.

Blind Pilot Sails Back into Harbor with a New Album
Blind Pilot’s 2008 debut album, “3 Rounds and a Sound,” made national headlines after they took the album on tour, by bike, riding down the west coast with their instruments in tow. We caught up with the band’s founders Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski last summer in Astoria for a special performance with classical cello star Sergey Antonov. Their new album, “And Then Like Lions,” is set to be released on Aug. 12. Catch the band live at the Liberty Theatre in Astoria on August 19 or see them in Portland and Eugene in October.

1939 Ensemble Soar With Instrumental Power 

Jose Medeles and David Coniglio built the sonic equivalent of a sweet ‘67 Camaro when they got together to play drums and vibraphones. The two artists came in for an opbmusic session to talk about where they’re headed. See them live at the PDX Pop Now Festival, alongside a roster of stellar local acts, July 22-24.]]>3065art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,music,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sale-of-oldest-portland-studio-co-op-displaces-dozens-of-artists--11561055
Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/portland-troy-launry-building-studio-co-op-sale/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561055Sun, 26 Jun 2016 18:00:37 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFor nearly 40 years, dozens of artists have worked out of the historic Troy Laundry Building in Portland’s Central East Side. It's the oldest cooperative art studio in the city. But now the building has a new owner, and most of those artists are...
Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/portland-troy-launry-building-studio-co-op-sale/]]>737art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-2-sherman-alexie-pdx-s-oldest-art-co-op-displaced-science-of-music-more--11544213
For nearly 40 years, dozens of artists have worked out of the historic Troy Laundry Building. It's the oldest cooperative art studio in the city, but now the building has a new owner, and most of the artists who had studios there are searching for new homes. We bring you the latest in the story after talking with artists, real estate developers, and government and city officials.

Writer Sherman Alexie On His First Children's Book- 13:10

National Book Award-winning writer and Pacific NW icon Sherman Alexie is coming to town on July 9 to read from his first children’s book, “Thunder Boy Junior,” at Powell's at Cedar Hills Crossing. Alexie recently talked with NPR’s David Greene about the book, which explores his nuanced relationship with his father and his quest for defining his own identity.

Piano-Playing Neuroscientist Explores The Science Of Music - 21:28

What happens in your brain when you play your favorite instrument, and how does music affect cognition, memory and neurological diseases? OHSU neuroscientist Larry Sherman, who is also an avid pianist, played a few riffs for listeners when he came into the studio to discuss how music improves the brain. Hear the extended interview on Think Out Loud, and catch Sherman at the Kiggins Theatre on August 10 for his Science on Tap public lecture.

Why Do So Many New Buildings Look So Bad? - 29:25

Exponential growth in Portland’s neighborhoods have left a lot of people feeling like there’s a big new building popping up on every corner. We talk with our columnist-in-residence, Randy Gragg, about how architects differentiate between a good and a bad building, infill development and design — with a focus on Don Vallaster's new Lower Burnside Lofts.

Retiring NW Art Curator's Life-Long Relationship With The Portland Art Museum - 38:45

When Bonnie Laing-Malcolmson started as a 17-year-old student at the Museum Art School at the Portland Art Museum in 1970, there wasn’t much of a Northwest Art collection. By the time she returned to the Portland Art Museum in 2010, this time as the Curator of Northwest Art, a major gift from Arlene and Harold Schnitzer had transformed the two floors that used to house the Museum School into the Center for Northwest Art. She retired on June 30, but not before rehanging the galleries one last time. She gave producer Aaron Scott a tour and discussed how much the NW has changed over the last 46 years.

'Jazz Town' Documentary Examines Portland's Musical Roots - 47:18

Jazz was once the sizzling beat on the music scene here in Portland. Oregon Experience’s documentary “Jazz Town” takes a closer look at the neighborhoods, music, and politics in Portland during the jazz era. Harold Johnson gives his account of the Portland jazz scene as an African American student at the University of Portland in the 1950s, including top artists that came through the city like Duke Ellington and some of the racism and discrimination he and his friends were met with at Portland clubs. To learn more about the history of Portland’s jazz scene, listen to more of KMHD’s Jazz Town audio postcards.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544213Sat, 02 Jul 2016 00:04:01 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDozens Of Artists Displaced After Sale of Troy Laundry Building For nearly 40 years, dozens of artists have worked out of the historic Troy Laundry Building. It's the oldest cooperative art studio in the city, but now the building has a new owner,...
For nearly 40 years, dozens of artists have worked out of the historic Troy Laundry Building. It's the oldest cooperative art studio in the city, but now the building has a new owner, and most of the artists who had studios there are searching for new homes. We bring you the latest in the story after talking with artists, real estate developers, and government and city officials.

Writer Sherman Alexie On His First Children's Book- 13:10

National Book Award-winning writer and Pacific NW icon Sherman Alexie is coming to town on July 9 to read from his first children’s book, “Thunder Boy Junior,” at Powell's at Cedar Hills Crossing. Alexie recently talked with NPR’s David Greene about the book, which explores his nuanced relationship with his father and his quest for defining his own identity.

Piano-Playing Neuroscientist Explores The Science Of Music - 21:28

What happens in your brain when you play your favorite instrument, and how does music affect cognition, memory and neurological diseases? OHSU neuroscientist Larry Sherman, who is also an avid pianist, played a few riffs for listeners when he came into the studio to discuss how music improves the brain. Hear the extended interview on Think Out Loud, and catch Sherman at the Kiggins Theatre on August 10 for his Science on Tap public lecture.

Why Do So Many New Buildings Look So Bad? - 29:25

Exponential growth in Portland’s neighborhoods have left a lot of people feeling like there’s a big new building popping up on every corner. We talk with our columnist-in-residence, Randy Gragg, about how architects differentiate between a good and a bad building, infill development and design — with a focus on Don Vallaster's new Lower Burnside Lofts.

Retiring NW Art Curator's Life-Long Relationship With The Portland Art Museum - 38:45

When Bonnie Laing-Malcolmson started as a 17-year-old student at the Museum Art School at the Portland Art Museum in 1970, there wasn’t much of a Northwest Art collection. By the time she returned to the Portland Art Museum in 2010, this time as the Curator of Northwest Art, a major gift from Arlene and Harold Schnitzer had transformed the two floors that used to house the Museum School into the Center for Northwest Art. She retired on June 30, but not before rehanging the galleries one last time. She gave producer Aaron Scott a tour and discussed how much the NW has changed over the last 46 years.

'Jazz Town' Documentary Examines Portland's Musical Roots - 47:18

Jazz was once the sizzling beat on the music scene here in Portland. Oregon Experience’s documentary “Jazz Town” takes a closer look at the neighborhoods, music, and politics in Portland during the jazz era. Harold Johnson gives his account of the Portland jazz scene as an African American student at the University of Portland in the 1950s, including top artists that came through the city like Duke Ellington and some of the racism and discrimination he and his friends were met with at Portland clubs. To learn more about the history of Portland’s jazz scene, listen to more of KMHD’s Jazz Town audio postcards.]]>3122falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/peeling-back-layers-on-lower-burnside-lofts--11559712https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559712Sat, 02 Jul 2016 17:35:54 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAll those new apartment buildings going up all over Portland? They're not all created equal. What exactly are developers paying for when they engage architects to design a building? Our columnist-in-residence Randy Gragg peels back the layers with a...537bluesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-museum-s-nw-curator-looks-back-at-46-years-of-regional-art--11559711
Malcolmson graduated and pursued a career in arts administration. She eventually served as the director of academic affairs at the Pacific Northwest College of Art and then the president of the Oregon College of Arts and Craft, where she spearheaded a nearly $15 million dollar expansion.

By the time Malcolmson returned to the Portland Art Museum in 2010, this time as the Curator of Northwest Art, a major gift from Arlene and Harold Schnitzer had transformed the two floors that used to house the Museum School into the Center for Northwest Art. And fittingly enough, artists Malcolmson had once gone to school with, or later admitted to schools, filled its collection.

This week, Bonnie Laing-Malcolmson retired. But not after rehanging the Center for Northwest ARt one last time. She talked with our producer Aaron Scott about seismic changes over the course of her career.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559711Sat, 02 Jul 2016 20:24:02 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhen Bonnie Laing Malcolmson started as a 17-year-old student at the Museum Art School at the Portland Art Museum in 1970, there wasn’t much of a Northwest art collection. Malcolmson graduated and pursued a career in arts administration. She...
Malcolmson graduated and pursued a career in arts administration. She eventually served as the director of academic affairs at the Pacific Northwest College of Art and then the president of the Oregon College of Arts and Craft, where she spearheaded a nearly $15 million dollar expansion.

By the time Malcolmson returned to the Portland Art Museum in 2010, this time as the Curator of Northwest Art, a major gift from Arlene and Harold Schnitzer had transformed the two floors that used to house the Museum School into the Center for Northwest Art. And fittingly enough, artists Malcolmson had once gone to school with, or later admitted to schools, filled its collection.

This week, Bonnie Laing-Malcolmson retired. But not after rehanging the Center for Northwest ARt one last time. She talked with our producer Aaron Scott about seismic changes over the course of her career.]]>517art,arts & entertainment,local_opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-fishtrap-timothy-egan-bobbie-conner-sherwin-bitsui-erika-wurth-more--11544212
In anticipation of the event, we're going to listen back to a live show we did at the festival last year, where we talked with the National Book Award–winner Timothy Egan, several founders of the festival, and two up-and-coming Native writers.

01:00 A round table with festival founders Kim Stafford (writer and Lewis and Clark professor) and Rich Wandschneider (former longtime Fishtrap director and now head of the Josephy library), as well as festival board president Rose Caslar, a Wallowa County native who took her first Fishtrap class at 15. They talk about Josephy's influence, the place of Western writing, the reaction to hanging a four-point buck rack in a Lewis and Clark College dormitory and the area's troubled relationship with its original inhabitants, the Nez Perce.

13:30 - The Josephy Center for Arts and Culture director, Cheryl Coughlan, tells us about how the center helps to culture a creative life in a rural community.

17:56 - Keynote speaker Timothy Egan discusses reporting on stories hidden in plain site. Best known for his National Book Award–winning “The Worst Hard Time,” chronicling Dust Bowl stories, Egan has also written about the photographer Edward Curtis, the wildfire that gave rise to the U.S. Forest Service and western issues of all types for his regular op-eds in the "New York Times." His published the book he told us about, "The Immortal Irishman," in March.

25:10 - We venture to Fishtrap's lodge for a youth workshop on writing hip-hop theater with poet Myrlin Hepworth, who has a new mixtape out called "Eulogy in Blue."

29:10 - Roberta Connor, the director of the Tamastlikt Cultural Institute whose family includes Nez Perce, Umatilla and Cayuse ancestry, was invited to Fishtrap to talk about what happens when Native stories are told by white writers and to share some of the hidden stories that speak most deeply to her.

36:57 - We close with a discussion with two of this year's most rambunctious workshop leaders, writers Erika Wurth and Sherwin Bitsui. Wurth, who is Apache, Chickasaw and Cherokee, most recently published "Crazy Horse's Girlfriend" and is working on a novel about Native gangs. Bitsui is a Diné from the Navajo Reservation in White Cone, Arizona, and his most recent poetry collection, "Floodsong," won the American Book Award and the PEN Open Book Award.

The music in this week's show comes from Tony Furtado's newest album, "The Bell." Furtado has a number of Oregon shows coming up, including on July 28 in Bend at the Volcanic Theatre and on August 3 in Sandy at Meinig Park.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544212Thu, 07 Jul 2016 00:19:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEvery summer, writers from all over the country head to the base of the towering Wallowa Mountains for Summer Fishtrap, a conference about writing and the West. This year, the festival runs July 10–16 with a slew of workshops, public events, and a...
In anticipation of the event, we're going to listen back to a live show we did at the festival last year, where we talked with the National Book Award–winner Timothy Egan, several founders of the festival, and two up-and-coming Native writers.

01:00 A round table with festival founders Kim Stafford (writer and Lewis and Clark professor) and Rich Wandschneider (former longtime Fishtrap director and now head of the Josephy library), as well as festival board president Rose Caslar, a Wallowa County native who took her first Fishtrap class at 15. They talk about Josephy's influence, the place of Western writing, the reaction to hanging a four-point buck rack in a Lewis and Clark College dormitory and the area's troubled relationship with its original inhabitants, the Nez Perce.

13:30 - The Josephy Center for Arts and Culture director, Cheryl Coughlan, tells us about how the center helps to culture a creative life in a rural community.

17:56 - Keynote speaker Timothy Egan discusses reporting on stories hidden in plain site. Best known for his National Book Award–winning “The Worst Hard Time,” chronicling Dust Bowl stories, Egan has also written about the photographer Edward Curtis, the wildfire that gave rise to the U.S. Forest Service and western issues of all types for his regular op-eds in the "New York Times." His published the book he told us about, "The Immortal Irishman," in March.

25:10 - We venture to Fishtrap's lodge for a youth workshop on writing hip-hop theater with poet Myrlin Hepworth, who has a new mixtape out called "Eulogy in Blue."

29:10 - Roberta Connor, the director of the Tamastlikt Cultural Institute whose family includes Nez Perce, Umatilla and Cayuse ancestry, was invited to Fishtrap to talk about what happens when Native stories are told by white writers and to share some of the hidden stories that speak most deeply to her.

36:57 - We close with a discussion with two of this year's most rambunctious workshop leaders, writers Erika Wurth and Sherwin Bitsui. Wurth, who is Apache, Chickasaw and Cherokee, most recently published "Crazy Horse's Girlfriend" and is working on a novel about Native gangs. Bitsui is a Diné from the Navajo Reservation in White Cone, Arizona, and his most recent poetry collection, "Floodsong," won the American Book Award and the PEN Open Book Award.

The music in this week's show comes from Tony Furtado's newest album, "The Bell." Furtado has a number of Oregon shows coming up, including on July 28 in Bend at the Volcanic Theatre and on August 3 in Sandy at Meinig Park.]]>3169falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/response-through-resistance-rasheed-jamal-and-mic-capes--11559707https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559707Fri, 15 Jul 2016 23:59:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe sat down with Rasheed Jamal and Mic Capes to talk about their writing, and next steps after Minneapolis, Baton Rouge, and Dallas.951hip hop,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-16-art-and-race-mic-capes-rasheed-jamal-august-wilson-red-door-project-arvie-smith-more--11544211
What's Race Got To Do With It?

We begin the show at a recent event organized by a group called the Color of Now on Monday night, where more than 150 people crowded into Imago Theatre. The night began with a performance by actor Joseph Gibson from "Hands Up: 7 Playwrights, 7 Testaments,” a series of seven monologues by black playwrights. Next, Color of Now artistic director Chantal DeGroat dug into a wide-ranging conversation about race and social justice with the local theater and social justice veteran Kevin Jones, moving from Jones’s stories about seeing Malcolm X as a child and struggling with early affirmative action at IBM to Oregon’s troubled history with race.

The Red Curtain And The Thin Blue Line - 13:28

One of the people to see "Hands Up" in recent weeks was Portland Police Captain Mike Crebs. Unlike community meetings and other events, he says the show was unique because he had to sit silently and simply listen to the voices of African American men and women talking about how they move through the world and what it's like to encounter the police. Crebs was so moved he met up with one of the actors a couple of days later to talk it through.

Hip-Hop Artists Mic Capes and Rasheed Jamal - 19:58

Hip hop has been one of the most important vehicles for the African-American community — especially the under-30 set — to talk about grief, anger, and next steps forward. We caught up with two artists this week who have been writing about justice issues for years: Mic Capes and Rasheed Jamal. With a big voice and a lyric sensibility to match, Capes has one of the largest megaphones on the St Johns scene. And Jamal's been on Portland stages for five years, with a style that’s picked up speed and intensity. The two talk about whether music has moved the needle on race and police shootings and Capes cover of NWA's "F--k The Police."

Music For Mourning - 29:47

Portland Police sergeant and classically trained pianist Jim Quackenbush plays the third movement from Samuel Barber’s piano sonata. He calls it a song of mourning. "You can hear the desolation, the desperation, the destruction," he says. "Music is what we use when we don't have words. In moments like this last week, I have no words."

Aunt Jemima, Buckwheat, and Don't Shoot — Why None of This Is New - 36:00

When you see Pacific Northwest College of Art Professor Emeritus Arvie Smith’s vivid, explosive paintings at the Portland Art Museum later this month, you might think they were conceived and created last week, but to know Smith’s work is to realize, there’s nothing new about what happened in Minneapolis and Baton Rouge this month. He tells us about his art and life, which is book-ended on one end by the Jim Crow South, and on the other by smart phone videos capturing the shooting of black Americans by police.

Writer Melanie Alldritt Doesn't Want to Be Beautiful - 44:43

In a world where we think we’ve seen everything, the videos of the shootings of Alton Sterling and, especially, Philando Castile were shocking because of the intimacy they offered. People took to the streets and to the internet across the country. People mourned and raged on social media. And a number of prominent local writers shared an essay by a young writer that caught our eye. It’s in "Nailed Magazine," and it’s called “I Don’t Want to Be Beautiful” by Melanie Alldritt. We invited her in to read it for us and discuss how writing lets her work through these experiences.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544211Sat, 16 Jul 2016 00:30:09 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on State of Wonder, we’re going to spend the hour exploring how the region’s artists are using their work to process the hurricane of emotions that erupted after last week’s deadly shootings of two African American men in Louisiana and...
What's Race Got To Do With It?

We begin the show at a recent event organized by a group called the Color of Now on Monday night, where more than 150 people crowded into Imago Theatre. The night began with a performance by actor Joseph Gibson from "Hands Up: 7 Playwrights, 7 Testaments,” a series of seven monologues by black playwrights. Next, Color of Now artistic director Chantal DeGroat dug into a wide-ranging conversation about race and social justice with the local theater and social justice veteran Kevin Jones, moving from Jones’s stories about seeing Malcolm X as a child and struggling with early affirmative action at IBM to Oregon’s troubled history with race.

The Red Curtain And The Thin Blue Line - 13:28

One of the people to see "Hands Up" in recent weeks was Portland Police Captain Mike Crebs. Unlike community meetings and other events, he says the show was unique because he had to sit silently and simply listen to the voices of African American men and women talking about how they move through the world and what it's like to encounter the police. Crebs was so moved he met up with one of the actors a couple of days later to talk it through.

Hip-Hop Artists Mic Capes and Rasheed Jamal - 19:58

Hip hop has been one of the most important vehicles for the African-American community — especially the under-30 set — to talk about grief, anger, and next steps forward. We caught up with two artists this week who have been writing about justice issues for years: Mic Capes and Rasheed Jamal. With a big voice and a lyric sensibility to match, Capes has one of the largest megaphones on the St Johns scene. And Jamal's been on Portland stages for five years, with a style that’s picked up speed and intensity. The two talk about whether music has moved the needle on race and police shootings and Capes cover of NWA's "F--k The Police."

Music For Mourning - 29:47

Portland Police sergeant and classically trained pianist Jim Quackenbush plays the third movement from Samuel Barber’s piano sonata. He calls it a song of mourning. "You can hear the desolation, the desperation, the destruction," he says. "Music is what we use when we don't have words. In moments like this last week, I have no words."

Aunt Jemima, Buckwheat, and Don't Shoot — Why None of This Is New - 36:00

When you see Pacific Northwest College of Art Professor Emeritus Arvie Smith’s vivid, explosive paintings at the Portland Art Museum later this month, you might think they were conceived and created last week, but to know Smith’s work is to realize, there’s nothing new about what happened in Minneapolis and Baton Rouge this month. He tells us about his art and life, which is book-ended on one end by the Jim Crow South, and on the other by smart phone videos capturing the shooting of black Americans by police.

Writer Melanie Alldritt Doesn't Want to Be Beautiful - 44:43

In a world where we think we’ve seen everything, the videos of the shootings of Alton Sterling and, especially, Philando Castile were shocking because of the intimacy they offered. People took to the streets and to the internet across the country. People mourned and raged on social media. And a number of prominent local writers shared an essay by a young writer that caught our eye. It’s in "Nailed Magazine," and it’s called “I Don’t Want to Be Beautiful” by Melanie Alldritt. We invited her in to read it for us and discuss how writing lets her work through these experiences.]]>3135falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-writer-melanie-alldritt-doesn-t-want-to-be-beautiful--11559706
Across the country, people took to the streets and to the internet. People mourned and raged on social media. And a number of prominent local writers shared an essay by a young writer that caught our eye: “I Don’t Want to Be Beautiful” by Melanie Alldritt. We invited her in to read for us and discuss how writing lets her work through experiences that are too horrible to talk about.

Alldritt is currently working on an essay about the grief of being a black woman that she’ll read at the Grief Rites reading series on August 8 at the American Legion Post 143.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559706Mon, 18 Jul 2016 21:12:44 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn a world where we think we’ve seen everything, the videos of the shootings of Alton Sterling and, especially, Philando Castile were shocking because of the intimacy they offered. Anyone who watched Diamond Reynolds calmly addressing the police...
Across the country, people took to the streets and to the internet. People mourned and raged on social media. And a number of prominent local writers shared an essay by a young writer that caught our eye: “I Don’t Want to Be Beautiful” by Melanie Alldritt. We invited her in to read for us and discuss how writing lets her work through experiences that are too horrible to talk about.

Alldritt is currently working on an essay about the grief of being a black woman that she’ll read at the Grief Rites reading series on August 8 at the American Legion Post 143.]]>410art,books,local_opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-23-the-funniest-thing-in-portland-with-shelley-mclendon--11544210
In preview of the Stumptown Improv Festival from Aug. 4–6, we're going to listen back to the episode that Shelley guest curated for State of Wonder, because her group the Liberators is performing, as are a bevvy of the improv stars you hear in the show, including festival co-founders Jed Arkley, Leon Anderson and Erin O'Regan. It's a scrappy little fest that's blowing up with sell-out shows and all-star guests, including wife-and-husband team Orange Tuxedo and the improv hip-hop troupe North Coast.

Plus, it's sponsored by Oregon Quinces. You don't get more ridiculous than that.

The Aces: Sketch Comedy At Its Best - 1:12

Shelley, along with Michael Fetters, make up our favorite local sketch duo, the Aces. They performed a scene for our pleasure about a 19th-century pioneer couple sitting for a 10-minute photo portrait. Life was rougher then. All we can say is, don't eat the stew — and make sure to get Grandma out of the bear trap.

Sisters of Comedy: Shelley & Wendi McLendon-Covey - 7:35
It just so happens that Shelley isn’t the only one with the funny gene in the McLendon family. Her sister is Wendi McLendon-Covey, whom you might know from "Bridesmaids," "The Goldbergs," "Reno 911" — or any number of other movies and TV shows. We got the two in the studio to talk about the roots of their comedic talents, playing Twister with Christian co-eds, making out with Nicholas Cage and the time Shelley grew a tail (or why you should check in with your coccyx). You can hear the full interview, plus watch them perform together, here.

Siren Theater And The Portland Performance Crises - 17:23

When Shelley started her company, Bad Reputation Productions, she rented out venues like Theater! Theatre! Over time, she found spaces increasingly hard to come by, so she set out to start her own. It took her two years to find something that worked and that she could afford: the Siren. And it's one of only a few new theaters to open in years.

Shelly’s far from the only one struggling to find affordable performance and rehearsal space in Portland’s booming real estate market. A spate of theater and dance companies have been pushed from their homes as their rents spike or their buildings get torn down. And as Imago's recent announcement made clear, even those who own their buildings are having problems keeping the lights on.

Is it time for a new arts center? We take a look at why it's so hard to find space and what can be done about it.

Leviathan: The Monster of All Improv Shows - 29:28

Producer Aaron Scott tests his skill — and his dignity — at Leviathan. It's a show where a storyteller has to come up with stories on-the-fly based off of audience suggestions, and then a group of able improvisers riff off the stories to create new sketches. Aaron's stories ranged from an exotic animal menagerie/B&B in Kansas to a group of Sri Lankan monks with a secret.

Bubbles and Giggles: TOL in the Tub - 44:36

Think Out Loud, In The Tub. It was a visionary idea: interviews with local chefs … in hot tubs. The first chef was Miranda Bjornsen, owner of Nooks & Cranberries. Unfortunately, she was also the last, as this was one of the best April Fools' spoofs ever, starring Shelley and Think Out Loud host Dave Miller.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544210Fri, 22 Jul 2016 04:07:56 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland’s comedy scene is incendiary, and one of the prime movers we have to thank for it is Shelley McLendon. She’s the mastermind behind Bad Reputation Productions, which has staged hilarious adaptations of movies like "Road House" and "The Lost...
In preview of the Stumptown Improv Festival from Aug. 4–6, we're going to listen back to the episode that Shelley guest curated for State of Wonder, because her group the Liberators is performing, as are a bevvy of the improv stars you hear in the show, including festival co-founders Jed Arkley, Leon Anderson and Erin O'Regan. It's a scrappy little fest that's blowing up with sell-out shows and all-star guests, including wife-and-husband team Orange Tuxedo and the improv hip-hop troupe North Coast.

Plus, it's sponsored by Oregon Quinces. You don't get more ridiculous than that.

The Aces: Sketch Comedy At Its Best - 1:12

Shelley, along with Michael Fetters, make up our favorite local sketch duo, the Aces. They performed a scene for our pleasure about a 19th-century pioneer couple sitting for a 10-minute photo portrait. Life was rougher then. All we can say is, don't eat the stew — and make sure to get Grandma out of the bear trap.

Sisters of Comedy: Shelley & Wendi McLendon-Covey - 7:35
It just so happens that Shelley isn’t the only one with the funny gene in the McLendon family. Her sister is Wendi McLendon-Covey, whom you might know from "Bridesmaids," "The Goldbergs," "Reno 911" — or any number of other movies and TV shows. We got the two in the studio to talk about the roots of their comedic talents, playing Twister with Christian co-eds, making out with Nicholas Cage and the time Shelley grew a tail (or why you should check in with your coccyx). You can hear the full interview, plus watch them perform together, here.

Siren Theater And The Portland Performance Crises - 17:23

When Shelley started her company, Bad Reputation Productions, she rented out venues like Theater! Theatre! Over time, she found spaces increasingly hard to come by, so she set out to start her own. It took her two years to find something that worked and that she could afford: the Siren. And it's one of only a few new theaters to open in years.

Shelly’s far from the only one struggling to find affordable performance and rehearsal space in Portland’s booming real estate market. A spate of theater and dance companies have been pushed from their homes as their rents spike or their buildings get torn down. And as Imago's recent announcement made clear, even those who own their buildings are having problems keeping the lights on.

Is it time for a new arts center? We take a look at why it's so hard to find space and what can be done about it.

Leviathan: The Monster of All Improv Shows - 29:28

Producer Aaron Scott tests his skill — and his dignity — at Leviathan. It's a show where a storyteller has to come up with stories on-the-fly based off of audience suggestions, and then a group of able improvisers riff off the stories to create new sketches. Aaron's stories ranged from an exotic animal menagerie/B&B in Kansas to a group of Sri Lankan monks with a secret.

Bubbles and Giggles: TOL in the Tub - 44:36

Think Out Loud, In The Tub. It was a visionary idea: interviews with local chefs … in hot tubs. The first chef was Miranda Bjornsen, owner of Nooks & Cranberries. Unfortunately, she was also the last, as this was one of the best April Fools' spoofs ever, starring Shelley and Think Out Loud host Dave Miller.]]>3097falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/on-view-arvie-smith-at-portland-art-museum--11559719https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559719Fri, 29 Jul 2016 19:56:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingVisual artist Arvie Smith talks to us about his decades of work interpreting and subverting mainstream images of black life. His work is on view at the Portland Art Museum's APEX Gallery July 30th-November 13th.527opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-color-of-memory--11559709https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559709Fri, 29 Jul 2016 20:47:26 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA show at Jeffrey Thomas Gallery addresses issues of memory through the work of 16 West Coast artists who emphasize or deny color in their work.247falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-skyline-aims-higher--11559705http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559705Fri, 29 Jul 2016 20:53:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingState of Wonder's Columnist-in-Residence, Randy Gragg, talks to designers of three new icons in the Portland Skyline: Park Avenue West, The Cosmopolitan, and Indigo @ twelve | west. To see some gorgeous drone's-eye views of all three, find the article...http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/]]>1477falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-30-art-road-trip-with-disjecta-biennial-the-rock-n-roll-shangri-la-of-ceramics-and-more--11544209
Veterans Chase Rock 'n' Roll Ceramics And Granite Peaks at the LH Project

There are a lot of reasons to visit Joseph, Oregon, beginning with the spectacular Wallowa Mountains. But for ceramic artists, there’s one very specific reason: a residency program that some have called the Shangri-la of ceramics. It was started by Jakob Haßlacher and his wife, the internationally renowned sculptor Chris Antemann, in 2000. Haßlacher named it after his family's cattle brand, the LH Project, and now they invite ceramic artists from around the world to make art there. One group comes back every summer: veterans, who crank the stereo and let the beer flow more freely than the glaze.

Wallowa County Writer's First Book Recounts True Love Found Around A Campfire in Hells Canyon - 10:57

Pamela Royes debut book, "Temperance Creek: A Memoir," explores her early adult years in Northeastern Oregon in the Wallowa Mountains. That's where she met her future husband, Skip Royes, a Vietnam war veteran, while backpacking. He asked her to join him, and her lyrical writing sensibility brings to life what it was like sheep herding in Hells Canyon for four years, living off the land with a man who went from a stranger on the trail to her husband for forty years.

Disjecta's 'Portland2016' Biennial Creates The Ultimate Art Road Trip - 20:07

The mother of all summertime art road trips is here. In thirteen cities, artwork will be on view this summer representing Oregon’s contemporary art scene for Disjecta’s biennial show "Portland2016." Curator Michelle Grabner, who curated the 2014 Whitney Museum of American Art Biennial, spent last fall and winter getting to know Oregon artists through a mind-bending 107 studio visits. We joined Grabner at several stages in her process, from studio visits to artists installing their work in an abandoned hotel in Astoria.

New Capacity Building Initiative Helps Arts Organizations Think Big - 36:20

It’s really tough for arts organizations to think big when they’re so married to a regular cycle of ticket sales, grants, and courting donors. We recently sat down with Steve Moore, executive director of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, to talk about a recently completed initiative to help arts organizations like Disjecta do bigger and better projects. It's called Capacity Building, and the endgame is to get those arts organizations into more long-term, sustainable planning.

Skyscrapers In Portland: The Sky's The Limit? - 39:54

Portland is growing up. Fast. More than 60 buildings over 100-feet tall are in the pipeline, along with a few towering higher than 200 feet. Downtown’s largest property owner, the Goodman family, recently made a highly speculative proposal for four new towers that could rise as high as 460 feet. Our architecture and urban design columnist-in-residence, Randy Gragg, talked with the architects of three of the most prominent new buildings: Park Avenue West, the Cosmopolitan, and Indigo @ twelve|west. We have drone videos of the buildings, along with an extended interview with Randy and the architects, here.

Exploring Color, Space And Memory Through 'The Color Of Memory' - 49:55

The memories you make this summer — at the beach, with friends — will be full of light and color.But how will those colors stay with you down the road? Will they stay bright, or fade like beach towels left a little too long in the sun? There’s a show now on view called “The Color of Memory” at Jeffrey Thomas Fine Art in Northwest Portland, running through Aug. 27, that explores issues of memory through the work of 16 West Coast artists, who emphasize or deny color in their work.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544209Fri, 29 Jul 2016 21:02:20 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, the vacation comes to you! We've got excellent road trips to some of the most beautiful and inspiring parts of Oregon and the creators who work there. Pack up, grab a bag of sunflower seeds — we're hitting the road. Veterans Chase Rock 'n'...
Veterans Chase Rock 'n' Roll Ceramics And Granite Peaks at the LH Project

There are a lot of reasons to visit Joseph, Oregon, beginning with the spectacular Wallowa Mountains. But for ceramic artists, there’s one very specific reason: a residency program that some have called the Shangri-la of ceramics. It was started by Jakob Haßlacher and his wife, the internationally renowned sculptor Chris Antemann, in 2000. Haßlacher named it after his family's cattle brand, the LH Project, and now they invite ceramic artists from around the world to make art there. One group comes back every summer: veterans, who crank the stereo and let the beer flow more freely than the glaze.

Wallowa County Writer's First Book Recounts True Love Found Around A Campfire in Hells Canyon - 10:57

Pamela Royes debut book, "Temperance Creek: A Memoir," explores her early adult years in Northeastern Oregon in the Wallowa Mountains. That's where she met her future husband, Skip Royes, a Vietnam war veteran, while backpacking. He asked her to join him, and her lyrical writing sensibility brings to life what it was like sheep herding in Hells Canyon for four years, living off the land with a man who went from a stranger on the trail to her husband for forty years.

Disjecta's 'Portland2016' Biennial Creates The Ultimate Art Road Trip - 20:07

The mother of all summertime art road trips is here. In thirteen cities, artwork will be on view this summer representing Oregon’s contemporary art scene for Disjecta’s biennial show "Portland2016." Curator Michelle Grabner, who curated the 2014 Whitney Museum of American Art Biennial, spent last fall and winter getting to know Oregon artists through a mind-bending 107 studio visits. We joined Grabner at several stages in her process, from studio visits to artists installing their work in an abandoned hotel in Astoria.

New Capacity Building Initiative Helps Arts Organizations Think Big - 36:20

It’s really tough for arts organizations to think big when they’re so married to a regular cycle of ticket sales, grants, and courting donors. We recently sat down with Steve Moore, executive director of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, to talk about a recently completed initiative to help arts organizations like Disjecta do bigger and better projects. It's called Capacity Building, and the endgame is to get those arts organizations into more long-term, sustainable planning.

Skyscrapers In Portland: The Sky's The Limit? - 39:54

Portland is growing up. Fast. More than 60 buildings over 100-feet tall are in the pipeline, along with a few towering higher than 200 feet. Downtown’s largest property owner, the Goodman family, recently made a highly speculative proposal for four new towers that could rise as high as 460 feet. Our architecture and urban design columnist-in-residence, Randy Gragg, talked with the architects of three of the most prominent new buildings: Park Avenue West, the Cosmopolitan, and Indigo @ twelve|west. We have drone videos of the buildings, along with an extended interview with Randy and the architects, here.

Exploring Color, Space And Memory Through 'The Color Of Memory' - 49:55

The memories you make this summer — at the beach, with friends — will be full of light and color.But how will those colors stay with you down the road? Will they stay bright, or fade like beach towels left a little too long in the sun? There’s a show now on view called “The Color of Memory” at Jeffrey Thomas Fine Art in Northwest Portland, running through Aug. 27, that explores issues of memory through the work of 16 West Coast artists, who emphasize or deny color in their work.]]>3306falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/michelle-grabner-on-the-disjecta-biennial--11559713https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559713Fri, 29 Jul 2016 21:39:01 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt's the art road trip of the summer! Work on view in 13 Oregon cities. Milwaukee-based artist, academic, and curator Michelle Grabner curates this year's Disjecta Portland2016 biennial - we follow her process and she tells us her approach.966opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ceramics-meets-rock-n-roll-at-the-lh-project-in-the-wallowas--11559702
But the LH Project is not the mental image you might have of an artists’ residency. There are no glasses of merlot, no berets, no still lives of lilacs and persimmons. LH is pure rock ‘n’ roll clay-slinging that attracts artists from around the world, including a group of veterans who return year after year.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559702Sat, 30 Jul 2016 17:26:23 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThere are a lot of reasons to visit Joseph, Oregon, beginning with the spectacular Wallowa Mountains. But for ceramic artists, there’s one very specific reason: a residency program that some have called the Shangri-la of ceramics. But the LH Project...
But the LH Project is not the mental image you might have of an artists’ residency. There are no glasses of merlot, no berets, no still lives of lilacs and persimmons. LH is pure rock ‘n’ roll clay-slinging that attracts artists from around the world, including a group of veterans who return year after year.]]>575art,arts & entertainment,ceramics,local_news,local_opb,opb,oregonfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-13-jesse-eisenberg-wendell-pierce-and-alicia-jo-rabins-at-wordstock--11544208
Jesse Eisenberg Made His Name Playing Neurotic Characters. Turns Out He Can Write Like Them Too.

Jesse Eisenberg is best known for starring in movies such as “The Social Network,” "Batman V. Superman," and “Zombieland," but he’s quickly gaining attention for his writing as well, in the form of both plays and humor. In 2015 alone, Eisenberg starred in three films, spent two months acting in an off-Broadway play of his own writing, and released his first book, "Bream Gives Me Hiccups: and Other Stories." It takes its name from a series of restaurant reviews he penned for "The New Yorker" from the perspective of a privileged child, but it also includes such absurd gems as a marriage counselor heckling the Knicks and a post-gender normative man trying to pick a woman up at a bar.

This summer, you can find Eisenber on the big screen right in “Now You See Me 2” and Woody Allen’s “Cafe Society.”

Alicia Jo Rabins: Mystic Ideas and a Modern Sensibility - 19:15

Portland’s Alicia Jo Rabins is a renaissance woman — she writes mystical poetry, she’s a gifted storyteller, she composes and performs beautiful song cycles about Biblical women for her rock band project, called Girls in Trouble, and she’s a Jewish scholar. At Wordstock, Rabins read for us from her award-winning new book, “Divinity School,” and performed a song.

Wendell Pierce Remembers Post-Katrina New Orleans - 31:13

Actor and activist Wendell Pierce put an indelible mark on the TV landscape with his role as William “Bunk” Moreland on the iconic television series, “The Wire.” He has produced and acted in movies, TV, and theater, and last year, he made his debut in the literary world with "The Wind in the Reeds." It’s a meditation on his return to his hometown of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, where he performed in a staging of the play “Waiting for Godot” in the Lower Ninth Ward.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544208Thu, 04 Aug 2016 23:35:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on State of Wonder, we take a break from our summer reading to look back at last year's Wordstock book festival. We'll hear from three authors with fascinating backstories lay out the singular works they delivered in 2015. This year's...
Jesse Eisenberg Made His Name Playing Neurotic Characters. Turns Out He Can Write Like Them Too.

Jesse Eisenberg is best known for starring in movies such as “The Social Network,” "Batman V. Superman," and “Zombieland," but he’s quickly gaining attention for his writing as well, in the form of both plays and humor. In 2015 alone, Eisenberg starred in three films, spent two months acting in an off-Broadway play of his own writing, and released his first book, "Bream Gives Me Hiccups: and Other Stories." It takes its name from a series of restaurant reviews he penned for "The New Yorker" from the perspective of a privileged child, but it also includes such absurd gems as a marriage counselor heckling the Knicks and a post-gender normative man trying to pick a woman up at a bar.

This summer, you can find Eisenber on the big screen right in “Now You See Me 2” and Woody Allen’s “Cafe Society.”

Alicia Jo Rabins: Mystic Ideas and a Modern Sensibility - 19:15

Portland’s Alicia Jo Rabins is a renaissance woman — she writes mystical poetry, she’s a gifted storyteller, she composes and performs beautiful song cycles about Biblical women for her rock band project, called Girls in Trouble, and she’s a Jewish scholar. At Wordstock, Rabins read for us from her award-winning new book, “Divinity School,” and performed a song.

Wendell Pierce Remembers Post-Katrina New Orleans - 31:13

Actor and activist Wendell Pierce put an indelible mark on the TV landscape with his role as William “Bunk” Moreland on the iconic television series, “The Wire.” He has produced and acted in movies, TV, and theater, and last year, he made his debut in the literary world with "The Wind in the Reeds." It’s a meditation on his return to his hometown of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, where he performed in a staging of the play “Waiting for Godot” in the Lower Ninth Ward.]]>3053falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/skylab-builds-portland-a-brand-new-yard--11561053https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11561053Fri, 05 Aug 2016 17:37:49 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNot since Big Pink or the Interstate Bank tower has Portland produced a highrise that so many people have opinions about. We’re talking about Yard, the chocolate-brown, 21-story apartment tower recently finished at the east end of the Burnside...646architecture,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-6-the-building-portlanders-love-to-hate-buster-keaton-s-the-general-gets-a-new-score-more--11544207
Love It Or Loath It - Portland Newest High-Rise: The Yard

The new chocolate-brown high-rise building at the east end of the Burnside bridge has received a lot of attention from Portlanders, from those who think its a daring modern style to those who call it the Death Star and the Borg and think it represents all that's wrong about Portland growth. Our columnist-in-residence, Randy Gragg, talked with the building's architect Jeff Kovel of Skylab Architecture about the design of the building, factors that went into why it looks the way it does, and what sets it apart.

Erin McKeown Takes Prayer into the Bathroom with the Queer Gospel

Erin McKeown got her start in the New England folk scene, but she’s since grown into a genre dancer of the highest order, gliding from folk to big band to gospel without straining her crystal clear voice. But even for an artist who regularly tackles politics and social justice, something feels particularly urgent about the six songs that make up her first studio album in three years, the EP “According to Us.” She released its first single, “The Queer Gospel,” just days after the Orlando shooting at the Pulse Nightclub.

The Hollywood Theatre Gives Buster Keaton's Silent Film "The General" a New Score for Its 90th Birthday

Filmed in Cottage Grove, Oregon, Buster Keaton’s 1926 silent film “The General” is considered one of the greatest movies of all time. The Hollywood Theatre, which is also celebrating its 90th anniversary, decided to throw a co-birthday party by commissioning an original score from the well-known Oregon composer Mark Orton, who has soundtracked everything from "Nebraska" to Ken Burns' "The Roosevelts" and episodes of "This American Life."

Orton and a group of talented musicians will take the film and live score on a week tour through Oregon.

Converge 45 Brings the Art Crowd to Portland

Last weekend, collectors en route to the Seattle art fair were invited to come south to Oregon for a few days of art, sun and socializing by a new event called Converge 45. We talked with the organizer and gallerist Elizabeth Leach about the event that steered collectors and art connoisseurs toward exhibitions and artist talks by local and international artists.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Ashland Community Unite after Racist Threats

The community of Ashland and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival are coming together after two African American actors became the recent targets of racist comments and death threats.

Nothing to Laugh About: Curious Comedy Theater Teams Up with the Hillsboro Police

After Hillsboro’s police department decided to try something new earlier this year by working with improv performers from Portland's Curious Comedy Theater to improve the quality of its training, tensions between police and the community have only continued to escalate around the country.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544207Fri, 05 Aug 2016 18:48:20 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, on State of Wonder: a multi-city birthday party for Oregon’s milestone in silent film history, Buster Keaton’s "The General," with a brand new live score; moments of reckoning as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival responds to threats against...
Love It Or Loath It - Portland Newest High-Rise: The Yard

The new chocolate-brown high-rise building at the east end of the Burnside bridge has received a lot of attention from Portlanders, from those who think its a daring modern style to those who call it the Death Star and the Borg and think it represents all that's wrong about Portland growth. Our columnist-in-residence, Randy Gragg, talked with the building's architect Jeff Kovel of Skylab Architecture about the design of the building, factors that went into why it looks the way it does, and what sets it apart.

Erin McKeown Takes Prayer into the Bathroom with the Queer Gospel

Erin McKeown got her start in the New England folk scene, but she’s since grown into a genre dancer of the highest order, gliding from folk to big band to gospel without straining her crystal clear voice. But even for an artist who regularly tackles politics and social justice, something feels particularly urgent about the six songs that make up her first studio album in three years, the EP “According to Us.” She released its first single, “The Queer Gospel,” just days after the Orlando shooting at the Pulse Nightclub.

The Hollywood Theatre Gives Buster Keaton's Silent Film "The General" a New Score for Its 90th Birthday

Filmed in Cottage Grove, Oregon, Buster Keaton’s 1926 silent film “The General” is considered one of the greatest movies of all time. The Hollywood Theatre, which is also celebrating its 90th anniversary, decided to throw a co-birthday party by commissioning an original score from the well-known Oregon composer Mark Orton, who has soundtracked everything from "Nebraska" to Ken Burns' "The Roosevelts" and episodes of "This American Life."

Orton and a group of talented musicians will take the film and live score on a week tour through Oregon.

Converge 45 Brings the Art Crowd to Portland

Last weekend, collectors en route to the Seattle art fair were invited to come south to Oregon for a few days of art, sun and socializing by a new event called Converge 45. We talked with the organizer and gallerist Elizabeth Leach about the event that steered collectors and art connoisseurs toward exhibitions and artist talks by local and international artists.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Ashland Community Unite after Racist Threats

The community of Ashland and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival are coming together after two African American actors became the recent targets of racist comments and death threats.

Nothing to Laugh About: Curious Comedy Theater Teams Up with the Hillsboro Police

After Hillsboro’s police department decided to try something new earlier this year by working with improv performers from Portland's Curious Comedy Theater to improve the quality of its training, tensions between police and the community have only continued to escalate around the country.]]>3085falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/buster-keaton-s-oregon-filmed-the-general-tours-state-with-a-new-score--11559701
In a celluloid coincidence of cosmic proportions, the Hollywood Theatre is also celebrating its 90th anniversary this year with a summer of special screenings and events, and what better way to celebrate than to throw a co-birthday party?

The Hollywood commissioned the well-known Oregon composer Mark Orton to create an original score for “The General” and tour it around the state with a live ensemble, starting at the Hollywood on Aug. 12 and stopping in Cottage Grove (Aug. 13), Coos Bay (Aug. 14), Bend (Aug. 16) and Klamath Falls (Aug. 17), before returning to the Hollywood on Aug. 19.

“I think Keaton’s humor is like no other,” says Orton of why he chose to take on the project. “He can do more with the absence of expression in terms of humor than people do with all their antics and gesticulation.”

Orton first came upon Keaton’s films in his 20s while working as an audio engineer for the Bill Frisell Trio, which toured Frisell’s own scores to some of Keaton’s films. Orton has since made a name for himself first as a member of Tin Hat, an eclectic ensemble that makes the kind of music NPR listeners love, and then as a composer for films, documentaries and performances. He has soundtracked everything from Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska” to Ken Burns’ “The Roosevelts” and episodes for "This American Life."

For our radio feature above, Orton gave us a tour of his studio, which is packed full of antique instruments, including period pieces like a field organ and minstrel banjo, before taking us through how he composed the score.

Over the years, Orton has visited many of the Cottage Grove sites in “The General.” Keaton, who also wrote and directed the movie, chose to film it in Cottage Grove because it had a certain old-timey, Southern feel during the 1920s, plus a stretch of low-traffic train tracks for the train chase scene. He employed some 500 Oregon Guard members as extras to play both Union and Confederate soldiers.

For those who want to retrace Keaton’s steps, the Cottage Grove Historical Society has scheduled a number of August events in and around the town to celebrate.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559701Fri, 05 Aug 2016 19:29:23 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFilmed in Cottage Grove, Buster Keaton’s 1926 silent film, “The General,” is considered one of the greatest movies of all time. Telling the story of a blundering train conductor who inadvertently saves the Confederate Army during the Civil War, it...
In a celluloid coincidence of cosmic proportions, the Hollywood Theatre is also celebrating its 90th anniversary this year with a summer of special screenings and events, and what better way to celebrate than to throw a co-birthday party?

The Hollywood commissioned the well-known Oregon composer Mark Orton to create an original score for “The General” and tour it around the state with a live ensemble, starting at the Hollywood on Aug. 12 and stopping in Cottage Grove (Aug. 13), Coos Bay (Aug. 14), Bend (Aug. 16) and Klamath Falls (Aug. 17), before returning to the Hollywood on Aug. 19.

“I think Keaton’s humor is like no other,” says Orton of why he chose to take on the project. “He can do more with the absence of expression in terms of humor than people do with all their antics and gesticulation.”

Orton first came upon Keaton’s films in his 20s while working as an audio engineer for the Bill Frisell Trio, which toured Frisell’s own scores to some of Keaton’s films. Orton has since made a name for himself first as a member of Tin Hat, an eclectic ensemble that makes the kind of music NPR listeners love, and then as a composer for films, documentaries and performances. He has soundtracked everything from Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska” to Ken Burns’ “The Roosevelts” and episodes for "This American Life."

For our radio feature above, Orton gave us a tour of his studio, which is packed full of antique instruments, including period pieces like a field organ and minstrel banjo, before taking us through how he composed the score.

Over the years, Orton has visited many of the Cottage Grove sites in “The General.” Keaton, who also wrote and directed the movie, chose to film it in Cottage Grove because it had a certain old-timey, Southern feel during the 1920s, plus a stretch of low-traffic train tracks for the train chase scene. He employed some 500 Oregon Guard members as extras to play both Union and Confederate soldiers.

For those who want to retrace Keaton’s steps, the Cottage Grove Historical Society has scheduled a number of August events in and around the town to celebrate.]]>618art,arts & entertainment,film,local_news,local_opb,moviesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-20-new-music-from-blind-pilot-joseph-classical-music-meets-silent-disco-more--11544206
Classical Music Meets Silent Disco At Stunning WPA Sites

The pianist Hunter Noack is harking back to the Works Progress Administration era with a concert series called “In A Landscape.” He has invited such musical luminaries as Pink Martini’s Thomas Lauderdale and China Forbes to join him in playing classical music in some of the region’s most famous WPA sites. Think Timberline Lodge, Council Crest, and the Oneonta Tunnel. Noack has a history of bringing music to unlikely places,which is why he agreed to drag a piano out into the West Hills to play a few of the songs for this audio postcard.

Sista In The Brotherhood - 7:25

The Portland-filmed “Sista in the Brotherhood” follows a day-in-the-life of a black woman working at the Sellwood Bridge construction site. The film is based on the research of producer Roberta Hunte and the real life experience of co-writer and director Dawn Jones Redstone, who spent years working construction and training other women in the trade. The film has been screening around the country at festivals and even won the Best Short Film Award at this year’s Portland International Film Festival.

The Band Joseph's Golden Harmonies Soar Over The Willamette River - 17:19

One of our favorite musical discoveries last year was the band Joseph. They’re three sisters from Estacada, Oregon, and their harmonies are like that golden tone the sun casts as it sets on the high desert or the Cascade foothills.

Allison, Meegan and Natalie Clossner spent the last year on the road, perfecting their harmonies and writing new music. Now they’re back with a highly anticipated follow up, “I’m Alone, No You’re Not,” due out Aug. 26, and the sisters suggested the crazy idea to meet us and opbmusic on the Willamette River's Eastbank Esplanade to play a couple of songs (watch opbmusic's videos).

The First Iraqi Vet To Write A Graphic Novel About The War - 25:08

While in Iraq, the marine Maximilian Uriarte, a Corvallis native, started writing a comic strip titled “Terminal Lance.” It quickly became a hit and now runs in the "Marine Corps Times." Since returning from the war, Uriarte has expanded the strip into the graphic novel “The White Donkey,” the first graphic novel about the war written by a veteran.

Blind Pilot's New Album Navigates Straight To The Heart - 33:15

Blind Pilot's newest album, “And Then Like Lions,” may be their most intimate yet. Lead singer Israel Nebeker told us during a performance at the OPB studio that many of the songs were written in response to the death of his father. "And then, as an album, it turned into an invitation into a conversation about loss in general," he said.

Scientists Discover The First New Blue Pigment In 200 Years - 43:46

Get this: there hasn’t been a new blue pigment created since 1802. Now, we're talking about a new color, as every color already exists in the light spectrum. We're talking about a new pigment — the chemical or substance that gives paint, dye or other objects their color. Pigments have to be derived from nature or made in a lab, which is exactly what happened in 2009 at Oregon State University, when researchers were heating up elements in a furnace. Their goal was to create new materials that could be used in electronics – instead they found a brilliant new blue pigment. And it’s finally making it to the market.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544206Fri, 19 Aug 2016 23:39:26 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt’s set to be a blistering weekend, so we’re going to do our best to cool things down this hour with classical music in the woods, golden harmonies soaring over the Willamette, and a brilliant, new blue pigment. Classical Music Meets Silent Disco At...
Classical Music Meets Silent Disco At Stunning WPA Sites

The pianist Hunter Noack is harking back to the Works Progress Administration era with a concert series called “In A Landscape.” He has invited such musical luminaries as Pink Martini’s Thomas Lauderdale and China Forbes to join him in playing classical music in some of the region’s most famous WPA sites. Think Timberline Lodge, Council Crest, and the Oneonta Tunnel. Noack has a history of bringing music to unlikely places,which is why he agreed to drag a piano out into the West Hills to play a few of the songs for this audio postcard.

Sista In The Brotherhood - 7:25

The Portland-filmed “Sista in the Brotherhood” follows a day-in-the-life of a black woman working at the Sellwood Bridge construction site. The film is based on the research of producer Roberta Hunte and the real life experience of co-writer and director Dawn Jones Redstone, who spent years working construction and training other women in the trade. The film has been screening around the country at festivals and even won the Best Short Film Award at this year’s Portland International Film Festival.

The Band Joseph's Golden Harmonies Soar Over The Willamette River - 17:19

One of our favorite musical discoveries last year was the band Joseph. They’re three sisters from Estacada, Oregon, and their harmonies are like that golden tone the sun casts as it sets on the high desert or the Cascade foothills.

Allison, Meegan and Natalie Clossner spent the last year on the road, perfecting their harmonies and writing new music. Now they’re back with a highly anticipated follow up, “I’m Alone, No You’re Not,” due out Aug. 26, and the sisters suggested the crazy idea to meet us and opbmusic on the Willamette River's Eastbank Esplanade to play a couple of songs (watch opbmusic's videos).

The First Iraqi Vet To Write A Graphic Novel About The War - 25:08

While in Iraq, the marine Maximilian Uriarte, a Corvallis native, started writing a comic strip titled “Terminal Lance.” It quickly became a hit and now runs in the "Marine Corps Times." Since returning from the war, Uriarte has expanded the strip into the graphic novel “The White Donkey,” the first graphic novel about the war written by a veteran.

Blind Pilot's New Album Navigates Straight To The Heart - 33:15

Blind Pilot's newest album, “And Then Like Lions,” may be their most intimate yet. Lead singer Israel Nebeker told us during a performance at the OPB studio that many of the songs were written in response to the death of his father. "And then, as an album, it turned into an invitation into a conversation about loss in general," he said.

Scientists Discover The First New Blue Pigment In 200 Years - 43:46

Get this: there hasn’t been a new blue pigment created since 1802. Now, we're talking about a new color, as every color already exists in the light spectrum. We're talking about a new pigment — the chemical or substance that gives paint, dye or other objects their color. Pigments have to be derived from nature or made in a lab, which is exactly what happened in 2009 at Oregon State University, when researchers were heating up elements in a furnace. Their goal was to create new materials that could be used in electronics – instead they found a brilliant new blue pigment. And it’s finally making it to the market.]]>3123falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/classical-music-meets-silent-disco-at-iconic-oregon-sites--11559700https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559700Sat, 20 Aug 2016 00:01:27 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting387art,arts & entertainment,classical,local_news,local_opb,music,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oregon-film-looks-at-life-as-a-black-woman-carpenter--11559699https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559699Sat, 20 Aug 2016 00:16:27 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting566art,arts & entertainment,film,local_news,local_opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/xoxo-fest-shifts-gears--11559698
The Fest is a mere four years old, but during that short run it became a premier destination for discussing creativity and technology. Over the years, attendees included a huge range of creatives: blog stars from Boing Boing, DJ sensation Dan Deacon, design fiends of all stripes, the makers of Cards Against Humanity, and social thinkers like feminist critic Anita Sarkeesian, as well as design fiends, podcasters, comic creators, game developers, and so many more.

But despite strong attendance (they end up turning away hundreds of would-be attendees each year) the Andys are hitting the brakes. There will not be a XOXO festival in 2017.

We talk with Baio and McMillan about what's up at the Outpost, and where the Fest has taken them.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559698Fri, 26 Aug 2016 05:55:01 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn about two weeks, Andy McMillan and Andy Baio will welcome several hundred makers what may be the last XOXO Festival. The Fest is a mere four years old, but during that short run it became a premier destination for discussing creativity and...
The Fest is a mere four years old, but during that short run it became a premier destination for discussing creativity and technology. Over the years, attendees included a huge range of creatives: blog stars from Boing Boing, DJ sensation Dan Deacon, design fiends of all stripes, the makers of Cards Against Humanity, and social thinkers like feminist critic Anita Sarkeesian, as well as design fiends, podcasters, comic creators, game developers, and so many more.

But despite strong attendance (they end up turning away hundreds of would-be attendees each year) the Andys are hitting the brakes. There will not be a XOXO festival in 2017.

We talk with Baio and McMillan about what's up at the Outpost, and where the Fest has taken them.]]>331makers,opb,techfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-27-laika-s-kubo-end-of-xoxo-festival-pica-tba-preview-ages-and-ages-more--11544205
Over the last four years, the XOXO Festival has become a premier destination for the intersection of creativity and technology, drawing blog stars, DJ sensations and creators like the folks behind Cards Against Humanity, while regularly turning away hundreds of would-be attendees each year. Yet co-founders Andy Baio and Andy McMillan are hitting the brakes. There will not be a XOXO festival in 2017. That’s not to say they will never bring it back. But the Andys say that, after four years of listening to talk about methods, markets, practice and process, they decided to dedicate themselves instead to their new, pay-what-you-can co-work space called XOXO Outpost.

Kelly Pratt to Kick Off TBA with Hundreds of Horns - 7:00

After living a nomadic life for 21 years, the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art finally has a new home in northeast Portland. And to celebrate, they're turning over the opening night event to the multi-instrumentalist Kelly Pratt, who has played and arranged for everyone from Beirut to Arcade Fire to David Byrne. Pratt is writing music for hundreds of brass instruments, amateur and professional alike, with the plan to splatter the walls with music in an event called "Fanfare: Birth>Rebirth."

Central Oregon Loses Its Arts Central - 17:40

A forty year tradition of arts education and advocacy has run aground in Bend. Arts Central, which brought classes, advocacy, and more to thousands of Central Oregon residents, announced on Aug. 19 that it was closing all operations, including the popular classes at Art Station, leaving us to ask: is anyone steering the region’s arts scene?

Can Ages and Ages Make Songs About Earthquakes and the End of Civilization Fun? Yes, They Can. - 21:55

The band Ages and Ages is infectious. All those hand claps and group harmonies have made songs like "No Nostalgia" and "Do the Right Thing" total NPR ear worms. But the band has changed tack on their new album, “Something to Ruin.” The music is just as infectious, but the subject matter has become much more topical, dealing with issues of booming real estate, mass consumerism, and, well, the impending Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. They played an exclusive preview of the music and talked about how the end of civilization could be a good thing.

Pidgin Languages in the Portland Building - 34:55

A new art installation in the Portland Building’s lobby explores an immigrant’s experience through the pidgin language spoken in Lagos, the Nigerian capitol. Bukola Koiki came to the US as a teenager, did her undergrad degree in North Texas, and then came to Portland for graduate school. She speaks Yoruba and English, but says pidgin is a necessity in Nigeria, a country where 500 languages are spoken.

LAIKA's 'Kubo of the Two Strings" Is a Hit - 41:30

The newest film from LAIKA is out, and critics are calling it the Hillsboro-based animation house's best film to date. “Kubo of the Two Strings” is a coming-of-age epic set in fantasy Japan, where a young storyteller uses music to bring his origami paper creations to life. The film stars Art Parkinson as Kubo, as well as Charlize Theron, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara, George Takei and Matthew McConaughey. LAIKA’s CEO Travis Knight is a veteran animator, but Kubo is his first time in the director’s chair, as he recently told Audie Cornish on "All things Considered."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544205Fri, 26 Aug 2016 21:19:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingXOXO's Pulls Plug on the Festival, But Plugs in a New Workspace - 1:15 Over the last four years, the XOXO Festival has become a premier destination for the intersection of creativity and technology, drawing blog stars, DJ sensations and creators like...
Over the last four years, the XOXO Festival has become a premier destination for the intersection of creativity and technology, drawing blog stars, DJ sensations and creators like the folks behind Cards Against Humanity, while regularly turning away hundreds of would-be attendees each year. Yet co-founders Andy Baio and Andy McMillan are hitting the brakes. There will not be a XOXO festival in 2017. That’s not to say they will never bring it back. But the Andys say that, after four years of listening to talk about methods, markets, practice and process, they decided to dedicate themselves instead to their new, pay-what-you-can co-work space called XOXO Outpost.

Kelly Pratt to Kick Off TBA with Hundreds of Horns - 7:00

After living a nomadic life for 21 years, the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art finally has a new home in northeast Portland. And to celebrate, they're turning over the opening night event to the multi-instrumentalist Kelly Pratt, who has played and arranged for everyone from Beirut to Arcade Fire to David Byrne. Pratt is writing music for hundreds of brass instruments, amateur and professional alike, with the plan to splatter the walls with music in an event called "Fanfare: Birth>Rebirth."

Central Oregon Loses Its Arts Central - 17:40

A forty year tradition of arts education and advocacy has run aground in Bend. Arts Central, which brought classes, advocacy, and more to thousands of Central Oregon residents, announced on Aug. 19 that it was closing all operations, including the popular classes at Art Station, leaving us to ask: is anyone steering the region’s arts scene?

Can Ages and Ages Make Songs About Earthquakes and the End of Civilization Fun? Yes, They Can. - 21:55

The band Ages and Ages is infectious. All those hand claps and group harmonies have made songs like "No Nostalgia" and "Do the Right Thing" total NPR ear worms. But the band has changed tack on their new album, “Something to Ruin.” The music is just as infectious, but the subject matter has become much more topical, dealing with issues of booming real estate, mass consumerism, and, well, the impending Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. They played an exclusive preview of the music and talked about how the end of civilization could be a good thing.

Pidgin Languages in the Portland Building - 34:55

A new art installation in the Portland Building’s lobby explores an immigrant’s experience through the pidgin language spoken in Lagos, the Nigerian capitol. Bukola Koiki came to the US as a teenager, did her undergrad degree in North Texas, and then came to Portland for graduate school. She speaks Yoruba and English, but says pidgin is a necessity in Nigeria, a country where 500 languages are spoken.

LAIKA's 'Kubo of the Two Strings" Is a Hit - 41:30

The newest film from LAIKA is out, and critics are calling it the Hillsboro-based animation house's best film to date. “Kubo of the Two Strings” is a coming-of-age epic set in fantasy Japan, where a young storyteller uses music to bring his origami paper creations to life. The film stars Art Parkinson as Kubo, as well as Charlize Theron, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara, George Takei and Matthew McConaughey. LAIKA’s CEO Travis Knight is a veteran animator, but Kubo is his first time in the director’s chair, as he recently told Audie Cornish on "All things Considered."]]>3039falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/can-ages-and-ages-make-songs-about-earthquakes-and-the-end-of-civilization-fun-yes-they-can--11559696
No one can deny that the band Ages and Ages is infectious. All those hand claps and group harmonies have made songs like "No Nostalgia" and "Do the Right Thing" total NPR ear worms. But the band has changed tack on their new album, “Something to Ruin.” The music is just as infectious, but the subject matter has become much more topical, dealing with issues of booming real estate, mass consumerism, and, well, the impending Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. They played an exclusive preview of the music and talked about how the end of civilization could be a good thing.

Stay tuned for videos of their performance on opbmusic on Aug. 31. And catch them live at their Sept. 3 record release show at Mississippi Studios.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559696Fri, 26 Aug 2016 21:31:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingCan Ages and Ages make songs about earthquakes and the end of civilization fun? Yes, yes they can. No one can deny that the band Ages and Ages is infectious. All those hand claps and group harmonies have made songs like "No Nostalgia" and "Do the...
No one can deny that the band Ages and Ages is infectious. All those hand claps and group harmonies have made songs like "No Nostalgia" and "Do the Right Thing" total NPR ear worms. But the band has changed tack on their new album, “Something to Ruin.” The music is just as infectious, but the subject matter has become much more topical, dealing with issues of booming real estate, mass consumerism, and, well, the impending Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. They played an exclusive preview of the music and talked about how the end of civilization could be a good thing.

Stay tuned for videos of their performance on opbmusic on Aug. 31. And catch them live at their Sept. 3 record release show at Mississippi Studios.]]>715art,arts & entertainment,local_opb,music,opbmusic,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pica-kicks-off-tba-festival-with-horn-extraordinaire-kelly-pratt-and-a-sea-of-horn-players--11559694
Yes, it’s an outrageous metaphor. But it is, after all, the opening night event for this year’s Time-Based Art Festival on Sept. 8, where outrageousness is served in spades.

“Fanfare: Birth>Rebirth” is the mad-composer dream of the multi-instrumentalist Kelly Pratt. You might not know his name, but chances are you’ve heard him play. He was a long-time member of the band Beirut, and he has toured and recorded with bands ranging from Arcade Fire to David Byrne, Coldplay, and LCD Soundsystem. After hearing Pratt’s solo album under the moniker Bright Moments, Byrne even hired him to arrange the horns and direct the touring band for Byrne’s collaboration with St. Vincent, “Love This Giant.”
Pratt moved to Portland in 2012 when his partner got a job teaching at Willamette University.

One of his Byrne collaborators introduced him to the artistic director of the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Angela Maddox, who invited him to kick off the TBA Festival.

Symbolically, it’s a big night. PICA has spent the last 21 years as a nomadic organization, often scrambling up to the last minute to find space to house TBA events and the late night gathering site called the Works. But earlier this year a donor bought them a warehouse and office building at 15 NE Hancock St. This will be the first time PICA hosts TBA in its own home.

“I’m really challenging myself to make it as poignant as possible,” said Pratt of the challenge the opening event presents. “I don’t want it to be just a nice piece of music; I want to splatter the walls with sound. Bathe it. Give it a ritual birth.”

Read the full article at: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/pica-tba-festival-kelly-pratt]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559694Sat, 27 Aug 2016 00:22:51 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingImagine hundreds of horn players — trumpets, trombones, tubas, French horns — surrounding you in a warehouse, their notes surging, diverging, and sloshing from side to side, wall to wall, like whiskey in a barrel on the back of a bucking bull covered...
Yes, it’s an outrageous metaphor. But it is, after all, the opening night event for this year’s Time-Based Art Festival on Sept. 8, where outrageousness is served in spades.

“Fanfare: Birth>Rebirth” is the mad-composer dream of the multi-instrumentalist Kelly Pratt. You might not know his name, but chances are you’ve heard him play. He was a long-time member of the band Beirut, and he has toured and recorded with bands ranging from Arcade Fire to David Byrne, Coldplay, and LCD Soundsystem. After hearing Pratt’s solo album under the moniker Bright Moments, Byrne even hired him to arrange the horns and direct the touring band for Byrne’s collaboration with St. Vincent, “Love This Giant.”
Pratt moved to Portland in 2012 when his partner got a job teaching at Willamette University.

One of his Byrne collaborators introduced him to the artistic director of the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Angela Maddox, who invited him to kick off the TBA Festival.

Symbolically, it’s a big night. PICA has spent the last 21 years as a nomadic organization, often scrambling up to the last minute to find space to house TBA events and the late night gathering site called the Works. But earlier this year a donor bought them a warehouse and office building at 15 NE Hancock St. This will be the first time PICA hosts TBA in its own home.

“I’m really challenging myself to make it as poignant as possible,” said Pratt of the challenge the opening event presents. “I don’t want it to be just a nice piece of music; I want to splatter the walls with sound. Bathe it. Give it a ritual birth.”

Read the full article at: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/pica-tba-festival-kelly-pratt]]>614art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,music,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bandette-steals-hearts-jewels-eisners--11559691Bandette’s setting is identifiably French — a Paris of the imagination— but it’s time period is deliberately fluid. We talk with Tobin and Coover about the pleasures of fleshing out the world around a different kind of action heroine.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559691Fri, 02 Sep 2016 07:14:31 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe husband and wife creative team of Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover are getting ready to publish “The House of the Green Mask”, the third volume of their effervescent creation, that Audrey Hepburn of master thieves, “Bandette”. The series won two...Bandette’s setting is identifiably French — a Paris of the imagination— but it’s time period is deliberately fluid. We talk with Tobin and Coover about the pleasures of fleshing out the world around a different kind of action heroine.]]>497comics,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/image-comics-to-move-to-portland--11559690
Image plans to relocate its staff of more than 20 people to the Montgomery Park Building in northwest Portland by early next year, adding its $50 million in annual sales to Portland’s already booming comics industry.

State of Wonder explores what sets Image apart and makes it a dream team-up with Portland, before sitting down with the company’s publisher to get the first official word on the move.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/image-comics-to-move-to-portland/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559690Fri, 02 Sep 2016 17:15:35 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFor a week, rumors have been circulating that Image Comics, the nation's third largest comic book publisher, is moving to Portland. OPB can now officially confirm the rumor. Image plans to relocate its staff of more than 20 people to the Montgomery...
Image plans to relocate its staff of more than 20 people to the Montgomery Park Building in northwest Portland by early next year, adding its $50 million in annual sales to Portland’s already booming comics industry.

State of Wonder explores what sets Image apart and makes it a dream team-up with Portland, before sitting down with the company’s publisher to get the first official word on the move.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/image-comics-to-move-to-portland/]]>593art,arts & entertainment,comics,local_news,local_opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-3-image-moves-to-pdx-rose-city-comic-con-preview-kelly-sue-deconnick-on-bitch-planet-more--11544204
Image Comics Moving to Portland - 1:10

We start things off with some breaking news. Rumors have been flying that we were the first to confirm: Image Comics is moving to Portland. Image is the third largest publisher in the industry with annual sales around $50 million. Relocating is kind of a no-brainer, given the pool of high-powered Image creators already living here. We explore what sets Image apart (and makes it a prime team-up with Portland), before sitting down for an exclusive interview with the company’s publisher, Eric Stephenson.

Bandette Steals Hearts, Jewels, Awards - 10:53

The husband and wife creative team of Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover are getting ready to publish “The House of the Green Mask,” the third volume of their effervescent creation, “Bandette.” The series won two Eisner awards for best digital comics series in 2013 and this year. Bandette is a pert, teen-aged thief living a barely-closeted life of crime — the Audrey Hepburn of master thieves. She steals to delight herself, leaping across the rooftops of the city to tweak the noses and egos of the real bad guys. We talk with Tobin and Coover about the pleasures of fleshing out the world around a different kind of action heroine.

Blast Off For Bitch Planet - 19:07

Kelly Sue DeConnick is riding high with a comic series she created that made a lot of best-of-the-year lists for 2015, and continued going strong this year. “Bitch Planet” is about an all-female, interstellar prison colony in a not-too-distant future. Society sends women there for a variety of crimes — collectively categorized as non-compliance. We talk to Kelly about how she handles the series’ satirical edge, and chat with artist Taki Soma, who did a single-issue story for the series last winter. If you like what you hear in this week’s show, the extended version is right here on our Soundcloud feed.

The Loveliest Horror Story of the Year - 27:30

Portland comic book artist Tyler Crook and writer Cullen Bunn are behind the series “Harrow County,” a tale of a gentle teenage girl named Emmy, whose coming-of-age is overshadowed by her realization that she’s connected to a deceased witch named Hester Beck and a wide range of ghosts and spirits. We talk to Crook and Bunn about the gorgeous watercolors and heavy psychodrama they use to bring the story to life. “Harrow County” was nominated for an Eisner award for Best New Series, and it’s been optioned for development as a TV series on Syfy Channel.

Comic City USA - 38:09

Oregon’s comic book community is part of a much wider mosaic of creative work — animation, political cartooning, comic strips. Think Out Loud recently talked to some of the minds behind the Oregon Historical Society’s new exhibition covering artists in all these disciplines, Comic City USA. We hear from long-time creators on the Portland scene Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett and OHS curator Lori Erickson. You can hear the entire conversation here.

Good Guys Win: Ibrahim Moustafa - 43:08

We listen back to our February interview with artist Ibrahim Moustafa. He’s racking up a string of solid titles, including his widely-read Himalayan thriller, “High Crimes”, with Chris Sebela. He also shares some news about his brand-new series for Stela Comics — a spy thriller called “Jaeger”, about a French-Algerian agent hunting down Nazis in a post-World-War-II setting. Stella series are designed specifically for smart phones, which posed new kinds of challenges.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544204Fri, 02 Sep 2016 21:49:33 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGather ‘round, True Believers. We’re getting all geeked up for the Rose City Comic Con, Sept 10–11. It’s always a hot ticket, given the critical mass of comics creators making their home around these parts now, but we were especially charmed by this...
Image Comics Moving to Portland - 1:10

We start things off with some breaking news. Rumors have been flying that we were the first to confirm: Image Comics is moving to Portland. Image is the third largest publisher in the industry with annual sales around $50 million. Relocating is kind of a no-brainer, given the pool of high-powered Image creators already living here. We explore what sets Image apart (and makes it a prime team-up with Portland), before sitting down for an exclusive interview with the company’s publisher, Eric Stephenson.

Bandette Steals Hearts, Jewels, Awards - 10:53

The husband and wife creative team of Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover are getting ready to publish “The House of the Green Mask,” the third volume of their effervescent creation, “Bandette.” The series won two Eisner awards for best digital comics series in 2013 and this year. Bandette is a pert, teen-aged thief living a barely-closeted life of crime — the Audrey Hepburn of master thieves. She steals to delight herself, leaping across the rooftops of the city to tweak the noses and egos of the real bad guys. We talk with Tobin and Coover about the pleasures of fleshing out the world around a different kind of action heroine.

Blast Off For Bitch Planet - 19:07

Kelly Sue DeConnick is riding high with a comic series she created that made a lot of best-of-the-year lists for 2015, and continued going strong this year. “Bitch Planet” is about an all-female, interstellar prison colony in a not-too-distant future. Society sends women there for a variety of crimes — collectively categorized as non-compliance. We talk to Kelly about how she handles the series’ satirical edge, and chat with artist Taki Soma, who did a single-issue story for the series last winter. If you like what you hear in this week’s show, the extended version is right here on our Soundcloud feed.

The Loveliest Horror Story of the Year - 27:30

Portland comic book artist Tyler Crook and writer Cullen Bunn are behind the series “Harrow County,” a tale of a gentle teenage girl named Emmy, whose coming-of-age is overshadowed by her realization that she’s connected to a deceased witch named Hester Beck and a wide range of ghosts and spirits. We talk to Crook and Bunn about the gorgeous watercolors and heavy psychodrama they use to bring the story to life. “Harrow County” was nominated for an Eisner award for Best New Series, and it’s been optioned for development as a TV series on Syfy Channel.

Comic City USA - 38:09

Oregon’s comic book community is part of a much wider mosaic of creative work — animation, political cartooning, comic strips. Think Out Loud recently talked to some of the minds behind the Oregon Historical Society’s new exhibition covering artists in all these disciplines, Comic City USA. We hear from long-time creators on the Portland scene Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett and OHS curator Lori Erickson. You can hear the entire conversation here.

Good Guys Win: Ibrahim Moustafa - 43:08

We listen back to our February interview with artist Ibrahim Moustafa. He’s racking up a string of solid titles, including his widely-read Himalayan thriller, “High Crimes”, with Chris Sebela. He also shares some news about his brand-new series for Stela Comics — a spy thriller called “Jaeger”, about a French-Algerian agent hunting down Nazis in a post-World-War-II setting. Stella series are designed specifically for smart phones, which posed new kinds of challenges.]]>3114falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pmoma-becomes-houseguest-at-the-square--11567974Libby Werbel of the Portland Museum of Modern Art (PMOMA) will take over the Square through a cool new residency series called Houseguest.
She’s also programming one night of The Works — that’s the raucous nightly afterparty for PICA’s Time Based Art Festival — with some of her Houseguest performers and a few choice Portland artists.

Werbel grew up in Portland, but left after High School to study and work as an art handler in New York’s Whitney Museum, the New Museum, and the storied exhibition space PS 1.
Returning to Portland, she couldn’t find work. Remember Portland’s art scene was small, and insular.

After a couple of years, she got a microscopic basement space in her friend’s music shop, Mississippi Records. She decided to start a gallery that was an homage of sorts to some of the amazing contemporary institutions she’d explored. The result is a tiny space that wittily challenges ideas about the nature of museums and the art-watching experience.

Take a listen to hear about the visual artists Werbel chose for her big stage, the thrill she got programming Fred and Toody Cole (Dead Moon/Pierced Arrows), and what she envisions next for PMOMA.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567974Fri, 09 Sep 2016 17:29:47 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis weekend, Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square transforms into a weekend-long art party. Libby Werbel of the Portland Museum of Modern Art (PMOMA) will take over the Square through a cool new residency series called Houseguest. She’s also...Libby Werbel of the Portland Museum of Modern Art (PMOMA) will take over the Square through a cool new residency series called Houseguest.
She’s also programming one night of The Works — that’s the raucous nightly afterparty for PICA’s Time Based Art Festival — with some of her Houseguest performers and a few choice Portland artists.

Werbel grew up in Portland, but left after High School to study and work as an art handler in New York’s Whitney Museum, the New Museum, and the storied exhibition space PS 1.
Returning to Portland, she couldn’t find work. Remember Portland’s art scene was small, and insular.

After a couple of years, she got a microscopic basement space in her friend’s music shop, Mississippi Records. She decided to start a gallery that was an homage of sorts to some of the amazing contemporary institutions she’d explored. The result is a tiny space that wittily challenges ideas about the nature of museums and the art-watching experience.

Take a listen to hear about the visual artists Werbel chose for her big stage, the thrill she got programming Fred and Toody Cole (Dead Moon/Pierced Arrows), and what she envisions next for PMOMA.]]>582contemporary art,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-10-the-gun-show-remembering-bob-ross-rick-bartow-rock-n-roll-and-sexual-violence-more--11544203
“The Gun Show” tells five stories about guns drawn from the life of the award-winning playwright E.M. Lewis. She grew up in rural Oregon, where she was surrounded by guns, and she learned to shoot on a date with her husband-to-be. But then she found herself on the other end of a barrel during a robbery, followed by two other deeply troubling experiences, one of which ended in the death of her husband. Suffice it to say, she knows firsthand the whole range of emotions guns elicit, and her one-man (yes, a man plays her) show is a powerful and provocative ride of humor and emotion. It stars Vin Shambry at Coho Theater through Oct. 1.

Portland's Living Room Explodes With Art This Weekend - 11:45

This weekend, Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square will transform into a three-day art party. Libby Werbel of the Portland Museum of Modern Art — or P-MOMA — will take over through the Square’s cool new residency series, Houseguest, bringing in visual artists and performers like Portland punk royalty Fred & Toody Cole and San Francisco dynamo Dynasty Handbag for all day entertainment from 11am to 7pm.

Werbel's also programming the Works, the raucous nightly afterparty for PICA’s Time Based Art Festival, on Friday, Sept. 9 with some of her Houseguest performers and a few choice Portland artists like the Strange Babes DJ trio.

Portland Musician Admits To Attempted Rape On Facebook - 22:37

Last weekend, a Portland musician who plays in several bands made a shocking admission on his Facebook page. Joel Magid described in graphic terms how he’d tried to rape a woman, until, he says, a friend intervened. A torrent of responses exploded across social media, and the story got picked up from San Francisco to London. We spoke with some people in the Portland music scene who had strong thoughts on the post and on the broader music culture that is not always helpful to victims of sexual violence.

A Jazz Life: Paul Knowles Remembers The Cotton Club - 32:20

The music venue that set the rhythm of life for black Portlanders during the 1960s was the Cotton Club in Northeast Portland on Vancouver Avenue. And the man who made the Cotton Club happen has shared several stories with KMHD Jazz Radio’s oral history project, A Jazz Life. Today we’re bringing you one about the early days at the club.

The Final Works Of NW Icon Rick Bartow - 35:40

Rick Bartow, one of the region’s most accomplished artists, passed away in April. His boldly colorful, emotive, and idiosyncratic works refused to be contained by medium or style or even species. Inspired by his Native American heritage and travels to Mexico, Japan, and beyond, his works depicted beings that blended human and animal, creatures on the cusp of the material and the spiritual world. Bartow’s final months were his most productive, and Froelick Gallery is now showing them in an exhibition called “Sparrow Song.” We talked with gallerist Charles Froelick, a longtime friend of Bartow’s, in February, about Bartow's final months and his legacy.

The Real Bob Ross: Meet The Man Behind Those Happy Trees - 43:49

The hypnotic voice, the poofy hair, the beard: Bob Ross passed away more than 20 years ago, but apparently he’s as timeless as the happy trees he painted on his PBS show, “The Joy of Painting.” Time to get out those oil paints: Netflix is streaming episodes, which got NPR producer Danny Hajek thinking, what’s Bob’s story.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544203Fri, 09 Sep 2016 23:17:19 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOregon Playwright Shoots True With 'The Gun Show' - 1:15 “The Gun Show” tells five stories about guns drawn from the life of the award-winning playwright E.M. Lewis. She grew up in rural Oregon, where she was surrounded by guns, and she learned to...
“The Gun Show” tells five stories about guns drawn from the life of the award-winning playwright E.M. Lewis. She grew up in rural Oregon, where she was surrounded by guns, and she learned to shoot on a date with her husband-to-be. But then she found herself on the other end of a barrel during a robbery, followed by two other deeply troubling experiences, one of which ended in the death of her husband. Suffice it to say, she knows firsthand the whole range of emotions guns elicit, and her one-man (yes, a man plays her) show is a powerful and provocative ride of humor and emotion. It stars Vin Shambry at Coho Theater through Oct. 1.

Portland's Living Room Explodes With Art This Weekend - 11:45

This weekend, Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square will transform into a three-day art party. Libby Werbel of the Portland Museum of Modern Art — or P-MOMA — will take over through the Square’s cool new residency series, Houseguest, bringing in visual artists and performers like Portland punk royalty Fred & Toody Cole and San Francisco dynamo Dynasty Handbag for all day entertainment from 11am to 7pm.

Werbel's also programming the Works, the raucous nightly afterparty for PICA’s Time Based Art Festival, on Friday, Sept. 9 with some of her Houseguest performers and a few choice Portland artists like the Strange Babes DJ trio.

Portland Musician Admits To Attempted Rape On Facebook - 22:37

Last weekend, a Portland musician who plays in several bands made a shocking admission on his Facebook page. Joel Magid described in graphic terms how he’d tried to rape a woman, until, he says, a friend intervened. A torrent of responses exploded across social media, and the story got picked up from San Francisco to London. We spoke with some people in the Portland music scene who had strong thoughts on the post and on the broader music culture that is not always helpful to victims of sexual violence.

A Jazz Life: Paul Knowles Remembers The Cotton Club - 32:20

The music venue that set the rhythm of life for black Portlanders during the 1960s was the Cotton Club in Northeast Portland on Vancouver Avenue. And the man who made the Cotton Club happen has shared several stories with KMHD Jazz Radio’s oral history project, A Jazz Life. Today we’re bringing you one about the early days at the club.

The Final Works Of NW Icon Rick Bartow - 35:40

Rick Bartow, one of the region’s most accomplished artists, passed away in April. His boldly colorful, emotive, and idiosyncratic works refused to be contained by medium or style or even species. Inspired by his Native American heritage and travels to Mexico, Japan, and beyond, his works depicted beings that blended human and animal, creatures on the cusp of the material and the spiritual world. Bartow’s final months were his most productive, and Froelick Gallery is now showing them in an exhibition called “Sparrow Song.” We talked with gallerist Charles Froelick, a longtime friend of Bartow’s, in February, about Bartow's final months and his legacy.

The Real Bob Ross: Meet The Man Behind Those Happy Trees - 43:49

The hypnotic voice, the poofy hair, the beard: Bob Ross passed away more than 20 years ago, but apparently he’s as timeless as the happy trees he painted on his PBS show, “The Joy of Painting.” Time to get out those oil paints: Netflix is streaming episodes, which got NPR producer Danny Hajek thinking, what’s Bob’s story.]]>3138falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jeni-wren-stottrup--11559688
Jeni Wren Stottrup is a music journalist, producer of the Gritty Birds podcast, and host on the community radio station XRAY-FM. She’s performed her own original material and sung with Shy Girls.

“I was in a band that was all dudes. I was the only girl. They were lovely to me. I know that my experience has been different than other peoples’ experience.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559688Sat, 10 Sep 2016 00:08:28 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis is one of a collection of interviews this week reacting to the very public revelation of a sexual assault by Portland musician Joel Magid. Listen to this week's show for more. Jeni Wren Stottrup is a music journalist, producer of the Gritty...
Jeni Wren Stottrup is a music journalist, producer of the Gritty Birds podcast, and host on the community radio station XRAY-FM. She’s performed her own original material and sung with Shy Girls.

“I was in a band that was all dudes. I was the only girl. They were lovely to me. I know that my experience has been different than other peoples’ experience.”]]>446opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ali-clarys--11559686
Ali Clarys is a singer and synth player, and performs with several bands: Tiburones, the Secret Drum Band, and Death Songs.

“We trust our peers to the utmost extent. That level of trust combined plus vulnerability from drugs and alcohol is a dangerous thing.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559686Sat, 10 Sep 2016 00:11:44 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis is one of a collection of interviews this week reacting to the very public revelation of a sexual assault by Portland musician Joel Magid. Listen to this week's show for more. Ali Clarys is a singer and synth player, and performs with several...
Ali Clarys is a singer and synth player, and performs with several bands: Tiburones, the Secret Drum Band, and Death Songs.

“We trust our peers to the utmost extent. That level of trust combined plus vulnerability from drugs and alcohol is a dangerous thing.”]]>221opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/elizabeth-elder--11559687
Liz Elder is half of the creative team for the music podcast Party Boyz. She books talent for the Portland bar, The Liquor Store, founded the Lose Yr Mind Music Festival, and hosts a weekly radio show on XRAY FM.

“I think the first thing is the trauma. It’s something that’s so intimate — you don’t feel like sharing it.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559687Sat, 10 Sep 2016 00:13:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis is one of a collection of interviews this week reacting to the very public revelation of a sexual assault by Portland musician Joel Magid. Listen to this week's show for more. Liz Elder is half of the creative team for the music podcast Party...
Liz Elder is half of the creative team for the music podcast Party Boyz. She books talent for the Portland bar, The Liquor Store, founded the Lose Yr Mind Music Festival, and hosts a weekly radio show on XRAY FM.

“I think the first thing is the trauma. It’s something that’s so intimate — you don’t feel like sharing it.”]]>371opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sarah-clarke--11559685
Sarah Clarke is the lead singer of the band Dirty Revival.

“What I’m struck by is there’s a lot of silence. It’s important for us to say, “Tell me what you think and let’s talk about this’.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559685Sat, 10 Sep 2016 00:15:45 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis is one of a collection of interviews this week reacting to the very public revelation of a sexual assault by Portland musician Joel Magid. Listen to this week's show for more. Sarah Clarke is the lead singer of the band Dirty Revival. “What...
Sarah Clarke is the lead singer of the band Dirty Revival.

“What I’m struck by is there’s a lot of silence. It’s important for us to say, “Tell me what you think and let’s talk about this’.”]]>345opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/safer-altogether-women-in-portland-music-scene-confront-sexual-assault--11567972https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567972Sat, 10 Sep 2016 00:20:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLast weekend, a Portland musician who plays in several bands made a shocking admission on his Facebook page. Joel Magid described in graphic terms how he’d tried to rape a woman, until, he says, a friend intervened. The response from women — and some...605opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oregon-playwright-shoots-true-with-the-gun-show--11559684
Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/em-lewis-the-gun-show-coho-theater]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559684Sat, 10 Sep 2016 17:56:44 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingE.M. Lewis tells five stories from her life that capture every side of the debate, from growing up with guns to being held at gunpoint. Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/em-lewis-the-gun-show-coho-theater
Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/em-lewis-the-gun-show-coho-theater]]>629art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,opb,portland,theaterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sharita-towne-sees-our-city-in-stereo--11567978
This weekend Towne and Newspace are inviting everyone to get in on the action, with an event for sharing photos and stories about Portland’s gentrification. The Cascade Stereoscopic Club will present some digital stereo photos they’ve collected as well.

We talked with Sharita Towne, and with Newspace curator Yaelle Amir, who helped steer the project.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567978Thu, 15 Sep 2016 21:05:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSharita Towne’s photo exhibition on view this month at Newspace Center for Photography is designed to help people to see the gentrification of Portland in a new way. “Our City in Stereo” evolved through a residency at North Portland’s c3:initiative...
This weekend Towne and Newspace are inviting everyone to get in on the action, with an event for sharing photos and stories about Portland’s gentrification. The Cascade Stereoscopic Club will present some digital stereo photos they’ve collected as well.

We talked with Sharita Towne, and with Newspace curator Yaelle Amir, who helped steer the project.]]>390opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-17-where-art-and-science-collide-high-rises-made-of-wood-the-minders-and-sharita-towne--11544200
Among all the buildings going up in the biggest boom in Portland history, only one of them can be called the first of its kind in the nation. Instead of relying on steel and concrete, the four-story Albina Yard is built entirely of cross-laminated timber, or CLT for short.

Randy Gragg, State of Wonder's architecture columnist in residence, stops by to discusses how CLT stands to revolutionize construction, offering a pre-fabricated material that is faster to build, more resistant to earthquakes, and more sustainable than traditional practices, not to mention it stands to jump start rural economies. The technology is used widely in Europe and Japan, and the state of Oregon is positioning itself to be a leader in the US, with the Yard's architect, Lever, planning to break ground soon on an 11-story CLT high-rise in the Pearl District.

The Minders Releases First Studio Album in Ten Years

For fans of the band The Minders, the appearance of a new song by the band on the PDX Pop Now compilation in spring was the equivalent of a Sasquatch sighting. The band hasn’t released a full-length studio album in almost a decade, so anticipation was high for its new album, "Into The River." According to opbmusic, the 11-song record is a masterpiece. Revealing an increasingly expansive sound, the album is both raw and refined, peppered with jagged garage rock songs, campfire singalongs, and oblique pop tunes.

How Do You Photograph Gentrification?

Struggling to document the changes in her city, Sharita Towne came across stereoscopic photos of World War I that made it real to her in a way that normal photos hadn't. Think of it as an antique Viewmaster: a camera takes two photos that are placed in front of each eye to create a three-dimensional effect. So Towne decided to use the 19th Century technology to document Portland's gentrification. Additionally, Towne held community meetings and conducted interviews with Portland residents, especially people living on the gradually-gentrifying East Portland, to create videos and an audio podcast to accompany the exhibition.

Artists and Scientists Collide at the PLAYA Residency Program

In 2015, State of Wonder visited PLAYA, a residency for artists and scientists in south central Oregon. PLAYA lies at the edge of a huge alkali lake against a stunning background of mountains and high desert pine forests. We spent several days exploring the artist studios and putting on waders to tromp into the streams with two visiting biologists, all the while discussing how their time in this unique place and the opportunity to work in a mixed art/science environment adds new dimensions to their work.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544200Fri, 16 Sep 2016 23:39:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWill Future High-Rises be Made of Wood? Among all the buildings going up in the biggest boom in Portland history, only one of them can be called the first of its kind in the nation. Instead of relying on steel and concrete, the four-story Albina Yard...
Among all the buildings going up in the biggest boom in Portland history, only one of them can be called the first of its kind in the nation. Instead of relying on steel and concrete, the four-story Albina Yard is built entirely of cross-laminated timber, or CLT for short.

Randy Gragg, State of Wonder's architecture columnist in residence, stops by to discusses how CLT stands to revolutionize construction, offering a pre-fabricated material that is faster to build, more resistant to earthquakes, and more sustainable than traditional practices, not to mention it stands to jump start rural economies. The technology is used widely in Europe and Japan, and the state of Oregon is positioning itself to be a leader in the US, with the Yard's architect, Lever, planning to break ground soon on an 11-story CLT high-rise in the Pearl District.

The Minders Releases First Studio Album in Ten Years

For fans of the band The Minders, the appearance of a new song by the band on the PDX Pop Now compilation in spring was the equivalent of a Sasquatch sighting. The band hasn’t released a full-length studio album in almost a decade, so anticipation was high for its new album, "Into The River." According to opbmusic, the 11-song record is a masterpiece. Revealing an increasingly expansive sound, the album is both raw and refined, peppered with jagged garage rock songs, campfire singalongs, and oblique pop tunes.

How Do You Photograph Gentrification?

Struggling to document the changes in her city, Sharita Towne came across stereoscopic photos of World War I that made it real to her in a way that normal photos hadn't. Think of it as an antique Viewmaster: a camera takes two photos that are placed in front of each eye to create a three-dimensional effect. So Towne decided to use the 19th Century technology to document Portland's gentrification. Additionally, Towne held community meetings and conducted interviews with Portland residents, especially people living on the gradually-gentrifying East Portland, to create videos and an audio podcast to accompany the exhibition.

Artists and Scientists Collide at the PLAYA Residency Program

In 2015, State of Wonder visited PLAYA, a residency for artists and scientists in south central Oregon. PLAYA lies at the edge of a huge alkali lake against a stunning background of mountains and high desert pine forests. We spent several days exploring the artist studios and putting on waders to tromp into the streams with two visiting biologists, all the while discussing how their time in this unique place and the opportunity to work in a mixed art/science environment adds new dimensions to their work.]]>3134falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/will-future-skyscrapers-be-built-of-wood--11559683
It’s a simple four-story building called Albina Yard on North Albina Street. On the ground floor is Tanner Goods and a new bar, Wayback. The top three floors are office. But it’s the material stretching in between them that is the big deal. Instead of steel and concrete, the floors, ceilings and columns are made of cross-laminated timber, or CLT for short.

State of Wonder’s architecture columnist-in-residence Randy Gragg stopped by to discusses how CLT stands to revolutionize construction, offering a pre-fabricated material that is faster to build, more resistant to earthquakes, and more sustainable than traditional practices, not to mention stands to jump start rural economies.

“A good analogy for me is thinking of it like a very large IKEA cabinet, where each piece is precision machined and then assembled with steel connectors,” Thomas Robinson, a partner at Lever, the architecture firm that designed Albina Yard, told Gragg.

Last week, Lever received design approval for an 11-story high-rise in the Pearl district called Framework. The firm is in the final stages of proving CLT’s ability to withstand fire and support a building of such size with help from a $1.5 million Department of Agriculture grant and researchers at the University of Oregon, Portland State University, and Oregon State University.

CLT technology is used widely in Europe and Japan, and the state of Oregon is positioning itself to be a leader in the US. In addition to helping Lever clear the technology with regulators, UO and OSU have started the National Center for Advanced Wood Products Manufacturing, Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden plugged $3.5 million for it into the agriculture bill now stuck in Congress, and Governor Kate Brown has helped fund a CLT competition.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559683Sun, 18 Sep 2016 20:25:58 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAmong all the buildings going up in the biggest boom in Portland history, only one of them can be called the first of its kind in the nation. It’s a simple four-story building called Albina Yard on North Albina Street. On the ground floor is Tanner...
It’s a simple four-story building called Albina Yard on North Albina Street. On the ground floor is Tanner Goods and a new bar, Wayback. The top three floors are office. But it’s the material stretching in between them that is the big deal. Instead of steel and concrete, the floors, ceilings and columns are made of cross-laminated timber, or CLT for short.

State of Wonder’s architecture columnist-in-residence Randy Gragg stopped by to discusses how CLT stands to revolutionize construction, offering a pre-fabricated material that is faster to build, more resistant to earthquakes, and more sustainable than traditional practices, not to mention stands to jump start rural economies.

“A good analogy for me is thinking of it like a very large IKEA cabinet, where each piece is precision machined and then assembled with steel connectors,” Thomas Robinson, a partner at Lever, the architecture firm that designed Albina Yard, told Gragg.

Last week, Lever received design approval for an 11-story high-rise in the Pearl district called Framework. The firm is in the final stages of proving CLT’s ability to withstand fire and support a building of such size with help from a $1.5 million Department of Agriculture grant and researchers at the University of Oregon, Portland State University, and Oregon State University.

CLT technology is used widely in Europe and Japan, and the state of Oregon is positioning itself to be a leader in the US. In addition to helping Lever clear the technology with regulators, UO and OSU have started the National Center for Advanced Wood Products Manufacturing, Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden plugged $3.5 million for it into the agriculture bill now stuck in Congress, and Governor Kate Brown has helped fund a CLT competition.]]>620architecture,art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/loch-lomond-on-its-new-album-pens-from-spain--11559677
“It is really a big, rotating family,” says Young — a fact reflected in the refrain of the title track: “Friends are the new family.”

Pens from Spain is the band’s first US album in five years (although they released Dresses in Europe in 2013). More than any past album, Pens from Spain was a group collaboration, particularly between Young, Jesse Donaldson, and Brooke Parrott. The album’s lush orchestrations reintroduce some of the electronic sounds Young and the gang have played with over the years, ranging from the atmospheric morse code of “From Here to Iceland” to the poppy drum machine beats of “Be Mine & Be Kind.”

Watch videos of Loch Lomond's opbmusic performance: http://www.opb.org/opbmusic/series/sessions/loch-lomond-live-at-opb/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559677Wed, 21 Sep 2016 21:54:52 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOne thing we love about the Portland band Loch Lomond is that, ever since Ritchie Young started it 13 years ago, it has operated as a revolving collective of musicians, depending on who’s available to tour and record. That means that every time they...
“It is really a big, rotating family,” says Young — a fact reflected in the refrain of the title track: “Friends are the new family.”

Pens from Spain is the band’s first US album in five years (although they released Dresses in Europe in 2013). More than any past album, Pens from Spain was a group collaboration, particularly between Young, Jesse Donaldson, and Brooke Parrott. The album’s lush orchestrations reintroduce some of the electronic sounds Young and the gang have played with over the years, ranging from the atmospheric morse code of “From Here to Iceland” to the poppy drum machine beats of “Be Mine & Be Kind.”

Watch videos of Loch Lomond's opbmusic performance: http://www.opb.org/opbmusic/series/sessions/loch-lomond-live-at-opb/]]>529art,arts & entertainment,local_opb,musicfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/drag-queens-indians-or-what-cher-peter-pan-have-in-common--11559678
But now Hudson is going to drop the make up, or, at least the wig, for a full-length performance exploring his own identity as a half-white, half-Native American kid that's called "Looking for Tiger Lily," at the Hollywood Theater Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

"I'm German on my mom's side and Grand Ronde tribal member on my dad's side," says Hudson, who grew up in Keizer, Oregon. "I wasn't raised with a lot of traditions from my dad's side, and yet I would watch 'Peter Pan,' and 'Peter Pan' kind of became how I related to this idea of natives through pop culture, through Tiger Lily."

The opening of the show is Carla Rossi and a group of back up dancers reenacting the scene of where Tiger Lily and her Pickininny Indians are on the war path in the 1960 film of "Peter Pan" starring Mary Martin, Hudson's favorite version.

"Carla's always going to do the wrong thing: so she's going to open my show doing basically a minstrel number as Tiger Lily," says Hudson. "And then the rest of the show is me explaining where that came from and why, and ultimately, me pushing myself to do my favorite song from the Mary Martin musical, which is 'Ugg A Wugg.'"

Of course, "Peter Pan" isn't the only pop culture phenomenon that influenced Hudson sense of his heritage. Along with the Disney movie "Pocahontas," the image on the Land 'o Lakes butter box, and Indian Halloween costumes, there was also Cher's song "Half-Breed."

"'My father married a pure Cherokee, my mother's people were ashamed of me,'" he recites. "That song really hit me because, for the first time, I felt that somebody else was echoing exactly what I had felt all my life growing up. Except it's by someone who wasn't native...It is another example of a thing that doesn't come from the culture itself, and yet growing up with it in pop culture, I had such a response to it that it became integral to how I saw myself."

In addition to back up dancers, Hudson also brings the "dominatrix of a piano player" Maria Chobin as an accompanist who has re-arranged the songs Hudson sings, a slide show of photos from his youth and family, and polished, self-made videos riffing off things like "Jurassic Park."

"It's a cabaret, it's a play, it's a remixed version of story telling, it's a slide show," says Hudson, with a laugh. "This is basically my chance to invite an entire audience to a free therapy session with me."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559678Wed, 21 Sep 2016 23:51:14 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe multimedia artist Anthony Hudson is best known around Portland for his drag queen persona, Carla Rossi — a white-faced clown of a queen who bills herself as the "ghost of white privilege." But now Hudson is going to drop the make up, or, at least...
But now Hudson is going to drop the make up, or, at least the wig, for a full-length performance exploring his own identity as a half-white, half-Native American kid that's called "Looking for Tiger Lily," at the Hollywood Theater Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

"I'm German on my mom's side and Grand Ronde tribal member on my dad's side," says Hudson, who grew up in Keizer, Oregon. "I wasn't raised with a lot of traditions from my dad's side, and yet I would watch 'Peter Pan,' and 'Peter Pan' kind of became how I related to this idea of natives through pop culture, through Tiger Lily."

The opening of the show is Carla Rossi and a group of back up dancers reenacting the scene of where Tiger Lily and her Pickininny Indians are on the war path in the 1960 film of "Peter Pan" starring Mary Martin, Hudson's favorite version.

"Carla's always going to do the wrong thing: so she's going to open my show doing basically a minstrel number as Tiger Lily," says Hudson. "And then the rest of the show is me explaining where that came from and why, and ultimately, me pushing myself to do my favorite song from the Mary Martin musical, which is 'Ugg A Wugg.'"

Of course, "Peter Pan" isn't the only pop culture phenomenon that influenced Hudson sense of his heritage. Along with the Disney movie "Pocahontas," the image on the Land 'o Lakes butter box, and Indian Halloween costumes, there was also Cher's song "Half-Breed."

"'My father married a pure Cherokee, my mother's people were ashamed of me,'" he recites. "That song really hit me because, for the first time, I felt that somebody else was echoing exactly what I had felt all my life growing up. Except it's by someone who wasn't native...It is another example of a thing that doesn't come from the culture itself, and yet growing up with it in pop culture, I had such a response to it that it became integral to how I saw myself."

In addition to back up dancers, Hudson also brings the "dominatrix of a piano player" Maria Chobin as an accompanist who has re-arranged the songs Hudson sings, a slide show of photos from his youth and family, and polished, self-made videos riffing off things like "Jurassic Park."

"It's a cabaret, it's a play, it's a remixed version of story telling, it's a slide show," says Hudson, with a laugh. "This is basically my chance to invite an entire audience to a free therapy session with me."]]>1004art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-24-maria-bamford-loch-lomond-kahlief-adams-carla-rossi-alternative-justice-more--11544199
Maria Bamford — 00:59
Maria Bamford is headed to Oregon next month to headline the All Jane Comedy Festival. She’s easily one of the most innovative voices in comedy today, mashing wide-eyed midwestern-ness with pure subversion. Bamford’s Netflix series, “Lady Dynamite” has just been approved for a second season. In it she plays a fictionalized version of herself, and tells stories about rebooting her career after a serious mental health crisis.

Loch Lomond — 11:51
Ritchie Young started Loch Lomond 13 years ago. Since then it’s been a revolving roster of musicians, depending on who’s available to tour and record. Now, with “Pens from Spain,” the band's first US album in five years, it’s grown to a whopping 75 musicians. The new album’s lush orchestrations reintroduce some of the electronic sounds that Loch Lomond has played with over the years. Hear highlights from the recent opbmusic session.

Anthony Hudson — 21:13
The multimedia artist Anthony Hudson is best known around Portland for his hilarious drag queen persona, Carla Rossi. But now he’s going to lose the make up — or at least the wig — for a full length one-queen show drawing on song, dance, drag, and video, about how pop-culture shaped his own identity as a half white, half Native American kid growing up in Keizer.

Kahlief Adams at AffectConf — 33:15
Kahlief Adams is one of the headliners at AffectConf, a gathering celebrating how tech powers can be harnessed for social good. He co-hosts the podcast called “Spawn On Me”, spotlighting games, people of color making games, and more. Kahlief will explain how the team harnessed its Twitch audience to raise money to help victims of police shootings.

Alternative Justice For Sexual Assault — 39:33
The grueling conversation continues for Portland’s music scene. Police are investigating rape claims against local musician Joel Magid, and within music circles, there’s been much discussion about making the scene safer. But how do you talk about consent against a backdrop of sex, drugs, and rock and roll?

Corey Arnold & Timothy Egan On National Parks — 47:17
One of our favorite conversations from Think Out Loud last week: The National Park Service is celebrating its 100th anniversary by trying to head off what it sees as an existential threat: the park system believes it needs to attract a greater share of younger and non-white visitors if there’s going to be another celebration 100 years from now. A team of Northwesterners looked into this concern for the cover story of the current issue of “National Geographic.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544199Sat, 24 Sep 2016 00:47:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhen life gives you mental breakdowns and dysfunctional justice, use them to make something new. Settle in; we’re spinning tales of artists digging into the toolkit to delve identity and community. Sometimes these things can be found only a few...
Maria Bamford — 00:59
Maria Bamford is headed to Oregon next month to headline the All Jane Comedy Festival. She’s easily one of the most innovative voices in comedy today, mashing wide-eyed midwestern-ness with pure subversion. Bamford’s Netflix series, “Lady Dynamite” has just been approved for a second season. In it she plays a fictionalized version of herself, and tells stories about rebooting her career after a serious mental health crisis.

Loch Lomond — 11:51
Ritchie Young started Loch Lomond 13 years ago. Since then it’s been a revolving roster of musicians, depending on who’s available to tour and record. Now, with “Pens from Spain,” the band's first US album in five years, it’s grown to a whopping 75 musicians. The new album’s lush orchestrations reintroduce some of the electronic sounds that Loch Lomond has played with over the years. Hear highlights from the recent opbmusic session.

Anthony Hudson — 21:13
The multimedia artist Anthony Hudson is best known around Portland for his hilarious drag queen persona, Carla Rossi. But now he’s going to lose the make up — or at least the wig — for a full length one-queen show drawing on song, dance, drag, and video, about how pop-culture shaped his own identity as a half white, half Native American kid growing up in Keizer.

Kahlief Adams at AffectConf — 33:15
Kahlief Adams is one of the headliners at AffectConf, a gathering celebrating how tech powers can be harnessed for social good. He co-hosts the podcast called “Spawn On Me”, spotlighting games, people of color making games, and more. Kahlief will explain how the team harnessed its Twitch audience to raise money to help victims of police shootings.

Alternative Justice For Sexual Assault — 39:33
The grueling conversation continues for Portland’s music scene. Police are investigating rape claims against local musician Joel Magid, and within music circles, there’s been much discussion about making the scene safer. But how do you talk about consent against a backdrop of sex, drugs, and rock and roll?

Corey Arnold & Timothy Egan On National Parks — 47:17
One of our favorite conversations from Think Out Loud last week: The National Park Service is celebrating its 100th anniversary by trying to head off what it sees as an existential threat: the park system believes it needs to attract a greater share of younger and non-white visitors if there’s going to be another celebration 100 years from now. A team of Northwesterners looked into this concern for the cover story of the current issue of “National Geographic.”]]>3184falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/alternative-justice-in-portland-music-communities--11559680https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559680Sat, 24 Sep 2016 06:37:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe gut-wrenching conversation over safety and sexual assault continued this week in Portland’s music community. As police investigate claims against a local musician, deep dissatisfaction with the criminal justice response to sexual assault has some...454opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/maria-bamford-web-extra-extended-interview--11567990
Bamford has carved out a space as one of the most innovative voices in comedy. Her stand-up is a master-class in subversion, with a mild-mannered wide-eyed midwestern-ness is a great foil for just about anything she wants to talk about. But Bamford’s kicked it into fifth gear with her marvelously goofy Netflix series, “Lady Dynamite”. In it, she plays a fictionalized version of herself, and tells stories about rebooting her career after a serious mental health crisis.

We talked with Bamford about the series, her stand-up, and the work that keeps her most engaged.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567990Sat, 24 Sep 2016 07:37:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe All Jane Comedy Festival scored big this year, landing Maria Bamford as headliner for the final night of the festival next month. Bamford has carved out a space as one of the most innovative voices in comedy. Her stand-up is a master-class in...
Bamford has carved out a space as one of the most innovative voices in comedy. Her stand-up is a master-class in subversion, with a mild-mannered wide-eyed midwestern-ness is a great foil for just about anything she wants to talk about. But Bamford’s kicked it into fifth gear with her marvelously goofy Netflix series, “Lady Dynamite”. In it, she plays a fictionalized version of herself, and tells stories about rebooting her career after a serious mental health crisis.

We talked with Bamford about the series, her stand-up, and the work that keeps her most engaged.]]>2359comedy,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/maria-bamford-blows-up-with-lady-dynamite--11559674https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559674Sat, 24 Sep 2016 07:48:31 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMaria Bamford delivers the deets on her hit Netflix series, "Lady Dynamite", rebooting after a breakdown, and her magnificent range of voicings. Bamford headlines the All Jane Comedy Festival Oct 5-9.695opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kahlief-adams-on-gaming-for-change--11559672https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559672Sat, 24 Sep 2016 08:01:44 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPodcaster extraordinaire Kahlief Adams of "Spawn On Me" gives us a preview of his upcoming talk at AffectConf — while playing, of course. He and his co-hosts hosted a Twitch session in January 2014 that raised $5000 in one weekend for Black Lives...326gaming,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pete-krebs-autumn-trifecta--11559673
Pete Krebs has a big trifecta in October - he just released a career retrospective of songs called, “Hey Pete Krebs”. He’s also getting back together with Hazel bandmates to celebrate the release of a recently-unearthed 1993 live recording. And he’s about to be inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.

Listen up as one of the city's great songwriters takes a victory lap.

(photo cred. Jeremy Balderson)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559673Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:40:26 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPete Kreb’s career can be read as an index marker for Portland’s musical identity. He came up a scruffy kid when the city was a dark, dank proving ground for punk. He got his musical passport stamped at all the legendary clubs playing in bands like...
Pete Krebs has a big trifecta in October - he just released a career retrospective of songs called, “Hey Pete Krebs”. He’s also getting back together with Hazel bandmates to celebrate the release of a recently-unearthed 1993 live recording. And he’s about to be inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.

Listen up as one of the city's great songwriters takes a victory lap.

(photo cred. Jeremy Balderson)]]>855falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-1-ursula-k-le-guin-pete-krebs-u-s-pto-v-the-slants-portlandia-v-bookstore--11544195
Supreme Court Will Hear The Slants Trademark Case — 1:18
The U.S. Supreme Court says it will hear a case pitting Portland-based all-Asian electro-rock band The Slants against the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The band has been fighting to trademark its name since 2011. The PTO denied the request on the grounds the name is racially disparaging. Bandleader Simon Tam says it’s unconstitutional for government to use offensive speech as a basis for rejecting trademarks. The high court refused to hear a similar case involving the Washington Redskins, but a ruling in the Slants’ favor could help the team.  

Listen Back: Ursula LeGuin at Wordstock 2015 — 3:15
The Library of America has just published some key early work by literary great Ursula K. Le Guin. “The Complete Orsinia” is a fascinating early lab in which Le Guin explored life under oppressive regimes. We thought it was a good time to listen back to our conversation with Le Guin at Wordstock 2015. Le Guin discusses her process, her guide to writing, “Steering the Craft”, and more. (You can find a longer version of our interview here.)

Uroboros To Close In Early 2017 — 13:52
Portland art glass manufacturer Uroboros just announced this week the company plans to close its plant on North Kerby Ave. early in 2017. Glass has been made there for more than 43 years. The company’s president Eric Lovell cited market conditions, the real estate value of the central location, and the cost of new environmental regulations. Lovell also said that his own impending retirement as a factor. Glass artists including San Diego’s Cathy Coverley called the loss of Uroboros “terrifying.”

Portland-born Writer Fighting To Save Harlem Landmark — 17:04
Portland native Renee Watson, now with the I, Too Collective in New York, was in town this week for some fundraising. Langston Hughes was the heart and soul of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and ‘30s. His brownstone on East 127th street in Harlem is a national landmark but it’s been mostly empty for decades. As Harlem’s real estate scene goes upscale, Watson is leading the effort to preserve the building. We listen back to an August conversation she had with NPR - Weekend Edition’s Scott Simon.

In Other Words, Portlandia No Longer Welcome — 22:14
The feminist bookstore In Other Words servers its ties with the IFC series, Portlandia. Looks like Candace and Toni will be looking for new digs. Any suggestions?

Pete Krebs’ Autumn Trifecta — 23:41
A huge month for singer, songwriter, and rock & roll survivor Pete Krebs: he’ll be inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame on October 8th, and is launching two new records at the same time — a career retrospective, called “Hey Pete Krebs” and a new Hazel live album, excavated from 1993 recordings. Krebs earned his chops in Portland’s 80’s punk rock scene, and has been a mainstay on country, jazz, and indie stages around town ever since.

(photo cred. Jeremy Balderson)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544195Fri, 30 Sep 2016 23:37:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week’s show: curveballs and home runs. New developments are on deck in the saga of Oregon’s art glass makers, and for one act trying to get recognition for its entirely ironic band name. Plus we bring back a favorite from last year, to get you...
Supreme Court Will Hear The Slants Trademark Case — 1:18
The U.S. Supreme Court says it will hear a case pitting Portland-based all-Asian electro-rock band The Slants against the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The band has been fighting to trademark its name since 2011. The PTO denied the request on the grounds the name is racially disparaging. Bandleader Simon Tam says it’s unconstitutional for government to use offensive speech as a basis for rejecting trademarks. The high court refused to hear a similar case involving the Washington Redskins, but a ruling in the Slants’ favor could help the team.  

Listen Back: Ursula LeGuin at Wordstock 2015 — 3:15
The Library of America has just published some key early work by literary great Ursula K. Le Guin. “The Complete Orsinia” is a fascinating early lab in which Le Guin explored life under oppressive regimes. We thought it was a good time to listen back to our conversation with Le Guin at Wordstock 2015. Le Guin discusses her process, her guide to writing, “Steering the Craft”, and more. (You can find a longer version of our interview here.)

Uroboros To Close In Early 2017 — 13:52
Portland art glass manufacturer Uroboros just announced this week the company plans to close its plant on North Kerby Ave. early in 2017. Glass has been made there for more than 43 years. The company’s president Eric Lovell cited market conditions, the real estate value of the central location, and the cost of new environmental regulations. Lovell also said that his own impending retirement as a factor. Glass artists including San Diego’s Cathy Coverley called the loss of Uroboros “terrifying.”

Portland-born Writer Fighting To Save Harlem Landmark — 17:04
Portland native Renee Watson, now with the I, Too Collective in New York, was in town this week for some fundraising. Langston Hughes was the heart and soul of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and ‘30s. His brownstone on East 127th street in Harlem is a national landmark but it’s been mostly empty for decades. As Harlem’s real estate scene goes upscale, Watson is leading the effort to preserve the building. We listen back to an August conversation she had with NPR - Weekend Edition’s Scott Simon.

In Other Words, Portlandia No Longer Welcome — 22:14
The feminist bookstore In Other Words servers its ties with the IFC series, Portlandia. Looks like Candace and Toni will be looking for new digs. Any suggestions?

Pete Krebs’ Autumn Trifecta — 23:41
A huge month for singer, songwriter, and rock & roll survivor Pete Krebs: he’ll be inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame on October 8th, and is launching two new records at the same time — a career retrospective, called “Hey Pete Krebs” and a new Hazel live album, excavated from 1993 recordings. Krebs earned his chops in Portland’s 80’s punk rock scene, and has been a mainstay on country, jazz, and indie stages around town ever since.

(photo cred. Jeremy Balderson)]]>2076falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/uroboros-to-close-operations-in-early-2017--11559668https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559668Sat, 01 Oct 2016 06:04:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland art glass manufacturer Uroboros just announced that the company plans to close the plant that it has operated on North Kerby Ave. in Portland for over 43 years.188falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-8-drive-by-truckers-live-art-museum-expansion-tin-house-fiction-contest-malia-jensen-more--11544196
Drive-By Truckers' "American Band" Takes On A Mad World - 1:48

Ever since coming together in Athens, Georgia, in 1996, The Drive-By Truckers have reinvented southern rock and its assumptions about identity and tradition. While the band has seen plenty of personnel changes over the years, the heart of the Truckers' sound is the musical partnership between Mike Cooley and Patterson Hood. The band played their entire new album, "American Band," for a lucky audience in the OPB studio, and talked about some of the stories and recent events that drove the song-writing.

Contest Time: Flash Fiction From Tin House's Master Book Of Plots -14:54

Portland/New York publisher Tin House is re-publishing an astonishing writers’ tool from 1928, called “Plotto: The Master Book of All Plots.” Author William Wallace Cook detailed some 1,462 plots to help struggling writers. Tin House held a national contest a few years ago with the first re-publication, and they’re doing it again this month to celebrate the paperback. For five weeks, beginning October 19th, Tin House will post a new plot each Wednesday, and writers will have until the following Monday to write a 500-word story based on it. The five winners will read their stories on State of Wonder, and we'll announce the grand prize winner.

PAM's Big New Modern Building -20:40

The Portland Art Museum announced a splashy capital project to build the Mark Rothko Pavilion between its existing two buildings. This $75 million expansion and endowment will be dedicated to painter and one-time Portlander and art museum student Mark Rothko. Equally exciting: Rothko's children have offered to loan rotating major works by the modernist master over the next 20 years.

PNCA President Don Tuski on Challenges Facing the College - 21:52

The new President of PNCA had barely been on the job two months when the college announced the suspension of its Critical Theory and Creative Research MFA program. Think Out Loud spoke with Tuski about why the move was made just days before classes were scheduled to begin. Tuski also addresses the need to boost student enrollment, the benefits of an art education, and his approach to making the most of PNCA's new home at 511 Broadway.

Artist Malia Jensen on "Ground Effects" -27:31

It's been great having contemporary artist Malia Jensen back in town. Since her return from an eleven-year stint in New York, she's shown work at Reed College's Case Works, Wieden + Kennedy, and collaborated with the dance ensemble Body Vox. Jensen's practice crackles with ideas and wit, delivered with a high level of craftsmanship. We talk to her about her October exhibition, “Ground Effects,” on view at Elizabeth Leach Gallery in Portland.

Chloe Eudaly and Steve Novick Cross Swords On Housing -36:46

The race for Portland City Council is heating up. Steve Novick, previously an environmental lawyer and political advisor, is seeking another term. Challenger Chloe Eudaly is an owner and co-founder of the ‘zine and bookstore Reading Frenzy.

Ceramics Meets Rock & Roll at the LH Project -38:45

Located at the base of the spectacular Wallowa Mountains, the LH Project has been called the Shangri-la of ceramics. Jakob Hasslacher founded the residency to bring world-class artists to one of the West's most stunning landscapes, but one group that's especially close to his heart returns year-after-year: veterans.

Art Beat Serves Up Chris Antemann's Forbidden Fruit -48:17

Ceramicist Chris Antemann has developed a gorgeous, eye-popping style of porcelain figures that shatter the dainty, mannered image of Neoclassical porcelain. Her alliance with the legendary German porcelain manufacturer, Meissen, has pushed her onto an international stage and a wider world of collectors.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544196Fri, 07 Oct 2016 22:54:37 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDoing the hard work never sounded so good. We turn to some veteran creatives this week for the antidotes to antic times. Drive-By Truckers' "American Band" Takes On A Mad World - 1:48 Ever since coming together in Athens, Georgia, in 1996, The...
Drive-By Truckers' "American Band" Takes On A Mad World - 1:48

Ever since coming together in Athens, Georgia, in 1996, The Drive-By Truckers have reinvented southern rock and its assumptions about identity and tradition. While the band has seen plenty of personnel changes over the years, the heart of the Truckers' sound is the musical partnership between Mike Cooley and Patterson Hood. The band played their entire new album, "American Band," for a lucky audience in the OPB studio, and talked about some of the stories and recent events that drove the song-writing.

Contest Time: Flash Fiction From Tin House's Master Book Of Plots -14:54

Portland/New York publisher Tin House is re-publishing an astonishing writers’ tool from 1928, called “Plotto: The Master Book of All Plots.” Author William Wallace Cook detailed some 1,462 plots to help struggling writers. Tin House held a national contest a few years ago with the first re-publication, and they’re doing it again this month to celebrate the paperback. For five weeks, beginning October 19th, Tin House will post a new plot each Wednesday, and writers will have until the following Monday to write a 500-word story based on it. The five winners will read their stories on State of Wonder, and we'll announce the grand prize winner.

PAM's Big New Modern Building -20:40

The Portland Art Museum announced a splashy capital project to build the Mark Rothko Pavilion between its existing two buildings. This $75 million expansion and endowment will be dedicated to painter and one-time Portlander and art museum student Mark Rothko. Equally exciting: Rothko's children have offered to loan rotating major works by the modernist master over the next 20 years.

PNCA President Don Tuski on Challenges Facing the College - 21:52

The new President of PNCA had barely been on the job two months when the college announced the suspension of its Critical Theory and Creative Research MFA program. Think Out Loud spoke with Tuski about why the move was made just days before classes were scheduled to begin. Tuski also addresses the need to boost student enrollment, the benefits of an art education, and his approach to making the most of PNCA's new home at 511 Broadway.

Artist Malia Jensen on "Ground Effects" -27:31

It's been great having contemporary artist Malia Jensen back in town. Since her return from an eleven-year stint in New York, she's shown work at Reed College's Case Works, Wieden + Kennedy, and collaborated with the dance ensemble Body Vox. Jensen's practice crackles with ideas and wit, delivered with a high level of craftsmanship. We talk to her about her October exhibition, “Ground Effects,” on view at Elizabeth Leach Gallery in Portland.

Chloe Eudaly and Steve Novick Cross Swords On Housing -36:46

The race for Portland City Council is heating up. Steve Novick, previously an environmental lawyer and political advisor, is seeking another term. Challenger Chloe Eudaly is an owner and co-founder of the ‘zine and bookstore Reading Frenzy.

Ceramics Meets Rock & Roll at the LH Project -38:45

Located at the base of the spectacular Wallowa Mountains, the LH Project has been called the Shangri-la of ceramics. Jakob Hasslacher founded the residency to bring world-class artists to one of the West's most stunning landscapes, but one group that's especially close to his heart returns year-after-year: veterans.

Art Beat Serves Up Chris Antemann's Forbidden Fruit -48:17

Ceramicist Chris Antemann has developed a gorgeous, eye-popping style of porcelain figures that shatter the dainty, mannered image of Neoclassical porcelain. Her alliance with the legendary German porcelain manufacturer, Meissen, has pushed her onto...]]>3125falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/malia-jensen-ground-effects--11559679https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559679Fri, 07 Oct 2016 23:05:55 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOne of Portland's top contemporary artists talks to us about new work on view at Elizabeth Leach Gallery in Portland and Marion Goodman Gallery in London, and her move back from New York.538opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-to-amplify-tin-house-s-plotto-flash-fiction-contest--11559661https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559661Sat, 08 Oct 2016 00:02:47 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting327art,books,fiction,local_opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/page-to-stage-women-playwrights-face-bias--11559659https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559659Sat, 15 Oct 2016 15:40:55 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPlaywright Tanya Barfield turns us onto research that puts the problem into painful detail.593opb,theaterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/qa-extended-conversation-with-emily-glassberg-sands--11567987https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567987Sat, 15 Oct 2016 16:20:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHere's our extended interview with Emily Glassberg Sands, Ph.D, who teamed up with playwright Julia Jordan for three studies exposing gender bias in how theater decision-makers view incoming scripts.1768opb,theaterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-15-playwright-tanya-barfield-s-homecoming-season--11544194
That is, until this year.

Profile Theatre is running an entire season of her plays, ending with "Bright Half Life" from Oct. 27–Nov. 13.

We’re going to spend this hour getting to know Barfield's work and exploring some ideas she’s turned us onto. So grab your bus pass, it begins on the 77.

Full Show: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/playwright-tanya-barfield-profile-theatre-portland/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544194Sat, 15 Oct 2016 17:09:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTanya Barfield grew up in Portland and first caught the theater bug from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. But even though her plays have been performed around the country and got her nominated for a Pulitzer, they have never been staged in Portland....
That is, until this year.

Profile Theatre is running an entire season of her plays, ending with "Bright Half Life" from Oct. 27–Nov. 13.

We’re going to spend this hour getting to know Barfield's work and exploring some ideas she’s turned us onto. So grab your bus pass, it begins on the 77.

Full Show: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/playwright-tanya-barfield-profile-theatre-portland/]]>3069falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/love-burns-bright-at-profile-theatre--11559657
"It’s this brilliant thing we can refer to," says actor Maureen Porter, pointing to pictures on the timeline showing news events that the play references, like the Challenger explosion and the passage of gay marriage. "We come and say, 'what was happening in 2004 and what was the context for Vicky and Erica in their relationship?'"

Written by Portland-grown playwright Tanya Barfield, "Bright Half Life" runs at Profile Theatre Oct. 27–Nov. 13. [Hear Barfield discuss the play in State of Wonder's guest curator episode with her.]

Not only does the play follow these two lovers as they orbit each other for 45 years — through falling in love, two proposals, kids, divorce, joint custody — but it’s constantly shifting in time. In a matter of minutes, the scenes bounce from, say, signing the divorce papers, back to the couple's very first night together, then forward to navigating joint custody, and then back again to the kids' birth.

If that sounds confusing to watch, think about what it’s like for the actors to memorize and keep straight.

"It's a funny thing," says actor Chantal DeGroat, who plays Vicky, a successful, type-A businesswoman from a traditional family. "Some of these scenes repeat in the play, and come in and out, and sometimes it's just a fragment of the scene that will come back again. And so we'll be in one moment, and then realize this scene is done here, and we're flipping into this other thing for three lines, and then we're back out again."

With little more than a bare set, the actors have to signal each jump in time through changes in their tone and movement, with help from a slight change in the lights.

Challenging as it is, though, DeGroat and co-star Maureen Porter see the zigzagging narrative as mirroring the way memory works in real life: one memory leads to another, with no respect for chronology.

"As we’re working, we’re finding all the threads of what connects one memory to the next and why some of them repeat," says DeGroat. "So maybe we're having a conversation, and the words we're using are one thing. But you and I, as the people in the relationship, know we're talking about this incident from before — so decoding what it is we are really talking about, and saying, 'Oh, it’s just like the moment with the Gorgonzola!' It's just like that moment between them again."

"She's mapped it in a way that's remarkable," agrees Porter, "and it feels very much like a kind of duet."

Many of Barfield’s plays sparkle like this. They don’t seem like they should work on paper, but somehow they forge an aching emotional realism by abandoning theater’s conventional rules for realism.

"We all have those moments where history is suddenly present with us in this moment, and the things that we are thinking about for the future are present — and the ways in which those combine to make every moment feel both familiar and new is remarkable," says Porter. "She’s written that. It feels very much like a real relationship."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559657Sat, 15 Oct 2016 18:53:02 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting“Bright Half Life,” the sweeping story of lesbian soul mates, spans 45 years in little more than 60 minutes, which is a lot to keep track of if you’re an actor. So the company put up a timeline on the wall of the rehearsal room. "It’s this brilliant...
"It’s this brilliant thing we can refer to," says actor Maureen Porter, pointing to pictures on the timeline showing news events that the play references, like the Challenger explosion and the passage of gay marriage. "We come and say, 'what was happening in 2004 and what was the context for Vicky and Erica in their relationship?'"

Written by Portland-grown playwright Tanya Barfield, "Bright Half Life" runs at Profile Theatre Oct. 27–Nov. 13. [Hear Barfield discuss the play in State of Wonder's guest curator episode with her.]

Not only does the play follow these two lovers as they orbit each other for 45 years — through falling in love, two proposals, kids, divorce, joint custody — but it’s constantly shifting in time. In a matter of minutes, the scenes bounce from, say, signing the divorce papers, back to the couple's very first night together, then forward to navigating joint custody, and then back again to the kids' birth.

If that sounds confusing to watch, think about what it’s like for the actors to memorize and keep straight.

"It's a funny thing," says actor Chantal DeGroat, who plays Vicky, a successful, type-A businesswoman from a traditional family. "Some of these scenes repeat in the play, and come in and out, and sometimes it's just a fragment of the scene that will come back again. And so we'll be in one moment, and then realize this scene is done here, and we're flipping into this other thing for three lines, and then we're back out again."

With little more than a bare set, the actors have to signal each jump in time through changes in their tone and movement, with help from a slight change in the lights.

Challenging as it is, though, DeGroat and co-star Maureen Porter see the zigzagging narrative as mirroring the way memory works in real life: one memory leads to another, with no respect for chronology.

"As we’re working, we’re finding all the threads of what connects one memory to the next and why some of them repeat," says DeGroat. "So maybe we're having a conversation, and the words we're using are one thing. But you and I, as the people in the relationship, know we're talking about this incident from before — so decoding what it is we are really talking about, and saying, 'Oh, it’s just like the moment with the Gorgonzola!' It's just like that moment between them again."

"She's mapped it in a way that's remarkable," agrees Porter, "and it feels very much like a kind of duet."

Many of Barfield’s plays sparkle like this. They don’t seem like they should work on paper, but somehow they forge an aching emotional realism by abandoning theater’s conventional rules for realism.

"We all have those moments where history is suddenly present with us in this moment, and the things that we are thinking about for the future are present — and the ways in which those combine to make every moment feel both familiar and new is remarkable," says Porter. "She’s written that. It feels very much like a real relationship."]]>301art,arts,arts & entertainment,local_opb,theaterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-22-pdx-broadway-producer-on-hamilton-ta-nehisi-coates-percussionist-colin-currie-more--11544193
The Oregon Symphony welcomes Colin Currie back to the stage Oct. 22–24. We talk with Curry about how he’s pushing the boundaries of contemporary classical music, as a soloist and through commissioning new works for percussion and orchestra. Then we give him an assortment of office goods (think recycling bin, bucket, vase, Dragon Boat oar) and ask him to play a tune.

Bravo Youth Orchestra —

Oregon Art Beat brings us this profile of the first Oregon program based on a world-famous Venezuelan method of music instruction. El Sistema is the program that has brought high-quality musical education to hundreds of thousands of kids in Venezuela. Bravo is replicating El Sistema in metro Portland’s underserved communities.

Tin House Fiction Contest Plot Prompt #1 —

Ready to grind out 500 words of flash fiction in Tin House’s Plotto: The Master Contest of All Plots? Without further ado, here is the first prompt:

“Character A, proceeding about his business and caught in a crowd, is confronted suddenly by a strange person, character B, who thrusts a mysterious object, X, into his hand and, without a word, disappears.”

How to Succeed on Broadway With Lake Oswego–Native Brisa Trinchero —

What do the hit Broadway shows "Hamilton," "Matilda," "Hedwig and the Angry Itch," and "Pippin" have in common? Lake Oswego native Brisa Trinchero. After working her way up to running the Broadway Rose theater in Tigard by her mid-20s, she made the big jump to Broadway itself. Now she splits her time between Portland and New York, where she produces plays, runs a boutique publishing company, and is working on a ticketing start-up.

State of Wonder’s Aaron Scott caught up with her during a recent trip to the Big Apple to talk the business they call show, including the hottest ticket on Broadway (#YayHamilton) and her involvement in the touring production of "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical."

Beirut Wedding As A Model for Change —

Local theater veterans Bobby Bermea and Jamie Rea talk about the company they founded to tell stories of women and people of color. Beirut Wedding World Theatre Project produces its first production Oct. 28–Nov. 10: Zayd Dorhn’s "Reborning” — a spooky-yet-sexy tale of a young doll maker who’s latest commission is pushing her over the edge.

Between The World And Me: Artists Respond —

A lot of northwest towns have community reading projects, but the University of Oregon is taking it one step further this year. Incoming undergrads were encouraged to read Ta-Nehisi Coates’ best-seller “Between The World And Me” — a meditation about being black in America. In tandem, the University’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is showing contemporary art that works in conversation with the book. Some real A-listers are represented: Kehinde Wiley, Theaster Gates, Kara Walker, and many others.

Eastmoreland Controversy: Who Says It’s Historic? —

Our columnist-in-residence Randy Gragg turns us on to an oddity of Oregon law that allows people to lobby for historic protections for whole areas, whether the people who live there want them or not. Catch is, once your house is designated historic, your abilities to change it become tightly restricted. The southeast Portland community of Eastmoreland has become the latest flashpoint for how this plays out.

Woody Guthrie's Voyage through Oregon —

In the spring of 1941, Woody Guthrie came to Portland to work on one of the most iconic public art projects of the West. The Bonneville Power Administration hired him to write songs for a movie about the virtues of dams, irrigated land and hydropower. Author Greg Vandy tells the story in his book, “26 Songs in 30 Days.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544193Fri, 21 Oct 2016 22:52:43 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingStar Percussionist Colin Currie Plays Our Studio — The Oregon Symphony welcomes Colin Currie back to the stage Oct. 22–24. We talk with Curry about how he’s pushing the boundaries of contemporary classical music, as a soloist and through...
The Oregon Symphony welcomes Colin Currie back to the stage Oct. 22–24. We talk with Curry about how he’s pushing the boundaries of contemporary classical music, as a soloist and through commissioning new works for percussion and orchestra. Then we give him an assortment of office goods (think recycling bin, bucket, vase, Dragon Boat oar) and ask him to play a tune.

Bravo Youth Orchestra —

Oregon Art Beat brings us this profile of the first Oregon program based on a world-famous Venezuelan method of music instruction. El Sistema is the program that has brought high-quality musical education to hundreds of thousands of kids in Venezuela. Bravo is replicating El Sistema in metro Portland’s underserved communities.

Tin House Fiction Contest Plot Prompt #1 —

Ready to grind out 500 words of flash fiction in Tin House’s Plotto: The Master Contest of All Plots? Without further ado, here is the first prompt:

“Character A, proceeding about his business and caught in a crowd, is confronted suddenly by a strange person, character B, who thrusts a mysterious object, X, into his hand and, without a word, disappears.”

How to Succeed on Broadway With Lake Oswego–Native Brisa Trinchero —

What do the hit Broadway shows "Hamilton," "Matilda," "Hedwig and the Angry Itch," and "Pippin" have in common? Lake Oswego native Brisa Trinchero. After working her way up to running the Broadway Rose theater in Tigard by her mid-20s, she made the big jump to Broadway itself. Now she splits her time between Portland and New York, where she produces plays, runs a boutique publishing company, and is working on a ticketing start-up.

State of Wonder’s Aaron Scott caught up with her during a recent trip to the Big Apple to talk the business they call show, including the hottest ticket on Broadway (#YayHamilton) and her involvement in the touring production of "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical."

Beirut Wedding As A Model for Change —

Local theater veterans Bobby Bermea and Jamie Rea talk about the company they founded to tell stories of women and people of color. Beirut Wedding World Theatre Project produces its first production Oct. 28–Nov. 10: Zayd Dorhn’s "Reborning” — a spooky-yet-sexy tale of a young doll maker who’s latest commission is pushing her over the edge.

Between The World And Me: Artists Respond —

A lot of northwest towns have community reading projects, but the University of Oregon is taking it one step further this year. Incoming undergrads were encouraged to read Ta-Nehisi Coates’ best-seller “Between The World And Me” — a meditation about being black in America. In tandem, the University’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is showing contemporary art that works in conversation with the book. Some real A-listers are represented: Kehinde Wiley, Theaster Gates, Kara Walker, and many others.

Eastmoreland Controversy: Who Says It’s Historic? —

Our columnist-in-residence Randy Gragg turns us on to an oddity of Oregon law that allows people to lobby for historic protections for whole areas, whether the people who live there want them or not. Catch is, once your house is designated historic, your abilities to change it become tightly restricted. The southeast Portland community of Eastmoreland has become the latest flashpoint for how this plays out.

Woody Guthrie's Voyage through Oregon —

In the spring of 1941, Woody Guthrie came to Portland to work on one of the most iconic public art projects of the West. The Bonneville Power Administration hired him to write songs for a movie about the virtues of dams, irrigated land and hydropower. Author Greg Vandy tells the story in his book, “26 Songs in 30 Days.”]]>3322falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/colin-currie-on-percussion-power-and-bringing-new-sounds-to-life--11559676https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559676Fri, 21 Oct 2016 23:25:33 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe dynamic percussionist Colin Currie is back onstage this weekend with the Oregon Symphony. Midway through his artist’s residency, he’s performed with the Symphony as well as in non-traditional spots around the region. Currie visited our studio to...601classical,contemporary classical,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/beirut-wedding-make-the-change-you-want--11559664
(photo cred. Russell J. Young)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559664Fri, 21 Oct 2016 23:26:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA new theater company has cropped up in Portland to tell the stories of people of color, and women. The first production for Beirut Wedding World Theatre Project goes onstage at the end of the month. Founders Bobby Bermea (Badass Theatre, Baseroots...
(photo cred. Russell J. Young)]]>336opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/from-hamilton-to-hedwig-portland-producer-brisa-trinchero-makes-it-big-on-broadway-musicals--11559654
Trinchero grew up working the box office at the Lakewood Theatre Company. Turns out she had a knack for business: by her mid-20s, she was running the Broadway Rose Theatre Company in Tigard. After leading the musical theater company through the renovation of a new theater, she found herself wanting a new challenge.

"Having achieved my life goal, I had an early career crisis," she says from her office in New York. "I got addicted to high growth, high risk side of theater."

A jump from Broadway Rose to Broadway isn’t so far, right?

Now Trinchero splits her time between Portland and New York, where she produces plays with her company Make Musicals, runs a boutique publishing company, and is working on a ticketing start-up. State of Wonder’s Aaron Scott caught up with her during a recent trip to the big apple to talk the business they call show, including the hottest ticket on Broadway (#YayHamilton) and her involvement in the touring production of "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical," which plays Portland's Keller Auditorium Nov. 1–6.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559654Sat, 22 Oct 2016 00:05:37 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat do the hit Broadway shows "Hamilton," "Matilda," "Hedwig and the Angry Itch," and "Pippin" have in common? Lake Oswego native-turned-Broadway producer Brisa Trinchero. Trinchero grew up working the box office at the Lakewood Theatre Company....
Trinchero grew up working the box office at the Lakewood Theatre Company. Turns out she had a knack for business: by her mid-20s, she was running the Broadway Rose Theatre Company in Tigard. After leading the musical theater company through the renovation of a new theater, she found herself wanting a new challenge.

"Having achieved my life goal, I had an early career crisis," she says from her office in New York. "I got addicted to high growth, high risk side of theater."

A jump from Broadway Rose to Broadway isn’t so far, right?

Now Trinchero splits her time between Portland and New York, where she produces plays with her company Make Musicals, runs a boutique publishing company, and is working on a ticketing start-up. State of Wonder’s Aaron Scott caught up with her during a recent trip to the big apple to talk the business they call show, including the hottest ticket on Broadway (#YayHamilton) and her involvement in the touring production of "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical," which plays Portland's Keller Auditorium Nov. 1–6.]]>655art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,theaterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/can-a-stranger-designate-your-house-as-historic-in-oregon-they-can--11559653
In Oregon, nominating a house to the register is solely up to the owner, unless one person—anybody—can convince the Portland Landmarks Commission and National Park Service that your entire neighborhood is historic.

If an effort by the Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association to create a new national historic district is successful, hundreds of property owners could find their houses listed. The reason has less to do with traditional historic preservation than with stopping demolitions, new infill housing, and “monster homes.”

“The board's worked hard for about three years to try to get the city to deal with this through coding, zoning, and through the comprehensive plan,” says Eastmoreland’s president, Tom Hanson. “While we had considered historic district designation in the past, we had thought the other mechanisms were more appropriate to work through the city. But when they were not fruitful, then we moved to considering historic district designation.”

But National Historic District protection comes with strict rules, design review and permit fees. For instance, if your house is designated a “contributing resource”—meaning it’s original and in the character of Eastmoreland’s ‘20s-era architecture—you might not be able to put energy efficient fiberglass windows in or solar panels or a skylight on your roof if it’s visible from the street. And, if you want to build something with those giant sliding glass doors like you see in Dwell magazine, forget it. It’s unlikely to be “compatible.”

A group calling itself Keep Eastmoreland Free has formed to stop the effort to nominate the neighborhood. They point out that fewer than 1 percent of Eastmoreland’s 1,500 or so homes have been demolished since 2003. The phrase they like to use is that they “don’t want their neighborhood pickled.”

“Eastmoreland was built and is continuing to evolve for 100 plus years,” says longtime resident Mary Kyle McCurdy. “We have all sorts of architectural styles here. There's isn't any one consistent theme or time period in which this was built or the houses were designed. So to call us all in one Historic District and freeze it now? Why freeze it in 2016?”

What’s interesting—and where a lot of the heartburn arises—is in the process of creating national historic districts. The only way the residents of the neighborhood can stop it is by gathering notarized petitions from the landowners—50 percent of them plus 1. Imagine a presidential election in which your only way of voting is by going to your bank and notarizing your ballot before mailing it in—all to vote for the candidate you don’t like.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559653Sat, 22 Oct 2016 17:57:27 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIs your house historic—officially, as in listed on the National Register of Historic Places? In Oregon, nominating a house to the register is solely up to the owner, unless one person—anybody—can convince the Portland Landmarks Commission and...
In Oregon, nominating a house to the register is solely up to the owner, unless one person—anybody—can convince the Portland Landmarks Commission and National Park Service that your entire neighborhood is historic.

If an effort by the Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association to create a new national historic district is successful, hundreds of property owners could find their houses listed. The reason has less to do with traditional historic preservation than with stopping demolitions, new infill housing, and “monster homes.”

“The board's worked hard for about three years to try to get the city to deal with this through coding, zoning, and through the comprehensive plan,” says Eastmoreland’s president, Tom Hanson. “While we had considered historic district designation in the past, we had thought the other mechanisms were more appropriate to work through the city. But when they were not fruitful, then we moved to considering historic district designation.”

But National Historic District protection comes with strict rules, design review and permit fees. For instance, if your house is designated a “contributing resource”—meaning it’s original and in the character of Eastmoreland’s ‘20s-era architecture—you might not be able to put energy efficient fiberglass windows in or solar panels or a skylight on your roof if it’s visible from the street. And, if you want to build something with those giant sliding glass doors like you see in Dwell magazine, forget it. It’s unlikely to be “compatible.”

A group calling itself Keep Eastmoreland Free has formed to stop the effort to nominate the neighborhood. They point out that fewer than 1 percent of Eastmoreland’s 1,500 or so homes have been demolished since 2003. The phrase they like to use is that they “don’t want their neighborhood pickled.”

“Eastmoreland was built and is continuing to evolve for 100 plus years,” says longtime resident Mary Kyle McCurdy. “We have all sorts of architectural styles here. There's isn't any one consistent theme or time period in which this was built or the houses were designed. So to call us all in one Historic District and freeze it now? Why freeze it in 2016?”

What’s interesting—and where a lot of the heartburn arises—is in the process of creating national historic districts. The only way the residents of the neighborhood can stop it is by gathering notarized petitions from the landowners—50 percent of them plus 1. Imagine a presidential election in which your only way of voting is by going to your bank and notarizing your ballot before mailing it in—all to vote for the candidate you don’t like.]]>720architecture,local_news,local_opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-29-joe-sacco-august-wilson-okkervil-river-bri-pruett-slenderman-more--11544191
You might find and unusual comic stuffed in your mailbox or slipped under the door in the coming weeks. Titled "Rent Crisis," it's by the award-winning Portland journalist and artist Joe Sacco. He’s spent his life creating wry black-and-white comics about people who live in war zones like Palestine, Bosnia, and Chechnya, but his latest project focuses on a conflict closer to home. Sacco’s friends with Chloe Eudaly, who owns the independent bookstore Reading Frenzy and is running for a seat on Portland’s city council, and this six-page comic came from a day they spent traveling around Portland interviewing people who are struggling to pay the rent.

Physical Education Works Up a Sweat - 6:46

Some issues have to be worked out on the dance floor. Which is one reason four Portland performers — keyon gaskin, Allie Hankins, Lu Yim, and Takahiro Yamamoto — came together to form Physical Education. What began as four friends getting together for a meal evolved into a published reading list, open meetups, workshops, performances, and now a year-long residency at the Pacific Northwest College of Art's Center for Contemporary Art and Culture.

Comic Bri Pruett - 14:21

Portland comic Bri Pruett is a tireless performer. She has made a name for herself for taking on everything from her Clackamas childhood to her own body with fearlessness and wit.

August Wilson's Widow on Portland Playhouse's Staging of His Autobiography - 22:41

The late August Wilson was hugely influential in shaping the narratives of black life in theaters. His “American Century Cycle” is a series of ten plays about African-American life over the course of the 20th century — one per decade. Portland Playhouse, under the direction of Brian Weaver, is methodically working its way through the Cycle, creating a whole new audience for Wilson in Portland. And this fall, Portland Playhouse is offering another sample of Wilson’s work that few audiences nationwide have seen: his one-man, autobiographical show “How I Learned What I Learned,” through Nov. 6. Think Out Loud spoke with Wilson's widow, Constanza Romero, a Seattle-based, Tony-nominated costume designer, about the life and work of her late husband.

Aunt Jemima, Buckwheat, and Don’t Shoot — Painter Arvie Smith on Why None of This Is New - 30:26

When you see Pacific Northwest College of Art Professor Emeritus Arvie Smith’s vivid, explosive paintings at the Portland Art Museum later this month, you might think they were created last week. But to know Smith’s decades-spanning work is to realize that there’s nothing new about what happened in Minneapolis and Baton Rouge this month. He tells us about his art and life, which is book-ended on one end by the Jim Crow South and on the other by smart phone videos capturing the shooting of black Americans by police.


Filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky Chases Slenderman to the Internet's Darkest Corners - 37:02

In 2014, two Wisconsin girls attacked one of their friends with a knife. They said they did it to please Slenderman, an internet boogeyman often depicted as a tall, faceless villain in a dark suit. Slenderman is a work of fiction — he was invented as part of a web contest to create a new horror figure — but that hasn’t stopped him from capturing the minds of children across the country.

The award-winning Portland filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky spent 18 months following the trial of the two girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier. The result is the documentary “Beware the Slenderman.”

opbmusic Session: Okkervil River - 42:03

For almost two decades, Okkervil River has been the main artistic outlet for songwriter Will Sheff. The band had some critical success, but Sheff became unhappy with the creative direction of the past few years. Instead of dissolving the band and starting over from scratch, though, he made an unconventional decision. He kept the band name, but made a hard reset.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544191Sat, 29 Oct 2016 00:09:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWar Cartoonist Joe Sacco on How Portland's Housing Crisis Is Like a Refugee Crisis You might find and unusual comic stuffed in your mailbox or slipped under the door in the coming weeks. Titled "Rent Crisis," it's by the award-winning Portland...
You might find and unusual comic stuffed in your mailbox or slipped under the door in the coming weeks. Titled "Rent Crisis," it's by the award-winning Portland journalist and artist Joe Sacco. He’s spent his life creating wry black-and-white comics about people who live in war zones like Palestine, Bosnia, and Chechnya, but his latest project focuses on a conflict closer to home. Sacco’s friends with Chloe Eudaly, who owns the independent bookstore Reading Frenzy and is running for a seat on Portland’s city council, and this six-page comic came from a day they spent traveling around Portland interviewing people who are struggling to pay the rent.

Physical Education Works Up a Sweat - 6:46

Some issues have to be worked out on the dance floor. Which is one reason four Portland performers — keyon gaskin, Allie Hankins, Lu Yim, and Takahiro Yamamoto — came together to form Physical Education. What began as four friends getting together for a meal evolved into a published reading list, open meetups, workshops, performances, and now a year-long residency at the Pacific Northwest College of Art's Center for Contemporary Art and Culture.

Comic Bri Pruett - 14:21

Portland comic Bri Pruett is a tireless performer. She has made a name for herself for taking on everything from her Clackamas childhood to her own body with fearlessness and wit.

August Wilson's Widow on Portland Playhouse's Staging of His Autobiography - 22:41

The late August Wilson was hugely influential in shaping the narratives of black life in theaters. His “American Century Cycle” is a series of ten plays about African-American life over the course of the 20th century — one per decade. Portland Playhouse, under the direction of Brian Weaver, is methodically working its way through the Cycle, creating a whole new audience for Wilson in Portland. And this fall, Portland Playhouse is offering another sample of Wilson’s work that few audiences nationwide have seen: his one-man, autobiographical show “How I Learned What I Learned,” through Nov. 6. Think Out Loud spoke with Wilson's widow, Constanza Romero, a Seattle-based, Tony-nominated costume designer, about the life and work of her late husband.

Aunt Jemima, Buckwheat, and Don’t Shoot — Painter Arvie Smith on Why None of This Is New - 30:26

When you see Pacific Northwest College of Art Professor Emeritus Arvie Smith’s vivid, explosive paintings at the Portland Art Museum later this month, you might think they were created last week. But to know Smith’s decades-spanning work is to realize that there’s nothing new about what happened in Minneapolis and Baton Rouge this month. He tells us about his art and life, which is book-ended on one end by the Jim Crow South and on the other by smart phone videos capturing the shooting of black Americans by police.


Filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky Chases Slenderman to the Internet's Darkest Corners - 37:02

In 2014, two Wisconsin girls attacked one of their friends with a knife. They said they did it to please Slenderman, an internet boogeyman often depicted as a tall, faceless villain in a dark suit. Slenderman is a work of fiction — he was invented as part of a web contest to create a new horror figure — but that hasn’t stopped him from capturing the minds of children across the country.

The award-winning Portland filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky spent 18 months following the trial of the two girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier. The result is the documentary “Beware the Slenderman.”

opbmusic Session: Okkervil River - 42:03

For almost two decades, Okkervil River has been the main artistic outlet for songwriter Will Sheff. The band had some critical success, but Sheff became unhappy with the creative direction of the past few years. Instead...]]>3100falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/physical-education-at-pnca--11559651http://www.opb.org/radio/article/physical-education-dance-collective-pnca/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559651Sat, 29 Oct 2016 19:47:45 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA collection of performance all-stars embark on a year-lond residenct with PNCA's Center for Contemporary Art and Culture. The first workshop session honed in on Takaihor Yamamoto's work-in-progress regarding consent. More over here, including video:...http://www.opb.org/radio/article/physical-education-dance-collective-pnca/]]>453opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-5-live-at-eugene-s-indie-game-con--11544188
While larger studios like Pipeworks tend to employee the most people, there's also an active indie scene that is nowhere more apparent than at the second annual Indie Game Con. Hundreds of people filled Lane Community College in early October to play new titles, from space shooters like "XO" and "Star Mazer" to fantasy games like "Villagers & Heroes" to the more unusual, like a game of dueling narwhals called "Fail Whale" and a game of dueling tongues called "Smooth Operator."

On today's show we talk to developers about making games and getting game face on for taking their creations out into the world.

Meet our guests:

Ted Brown is the director of Eugene-based Indie Game Con. A veteran of Zynga and Buzz Monkey Software, Brown own and operates game studio Oreganik LLC, which developed the app games "Chess Heroes" and "Epic Skater." He’s also on the board of the trade group Oregon Game Association.

Michael Jones is a Eugene-based sound designer and composer who has been creating audio for games for more than a decade. He chairs the Eugene chapter of the International Game Developers Association, and he’s director of professional development for BitForest, a networking group for Eugene-area game makers. He also composed all the music used in the show.

Britt Brady, lead designer and art director of Cowboy Color Games, has lived in Eugene for about nine years. Involved in the game community for the past two years, he says he’s more of an “abstract creative” than a programmer. Cowboy Color’s game of shooting and blocking, "Charge Shot," was prototyped during a game jam.
Cullen Dwyer, lead programmer of Cowboy Color Studio, had only recently moved to Eugene when he partnered with Brady to develop "Charge Shot."

Kate Thomas, producer and co-founder at Portland-based Beardo Games, developed "Smooth Operator" with programmer Chris Harback and artist Miles Neilson. The trio prototyped the game where you compete to be the better kisser for the Ludum Dare global game jam in 2013.

Damon Slye is one of the godfathers of the Eugene gaming community. After co-founding the pioneering game studio Dynamix in 1984, he helped produce games for the Commodore 64 computer and game companies Activision and Electronic Arts. He left the company and the industry in 1994 (Dynamix was acquired by Sierra Online in 1990.) He came back in 2007 with Mad Otter Games. Currently he’s developing an online multi-player fantasy game called "Villagers & Heroes" that emphasizes social interactivity. Mad Otter has also acquired the rights to "Red Baron" and is planning a reboot.

Plus a cast of hundreds of gleeful developers, players, and others who wandered through Lane Community College's downtown campus in Eugene that day. Press "play" to begin!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544188Fri, 04 Nov 2016 19:08:11 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEugene is a surprising hotbed of video games. "Tribes," "Godzilla: Destroy All Monster's Melee," and "Red Baron" are just a few games to be developed in its local studios. While larger studios like Pipeworks tend to employee the most people, there's...
While larger studios like Pipeworks tend to employee the most people, there's also an active indie scene that is nowhere more apparent than at the second annual Indie Game Con. Hundreds of people filled Lane Community College in early October to play new titles, from space shooters like "XO" and "Star Mazer" to fantasy games like "Villagers & Heroes" to the more unusual, like a game of dueling narwhals called "Fail Whale" and a game of dueling tongues called "Smooth Operator."

On today's show we talk to developers about making games and getting game face on for taking their creations out into the world.

Meet our guests:

Ted Brown is the director of Eugene-based Indie Game Con. A veteran of Zynga and Buzz Monkey Software, Brown own and operates game studio Oreganik LLC, which developed the app games "Chess Heroes" and "Epic Skater." He’s also on the board of the trade group Oregon Game Association.

Michael Jones is a Eugene-based sound designer and composer who has been creating audio for games for more than a decade. He chairs the Eugene chapter of the International Game Developers Association, and he’s director of professional development for BitForest, a networking group for Eugene-area game makers. He also composed all the music used in the show.

Britt Brady, lead designer and art director of Cowboy Color Games, has lived in Eugene for about nine years. Involved in the game community for the past two years, he says he’s more of an “abstract creative” than a programmer. Cowboy Color’s game of shooting and blocking, "Charge Shot," was prototyped during a game jam.
Cullen Dwyer, lead programmer of Cowboy Color Studio, had only recently moved to Eugene when he partnered with Brady to develop "Charge Shot."

Kate Thomas, producer and co-founder at Portland-based Beardo Games, developed "Smooth Operator" with programmer Chris Harback and artist Miles Neilson. The trio prototyped the game where you compete to be the better kisser for the Ludum Dare global game jam in 2013.

Damon Slye is one of the godfathers of the Eugene gaming community. After co-founding the pioneering game studio Dynamix in 1984, he helped produce games for the Commodore 64 computer and game companies Activision and Electronic Arts. He left the company and the industry in 1994 (Dynamix was acquired by Sierra Online in 1990.) He came back in 2007 with Mad Otter Games. Currently he’s developing an online multi-player fantasy game called "Villagers & Heroes" that emphasizes social interactivity. Mad Otter has also acquired the rights to "Red Baron" and is planning a reboot.

Plus a cast of hundreds of gleeful developers, players, and others who wandered through Lane Community College's downtown campus in Eugene that day. Press "play" to begin!]]>3026falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/explode-into-colors-studio-session-with-opbmusic--11559692https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559692Wed, 09 Nov 2016 01:55:35 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSuch a treat. The legendary dance-funk-art-rock band tells the story of their all-too-brief fall reunion, and what they love about playing together.679opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-12-wordstock-with-lindy-west-paul-simon-bio-rivka-galchen-and-luz-elena-mendoza--11544186
Peter Ames Carlin on Paul Simon - 1:00

Peter Ames Carlin has written about some of the most iconic musicians of the 20th century: Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. His new book taps into one of the most complex characters in pop history. Paul Simon soundtracked the 1960s, together with his soul mate, frenemy, and long-time musical partner, Art Garfunkel. But as Carlin’s book, “Homeward Bound” shows, Simon’s path is piled with contradictions. The road to Graceland was strewn with misunderstandings, and the man who gave us some of the sweetest harmonies of the 20th century was not the guy you would want to cross over song royalties.

We also invited Portland singer-songwriter Luz Elena Mendoza, the incredible voice behind the bands Y La Bamba and Tiburones, to interpret Simon's iconic hits "The Sound of Silence" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water," with bandmate Philip Rogers, as well as play an original of her own.

Lindy West - 22:38

How exactly is it Lindy West ended up at the center of so many white-hot flash points in pop culture? She has thought through difficult subjects with rigor, creativity and brio: misogyny in comedy, fat acceptance, trolling on Twitter, and more. The celebrated columnist for The Guardian talks to us about her memoir, “Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman,” her roots at Seattle’s alt-weekly, The Stranger, and how her parents contributed to the fireproofing that lets her fight her battles.

Rivka Galchen - 36:12

The exquisite essays and stories of Rivka Galchen delight readers of the New Yorker magazine, the New York Times, and other hot spots. All great writers meet their match, and Galchen nearly hit her own wall four years ago. Her elegantly constructed idea for a book comparing two medieval Japanese women writers was neatly derailed by the birth of her daughter. Onstage at Wordstock, Galchen tells us how she learned to embrace the kind of thoughts she was having in the throes of baby inebriation. The resulting book, “Little Labors,” is a series of short, splendid essays that both speak to and perfectly describe the altered state of maternity.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544186Fri, 11 Nov 2016 17:46:23 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe toast of the literary season is Portland’s book festival, Wordstock. This week we bring you the first of several shows we taped: a bang-up time with three exceptional authors, and one song that left us starry-eyed, recorded in front of a packed...
Peter Ames Carlin on Paul Simon - 1:00

Peter Ames Carlin has written about some of the most iconic musicians of the 20th century: Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. His new book taps into one of the most complex characters in pop history. Paul Simon soundtracked the 1960s, together with his soul mate, frenemy, and long-time musical partner, Art Garfunkel. But as Carlin’s book, “Homeward Bound” shows, Simon’s path is piled with contradictions. The road to Graceland was strewn with misunderstandings, and the man who gave us some of the sweetest harmonies of the 20th century was not the guy you would want to cross over song royalties.

We also invited Portland singer-songwriter Luz Elena Mendoza, the incredible voice behind the bands Y La Bamba and Tiburones, to interpret Simon's iconic hits "The Sound of Silence" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water," with bandmate Philip Rogers, as well as play an original of her own.

Lindy West - 22:38

How exactly is it Lindy West ended up at the center of so many white-hot flash points in pop culture? She has thought through difficult subjects with rigor, creativity and brio: misogyny in comedy, fat acceptance, trolling on Twitter, and more. The celebrated columnist for The Guardian talks to us about her memoir, “Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman,” her roots at Seattle’s alt-weekly, The Stranger, and how her parents contributed to the fireproofing that lets her fight her battles.

Rivka Galchen - 36:12

The exquisite essays and stories of Rivka Galchen delight readers of the New Yorker magazine, the New York Times, and other hot spots. All great writers meet their match, and Galchen nearly hit her own wall four years ago. Her elegantly constructed idea for a book comparing two medieval Japanese women writers was neatly derailed by the birth of her daughter. Onstage at Wordstock, Galchen tells us how she learned to embrace the kind of thoughts she was having in the throes of baby inebriation. The resulting book, “Little Labors,” is a series of short, splendid essays that both speak to and perfectly describe the altered state of maternity.]]>3060falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-19-maria-semple-alexander-chee-rabih-alameddine-artists-respond-to-trump--11544184
Artists Respond to Trump

Portland hip-hop sensation Aminé hit the stage of "The Tonight Show" Tuesday, adding some politics to his viral song “Caroline”: "You can never make American great again / All you did is make this country hate again." His voice joined the chorus of artists protesting in the streets, making visual art about the election, and other kinds of work. In fact, many Oregon artists are rethinking what their work has to say in a divisive political season. We check in with a few of them.

Maria Semple - 6:40

The world of Maria Semple's imagination is a glowing place. Her characters rocket off on madcap adventures; they collide at high speed; they teeter on the edge of emotional cliffhangers. Some passages crackle with the comedic snap she honed writing for TV shows like “Arrested Development” and "Mad About You," but at the center of her stories are quiet emotional truths. Semple’s last novel was the New York Times best-seller “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?” — a merry chase on the trail of a formidable heroine. This year she’s back with another kind of caper, "Today Will Be Different.”

Alexander Chee - 21:28

Alexander Chee’s new book, “The Queen of the Night,” is a waltz through a kaleidoscopic 19th-century world of opera, romance and intrigue that the New York Times called a "post modern bodice ripper." It follow the journey of a 19th-century American girl from a circus to a brothel to the service of France's empress to the glamorous life of a star soprano. Chee tells us how he interwove his own characters with historic giants of France’s Second Empire, like Verdi, famous courtesans and the Emperor Napoleon the Third, as well as his own journey from boy soprano to novelist.

Rabih Alameddine - 34:48

Rabih Alameddine possesses the kind of multifaceted mind we all aspire to. His career has spanned engineering, painting, and writing, and his six books keenly bridge the Middle East and the West, religion and sexuality, history and pop culture. In "The Angel of History," Alameddine mixes many different currents to tell the story of a young Yemini-born gay man who weathers San Francisco’s AIDS epidemic through an unusual relationship with Satan and a gaggle of saints. Alameddine talks about the gray areas between good and evil, Satan as a protagonist, and the importance of remembering the past, particularly the hardest moments, in order to move into the future.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544184Sat, 19 Nov 2016 01:24:56 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, we bring you the second of two shows we'd recorded live at Wordstock, Portland's book festival. It's sparkling hour with three witty truth-tellers. But first, we wanted to check in: how're you feeling after the election. Artists Respond...
Artists Respond to Trump

Portland hip-hop sensation Aminé hit the stage of "The Tonight Show" Tuesday, adding some politics to his viral song “Caroline”: "You can never make American great again / All you did is make this country hate again." His voice joined the chorus of artists protesting in the streets, making visual art about the election, and other kinds of work. In fact, many Oregon artists are rethinking what their work has to say in a divisive political season. We check in with a few of them.

Maria Semple - 6:40

The world of Maria Semple's imagination is a glowing place. Her characters rocket off on madcap adventures; they collide at high speed; they teeter on the edge of emotional cliffhangers. Some passages crackle with the comedic snap she honed writing for TV shows like “Arrested Development” and "Mad About You," but at the center of her stories are quiet emotional truths. Semple’s last novel was the New York Times best-seller “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?” — a merry chase on the trail of a formidable heroine. This year she’s back with another kind of caper, "Today Will Be Different.”

Alexander Chee - 21:28

Alexander Chee’s new book, “The Queen of the Night,” is a waltz through a kaleidoscopic 19th-century world of opera, romance and intrigue that the New York Times called a "post modern bodice ripper." It follow the journey of a 19th-century American girl from a circus to a brothel to the service of France's empress to the glamorous life of a star soprano. Chee tells us how he interwove his own characters with historic giants of France’s Second Empire, like Verdi, famous courtesans and the Emperor Napoleon the Third, as well as his own journey from boy soprano to novelist.

Rabih Alameddine - 34:48

Rabih Alameddine possesses the kind of multifaceted mind we all aspire to. His career has spanned engineering, painting, and writing, and his six books keenly bridge the Middle East and the West, religion and sexuality, history and pop culture. In "The Angel of History," Alameddine mixes many different currents to tell the story of a young Yemini-born gay man who weathers San Francisco’s AIDS epidemic through an unusual relationship with Satan and a gaggle of saints. Alameddine talks about the gray areas between good and evil, Satan as a protagonist, and the importance of remembering the past, particularly the hardest moments, in order to move into the future.]]>3092falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/prof-robert-knapp-remembers-roger-hobbs--11559648"Ghostman" during his senior year at Reed College. At the same time he was working on his thesis with Robert Knapp, a professor of English and Humanities. Knapp shares memories of Hobbs, and explains the links between Hobbs' academic work and his neo-noir fiction.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559648Thu, 24 Nov 2016 07:48:54 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBest-selling author Hobbs wrote his New York Times bestseller, "Ghostman" during his senior year at Reed College. At the same time he was working on his thesis with Robert Knapp, a professor of English and Humanities. Knapp shares memories of Hobbs,..."Ghostman" during his senior year at Reed College. At the same time he was working on his thesis with Robert Knapp, a professor of English and Humanities. Knapp shares memories of Hobbs, and explains the links between Hobbs' academic work and his neo-noir fiction.]]>732opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-26-hari-kondabolu-disjecta-s-director-ousted-roger-hobbs-rip-julie-keefe-more--11544183
Upheaval at Disjecta - 1:10

Disjecta Contemporary Arts Center is losing its founding executive director at the end of this year, and it’s not a happy split. The organization’s board took the unusual step of asking founding director Bryan Suereth to leave in what it calls a "leadership transition." Thing is, there's no new leadership named, leaving the nonprofit's future in flux.

Portland Through Decades of Skanner Photography - 4:55

Few Portland artists can claim deeper ties to the city than Julie Keefe. She’s shot for everyone from the Oregonian to the New York Times, but she might be best known, at least in Northeast Portland, as the primary photographer for the Skanner newspaper, where she’s documented Portland’s African American community since 1991. A selection of photos drawn from the tens of thousands she's shot are on display at the Oregon Historical Society through Dec. 18.

The Passing of Author Roger Hobbs - 14:33

We lost a great young voice this month. Roger Hobbs was the author of two books, including the New York Times bestseller “Ghostman,” a thriller about a shadowy thief under a 48-hour deadline to clean up after a heist gone wrong. Hobbs was well known for wearing suits to class and saying his research involved hanging out at seedy bars and buying drinks for criminals in exchange for stories.

Hari Kondabolu Finds the Funny in Politics - 22:15

Comedian Hari Kondabolu is one of the sharpest wits around this election season, which maybe should come as no surprise — after all, he got his start in comedy from a very unlikely place: political activism. Onstage at comedy clubs throughout the Pacific Northwest, he discovered he could actually fuse the two, getting the audience warmed up to — and even laughing at — really hard subjects.

The Mystical Paintings of John Simpkins - 29:23

In a ghost town in Oregon’s Alvord Desert, John Simpkins spends his days in solitude, making huge, soulful paintings in one of the most remote places in the West.

opbmusic Session with Genders - 35:15

Portland band Genders is a story of rebirth. It started as the looser side project to another band in town, Youth. But band members pulled the plug on Youth in 2012, and have been going strong as Genders since. They stopped by the OPB studio to play songs from their newest EP, "Phone Home."

The Architecture Firm that's Transforming Portland's Waterfront - 39:42

Good news and bad in the global architecture firm Snohetta's quest to transform Portland's waterfront. First, the bad: the James Beard Market got booted from its home at the base of the Morrison Bridge, meaning it's once again homeless. But in good news, the partners behind the Willamette Falls Riverwalk at the old Blue Heron Mill in Oregon City have raised $19 or $25 million for the first phase, and Snohetta is deep in the design process with the public, which includes, well, games. Our columnist in residence, Randy Gragg, stopped by to tell us how it's working, plus to let us know Snohetta has signed on for a third project: to design plans for OMSI's 16 acres of riverfront property in the central eastside.

It Ain't All Swings and Teeter-Totters — The Next Generation of Playground Design - 45:19

Play is such an essential part of childhood, but it can be an even more lasting experience, when a little thought goes into the places we play. Design Museum Portland has an exhibition on view called "Extraordinary Playscapes" through Dec. 17 at the Pacific Northwest College of Art that examines the current thinking in play design and the importance of play in our lives.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544183Thu, 24 Nov 2016 19:10:27 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat a week! Disjecta's founder gets shown the door, we remember the precocious writer Roger Hobbs, Hari Kondabolu returns to Portland to put some funny back in politics, and we hear about the importance of play, even as an adult. Upheaval at...
Upheaval at Disjecta - 1:10

Disjecta Contemporary Arts Center is losing its founding executive director at the end of this year, and it’s not a happy split. The organization’s board took the unusual step of asking founding director Bryan Suereth to leave in what it calls a "leadership transition." Thing is, there's no new leadership named, leaving the nonprofit's future in flux.

Portland Through Decades of Skanner Photography - 4:55

Few Portland artists can claim deeper ties to the city than Julie Keefe. She’s shot for everyone from the Oregonian to the New York Times, but she might be best known, at least in Northeast Portland, as the primary photographer for the Skanner newspaper, where she’s documented Portland’s African American community since 1991. A selection of photos drawn from the tens of thousands she's shot are on display at the Oregon Historical Society through Dec. 18.

The Passing of Author Roger Hobbs - 14:33

We lost a great young voice this month. Roger Hobbs was the author of two books, including the New York Times bestseller “Ghostman,” a thriller about a shadowy thief under a 48-hour deadline to clean up after a heist gone wrong. Hobbs was well known for wearing suits to class and saying his research involved hanging out at seedy bars and buying drinks for criminals in exchange for stories.

Hari Kondabolu Finds the Funny in Politics - 22:15

Comedian Hari Kondabolu is one of the sharpest wits around this election season, which maybe should come as no surprise — after all, he got his start in comedy from a very unlikely place: political activism. Onstage at comedy clubs throughout the Pacific Northwest, he discovered he could actually fuse the two, getting the audience warmed up to — and even laughing at — really hard subjects.

The Mystical Paintings of John Simpkins - 29:23

In a ghost town in Oregon’s Alvord Desert, John Simpkins spends his days in solitude, making huge, soulful paintings in one of the most remote places in the West.

opbmusic Session with Genders - 35:15

Portland band Genders is a story of rebirth. It started as the looser side project to another band in town, Youth. But band members pulled the plug on Youth in 2012, and have been going strong as Genders since. They stopped by the OPB studio to play songs from their newest EP, "Phone Home."

The Architecture Firm that's Transforming Portland's Waterfront - 39:42

Good news and bad in the global architecture firm Snohetta's quest to transform Portland's waterfront. First, the bad: the James Beard Market got booted from its home at the base of the Morrison Bridge, meaning it's once again homeless. But in good news, the partners behind the Willamette Falls Riverwalk at the old Blue Heron Mill in Oregon City have raised $19 or $25 million for the first phase, and Snohetta is deep in the design process with the public, which includes, well, games. Our columnist in residence, Randy Gragg, stopped by to tell us how it's working, plus to let us know Snohetta has signed on for a third project: to design plans for OMSI's 16 acres of riverfront property in the central eastside.

It Ain't All Swings and Teeter-Totters — The Next Generation of Playground Design - 45:19

Play is such an essential part of childhood, but it can be an even more lasting experience, when a little thought goes into the places we play. Design Museum Portland has an exhibition on view called "Extraordinary Playscapes" through Dec. 17 at the Pacific Northwest College of Art that examines the current thinking in play design and the importance of play in our lives.]]>3113falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/novelist-roger-hobbs-dead-at-28--11559647
(photo cred. Leah Nash)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559647Fri, 25 Nov 2016 02:22:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA brilliant stylist of crime lit, Hobbs is remembered by editor Gary Fisketjon and Professor Robert Knapp of Reed College. (photo cred. Leah Nash)
(photo cred. Leah Nash)]]>499opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/big-plans-to-transform-portland-s-waterfront--11559645
First, the bad: the James Beard Market Snohetta was set to design got booted from the Morrison Bridge site that folks were so excited about by the developer, Melvin Mark. This is at least the fifth time organizers have had to change sites in the past 17 years.

In good news, the partners behind Snohetta's other project, the Willamette Falls Riverwalk at the old Blue Heron Mill in Oregon City, have raised $19 of $25 million for the first phase, and Snohetta is deep in the design process with the public. Plus, the firm has signed on for a third project: to design plans for OMSI’s 16 acres of riverfront property in the central eastside.

Snohetta’s team was recently in town to gather public feedback on their designs — a process that engaged several hundred participants, ranging from two former Oregon City mayors to arts advocates to kayaking enthusiasts.

“What we're really hoping is to hear people's ideas," says Snohetta's head of landscape, Michelle Delk. "To have them start dreaming with us about these moments we've identified, that we know have potential to really be meaningful transformations of the site and integrated into the Riverwalk."

Snohetta, teamed with local firm Mayer Reed, works a bit differently than most firms. Rather than present three designs and ask the public to put green dots on one, they show a few rough ideas for the area and then play games to glean impressions about how they can be further shaped.

The River walk is not along pristine shores. It takes you over, under, through, and alongside years of accumulated industry. The participants honed in on some of the old mill’s most dramatic features, like a huge pipe chase—a 30-feet wide tunnel, really. They invited people to weigh in: do you want to walk on top of it, punch some openings in it so you can walk through it and see the river, or make it disappear entirely in favor of fish habitat.

There was also a big public plaza and a giant clarifier, and they had people pick cards representing what they wanted to do in them and how they wanted them feel — movie theater, play space, natural habitat, falls viewing platform, or something else altogether.

If you missed the public meeting, you can still give input online until Dec. 5. Snohetta will be back in February with the plan they are calling “the preferred alternative.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559645Fri, 25 Nov 2016 18:17:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe creative firm behind such famous spaces as the Alexandria Library and the new San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has its eyes on Portland's waterfront, and there's good news and bad. First, the bad: the James Beard Market Snohetta was set to...
First, the bad: the James Beard Market Snohetta was set to design got booted from the Morrison Bridge site that folks were so excited about by the developer, Melvin Mark. This is at least the fifth time organizers have had to change sites in the past 17 years.

In good news, the partners behind Snohetta's other project, the Willamette Falls Riverwalk at the old Blue Heron Mill in Oregon City, have raised $19 of $25 million for the first phase, and Snohetta is deep in the design process with the public. Plus, the firm has signed on for a third project: to design plans for OMSI’s 16 acres of riverfront property in the central eastside.

Snohetta’s team was recently in town to gather public feedback on their designs — a process that engaged several hundred participants, ranging from two former Oregon City mayors to arts advocates to kayaking enthusiasts.

“What we're really hoping is to hear people's ideas," says Snohetta's head of landscape, Michelle Delk. "To have them start dreaming with us about these moments we've identified, that we know have potential to really be meaningful transformations of the site and integrated into the Riverwalk."

Snohetta, teamed with local firm Mayer Reed, works a bit differently than most firms. Rather than present three designs and ask the public to put green dots on one, they show a few rough ideas for the area and then play games to glean impressions about how they can be further shaped.

The River walk is not along pristine shores. It takes you over, under, through, and alongside years of accumulated industry. The participants honed in on some of the old mill’s most dramatic features, like a huge pipe chase—a 30-feet wide tunnel, really. They invited people to weigh in: do you want to walk on top of it, punch some openings in it so you can walk through it and see the river, or make it disappear entirely in favor of fish habitat.

There was also a big public plaza and a giant clarifier, and they had people pick cards representing what they wanted to do in them and how they wanted them feel — movie theater, play space, natural habitat, falls viewing platform, or something else altogether.

If you missed the public meeting, you can still give input online until Dec. 5. Snohetta will be back in February with the plan they are calling “the preferred alternative.”]]>342architecture,art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-beauty-and-heartbreak-of-ne-portland-thru-the-skanner-photos-of-julie-keefe--11559644
But she might be best known, at least in Northeast Portland, as the primary photographer for the Skanner newspaper, where she’s documented Portland’s African American community since 1991, as see in the exhibition “Document of a Dynamic Community: The Skanner Photography of Julie Keefe," at the Oregon Historical Society through Dec. 18.

The hundreds of photos, drawn from the tens of thousands Keefe has shot, depict the everyday triumphs, challenges, and banalities of life in North, Northeast, and increasingly East Portland.

"What the Skanner did is said, 'here, we're going to show you our parades, and we're going to show the girl scout troupes and the chess clubs and the golf teams that are bringing people together," says Keefe. "They showed everyday life in a very dynamic, wide-ranging community in ways that we don't see in the [mainstream media] headlines. So I felt super privileged to be able to gain trust and respect in a community that I was an outsider in."

The Skanner was started in 1975 by husband-and-wife team Bernie and Bobbie Foster. Living just blocks away from its offices, Keefe started shooting for the paper in 1991. One entire wall of the exhibition is wall-papered in snapshots of everything from Juneteenth parades to political rallies to Rose Princess coronations, depicting hundreds of everyday Portlanders, political figures, and visiting dignitaries like President Obama.

Some of the photos carry bittersweet emotions for Keefe, like one showing the founder of Self Enhancement Inc, Tony Hobson Sr., shaking the hands of students on the opening day of the SEI Academy. The nonprofit has an incredible track record for improving the lives and educational experiences of at-risk youth, and when it was built in Unthank Park, it pushed out a lot of the drug activity. But that in turn led to new folks moving in, which accelerated the gentrification of the neighborhood, pushing out a lot of long-term residents, too, many of them Keefe’s neighbors.

And then there were the truly heartbreaking events.

"There were times when I was really emotional," she says. "I couldn't distance myself — I knew a lot of these people. I watched them with their pain. One of the first things I shot was a candle-light vigil, and then when I kept photographing them, it just never stopped. Kendra James was shot by the police three blocks from my house."

The exhibition includes three photos following the death of James: one of her memorial, one of a march against the shooting, and one of a public hearing with the police.

Keefe tells us what it was like to document a community in the interview above.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559644Fri, 25 Nov 2016 18:18:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFew Portland artists can claim deeper ties to the city than Julie Keefe. She’s shot for everyone from the Oregonian to the New York Times; she’s done major community engagement projects like Hello, Neighbor, where kids in North Portland interview...
But she might be best known, at least in Northeast Portland, as the primary photographer for the Skanner newspaper, where she’s documented Portland’s African American community since 1991, as see in the exhibition “Document of a Dynamic Community: The Skanner Photography of Julie Keefe," at the Oregon Historical Society through Dec. 18.

The hundreds of photos, drawn from the tens of thousands Keefe has shot, depict the everyday triumphs, challenges, and banalities of life in North, Northeast, and increasingly East Portland.

"What the Skanner did is said, 'here, we're going to show you our parades, and we're going to show the girl scout troupes and the chess clubs and the golf teams that are bringing people together," says Keefe. "They showed everyday life in a very dynamic, wide-ranging community in ways that we don't see in the [mainstream media] headlines. So I felt super privileged to be able to gain trust and respect in a community that I was an outsider in."

The Skanner was started in 1975 by husband-and-wife team Bernie and Bobbie Foster. Living just blocks away from its offices, Keefe started shooting for the paper in 1991. One entire wall of the exhibition is wall-papered in snapshots of everything from Juneteenth parades to political rallies to Rose Princess coronations, depicting hundreds of everyday Portlanders, political figures, and visiting dignitaries like President Obama.

Some of the photos carry bittersweet emotions for Keefe, like one showing the founder of Self Enhancement Inc, Tony Hobson Sr., shaking the hands of students on the opening day of the SEI Academy. The nonprofit has an incredible track record for improving the lives and educational experiences of at-risk youth, and when it was built in Unthank Park, it pushed out a lot of the drug activity. But that in turn led to new folks moving in, which accelerated the gentrification of the neighborhood, pushing out a lot of long-term residents, too, many of them Keefe’s neighbors.

And then there were the truly heartbreaking events.

"There were times when I was really emotional," she says. "I couldn't distance myself — I knew a lot of these people. I watched them with their pain. One of the first things I shot was a candle-light vigil, and then when I kept photographing them, it just never stopped. Kendra James was shot by the police three blocks from my house."

The exhibition includes three photos following the death of James: one of her memorial, one of a march against the shooting, and one of a public hearing with the police.

Keefe tells us what it was like to document a community in the interview above.]]>560art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,photographyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-day-union-avenue-became-mlk-jr-boulevard--11559643https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559643Fri, 25 Nov 2016 18:20:21 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting99falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-day-maya-angelou-told-keefe-to-put-down-the-camera--11559642https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559642Fri, 25 Nov 2016 18:20:57 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting167falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oregon-s-first-crowd-funded-building-the-fair-haired-dumbbell--11559641
In the middle of one of Portland’s biggest real estate booms, one building stands out, and not just for its name and psychedelic paint job. The Fair-Haired Dumbbell is the first building in Oregon and one of the first in the country to raise money via new crowd-funding regulation approved by Congress.

Read the full story:
http://www.opb.org/radio/article/fair-haired-dumbbell-crowd-funded-building]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559641Fri, 02 Dec 2016 20:56:47 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDo you ever drive by one of the dozens of buildings going up in Portland and think, man, I wish I owned a slice of that masonry pie? Well, now you can. In the middle of one of Portland’s biggest real estate booms, one building stands out, and not...
In the middle of one of Portland’s biggest real estate booms, one building stands out, and not just for its name and psychedelic paint job. The Fair-Haired Dumbbell is the first building in Oregon and one of the first in the country to raise money via new crowd-funding regulation approved by Congress.

Read the full story:
http://www.opb.org/radio/article/fair-haired-dumbbell-crowd-funded-building]]>348architecture,art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-3-fair-haired-dumbbell-explode-into-colors-oregon-symphony-goes-animated-more--11544181
You (and You and You) Can Own a Slice of This Building - 1:10

In the middle of one of Portland’s biggest real estate booms, one building stands out. It’s called the Fair-Haired Dumbbell, but it’s not just the name and psychedelic design that make it unique. It's also the first commercial building in Oregon and perhaps the first in the nation to raise money via online crowdfunding, and for as little as $3,000, you can own a piece of it.

The Oregon Symphony Gets Animated - 8:39

As the second in its collaborative SightSound trilogy, the Oregon Symphony invited animator Rose Bond to create visuals to accompany Messiaen's epic symphony "Turangalîla" from Dec. 3-5. Think "Fantasia," but live and in person as four projectors bring the walls of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall to life in a symphony you can see as well as hear.

opbmusic Session with Explode Into Colors - 17:31

The reunion of Explode Into Colors for two epic live shows this fall had Portland music fans in ecstasy. This trio played some of the most ambitious jams around. The three of them stopped making music together a couple of years ago, but in October they got back together for benefit shows on behalf of all-ages music venues, including Portland’s Friends of Noise.

Adrienne Truscott: What's So Funny About Rape Jokes? - 28:48

There’s an ongoing debate in the comedy world about rape jokes. Are they acceptable provocation or, as Donald Trump might argue, harmless locker room talk? Or are they beyond the pale? One thing both sides can likely agree upon is that, with a few exceptions, they tend to be the kind of jokes that only male comedians tell. That is, until Adrienne Truscott. Truscott is a veteran of the international cabaret scene, but last year, she came through town with her first stab at a stand-up comedy show about rape jokes, and it was as smart and funny as it was unsettling. She's back, thanks to Boom Arts, with a second run of "Adrienne Truscott's Asking For It," Dec. 8–11.

Jamila Clarke and Wolff Gallery - 38:33

Wolff Gallery is a new spot on NW Glisan Street showing works from traditionally underrepresented artists. They currently have an evocative narrative photography exhibition by Jamila Clarke on display.

Printing Trees with Bend's Pat Clark - 46:05

Pat Clark is an artist and the founder of the print-making haven Atelier 6000. All kinds of work gets made there, but, being in Bend, it’s one place that originates interesting images of the natural world. Clark’s work is no exception. Some of her prints and drawings are in the show “Inspired By Trees” now on view at the World Forestry Center in Portland.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544181Sat, 03 Dec 2016 18:55:12 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat we noticed this week: people throwing off convention to remake a city, reinterpret symphonic music, inspire a new wave of activism, or just bang out a new beat. Take a break from holiday hurly-burly to hear all the latest. You (and You and You)...
You (and You and You) Can Own a Slice of This Building - 1:10

In the middle of one of Portland’s biggest real estate booms, one building stands out. It’s called the Fair-Haired Dumbbell, but it’s not just the name and psychedelic design that make it unique. It's also the first commercial building in Oregon and perhaps the first in the nation to raise money via online crowdfunding, and for as little as $3,000, you can own a piece of it.

The Oregon Symphony Gets Animated - 8:39

As the second in its collaborative SightSound trilogy, the Oregon Symphony invited animator Rose Bond to create visuals to accompany Messiaen's epic symphony "Turangalîla" from Dec. 3-5. Think "Fantasia," but live and in person as four projectors bring the walls of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall to life in a symphony you can see as well as hear.

opbmusic Session with Explode Into Colors - 17:31

The reunion of Explode Into Colors for two epic live shows this fall had Portland music fans in ecstasy. This trio played some of the most ambitious jams around. The three of them stopped making music together a couple of years ago, but in October they got back together for benefit shows on behalf of all-ages music venues, including Portland’s Friends of Noise.

Adrienne Truscott: What's So Funny About Rape Jokes? - 28:48

There’s an ongoing debate in the comedy world about rape jokes. Are they acceptable provocation or, as Donald Trump might argue, harmless locker room talk? Or are they beyond the pale? One thing both sides can likely agree upon is that, with a few exceptions, they tend to be the kind of jokes that only male comedians tell. That is, until Adrienne Truscott. Truscott is a veteran of the international cabaret scene, but last year, she came through town with her first stab at a stand-up comedy show about rape jokes, and it was as smart and funny as it was unsettling. She's back, thanks to Boom Arts, with a second run of "Adrienne Truscott's Asking For It," Dec. 8–11.

Jamila Clarke and Wolff Gallery - 38:33

Wolff Gallery is a new spot on NW Glisan Street showing works from traditionally underrepresented artists. They currently have an evocative narrative photography exhibition by Jamila Clarke on display.

Printing Trees with Bend's Pat Clark - 46:05

Pat Clark is an artist and the founder of the print-making haven Atelier 6000. All kinds of work gets made there, but, being in Bend, it’s one place that originates interesting images of the natural world. Clark’s work is no exception. Some of her prints and drawings are in the show “Inspired By Trees” now on view at the World Forestry Center in Portland.]]>3132falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/week-5-saint-burma-by-nikki-hosang--11559640
“Plotto” was written by the pulp author William Wallace Cook. "Like 'Plotto,' he was sort of a plot generator himself," Tin House editor Masie Cochran told State of Wonder. "Once in the 1920's, he wrote 54 novels in one year. He was so prolific, he became known as 'the man who deforested Canada' due to the sheer number of pages he produced."

To celebrate its reissue of "Plotto" in paperback, Tin House posted a plot prompt a week for five weeks and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each. They received a whopping 932 entries and chose one winner a week. Local author Paul Collins then chose the grand prize winner.

State of Wonder then recorded the weekly winners reading their stories and remixed them with music, as well as called up the grand prize winner to spill the beans, for your aural pleasure.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559640Fri, 09 Dec 2016 20:40:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIf you’ve been tuning into State of Wonder this fall, you know that we’ve been full bore on a flash fiction contest being run by the Portland/Brooklyn publisher Tin House. It’s called Plotto, after a weird gem of a book from 1928, “Plotto: The Master...
“Plotto” was written by the pulp author William Wallace Cook. "Like 'Plotto,' he was sort of a plot generator himself," Tin House editor Masie Cochran told State of Wonder. "Once in the 1920's, he wrote 54 novels in one year. He was so prolific, he became known as 'the man who deforested Canada' due to the sheer number of pages he produced."

To celebrate its reissue of "Plotto" in paperback, Tin House posted a plot prompt a week for five weeks and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each. They received a whopping 932 entries and chose one winner a week. Local author Paul Collins then chose the grand prize winner.

State of Wonder then recorded the weekly winners reading their stories and remixed them with music, as well as called up the grand prize winner to spill the beans, for your aural pleasure.]]>221falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/week-4-laws-by-zana-previti--11559639
“Plotto” was written by the pulp author William Wallace Cook. "Like 'Plotto,' he was sort of a plot generator himself," Tin House editor Masie Cochran told State of Wonder. "Once in the 1920's, he wrote 54 novels in one year. He was so prolific, he became known as 'the man who deforested Canada' due to the sheer number of pages he produced."

To celebrate its reissue of "Plotto" in paperback, Tin House posted a plot prompt a week for five weeks and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each. They received a whopping 932 entries and chose one winner a week. Local author Paul Collins then chose the grand prize winner.

State of Wonder then recorded the weekly winners reading their stories and remixed them with music, as well as called up the grand prize winner to spill the beans, for your aural pleasure.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559639Fri, 09 Dec 2016 20:40:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIf you’ve been tuning into State of Wonder this fall, you know that we’ve been full bore on a flash fiction contest being run by the Portland/Brooklyn publisher Tin House. It’s called Plotto, after a weird gem of a book from 1928, “Plotto: The Master...
“Plotto” was written by the pulp author William Wallace Cook. "Like 'Plotto,' he was sort of a plot generator himself," Tin House editor Masie Cochran told State of Wonder. "Once in the 1920's, he wrote 54 novels in one year. He was so prolific, he became known as 'the man who deforested Canada' due to the sheer number of pages he produced."

To celebrate its reissue of "Plotto" in paperback, Tin House posted a plot prompt a week for five weeks and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each. They received a whopping 932 entries and chose one winner a week. Local author Paul Collins then chose the grand prize winner.

State of Wonder then recorded the weekly winners reading their stories and remixed them with music, as well as called up the grand prize winner to spill the beans, for your aural pleasure.]]>274falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/week-3-thanksgiving-by-carolyn-oliver--11559637
“Plotto” was written by the pulp author William Wallace Cook. "Like 'Plotto,' he was sort of a plot generator himself," Tin House editor Masie Cochran told State of Wonder. "Once in the 1920's, he wrote 54 novels in one year. He was so prolific, he became known as 'the man who deforested Canada' due to the sheer number of pages he produced."

To celebrate its reissue of "Plotto" in paperback, Tin House posted a plot prompt a week for five weeks and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each. They received a whopping 932 entries and chose one winner a week. Local author Paul Collins then chose the grand prize winner.

State of Wonder then recorded the weekly winners reading their stories and remixed them with music, as well as called up the grand prize winner to spill the beans, for your aural pleasure.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559637Fri, 09 Dec 2016 20:40:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIf you’ve been tuning into State of Wonder this fall, you know that we’ve been full bore on a flash fiction contest being run by the Portland/Brooklyn publisher Tin House. It’s called Plotto, after a weird gem of a book from 1928, “Plotto: The Master...
“Plotto” was written by the pulp author William Wallace Cook. "Like 'Plotto,' he was sort of a plot generator himself," Tin House editor Masie Cochran told State of Wonder. "Once in the 1920's, he wrote 54 novels in one year. He was so prolific, he became known as 'the man who deforested Canada' due to the sheer number of pages he produced."

To celebrate its reissue of "Plotto" in paperback, Tin House posted a plot prompt a week for five weeks and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each. They received a whopping 932 entries and chose one winner a week. Local author Paul Collins then chose the grand prize winner.

State of Wonder then recorded the weekly winners reading their stories and remixed them with music, as well as called up the grand prize winner to spill the beans, for your aural pleasure.]]>198falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/week-2-rust-by-annesha-sengupta--11559636
“Plotto” was written by the pulp author William Wallace Cook. "Like 'Plotto,' he was sort of a plot generator himself," Tin House editor Masie Cochran told State of Wonder. "Once in the 1920's, he wrote 54 novels in one year. He was so prolific, he became known as 'the man who deforested Canada' due to the sheer number of pages he produced."

To celebrate its reissue of "Plotto" in paperback, Tin House posted a plot prompt a week for five weeks and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each. They received a whopping 932 entries and chose one winner a week. Local author Paul Collins then chose the grand prize winner.

State of Wonder then recorded the weekly winners reading their stories and remixed them with music, as well as called up the grand prize winner to spill the beans, for your aural pleasure.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559636Fri, 09 Dec 2016 20:40:35 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIf you’ve been tuning into State of Wonder this fall, you know that we’ve been full bore on a flash fiction contest being run by the Portland/Brooklyn publisher Tin House. It’s called Plotto, after a weird gem of a book from 1928, “Plotto: The Master...
“Plotto” was written by the pulp author William Wallace Cook. "Like 'Plotto,' he was sort of a plot generator himself," Tin House editor Masie Cochran told State of Wonder. "Once in the 1920's, he wrote 54 novels in one year. He was so prolific, he became known as 'the man who deforested Canada' due to the sheer number of pages he produced."

To celebrate its reissue of "Plotto" in paperback, Tin House posted a plot prompt a week for five weeks and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each. They received a whopping 932 entries and chose one winner a week. Local author Paul Collins then chose the grand prize winner.

State of Wonder then recorded the weekly winners reading their stories and remixed them with music, as well as called up the grand prize winner to spill the beans, for your aural pleasure.]]>219falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/grand-prize-hey-neighbor-by-john-lawton--11559634
“Plotto” was written by the pulp author William Wallace Cook. "Like 'Plotto,' he was sort of a plot generator himself," Tin House editor Masie Cochran told State of Wonder. "Once in the 1920's, he wrote 54 novels in one year. He was so prolific, he became known as 'the man who deforested Canada' due to the sheer number of pages he produced."

To celebrate its reissue of "Plotto" in paperback, Tin House posted a plot prompt a week for five weeks and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each. They received a whopping 932 entries and chose one winner a week. Local author Paul Collins then chose the grand prize winner.

State of Wonder then recorded the weekly winners reading their stories and remixed them with music, as well as called up the grand prize winner to spill the beans, for your aural pleasure.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559634Fri, 09 Dec 2016 20:40:36 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIf you’ve been tuning into State of Wonder this fall, you know that we’ve been full bore on a flash fiction contest being run by the Portland/Brooklyn publisher Tin House. It’s called Plotto, after a weird gem of a book from 1928, “Plotto: The Master...
“Plotto” was written by the pulp author William Wallace Cook. "Like 'Plotto,' he was sort of a plot generator himself," Tin House editor Masie Cochran told State of Wonder. "Once in the 1920's, he wrote 54 novels in one year. He was so prolific, he became known as 'the man who deforested Canada' due to the sheer number of pages he produced."

To celebrate its reissue of "Plotto" in paperback, Tin House posted a plot prompt a week for five weeks and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each. They received a whopping 932 entries and chose one winner a week. Local author Paul Collins then chose the grand prize winner.

State of Wonder then recorded the weekly winners reading their stories and remixed them with music, as well as called up the grand prize winner to spill the beans, for your aural pleasure.]]>211falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tin-house-plotto-flash-fiction-contest-winners--11559638
“Plotto” was written by the pulp author William Wallace Cook. "Like 'Plotto,' he was sort of a plot generator himself," Tin House editor Masie Cochran told State of Wonder. "Once in the 1920's, he wrote 54 novels in one year. He was so prolific, he became known as 'the man who deforested Canada' due to the sheer number of pages he produced."

To celebrate its reissue of "Plotto" in paperback, Tin House posted a plot prompt a week for five weeks and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each. They received a whopping 932 entries and chose one winner a week. Local author Paul Collins then chose the grand prize winner.

State of Wonder then recorded the weekly winners reading their stories and remixed them with music, as well as called up the grand prize winner to spill the beans, for your aural pleasure.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559638Fri, 09 Dec 2016 20:40:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIf you’ve been tuning into State of Wonder this fall, you know that we’ve been full bore on a flash fiction contest being run by the Portland/Brooklyn publisher Tin House. It’s called Plotto, after a weird gem of a book from 1928, “Plotto: The Master...
“Plotto” was written by the pulp author William Wallace Cook. "Like 'Plotto,' he was sort of a plot generator himself," Tin House editor Masie Cochran told State of Wonder. "Once in the 1920's, he wrote 54 novels in one year. He was so prolific, he became known as 'the man who deforested Canada' due to the sheer number of pages he produced."

To celebrate its reissue of "Plotto" in paperback, Tin House posted a plot prompt a week for five weeks and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each. They received a whopping 932 entries and chose one winner a week. Local author Paul Collins then chose the grand prize winner.

State of Wonder then recorded the weekly winners reading their stories and remixed them with music, as well as called up the grand prize winner to spill the beans, for your aural pleasure.]]>1853falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-10-tin-house-fiction-contest-winners-best-jazz-of-2016-brian-doyle-and-sabina-haque--11544180https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544180Fri, 09 Dec 2016 21:59:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingStories of reptile love, seeing your neighbors darkest secrets, a bizarre visit to the dentist — these are just some of the stories from the Plotto flash fiction contest we did with the publisher, Tin House. Plus, we hear some of the top picks of 2016...3153falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kmhd-best-of-2016--11559633(Photo cred. David Stuckey)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559633Fri, 09 Dec 2016 23:30:13 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWarm your hands on these picks from KMHD program director Matt Fleeger, and OPB digital producer David Stuckey. We talk about a few selections from KMHD's top ten albums of 2016, plus a few live shows that kept us jumping this year. (Photo cred. David...(Photo cred. David Stuckey)]]>709jazz,kmhd,opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-strippers-tale-viva-s-holiday-is-back-onstage--11559632(photo cred. Gene Newell/Courtesy of the Cult of Orpheus)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559632Tue, 13 Dec 2016 05:37:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe Cult of Orpheus is reviving last year's popular original, one-act opera, "Viva's Holiday", based on the memoirs of the celebrated Portland exotic dancer, Viva Las Vegas. Think your family holiday gathering is complicated? Picture outing your life...(photo cred. Gene Newell/Courtesy of the Cult of Orpheus)]]>252opb,operafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-17-mark-rothko-at-pdx-art-museum-nu-shooz-a-stripper-s-opera-imago-s-la-belle--11544177
What Do You Get When You Mix Opera And Stripping?

This month a subversive group of classical musicians called the Cult of Orpheus are staging a holiday performance like no other. Viva’s Holiday is a short opera based on the memoirs of Portland's most famous exotic dancer, Viva Las Vegas.

Christopher Rothko on Sharing His Father's Art with the Portland Art Museum + The Museum Hires a New NW Curator - 5:38

Mark Rothko is one of the 20th century’s most famous painters, and his formative years were spent in Portland: he immigrated here at age 10 from Latvia and took classes at the Museum School at the Portland Art Museum before graduating from Lincoln High School. In October, the museum announced plans for the Rothko Pavilion, a new multi-story glass structure. The art museum also announced a partnership with Rothko’s children to cycle his works through the museum on a rotating basis.

opbmusic Session with Singer-Songwriter Sara Jackson-Holman - 13:00

Sara Jackson-Holman's second album, "Didn’t Go to the Party," charts the arc of a romantic relationship and breakup set to a lush backdrop of strings and her own classically-trained piano. Jackson-Holman’s songs have appeared in TV shows like "Grey’s Anatomy," "Castle," and "Orange is the New Black."

American Legion Post 134 Drafts New War Stories - 19:37

Nationally, American Legion membership is shrinking, but one hall in Northeast Portland found revival by becoming an oasis of community and expression, where veterans rub shoulders with queer kids, and street people mix with art curators.

Music in a Time of War - 26:21

In the new book, "My Music, My War: The Listening Habits of U.S. Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan," UO English professor Lisa Gilman discovers what soldiers listen to in times of strife — from heavy metal to Sarah McLaughlin — and how music and the methods of listening to music during war have changed over time.

New National Guard Armory Is a Model of Architecture - 32:41

Many of Oregon’s National Guard armories are old, barely functioning, and sorely need of safety updates, but Oregon also has a couple of new armories—now called National Guard Readiness Centers. The newest one, the Colonel James Nesmith Readiness Center for the 162nd Engineer Company of the Oregon National Guard in Dallas Oregon, also has great architecture.

Imago's Ambitious New Puppet Musical Puts a Steampunk Spin on 'Beauty and the Beast' - 40:50

Internationally famous for their masked theater shows "Frogz" and "ZooZoo," Imago Theatre has unveiled its mammoth new production — the hard work of four years and around $250,000. "A story within a story within a ship" is the tagline for the new production, "La Belle," which runs through Jan. 9. It is the story of two strangers in the engine room of a 1920's steamship who re-tell the story of Beauty and the Beast through puppetry, shadow theater and song. Of course, their budding love comes to mirror the "tale as old as time" they tell each other.

Nu Shooz Is Back: Older, Wiser, and Funkier - 44:54

Somewhere in the world right now, chances are the '80s hit “I Can’t Wait” is playing. The Portland band Nu Shooz, consisting of husband and wife John Smith and Valerie Day, released it some 30 years ago to almost instant global success. Earlier this year, the pair slipped back into the Nu Shooz name to put out a new album, " and they stopped by OPB to play some songs live.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544177Sat, 17 Dec 2016 02:31:36 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we take you on a sleigh ride from operatic strippers to poetry by veterans. What Do You Get When You Mix Opera And Stripping? This month a subversive group of classical musicians called the Cult of Orpheus are staging a holiday...
What Do You Get When You Mix Opera And Stripping?

This month a subversive group of classical musicians called the Cult of Orpheus are staging a holiday performance like no other. Viva’s Holiday is a short opera based on the memoirs of Portland's most famous exotic dancer, Viva Las Vegas.

Christopher Rothko on Sharing His Father's Art with the Portland Art Museum + The Museum Hires a New NW Curator - 5:38

Mark Rothko is one of the 20th century’s most famous painters, and his formative years were spent in Portland: he immigrated here at age 10 from Latvia and took classes at the Museum School at the Portland Art Museum before graduating from Lincoln High School. In October, the museum announced plans for the Rothko Pavilion, a new multi-story glass structure. The art museum also announced a partnership with Rothko’s children to cycle his works through the museum on a rotating basis.

opbmusic Session with Singer-Songwriter Sara Jackson-Holman - 13:00

Sara Jackson-Holman's second album, "Didn’t Go to the Party," charts the arc of a romantic relationship and breakup set to a lush backdrop of strings and her own classically-trained piano. Jackson-Holman’s songs have appeared in TV shows like "Grey’s Anatomy," "Castle," and "Orange is the New Black."

American Legion Post 134 Drafts New War Stories - 19:37

Nationally, American Legion membership is shrinking, but one hall in Northeast Portland found revival by becoming an oasis of community and expression, where veterans rub shoulders with queer kids, and street people mix with art curators.

Music in a Time of War - 26:21

In the new book, "My Music, My War: The Listening Habits of U.S. Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan," UO English professor Lisa Gilman discovers what soldiers listen to in times of strife — from heavy metal to Sarah McLaughlin — and how music and the methods of listening to music during war have changed over time.

New National Guard Armory Is a Model of Architecture - 32:41

Many of Oregon’s National Guard armories are old, barely functioning, and sorely need of safety updates, but Oregon also has a couple of new armories—now called National Guard Readiness Centers. The newest one, the Colonel James Nesmith Readiness Center for the 162nd Engineer Company of the Oregon National Guard in Dallas Oregon, also has great architecture.

Imago's Ambitious New Puppet Musical Puts a Steampunk Spin on 'Beauty and the Beast' - 40:50

Internationally famous for their masked theater shows "Frogz" and "ZooZoo," Imago Theatre has unveiled its mammoth new production — the hard work of four years and around $250,000. "A story within a story within a ship" is the tagline for the new production, "La Belle," which runs through Jan. 9. It is the story of two strangers in the engine room of a 1920's steamship who re-tell the story of Beauty and the Beast through puppetry, shadow theater and song. Of course, their budding love comes to mirror the "tale as old as time" they tell each other.

Nu Shooz Is Back: Older, Wiser, and Funkier - 44:54

Somewhere in the world right now, chances are the '80s hit “I Can’t Wait” is playing. The Portland band Nu Shooz, consisting of husband and wife John Smith and Valerie Day, released it some 30 years ago to almost instant global success. Earlier this year, the pair slipped back into the Nu Shooz name to put out a new album, " and they stopped by OPB to play some songs live.]]>3117falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/son-of-mark-rothko-on-his-father-s-connection-to-portland-at-the-art-museum--11559631
The Rothko Pavilion is not just paying homage to this under-sung hometown hero in its name. The art museum also announced a partnership with Rothko’s children to cycle his works through the museum on a rotating basis. Christopher Rothko sat down with Aaron Scott at last month’s Wordstock.

And we talk with the museum’s brand new Curator of Northwest Art, Grace Kook-Anderson.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559631Mon, 19 Dec 2016 18:45:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMark Rothko is one of the 20th century’s most famous painters, and his formative years were spent in Portland: He immigrated here at age 10 from Latvia and took classes at the Museum School at the Portland Art Museum before graduating from Lincoln...
The Rothko Pavilion is not just paying homage to this under-sung hometown hero in its name. The art museum also announced a partnership with Rothko’s children to cycle his works through the museum on a rotating basis. Christopher Rothko sat down with Aaron Scott at last month’s Wordstock.

And we talk with the museum’s brand new Curator of Northwest Art, Grace Kook-Anderson.]]>442art,local_news,local_opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ne-portland-american-legion-post-gets-lit--11559629
Ever been in an American Legion hall?

They’re not fancy, but for a certain generation they’re as familiar as the corner taproom. They're the place to go for a chat, cheap drinks and of course, monthly bingo — not to mention the assurance of finding people who’ve experienced military service.

Legion membership is shrinking nationally, but one hall in Northeast Portland — an old Quonset hut with a dropped ceiling and scuffed floors — found revival by embracing new people and new voices.

American Legion Post 134 on Alberta Street has become a home for all kinds of new voices. In the course of one evening, the audience heard a blazing variety of personal stories and essays, as well as poems and songs. Some writers are vets. Some aren’t. Post commander Sean Davis holds book release parties for veterans who are publishing their own work. The post even has its own small press and published an anthology of war stories. 


[image: 20161217_arts_post-134,right,300x390,5852f395ba7639033f073981]

So how do you convert a failing American Legion post into an oasis of community and expression, where veterans rub shoulders with queer kids and street people mix with art curators?

We recently sat down with Davis, who — as you might remember — ran for Portland mayor last spring. He teaches writing at Mt Hood Community College and is the author of a memoir called "The Wax Bullet War." We were joined by Amelia McDanel — another Legion member, a Navy veteran and MFA grad of Antioch University-Los Angeles — who oversees the Legion Readers’ series at the post.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/portland-american-legion-post-134/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559629Mon, 19 Dec 2016 18:53:13 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting[image: 20161217_arts_post-134_2,left,300x390,5852f415280b1e0339fc7fb2] Ever been in an American Legion hall? They’re not fancy, but for a certain generation they’re as familiar as the corner taproom. They're the place to go for a chat, cheap drinks...
Ever been in an American Legion hall?

They’re not fancy, but for a certain generation they’re as familiar as the corner taproom. They're the place to go for a chat, cheap drinks and of course, monthly bingo — not to mention the assurance of finding people who’ve experienced military service.

Legion membership is shrinking nationally, but one hall in Northeast Portland — an old Quonset hut with a dropped ceiling and scuffed floors — found revival by embracing new people and new voices.

American Legion Post 134 on Alberta Street has become a home for all kinds of new voices. In the course of one evening, the audience heard a blazing variety of personal stories and essays, as well as poems and songs. Some writers are vets. Some aren’t. Post commander Sean Davis holds book release parties for veterans who are publishing their own work. The post even has its own small press and published an anthology of war stories. 


[image: 20161217_arts_post-134,right,300x390,5852f395ba7639033f073981]

So how do you convert a failing American Legion post into an oasis of community and expression, where veterans rub shoulders with queer kids and street people mix with art curators?

We recently sat down with Davis, who — as you might remember — ran for Portland mayor last spring. He teaches writing at Mt Hood Community College and is the author of a memoir called "The Wax Bullet War." We were joined by Amelia McDanel — another Legion member, a Navy veteran and MFA grad of Antioch University-Los Angeles — who oversees the Legion Readers’ series at the post.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/portland-american-legion-post-134/]]>517art,arts & entertainment,books,local_news,local_opb,writingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-24-what-does-it-mean-to-support-the-arts-going-beyond-year-end-giving--11544174
This week, Vollum helps us explore what giving means — not just to the individual giving, but for the arts organizations on the receiving end, and how those relationships work. We look at her family’s deep history in the Portland economy and supporting institutions ranging from the Oregon Symphony to the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts. And we get personal with the people and institutions that Dorie personally has dedicated herself to, beginning with Menomena band member Justin Harris.

The Tectonic Shift That Altered Oregon - 6:03

How much of Oregon's arts and culture has been fueled with oscilloscope money? More than you think. The Vollum family made its money at Tektronix, a hugely successful maker of testing and measuring equipment founded by Howard Vollum and Jack Murdoch (whose name tops another big foundation). The men started Tektronix after World War II to make a better oscilloscope. By 2007, the manufacturer was valued at $2.85 billion. Vollum and Murdoch both ended up distributing much of their wealth to organizations across the Northwest, although they went about it in very different ways.

Grist For The Mill: PICA's Origins - 13:39

The firebrand founder of the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Kristy Edmunds, was a big part of what drew Vollum to join in among PICA's early supporters. But there's more to the story. We hear from Edmunds, architect Pat Harrington and former board member Peter Koehler Jr. about what drew each of them to the idea of a maverick contemporary art group that would form a link between Portland and the wider world.

Seeding the Portland Japanese Garden - 20:24

The Garden is near and dear to Vollum’s heart. Not only is it the first place her mother-in-law took her in Portland (the Vollums played a big role in its early years), but now she's chairing the garden's $33.5 million capital campaign with $9 million more to go. It's thanks in part to her that this popular attraction keeps growing, up from 100,000 annual visitors to almost a half million this year. With the addition of its new Cultural Village and other improvements, the Garden now stands to be one of the most important Japanese institutions in the world, and the only place outside Japan that teaches the ancient art of Japanese gardening. We ask: what does it take to pull off something this ambitious?

How Will Shifts at Meyer Memorial Trust Impact Artists? 30:29

Significant changes are afoot in the upper end of Oregon's foundations. In 2015, the Meyer Memorial Trust, the state's third largest foundation, sent a shock wave through the nonprofit world, announcing it was taking a temporary hiatus on new grants. It gives a lot of money to a lot of groups, including arts and cultural groups, and it's rethinking everything. We spoke with Doug Stamm, the ex-Nike executive who runs the Trust, and asked him how the changes at Meyer will impact Oregon artists.

The Gift That Changed Everything - 40:36

In 2011, the Oregon Community Foundation got a call no one saw coming. The Portland manufacturer Fred Fields had died and left $150 million to OCF with the simple instruction: spend the money on education and the arts in Oregon. OCF did not have much arts infrastructure and suddenly found itself the biggest arts funder in the state. What do they do with those extra millions every year? They bet it on innovation.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544174Thu, 22 Dec 2016 23:51:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBecause our mailboxes are flooding with requests for year-end giving, we're listening back to an episode we did last year with philanthropist, instigator, and friend to the arts, Dorie Vollum, who also kindly came aboard as our guest curator. This...
This week, Vollum helps us explore what giving means — not just to the individual giving, but for the arts organizations on the receiving end, and how those relationships work. We look at her family’s deep history in the Portland economy and supporting institutions ranging from the Oregon Symphony to the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts. And we get personal with the people and institutions that Dorie personally has dedicated herself to, beginning with Menomena band member Justin Harris.

The Tectonic Shift That Altered Oregon - 6:03

How much of Oregon's arts and culture has been fueled with oscilloscope money? More than you think. The Vollum family made its money at Tektronix, a hugely successful maker of testing and measuring equipment founded by Howard Vollum and Jack Murdoch (whose name tops another big foundation). The men started Tektronix after World War II to make a better oscilloscope. By 2007, the manufacturer was valued at $2.85 billion. Vollum and Murdoch both ended up distributing much of their wealth to organizations across the Northwest, although they went about it in very different ways.

Grist For The Mill: PICA's Origins - 13:39

The firebrand founder of the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Kristy Edmunds, was a big part of what drew Vollum to join in among PICA's early supporters. But there's more to the story. We hear from Edmunds, architect Pat Harrington and former board member Peter Koehler Jr. about what drew each of them to the idea of a maverick contemporary art group that would form a link between Portland and the wider world.

Seeding the Portland Japanese Garden - 20:24

The Garden is near and dear to Vollum’s heart. Not only is it the first place her mother-in-law took her in Portland (the Vollums played a big role in its early years), but now she's chairing the garden's $33.5 million capital campaign with $9 million more to go. It's thanks in part to her that this popular attraction keeps growing, up from 100,000 annual visitors to almost a half million this year. With the addition of its new Cultural Village and other improvements, the Garden now stands to be one of the most important Japanese institutions in the world, and the only place outside Japan that teaches the ancient art of Japanese gardening. We ask: what does it take to pull off something this ambitious?

How Will Shifts at Meyer Memorial Trust Impact Artists? 30:29

Significant changes are afoot in the upper end of Oregon's foundations. In 2015, the Meyer Memorial Trust, the state's third largest foundation, sent a shock wave through the nonprofit world, announcing it was taking a temporary hiatus on new grants. It gives a lot of money to a lot of groups, including arts and cultural groups, and it's rethinking everything. We spoke with Doug Stamm, the ex-Nike executive who runs the Trust, and asked him how the changes at Meyer will impact Oregon artists.

The Gift That Changed Everything - 40:36

In 2011, the Oregon Community Foundation got a call no one saw coming. The Portland manufacturer Fred Fields had died and left $150 million to OCF with the simple instruction: spend the money on education and the arts in Oregon. OCF did not have much arts infrastructure and suddenly found itself the biggest arts funder in the state. What do they do with those extra millions every year? They bet it on innovation.]]>3118falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-31-richard-russo-nikki-mcclure-jonathan-lethem-karen-russell-at-wordstock--11544167
Richard Russo - 1:24

The books of Richard Russo are practically synonymous with small town American life. They tell stories of working-class folks in falling-down mill towns in upstate New York, but they could take place practically anywhere in the U.S. Russo’s 2001 novel, “Empire Falls,” won the Pulitzer prize and was made into a mini-series on HBO. His 1993 novel, “Nobody’s Fool,” was made into a movie starring Paul Newman and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and this year, Russo is back with the a sequel, “Everybody’s Fool.”

Russo picked two volumes of short stories by Richard Yates: “Eleven Kinds of Loneliness” and “Liars in Love.” Best known for the novel "Revolutionary Road," Yates wrote about everyday people with small dreams who nonetheless failed to attain them.

"Looking back on it now, these stories amounted to almost permission to write," said Russo. "It was the fact that, in some ways, Yates's subject matter was so modest, and yet he had turned it into literature of the highest order, something about that spoke to me as a not terribly confident young writer."

Nikki McClure - 15:31

Nikki McClure's trademark paper art is now iconic in the Northwest. She makes images of children and families engaging in work, experiencing the wild, and making the world better in small ways. She has an illustrator's eye for animal and plant life, and an exquisite touch for the details of a child's face. Her latest book is "Waiting For High Tide." She chats with April Baer about books that deeply resonate with her: "Blueberries for Sal" by Robert McCloskey and the collective works of Tove Jansson.

Karen Russell - 25:56

Karen Russell’s writing takes your imagination hostage, whisking you into worlds where the children of werewolves get schooled by nuns, vampires pucker their fangs on lemons as a temporary fix, and girls elope with ghosts, only to be left at the alter. Her book “Swamplandia” was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and she’s a recipient of the MacArthur "Genius" Grant. Her most recent works include the e-book “Sleep Donation: A Novella” and the short story collection “Vampires in the Lemon Grove.”

Russell tells Aaron Scott how Carson McCullum's 1940 novel, "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter," electrified her when she was a teenager. "To be able to be so articulate about unspeakable experiences is something that books can do that other forms can’t represent that same way," she says.

Jonathan Lethem - 37:44

Jonathan Lethem’s novels take us to fabulous places. His writing style interweaves humor, charm, mystery, and stylish prose to create delightful page-turning epics. The recipient of a MacArthur grant and a National Book Critics Circle Award, Lethem also writes great essays and short stories. His latest novel, "A Gambler’s Anatomy," has garnered praise for its mysterious Bond-like hero and it's magical spin on reality.

Lethem discusses how "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" was the first book he read where he felt like he could actually hear the voice of the author — a voice full of puns and secret references that inspired his own voices in books like "Motherless Brooklyn."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544167Wed, 28 Dec 2016 00:07:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe love talking to authors about their books, but do you know what’s almost more fun? Talking to them about other people's books. This year, at the book festival Wordstock, we rounded up some amazing writers and illustrators on the OPB Pop-Up Stage to...
Richard Russo - 1:24

The books of Richard Russo are practically synonymous with small town American life. They tell stories of working-class folks in falling-down mill towns in upstate New York, but they could take place practically anywhere in the U.S. Russo’s 2001 novel, “Empire Falls,” won the Pulitzer prize and was made into a mini-series on HBO. His 1993 novel, “Nobody’s Fool,” was made into a movie starring Paul Newman and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and this year, Russo is back with the a sequel, “Everybody’s Fool.”

Russo picked two volumes of short stories by Richard Yates: “Eleven Kinds of Loneliness” and “Liars in Love.” Best known for the novel "Revolutionary Road," Yates wrote about everyday people with small dreams who nonetheless failed to attain them.

"Looking back on it now, these stories amounted to almost permission to write," said Russo. "It was the fact that, in some ways, Yates's subject matter was so modest, and yet he had turned it into literature of the highest order, something about that spoke to me as a not terribly confident young writer."

Nikki McClure - 15:31

Nikki McClure's trademark paper art is now iconic in the Northwest. She makes images of children and families engaging in work, experiencing the wild, and making the world better in small ways. She has an illustrator's eye for animal and plant life, and an exquisite touch for the details of a child's face. Her latest book is "Waiting For High Tide." She chats with April Baer about books that deeply resonate with her: "Blueberries for Sal" by Robert McCloskey and the collective works of Tove Jansson.

Karen Russell - 25:56

Karen Russell’s writing takes your imagination hostage, whisking you into worlds where the children of werewolves get schooled by nuns, vampires pucker their fangs on lemons as a temporary fix, and girls elope with ghosts, only to be left at the alter. Her book “Swamplandia” was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and she’s a recipient of the MacArthur "Genius" Grant. Her most recent works include the e-book “Sleep Donation: A Novella” and the short story collection “Vampires in the Lemon Grove.”

Russell tells Aaron Scott how Carson McCullum's 1940 novel, "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter," electrified her when she was a teenager. "To be able to be so articulate about unspeakable experiences is something that books can do that other forms can’t represent that same way," she says.

Jonathan Lethem - 37:44

Jonathan Lethem’s novels take us to fabulous places. His writing style interweaves humor, charm, mystery, and stylish prose to create delightful page-turning epics. The recipient of a MacArthur grant and a National Book Critics Circle Award, Lethem also writes great essays and short stories. His latest novel, "A Gambler’s Anatomy," has garnered praise for its mysterious Bond-like hero and it's magical spin on reality.

Lethem discusses how "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" was the first book he read where he felt like he could actually hear the voice of the author — a voice full of puns and secret references that inspired his own voices in books like "Motherless Brooklyn."]]>3188falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-7-year-in-review-can-artists-afford-portland-art-glass-apocalypse-new-mayor-more--11544169
Art Glass Meltdown

We should have known 2016 was going to be a doozy last January, when one modest Forest Service research project turned the Northwest’s storied art glass industry upside down. Oregon’s two major suppliers, Bullseye Glass Co. and Uroboros Glass, stopped most production while everyone tried to figure out what the studies meant. In May, Washington state’s Spectrum Glass became the first to announce its closure, and then in September, Uroboros announced it would close its doors after 44 years. A California company called Oceanside GlassTile has announced it will buy both and move their production to Mexico. We review a mid-year feature, and hear from Uroboros founder Eric Lovell, who's in the process of shelving his business.

PNCA Closes the Museum of Contemporary Craft, And the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education Buys Its Downtown Space - 12:13

In February, the Pacific Northwest College of Art announced that it would close the Museum of Contemporary Craft. The college was losing more than $200,000 a year keeping it operational, and ultimately concluded that students and faculty simply weren't engaging with it enough to justify the cost. The building has been sold for $5 million, and the collection moved over to PNCA's home at 511 Broadway. We review what happened and the outcry in the craft community, then meet the buildings new owners, the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education.

Where They Landed: Revisiting Displaced Artists From Troy Laundry - 22:35

Affordable workspaces for artists have been dropping like flies: the Towne Storage Building, Conduit Dance, Northwest Dance Project, Polaris Dance Theater, Shaking the Tree, Third Rail Repertory Theatre — every month it seemed like another performing set of studios or arts organization lost its building. Then, at the end of June, word came that the Troy Laundry Building in Southeast Portland had been sold. For nearly 40 years, it housed dozens of artists in what was the city’s oldest artists cooperative. We listen back to part of our June story, and seek out some of the artists who were sent searching for new space (hint: it's nigh impossible to fit art supplies and a Christmas tree both in the living room).

Ted Wheeler Takes Office - 31:09

Portland's new Mayor is Ted Wheeler, former State Treasurer and Multnomah County Commission Chair. The city is waiting to see how he'll handle the economic, social, and cultural issues that have wracked Portland with growing pains. We review a few things he told us at last January's Candidates' Forum for Art and Culture. Then we sit down with Jean-Pierre Veillet of the design/build firm Siteworks, architect Tony Belluschi, and urban designer Mike McCullough to talk about some of the planning and bureaucratic challenges that may define Wheeler's term.

The Color of Now, Revisited - 40:28

After the heartbreaking week in July when first Alton Sterling was shot in Louisiana, then Philando Castile in Minnesota, and then five police officers in Dallas, we put together a show exploring how local artists were responding to the shootings, from MCs Mic Crenshaw and Rasheed Jamal to the painter Arvey Smith.

We started the show at an event called the Color of Now, where an actor performed a piercing monologue from a touring production called "Hands Up: 7 Playwrights, 7 Testaments." The event continued with a conversation between Color of Now organizer Chantal DeGroat and "Hands Up" director Kevin Jones, of the August Wilson Red Door Project, and we invited them into the studio to see how their year has gone since, and to ask how the election has affected their continuing work.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544169Sat, 07 Jan 2017 01:41:37 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting2016 was packed — packed! — with big arts stories, both locally and nationally (we're still mourning you, Bowie and Prince, Cohen and Jones, and all the other dynamos). We decided to spend our first episode of 2017 looking back at some of them and...
Art Glass Meltdown

We should have known 2016 was going to be a doozy last January, when one modest Forest Service research project turned the Northwest’s storied art glass industry upside down. Oregon’s two major suppliers, Bullseye Glass Co. and Uroboros Glass, stopped most production while everyone tried to figure out what the studies meant. In May, Washington state’s Spectrum Glass became the first to announce its closure, and then in September, Uroboros announced it would close its doors after 44 years. A California company called Oceanside GlassTile has announced it will buy both and move their production to Mexico. We review a mid-year feature, and hear from Uroboros founder Eric Lovell, who's in the process of shelving his business.

PNCA Closes the Museum of Contemporary Craft, And the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education Buys Its Downtown Space - 12:13

In February, the Pacific Northwest College of Art announced that it would close the Museum of Contemporary Craft. The college was losing more than $200,000 a year keeping it operational, and ultimately concluded that students and faculty simply weren't engaging with it enough to justify the cost. The building has been sold for $5 million, and the collection moved over to PNCA's home at 511 Broadway. We review what happened and the outcry in the craft community, then meet the buildings new owners, the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education.

Where They Landed: Revisiting Displaced Artists From Troy Laundry - 22:35

Affordable workspaces for artists have been dropping like flies: the Towne Storage Building, Conduit Dance, Northwest Dance Project, Polaris Dance Theater, Shaking the Tree, Third Rail Repertory Theatre — every month it seemed like another performing set of studios or arts organization lost its building. Then, at the end of June, word came that the Troy Laundry Building in Southeast Portland had been sold. For nearly 40 years, it housed dozens of artists in what was the city’s oldest artists cooperative. We listen back to part of our June story, and seek out some of the artists who were sent searching for new space (hint: it's nigh impossible to fit art supplies and a Christmas tree both in the living room).

Ted Wheeler Takes Office - 31:09

Portland's new Mayor is Ted Wheeler, former State Treasurer and Multnomah County Commission Chair. The city is waiting to see how he'll handle the economic, social, and cultural issues that have wracked Portland with growing pains. We review a few things he told us at last January's Candidates' Forum for Art and Culture. Then we sit down with Jean-Pierre Veillet of the design/build firm Siteworks, architect Tony Belluschi, and urban designer Mike McCullough to talk about some of the planning and bureaucratic challenges that may define Wheeler's term.

The Color of Now, Revisited - 40:28

After the heartbreaking week in July when first Alton Sterling was shot in Louisiana, then Philando Castile in Minnesota, and then five police officers in Dallas, we put together a show exploring how local artists were responding to the shootings, from MCs Mic Crenshaw and Rasheed Jamal to the painter Arvey Smith.

We started the show at an event called the Color of Now, where an actor performed a piercing monologue from a touring production called "Hands Up: 7 Playwrights, 7 Testaments." The event continued with a conversation between Color of Now organizer Chantal DeGroat and "Hands Up" director Kevin Jones, of the August Wilson Red Door Project, and we invited them into the studio to see how their year has gone...]]>3102falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/design-planning-and-portland-s-new-mayor-ted-wheeler--11567979https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567979Sat, 07 Jan 2017 18:53:52 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe listen back to what Ted Wheeler said as a candidate about his arts agenda for Portland, and talk with three bright guys in design, architecture, and planning about what challenges lie ahead for Portland during Wheeler's tenure.1045opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-fragile-year-portland-art-glass-maker-uroboros-founder-on-selling-his-business--11559628https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559628Sat, 07 Jan 2017 21:02:09 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAmid regulatory crackdown on Northwest glass makers, Eric Lovell transfers the business to California-based Oceanside GlassTile.823opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oregon-jewish-museum-has-a-new-home-and-big-dreams--11559625
“It was just absolutely serendipitous, as we were completing the study in February 2016, this building landed on the market,” Margles said. “We said, 'This building is perfect for us.' It had exactly what we needed: a changing exhibition gallery, space for core exhibitions.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/oregon-jewish-museum-new-home]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559625Thu, 12 Jan 2017 03:48:51 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBy 2015, the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education had a problem — the good kind of problem: It couldn’t accommodate the crowds that wanted to get into its exhibits and events. So it commissioned a study to see if it could afford a...
“It was just absolutely serendipitous, as we were completing the study in February 2016, this building landed on the market,” Margles said. “We said, 'This building is perfect for us.' It had exactly what we needed: a changing exhibition gallery, space for core exhibitions.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/oregon-jewish-museum-new-home]]>256art,local_news,local_opb,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-14-david-byrne-typhoon-s-kyle-morton-pander-brothers-dance-across-cultures-more--11544166
Tahni Holt’s Sensational Disorientation - 1:21

When it comes to women, there are two things American culture doesn’t look so kindly on: age and weight. Portland choreographer Tahni Holt’s newest performance delights in both. “Sensation/Disorientation” runs at Reed College’s Diver Studio Theatre as part of White Bird’s Uncaged Series Jan. 18–22.

Studio Session with Typhoon’s Kyle Morton - 7:19

Kyle Morton is known for the soaring, lyrical songs he writes for his band, Typhoon. Now Morton has put out a solo record called “What Will Destroy You” that gives breath to his somber and contemplative style (not to mention incredible wit).

David Byrne Taps Portlander Kelly Pratt For Star-Studded Color Guard Collaboration- 14:56

Kelly Pratt, who has worked with everyone from Beirut to Cold Play, first collaborated with David Byrne when Byrne asked him to arrange horns and lead the band for Byrne's "Love This Giant" album and tour with St. Vincent. Then came an even more unusual request. Byrne had become fascinated with the distinctly American phenomenon of color guard, which involves dances using flags, sabers and wooden rifles generally set to marching band music.

Byrne invited an incredible roster of musicians, including Nelly Furtado, former Beastie Boy Ad-Rock, How to Dress Well, tUnE-yArDs, and Nico Muhly with Ira Glass, to compose new songs and play them live at Brooklyn's Barclay Center, soundtracking the nation's best winter guard teams. Pratt did all the horn and string arrangements. They filmed it all for a documentary-concert film hybrid called "Contemporary Color" that is playing during the Northwest Film Center’s Reel Music Film Fest on Jan. 21, and will open nationally in March.

New Novel from Jon Raymond: Freebird - 21:21

The erudite warmth of writer Jon Raymond’s work has spanned screenplays, arts criticism, and fiction. His new novel, “Freebird,” focuses on three generations of a family struggling with the horrors of war, teenage angst, and living with the legacy of a father who survived the Holocaust.

Desert Rain: Meeting the Living Building Challenge - 28:51

Can a house be more than a place to live? Can it be a demonstration of our highest aspirations? Our columnist-in-residence, Randy Gragg, introduces us to Tom Elliott and Barbara Scott of Bend. Their house, Desert Rain, was made to meet certification of the Living Building Challenge using the highest standards for energy efficiency, power generation, water systems management, and more.

Pander Brothers Re-Imagine “XXX” as “The Dissident” - 36:44

Jacob and Arnold Pander’s kinetic comic books panels are full of exciting contrasts, with doses of film noir and pop art sensibility. Last year they Kickstarted a project to revive one of their most famous comics titles: a tech thriller about an American journalist on the lam in a futuristic version of Amsterdam, after civil society in the U.S. goes into freefall. The story was published by Dark Horse Comics as “XXX,” and the Pander Brothers are re-releasing it online as “The Dissident” — with an extended prequel.

Two Choreographers Make Traditional Dance Contemporary - 43:05

Two remarkable choreographers come together next weekend to show new contemporary dance works. They’re from radically different traditions, but each embraces a marriage of traditional and modern forms. Subashini Ganesan’s “Bliss And Other Easy Things” and Oluyinka Akinjiola’s “IBUKUN: The Celebration,” running together as "Ignite" Jan. 20–22, were developed through Ganesan’s New Expressive Works Residency, housed in the space she runs at Studio2.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544166Fri, 13 Jan 2017 21:53:15 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingState of Wonder will melt your winter blahs down to marshmallowy molten goodness with provocative dance projects, hot new fiction, and music for transformative times (with twirling rifles!). Tahni Holt’s Sensational Disorientation - 1:21 When it...
Tahni Holt’s Sensational Disorientation - 1:21

When it comes to women, there are two things American culture doesn’t look so kindly on: age and weight. Portland choreographer Tahni Holt’s newest performance delights in both. “Sensation/Disorientation” runs at Reed College’s Diver Studio Theatre as part of White Bird’s Uncaged Series Jan. 18–22.

Studio Session with Typhoon’s Kyle Morton - 7:19

Kyle Morton is known for the soaring, lyrical songs he writes for his band, Typhoon. Now Morton has put out a solo record called “What Will Destroy You” that gives breath to his somber and contemplative style (not to mention incredible wit).

David Byrne Taps Portlander Kelly Pratt For Star-Studded Color Guard Collaboration- 14:56

Kelly Pratt, who has worked with everyone from Beirut to Cold Play, first collaborated with David Byrne when Byrne asked him to arrange horns and lead the band for Byrne's "Love This Giant" album and tour with St. Vincent. Then came an even more unusual request. Byrne had become fascinated with the distinctly American phenomenon of color guard, which involves dances using flags, sabers and wooden rifles generally set to marching band music.

Byrne invited an incredible roster of musicians, including Nelly Furtado, former Beastie Boy Ad-Rock, How to Dress Well, tUnE-yArDs, and Nico Muhly with Ira Glass, to compose new songs and play them live at Brooklyn's Barclay Center, soundtracking the nation's best winter guard teams. Pratt did all the horn and string arrangements. They filmed it all for a documentary-concert film hybrid called "Contemporary Color" that is playing during the Northwest Film Center’s Reel Music Film Fest on Jan. 21, and will open nationally in March.

New Novel from Jon Raymond: Freebird - 21:21

The erudite warmth of writer Jon Raymond’s work has spanned screenplays, arts criticism, and fiction. His new novel, “Freebird,” focuses on three generations of a family struggling with the horrors of war, teenage angst, and living with the legacy of a father who survived the Holocaust.

Desert Rain: Meeting the Living Building Challenge - 28:51

Can a house be more than a place to live? Can it be a demonstration of our highest aspirations? Our columnist-in-residence, Randy Gragg, introduces us to Tom Elliott and Barbara Scott of Bend. Their house, Desert Rain, was made to meet certification of the Living Building Challenge using the highest standards for energy efficiency, power generation, water systems management, and more.

Pander Brothers Re-Imagine “XXX” as “The Dissident” - 36:44

Jacob and Arnold Pander’s kinetic comic books panels are full of exciting contrasts, with doses of film noir and pop art sensibility. Last year they Kickstarted a project to revive one of their most famous comics titles: a tech thriller about an American journalist on the lam in a futuristic version of Amsterdam, after civil society in the U.S. goes into freefall. The story was published by Dark Horse Comics as “XXX,” and the Pander Brothers are re-releasing it online as “The Dissident” — with an extended prequel.

Two Choreographers Make Traditional Dance Contemporary - 43:05

Two remarkable choreographers come together next weekend to show new contemporary dance works. They’re from radically different traditions, but each embraces a marriage of traditional and modern forms. Subashini Ganesan’s “Bliss And Other Easy Things” and Oluyinka Akinjiola’s “IBUKUN: The Celebration,” running together as "Ignite" Jan. 20–22, were developed through Ganesan’s New Expressive Works Residency, housed in the space she runs at Studio2.]]>3115falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pdx-choreographer-revels-in-the-forbidden--11559622
By the time the audience walks into the theater, the performance has already begun. A heap of dancers writhe across the floor in an undulating mass of brightly patterned skirts, splayed hair, and little flashes of gold lame, like some thrift store reenactment of a Gustav Klimt painting.

A tone slowly builds, and the six dancers eventually break into pairs, rolling, lifting and collapsing into each other.

“A lot of this work features women's bodies on the ground, experiencing or reveling in the weight of their bodies, the heaviness of their bodies, which is something we culturally cannot fathom or talk about,” says Reed College theater professor Kate Bredeson, who worked with Holt as a dramaturge, providing research and a second set of eyes and opinions. “It moves me regularly to tears because I watch these six women on the ground, and it's not about victimization at all, it's actually this incredible power, but it's mixed with a fatigue.”

Power and fatigue, weight and weightlessness, youth and age — these are just a few of the themes that Holt plays with in “Sensation/Disorientation,” running Jan. 18–22 at Reed College’s Diver Studio Theatre as part of White Bird’s Uncaged Series.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559622Fri, 13 Jan 2017 22:51:46 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhen it comes to women, there are two things American culture doesn’t look so kindly on: age and weight. Tahni Holt’s newest show revels in both. By the time the audience walks into the theater, the performance has already begun. A heap of dancers...
By the time the audience walks into the theater, the performance has already begun. A heap of dancers writhe across the floor in an undulating mass of brightly patterned skirts, splayed hair, and little flashes of gold lame, like some thrift store reenactment of a Gustav Klimt painting.

A tone slowly builds, and the six dancers eventually break into pairs, rolling, lifting and collapsing into each other.

“A lot of this work features women's bodies on the ground, experiencing or reveling in the weight of their bodies, the heaviness of their bodies, which is something we culturally cannot fathom or talk about,” says Reed College theater professor Kate Bredeson, who worked with Holt as a dramaturge, providing research and a second set of eyes and opinions. “It moves me regularly to tears because I watch these six women on the ground, and it's not about victimization at all, it's actually this incredible power, but it's mixed with a fatigue.”

Power and fatigue, weight and weightlessness, youth and age — these are just a few of the themes that Holt plays with in “Sensation/Disorientation,” running Jan. 18–22 at Reed College’s Diver Studio Theatre as part of White Bird’s Uncaged Series.]]>357art,artist,arts & entertainment,dance,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bend-home-meets-living-building-challenge--11567983https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567983Sat, 14 Jan 2017 18:05:31 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA visit to Desert Rain, the Bend home of Tom Elliott and Barbara Scott that is the first single-family home in the world to earn certification under the Living Building Challenge.803opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-traditional-dance-modern--11559621https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559621Sun, 15 Jan 2017 04:52:04 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSubashini Ganesan and Oluyinka Akinjiola stop in to talk about their upcoming performance of new work, IGNITE. They’re from radically different traditions, but each embraces a marriage of traditional and modern forms.501opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-21-roxane-gay-artists-in-protest-south-park-s-eliza-jane-schneider-more--11544165
Trump Inspires a New Era of Protest Music - 1:53

Donald Trump's inauguration party featured musicians like Toby Keith playing the Lincoln Memorial. But alongside the celebrations and demonstrations across the country, there’s also signs that a new era of protest music is brewing in the Northwest, from Portland's Kyle Craft (who's usually more Bowie than Guthrie) to Seattle's Death Cab for Cutie, Wimps, and Tacocat.

Margaret Jacobsen - On The Front Line - 5:43

The Portland branch of the Womens’ March on Washington had a rocky start, with some group members feeling like the original organizers weren’t doing enough to make everyone feel welcome. Many group members perceived Margaret Jacobsen, who is African American and identifies as genderqueer, as a unifying figure, and Jacobsen stepped up.

The Slants Meet the Supremes - 9:00

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s dispute with Portland dance-rock band The Slants. It's a legal fight that's taken eight years to play out, as the band has tried to trademark its name and the PTO has pushed back, saying it's a racial slur.

The Many Voices of Eliza Jane Schneider - 13:47

For five years, Eliza Jane Schneider voiced most of the female characters on South Park: Wendy, Shelly, Principal Victoria, Mrs. Cartman, the Mayor. She’s created characters for A-list feature films and video games, and to top it all off, she writes and performs award-winning plays and one-woman shows. For the Fertile Ground Festival, she’s premiering a one-woman show called “Displaced,” where she channels dozens of displaced individuals she's met around the world.

All the World's a Clown - 23:52

Michael O’Neill is a clown, big shoes and all. In his newest one-man show, “Shakespeare’s Fools,” he links together 12 characters from eight of the Bard’s plays in a single hour. O'Neill also told us about his journeys around the world bringing laughter to disaster-ravaged places with Clowns Without Borders, and then talked with us about the legacy of Portland's most famous borderless clown: Ben Linder, who was killed by Nicaraguan Contras in 1987.

The Making of a Harrowing Expedition, On Stage - 33:05

Everyone knows the story of Lewis and Clark’s expedition, but did you know that shortly after the Corps of Discovery returned, Thomas Jefferson and the millionaire John Jacob Astor organized a second expedition — this one by land and by sea — to create America’s first settlement on the Pacific Ocean? The writer Peter Stark recounted both harrowing journeys in his book “Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire: A Story of Wealth, Ambition, and Survival.” It's the subject of the new play "Astoria" at Portland Center Stage through Feb. 12, and interview the only woman in the cast, Delanna Studi.

Literary Powerhouse Roxane Gay - 39:49

Roxane Gay is one of those writers who seems comfortable in every genre. She’s a novelist, a short story writer, an essayist, a pop culture critic, and a comic book writer. Despite the medium, though, she often returns to certain through-lines: the horror and pervasiveness of sexual violence against women, the challenge and necessity of feminism, the power of resilience, and the leavening agent of humor. Gay made a big splash in 2014 with her essay collection “Bad Feminist,” and she spoke with Think Out Loud about her new short story collection, “Difficult Women."]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544165Fri, 20 Jan 2017 20:56:22 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThere’s been a huge transition on the national stage. The curtain has closed on one act and opened on another. There’s a whole new cast of players, and no one’s sure where this plotline is headed. Not to say that the audience is always sitting still...
Trump Inspires a New Era of Protest Music - 1:53

Donald Trump's inauguration party featured musicians like Toby Keith playing the Lincoln Memorial. But alongside the celebrations and demonstrations across the country, there’s also signs that a new era of protest music is brewing in the Northwest, from Portland's Kyle Craft (who's usually more Bowie than Guthrie) to Seattle's Death Cab for Cutie, Wimps, and Tacocat.

Margaret Jacobsen - On The Front Line - 5:43

The Portland branch of the Womens’ March on Washington had a rocky start, with some group members feeling like the original organizers weren’t doing enough to make everyone feel welcome. Many group members perceived Margaret Jacobsen, who is African American and identifies as genderqueer, as a unifying figure, and Jacobsen stepped up.

The Slants Meet the Supremes - 9:00

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s dispute with Portland dance-rock band The Slants. It's a legal fight that's taken eight years to play out, as the band has tried to trademark its name and the PTO has pushed back, saying it's a racial slur.

The Many Voices of Eliza Jane Schneider - 13:47

For five years, Eliza Jane Schneider voiced most of the female characters on South Park: Wendy, Shelly, Principal Victoria, Mrs. Cartman, the Mayor. She’s created characters for A-list feature films and video games, and to top it all off, she writes and performs award-winning plays and one-woman shows. For the Fertile Ground Festival, she’s premiering a one-woman show called “Displaced,” where she channels dozens of displaced individuals she's met around the world.

All the World's a Clown - 23:52

Michael O’Neill is a clown, big shoes and all. In his newest one-man show, “Shakespeare’s Fools,” he links together 12 characters from eight of the Bard’s plays in a single hour. O'Neill also told us about his journeys around the world bringing laughter to disaster-ravaged places with Clowns Without Borders, and then talked with us about the legacy of Portland's most famous borderless clown: Ben Linder, who was killed by Nicaraguan Contras in 1987.

The Making of a Harrowing Expedition, On Stage - 33:05

Everyone knows the story of Lewis and Clark’s expedition, but did you know that shortly after the Corps of Discovery returned, Thomas Jefferson and the millionaire John Jacob Astor organized a second expedition — this one by land and by sea — to create America’s first settlement on the Pacific Ocean? The writer Peter Stark recounted both harrowing journeys in his book “Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire: A Story of Wealth, Ambition, and Survival.” It's the subject of the new play "Astoria" at Portland Center Stage through Feb. 12, and interview the only woman in the cast, Delanna Studi.

Literary Powerhouse Roxane Gay - 39:49

Roxane Gay is one of those writers who seems comfortable in every genre. She’s a novelist, a short story writer, an essayist, a pop culture critic, and a comic book writer. Despite the medium, though, she often returns to certain through-lines: the horror and pervasiveness of sexual violence against women, the challenge and necessity of feminism, the power of resilience, and the leavening agent of humor. Gay made a big splash in 2014 with her essay collection “Bad Feminist,” and she spoke with Think Out Loud about her new short story collection, “Difficult Women."]]>3094falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/from-south-park-to-hong-kong-the-many-voices-of-eliza-jane-schneider-extended-interview--11559623
Her voices come from years spent traveling the world, studying and teaching dialects and touring as a musician. For Portland's Fertile Ground Festival of New Works, she’s premiering a piece called “Displaced,” based off of conversations she's had with houseless and displaced people across the globe. It runs Jan. 20–28 at Abbey Arts.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559623Fri, 20 Jan 2017 22:49:51 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFor five years, Eliza Jane Schneider played most of the female characters on South Park: Wendy, Shelly, Mrs. Cartman, the Mayor — they’re all her. She’s created characters for everything from the animated film “Finding Nemo” to the TV series “King of...
Her voices come from years spent traveling the world, studying and teaching dialects and touring as a musician. For Portland's Fertile Ground Festival of New Works, she’s premiering a piece called “Displaced,” based off of conversations she's had with houseless and displaced people across the globe. It runs Jan. 20–28 at Abbey Arts.]]>1547art,artist,arts & entertainment,cartoon,film,local_news,local_opb,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/chloe-eudaly-moves-to-city-hall--11567981https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567981Thu, 26 Jan 2017 22:37:42 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGoodbye Reading Frenzy, hello SW 4th Ave. We sit down with Portland's new City Commissioner, Chloe Eudaly. Her meteoric rise from indie bookseller to Council parallels the city's growing unease with growth, gentrification, and the status quo. This is...829opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-28-chloe-eudaly-portland-winter-lights-festival-tony-furtado-sallie-tisdale--11544162
Chloe Eudaly on Her Big Step from Indie Bookstore Owner to City Commissioner - 1:23

Chloe Eudaly started work as Portland’s newest commissioner amid a winter weather event that shut down city offices. In a town wracked by tumultuous gentrification, Eudaly is a single mom, a renter, and an eastsider who beat a much better-funded incumbent. In her first act as Commissioner, Eudaly has put up a proposal requiring landlords to pay relocation costs when tenants are evicted without cause that will go before council on Feb. 2.

The Portland Winter Light Festival Shines Away the S.A.D. - 11:08

You can stay in and be cozy at this time of year; no one would blame you. But the Portland Winter Lights Festival is giving you a reason to head outside on Feb. 1–4. Now in its second year, the fest fills Portland's waterfront between OMSI and the Zidell Yards with flashing drones, epics projections, other crazy light art and free events to celebrate the spirit of winter and the warmth of community.

What It Takes to Design an Iconic Album Cover - 17:32

So much goes into the making of a great record, but sometimes it’s the album art that bumps a great record into the realm of the iconic. Think about the collection of famous faces on the front of the Beatles “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” or that baby bobbing in the pool on the cover of Nirvana’s "Nevermind," or that very trippy prism on Pink Floyd’s "Dark Side of the Moon." Portland is home to many artists, and opbmusic welcomed two innovative designers, Orion Landau of the indie metal record label Relapse and Aaron Draplin of Draplin Design Company, into the studio to chat about their careers and which album covers inspire them.

PDX Jazz Brings Music and Art to the Classroom - 24:54

How do you get kids to understand a musical form that has no rules, no walls? Art can help. Volunteers with PDX Jazz have spent the winter fanning out in metro-area schools, playing music for kids and talking to them about jazz history. Teachers like Katie Robinson at Boise-Eliot/Humboldt then work with the kids on designing jazz album covers. All the students’ work will be part of a Feb. 7 art show at the Ace Hotel's event space, The Cleaners, in Portland.

Douglas County Voters Grapple with their Vote to Close the Libraries - 28:39

As a kid, do you remember trips to the library? Story time? Or maybe you stop by as an adult to get books and movies or use the computers. Douglas County readers will no longer have that option. In the November election, they failed to pass a measure that would create a special taxing district to fund the libraries, and now all of the branches of the Douglas County Library System, centered around Roseburg, will close by the end of May.

Live Music from Americana Chameleon Tony Furtado - 34:46

Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tony Furtado is an Americana chameleon. He effortlessly shifts between bluegrass, folk, blues, old time, and rock sounds. It’s a fascinating career arc that was beautifully captured in his most recent release, a live album called “Cider House Sessions” recorded at Portland’s Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider.

Writer Sallie Tisdale on Mining the Deeply Personal - 40:31

The Portland writer Sallie Tisdale is one of Oregon’s true literary treasures. She’s the author of eight books, including “Talk Dirty to Me” and “Stepping Westward,” but she is first and foremost an essayist — someone who can make art out of her process of trying to make sense of the world. Her latest book, "Violation," is a collection of essays that she wrote over the past three decades.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544162Fri, 27 Jan 2017 20:02:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMid-winter blues got you down? We've got the remedy for that. Whether its getting outside in the darkest time of year for a European-style light festival, hearing music from one of Portland's premiere Americana stars, or meeting Portland's brand new...
Chloe Eudaly on Her Big Step from Indie Bookstore Owner to City Commissioner - 1:23

Chloe Eudaly started work as Portland’s newest commissioner amid a winter weather event that shut down city offices. In a town wracked by tumultuous gentrification, Eudaly is a single mom, a renter, and an eastsider who beat a much better-funded incumbent. In her first act as Commissioner, Eudaly has put up a proposal requiring landlords to pay relocation costs when tenants are evicted without cause that will go before council on Feb. 2.

The Portland Winter Light Festival Shines Away the S.A.D. - 11:08

You can stay in and be cozy at this time of year; no one would blame you. But the Portland Winter Lights Festival is giving you a reason to head outside on Feb. 1–4. Now in its second year, the fest fills Portland's waterfront between OMSI and the Zidell Yards with flashing drones, epics projections, other crazy light art and free events to celebrate the spirit of winter and the warmth of community.

What It Takes to Design an Iconic Album Cover - 17:32

So much goes into the making of a great record, but sometimes it’s the album art that bumps a great record into the realm of the iconic. Think about the collection of famous faces on the front of the Beatles “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” or that baby bobbing in the pool on the cover of Nirvana’s "Nevermind," or that very trippy prism on Pink Floyd’s "Dark Side of the Moon." Portland is home to many artists, and opbmusic welcomed two innovative designers, Orion Landau of the indie metal record label Relapse and Aaron Draplin of Draplin Design Company, into the studio to chat about their careers and which album covers inspire them.

PDX Jazz Brings Music and Art to the Classroom - 24:54

How do you get kids to understand a musical form that has no rules, no walls? Art can help. Volunteers with PDX Jazz have spent the winter fanning out in metro-area schools, playing music for kids and talking to them about jazz history. Teachers like Katie Robinson at Boise-Eliot/Humboldt then work with the kids on designing jazz album covers. All the students’ work will be part of a Feb. 7 art show at the Ace Hotel's event space, The Cleaners, in Portland.

Douglas County Voters Grapple with their Vote to Close the Libraries - 28:39

As a kid, do you remember trips to the library? Story time? Or maybe you stop by as an adult to get books and movies or use the computers. Douglas County readers will no longer have that option. In the November election, they failed to pass a measure that would create a special taxing district to fund the libraries, and now all of the branches of the Douglas County Library System, centered around Roseburg, will close by the end of May.

Live Music from Americana Chameleon Tony Furtado - 34:46

Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tony Furtado is an Americana chameleon. He effortlessly shifts between bluegrass, folk, blues, old time, and rock sounds. It’s a fascinating career arc that was beautifully captured in his most recent release, a live album called “Cider House Sessions” recorded at Portland’s Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider.

Writer Sallie Tisdale on Mining the Deeply Personal - 40:31

The Portland writer Sallie Tisdale is one of Oregon’s true literary treasures. She’s the author of eight books, including “Talk Dirty to Me” and “Stepping Westward,” but she is first and foremost an essayist — someone who can make art out of her process of trying to make sense of the world. Her latest book,...]]>3109falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-holds-first-arvo-part-festival-in-north-america--11559618
Cappella Romana has organized a festival of Pärt’s music, the first in the US, Feb. 5–12. Joining with Third Angle New Music Ensemble and other musicians, they will offer eight live chamber performances, documentary film screenings, and lectures interpreting the groundbreaking composer.

Pärt is the world’s most performed composer alive today. Growing up in Soviet-era Estonia, Pärt was considered a rebel in the world of composition. His early compositions broke both compositional and political rules in a very tense historical moment; some were even rejected for incorporating western techniques.

“He spoke with musically — such a directness and a simplicity and a sense of timelessness and calm,” says Alexander Lingas, the musical director and founder of Cappella Romana. “I’d just come off an undergraduate degree in composition…and here was someone speaking in the most straightforward language rooted in ancient things, but yet thoroughly contemporary.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559618Thu, 02 Feb 2017 00:03:22 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland-based vocal ensemble Cappella Romana creates otherworldly mystic sounds with layers of harmony, plumbing that space where eastern and western sacred music meet. While most of their repertory involves the old world, occasionally they love to...
Cappella Romana has organized a festival of Pärt’s music, the first in the US, Feb. 5–12. Joining with Third Angle New Music Ensemble and other musicians, they will offer eight live chamber performances, documentary film screenings, and lectures interpreting the groundbreaking composer.

Pärt is the world’s most performed composer alive today. Growing up in Soviet-era Estonia, Pärt was considered a rebel in the world of composition. His early compositions broke both compositional and political rules in a very tense historical moment; some were even rejected for incorporating western techniques.

“He spoke with musically — such a directness and a simplicity and a sense of timelessness and calm,” says Alexander Lingas, the musical director and founder of Cappella Romana. “I’d just come off an undergraduate degree in composition…and here was someone speaking in the most straightforward language rooted in ancient things, but yet thoroughly contemporary.”]]>436art,arts & entertainment,classical music,local_news,local_opb,music,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pdx-black-film-fest-picks-with-david-f-walker--11559620https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559620Fri, 03 Feb 2017 23:16:04 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhile America spent last winter wondering why the National Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was taking so long to reflect the face of America, some amazing features were in the works, featuring African-American directors, writers, and...1322opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/director-elizabeth-huffman-on-the-refugee-crisis-and-a-theatrical-response--11559617https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559617Sat, 04 Feb 2017 00:30:23 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDirector Elizabeth Huffman talks to us about the play she's directing this weekend by Turkish playwrite Sedef Ecer, and her a one-woman show juxtaposing a wealthy Syrian refugee with Marie Antoinette. She performed the show in Germany last year, and...1070opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-4-hollywood-theatre-opens-at-pdx-airport-black-film-fest-arvo-part-fest-immigrant-artists--11544160
Iraqi Artist Farooq Hassan On Painting and War - 1:06

President Donald Trump’s new travel ban has implications for scores of artists, whether they’re doing a residency, in contention for an Oscar, or running from a war. For nearly 40 years, the painter Farooq Hassan showed work in museums all over the Middle East, including the National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad, and designed many Iraqi stamps. After the U.S. invasion in 2003, everything changed. Hassan's daughter Dalia Hussein worked for the U.S. military and the "Washington Post" for six years before she became such a target for anti-American forces that they sought safe harbor in the U.S. Incorporating vibrant colors and collage, Hassan’s work now focuses on Iraqi women afflicted with the wounds of war. Although they are now citizens, Hassan and Hussein are uncertain what the future may hold for them here in the US.

Director and Actor Elizabeth Huffman on Displacement - 7:13

Living as a displaced person is perhaps less about the country stamped on your visa, and more about learning to live in the face of loss. Portland-based Syrian-American director and actor Elizabeth Huffman expresses this loss in all avenues of her work. She is currently directing “At the Periphery” by Turkish playwright Sedef Ecermas, which will have a staged reading on Feb. 4 as part of Boom Arts' Global Voices Lab, a festival of timely plays from around the world (Feb. 4–11).

The Portland Dream Couple: PDX Carpet, Meet the Hollywood Theatre - 15:13

Portlanders love to love their airport. There’s Powell’s, Stumptown Coffee, the local restaurants, and perhaps the most beloved carpet in the world. So what else could PDX put in front of passengers? While other airports add yoga rooms and ice skating rinks in the ever-expanding race to tempt more travelers, PDX has welcomed an outpost of the iconic Hollywood Theater to be America’s only airport cinema. Located on the C Concourse, it will show shorts made by local filmmakers, animators, and documentarians. We get a first look.

Portland Black Film Festival Challenges the Canon - 20:35

What a difference a year makes. In early 2016, film audiences, artists and critics pointed out festering problems with the overwhelming whiteness of the Hollywood movie industry. One year later, you can walk into metro-area theaters and see films like "Fences," "Moonlight," and "Hidden Figures" rewriting the script for how far black artists and directors can go. If the films in wide release leave you hungry for more, the Portland Black Film Festival gets in gear Feb. 9–20 with everything from Prince’s electric concert film “Sign O’ The Times” to Raoul Peck’s James Baldwin doc "I Am Not Your Negro" to Pam Grier in the iconic “Coffy." And to top it off, Grier will be in attendance for a Q&A on Feb. 11. Serious.

Portland Holds First Arvo Pärt Festival in U.S.

Portland-based vocal ensemble Cappella Romana creates otherworldly mystic sounds with layers of harmony, plumbing that space where Eastern and Western sacred music meet. While most of their repertory involves the old world, one contemporary composer embodies their approach to choral music — Arvo Pärt. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Cappella Romana has joined with the Third Angle New Music Ensemble and other musicians to organize the first North American festival dedicated to Pärt. From Feb. 5–12, they will offer eight live chamber performances, documentary film screenings and lectures interpreting the most performed living composer in the world.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544160Sat, 04 Feb 2017 01:34:10 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on State of Wonder, immerse yourself in a sonic wonderland of Arvo Pärt's music, catch a short film at the airport and hear from local artists about their experience as refugees. Iraqi Artist Farooq Hassan On Painting and War - 1:06...
Iraqi Artist Farooq Hassan On Painting and War - 1:06

President Donald Trump’s new travel ban has implications for scores of artists, whether they’re doing a residency, in contention for an Oscar, or running from a war. For nearly 40 years, the painter Farooq Hassan showed work in museums all over the Middle East, including the National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad, and designed many Iraqi stamps. After the U.S. invasion in 2003, everything changed. Hassan's daughter Dalia Hussein worked for the U.S. military and the "Washington Post" for six years before she became such a target for anti-American forces that they sought safe harbor in the U.S. Incorporating vibrant colors and collage, Hassan’s work now focuses on Iraqi women afflicted with the wounds of war. Although they are now citizens, Hassan and Hussein are uncertain what the future may hold for them here in the US.

Director and Actor Elizabeth Huffman on Displacement - 7:13

Living as a displaced person is perhaps less about the country stamped on your visa, and more about learning to live in the face of loss. Portland-based Syrian-American director and actor Elizabeth Huffman expresses this loss in all avenues of her work. She is currently directing “At the Periphery” by Turkish playwright Sedef Ecermas, which will have a staged reading on Feb. 4 as part of Boom Arts' Global Voices Lab, a festival of timely plays from around the world (Feb. 4–11).

The Portland Dream Couple: PDX Carpet, Meet the Hollywood Theatre - 15:13

Portlanders love to love their airport. There’s Powell’s, Stumptown Coffee, the local restaurants, and perhaps the most beloved carpet in the world. So what else could PDX put in front of passengers? While other airports add yoga rooms and ice skating rinks in the ever-expanding race to tempt more travelers, PDX has welcomed an outpost of the iconic Hollywood Theater to be America’s only airport cinema. Located on the C Concourse, it will show shorts made by local filmmakers, animators, and documentarians. We get a first look.

Portland Black Film Festival Challenges the Canon - 20:35

What a difference a year makes. In early 2016, film audiences, artists and critics pointed out festering problems with the overwhelming whiteness of the Hollywood movie industry. One year later, you can walk into metro-area theaters and see films like "Fences," "Moonlight," and "Hidden Figures" rewriting the script for how far black artists and directors can go. If the films in wide release leave you hungry for more, the Portland Black Film Festival gets in gear Feb. 9–20 with everything from Prince’s electric concert film “Sign O’ The Times” to Raoul Peck’s James Baldwin doc "I Am Not Your Negro" to Pam Grier in the iconic “Coffy." And to top it off, Grier will be in attendance for a Q&A on Feb. 11. Serious.

Portland Holds First Arvo Pärt Festival in U.S.

Portland-based vocal ensemble Cappella Romana creates otherworldly mystic sounds with layers of harmony, plumbing that space where Eastern and Western sacred music meet. While most of their repertory involves the old world, one contemporary composer embodies their approach to choral music — Arvo Pärt. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Cappella Romana has joined with the Third Angle New Music Ensemble and other musicians to organize the first North American festival dedicated to Pärt. From Feb. 5–12, they will offer eight live chamber performances, documentary film screenings and lectures interpreting the most performed living composer in the world.]]>2145falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hollywood-theatre-opens-at-the-portland-airport--11559613
On a typical January morning at the Portland International Airport, a not so typical passenger unloaded at the departure drop-off area.

A team used a crane to transfer a 28-foot-long sign from a flatbed trailer to a set of wheels. Anyone who’s driven down Portland’s Sandy Boulevard would recognize it: it’s styled after the Hollywood Theatre marquee.

“I get goose bumps watching it roll in,” said Hollywood’s executive director, Doug Whyte, in front of the Delta ticketing booth as the team pushed the sign past the Portland Roasting Company kiosk. “Usually things come in through the causeway, but it’s too big, so we actually have to bring it in through the front door. And it has to go through TSA, so it should be an interesting day to say the least.”

Since taking over in 2011, Whyte has overseen the transformation of the nonprofit theater into one of the leading art house cinemas in the country. Then he read an article about an Imax theater at the Hong Kong airport and saw an opportunity to reach a bigger audience: some 18 million pairs of eyes a year.

“We approached the airport, and funny enough they had actually been thinking it would be cool to have a movie theater,” he said. “It was kismet. We worked it out so it could go under their public art program.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/hollywood-theatre-opens-at-pdx-airport/]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559613Sat, 04 Feb 2017 19:06:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortlanders love to love their airport. There’s the Stumptown coffee, the Powell’s bookstore, the local restaurants, and perhaps the most photographed carpet in the world. So what else could PDX put in front of passengers? While other airports add...
On a typical January morning at the Portland International Airport, a not so typical passenger unloaded at the departure drop-off area.

A team used a crane to transfer a 28-foot-long sign from a flatbed trailer to a set of wheels. Anyone who’s driven down Portland’s Sandy Boulevard would recognize it: it’s styled after the Hollywood Theatre marquee.

“I get goose bumps watching it roll in,” said Hollywood’s executive director, Doug Whyte, in front of the Delta ticketing booth as the team pushed the sign past the Portland Roasting Company kiosk. “Usually things come in through the causeway, but it’s too big, so we actually have to bring it in through the front door. And it has to go through TSA, so it should be an interesting day to say the least.”

Since taking over in 2011, Whyte has overseen the transformation of the nonprofit theater into one of the leading art house cinemas in the country. Then he read an article about an Imax theater at the Hong Kong airport and saw an opportunity to reach a bigger audience: some 18 million pairs of eyes a year.

“We approached the airport, and funny enough they had actually been thinking it would be cool to have a movie theater,” he said. “It was kismet. We worked it out so it could go under their public art program.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/hollywood-theatre-opens-at-pdx-airport/]]>313art,arts & entertainment,film,local_news,local_opb,movies,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-11-marvel-s-luke-cage-shy-girls-eugene-opera-liz-vice-portland-s-aerial-tram-more--11544161
Marvel to Release New Luke Cage Series by Portland Writer David Walker - 1:23

The Netflix series has thrust the unbreakable superhero Luke Cage into the national spotlight, although he's been around since the early ‘70s as Power Man. Portland writer David Walker grew up on Cage, one of the only black comic book characters at the time (despite the fact, Walker says, no black people talked anything like the comic characters). So it was a dream-come-true for Walker to resurrect the character in the Marvel series “Power Man and Iron Fist,” with art by Sanford Greene. Then news broke this week that Marvel will wrap up PMIF in April, and Walker will pen a stand-alone Luke Cage series to begin in May.

opbmusic Session with Shy Girls - 10:11

There’s music for dancing, there’s music for dinner parties or quiet, solo listening, and then there is bedroom music. Shy Girls is bedroom music — pull the blinds, light the candles, and bask in the voice of Portlander Dan Vidmar bedroom music. Shy Girls’ debut album, called “Salt,” revels in the silky smooth R&B that’s made Shy Girls a favorite in chill rooms all over, but it also reveals some of his non-R&B influences like Joni Mitchell.

Eloise Damrosch Announces Retirement from RACC - 19:18

Eloise Damrosch has led the Regional Arts and Culture Council since 2004, and served as public art director for seventeen years prior. She announced this week that she will be retiring at the end of June. During her tenure, RACC has grown to a $10 million operation and taken on different jobs across Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties, including the distribution of key operating support from the Portland city budget and the regional arts tax, as well as taking care of the city’s sculptures and public art collection and creating programs like Work for Art. RACC says it will make a national search for her replacement.

Soul Singer Liz Vice - 20:51

Portland-born singer Liz Vice says did not choose to pursue music. Rather, music chose her. Combining American gospel and ‘60s soul, Vice’s music is simply magnetic. Her first album, “There’s A Light,” came out on Ramseur Records, the label known for bringing the Avett Brothers to national attention, and peaked at number six on Billboard’s Top Gospel chart.

Portland's Aerial Tram: From Controversy to Icon - 28:21

It’s hard to believe Portland’s aerial tram just turned 10. What started as a controversy has grown into an icon, not to mention a major driver of residential and commercial development in the South Waterfront. Our columnist-in-residence, Randy Gragg, took us for a ride on the modernist silver bubble to look back on its transformation and peer out into its future.

Likewise Bar Asks Art Loving Drinkers for Support - 37:48

Likewise is not your grandaddy's neighborhood bar, although he might’ve gotten a kick out of it. It’s a watering hole created by a couple of artists to house all sorts of quirky cocktails and hi-jinks. If you can dream it up, it could happen at Likewise. But its owners are now saying they have to close at the end of the month unless they can recruit 150 members by Feb. 20 to keep the bar and art space going. Membership gets you discounts and monthly field trips. No word yet on bedazzled Members Only jackets...

Portland International Film Festival - 45:15

The Portland International Film Festival is always a fun way to shake the winter blahs. It showcases a huge range of world and domestic cinema. The festival turns 40 this year, and the NW Film Center’s director, Bill Foster, has been there since the beginning.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544161Sat, 11 Feb 2017 01:21:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGrab your rain coat and take a ride on the aerial tram, head out to the International Film Festival, support your art-loving neighborhood watering hole, or stay in and listen to Shy Girl's bedroom music — there's something for everyone this week....
Marvel to Release New Luke Cage Series by Portland Writer David Walker - 1:23

The Netflix series has thrust the unbreakable superhero Luke Cage into the national spotlight, although he's been around since the early ‘70s as Power Man. Portland writer David Walker grew up on Cage, one of the only black comic book characters at the time (despite the fact, Walker says, no black people talked anything like the comic characters). So it was a dream-come-true for Walker to resurrect the character in the Marvel series “Power Man and Iron Fist,” with art by Sanford Greene. Then news broke this week that Marvel will wrap up PMIF in April, and Walker will pen a stand-alone Luke Cage series to begin in May.

opbmusic Session with Shy Girls - 10:11

There’s music for dancing, there’s music for dinner parties or quiet, solo listening, and then there is bedroom music. Shy Girls is bedroom music — pull the blinds, light the candles, and bask in the voice of Portlander Dan Vidmar bedroom music. Shy Girls’ debut album, called “Salt,” revels in the silky smooth R&B that’s made Shy Girls a favorite in chill rooms all over, but it also reveals some of his non-R&B influences like Joni Mitchell.

Eloise Damrosch Announces Retirement from RACC - 19:18

Eloise Damrosch has led the Regional Arts and Culture Council since 2004, and served as public art director for seventeen years prior. She announced this week that she will be retiring at the end of June. During her tenure, RACC has grown to a $10 million operation and taken on different jobs across Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties, including the distribution of key operating support from the Portland city budget and the regional arts tax, as well as taking care of the city’s sculptures and public art collection and creating programs like Work for Art. RACC says it will make a national search for her replacement.

Soul Singer Liz Vice - 20:51

Portland-born singer Liz Vice says did not choose to pursue music. Rather, music chose her. Combining American gospel and ‘60s soul, Vice’s music is simply magnetic. Her first album, “There’s A Light,” came out on Ramseur Records, the label known for bringing the Avett Brothers to national attention, and peaked at number six on Billboard’s Top Gospel chart.

Portland's Aerial Tram: From Controversy to Icon - 28:21

It’s hard to believe Portland’s aerial tram just turned 10. What started as a controversy has grown into an icon, not to mention a major driver of residential and commercial development in the South Waterfront. Our columnist-in-residence, Randy Gragg, took us for a ride on the modernist silver bubble to look back on its transformation and peer out into its future.

Likewise Bar Asks Art Loving Drinkers for Support - 37:48

Likewise is not your grandaddy's neighborhood bar, although he might’ve gotten a kick out of it. It’s a watering hole created by a couple of artists to house all sorts of quirky cocktails and hi-jinks. If you can dream it up, it could happen at Likewise. But its owners are now saying they have to close at the end of the month unless they can recruit 150 members by Feb. 20 to keep the bar and art space going. Membership gets you discounts and monthly field trips. No word yet on bedazzled Members Only jackets...

Portland International Film Festival - 45:15

The Portland International Film Festival is always a fun way to shake the winter blahs. It showcases a huge range of world and domestic cinema. The festival turns 40 this year, and the NW Film Center’s director, Bill Foster, has been there since the beginning.]]>3152falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/david-f-walker-on-the-new-marvel-luke-cage-series-and-more--11559614https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559614Sat, 11 Feb 2017 19:33:36 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe man who re-imagined John Shaft, Night Hawk, and Power Man talks to us about the new Luke Cage standalone series he's writing, starting in May, what he thought of the Netflix series, and why Black Mariah has to be the smartest person in the room.1301opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/from-controversy-to-icon-portland-s-aerial-tram-turns-10--11559611
The tram’s elegant towers and cars came courtesy of the city’s first international design competition since the early ‘80s and have since grown into a glittering landmark, making it easy to forget that when it was being conceived, it was the center of a brutal political fight.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/from-controversy-to-icon-portland-aerial-tram]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559611Sun, 12 Feb 2017 20:18:02 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTen years ago, two silvery orbs began floating 3,000 feet between Marquam Hill and South Waterfront over the roofs and backyards of one of Portland’s oldest neighborhoods. Millions of rides later, Portland’s aerial tram can now be seen as one of the...
The tram’s elegant towers and cars came courtesy of the city’s first international design competition since the early ‘80s and have since grown into a glittering landmark, making it easy to forget that when it was being conceived, it was the center of a brutal political fight.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/from-controversy-to-icon-portland-aerial-tram]]>529architecture,local_news,local_opb,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-18-damien-lillard-s-rap-career-rac-s-grammy-win-1939-ensemble-more--11544159
Eugene Opera Hits the Pause Button - 1:25

This week the Eugene Opera faced the music with a public meeting about its finances. Taking into account staff and office costs, the Eugene Opera needs $230,000 to stay alive through the end of the fiscal year this summer and has suspended the rest of its season.

Trail Blazer Damian Lillard on Rapping and Starting a Record Label - 6:57

You may know Damian Lillard for his buzzer beating shots on the basketball court: He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in his first season with the Trail Blazers in 2012, and he just extended a 5 year contract to stay on in Rip City. But you may not know that Lillard is also a musician. Last year, he released his debut album, “The Letter O,” under the moniker Dame DOLLA and launched his own record label called Front Page Music.

Portland's Remix Pioneer, RAC, Wins Grammy - 12:27

Portlander Andre Allen Anjos just brought home the city’s only Grammy this year for his remix of Bob Moses’ “Tearing Me Up.” Working under the name RAC, Anjos first found success with his remix of The Shins’ “Sleeping Lessons,” which was featured on Pitchfork then released as a B-side by the band themselves. He quickly became the go-to guy for indie groups, working with everyone from Death Cab for Cutie to The Yeah Yeah Yeahs — to say nothing of the mega stars like U2, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.

Anjos invited us into his studio to take apart how he remixed Odesza's "Say My Name," which was nominated for a Grammy last year.

Making Public Access TV Cool For a New Generation - 22:27

From "Wayne's World" to "UHF," public access television doesn't exactly have a sterling reputation. But that's about to change at Portland's station. Formerly known as Portland Community Media, the organization is renovating the building and rebranding itself as Open Signal, a media arts center where you can learn not only TV, but also storytelling, podcasting, coding, mixed reality, and other forms of digital media.

A Vintage Airstream Trailer Transforms into a Podcast Studio - 30:30

Curled up in the corner of Open Signal’s parking lot is a beautifully restored, vintage Airstream trailer that doubles as a mobile podcast studio. StreamPDX is an outgrowth of the late, lamented DIY makerspace, the XOXO Outpost. In this unconventional space, aspiring journalists and audiophiles have the opportunity to record and produce their own podcast.

The Dark, Lovely Sounds of the 1939 Ensemble - 37:23

Portland-based 1939 Ensemble is not just a jazz group. Their atypical beats slowly build momentum, creating an ominous wave of sound that is both unsettling and delightful, sounding like a bunch of jazz musicians were tasked to write a post-rock soundtrack for an edgy cop show. With vibraphone.


New Documentary Explores Narrowly Averted Nuclear Disasters, With a Personal Twist - 44:07

In 1964, the air force pilot Thomas Waldo McCormick got a mission to fly a B-52 carrying two 9-megaton thermonuclear bombs from Massachusetts to Georgia. It hit bad weather about halfway through its flight, and crashed in snowy woods outside of Washington, D.C, nearly averting nuclear disaster. McCormick's grandson, Portland filmmaker Matt McCormick, made a film about the crash entitled “Buzz One Four.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544159Sat, 18 Feb 2017 00:49:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on "State of Wonder," the Blazer talks about his side-gig as a rapper, Portland's indie remix pioneer brings home the win, Portland Community Media gets an update and more. Eugene Opera Hits the Pause Button - 1:25 This week the Eugene...
Eugene Opera Hits the Pause Button - 1:25

This week the Eugene Opera faced the music with a public meeting about its finances. Taking into account staff and office costs, the Eugene Opera needs $230,000 to stay alive through the end of the fiscal year this summer and has suspended the rest of its season.

Trail Blazer Damian Lillard on Rapping and Starting a Record Label - 6:57

You may know Damian Lillard for his buzzer beating shots on the basketball court: He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in his first season with the Trail Blazers in 2012, and he just extended a 5 year contract to stay on in Rip City. But you may not know that Lillard is also a musician. Last year, he released his debut album, “The Letter O,” under the moniker Dame DOLLA and launched his own record label called Front Page Music.

Portland's Remix Pioneer, RAC, Wins Grammy - 12:27

Portlander Andre Allen Anjos just brought home the city’s only Grammy this year for his remix of Bob Moses’ “Tearing Me Up.” Working under the name RAC, Anjos first found success with his remix of The Shins’ “Sleeping Lessons,” which was featured on Pitchfork then released as a B-side by the band themselves. He quickly became the go-to guy for indie groups, working with everyone from Death Cab for Cutie to The Yeah Yeah Yeahs — to say nothing of the mega stars like U2, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.

Anjos invited us into his studio to take apart how he remixed Odesza's "Say My Name," which was nominated for a Grammy last year.

Making Public Access TV Cool For a New Generation - 22:27

From "Wayne's World" to "UHF," public access television doesn't exactly have a sterling reputation. But that's about to change at Portland's station. Formerly known as Portland Community Media, the organization is renovating the building and rebranding itself as Open Signal, a media arts center where you can learn not only TV, but also storytelling, podcasting, coding, mixed reality, and other forms of digital media.

A Vintage Airstream Trailer Transforms into a Podcast Studio - 30:30

Curled up in the corner of Open Signal’s parking lot is a beautifully restored, vintage Airstream trailer that doubles as a mobile podcast studio. StreamPDX is an outgrowth of the late, lamented DIY makerspace, the XOXO Outpost. In this unconventional space, aspiring journalists and audiophiles have the opportunity to record and produce their own podcast.

The Dark, Lovely Sounds of the 1939 Ensemble - 37:23

Portland-based 1939 Ensemble is not just a jazz group. Their atypical beats slowly build momentum, creating an ominous wave of sound that is both unsettling and delightful, sounding like a bunch of jazz musicians were tasked to write a post-rock soundtrack for an edgy cop show. With vibraphone.


New Documentary Explores Narrowly Averted Nuclear Disasters, With a Personal Twist - 44:07

In 1964, the air force pilot Thomas Waldo McCormick got a mission to fly a B-52 carrying two 9-megaton thermonuclear bombs from Massachusetts to Georgia. It hit bad weather about halfway through its flight, and crashed in snowy woods outside of Washington, D.C, nearly averting nuclear disaster. McCormick's grandson, Portland filmmaker Matt McCormick, made a film about the crash entitled “Buzz One Four.”]]>3117falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-public-access-tv-cool-for-a-new-generation--11559608
Portland Community Media is renovating its building and rebranding itself as Open Signal, a media arts center where you can learn not only TV, but storytelling, podcasting, coding, mixed reality, and other forms of digital media. They’re celebrating the transformation with an open house on Feb. 25.

“The fact that the city has this asset, where anybody can come off the street, for practically free of charge, and learn how to tell a story,” says Justen Harn, “it is amazing.”

Harn was part of the team that transformed the Hollywood Theatre from a dilapidated, second-run movie house into an innovative cinema and community hub. He we hired as the executive director at PCM a year ago with the instructions to create a more global vision for the organization, focused on programs, equity, and the future. With a budget of roughly $2.5 million drawn mostly from fees paid by cable service providers, PCM oversees five cables stations that serve an audience of 2.5 million.

Harn gave us a tour, along with the director of strategy and development, Rebecca Burrell, who signed on to work with Harn from her post as the head of the Right Brain Initiative at the Regional Arts and Culture Council. Here are highlights from our conversation.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559608Tue, 21 Feb 2017 05:27:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFrom “Wayne’s World” to “UHF,” public access television often seems to serve more as a satirical punching bag than a respected media form. But that’s about to change. Portland Community Media is renovating its building and rebranding itself as Open...
Portland Community Media is renovating its building and rebranding itself as Open Signal, a media arts center where you can learn not only TV, but storytelling, podcasting, coding, mixed reality, and other forms of digital media. They’re celebrating the transformation with an open house on Feb. 25.

“The fact that the city has this asset, where anybody can come off the street, for practically free of charge, and learn how to tell a story,” says Justen Harn, “it is amazing.”

Harn was part of the team that transformed the Hollywood Theatre from a dilapidated, second-run movie house into an innovative cinema and community hub. He we hired as the executive director at PCM a year ago with the instructions to create a more global vision for the organization, focused on programs, equity, and the future. With a budget of roughly $2.5 million drawn mostly from fees paid by cable service providers, PCM oversees five cables stations that serve an audience of 2.5 million.

Harn gave us a tour, along with the director of strategy and development, Rebecca Burrell, who signed on to work with Harn from her post as the head of the Right Brain Initiative at the Regional Arts and Culture Council. Here are highlights from our conversation.]]>471art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/interview-with-the-last-artful-dodgr-neill-von-tally--11559610https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559610Thu, 23 Feb 2017 19:51:12 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting1078art,arts & entertainment,hip-hop,local_opb,music,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/with-vr-artists-will-transform-your-world--11559606
As a December snowstorm raged around OSB’s office in downtown Portland, the artist Kristin Lucas was dreaming of flamingos.

“I’m interested in making an augmented reality experience for the HoloLens,” she said, referencing Microsoft’s new augmented reality glasses that make it look like the digital object is floating in the room in front of you. “In which they receive a dance lesson, and they’re doing a multi-species dance with a flamingo.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/virtual-reality-artists-oregon-story-board]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559606Fri, 24 Feb 2017 20:25:43 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingImagine a gallery where you can step into a painting, fly through the ceiling to the heaven’s above, or learn a dance from a virtual flamingo. It’s not a world far off. Virtual and augmented reality stand to transform the art world, and the tech...
As a December snowstorm raged around OSB’s office in downtown Portland, the artist Kristin Lucas was dreaming of flamingos.

“I’m interested in making an augmented reality experience for the HoloLens,” she said, referencing Microsoft’s new augmented reality glasses that make it look like the digital object is floating in the room in front of you. “In which they receive a dance lesson, and they’re doing a multi-species dance with a flamingo.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/virtual-reality-artists-oregon-story-board]]>430art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,opb,portland,state of wonder,technology,virtual reality,vrfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-25-virtual-reality-art-last-artful-dodgr-national-museum-of-african-american-history--11544154
Artists Will Transform Your World with Virtual Reality - 1:20

Imagine a gallery where you can step into a painting, fly through the ceiling to the heaven’s above, or learn a dance from a virtual flamingo. It’s not a world far off. Virtual and augmented reality stand to transform the art world, and the tech incubator Oregon Story Board is on the front lines. We scoped out a new artists residency they jump-started to give artists a chance to play with the newest cutting-edge technology.

The Last Artful Dodgr Cranks Up the Volume on Portland Hip-Hop - 8:34

The Last Artful Dodgr (nee Alana Chenevert) initially planned to be an anthropologist, perhaps unearthing fossils instead of rhymes. Instead she found her voice in singing and rapping about the realities of life as millennial, and left Los Angeles for Portland. Newly signed to startup local label Eyrst (a project of former Trail Blazer Martell Webster), The Last Artful, Dodgr has just released her debut record, "Bone Music," and joined us in the studio with producer Neill Von Tally to perform a trio of spare, artful song.

Leila Del Duca and the Ultimate Adventurer - 21:34

Portland artist Leila Del Duca has been drawing an Image Comics series called “Shutter” since 2014. It’s the story of a hard-charging young adventurer named Kate Christopher whose travelers take her around the world and into space. Her companions include talking animals, mid-century knick-knacks sprung to life, and a most genteel undead butler. In March, Image will publish a new graphic novel by Del Duca called "AFAR" that's a YA fantasy set in an Afro-futurist society.

Former Portlander Steps Up as the First Film Curator at the National Museum of African American History and Culture - 29:21

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is like the "Hamilton" of museums: telling a story that goes back centuries, it's a ticket you have to get months in advance, if you can get them at all. Rhea Combs, the museum’s curator of film and photography and a former Portlander, was in town recently to participate in talks on housing issues and equity, and she stopped by Think Out Loud to talk about life at the museum and how Portland has changed.

Sandow Birk Brings the Quran into Daily American Life - 38:37

Eugene’s Jordan Schnitzer Art Museum is exhibiting a colossal series by LA-based painter Sandow Birk designed to reset mainstream American’s misconceptions about Islam’s holy book. Birk spent nine years transcribing every page of the Quran onto illustrations of daily American life. Called "American Quran,” the show is on view at through March 19.

opbmusic Session with Balto - 45:41

Portland band Balto took a long road to get where they are. Frontman and songwriter Daniel Sheron wrote most of his first record while living in Siberia, inspired by the people and remote landscapes he encountered there. Fleshed out with mandolin, banjo and piano, those songs were recorded back in New York, and released as October Road in 2011. After relocating to the Pacific Northwest, and now plugged in, Balto released a series of increasingly soulful rock EPs and singles, and since last summer Sheron and the group have teased their upcoming full-length release, Strangers.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544154Sat, 25 Feb 2017 18:05:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe crocuses are popping up, and this week's show blossoms with new music, new technology, dazzling comics, and so much more! Artists Will Transform Your World with Virtual Reality - 1:20 Imagine a gallery where you can step into a painting, fly...
Artists Will Transform Your World with Virtual Reality - 1:20

Imagine a gallery where you can step into a painting, fly through the ceiling to the heaven’s above, or learn a dance from a virtual flamingo. It’s not a world far off. Virtual and augmented reality stand to transform the art world, and the tech incubator Oregon Story Board is on the front lines. We scoped out a new artists residency they jump-started to give artists a chance to play with the newest cutting-edge technology.

The Last Artful Dodgr Cranks Up the Volume on Portland Hip-Hop - 8:34

The Last Artful Dodgr (nee Alana Chenevert) initially planned to be an anthropologist, perhaps unearthing fossils instead of rhymes. Instead she found her voice in singing and rapping about the realities of life as millennial, and left Los Angeles for Portland. Newly signed to startup local label Eyrst (a project of former Trail Blazer Martell Webster), The Last Artful, Dodgr has just released her debut record, "Bone Music," and joined us in the studio with producer Neill Von Tally to perform a trio of spare, artful song.

Leila Del Duca and the Ultimate Adventurer - 21:34

Portland artist Leila Del Duca has been drawing an Image Comics series called “Shutter” since 2014. It’s the story of a hard-charging young adventurer named Kate Christopher whose travelers take her around the world and into space. Her companions include talking animals, mid-century knick-knacks sprung to life, and a most genteel undead butler. In March, Image will publish a new graphic novel by Del Duca called "AFAR" that's a YA fantasy set in an Afro-futurist society.

Former Portlander Steps Up as the First Film Curator at the National Museum of African American History and Culture - 29:21

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is like the "Hamilton" of museums: telling a story that goes back centuries, it's a ticket you have to get months in advance, if you can get them at all. Rhea Combs, the museum’s curator of film and photography and a former Portlander, was in town recently to participate in talks on housing issues and equity, and she stopped by Think Out Loud to talk about life at the museum and how Portland has changed.

Sandow Birk Brings the Quran into Daily American Life - 38:37

Eugene’s Jordan Schnitzer Art Museum is exhibiting a colossal series by LA-based painter Sandow Birk designed to reset mainstream American’s misconceptions about Islam’s holy book. Birk spent nine years transcribing every page of the Quran onto illustrations of daily American life. Called "American Quran,” the show is on view at through March 19.

opbmusic Session with Balto - 45:41

Portland band Balto took a long road to get where they are. Frontman and songwriter Daniel Sheron wrote most of his first record while living in Siberia, inspired by the people and remote landscapes he encountered there. Fleshed out with mandolin, banjo and piano, those songs were recorded back in New York, and released as October Road in 2011. After relocating to the Pacific Northwest, and now plugged in, Balto released a series of increasingly soulful rock EPs and singles, and since last summer Sheron and the group have teased their upcoming full-length release, Strangers.]]>3118falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/comics-artists-leila-del-duca-kit-seaton-on-afar-shutter-more--11559607https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559607Sat, 25 Feb 2017 18:17:28 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingArtist Leila Del Duca is wrapping up her amazing series with Joe Keatinge, "Shutter". We talk to her about her new YA graphic novel with Georgian Kit Seaton, "Afar".462opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/indictment-of-thara-memory-shakes-music-community--11559605https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559605Thu, 02 Mar 2017 10:12:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe bandleader who drove students to top-level performances is served an indictment for sex abuse charges.470opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-4-colum-mccann-thara-memory-modernizing-shakespeare-surfer-blood-more--11544156https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544156Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:55:24 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEver find yourself lost in Shakespeare's flowery prose? A new project helps translate his writing into modern English. We also delve into a devastating scandal in the jazz community and take a trip across America on a bicycle with National Book...3123falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/photographers-lauren-semivan-and-tara-sellios--11559603https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559603Sat, 04 Mar 2017 17:54:22 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTwo artists on impermanence, their process, and the joys of the 8 x 10 view camera.558opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-11-2017-lee-kelly-thao-the-get-down-stay-down-nw-dance-project-s-carmen-chicano-batman--11544152https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544152Sat, 11 Mar 2017 09:13:29 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, a transformational garden yields find treasures, a dance company whips a classic into an ebullient, glamorous new form, and we sway with two bands that double-dog-dare you to peg their eclectic styles.3025falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nw-dance-projects-combines-passion-with-humor-in-new-adaptation-of-carmen--11559602
“That’s a good point: Where are they going to be when you’re running?” resident choreographer Ihsan Rustem says when dancer Kody Jauron asks how to incorporate a menacing pair of shears that are over a foot long into the choreography.

“I’m wearing a lot of black,” says Jauron about his costume, joking that it would likely hide any accidental blood stains.

It’s one of several problems Rustem is wrestling with as they near the show’s world premiere March 16–18 at the Newmark Theatre. There’s also how to deal with Jauron’s whiplash during the preceding scene in which the male dancers, acting as a gaggle of barbers, twist his head every which way, and several points of nigh-impossible movement.

If Northwest Dance Project has built its identity around commissioning world premieres from budding international choreographers, they’ve found a true creative love affair in Rustem. The company’s first commission from the then little-known British-born dance maker in 2010, “State of Matter,” went on to win leading global dance competitions in England and Germany. Five works later, “Carmen” will be the company’s first story ballet and by far Rustem’s most ambitious piece yet, with “Harper’s Bazaar”–inspired glamor and costumes by “Project Runway” winner Michelle Lezniak.

“Going to the theater is an experience, so you want to come out having gone on a journey,” he says. “And that’s my greatest challenge.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/nw-dance-projects-carmen-ihsan-rustem]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11559602Mon, 13 Mar 2017 23:33:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDuring a rehearsal in Northwest Dance Project’s light-filled Portland studio for a new adaptation of “Carmen,” set in part in ‘50’s-era beauty salons, the company is trying to observe one of childhood’s cardinal rules: never run with scissors....
“That’s a good point: Where are they going to be when you’re running?” resident choreographer Ihsan Rustem says when dancer Kody Jauron asks how to incorporate a menacing pair of shears that are over a foot long into the choreography.

“I’m wearing a lot of black,” says Jauron about his costume, joking that it would likely hide any accidental blood stains.

It’s one of several problems Rustem is wrestling with as they near the show’s world premiere March 16–18 at the Newmark Theatre. There’s also how to deal with Jauron’s whiplash during the preceding scene in which the male dancers, acting as a gaggle of barbers, twist his head every which way, and several points of nigh-impossible movement.

If Northwest Dance Project has built its identity around commissioning world premieres from budding international choreographers, they’ve found a true creative love affair in Rustem. The company’s first commission from the then little-known British-born dance maker in 2010, “State of Matter,” went on to win leading global dance competitions in England and Germany. Five works later, “Carmen” will be the company’s first story ballet and by far Rustem’s most ambitious piece yet, with “Harper’s Bazaar”–inspired glamor and costumes by “Project Runway” winner Michelle Lezniak.

“Going to the theater is an experience, so you want to come out having gone on a journey,” he says. “And that’s my greatest challenge.”

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/nw-dance-projects-carmen-ihsan-rustem]]>662art,arts & entertainment,dance,local_news,local_opb,opb,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-18-grimm-sells-its-monsters-nea-funding-cuts-temples-march-sadness-vr-and-more--11544158https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11544158Sat, 18 Mar 2017 00:32:55 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingQuestions? We've got questions: What if you could look inside a building before it is even built? How is it that sad songs actually make you happy? If you could own a haunted armoire, would you stand in line in the rain for eight hours? Would you have...3131falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/march-sadness-mixdown-1-brackets-for-the-saddest-songs--11567984https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567984Sat, 18 Mar 2017 16:56:33 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingRack up the brackets: we are in the midst of a tournament to find the most sorrowful of songs! Elliott Smith or Franz Schubert? Billie Holiday or the Pogues? Dive in and simmer in the sad.861opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/huge-ceramics-conferene-coming-to-portland--11567970https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567970Sat, 18 Mar 2017 17:48:55 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe talk with Eutectic Gallery's Brett Binford about the onset of NCECA in Portland this week.526falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rasika-dance-faces-visa-hurdles--11567962https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567962Fri, 24 Mar 2017 21:29:38 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJayanthi Raman has been staging Internationally renown shows in Portland for nearly 30 years. This one had a small hiccup.272opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/online-clash-lays-path-for-classical-crossroad--11567976https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567976Fri, 24 Mar 2017 21:32:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGreg Ewer of 45th Parallel and Tristan Bliss talk about digging deep to resolve an online spat and forge a deeper conversation about welcoming new audiences for classical music.602opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-25-lyle-ritz-rip-classical-music-feud-wendy-red-star-women-on-wikipedia-more--11567997
March Sadness Update - 00:57

Last week we introduced you to March Sadness: the tournament of heartbreakers, grim reapers, and other incredibly sad songs to get you through the end of winter. We asked you to vote on which tracks you found most gut-wrenching, and we are down to the final two: "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" by the Pogues and Johnny Cash's "Hurt."

Musician Feud Transforms into Classical Concert - 2:36

In 2015, composer Tristan Bliss wrote a scathing article about chamber group 45th Parallel's “Forbidden Music” show, a classical concert that featured music that had been outlawed for religious and political reasons. Bliss tore apart the concert for its lack of risk, and director Greg Ewer fired back that Bliss compose something better. So he did (or at least he tried).

Rasika Dance Overcomes Travel Ban - 12:50

Putting together a multi-layered international dance performance with international artists is never easy. There’s the travel logistics and the airfare, to say nothing of navigating the bureaucratic complexity of work visas. Hillsboro choreographer Jayanthi Raman has been an ace at this over the years, but as a result of President Trump’s visa restrictions, she had to reschedule her big spring show. Featuring a mixture of classical Indian ballet and contemporary dance, Raman's “Duality: A Dance Ballet of India” tells the story of a woman who moved to Portland from India.

Feminist Art Historians Edit The Internet - 17:43

If you read up on women artists on Wikipedia, chances are that page was written by a man. Statistics show the percentage of women who edit Wikipedia, the popular open-source website, is fewer than 10-percent. But there are some art-minded folks trying to close that gender gap. At Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA) last week, a group of feminists and artists took part in a massive national editing session to create more diverse voices and content on Wikipedia.

Jennifer Rabin's New Projects Seek to Show Why Art Matters - 19:22

Of course, editing wikipedia is far from the only way to engage art and politics. Jennifer Rabin is an artist, writer and activist. She’s used her post as Willamette Week’s visual arts writer to focus its spotlight on underrepresented artists, and she’s made her own politically minded work, but that wasn’t enough. Last week, she launched Art Passport PDX, a collaborative program to get more eyes into galleries by offering prizes (including $1600 to spend on art) to those who visit eight local galleries. And this week, she launched Artists Resist, a project that responds to the proposed elimination of the NEA and NEH.

Artist Wendy Red Star on the Rise - 30:02

Over the last few years, artist Wendy Red Star’s work has been featured around country, including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and two shows at the Portland Art Museum. The hits don’t stop: Red Star is on the main stage next month at Portland Design Week, and her work is being featured in the Governor’s office in Salem.

Palindrome Expert Mark Saltveit Dances With Words - 35:14

Oregonian Mark Saltveit is the reigning world palindrome champion, having taken home the prize in 2012 at the first ever competition, hosted by none other than NPR Puzzle Master Will Shorts. Saltveit is also a stand up comedian and writer. This weekend, Saltveit is defending his title.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567997Fri, 24 Mar 2017 22:52:01 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we are all about change. From feminist art wikipedia editing parties to a young composer calling for a revitalization of classical music, Portland artists and musicians challenge the canon. March Sadness Update - 00:57 Last week we...
March Sadness Update - 00:57

Last week we introduced you to March Sadness: the tournament of heartbreakers, grim reapers, and other incredibly sad songs to get you through the end of winter. We asked you to vote on which tracks you found most gut-wrenching, and we are down to the final two: "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" by the Pogues and Johnny Cash's "Hurt."

Musician Feud Transforms into Classical Concert - 2:36

In 2015, composer Tristan Bliss wrote a scathing article about chamber group 45th Parallel's “Forbidden Music” show, a classical concert that featured music that had been outlawed for religious and political reasons. Bliss tore apart the concert for its lack of risk, and director Greg Ewer fired back that Bliss compose something better. So he did (or at least he tried).

Rasika Dance Overcomes Travel Ban - 12:50

Putting together a multi-layered international dance performance with international artists is never easy. There’s the travel logistics and the airfare, to say nothing of navigating the bureaucratic complexity of work visas. Hillsboro choreographer Jayanthi Raman has been an ace at this over the years, but as a result of President Trump’s visa restrictions, she had to reschedule her big spring show. Featuring a mixture of classical Indian ballet and contemporary dance, Raman's “Duality: A Dance Ballet of India” tells the story of a woman who moved to Portland from India.

Feminist Art Historians Edit The Internet - 17:43

If you read up on women artists on Wikipedia, chances are that page was written by a man. Statistics show the percentage of women who edit Wikipedia, the popular open-source website, is fewer than 10-percent. But there are some art-minded folks trying to close that gender gap. At Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA) last week, a group of feminists and artists took part in a massive national editing session to create more diverse voices and content on Wikipedia.

Jennifer Rabin's New Projects Seek to Show Why Art Matters - 19:22

Of course, editing wikipedia is far from the only way to engage art and politics. Jennifer Rabin is an artist, writer and activist. She’s used her post as Willamette Week’s visual arts writer to focus its spotlight on underrepresented artists, and she’s made her own politically minded work, but that wasn’t enough. Last week, she launched Art Passport PDX, a collaborative program to get more eyes into galleries by offering prizes (including $1600 to spend on art) to those who visit eight local galleries. And this week, she launched Artists Resist, a project that responds to the proposed elimination of the NEA and NEH.

Artist Wendy Red Star on the Rise - 30:02

Over the last few years, artist Wendy Red Star’s work has been featured around country, including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and two shows at the Portland Art Museum. The hits don’t stop: Red Star is on the main stage next month at Portland Design Week, and her work is being featured in the Governor’s office in Salem.

Palindrome Expert Mark Saltveit Dances With Words - 35:14

Oregonian Mark Saltveit is the reigning world palindrome champion, having taken home the prize in 2012 at the first ever competition, hosted by none other than NPR Puzzle Master Will Shorts. Saltveit is also a stand up comedian and writer. This weekend, Saltveit is defending his title.]]>3043art,arts & entertainment,classical,comedy,local_news,local_opb,music,podcast,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/see-art-win-money-make-a-difference-with-two-new-portland-programs--11567975
Well, you're not alone.

"Galleries can be really intimidating places—I'm sometimes intimidated to walk in," says artist and writer Jennifer Rabin, which is saying a lot, given that she's paid to know art. Since 2015, she's been the visual art critic at "Willamette Week," although she will depart at the end of March.

After watching nine Portland galleries and one museum close in the first nine months she was at WW, Rabin grew alarmed. Then President Donald Trump proposed eliminating the national endowments for the arts and the humanities, and Rabin had to do something.

In the last two weeks, Rabin launched two programs, Art Passport PDX and Artists Resist, to get more people looking at art and standing up for why art matters.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/jennifer-rabin-art-passport-pdx-artists-resist]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11567975Sat, 25 Mar 2017 00:13:48 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEver passed a gallery and seen something that looked interesting through the window, but found yourself thinking "I could never afford it" or "I probably wouldn't get it?" Well, you're not alone. "Galleries can be really intimidating places—I'm...
Well, you're not alone.

"Galleries can be really intimidating places—I'm sometimes intimidated to walk in," says artist and writer Jennifer Rabin, which is saying a lot, given that she's paid to know art. Since 2015, she's been the visual art critic at "Willamette Week," although she will depart at the end of March.

After watching nine Portland galleries and one museum close in the first nine months she was at WW, Rabin grew alarmed. Then President Donald Trump proposed eliminating the national endowments for the arts and the humanities, and Rabin had to do something.

In the last two weeks, Rabin launched two programs, Art Passport PDX and Artists Resist, to get more people looking at art and standing up for why art matters.

Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/jennifer-rabin-art-passport-pdx-artists-resist]]>632art,arts & entertainment,local_news,local_opb,portland,visual artfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jack-perrin-teaches-science-with-unconventional-flare--11568021
“I really love hands on stuff,” he told me last month when I visited him in White Salmon, Washington. “If kids can use their hands, learning goes a lot deeper.”

Perrin was my science and math teacher all through grade and high school at a small private school in the Western Colorado town of Paonia. He caught my attention right away, when he introduced a course titled 'bubble-ology' to my second grade class. By the time I was in high school, his lessons had evolved in a more athletic way: we would pop off to Utah for a week of backpacking, learning how to start a fire with flint or cook pasta inside a sleeping bag.

“I think for me, teaching has always been about relationships,” he says. “Paying attention to the relationship made it possible for us to do a lot of things that we wouldn’t have been able to do if I just regarded you as the girl that takes math from me one period a day.”

Perrin grew up in Portland and moved back to the Northwest to be near family a couple of years ago. Besides his part time job teaching science at White Salmon High School, he runs the Gorge Makerspace, a workshop currently housed in the basement of the youth center in White Salmon.

The center picks kids up from school every day and gives them a place to play and do homework until their parents get off work. On Tuesdays, Perrin opens up the Makerspace and facilitates different activities that any of the kids can participate in. They’ve done everything from puppetry classes and sticker-making to building marble runs. Last summer, a small group of pre-teens wielding hammers built a clubhouse in the youth center yard.

On a recent Tuesday, Jack had a group of kids, ages 7-11, working with Spheros—little spherical robots that look like pool balls come to life, or the droid BB8 from Star Wars without the head. Perrin was interested in how the kids could hack the basic robots, challenging them to build a carriage that they could attach to the Spheros.

The game was to transport plastic pandas, via robot, across an obstacle course and back to the zoo. The students were using cardboard and recycled yogurt containers to construct their wagons. There were hot glue guns and electric cardboard cutting saws, and everyone wanted to work with the drills and power tools.

“It’s a little more funner,” said 11-year-old Rosalinda about creating at Makerspace versus her school classes. “We get to cut things, more sharper things, we get to learn how to use [tools].”

Getting tools in the hands of kids is a big part of what Perrin does.

“I think the message kids get at public school is: you don’t know what you are doing, you’re not any good, what’s wrong with you,” he says. “I want every kid to feel like they can do something well, and they can feel good about what they do.”

The Gorge Makerspace is getting a new home. They are expanding into the Bethel Church across Main Street from their current home. The larger space will allow Perrin to put together a more extensive class list, including spring break and summer camps, and some Saturday camps for all ages. Perrin plans to keep expanding and helping kids continue to keep on creating, and to never, ever, stop learning.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11568021Sun, 26 Mar 2017 19:09:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJack Perrin is not your typical science teacher. “I really love hands on stuff,” he told me last month when I visited him in White Salmon, Washington. “If kids can use their hands, learning goes a lot deeper.” Perrin was my science and math teacher...
“I really love hands on stuff,” he told me last month when I visited him in White Salmon, Washington. “If kids can use their hands, learning goes a lot deeper.”

Perrin was my science and math teacher all through grade and high school at a small private school in the Western Colorado town of Paonia. He caught my attention right away, when he introduced a course titled 'bubble-ology' to my second grade class. By the time I was in high school, his lessons had evolved in a more athletic way: we would pop off to Utah for a week of backpacking, learning how to start a fire with flint or cook pasta inside a sleeping bag.

“I think for me, teaching has always been about relationships,” he says. “Paying attention to the relationship made it possible for us to do a lot of things that we wouldn’t have been able to do if I just regarded you as the girl that takes math from me one period a day.”

Perrin grew up in Portland and moved back to the Northwest to be near family a couple of years ago. Besides his part time job teaching science at White Salmon High School, he runs the Gorge Makerspace, a workshop currently housed in the basement of the youth center in White Salmon.

The center picks kids up from school every day and gives them a place to play and do homework until their parents get off work. On Tuesdays, Perrin opens up the Makerspace and facilitates different activities that any of the kids can participate in. They’ve done everything from puppetry classes and sticker-making to building marble runs. Last summer, a small group of pre-teens wielding hammers built a clubhouse in the youth center yard.

On a recent Tuesday, Jack had a group of kids, ages 7-11, working with Spheros—little spherical robots that look like pool balls come to life, or the droid BB8 from Star Wars without the head. Perrin was interested in how the kids could hack the basic robots, challenging them to build a carriage that they could attach to the Spheros.

The game was to transport plastic pandas, via robot, across an obstacle course and back to the zoo. The students were using cardboard and recycled yogurt containers to construct their wagons. There were hot glue guns and electric cardboard cutting saws, and everyone wanted to work with the drills and power tools.

“It’s a little more funner,” said 11-year-old Rosalinda about creating at Makerspace versus her school classes. “We get to cut things, more sharper things, we get to learn how to use [tools].”

Getting tools in the hands of kids is a big part of what Perrin does.

“I think the message kids get at public school is: you don’t know what you are doing, you’re not any good, what’s wrong with you,” he says. “I want every kid to feel like they can do something well, and they can feel good about what they do.”

The Gorge Makerspace is getting a new home. They are expanding into the Bethel Church across Main Street from their current home. The larger space will allow Perrin to put together a more extensive class list, including spring break and summer camps, and some Saturday camps for all ages. Perrin plans to keep expanding and helping kids continue to keep on creating, and to never, ever, stop learning.]]>396falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kenji-bunch-and-eugene-ballet-adapt-new-production-of-the-snow-queen--11568022https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11568022Sat, 01 Apr 2017 00:28:31 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting520opbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-1-conor-oberst-sxsw-pdx-japanese-garden-laini-taylor-sunshine-girl-blitzen-trapper-more--11568026
The Portland Japanese Garden Unveils World-Class Expansion - 1:23

The Portland Japanese Garden was already considered one of the best in the world, but now it stands to become a cultural institution on a whole other level. After undergoing more than seven years of planning and months of construction, the garden is opening its new expansion and Cultural Village on Apr. 2.


The Eugene Ballet And Composer Kenji Bunch Find Beauty In The Snow Queen - 6:57

On Apr. 8–9, the Eugene Ballet Company will premieres a work years in the making: a new adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Snow Queen," with a modern score by Portland-based composer Kenji Bunch. You might recognize the tale: it was the inspiration for Disney's "Frozen," and Bunch gives it a cinematic treatment.

Slaying Demons (And Cliches) With Best-Selling YA Author Laini Taylor - 13:02

Portland author Laini Taylor dreams the types of dreams that you want to get lost in — majestic desert journeys to forgotten cities, heroes with dark secrets, tender first kisses between godesses and men — and you're not alone. Her early collaboration with her husband, the illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, "Lips Touch," was a finalist for the National Book Award, and her "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" trilogy is an international best seller.

This week, she released the first book in her newest series, "Strange the Dreamer," about an orphaned young librarian who also has big dreams. She'll talk about it with Sara Grundell of the YA website Novel Novice at Powell's at Cedar Hills Crossing on Apr. 6.

Oregon's Biggest YouTube Sensation Is A Girl, Her Mom, And A Household of Ghosts - 23:04

In 2010, Oregon actor Paige McKenzie anonymously released a series of videos on YouTube called "The Haunting of Sunshine Girl." They were DIY, Blair Witch-style episodes following a charismatic 16-year-old who wanted to prove the existence of ghosts to her mom. With no promotion whatsoever, the series blew up and now has had more than 280 million views, making Sunshine Girl one of the most successful YouTube stars in the country.

Since then, McKenzie inked a deal with the Weinstein Company for three books and a TV show. The first two books have sold more than 200,000 copies, and the third, "The Sacrifice of Sunshine Girl," comes out Apr. 4. She will read and sign at Powell's at Cedar Hills Crossing on Apr. 5 and Voodoo Donuts Too on Apr. 13.

Blitzen Trapper Spins Their Narrative Rock Into A Sci-Fi Rock Opera - 32:51

Blitzen Trapper is one of the tightest rock bands in Portland, and now the members have partnered with Portland Center Stage to transform their story-rich songs into an evening length musical event. Called "Wild and Reckless," they’re billing it as a "futuristic vision of Portland's past.” As part of our What Are You Looking At series, we went to opening night and discovered a production overflowing with expert musicianship but coming up short on plot.

opbmusic's SXSW Recap: Bands We Can't Get Out Of Our Heads & An Exclusive Session with Conor Oberst - 41:17

The opbmusic staff saw some 150 bands in four-days at Austin's monster music festival, South by Southwest, and music director Jerad Walker stops by to share some of his favorites, including A Giant Dog, Jay Som, and Portland folkster Johanna Warren.

In a lucky turn of events, they were able to sit down with indie royalty Conor Oberst from the folk band Bright Eyes. Oberst spoke with Jerad Walker about the process for his new album "Salutations" and his work with supergroup Monsters of Folk.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11568026Sat, 01 Apr 2017 03:48:42 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSpring Break is upon us, and we are embarking on an adventure. We will be slaying beasts in the fantastical world of novelist Laini Taylor (that have surprising real world parallels), exploring the haunted house of YouTube superstar Sunshine Girl,...
The Portland Japanese Garden Unveils World-Class Expansion - 1:23

The Portland Japanese Garden was already considered one of the best in the world, but now it stands to become a cultural institution on a whole other level. After undergoing more than seven years of planning and months of construction, the garden is opening its new expansion and Cultural Village on Apr. 2.


The Eugene Ballet And Composer Kenji Bunch Find Beauty In The Snow Queen - 6:57

On Apr. 8–9, the Eugene Ballet Company will premieres a work years in the making: a new adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Snow Queen," with a modern score by Portland-based composer Kenji Bunch. You might recognize the tale: it was the inspiration for Disney's "Frozen," and Bunch gives it a cinematic treatment.

Slaying Demons (And Cliches) With Best-Selling YA Author Laini Taylor - 13:02

Portland author Laini Taylor dreams the types of dreams that you want to get lost in — majestic desert journeys to forgotten cities, heroes with dark secrets, tender first kisses between godesses and men — and you're not alone. Her early collaboration with her husband, the illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, "Lips Touch," was a finalist for the National Book Award, and her "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" trilogy is an international best seller.

This week, she released the first book in her newest series, "Strange the Dreamer," about an orphaned young librarian who also has big dreams. She'll talk about it with Sara Grundell of the YA website Novel Novice at Powell's at Cedar Hills Crossing on Apr. 6.

Oregon's Biggest YouTube Sensation Is A Girl, Her Mom, And A Household of Ghosts - 23:04

In 2010, Oregon actor Paige McKenzie anonymously released a series of videos on YouTube called "The Haunting of Sunshine Girl." They were DIY, Blair Witch-style episodes following a charismatic 16-year-old who wanted to prove the existence of ghosts to her mom. With no promotion whatsoever, the series blew up and now has had more than 280 million views, making Sunshine Girl one of the most successful YouTube stars in the country.

Since then, McKenzie inked a deal with the Weinstein Company for three books and a TV show. The first two books have sold more than 200,000 copies, and the third, "The Sacrifice of Sunshine Girl," comes out Apr. 4. She will read and sign at Powell's at Cedar Hills Crossing on Apr. 5 and Voodoo Donuts Too on Apr. 13.

Blitzen Trapper Spins Their Narrative Rock Into A Sci-Fi Rock Opera - 32:51

Blitzen Trapper is one of the tightest rock bands in Portland, and now the members have partnered with Portland Center Stage to transform their story-rich songs into an evening length musical event. Called "Wild and Reckless," they’re billing it as a "futuristic vision of Portland's past.” As part of our What Are You Looking At series, we went to opening night and discovered a production overflowing with expert musicianship but coming up short on plot.

opbmusic's SXSW Recap: Bands We Can't Get Out Of Our Heads & An Exclusive Session with Conor Oberst - 41:17

The opbmusic staff saw some 150 bands in four-days at Austin's monster music festival, South by Southwest, and music director Jerad Walker stops by to share some of his favorites, including A Giant Dog, Jay Som, and Portland folkster Johanna Warren.

In a lucky turn of events, they were able to sit down with indie royalty Conor Oberst from the folk band Bright Eyes. Oberst spoke with Jerad Walker about the process...]]>3011art,arts & entertainment,books,classical,concerts,dance,literature,local_news,local_opb,music,opb,podcast,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/laini-taylor-extended-interview-on-strange-the-dreamer-and-the-power-of-fantasy--11568023
“I had no life experience,” she laughs. “And really nothing to say. I felt a lack of ability to contribute to that body of work.”

Then years later, she read a little book you might’ve heard of. Harry Potter? And her childhood imagination rose up like a phoenix.

“That whole ‘write what you know,’ you don’t have to do that,” she says. “I find it much more fun to imagine what I don’t know and want to figure it out.”

Since then, Taylor has imagined stories to incredible success. Her early collaboration with her husband, the illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, “Lips Touch,” was a finalist for the National Book Award, and her “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” trilogy is an international best seller.

We sat down with Taylor at her Portland home. It’s sunny and bright and filled with wonder: paintings of her characters, small figurines of magical creature, princess dresses for her daughter Clementine Pie, and a library with a grand fireplace and floor-to-ceiling book shelves that seems right out of a fairy tale. Which is fitting: Taylor launched a new series this week about a young librarian who also has big dreams, “Strange the Dreamer.”

Taylor will read from the book and talk with Sara Grundell of the YA website Novel Novice at Powell’s at Cedar Hills Crossing on Apr. 6.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11568023Sat, 01 Apr 2017 19:15:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAs a girl, Laini Taylor wanted to be a writer. She would dream up magical worlds filled with witches and monsters. But once she got into high school and college, she started reading literature — all those serious books about the real world that...
“I had no life experience,” she laughs. “And really nothing to say. I felt a lack of ability to contribute to that body of work.”

Then years later, she read a little book you might’ve heard of. Harry Potter? And her childhood imagination rose up like a phoenix.

“That whole ‘write what you know,’ you don’t have to do that,” she says. “I find it much more fun to imagine what I don’t know and want to figure it out.”

Since then, Taylor has imagined stories to incredible success. Her early collaboration with her husband, the illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, “Lips Touch,” was a finalist for the National Book Award, and her “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” trilogy is an international best seller.

We sat down with Taylor at her Portland home. It’s sunny and bright and filled with wonder: paintings of her characters, small figurines of magical creature, princess dresses for her daughter Clementine Pie, and a library with a grand fireplace and floor-to-ceiling book shelves that seems right out of a fairy tale. Which is fitting: Taylor launched a new series this week about a young librarian who also has big dreams, “Strange the Dreamer.”

Taylor will read from the book and talk with Sara Grundell of the YA website Novel Novice at Powell’s at Cedar Hills Crossing on Apr. 6.]]>1632art,arts & entertainment,books,fantasy,portlandfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-8-elliott-smith-either-or-at-20-live-event--11581005We sat down with Smith’s friends, peers, and a live studio audience to talk about “Either/Or” and Smith’s legacy.

Smith’s ultra-reflective songwriting and well-honed recording style represent an apex of the DIY sound that made Portland’s name during its intensely fertile 1990’s. His music continues to inspire people like Frank Ocean, Ben Gibbard, Wayne Coyne, and many others. How is that an artist whose inner life was so tumultuous put together some of the most meticulously-crafted music to come out of Portland? And what memories does “Either/Or” preserve of a time before Portland’s turn in the national spotlight, when creative people came to follow their inner voices?

Our guests:
• Larry Crane of Jackpot Recording Studio was a longtime friend and collaborator, and has assumed the role of archivist of Smith’s catalogue. He tells us about what he’s observed of the record through the years, leading up tot he re-release of a re-mastered, extended edition of “Either/Or”.
• Slim Moon, founder of Kill Rock Stars Records, worked with Smith to release two studio records, including “Either/Or”. The label also shepherded the release of some posthumous material. Moon’s perspective puts Smith in the context of a constellation of regional and national artists of the time.


Plus, listen for loving covers of tracks from the album:
• Luz Elena Mendoza and Ali Clarys (Y La Bamba, Tiburones) — “Speed Trials”
• Catherine Feeny + band — “Between the Bars”
• The Secret Sea (Amit Erez) — “Angeles” and “Southern Belle”
• Matt Drenik — “2:45AM”
• Sean Croghan — “Alameda”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11581005Fri, 07 Apr 2017 21:59:15 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTwenty years ago, Elliott Smith opened a door into a hypnotic new world. The album, “Either/Or”, released on Kill Rock Stars records, marks a turning point in Smith’s transition from Portland rock journeyman to international star. This time had...We sat down with Smith’s friends, peers, and a live studio audience to talk about “Either/Or” and Smith’s legacy.

Smith’s ultra-reflective songwriting and well-honed recording style represent an apex of the DIY sound that made Portland’s name during its intensely fertile 1990’s. His music continues to inspire people like Frank Ocean, Ben Gibbard, Wayne Coyne, and many others. How is that an artist whose inner life was so tumultuous put together some of the most meticulously-crafted music to come out of Portland? And what memories does “Either/Or” preserve of a time before Portland’s turn in the national spotlight, when creative people came to follow their inner voices?

Our guests:
• Larry Crane of Jackpot Recording Studio was a longtime friend and collaborator, and has assumed the role of archivist of Smith’s catalogue. He tells us about what he’s observed of the record through the years, leading up tot he re-release of a re-mastered, extended edition of “Either/Or”.
• Slim Moon, founder of Kill Rock Stars Records, worked with Smith to release two studio records, including “Either/Or”. The label also shepherded the release of some posthumous material. Moon’s perspective puts Smith in the context of a constellation of regional and national artists of the time.


Plus, listen for loving covers of tracks from the album:
• Luz Elena Mendoza and Ali Clarys (Y La Bamba, Tiburones) — “Speed Trials”
• Catherine Feeny + band — “Between the Bars”
• The Secret Sea (Amit Erez) — “Angeles” and “Southern Belle”
• Matt Drenik — “2:45AM”
• Sean Croghan — “Alameda”]]>2626falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-15-solange-soul-d-out-music-fest-chuck-close-in-pendleton-wild-ones-portland-art-museum-diana-abu-jaber-north-bank-closes--11634913
It's not every day that a small town arts center gets to pick works from a blue chip artist like it's checking out library books, but that's basically how this show came to be.

Sam Hamilton Brings His Films And More To PAM's APEX Gallery

The fresh face at Portland Art Museum is Grace Kook-Anderson, the new curator of Northwest art. It’s her job to make sure the museum reflects regional work, but she also has a strong feel for contemporary art. And that is reflected in her first choice for the Museum’s APEX Gallery: fellow recent Northwest transplant Sam Hamilton, whose playful interdisciplinary work interweaves films, music and installation. Who else would mix Carl Sagan, David Attenborough and Kenny G in one show?

Oregon-Born Play Wins Pulitzer

Playwright Lynn Nottage premiered her play “Sweat” in 2015 as part of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s “American Revolutions” series exploring key moments in U.S. history. With the announcement Monday that the play received the Pulitzer Prize for drama, Nottage made history as the first female playwright to win the prestigious award twice.

"Sweat" is one of only two shows by women to open on Broadway this season. The other, "Indecent" by Paula Vogel, was also commissioned by OSF's "American Revolutions" project. The Bard might say: the Oregon Shakespeare Festival doest slayeth it.

Get Ready To Shake Your Booty At The Soul'd Out Festival

This week, Portland is gearing up to make some moves — dance moves, that is. It's the annual Soul’d Out Festival (April 19–23). Legendary soulful acts from around the country are on the bill with new breakers of soul, from the popular hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco to the prophetic R&B queen Solange.

The Guttery Writing Group: Tough Book Love That Will Get You Out Of Your Pajamas

The collective proclaiming itself “Portland’s second most-famous writers’ group” challenges the idea that great work is produced in cloistered solitude. The authors in the writing group "The Guttery" are like a literary engine: at least five published this past year.

opbmusic Session With Wild Ones

Does the smattering of recent sunny days have you dreaming of summer? There’s no better album to feed those dreams than Wild Ones’ “Heatwave.” Its songs of long summer nights and big-city adventures smolder and delight.

Vancouver's North Bank Art Gallery Shuts Its Doors Next Month

North Bank Artists is a co-op gallery on the city’s Main Street. Its presence and work downtown since its founding in 2003 — including the creation of a city art walk — has helped spur other galleries and cultural institutions to open, earning the area the moniker "The Vancouver Arts District." But after rent hikes and an uncertain future, the art gallery that served as a linchpin for Vancouver’s downtown revitalization will close at the end of May.

Diana Abu Jaber Weaves The Story of Her Life With Layers Of Pastry Dough

Diana Abu Jaber is a novelist, a professor and a cook. She is the daughter of a Jordanian father and an American mother, and her most recent book, “Life without a Recipe,” tells the story of growing up in both countries.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11634913Fri, 14 Apr 2017 23:31:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingChuck Close Portraits Heat Up The Pendleton Art Scene It's not every day that a small town arts center gets to pick works from a blue chip artist like it's checking out library books, but that's basically how this show came to be. Sam Hamilton...
It's not every day that a small town arts center gets to pick works from a blue chip artist like it's checking out library books, but that's basically how this show came to be.

Sam Hamilton Brings His Films And More To PAM's APEX Gallery

The fresh face at Portland Art Museum is Grace Kook-Anderson, the new curator of Northwest art. It’s her job to make sure the museum reflects regional work, but she also has a strong feel for contemporary art. And that is reflected in her first choice for the Museum’s APEX Gallery: fellow recent Northwest transplant Sam Hamilton, whose playful interdisciplinary work interweaves films, music and installation. Who else would mix Carl Sagan, David Attenborough and Kenny G in one show?

Oregon-Born Play Wins Pulitzer

Playwright Lynn Nottage premiered her play “Sweat” in 2015 as part of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s “American Revolutions” series exploring key moments in U.S. history. With the announcement Monday that the play received the Pulitzer Prize for drama, Nottage made history as the first female playwright to win the prestigious award twice.

"Sweat" is one of only two shows by women to open on Broadway this season. The other, "Indecent" by Paula Vogel, was also commissioned by OSF's "American Revolutions" project. The Bard might say: the Oregon Shakespeare Festival doest slayeth it.

Get Ready To Shake Your Booty At The Soul'd Out Festival

This week, Portland is gearing up to make some moves — dance moves, that is. It's the annual Soul’d Out Festival (April 19–23). Legendary soulful acts from around the country are on the bill with new breakers of soul, from the popular hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco to the prophetic R&B queen Solange.

The Guttery Writing Group: Tough Book Love That Will Get You Out Of Your Pajamas

The collective proclaiming itself “Portland’s second most-famous writers’ group” challenges the idea that great work is produced in cloistered solitude. The authors in the writing group "The Guttery" are like a literary engine: at least five published this past year.

opbmusic Session With Wild Ones

Does the smattering of recent sunny days have you dreaming of summer? There’s no better album to feed those dreams than Wild Ones’ “Heatwave.” Its songs of long summer nights and big-city adventures smolder and delight.

Vancouver's North Bank Art Gallery Shuts Its Doors Next Month

North Bank Artists is a co-op gallery on the city’s Main Street. Its presence and work downtown since its founding in 2003 — including the creation of a city art walk — has helped spur other galleries and cultural institutions to open, earning the area the moniker "The Vancouver Arts District." But after rent hikes and an uncertain future, the art gallery that served as a linchpin for Vancouver’s downtown revitalization will close at the end of May.

Diana Abu Jaber Weaves The Story of Her Life With Layers Of Pastry Dough

Diana Abu Jaber is a novelist, a professor and a cook. She is the daughter of a Jordanian father and an American mother, and her most recent book, “Life without a Recipe,” tells the story of growing up in both countries.]]>3136falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/april-22nd-oregon-book-awards-nominees--11690166https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11690166Fri, 21 Apr 2017 21:10:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe meet the contenders for the general nonfiction category: Tracy Daugherty, Andi Zeisler, Kathleen Dean Moore, Bill Lascher, and Sue Armitage.3184falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-30-design-week-special-redesigning-portland-with-quin-candy-maya-lin-more--11742486We started out the festival last week with a live Think Out Loud show at the Redd, an old industrial building in Southeast Portland that's serving as DWP's headquarters. This week, we're packaging some of those interviews together with new reported stories from the rest of the fest.
JavHack: Reimagining Sports Ergonomics - 5:48
You might not think the javelin needs innovation. It worked for four-hundred thousand years of human history, right? But track and field athletes are always pushing the limits. We spoke with record-breaking javelin thrower Tom Petronoff about the need for a new design vision and the time he almost speared Alberto Salazar. You can see videos of some high-class javelin chucking and a vintage clip of Tom Petranoff narrated by Caitlin Jenner here. 
Cutting Edge Pixels with the Annual Animation Challenge - 10:04
Jamal Qutub has been in love with animation since he was a kid. For work, he creates animations for clients like Adidas and Intel, but in his spare time, Qutub runs AEPDX, a meetup group for local animators. For the past three years, Qutub has been putting together an animation challenge during Design Week. Local animators submit short films to be viewed and voted on by an audience of their peers and interested DWP spectators.
Portland's Highline? A Proposed Park that Wants to Change How You See the City - 18:04
Last year, Design Week featured a challenge to design a 6-mile linear park circling downtown Portland called the Green Loop. Now the winners, Untitled Studio, are taking the conceptual idea one step further with an interactive exhibit as part of this year’s festival. They stop in to tell us about their big dreams and why Portland needs the Green Loop.
QUIN Candy's Magical Confections - 30:42
What could be better at the end of Design Week Portland than dessert? Jami Curl told a sweet story on Friday about how she built two successful companies, QUIN Candy and Saint Cupcake, that stand out in the forest of Portland food brands. We visited her at her QUIN Candy production room this week and heard all about her candy-design.
Design in the Forest: Maya Lin's Bird Blind - 37:33
So many design stories originate on desktops and drafting tables, but we found one that must be experienced with hiking boots on. While Design Week took out a busload of explorers, we headed out to explore the Sandy River Delta with biologist Bill Weiler, Confluence Project member Colin Fogarty and designer Dylan Woock. 
In 2004, the Confluence Project kicked off with the goal of connecting people with places in the Columbia Basin. Confluence’s renowned artist and designer Maya Lin took on this challenge, and created an elliptical immersive sculpture out of wood and metal that blends effortlessly into the terrain. 
Portland At-Risk Youth Create Streetwear Label – 43:45
“Don’t just rise, take flight” is the tagline of streetwear label dfrntpigeon, which is a collaboration between the non-profit New Avenues for Youth and branding gurus AKQA. Run by marginalized and homeless youth, the agency designs and sells shirts and apparel that are expressive, political, sometimes humorous, and sometimes dark. They’ve just released their newest line of tees, The Identity Collection, with screen printed shirts like “Humanity,” which shows four forearms holding a cigarette, a grenade, an hourglass, and a digital clock, surrounded by a ring of flowers.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11742486Fri, 28 Apr 2017 21:40:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt’s Design Week in Portland! The week when all of the makers, the tallest and the smallest, get together to talk about the looks they love, the technology they’re using, and the newest concepts and products they're dreaming up. From streetwear to...We started out the festival last week with a live Think Out Loud show at the Redd, an old industrial building in Southeast Portland that's serving as DWP's headquarters. This week, we're packaging some of those interviews together with new reported stories from the rest of the fest.
JavHack: Reimagining Sports Ergonomics - 5:48
You might not think the javelin needs innovation. It worked for four-hundred thousand years of human history, right? But track and field athletes are always pushing the limits. We spoke with record-breaking javelin thrower Tom Petronoff about the need for a new design vision and the time he almost speared Alberto Salazar. You can see videos of some high-class javelin chucking and a vintage clip of Tom Petranoff narrated by Caitlin Jenner here. 
Cutting Edge Pixels with the Annual Animation Challenge - 10:04
Jamal Qutub has been in love with animation since he was a kid. For work, he creates animations for clients like Adidas and Intel, but in his spare time, Qutub runs AEPDX, a meetup group for local animators. For the past three years, Qutub has been putting together an animation challenge during Design Week. Local animators submit short films to be viewed and voted on by an audience of their peers and interested DWP spectators.
Portland's Highline? A Proposed Park that Wants to Change How You See the City - 18:04
Last year, Design Week featured a challenge to design a 6-mile linear park circling downtown Portland called the Green Loop. Now the winners, Untitled Studio, are taking the conceptual idea one step further with an interactive exhibit as part of this year’s festival. They stop in to tell us about their big dreams and why Portland needs the Green Loop.
QUIN Candy's Magical Confections - 30:42
What could be better at the end of Design Week Portland than dessert? Jami Curl told a sweet story on Friday about how she built two successful companies, QUIN Candy and Saint Cupcake, that stand out in the forest of Portland food brands. We visited her at her QUIN Candy production room this week and heard all about her candy-design.
Design in the Forest: Maya Lin's Bird Blind - 37:33
So many design stories originate on desktops and drafting tables, but we found one that must be experienced with hiking boots on. While Design Week took out a busload of explorers, we headed out to explore the Sandy River Delta with biologist Bill Weiler, Confluence Project member Colin Fogarty and designer Dylan Woock. 
In 2004, the Confluence Project kicked off with the goal of connecting people with places in the Columbia Basin. Confluence’s renowned artist and designer Maya Lin took on this challenge, and created an elliptical immersive sculpture out of wood and metal that blends effortlessly into the terrain. 
Portland At-Risk Youth Create Streetwear Label – 43:45
“Don’t just rise, take flight” is the tagline of streetwear label dfrntpigeon, which is a collaboration between the non-profit New Avenues for Youth and branding gurus AKQA. Run by marginalized and homeless youth, the agency designs and sells shirts and apparel that are expressive, political, sometimes humorous, and sometimes dark. They’ve just released their newest line of tees, The Identity Collection, with screen printed shirts like “Humanity,” which shows four forearms holding a cigarette, a grenade, an hourglass, and a digital clock, surrounded by a ring of flowers.]]>3085falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/may-6-colson-whitehead-yaa-gyasi-solar-eclipse-new-horror-fest-at-timberline-lodge-flintstones-revamped-more--11793177https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11793177Thu, 04 May 2017 21:24:51 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWant to be transported to another place? A place where the sun hides behind the moon, where horror and history collide in a famous old hotel on top of a mountain, where The Underground Railroad is an actual steam engine on an actual underground track,...3108falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/may-13-prince-s-unreleased-album-puppet-master-michael-curry-the-oregon-symphony-oregon-shakespeare-festival-s-immigrant-medea--11853289
What does it take to craft gigantic puppets for Broadway? Does art history as we know it need a drastic makeover? And how exactly did a small record label in Vancouver, Wash. come across new music from Prince that has them in a battle with the Purple One's estate?
Local Puppet Legend Michael Curry Conjures the Myth of Persephone with the Oregon Symphony - 1:24

This weekend, the Oregon Symphony will wade into the wonderful world of puppets with a production of "Persephone" (May 13–15). For the first time, it’s collaborating with Michael Curry, the puppet master behind the animals in the Broadway production of "The Lion King," as well as Olympic opening ceremonies and other massive events. OPB's Molly Solomon takes us to Curry’s massive warehouse in Scappoose, Oregon to see his magical operations.

Shaking Up The Classics at Oregon Shakespeare Festival - 3:30

For our money, the hottest ticket at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival this spring is a show with an ancient story: “Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles,” which runs through July 6. It’s a retelling of Euripides’ classic tale of a princess witch who’s followed her lover into exile in a foreign land. When he rejects her, she kills her own children in an act of vengeance. Adapted by the MacArthur-winning playwright Luis Alfaro, “Mojada” reforms the classic Greek tale into a story about Mexican immigrants trying to make it in Los Angeles.

World Premiered Play Asks: Is the American Dream All It's Cracked Up to Be? - 10:21

Seattle-based playwright Yussef El Guindi scandalized Portland, in a good way, with the world premiere of his play “Threesome” at Portland Center Stage in 2015. It’s about a Muslim couple’s failed attempt to invite a non-Muslim into their bed, but there’s a lot more going on in the show than pillow talk. El Guindi returns to the dynamics of a troubled immigrant couple with his new play, “The Talented Ones,” which is getting its world premiere at Portland’s Artists Repertory Theater through May 21.

How Did Vancouver Become the Center of a Fight over Prince's Music? - 17:42

Last month, when a Minnesota judge halted the release of an album featuring six previously unreleased songs from the late artist Prince, something caught our eye. The record label in the middle of the legal battle was a largely unknown company from Vancouver, Washington called Rogue Music Alliance. Before a federal judge halted its release, the EP, “Deliverance,” was the top selling pre-order on iTunes, with the single “Deliverance” hitting the No. 1 rock single spot.
The Fallen Heroes of Comic Book Writer Chris Sebela - 23:16

Chris Sebela’s comic “Heartthrob” is the furthest thing from a romance novel. With art by Robert Wilson, “Heartthrob” tells the story of a woman who gets a heart transplant that not only saves her life, but throws her into a chaotic affair with the man who originally housed the heart — or at least his specter. Turns out he was a criminal and wants her to carry on some unfinished heists. Turns out, Sebela has a thing for heroes with flaws, from the disgraced snowboard at the center of his hit graphic novel “High Crimes,” to the out-of-work movie monsters in "Screamland."

opbmusic Session with Kelli Schaefer - 32:27

Portland songwriter Kelli Schaefer crafts ghostly rock songs that explore themes of capitalism and mortality — songs that're spurred by a big, dark voice that’s drawn comparisons to PJ Harvey. Her new album, “No Identity,” is a loosely-organized concept album following a family’s run-ins with tragedy and the mundane. Schaefer will perform at Mississippi Studios on May 16. Want a taste? Check out videos of her opbmusic session.
Why Everything You Need to Know You Did NOT Learn in Art History - 39:10

A little while ago, we had on the writer, artist, and art activist Jennifer Rabin to talk about two projects she's behind: Artists Resist and Art Passport PDX. But the original reason we contacted her was to talk about an article she wrote for "Willamette Week" about the "Constructing Identities" exhibition at the Portland Art Museum. She wrote that her education in art history left her woefully unprepared to write about a show by African-American artists — or any underrepresented artist for that matter. So for our latest installment in our "What Are You Looking At?" series, we invited her to walk through the show with us.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11853289Fri, 12 May 2017 23:25:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe're digging deep this week into all of your burning questions. What does it take to craft gigantic puppets for Broadway? Does art history as we know it need a drastic makeover? And how exactly did a small record label in Vancouver, Wash. come...
What does it take to craft gigantic puppets for Broadway? Does art history as we know it need a drastic makeover? And how exactly did a small record label in Vancouver, Wash. come across new music from Prince that has them in a battle with the Purple One's estate?
Local Puppet Legend Michael Curry Conjures the Myth of Persephone with the Oregon Symphony - 1:24

This weekend, the Oregon Symphony will wade into the wonderful world of puppets with a production of "Persephone" (May 13–15). For the first time, it’s collaborating with Michael Curry, the puppet master behind the animals in the Broadway production of "The Lion King," as well as Olympic opening ceremonies and other massive events. OPB's Molly Solomon takes us to Curry’s massive warehouse in Scappoose, Oregon to see his magical operations.

Shaking Up The Classics at Oregon Shakespeare Festival - 3:30

For our money, the hottest ticket at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival this spring is a show with an ancient story: “Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles,” which runs through July 6. It’s a retelling of Euripides’ classic tale of a princess witch who’s followed her lover into exile in a foreign land. When he rejects her, she kills her own children in an act of vengeance. Adapted by the MacArthur-winning playwright Luis Alfaro, “Mojada” reforms the classic Greek tale into a story about Mexican immigrants trying to make it in Los Angeles.

World Premiered Play Asks: Is the American Dream All It's Cracked Up to Be? - 10:21

Seattle-based playwright Yussef El Guindi scandalized Portland, in a good way, with the world premiere of his play “Threesome” at Portland Center Stage in 2015. It’s about a Muslim couple’s failed attempt to invite a non-Muslim into their bed, but there’s a lot more going on in the show than pillow talk. El Guindi returns to the dynamics of a troubled immigrant couple with his new play, “The Talented Ones,” which is getting its world premiere at Portland’s Artists Repertory Theater through May 21.

How Did Vancouver Become the Center of a Fight over Prince's Music? - 17:42

Last month, when a Minnesota judge halted the release of an album featuring six previously unreleased songs from the late artist Prince, something caught our eye. The record label in the middle of the legal battle was a largely unknown company from Vancouver, Washington called Rogue Music Alliance. Before a federal judge halted its release, the EP, “Deliverance,” was the top selling pre-order on iTunes, with the single “Deliverance” hitting the No. 1 rock single spot.
The Fallen Heroes of Comic Book Writer Chris Sebela - 23:16

Chris Sebela’s comic “Heartthrob” is the furthest thing from a romance novel. With art by Robert Wilson, “Heartthrob” tells the story of a woman who gets a heart transplant that not only saves her life, but throws her into a chaotic affair with the man who originally housed the heart — or at least his specter. Turns out he was a criminal and wants her to carry on some unfinished heists. Turns out, Sebela has a thing for heroes with flaws, from the disgraced snowboard at the center of his hit graphic novel “High Crimes,” to the out-of-work movie monsters in "Screamland."

opbmusic Session with Kelli Schaefer - 32:27

Portland songwriter Kelli Schaefer crafts ghostly rock songs that explore themes of capitalism and mortality — songs that're spurred by a big, dark voice that’s drawn comparisons to PJ Harvey. Her new album, “No Identity,” is a loosely-organized concept album following a family’s run-ins with tragedy and the mundane. Schaefer will perform at Mississippi Studios on May 16. Want a taste? Check out videos of her opbmusic session.
Why Everything You Need to Know You Did NOT Learn in Art History - 39:10

A little while ago, we had on the writer, artist, and...]]>3100falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/may-20-paul-simon-bio-by-peter-ames-carlin-lindy-west-rivka-galchen--11911055
Peter Ames Carlin on Paul Simon

Peter Ames Carlin has written about some of the most iconic musicians of the 20th century — Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson — and his new book is no exception.

Paul Simon soundtracked the 1960s, together with his soul mate, frenemy and long-time musical partner, Art Garfunkel. But as Carlin’s book “Homeward Bound” shows, the road to Graceland was strewn with contradictions, and the man who gave us some of the sweetest harmonies of the 20th century was not the guy you would want to cross over song royalties. But if he's someone you want to see, you can catch Paul Simon in all his glory at the Les Schwab Ampitheater in Bend on June 24.

Lindy West

How exactly is it Lindy West ended up at the center of so many white-hot flash points in pop culture? She has thought through difficult subjects with rigor, creativity and brio: misogyny in comedy, fat acceptance, trolling on Twitter and more. The celebrated columnist for "The Guardian" talks to us about her memoir, “Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman,” her roots at Seattle’s alt-weekly "The Stranger," and how her parents contributed to the fireproofing that lets her fight her battles.

Rivka Galchen

The exquisite essays and stories of Rivka Galchen delight readers of the "New Yorker," the "New York Times" and other hot spots. All great writers meet their match, and Galchen nearly hit her own wall four years ago. Her elegantly constructed idea for a book comparing two medieval Japanese women writers was neatly derailed by the birth of her daughter. Onstage at Wordstock, Galchen tells us how she learned to embrace the kind of thoughts she was having in the throes of baby inebriation.

The resulting book, “Little Labors,” is a series of short, splendid essays that perfectly describe the altered state of maternity.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11911055Sat, 20 May 2017 01:54:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn anticipation for Wordstock 2017, which announced its return on Nov. 11, we take a step into the time machine and revisit last year's wordsmiths. The big news is that the subject of one of their books, a musician you might know from the soles of his...
Peter Ames Carlin on Paul Simon

Peter Ames Carlin has written about some of the most iconic musicians of the 20th century — Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson — and his new book is no exception.

Paul Simon soundtracked the 1960s, together with his soul mate, frenemy and long-time musical partner, Art Garfunkel. But as Carlin’s book “Homeward Bound” shows, the road to Graceland was strewn with contradictions, and the man who gave us some of the sweetest harmonies of the 20th century was not the guy you would want to cross over song royalties. But if he's someone you want to see, you can catch Paul Simon in all his glory at the Les Schwab Ampitheater in Bend on June 24.

Lindy West

How exactly is it Lindy West ended up at the center of so many white-hot flash points in pop culture? She has thought through difficult subjects with rigor, creativity and brio: misogyny in comedy, fat acceptance, trolling on Twitter and more. The celebrated columnist for "The Guardian" talks to us about her memoir, “Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman,” her roots at Seattle’s alt-weekly "The Stranger," and how her parents contributed to the fireproofing that lets her fight her battles.

Rivka Galchen

The exquisite essays and stories of Rivka Galchen delight readers of the "New Yorker," the "New York Times" and other hot spots. All great writers meet their match, and Galchen nearly hit her own wall four years ago. Her elegantly constructed idea for a book comparing two medieval Japanese women writers was neatly derailed by the birth of her daughter. Onstage at Wordstock, Galchen tells us how she learned to embrace the kind of thoughts she was having in the throes of baby inebriation.

The resulting book, “Little Labors,” is a series of short, splendid essays that perfectly describe the altered state of maternity.]]>3190falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/may-27-wonder-woman-edward-albee-and-the-casting-dilemma-tank-and-the-bangas-teaching-with-holograms--11966934
We will journey to the amazon to discover the secret history of Wonder Woman, hop over to New Orleans to hear the funk-soul of Tank and the Bangas, and fly home to Portland to hear about the clown that inspired "The Simpsons" character Krusty the Clown.

Could Holograms Bring the Universe to a Classroom Near You? - 24:55

A virtual trip to the pyramids? An interactive hologram of the solar system? Virtual reality has the potential to transform the classroom and how we learn everything from history to astronomy to engineering. A unique local partnership between Oregon Story Board, Intel and Clackamas Community College received a prestigious grant from Microsoft to create and test an educational curriculum for the company's mixed reality Hololens, which allows users to see and interact with holograms laid over the real world. They found that the potential to help students understand complex systems like the automatic transmission was stunning.
opbmusic Session With Tank and the Bangas - 30:53

Thousands of bands entered NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest this year, but the judges said the answer was clear: The New Orleans band Tank and the Bangas. Filmed in a classroom, the video for their song “Quick” schooled us with infectious joy and introduced viewers all around the world to the band’s funk-soul-spoken-word style and the rapid-fire storytelling of Tarriona “Tank” Ball.

Playwright's Estate Says "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" Can't Be Performed With A Black Actor - 39:17

This month, a Portland Production of "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" by Edward Albee made headlines — without an actor setting foot on-stage. A Portland producer had planned to stage the play this fall, casting an African-American actor, Damien Geter, in one of the four lead roles. However, as Albee was notoriously strict about casting, his estate delivered an ultimatum: cast a white actor in the role or lose the rights to the production.

The producer Michael Streeter cancelled the play.
The Portland Clown Who Inspired The Simpsons - 48:25

And now... a blast from Portland’s past. OPB digital producer John Rosman recently produced a birthday video tribute to an icon: the entertainer who helped to inspire Krusty the Clown from "The Simpsons." Rusty Nails was a much-loved staple in the Portland entertainment community back in his day, and, despite his dangerous name, nothing like the depressed, alcoholic Krusty.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11966934Sat, 27 May 2017 00:52:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGrab your passport and sunglasses because we are going on an intercontinental adventure. We will journey to the amazon to discover the secret history of Wonder Woman, hop over to New Orleans to hear the funk-soul of Tank and the Bangas, and fly home...
We will journey to the amazon to discover the secret history of Wonder Woman, hop over to New Orleans to hear the funk-soul of Tank and the Bangas, and fly home to Portland to hear about the clown that inspired "The Simpsons" character Krusty the Clown.

Could Holograms Bring the Universe to a Classroom Near You? - 24:55

A virtual trip to the pyramids? An interactive hologram of the solar system? Virtual reality has the potential to transform the classroom and how we learn everything from history to astronomy to engineering. A unique local partnership between Oregon Story Board, Intel and Clackamas Community College received a prestigious grant from Microsoft to create and test an educational curriculum for the company's mixed reality Hololens, which allows users to see and interact with holograms laid over the real world. They found that the potential to help students understand complex systems like the automatic transmission was stunning.
opbmusic Session With Tank and the Bangas - 30:53

Thousands of bands entered NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest this year, but the judges said the answer was clear: The New Orleans band Tank and the Bangas. Filmed in a classroom, the video for their song “Quick” schooled us with infectious joy and introduced viewers all around the world to the band’s funk-soul-spoken-word style and the rapid-fire storytelling of Tarriona “Tank” Ball.

Playwright's Estate Says "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" Can't Be Performed With A Black Actor - 39:17

This month, a Portland Production of "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" by Edward Albee made headlines — without an actor setting foot on-stage. A Portland producer had planned to stage the play this fall, casting an African-American actor, Damien Geter, in one of the four lead roles. However, as Albee was notoriously strict about casting, his estate delivered an ultimatum: cast a white actor in the role or lose the rights to the production.

The producer Michael Streeter cancelled the play.
The Portland Clown Who Inspired The Simpsons - 48:25

And now... a blast from Portland’s past. OPB digital producer John Rosman recently produced a birthday video tribute to an icon: the entertainer who helped to inspire Krusty the Clown from "The Simpsons." Rusty Nails was a much-loved staple in the Portland entertainment community back in his day, and, despite his dangerous name, nothing like the depressed, alcoholic Krusty.]]>3083falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/june-3-remembering-brian-doyle-poet-hero-micah-fletcher-loch-lomon-women-in-horror-blake-nelson--12021519https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12021519Fri, 02 Jun 2017 21:33:19 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTo say it was a tough week… doesn’t really seem to cover it. Portland is still reeling from the stabbing that badly shook up the city’s sense of relative safety and tolerance. Book lovers said a painful goodbye to one of the strongest and most...3125falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jun-10-grisha-bruskin-lidia-yuknavitch-robin-bacior-blind-pilot-schnitzer-museums-at-more-nw-universities--12076227https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12076227Fri, 09 Jun 2017 22:11:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingInto the Mystic: this week, artist Grisha Bruskin and writer Lidia Yuknavitch lead us along their paths for spiritual truth. Bruskin - fresh off the Venice Biennale, makes huge tapestries are the centerpiece of a a new museum in Portland. Yuknavitch...3157falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/june-17-pdx-s-new-jazz-club-ghost-ship-fire-lee-kelly-kurt-busiek--12139206
Ghost Ship Fallout: Portland Art Spaces Grapple with News of Indictments in Oakland - 2:48

Prosecutors in Oakland, California have sent shock waves through the art world, filing criminal charges last week against two artist-administrators from the Ghost Ship warehouse. Thirty-six people died when the building caught fire during an electronica show last December. We hear about the case and then check in with a trio of Portland artists — designer Faith Jennings and metalworkers Richard Cawley and Gustav Sculptor — who work in warehouse art collectives about what effect the tragic fire has had on local creative spaces.

Behind the Curtains at Portland's New Home for Live Jazz - 15:05

Filling the void left by the closure of Jimmy Mak's, the Jack London Revue has officially opened its doors, and with them, a new chapter in Portland jazz history. The venue has rehabbed downtown Portland's old Jack London dive bar into a red curtain-lined club with a explosive mix of straight-ahead jazz and hip-hop, latin jazz, space funk, experimental blues, neo-soul, and everything inbetween.

Animals and Anti-Heroes: Diving Into the Unique World "Autumnlands" - 20:55

Veteran comic book author Kurt Busiek has written many of the big names — the Avengers, Superman, Batman, Iron Man — as well as his own masterful, long-lived and much-loved superhero anthology series, "Astro City." But one of his most exciting recent series stands out: it's what would've happened if "Dark Crystal"–era Jim Henson decided to do a masters in Sociology. "Autumnlands" is a fantasy epic getting critical raves for its vivid world and social commentary. Brought to striking life by artist Benjamin Dewey and colorist Jordie Bellaire, “Autumnlands” opens in a futuristic world where anthropomorphized animals are king, with humanity as we know it only a distant memory.

opbmusic Session with Animal Eyes - 31:56

From the ice to the forest, Alaskan transplants Animal Eyes have traveled far to bring us swirling off-kilter psychedelic pop-rock. Since moving to Portland five years ago, they’ve released a ton of wacky nature-themed tunes and successfully infiltrated the local rock scene. Now they’re back with the album "Where We Go," a danceable break-up album that’s both fun and introspective.

Brushing Up Your Inner Diva with Drag Artist Kaj-Anne Pepper - 36:07

For the rare few, being a diva comes naturally. For the rest of us, it takes practice. Lots and lots of practice. Portland drag performer and performance artist Kaj-Anne Pepper has taken to the theater to explore the hard work behind being fabulous with a three-part series called "Diva Practice."

The Magnificent Sculptures of Lee Kelly - 42:00

Almost everywhere you go in Oregon, you are bound to stumble upon a piece by the prolific sculptor Lee Kelly. You may very well have passed one of his iconic steel works today, like the towering Bend Gate or the hieroglyphic forms of Memory 99 in Portland’s Northwest park blocks. A few months back, we visited his studio in Oregon City, an old dairy farm, reborn as a workspace, residency, and sculpture garden — you can find a slide show here.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12139206Sat, 17 Jun 2017 00:13:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on “State of Wonder,” shake off your June gloom with the magical animals of "Autumnlands," the music of Animal Eyes, the monumental sculptures of Lee Kelly, the drag art of Kaj-Anne Pepper, and all that jazz at new music joint Jack London...
Ghost Ship Fallout: Portland Art Spaces Grapple with News of Indictments in Oakland - 2:48

Prosecutors in Oakland, California have sent shock waves through the art world, filing criminal charges last week against two artist-administrators from the Ghost Ship warehouse. Thirty-six people died when the building caught fire during an electronica show last December. We hear about the case and then check in with a trio of Portland artists — designer Faith Jennings and metalworkers Richard Cawley and Gustav Sculptor — who work in warehouse art collectives about what effect the tragic fire has had on local creative spaces.

Behind the Curtains at Portland's New Home for Live Jazz - 15:05

Filling the void left by the closure of Jimmy Mak's, the Jack London Revue has officially opened its doors, and with them, a new chapter in Portland jazz history. The venue has rehabbed downtown Portland's old Jack London dive bar into a red curtain-lined club with a explosive mix of straight-ahead jazz and hip-hop, latin jazz, space funk, experimental blues, neo-soul, and everything inbetween.

Animals and Anti-Heroes: Diving Into the Unique World "Autumnlands" - 20:55

Veteran comic book author Kurt Busiek has written many of the big names — the Avengers, Superman, Batman, Iron Man — as well as his own masterful, long-lived and much-loved superhero anthology series, "Astro City." But one of his most exciting recent series stands out: it's what would've happened if "Dark Crystal"–era Jim Henson decided to do a masters in Sociology. "Autumnlands" is a fantasy epic getting critical raves for its vivid world and social commentary. Brought to striking life by artist Benjamin Dewey and colorist Jordie Bellaire, “Autumnlands” opens in a futuristic world where anthropomorphized animals are king, with humanity as we know it only a distant memory.

opbmusic Session with Animal Eyes - 31:56

From the ice to the forest, Alaskan transplants Animal Eyes have traveled far to bring us swirling off-kilter psychedelic pop-rock. Since moving to Portland five years ago, they’ve released a ton of wacky nature-themed tunes and successfully infiltrated the local rock scene. Now they’re back with the album "Where We Go," a danceable break-up album that’s both fun and introspective.

Brushing Up Your Inner Diva with Drag Artist Kaj-Anne Pepper - 36:07

For the rare few, being a diva comes naturally. For the rest of us, it takes practice. Lots and lots of practice. Portland drag performer and performance artist Kaj-Anne Pepper has taken to the theater to explore the hard work behind being fabulous with a three-part series called "Diva Practice."

The Magnificent Sculptures of Lee Kelly - 42:00

Almost everywhere you go in Oregon, you are bound to stumble upon a piece by the prolific sculptor Lee Kelly. You may very well have passed one of his iconic steel works today, like the towering Bend Gate or the hieroglyphic forms of Memory 99 in Portland’s Northwest park blocks. A few months back, we visited his studio in Oregon City, an old dairy farm, reborn as a workspace, residency, and sculpture garden — you can find a slide show here.]]>3109falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/june-24-beth-ditto-the-slants-thara-memory-omar-el-akkad-and-more--12200905
After Years of Fighting, The Slants Prevail at the Supreme Court - 1:23

This week the United States Supreme Court cleared the way for the Portland dance rock band the Slants to register a trademark for its name — something the Patent and Trademark Office had previously rejected, claiming it was derogatory. The Slants argued that their name reclaimed a racist slur, but the case also sets a permissive precedent for how the federal government handles trademarks using offensive language. It's prompted celebration from some groups—such as a well-known Washington football team—that use objectionable terms unironically.

Oregon Ballet Theater Centers Women Choreographers at Choreography XX - 6:33

It’s not at all rare for major ballet companies to go whole seasons without performing a single work created by a woman. Oregon Ballet Theater set out last year to change that with a new competition called Choreography XX. Of nearly 100 applicants, they chose three women from around the continent to create new works, set them on the company, and premiere them at free performances on June 29 and 30 in Washington Park's Rose Garden Amphitheater.

Powerhouse Singer Beth Ditto's New Solo Record: 'Fake Sugar' - 13:37

As the singer of the hit garage-turned-dance-rock band Gossip, Beth Ditto rose to international acclaim with the 2006 breakout “Standing in the Way of Control” and broke the record in Germany for the longest-selling hit single with “Heavy Cross.” While touring with the band, she also became a fashion icon for her unique style and unapologetic approach to her weight, posing naked on the covers of magazines, walking in Paris fashion shows, collaborating on a line of MAC cosmetics and even creating her own clothing lines. She also penned a memoir about growing up poor in the south. Now, Ditto is mining those roots in her first full-length solo record, “Fake Sugar.”

Playwright E.M. Lewis Stages a Different Kind of 'Gun Show' - 22:14

The Oregon playwright E.M. Lewis grew up surrounded by guns and learned to shoot on a date with her husband-to-be. But then she found herself on the other end of a barrel during a robbery and lost her husband to a gun wound. She knows firsthand the whole range of emotions guns elicit, and she’s loaded them all into a provocative play “The Gun Show.” The show debuted locally last fall, and it was so successful that Lewis and Vin Shambry, the actor who plays Lewis's character in the one-man show, are taking it on the road: first to Washington, DC, and then to a month-long run at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Hood River Teacher Rachel Harry Wins the Tony for Theater Education - 31:39

The Tony Award for theater education goes to... teacher Rachel Harry at Hood River Valley High School. Harry welcomed us in during the final week of classes, so we could see what sets her program apart. She's been teaching in Hood River for 30 years, forging close connections with her students and pushing them toward fairly high-level creative practice.

Remembering Jazz Musician Thara Memory - 36:46

Jazz musician and educator died last Saturday night after an extended illness at 68. He lived hard, impacted hundreds of lives, mentored star musicians like Esperanza Spalding, and spent his final months trying to clear his reputation after former students accused him of inappropriate conduct. We look back on his complicated legacy.
Omar El Akkad's "American War" Imagines - 43:40

As a former correspondent for Toronto’s 'Globe and Mail newspaper, Omar El Akkad covered the Arab Spring in Egypt, military trials at Guantanamo Bay, refugee camps in Afghanistan, and the Black Lives Matter movement in Ferguson, Missouri. You can see many of those worlds in detail in his new book, but there’s a twist: El Akkad’s new book is a novel—a terrifyingly realistic one that’s set in the second half of the 21st century. The book is called "American War," and it’s the story of the second American Civil War—a war fought over fossil fuel consumption from 2074 to 2095.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12200905Sat, 24 Jun 2017 01:12:31 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on "State of Wonder," singer Beth Ditto breaks out from her band Gossip, the Slants gets their big day at the Supreme Court, and we look back on Thara Memory's complicated legacy. After Years of Fighting, The Slants Prevail at the Supreme...
After Years of Fighting, The Slants Prevail at the Supreme Court - 1:23

This week the United States Supreme Court cleared the way for the Portland dance rock band the Slants to register a trademark for its name — something the Patent and Trademark Office had previously rejected, claiming it was derogatory. The Slants argued that their name reclaimed a racist slur, but the case also sets a permissive precedent for how the federal government handles trademarks using offensive language. It's prompted celebration from some groups—such as a well-known Washington football team—that use objectionable terms unironically.

Oregon Ballet Theater Centers Women Choreographers at Choreography XX - 6:33

It’s not at all rare for major ballet companies to go whole seasons without performing a single work created by a woman. Oregon Ballet Theater set out last year to change that with a new competition called Choreography XX. Of nearly 100 applicants, they chose three women from around the continent to create new works, set them on the company, and premiere them at free performances on June 29 and 30 in Washington Park's Rose Garden Amphitheater.

Powerhouse Singer Beth Ditto's New Solo Record: 'Fake Sugar' - 13:37

As the singer of the hit garage-turned-dance-rock band Gossip, Beth Ditto rose to international acclaim with the 2006 breakout “Standing in the Way of Control” and broke the record in Germany for the longest-selling hit single with “Heavy Cross.” While touring with the band, she also became a fashion icon for her unique style and unapologetic approach to her weight, posing naked on the covers of magazines, walking in Paris fashion shows, collaborating on a line of MAC cosmetics and even creating her own clothing lines. She also penned a memoir about growing up poor in the south. Now, Ditto is mining those roots in her first full-length solo record, “Fake Sugar.”

Playwright E.M. Lewis Stages a Different Kind of 'Gun Show' - 22:14

The Oregon playwright E.M. Lewis grew up surrounded by guns and learned to shoot on a date with her husband-to-be. But then she found herself on the other end of a barrel during a robbery and lost her husband to a gun wound. She knows firsthand the whole range of emotions guns elicit, and she’s loaded them all into a provocative play “The Gun Show.” The show debuted locally last fall, and it was so successful that Lewis and Vin Shambry, the actor who plays Lewis's character in the one-man show, are taking it on the road: first to Washington, DC, and then to a month-long run at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Hood River Teacher Rachel Harry Wins the Tony for Theater Education - 31:39

The Tony Award for theater education goes to... teacher Rachel Harry at Hood River Valley High School. Harry welcomed us in during the final week of classes, so we could see what sets her program apart. She's been teaching in Hood River for 30 years, forging close connections with her students and pushing them toward fairly high-level creative practice.

Remembering Jazz Musician Thara Memory - 36:46

Jazz musician and educator died last Saturday night after an extended illness at 68. He lived hard, impacted hundreds of lives, mentored star musicians like Esperanza Spalding, and spent his final months trying to clear his reputation after former students accused him of inappropriate conduct. We look back on his complicated legacy.
Omar El Akkad's "American War" Imagines - 43:40

As a former correspondent for Toronto’s 'Globe and Mail newspaper, Omar El Akkad covered the Arab Spring in Egypt, military trials at Guantanamo Bay, refugee camps in Afghanistan, and the Black Lives Matter...]]>3102falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-1-authors-maria-semple-rabih-alameddine-and-alexander-chee-at-wordstock--12246903
The world of Maria Semple's imagination is a glowing place. Her characters rocket off on madcap adventures; they collide at high speed; they teeter on the edge of emotional cliffhangers. Some passages crackle with the comedic snap she honed writing for TV shows like “Arrested Development” and "Mad About You," but at the center of her stories are quiet emotional truths. Semple’s last novel was the "New York Times" best-seller “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?” — a merry chase on the trail of a formidable heroine that's currently being adapted into a movie starring Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig and Billy Crudup. This year she’s back with another kind of caper, "Today Will Be Different," which in turn will be made into an HBO limited series starring Julia Roberts and written by Semple.

Rabih Alameddine on "The Angel of History" - 17:05

Rabih Alameddine possesses the kind of multifaceted mind we all aspire to. His career has spanned engineering, painting and writing, and his six books keenly bridge the Middle East and the West, religion and sexuality, history and pop culture. In "The Angel of History," Alameddine mixes many different currents to tell the story of a young Yemeni-born, gay man who weathers San Francisco’s AIDS epidemic through an unusual relationship with Satan and a gaggle of saints. Alameddine talks about the gray areas between good and evil, Satan as a protagonist, and the importance of remembering the past, particularly the hardest moments, in order to move into the future.

"The Angel of History" recently won the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction.

Alexander Chee on "The Queen of the Night" - 35:47

Alexander Chee’s new book, “The Queen of the Night,” is a waltz through a kaleidoscopic 19th-century world of opera, romance and intrigue that the "New York Times" called a "post modern bodice ripper." It follow the journey of a 19th-century American girl from a circus to a brothel to the service of France's empress to the glamorous life of a star soprano. Chee tells us how he interwove his own characters with historic giants of France’s Second Empire, like Verdi, famous courtesans and the Emperor Napoleon the Third, as well as his own journey from boy soprano to novelist.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12246903Fri, 30 Jun 2017 00:54:07 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMaria Semple on "Today Will Be Different" - 1:23 The world of Maria Semple's imagination is a glowing place. Her characters rocket off on madcap adventures; they collide at high speed; they teeter on the edge of emotional cliffhangers. Some passages...
The world of Maria Semple's imagination is a glowing place. Her characters rocket off on madcap adventures; they collide at high speed; they teeter on the edge of emotional cliffhangers. Some passages crackle with the comedic snap she honed writing for TV shows like “Arrested Development” and "Mad About You," but at the center of her stories are quiet emotional truths. Semple’s last novel was the "New York Times" best-seller “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?” — a merry chase on the trail of a formidable heroine that's currently being adapted into a movie starring Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig and Billy Crudup. This year she’s back with another kind of caper, "Today Will Be Different," which in turn will be made into an HBO limited series starring Julia Roberts and written by Semple.

Rabih Alameddine on "The Angel of History" - 17:05

Rabih Alameddine possesses the kind of multifaceted mind we all aspire to. His career has spanned engineering, painting and writing, and his six books keenly bridge the Middle East and the West, religion and sexuality, history and pop culture. In "The Angel of History," Alameddine mixes many different currents to tell the story of a young Yemeni-born, gay man who weathers San Francisco’s AIDS epidemic through an unusual relationship with Satan and a gaggle of saints. Alameddine talks about the gray areas between good and evil, Satan as a protagonist, and the importance of remembering the past, particularly the hardest moments, in order to move into the future.

"The Angel of History" recently won the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction.

Alexander Chee on "The Queen of the Night" - 35:47

Alexander Chee’s new book, “The Queen of the Night,” is a waltz through a kaleidoscopic 19th-century world of opera, romance and intrigue that the "New York Times" called a "post modern bodice ripper." It follow the journey of a 19th-century American girl from a circus to a brothel to the service of France's empress to the glamorous life of a star soprano. Chee tells us how he interwove his own characters with historic giants of France’s Second Empire, like Verdi, famous courtesans and the Emperor Napoleon the Third, as well as his own journey from boy soprano to novelist.]]>3134falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hurray-for-the-riff-raff-ghost-town-poetry-teva-harrison-ural-thomas-bend-art-center--12307980https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12307980Sat, 08 Jul 2017 08:09:26 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDevil-may-care side trips to imaginary cities, soul-searching conversation with graphic novelist Teva Harrison, and moments of wonder with Portland's premier soul interpreter.3231falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/vancouver-s-ghost-town-poetry-hasn-t-missed-a-beat-since-2004--12314821https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12314821Sun, 09 Jul 2017 14:19:00 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting625falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/artist-mixes-nature-and-business--12315123Erika Bartlett is such an artist.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12315123Sun, 09 Jul 2017 16:09:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt’s not often you find an artist whose work incorporates nature, meditation and a business plan. Erika Bartlett is such an artist.Erika Bartlett is such an artist.]]>600falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/colin-meloy-and-olivia-chaney-in-new-folk-collaboration-offa-rex--12355527https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12355527Fri, 14 Jul 2017 20:14:49 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe Decemberists may have finally met their match. The band has been working with British singer Olivia Chaney under the name Offa Rex — a reference to an Anglo-Saxon king. Their album, released on July 14 and produced by local whiz Tucker Martine, is...634falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davinci-days-is-back-in-corvallis--12355861DaVinci Days includes a full-three day schedule this year. Finances forced organizers to suspended operations for 2014 and 2015.
One event kept chugging, even when DaVinci Days was on hiatus — it’s a competition that may best embody the ingenuity and play at the festival’s heart. The Graand Kinetic Challenge is a race over land and water in handmade vehicles. We sent Liza Yeager out to answer the question: who is a kinetic sculpture racer? We also talk to board member Steve Clark about the festival's return.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12355861Fri, 14 Jul 2017 21:11:02 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis weekend Corvallis celebrates the return DaVinci Days: the festival where art and science mix. It started 29 years ago in the spirit of Leonardo DaVinci — a man as much about math as Mona Lisa. At this festival you’ll be able to listen to live...DaVinci Days includes a full-three day schedule this year. Finances forced organizers to suspended operations for 2014 and 2015.
One event kept chugging, even when DaVinci Days was on hiatus — it’s a competition that may best embody the ingenuity and play at the festival’s heart. The Graand Kinetic Challenge is a race over land and water in handmade vehicles. We sent Liza Yeager out to answer the question: who is a kinetic sculpture racer? We also talk to board member Steve Clark about the festival's return.]]>687falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-15-the-decemberists-as-offa-rex-tracy-k-smith-da-vinci-days-bend-arts-center--12356530
The Decemberists may have finally met their match. The band has been collaborating with British singer Olivia Chaney to reinterpret tradition Scottish, Irish and English songs under the name Offa Rex — a reference to an Anglo-Saxon king. The resulting album, “The Queen of Hearts," comes out July 14 and is produced by local whiz Tucker Martine, and you can see Off Rex perform live July 23 at the Aladdin Theater.

Kinetic Sculpture Racers Pedal On at Revamped DaVinci Days in Corvallis - 11:37

This weekend, Corvallis celebrates the return Da Vinci Days: the festival where art and science mix. It started 29 years ago in the spirit of Leonardo DaVinci — a man as much about math as Mona Lisa. Da Vinci Days includes a full-three day schedule this year filled with live music, lectures, poetry readings, and a competition that may best embody the ingenuity and play at the festival’s heart: the Grand Kinetic Challenge, a race over land and water in handmade vehicles.

Gallery 114’s Exhibition, “Human Being,” Centers Work by Incarcerated Artists - 22:04

“Human Being,” the art show on view at Gallery 114 in NW Portland, features paintings and drawings and mixed media works by men who are serving life sentences in prison. David Slader, a former attorney who has devoted his retirement years to painting, invited three guest artists, Jerome Sloan, David Drenth, and B. Pat, to show artwork created in their Oregon prison cells alongside his own work.

Boone Howard, PNW Rocker and Sound Engineer, Releases Solo Debut - 27:44

An accomplished musician and former front man of Portland rock band The We Shared Milk, Boone Howard is also a sought-after live sound engineer. Now’s your chance to check out both his music and sound engineering chops on his solo debut record, “The Other Side of Town.” You can find videos of Howard's opbmusic performance here.

Bend Arts Center Opens in a Changing Central Oregon Arts Landscape - 33:20

Atelier 6000, a studio dedicated to printmaking and book arts, re-opened this month with a new name signifying a much broader mission: the Bend Art Center. The Center will offer expanded class offerings and a broader range of art exhibitions, but the name change is also a signpost for the restless conversation in Central Oregon art circles about who speaks for art, and what needs to be said. We check in with the folks at the new Bend Arts Center, plus local artists and art advocacy leaders, about possibilities and limitations for art in the region.
U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith - 40:01

In June, Tracy K. Smith was named 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States. This is just the latest add to an impressive string of titles: in 2012, Smith won a Pulitzer for her poetry collection Life on Mars, she runs the creative writing program at Princeton University, and, this year, published a new memoir.
Arts Funding at the Capitol - 45:23

The legislative session just wrapped up, and we kept up on bills and funding packages so you don’t have to.

One success for arts advocates: six million dollars in lottery bond money for Main Street Preservation grants. We check in with folks at the Liberty Theater in LaGrande, which will benefit from the bill. Plus, more on legislation that mandates a consideration of regional differences when state arts grants are awarded, and a look at the Oregon Arts Commission, which is facing a 16 percent budget cut.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12356530Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:15:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA New Collaboration for The Decemberists: Offa Rex The Decemberists may have finally met their match. The band has been collaborating with British singer Olivia Chaney to reinterpret tradition Scottish, Irish and English songs under the name Offa Rex...
The Decemberists may have finally met their match. The band has been collaborating with British singer Olivia Chaney to reinterpret tradition Scottish, Irish and English songs under the name Offa Rex — a reference to an Anglo-Saxon king. The resulting album, “The Queen of Hearts," comes out July 14 and is produced by local whiz Tucker Martine, and you can see Off Rex perform live July 23 at the Aladdin Theater.

Kinetic Sculpture Racers Pedal On at Revamped DaVinci Days in Corvallis - 11:37

This weekend, Corvallis celebrates the return Da Vinci Days: the festival where art and science mix. It started 29 years ago in the spirit of Leonardo DaVinci — a man as much about math as Mona Lisa. Da Vinci Days includes a full-three day schedule this year filled with live music, lectures, poetry readings, and a competition that may best embody the ingenuity and play at the festival’s heart: the Grand Kinetic Challenge, a race over land and water in handmade vehicles.

Gallery 114’s Exhibition, “Human Being,” Centers Work by Incarcerated Artists - 22:04

“Human Being,” the art show on view at Gallery 114 in NW Portland, features paintings and drawings and mixed media works by men who are serving life sentences in prison. David Slader, a former attorney who has devoted his retirement years to painting, invited three guest artists, Jerome Sloan, David Drenth, and B. Pat, to show artwork created in their Oregon prison cells alongside his own work.

Boone Howard, PNW Rocker and Sound Engineer, Releases Solo Debut - 27:44

An accomplished musician and former front man of Portland rock band The We Shared Milk, Boone Howard is also a sought-after live sound engineer. Now’s your chance to check out both his music and sound engineering chops on his solo debut record, “The Other Side of Town.” You can find videos of Howard's opbmusic performance here.

Bend Arts Center Opens in a Changing Central Oregon Arts Landscape - 33:20

Atelier 6000, a studio dedicated to printmaking and book arts, re-opened this month with a new name signifying a much broader mission: the Bend Art Center. The Center will offer expanded class offerings and a broader range of art exhibitions, but the name change is also a signpost for the restless conversation in Central Oregon art circles about who speaks for art, and what needs to be said. We check in with the folks at the new Bend Arts Center, plus local artists and art advocacy leaders, about possibilities and limitations for art in the region.
U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith - 40:01

In June, Tracy K. Smith was named 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States. This is just the latest add to an impressive string of titles: in 2012, Smith won a Pulitzer for her poetry collection Life on Mars, she runs the creative writing program at Princeton University, and, this year, published a new memoir.
Arts Funding at the Capitol - 45:23

The legislative session just wrapped up, and we kept up on bills and funding packages so you don’t have to.

One success for arts advocates: six million dollars in lottery bond money for Main Street Preservation grants. We check in with folks at the Liberty Theater in LaGrande, which will benefit from the bill. Plus, more on legislation that mandates a consideration of regional differences when state arts grants are awarded, and a look at the Oregon Arts Commission, which is facing a 16 percent budget cut.]]>3101falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-22-portugal-the-man-eclipse-preview-daniel-wilson-romeo-juliet-redux-and-more--12406168
The Baker City writer and illustrator Nancy Coffelt teamed up with publisher Elaine Cuyler to create her new book, “The Big Eclipse,” which uses charming animal characters and goofy jokes to help kids learn about the eclipse. Coffelt and Cuyler blew through all the books in their first printing and are filing orders with a second.

Umbraphile and Author David Baron - 7:37

David Baron is a former NPR science correspondent and the author of a new book, “American Eclipse,” which tells the story of an eclipse that captured the nation’s attention way back in 1878. At that time, the celestial event offered US scientists one of their first chances to demonstrate that America was a science powerhouse to rival Europe. But Baron isn’t just someone who writes about eclipses — he also chases them, traveling around the world to see the rare events.

Tips and Tricks for Photographing the Eclipse - 15:25

Portland-based astro-photographer Jake Breed gives us a demonstration of best practices for getting a perfect shot during the two minutes of daytime darkness. Plus, helpful hints from an art educator who’s spending the whole week of the eclipse leading a workshop for amateur photographers, and a quick conversation with one astronomer from NASA about why this eclipse is such a big deal, anyway.

Portugal. The Man on Their New Album, “Woodstock” - 21:32

This week, an exclusive interview with Portland-based band Portugal. The Man.

Creating “Woodstock,” the band’s newest album, took a long time. They couldn’t stop writing, and pumped out about 40 songs, collaborating with the likes of producer Mike D from the Beastie Boys at Rick Rubin’s illustrious studio, Shangri-La. But then they decided to throw them all out and start again. The band explains how it all came together after they settled on the album’s name: “Woodstock.” Stay tuned for videos of the full live session, which will be published on opbmusic later this month.

Futurist Daniel Wilson Goes Steampunk in His New Novel, “The Clockwork Dynasty” - 20:15

Our favorite futurist has gone all anachronistic. Daniel Wilson, a New York Times best-selling novelist, robotics engineer, and Cherokee citizen, gave us forward-thinking science fiction page-turners like “Robopocalypse” and “How To Survive A Robot Uprising.” Wilson’s new novel tears across the centuries, from prehistoric China to Tsarist Russia to Victorian England and — briefly — the present day Willamette Valley, chasing after exquisite sentient machines. “The Clockwork Dynasty” is the story of a race of mechanical beings who’ve lived side-by-side with humans since the dawn of history.
Bag&Baggage Premieres a Persian Take on "Romeo & Juliet" Based Off an Ancient Poem that Inspired Shakespeare - 41:34

Bag&Baggage Productions in Hillsboro is about to premier an adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet" that opens new doors on a story that is even older than Shakespeare. A thousand years before Romeo and Juliet, Arab-language poets were telling the story of Layla and Majnun: star-crossed lovers whose spiral of obsession and longing turned fatal. The Hillsboro production does not rewrite Romeo and Juliet so much as present elements of both stories together, complementing and contrasting with each other. Listen to the full conversation with Bag & Baggage artistic director Scott Palmer and the assistant director for the project, Melory Mirashrafihere, here, and catch "Romeo & Juliet/Layla & Majnun" in Hillsboro through Aug. 5.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12406168Fri, 21 Jul 2017 23:11:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA New Book Aimed at Elementary Astronomers The Baker City writer and illustrator Nancy Coffelt teamed up with publisher Elaine Cuyler to create her new book, “The Big Eclipse,” which uses charming animal characters and goofy jokes to help kids learn...
The Baker City writer and illustrator Nancy Coffelt teamed up with publisher Elaine Cuyler to create her new book, “The Big Eclipse,” which uses charming animal characters and goofy jokes to help kids learn about the eclipse. Coffelt and Cuyler blew through all the books in their first printing and are filing orders with a second.

Umbraphile and Author David Baron - 7:37

David Baron is a former NPR science correspondent and the author of a new book, “American Eclipse,” which tells the story of an eclipse that captured the nation’s attention way back in 1878. At that time, the celestial event offered US scientists one of their first chances to demonstrate that America was a science powerhouse to rival Europe. But Baron isn’t just someone who writes about eclipses — he also chases them, traveling around the world to see the rare events.

Tips and Tricks for Photographing the Eclipse - 15:25

Portland-based astro-photographer Jake Breed gives us a demonstration of best practices for getting a perfect shot during the two minutes of daytime darkness. Plus, helpful hints from an art educator who’s spending the whole week of the eclipse leading a workshop for amateur photographers, and a quick conversation with one astronomer from NASA about why this eclipse is such a big deal, anyway.

Portugal. The Man on Their New Album, “Woodstock” - 21:32

This week, an exclusive interview with Portland-based band Portugal. The Man.

Creating “Woodstock,” the band’s newest album, took a long time. They couldn’t stop writing, and pumped out about 40 songs, collaborating with the likes of producer Mike D from the Beastie Boys at Rick Rubin’s illustrious studio, Shangri-La. But then they decided to throw them all out and start again. The band explains how it all came together after they settled on the album’s name: “Woodstock.” Stay tuned for videos of the full live session, which will be published on opbmusic later this month.

Futurist Daniel Wilson Goes Steampunk in His New Novel, “The Clockwork Dynasty” - 20:15

Our favorite futurist has gone all anachronistic. Daniel Wilson, a New York Times best-selling novelist, robotics engineer, and Cherokee citizen, gave us forward-thinking science fiction page-turners like “Robopocalypse” and “How To Survive A Robot Uprising.” Wilson’s new novel tears across the centuries, from prehistoric China to Tsarist Russia to Victorian England and — briefly — the present day Willamette Valley, chasing after exquisite sentient machines. “The Clockwork Dynasty” is the story of a race of mechanical beings who’ve lived side-by-side with humans since the dawn of history.
Bag&Baggage Premieres a Persian Take on "Romeo & Juliet" Based Off an Ancient Poem that Inspired Shakespeare - 41:34

Bag&Baggage Productions in Hillsboro is about to premier an adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet" that opens new doors on a story that is even older than Shakespeare. A thousand years before Romeo and Juliet, Arab-language poets were telling the story of Layla and Majnun: star-crossed lovers whose spiral of obsession and longing turned fatal. The Hillsboro production does not rewrite Romeo and Juliet so much as present elements of both stories together, complementing and contrasting with each other. Listen to the full conversation with Bag & Baggage artistic director Scott Palmer and the assistant director for the project, Melory Mirashrafihere, here, and catch "Romeo & Juliet/Layla & Majnun" in Hillsboro through Aug. 5.]]>3080falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/author-nancy-coffelt-gets-kids-ready-for-the-big-eclipse--12406539https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12406539Sat, 22 Jul 2017 00:26:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBaker City writer and illustrator Nancy Coffelt teamed up with publisher Elaine Cuyler to create her new book, “The Big Eclipse,” which uses charming animal characters and goofy jokes to help kids learn about the eclipse. Coffelt and Cuyler blew...373falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bag-and-baggage-theatre-recasts-shakespeare-with-ancient-persian-classic--12406639https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12406639Sat, 22 Jul 2017 00:46:43 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBag&Baggage Productions in Hillsboro is about to premier an adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” that opens new doors on a story that is even older than Shakespeare. A thousand years before Romeo and Juliet, Arab-language poets were telling the story of...488falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/daniel-wilson-s-steampunk-robot-romp-through-history--12406650https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12406650Sat, 22 Jul 2017 00:47:57 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur favorite futurist has gone all anachronistic. Daniel Wilson, a New York Times best-selling novelist, robotics engineer, and Cherokee citizen, gave us forward-thinking science fiction page-turners. Wilson’s new novel, “The Clockwork Dynasty”, tears...654falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portugal-the-man-takes-us-to-woodstock--12406682https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12406682Sat, 22 Jul 2017 00:52:07 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFor the Portland band, Portugal. the Man, creating “Woodstock,” the band’s newest album, took a long time. They couldn’t stop writing, and pumped out about 40 songs, collaborating with the likes of producer Mike D from the Beastie Boys at Rick Rubin’s...515falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tips-on-photographing-eclipse-2017--12406701https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12406701Sat, 22 Jul 2017 00:54:04 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPortland-based astro-photographer Jake Breed gives us a demonstration of best practices for getting a perfect shot during the two minutes of daytime darkness. Plus, helpful hints from an art educator who’s spending the whole week of the eclipse...355falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portugal-the-man-takes-us-to-woodstock--12406702https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12406702Sat, 22 Jul 2017 00:54:14 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFor the Portland band, Portugal. the Man, creating “Woodstock,” the band’s newest album, took a long time. They couldn’t stop writing, and pumped out about 40 songs, collaborating with the likes of producer Mike D from the Beastie Boys at Rick Rubin’s...515falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/july-29-pickathon-preview-drive-by-truckers-charles-bradley-last-artful-dodgr-jay-som-tank-the-bangas-and-big-thief--12458601
With their double-barreled live sets and searing lyrical craft, the Drive-By Truckers are an easy add to top-ten list of best American rock bands playing today. Formed in Athens, Georgia circa 1996, the DBTs have had a lot of volatile personnel changes — Grammy-winner Jason Isbell was part of the lineup for a few years —but they’ve settled in nicely with partners in grime, Mike Cooley and Patterson Hood, at the helm. Their most recent record, “American Band”, continues Hood and Cooley’s exploration of duality in American identity. The band played the entire record through last October for a special NPR First Listen, hosted by opbmusic.

Tiny Desk, Big Sound - Tank and the Bangas - 14:17

Thousands of acts entered this year’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert, but the winner blew them all away: The New Orleans funk/soul/spoken-word outfit Tank and the Bangas. They visited opbmusic during their nationwide victory lap. Tarriona “Tank” Ball cut her teeth in slam poetry — no surprise when you hear her rich lyrical wordplay and sheer joy in storytelling.

The Last Artful, Dodgr Dips, Dives, and Delivers - 22:50

One of the brightest voices on the Portland hip hop scene is Alana Chenevert, A.K.A. The Last Artful, Dodgr. With producer Neil von Tally, she released a delightfully trip, imaginative debut album on Martell Webster’s Eyrst record label. Dodgr and von Tally joined us for a studio session with tracks from the record, “Bone Music,” flexing both her rhymes and the singing voice that landed her a backup spot with Aminé, and helped launch her as a force to be reckoned with.

Charles Bradley Keeps Going Forward - 33:06

Charles Bradley, a crowd favorite at Portland’s Soul’d Out festival and MusicFest NW, cultivated his booming voice for years as a James Brown impersonator. It wasn't until he was 62 years old that he found mainstream success, singing his own music. In this NPR feature, he tells how his relationship with his estranged mother informed his 2016 record, “Changes.”

From Bedroom Pop To SXSW - Jay Som’s Journey- 37:42

opbmusic stumbled upon this Bay Area rock band two months ago in Austin, Texas at the SXSW music festival and were immediately impressed by their live show. The band is a project of 23-year-old Melina Duterte, who released her first music to the internet on whim, never guessing how people would hang on her painstakingly crafted melodies and broad grasp of styles.

Big Thief Steals The Show - 44:35

Adrianne Lenker and band have a warm, intimate folk rock vibe that brings home story after story — some primal, many heartbreaking. At Pickathon they’ll play songs from their second album, "Capacity," but we caught the band touring for their first record, "Masterpiece." Lenker and company talked about how they came together, the ethos underlying their romantic melodies, and the things they find, turning over emotional rocks, as well as played three songs.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12458601Fri, 28 Jul 2017 22:53:58 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDrive-By Truckers Explore Duality And Dirt - 1:20 With their double-barreled live sets and searing lyrical craft, the Drive-By Truckers are an easy add to top-ten list of best American rock bands playing today. Formed in Athens, Georgia circa 1996,...
With their double-barreled live sets and searing lyrical craft, the Drive-By Truckers are an easy add to top-ten list of best American rock bands playing today. Formed in Athens, Georgia circa 1996, the DBTs have had a lot of volatile personnel changes — Grammy-winner Jason Isbell was part of the lineup for a few years —but they’ve settled in nicely with partners in grime, Mike Cooley and Patterson Hood, at the helm. Their most recent record, “American Band”, continues Hood and Cooley’s exploration of duality in American identity. The band played the entire record through last October for a special NPR First Listen, hosted by opbmusic.

Tiny Desk, Big Sound - Tank and the Bangas - 14:17

Thousands of acts entered this year’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert, but the winner blew them all away: The New Orleans funk/soul/spoken-word outfit Tank and the Bangas. They visited opbmusic during their nationwide victory lap. Tarriona “Tank” Ball cut her teeth in slam poetry — no surprise when you hear her rich lyrical wordplay and sheer joy in storytelling.

The Last Artful, Dodgr Dips, Dives, and Delivers - 22:50

One of the brightest voices on the Portland hip hop scene is Alana Chenevert, A.K.A. The Last Artful, Dodgr. With producer Neil von Tally, she released a delightfully trip, imaginative debut album on Martell Webster’s Eyrst record label. Dodgr and von Tally joined us for a studio session with tracks from the record, “Bone Music,” flexing both her rhymes and the singing voice that landed her a backup spot with Aminé, and helped launch her as a force to be reckoned with.

Charles Bradley Keeps Going Forward - 33:06

Charles Bradley, a crowd favorite at Portland’s Soul’d Out festival and MusicFest NW, cultivated his booming voice for years as a James Brown impersonator. It wasn't until he was 62 years old that he found mainstream success, singing his own music. In this NPR feature, he tells how his relationship with his estranged mother informed his 2016 record, “Changes.”

From Bedroom Pop To SXSW - Jay Som’s Journey- 37:42

opbmusic stumbled upon this Bay Area rock band two months ago in Austin, Texas at the SXSW music festival and were immediately impressed by their live show. The band is a project of 23-year-old Melina Duterte, who released her first music to the internet on whim, never guessing how people would hang on her painstakingly crafted melodies and broad grasp of styles.

Big Thief Steals The Show - 44:35

Adrianne Lenker and band have a warm, intimate folk rock vibe that brings home story after story — some primal, many heartbreaking. At Pickathon they’ll play songs from their second album, "Capacity," but we caught the band touring for their first record, "Masterpiece." Lenker and company talked about how they came together, the ethos underlying their romantic melodies, and the things they find, turning over emotional rocks, as well as played three songs.]]>3109falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-5-kent-nerburn-s-neither-wolf-nor-dog-yukiyo-kawano-and-meshi-chavez-psu-chamber-choir-peter-sears-more--12507490
During outgoing director Eloise Damrosch’s 30-year tenure, the Regional Arts and Culture Council has grown from a small Multnomah County bureau to a flourishing tri-county arts council. In the first of several stories, we look at the search for her replacement to oversee the $9 million arts office. It could be one of the most important hires for decades to come.

Kent Nerburn’s Classic Novel, “Neither Wolf Nor Dog,” Hits the Big Screen and the U.K. - 6:36

A notable writer has quietly relocated to Portland from Minnesota. Kent Nerburn has written and edited more than a dozen award-winning books and has been praised as one of the few authors who can respectfully bridge the gap between Native American and non-Native cultures. His 1994 book, “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” — about his travels with a Lakota elder — has become a cult classic, and now it’s been made into a movie that’s currently screening in Corvallis and opening in Portland Aug. 11 at Cinema 21, with dates still to come in Bend, Ashland, Salem, Pendleton, Klamath Falls and Sisters. (You can find confirmed theaters on the film's Facebook page.) It also recently made a splash in the U.K. due to an unlikely fan: musician Robert Plant.

Suspended Moment: Two Artists Explore a Devastating Act of War - 21:25

A Portland visual artist and a choreographer have come together for a performance work that bears witness to the nuclear annihilation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the lingering, complex Japanese and American narratives that have evolved since. Yukiyo Kawano is a Japanese visual artist living in Portland who grew up in Hiroshima, and choreographer and dancer Meshi Chavez is from Albuquerque. They’ve performed their collaboration, "Suspended Moment," in places with strong ties to atomic history, like Los Alamos, New Mexico, and the Hanford Site, and are now bringing it to Portland on Aug. 9, the 72nd anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, as part of an event organized by Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility: Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki - from Despair to Hope.

Portland State Chamber Choir Releases the First U.S. Album of Songs by Latvian Composer Eriks Esenwalds - 28:31

The Portland State University Chamber Choir sings way above its weight class, regularly challenging professional choirs to top laurels at international competitions, and a lot of the credit goes to PSU’s dynamic choral director, Ethan Sperry. Sperry has formed creative partnerships with collaborators from around the globe, including one of Europe’s hottest young Mozarts, Eriks Esenwald.

The Portland State Chamber Choir has premiered a number of Esenwald’s works over the years, and this week it is releasing the first U.S. album of his music, “The Doors of Heaven.”

To Open or Not to Open? With Eclipse Tourists on the Way, Businesses in Grant County Have to Decide - 37:15

Counties and towns in the path of the coming eclipse are all wrestling with two huge questions: Just how many people are going to show up for this massive celestial event, and how do we prepare for them? After all, travel officials are estimating 1 million people are headed to Oregon alone.

Grant County is in the odd position of having experienced big influxes of people a couple of times, from large firefighting teams to the annual Rainbow Gathering earlier this summer. We checked in with business owners to hear what they’ve learned about staying open for the extra patrons — or not.

Remembering Oregon Poet Laureate Peter Sears - 42:36

Poet and teacher Peter Sears died July 20. Sears came to Oregon in 1974 and was active in the state’s literary community for more than 40 years, serving as Oregon’s seventh Poet Laureate from 2014 to 2016. One of his goals as Poet Laureate was to broaden the base of the “global linguistic community” — instead of reading by himself as he traveled the state, he sought out people creating works in their native languages to share the stage and read with him.

Elizabeth Rusch’s New Piano-Themed Children’s Book: "The Music of Life" - 47:01

Once upon a time, a few hundred years ago, there were two kinds of keyboards: soft ones and loud ones. If you wanted to play loudly and softly on the same instrument, you were out of luck. Then one man in 17th century Florence changed that. Portland author Elizabeth Rusch tells his story in her new children’s book, “The Music of Life.” She and pianist collaborator David Saffert joined OPB’s Dave Miller to talk about the book and to illustrate what makes a piano so special.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12507490Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:59:11 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe Search Is on for a New Director at Portland’s Regional Arts and Culture Council During outgoing director Eloise Damrosch’s 30-year tenure, the Regional Arts and Culture Council has grown from a small Multnomah County bureau to a flourishing...
During outgoing director Eloise Damrosch’s 30-year tenure, the Regional Arts and Culture Council has grown from a small Multnomah County bureau to a flourishing tri-county arts council. In the first of several stories, we look at the search for her replacement to oversee the $9 million arts office. It could be one of the most important hires for decades to come.

Kent Nerburn’s Classic Novel, “Neither Wolf Nor Dog,” Hits the Big Screen and the U.K. - 6:36

A notable writer has quietly relocated to Portland from Minnesota. Kent Nerburn has written and edited more than a dozen award-winning books and has been praised as one of the few authors who can respectfully bridge the gap between Native American and non-Native cultures. His 1994 book, “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” — about his travels with a Lakota elder — has become a cult classic, and now it’s been made into a movie that’s currently screening in Corvallis and opening in Portland Aug. 11 at Cinema 21, with dates still to come in Bend, Ashland, Salem, Pendleton, Klamath Falls and Sisters. (You can find confirmed theaters on the film's Facebook page.) It also recently made a splash in the U.K. due to an unlikely fan: musician Robert Plant.

Suspended Moment: Two Artists Explore a Devastating Act of War - 21:25

A Portland visual artist and a choreographer have come together for a performance work that bears witness to the nuclear annihilation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the lingering, complex Japanese and American narratives that have evolved since. Yukiyo Kawano is a Japanese visual artist living in Portland who grew up in Hiroshima, and choreographer and dancer Meshi Chavez is from Albuquerque. They’ve performed their collaboration, "Suspended Moment," in places with strong ties to atomic history, like Los Alamos, New Mexico, and the Hanford Site, and are now bringing it to Portland on Aug. 9, the 72nd anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, as part of an event organized by Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility: Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki - from Despair to Hope.

Portland State Chamber Choir Releases the First U.S. Album of Songs by Latvian Composer Eriks Esenwalds - 28:31

The Portland State University Chamber Choir sings way above its weight class, regularly challenging professional choirs to top laurels at international competitions, and a lot of the credit goes to PSU’s dynamic choral director, Ethan Sperry. Sperry has formed creative partnerships with collaborators from around the globe, including one of Europe’s hottest young Mozarts, Eriks Esenwald.

The Portland State Chamber Choir has premiered a number of Esenwald’s works over the years, and this week it is releasing the first U.S. album of his music, “The Doors of Heaven.”

To Open or Not to Open? With Eclipse Tourists on the Way, Businesses in Grant County Have to Decide - 37:15

Counties and towns in the path of the coming eclipse are all wrestling with two huge questions: Just how many people are going to show up for this massive celestial event, and how do we prepare for them? After all, travel officials are estimating 1 million people are headed to Oregon alone.

Grant County is in the odd position of having experienced big influxes of people a couple of times, from large firefighting teams to the annual Rainbow Gathering earlier this summer. We checked in with business owners to hear what they’ve learned about staying open for the extra patrons — or not.

Remembering Oregon Poet Laureate Peter Sears - 42:36

Poet and teacher Peter Sears died July 20. Sears came to Oregon in 1974 and was active in the state’s literary community for more than 40 years, serving as Oregon’s seventh Poet Laureate from 2014 to 2016. One of his goals as Poet Laureate was to broaden the base of the “global...]]>3099falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-12-oregon-eclipse-festival-eastern-oregon-s-music-scene-robert-michael-pyle-john-yeon-at-the-art-museum-more--12558533
We visit the Big Summit Prairie in the Ochoco Mountains, where a temporary city is being built to host some 30,000 attendees from around the world. The Oregon Eclipse Festival promises 400 musical acts, lectures and workshops galore, art installations both profound and whimsical, a floating bridge, and enough glitter to make a drag queen blush.

Mexico ‘91: Two Oregon Writers Look Back on Another Eclipse - 6:48

We checked in with two Oregon writers who witnessed the same solar event 26 years ago: the total eclipse that passed over Mexico. In honor of this year’s eclipse, both writers are working on new stories based on what they saw in 1991. Octaviano Merecias lives and writes in metro Portland, and his story focuses on the unexpected birth that happened on his family’s farm during the eclipse. Meanwhile, the writer, designer, photographer and translator Ivonne Saed watched the '91 event from Mexico City.

Tylor & The Train Robbers Headline at Helix’s Wheatstock Festival - 15:56

Music runs thick in Tylor Ketchum’s family. Growing up in Helix, Oregon, he formed a band with his younger brothers before making his way to Boise, in search of a broader music scene. His brother Jason followed, and they formed the band “Tylor & The Train Robbers.”
They have performed their blend of outlaw honky tonk and gritty Americana around the Northwest and released their debut album, “Gravel,” earlier this year. On Aug 19, they return to Kechum’s hometown in eastern Oregon for the homegrown music festival Wheatstock.

Playing Concerts in Rural Oregon? At One Theater in Enterprise, Big-Name Artists Say 'OK' 21:13

When Darrell Brann bought the OK Theater in Wallowa County, he knew it wasn’t a number one destination for big touring bands, or really, touring bands of any size. But Brann has used small-town charm to lure in some really big names, and it’s not just a success for him — it’s helping his whole community.

"Quest for Beauty" — John Yeon’s Architecture on Display at the Portland Art Museum - 28:53

You might be more familiar with the work of John Yeon than you realize. His imprint is everywhere, from houses in the Columbia River Gorge to the trees in Portland’s Tom McCall waterfront park. An architect, landscape designer, and conservationist, Yeon is the subject of two new books and the exhibition “Quest for Beauty” at the Portland Art Museum, open through Sept. 3.

Sailor-Turned-Painter Christos Koutsouras at Astoria’s Imogen Gallery 37:41

The Greek sailor-turned-painter Christos Koutsouras's life sounds like it was ripped from an old-fashioned adventure novel: growing up on a famous Grecian isle, sailing around the world as a deck boy, studying painting in Germany, and finally moving to the Pacific Northwest.

These days, Koutsouras paints big, tumultuous landscapes. His newest show, "Venetian Red for Despina," runs Aug. 12–Sept. 5 at Imogen Gallery in Astoria. It’s all about Big Red, the iconic fishing building and net shed that perches precariously on piers out in the Columbia River and has served as a studio to a number of local artists including Koutsouras.

Nature Writer Robert Michael Pyle is Not Quite a Bigfoot Believer - 45:04

In 1990 the entomologist Dr. Robert Michael Pyle went into the woods looking for Bigfoot. Well, sort of. Pyle isn’t a Sasquatch hunter; he wasn’t even really a believer. But he spent several months trekking through a region of the Southern Washington Cascades known to be prime Bigfoot habitat. That journey became the book “Where Bigfoot Walks: Crossing the Dark Divide.” It first came out in 1995, and now Pyle has updated it with new research and findings.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12558533Sat, 12 Aug 2017 05:16:31 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOregon's Most Audacious Eclipse Festival Comes Covered in Glitter - 2:42 We visit the Big Summit Prairie in the Ochoco Mountains, where a temporary city is being built to host some 30,000 attendees from around the world. The Oregon Eclipse Festival...
We visit the Big Summit Prairie in the Ochoco Mountains, where a temporary city is being built to host some 30,000 attendees from around the world. The Oregon Eclipse Festival promises 400 musical acts, lectures and workshops galore, art installations both profound and whimsical, a floating bridge, and enough glitter to make a drag queen blush.

Mexico ‘91: Two Oregon Writers Look Back on Another Eclipse - 6:48

We checked in with two Oregon writers who witnessed the same solar event 26 years ago: the total eclipse that passed over Mexico. In honor of this year’s eclipse, both writers are working on new stories based on what they saw in 1991. Octaviano Merecias lives and writes in metro Portland, and his story focuses on the unexpected birth that happened on his family’s farm during the eclipse. Meanwhile, the writer, designer, photographer and translator Ivonne Saed watched the '91 event from Mexico City.

Tylor & The Train Robbers Headline at Helix’s Wheatstock Festival - 15:56

Music runs thick in Tylor Ketchum’s family. Growing up in Helix, Oregon, he formed a band with his younger brothers before making his way to Boise, in search of a broader music scene. His brother Jason followed, and they formed the band “Tylor & The Train Robbers.”
They have performed their blend of outlaw honky tonk and gritty Americana around the Northwest and released their debut album, “Gravel,” earlier this year. On Aug 19, they return to Kechum’s hometown in eastern Oregon for the homegrown music festival Wheatstock.

Playing Concerts in Rural Oregon? At One Theater in Enterprise, Big-Name Artists Say 'OK' 21:13

When Darrell Brann bought the OK Theater in Wallowa County, he knew it wasn’t a number one destination for big touring bands, or really, touring bands of any size. But Brann has used small-town charm to lure in some really big names, and it’s not just a success for him — it’s helping his whole community.

"Quest for Beauty" — John Yeon’s Architecture on Display at the Portland Art Museum - 28:53

You might be more familiar with the work of John Yeon than you realize. His imprint is everywhere, from houses in the Columbia River Gorge to the trees in Portland’s Tom McCall waterfront park. An architect, landscape designer, and conservationist, Yeon is the subject of two new books and the exhibition “Quest for Beauty” at the Portland Art Museum, open through Sept. 3.

Sailor-Turned-Painter Christos Koutsouras at Astoria’s Imogen Gallery 37:41

The Greek sailor-turned-painter Christos Koutsouras's life sounds like it was ripped from an old-fashioned adventure novel: growing up on a famous Grecian isle, sailing around the world as a deck boy, studying painting in Germany, and finally moving to the Pacific Northwest.

These days, Koutsouras paints big, tumultuous landscapes. His newest show, "Venetian Red for Despina," runs Aug. 12–Sept. 5 at Imogen Gallery in Astoria. It’s all about Big Red, the iconic fishing building and net shed that perches precariously on piers out in the Columbia River and has served as a studio to a number of local artists including Koutsouras.

Nature Writer Robert Michael Pyle is Not Quite a Bigfoot Believer - 45:04

In 1990 the entomologist Dr. Robert Michael Pyle went into the woods looking for Bigfoot. Well, sort of. Pyle isn’t a Sasquatch hunter; he wasn’t even really a believer. But he spent several months trekking through a region of the Southern Washington Cascades known to be prime Bigfoot habitat. That journey became the book “Where Bigfoot Walks: Crossing the Dark Divide.” It first came out in 1995, and now Pyle has updated it with new research and findings.]]>3130falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/state-of-wonder-s-great-eclipse-road-trip-newport-oregon--12575159https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12575159Mon, 14 Aug 2017 21:10:00 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting"State of Wonder" is traveling across the solar eclipse's path of totality, from Newport to the Ochoco National Forest and many places in-between.607falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/total-eclipse-of-the-art-day-2-corvallis--12583288https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12583288Tue, 15 Aug 2017 22:54:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, OPB’s State of Wonder is driving across Oregon ahead of the eclipse, checking out the preparations towns in the path of the totality are making. Today they’re in Corvallis checking out an art exhibit focused on totality.607falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/total-eclipse-of-the-art-day-3-madras--12594489https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12594489Thu, 17 Aug 2017 13:54:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, OPB’s State of Wonder will be driving across Oregon ahead of the eclipse, checking out the preparations towns in the path of the totality are making. Today they’re in Madras.584falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/total-eclipse-of-the-art-day-4-oregon-eclipse-festival--12596722https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12596722Thu, 17 Aug 2017 20:37:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, OPB’s State of Wonder is driving across Oregon ahead of the eclipse, checking out the preparations towns in the path of the totality are making. Today they’re in the middle of the Ochoco National Forest at the Symbiosis' Oregon Eclipse...636falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/total-eclipse-of-the-art-day-5-suttle-lodge--12604220https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12604220Fri, 18 Aug 2017 21:27:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, OPB’s State of Wonder will be driving across Oregon ahead of the eclipse, checking out the preparations towns in the path of the totality are making. Today they’re at Suttle Lodge, north of Sisters, where Portland musicians are putting on...595falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-19-total-eclipse-of-the-art-state-of-wonder-travels-the-path-of-totality--12608619https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12608619Sat, 19 Aug 2017 18:22:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week our show traveled across the solar eclipse path of totality, from Newport to the Ochoco National Forest and many places in between for a once-in-a-lifetime artistic and cosmic journey. This is the documentary we put together of our road trip.3091falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aug-26-case-lang-viers-tin-house-flash-fiction--12646398Also we listen back to last fall’s flash fiction contest winners. We teamed up with the Portland imprint Tin House, a publisher of great literature and poetry offerings — as well as a most unusual how-to book. “Plotto: The Master Book of All Plots” Designed as an aid to writers, it’s made up of 1,500 plot prompts in an encyclopedic list, sorted by categories like ‘Themes,’ ‘Master Plots’ and ‘Conflicts.’ We posted a plot prompt a week and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each prompt. Finalists were selected. Then we called them up to record their stories.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12646398Thu, 24 Aug 2017 22:28:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt’s that rare bird, a truly super supergroup: alt-country firebrand Neko Case, world-class indie lyricist Laura Veirs and songstress supreme k.d. lang released a lush, soulful record last summer. Their opbmusic concert will rebroadcast on OPB TV as...Also we listen back to last fall’s flash fiction contest winners. We teamed up with the Portland imprint Tin House, a publisher of great literature and poetry offerings — as well as a most unusual how-to book. “Plotto: The Master Book of All Plots” Designed as an aid to writers, it’s made up of 1,500 plot prompts in an encyclopedic list, sorted by categories like ‘Themes,’ ‘Master Plots’ and ‘Conflicts.’ We posted a plot prompt a week and gave writers six days to come up with stories inspired by each prompt. Finalists were selected. Then we called them up to record their stories.]]>3188falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-2-comic-con-preview-wonder-woman-luke-cage-autumnlands-shutter-iron-circus-and-more--12698854https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12698854Thu, 31 Aug 2017 20:39:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAlmost time for Rose City Comic Con! We talk with Wonder Woman's Greg Rucka, David F. Walker on Luke Cage, Kurt Busiek and Ben Dewey discuss their fantasy adventure Autumnlands. Plus C. Spike Trotman on making the comics she wanted to read.3192falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-9-george-takei-pica-tba-festival-stew-and-the-negro-problem-end-of-a-costumed-era-and-more--12762301https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12762301Sat, 09 Sep 2017 17:04:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on 'State of Wonder,' we talk Twitter and Copland with George Takei, hear about the must-see shows at the Time-Based Art Festival, celebrate James Baldwin with Stew and the Negro Problem. Also firefighter Sean Davis talks about working the...3157falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-16-sneaker-week-bobbito-garcia-deer-tick-marie-watt-new-arts-centers-crow-s-shadow-more--12814788
Sneaker Week Takes Flight - 1:30

How has no one thought of this before? Sneaker Week is a brand new celebration of the street style and informed design that put Oregon at the center of the sneaker universe. Elayna Yussen went out to meet the organizers at Portland's kicks-centric coffee show Deadstock and Pensole Shoe Design Academy. Get out in front of this one — it’s going to be a blast.

Hip Hop DJ Bobbito Garcia's New Podcast - 5:32

We were out of our minds with excitement to hear Bobbito Garcia is coming for Sneaker Week (We hear he’s locked in for Kick Flicks II, on the Tuesday schedule). He is not just the author of a couple of good books on sneaker culture and the star of EPSN’s “It’s the Shoes,” he’s also been blowing our minds all summer co-hosting the new NPR Podcast, “What’s Good with Stretch and Bobbito” Garcia has reunited with DJ Stretch Armstrong for long-listens with people like Dave Chappelle, Stevie Wonder, and more. We’ve got a bit of their conversation with Bob Boilen from NPR’s All Songs Considered.

Rethinking Arts Spaces in Vancouver and Beaverton - 10:28

It’s not just you. Everyone in the metro area is traveling farther and paying more to make and experience art. This week we’re checking in on efforts to create new arts centers in Vancouver and Beaverton, on the eve of a big Sept. 23 summit meeting in Clark County. Makers and arts organizations are scrambling to claim square footage amid the new building boom. There are some highly advantageous options coming down the pipeline, but also a lot of problems to get worked out along the way.

Lasting Grace: Remembering Brian Doyle - 16:21

Friends of the late, much-missed writer Brian Doyle will gather this Thursday, Sept. 21, at First Congregational Church in Portland to read and laugh and cry and remember. The program is a who’s who of Oregon literary greats: Barry Lopez, Kim Stafford, Kathleen Dean Moore, as well as friends from afar like David James Duncan. Literary Arts will record the event, and we look forward to bringing you some of the readings in weeks to come.

Ages and Ages Sings Songs for Disaster - 17:35

On Sept. 23, a brand new music festival will bring some of the region’s hottest bands to one of its coolest locales: the Oregon Coast. Paying tribute to the nearby Haystack Rock, the Stackstock Music Festival in Cannon Beach is being headlined by the Decemberists' Colin Meloy, Pure Bathing Culture, and our favorite purveyor of infectious hand claps, Ages and Ages. To celebrate, we're listening back to a live session we and opbmusic recorded with them around the release of their 2016 album, “Something to Ruin." It's themes of gentrification, displacement, natural disaster, the end of civilization, and how to weather the chaos seem even more appropriate now then when it came out. You can watch the opbmusic session here.

Master Printer Frank Janzen Looks Back On 16 Years at Crow's Shadow - 27:45

Frank Janzen collaborated with Oregon’s best artists for 16 years — everyone from established masters like Rick Bartow to rising stars like Samantha Wall. Now he’s getting ready to hang up his spurs as the master printmaker at Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts. Janzen shares what it's like to collaborate with creative minds and the stories behind the works that will make up Crow's Shadow's 25th Anniversary Retrospective, opening at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in Salem this weekend.

Marie Watt Explores Comfort and Community through Blankets - 38:41

Marie Watt makes a power play with a new exhibition at PDX Contemporary. She’s created big installations before, stacking blankets high to invoke tribal tradition and a place on the continuum of history, but her new work involves 20-foo-long rafts of fabric, overstitched with giant wolves and a forest of phrases invoking comfort and connection. She tells us about the sewing circles that made it happen, and the challenges of realizing ideas at such a large scale.

Deer Tick Goes Acoustic - 35:06

When you’re a raucous, high-energy live band known for living loud, sometimes the scariest thing you can do is slow your roll. Deer Tick turns down the volume and goes acoustic for one of their two new studio albums and tour.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12814788Sat, 16 Sep 2017 01:02:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingReady for new fall things? Out with last year's school shoes, in with fun new kicks like Sneaker Week, the Stackstock Music Festival, and more. Sneaker Week Takes Flight - 1:30 How has no one thought of this before? Sneaker Week is a brand new...
Sneaker Week Takes Flight - 1:30

How has no one thought of this before? Sneaker Week is a brand new celebration of the street style and informed design that put Oregon at the center of the sneaker universe. Elayna Yussen went out to meet the organizers at Portland's kicks-centric coffee show Deadstock and Pensole Shoe Design Academy. Get out in front of this one — it’s going to be a blast.

Hip Hop DJ Bobbito Garcia's New Podcast - 5:32

We were out of our minds with excitement to hear Bobbito Garcia is coming for Sneaker Week (We hear he’s locked in for Kick Flicks II, on the Tuesday schedule). He is not just the author of a couple of good books on sneaker culture and the star of EPSN’s “It’s the Shoes,” he’s also been blowing our minds all summer co-hosting the new NPR Podcast, “What’s Good with Stretch and Bobbito” Garcia has reunited with DJ Stretch Armstrong for long-listens with people like Dave Chappelle, Stevie Wonder, and more. We’ve got a bit of their conversation with Bob Boilen from NPR’s All Songs Considered.

Rethinking Arts Spaces in Vancouver and Beaverton - 10:28

It’s not just you. Everyone in the metro area is traveling farther and paying more to make and experience art. This week we’re checking in on efforts to create new arts centers in Vancouver and Beaverton, on the eve of a big Sept. 23 summit meeting in Clark County. Makers and arts organizations are scrambling to claim square footage amid the new building boom. There are some highly advantageous options coming down the pipeline, but also a lot of problems to get worked out along the way.

Lasting Grace: Remembering Brian Doyle - 16:21

Friends of the late, much-missed writer Brian Doyle will gather this Thursday, Sept. 21, at First Congregational Church in Portland to read and laugh and cry and remember. The program is a who’s who of Oregon literary greats: Barry Lopez, Kim Stafford, Kathleen Dean Moore, as well as friends from afar like David James Duncan. Literary Arts will record the event, and we look forward to bringing you some of the readings in weeks to come.

Ages and Ages Sings Songs for Disaster - 17:35

On Sept. 23, a brand new music festival will bring some of the region’s hottest bands to one of its coolest locales: the Oregon Coast. Paying tribute to the nearby Haystack Rock, the Stackstock Music Festival in Cannon Beach is being headlined by the Decemberists' Colin Meloy, Pure Bathing Culture, and our favorite purveyor of infectious hand claps, Ages and Ages. To celebrate, we're listening back to a live session we and opbmusic recorded with them around the release of their 2016 album, “Something to Ruin." It's themes of gentrification, displacement, natural disaster, the end of civilization, and how to weather the chaos seem even more appropriate now then when it came out. You can watch the opbmusic session here.

Master Printer Frank Janzen Looks Back On 16 Years at Crow's Shadow - 27:45

Frank Janzen collaborated with Oregon’s best artists for 16 years — everyone from established masters like Rick Bartow to rising stars like Samantha Wall. Now he’s getting ready to hang up his spurs as the master printmaker at Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts. Janzen shares what it's like to collaborate with creative minds and the stories behind the works that will make up Crow's Shadow's 25th Anniversary Retrospective, opening at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in Salem this weekend.

Marie Watt Explores Comfort and Community through Blankets - 38:41

Marie Watt makes a power play with a new exhibition at PDX Contemporary. She’s created big installations before, stacking blankets high to invoke tribal tradition and a place on the continuum of history, but her new...]]>3116falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-23-arts-tax-spared-filthy-friends-sidewalk-chalk-artists-rep-and-more--12865476https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12865476Fri, 22 Sep 2017 20:06:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLive sessions with Sidewalk Chalk and the star-studded Filthy Friends, plus Rene Denfeld on how her work as a private investigator inspired her book, Artist Rep shakes up the theater season and more.3093falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-30-tony-kushner-fun-home-at-pcs-joan-shelley-arvie-smith--12922191
Tony Kushner Finds the Humanity in the Epic - 1:05

Playwright Tony Kushner is a fearless explorer of spaces where the personal meets the political. His two-part masterpiece, "Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes," kicked down the door to a discussion of the AIDS epidemic, and his screenwriting work on films like "Lincoln" and "Munich" manage to find the most internal, human stories in mammoth historical events. Kushner is headed to Oregon to deliver the keynote speech at the Oregon Arts Summit on Oct. 6, and we got him on the phone to talk about what he's working on now, including a play about President Trump (maybe) and a new take on "West Side Story" with his regular collaborator, Steven Spielberg.

Painter Arvie Smith Wins the Governor's Art Award for Lifetime Achievement - 8:53

To celebrate the Oregon Arts Summit and the 50th anniversary of the Oregon Arts Commission, Governor Kate Brown has resurrected the Governor’s Art Awards after a 10-year hiatus. The big winners of the Lifetime Achievement Awards are Portland painter Arvie Smith and the Kalapuya and Coos storyteller Esther Stutzman. Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts, Portland Opera and The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation are also taking home awards. We sat down with Smith last year before his solo show at the Portland Art Museum to discuss his vivid, explosive paintings rich with political overtones, humor, and heartbreak.

opbmusic Session in the Woods with Folk Singer Joan Shelley - 16:07

This year, folk singer Joan Shelley released her fifth solo album with some big-name help. Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy produced and recorded the album in his Chicago studio. With those massive resources at her fingertips, Shelley could have gone big with a fuller sound and plenty of bells and whistles; instead, she doubled down on a minimalist sound that has made her stand out in an increasingly grandiose music industry. Recently, Shelley and guitarist Nathan Salsburg performed two songs for OPB on a hiking trail in Portland’s Marquam Nature Park. You can find videos at opbmusic.

Chris Coleman on Directing the Tony-Winning Musical 'Fun Home' and Portland Center Stage's Upcoming Season - 24:15

Portland Center State, the city’s biggest theater company, opened its 30th season this month with a most unlikely musical: the Tony-award-winning, coming-of-age story “Fun Home,” based on the graphic novel by cartoonist Alison Bechdel. It's the story of Bechdel's own coming out in contrast to the closeted, repressed life her father lived, and the title refers to a nickname she and her siblings had for the family house, which also happened to be the town's funeral home. You will never laugh so hard at kids making up a musical commercial about embalming. We talk with artistic director Chris Coleman about the production, which is the first by a local theater on the West Coast, as well as the rest of the season.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12922191Sat, 30 Sep 2017 00:46:47 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on 'State of Wonder,' the writer behind 'Angels in America' and the movies 'Lincoln' and 'Munich' on writing for today, the head of Portland Center Stage on the hit musical 'Fun Home' and more. Tony Kushner Finds the Humanity in the Epic -...
Tony Kushner Finds the Humanity in the Epic - 1:05

Playwright Tony Kushner is a fearless explorer of spaces where the personal meets the political. His two-part masterpiece, "Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes," kicked down the door to a discussion of the AIDS epidemic, and his screenwriting work on films like "Lincoln" and "Munich" manage to find the most internal, human stories in mammoth historical events. Kushner is headed to Oregon to deliver the keynote speech at the Oregon Arts Summit on Oct. 6, and we got him on the phone to talk about what he's working on now, including a play about President Trump (maybe) and a new take on "West Side Story" with his regular collaborator, Steven Spielberg.

Painter Arvie Smith Wins the Governor's Art Award for Lifetime Achievement - 8:53

To celebrate the Oregon Arts Summit and the 50th anniversary of the Oregon Arts Commission, Governor Kate Brown has resurrected the Governor’s Art Awards after a 10-year hiatus. The big winners of the Lifetime Achievement Awards are Portland painter Arvie Smith and the Kalapuya and Coos storyteller Esther Stutzman. Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts, Portland Opera and The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation are also taking home awards. We sat down with Smith last year before his solo show at the Portland Art Museum to discuss his vivid, explosive paintings rich with political overtones, humor, and heartbreak.

opbmusic Session in the Woods with Folk Singer Joan Shelley - 16:07

This year, folk singer Joan Shelley released her fifth solo album with some big-name help. Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy produced and recorded the album in his Chicago studio. With those massive resources at her fingertips, Shelley could have gone big with a fuller sound and plenty of bells and whistles; instead, she doubled down on a minimalist sound that has made her stand out in an increasingly grandiose music industry. Recently, Shelley and guitarist Nathan Salsburg performed two songs for OPB on a hiking trail in Portland’s Marquam Nature Park. You can find videos at opbmusic.

Chris Coleman on Directing the Tony-Winning Musical 'Fun Home' and Portland Center Stage's Upcoming Season - 24:15

Portland Center State, the city’s biggest theater company, opened its 30th season this month with a most unlikely musical: the Tony-award-winning, coming-of-age story “Fun Home,” based on the graphic novel by cartoonist Alison Bechdel. It's the story of Bechdel's own coming out in contrast to the closeted, repressed life her father lived, and the title refers to a nickname she and her siblings had for the family house, which also happened to be the town's funeral home. You will never laugh so hard at kids making up a musical commercial about embalming. We talk with artistic director Chris Coleman about the production, which is the first by a local theater on the West Coast, as well as the rest of the season.]]>2145falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-7-carrie-brownstein-bend-film-fest-jackpot-records-art-of-science--12977294https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12977294Fri, 06 Oct 2017 19:50:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on “State of Wonder,” we talk Sleater-Kinney and “Portlandia” with Carrie Brownstein, get a preview of the Bend Film Fest, paint some eyeballs with ocularist Fred Harwin and more.3172falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-14-michael-chabon-hollywood-theatre-to-buy-movie-madness-wild-ones-holiday-friends-bend-design-more--13030972https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13030972Fri, 13 Oct 2017 23:56:15 +0000Oregon Public Broadcasting3053falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-21-eastern-oregon-film-festival-where-big-movies-meet-small-town--13095230
The opening night film is a sumptuous sci-fi fable about a guy, a girl and a robot head hiking across a desert looking for a mythical lake. “Everything Beautiful Is Far Away,” starring Julia Garner and Joseph Cross, premiered this year at the LA Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Fiction Cinematography Award. It’s not hard to see why: filmed entirely in the Imperial Sand Dunes in Southeastern California, the characters wander through hills of white sand against a backdrop of blue sky with colors and lighting so soft and delicate that Garner’s porcelain skin simply glows. The pacing is patient, the dialogue spare, but the whole film is such a potent meditation that when the characters stare straight into the camera, we are more than happy to just lose ourselves in their eyes.

We sit down with the writer and director Pete Ohs.

The Do's And Don'ts Of Screenwriting With Jon Raymond

Jon Raymond will be the first to say that he accidentally stumbled into the world of screenwriting. He had just published his first novel in 2004 when a friend of his asked to adapt his short story “Old Joy” into a film. That friend was the director Kelly Reichardt, and that film started a working relationship that took them both into theaters across the world with the award-winning films “Wendy and Lucy,” “Meek’s Cutoff” and “Night Moves.” Raymond also co-wrote the teleplays for the five-part HBO series “Mildred Pierce” with his friend and Portland filmmaker Todd Haynes, which got him an Emmy nomination. He's at the fest for a talk about screenwriting, and we asked him to give us the Jon Raymond Golden Rules.

Sara Salovaara And 'Let Me Die A Nun'

Directed by Sara Salovaara, the six-part web series "Let Me Die A Nun" bills itself as "the opposing but intersecting trajectories of a lesbian soon-to-be nun, her Jewish stalker, and the object of her affection." We had to have Salovaara on to discuss this contemporary, comedic take on the 70s nunsploitation films (yeah, we didn't know that was a thing either). We also ask Salovaara, a regular writer for "MovieMaker Magazine," to help us understand just what sets the Eastern Oregon Film Fest apart from all the others.

Zombie Puppets And Other Furry Monsters

Portland filmmaker Jesse Blanchard claims "Frank & Zed" is the world's first puppet movie, which raises the question: How has this never been done before? Is there anything better than puppet-brain-eating puppet zombies? Or fire-breathing puppet monsters and bloody puppet limbs flying this way and that? Festival-goers are getting a first look at this work in progress, in which Blanchard and his Puppetcore Films team lovingly build every stitched eyeball, puppet skull and hurtling ax by hand. Could this be the next cult classic?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13095230Sat, 21 Oct 2017 20:51:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA Man, A Woman, And A Talking Robot Head Walk Into A Desert ... The opening night film is a sumptuous sci-fi fable about a guy, a girl and a robot head hiking across a desert looking for a mythical lake. “Everything Beautiful Is Far Away,” starring...
The opening night film is a sumptuous sci-fi fable about a guy, a girl and a robot head hiking across a desert looking for a mythical lake. “Everything Beautiful Is Far Away,” starring Julia Garner and Joseph Cross, premiered this year at the LA Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Fiction Cinematography Award. It’s not hard to see why: filmed entirely in the Imperial Sand Dunes in Southeastern California, the characters wander through hills of white sand against a backdrop of blue sky with colors and lighting so soft and delicate that Garner’s porcelain skin simply glows. The pacing is patient, the dialogue spare, but the whole film is such a potent meditation that when the characters stare straight into the camera, we are more than happy to just lose ourselves in their eyes.

We sit down with the writer and director Pete Ohs.

The Do's And Don'ts Of Screenwriting With Jon Raymond

Jon Raymond will be the first to say that he accidentally stumbled into the world of screenwriting. He had just published his first novel in 2004 when a friend of his asked to adapt his short story “Old Joy” into a film. That friend was the director Kelly Reichardt, and that film started a working relationship that took them both into theaters across the world with the award-winning films “Wendy and Lucy,” “Meek’s Cutoff” and “Night Moves.” Raymond also co-wrote the teleplays for the five-part HBO series “Mildred Pierce” with his friend and Portland filmmaker Todd Haynes, which got him an Emmy nomination. He's at the fest for a talk about screenwriting, and we asked him to give us the Jon Raymond Golden Rules.

Sara Salovaara And 'Let Me Die A Nun'

Directed by Sara Salovaara, the six-part web series "Let Me Die A Nun" bills itself as "the opposing but intersecting trajectories of a lesbian soon-to-be nun, her Jewish stalker, and the object of her affection." We had to have Salovaara on to discuss this contemporary, comedic take on the 70s nunsploitation films (yeah, we didn't know that was a thing either). We also ask Salovaara, a regular writer for "MovieMaker Magazine," to help us understand just what sets the Eastern Oregon Film Fest apart from all the others.

Zombie Puppets And Other Furry Monsters

Portland filmmaker Jesse Blanchard claims "Frank & Zed" is the world's first puppet movie, which raises the question: How has this never been done before? Is there anything better than puppet-brain-eating puppet zombies? Or fire-breathing puppet monsters and bloody puppet limbs flying this way and that? Festival-goers are getting a first look at this work in progress, in which Blanchard and his Puppetcore Films team lovingly build every stitched eyeball, puppet skull and hurtling ax by hand. Could this be the next cult classic?]]>3047falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/finding-grace-in-disgrace-artist-antonio-martorel--13124434https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13124434Wed, 25 Oct 2017 18:54:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEminent Puerto Rican artist discusses his show at Linfield College. Themes of rain and deluge took on a horrific resonance after Hurricane Maria hit, weeks before opening.440falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-28-george-saunders-scary-movies-jessica-jackson-hutchins-polybius-conspiracy-and-more--13135379
Movies to Scare You - 1:24

Once you have your outfit and your candy on lockdown, the only essential left pending for Halloween is some good-quality scary movies to watch. John Rosman, enterprise producer on OPB’s digital team, got to talking about what to watch with horror aficionado Geoff Todd, editor at large at the popular film blog Film School Rejects. You may have seen the amazing Twitter feed he created, One Perfect Shot.

The Polybius Conspiracy - 7:58

Maybe you heard the rumors about a mysterious arcade game seen in Portland in the 80’s that resulted in all sorts of weird side effects, like dizziness, nightmares, mind control and maybe even abduction? Well, a new Radiotopia podcast is on the hunt to prove or disprove the urban legend of Polybius. It's called "The Polybius Conspiracy." Consider it "Serial meets "Stranger Things."

Into the Woods with an Insect Curator - 15:54

Here at "State of Wonder," we take our name very seriously. Wonder is all around us, even though we might not see it because we’re not looking in the right spot, or we’re distracted by our cell phones, or it’s literally under ground, burrowing away in the dirt beneath our feet. This next story takes us out of doors with a type of curator we don’t get to spend much time with: a curator of insects.

George Saunders' "Lincoln in the Bardo" - 21:00

Some things are worth waiting for: after years of writing short stories and essays and winning just about every accolade out there, George Saunders finally published his first novel earlier this year, “Lincoln in the Bardo,” and just last week, it won the Man Booker Prize. All of the action takes place in one night in a graveyard full of the spirits of people who don’t realize they’re dead and are visited by Abraham Lincoln, come to mourn his young son Willlie. Saunders blends his imagined, talkative souls with historical texts about the president.

Jessica Jackson Hutchins on 'Oregon Art Beat' - 35:51

Jessica Jackson Hutchins is one of the best-known contemporary artists Oregon has produced, but that recognition lies largely outside the state. Her paintings and large scale ceramics are regularly seen in New York galleries and in international venues — like the 2010 Whitney Biennial. Oregon Art Beat Kelsey Wallace caught up with her this summer during the Portland Biennial.

Puerto Rican Artist Antonio Martorell at Linfield Gallery - 42:26

The visual artist Antonio Martorell was in San Juan when Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico. He lives a couple hours away in a small beach town, and he spent several frantic days worried sick about his family and workshop before he could make it back, but this gracious 78-year-old gentleman — seldom seen without one of his trademark hats — takes disaster as a matter of course, and he found a way, despite blackout conditions, to get his prints, sketches, sculpture — and himself — to Linfield College for an exhibition two years in the making.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13135379Thu, 26 Oct 2017 17:43:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingGather round all you ghoulies and goblins. "State of Wonder" is going to channel up some ferocious wonders on this week’s episode. We’ve got picks for some of the best scary films, an interview with the producer behind a new podcast about one...
Movies to Scare You - 1:24

Once you have your outfit and your candy on lockdown, the only essential left pending for Halloween is some good-quality scary movies to watch. John Rosman, enterprise producer on OPB’s digital team, got to talking about what to watch with horror aficionado Geoff Todd, editor at large at the popular film blog Film School Rejects. You may have seen the amazing Twitter feed he created, One Perfect Shot.

The Polybius Conspiracy - 7:58

Maybe you heard the rumors about a mysterious arcade game seen in Portland in the 80’s that resulted in all sorts of weird side effects, like dizziness, nightmares, mind control and maybe even abduction? Well, a new Radiotopia podcast is on the hunt to prove or disprove the urban legend of Polybius. It's called "The Polybius Conspiracy." Consider it "Serial meets "Stranger Things."

Into the Woods with an Insect Curator - 15:54

Here at "State of Wonder," we take our name very seriously. Wonder is all around us, even though we might not see it because we’re not looking in the right spot, or we’re distracted by our cell phones, or it’s literally under ground, burrowing away in the dirt beneath our feet. This next story takes us out of doors with a type of curator we don’t get to spend much time with: a curator of insects.

George Saunders' "Lincoln in the Bardo" - 21:00

Some things are worth waiting for: after years of writing short stories and essays and winning just about every accolade out there, George Saunders finally published his first novel earlier this year, “Lincoln in the Bardo,” and just last week, it won the Man Booker Prize. All of the action takes place in one night in a graveyard full of the spirits of people who don’t realize they’re dead and are visited by Abraham Lincoln, come to mourn his young son Willlie. Saunders blends his imagined, talkative souls with historical texts about the president.

Jessica Jackson Hutchins on 'Oregon Art Beat' - 35:51

Jessica Jackson Hutchins is one of the best-known contemporary artists Oregon has produced, but that recognition lies largely outside the state. Her paintings and large scale ceramics are regularly seen in New York galleries and in international venues — like the 2010 Whitney Biennial. Oregon Art Beat Kelsey Wallace caught up with her this summer during the Portland Biennial.

Puerto Rican Artist Antonio Martorell at Linfield Gallery - 42:26

The visual artist Antonio Martorell was in San Juan when Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico. He lives a couple hours away in a small beach town, and he spent several frantic days worried sick about his family and workshop before he could make it back, but this gracious 78-year-old gentleman — seldom seen without one of his trademark hats — takes disaster as a matter of course, and he found a way, despite blackout conditions, to get his prints, sketches, sculpture — and himself — to Linfield College for an exhibition two years in the making.]]>3035falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-4-flaming-lips-wayne-coyne-comics-and-book-publishing-taneka-stotts-samiya-bashir-medea-in-la--13238902https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13238902Fri, 03 Nov 2017 19:35:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingCrawl inside this week and prepare to be dazzled: we visited an installation made by the team behind some of rock’s most amazing live shows, science powers up spellbinding poems by Samiya Bashir, and why comic book publishers are retooling their...3177falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-11-live-at-wordstock-with-welcome-to-night-vale-creators-and-poets-morgan-parker-and-tommy-pico--13303100
We talked to a slew of fantastic authors at this year's event: Tom Perrotta, Katie Kitamura, Chuck Klosterman, and more. We'll serve these up on our podcast in the coming weeks, but for now, feast on this live show, recorded at noon with four writers on the vanguard.

"Welcome to Night Vale" with Creators Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink

For the past five years, the creators of the runaway hit podcast, "Welcome to Night Vale" have spun tales of a fictional Southwestern desert town, where people live side by side with the supernatural. Hooded figures, shadowy government agencies, and ravenous ghosts abound— but also girl scouts, coffeehouses, and a community radio station. “Night Vale” is about finding humanity, seated right there next to unspeakable horror at the local diner, enjoying pie and coffee. Its creators have taken Night Vale to the page with a a second novel, "It Devours." It's the story of a young scientist trying to unravel the town's mysteries, and decipher her own outsider status. We talked to Fink and Cranor about the novel, the podcast series, and the Night Vale live shows. Just how popular are those staged events? The next Nightvale live show in Portland is scheduled at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, which seats 2700 people.

Poets Tommy Pico and Morgan Parker - 27:11

The authors of two of the most anticipated poetry books of the year just so happen to be dear friends. Morgan Parker’s poems have appeared in the “Paris Review,” the “New York Times,” and “Best American Poetry,” and have won her Pushcart and Gatewood prizes. Her new book is “There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyonce.”Tommy Pico is the author of “IRL” and the zine series “Hey, Teebs,” a Lambda Literary Fellow, and co-host of the podcast “Food 4 Thot.” His new book is “Nature Poem." Together, they curate the reading series Poets with Attitude in New York City.
“We were tired of being the only person on a bill who cared that the audience was there.” - Tommy Pico on State of Wonder

Both their books were published by Tin House, the bi-coastal publisher split between Portland and Brooklyn.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13303100Sun, 12 Nov 2017 02:33:49 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWordstock — Portland's book festival — is that most wonderful of days, when Oregonians’ book lust reaches a fever pitch, culminating in increased secret police presence at book signings, reader mobs storming the gates of Powell’s, and more mayhem. We...
We talked to a slew of fantastic authors at this year's event: Tom Perrotta, Katie Kitamura, Chuck Klosterman, and more. We'll serve these up on our podcast in the coming weeks, but for now, feast on this live show, recorded at noon with four writers on the vanguard.

"Welcome to Night Vale" with Creators Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink

For the past five years, the creators of the runaway hit podcast, "Welcome to Night Vale" have spun tales of a fictional Southwestern desert town, where people live side by side with the supernatural. Hooded figures, shadowy government agencies, and ravenous ghosts abound— but also girl scouts, coffeehouses, and a community radio station. “Night Vale” is about finding humanity, seated right there next to unspeakable horror at the local diner, enjoying pie and coffee. Its creators have taken Night Vale to the page with a a second novel, "It Devours." It's the story of a young scientist trying to unravel the town's mysteries, and decipher her own outsider status. We talked to Fink and Cranor about the novel, the podcast series, and the Night Vale live shows. Just how popular are those staged events? The next Nightvale live show in Portland is scheduled at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, which seats 2700 people.

Poets Tommy Pico and Morgan Parker - 27:11

The authors of two of the most anticipated poetry books of the year just so happen to be dear friends. Morgan Parker’s poems have appeared in the “Paris Review,” the “New York Times,” and “Best American Poetry,” and have won her Pushcart and Gatewood prizes. Her new book is “There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyonce.”Tommy Pico is the author of “IRL” and the zine series “Hey, Teebs,” a Lambda Literary Fellow, and co-host of the podcast “Food 4 Thot.” His new book is “Nature Poem." Together, they curate the reading series Poets with Attitude in New York City.
“We were tired of being the only person on a bill who cared that the audience was there.” - Tommy Pico on State of Wonder

Both their books were published by Tin House, the bi-coastal publisher split between Portland and Brooklyn.]]>3051falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-18-wordstock-chuck-klosterman-hannah-tinti-katie-kitamura--13358850
Want more books? Check out the first show we recorded at Wordstock this year, with the creators of the hit podcast and novels "Welcome to Night Vale" and the seriously hilarious poets Morgan Parker and Tommy Pico.
Chuck Klosterman Explains the 21st Century of Pop Culture - 1:26

What do Taylor Swift, Tim Tebow, and the search for free will in “Breaking Bad” have in common? They are all pop culture casualties of Chuck Closterman, one the keenest critical minds writing today. Growing up in North Dakota, Klosterman cut his teeth in the Midwest before heading to New York to write for the “New York Times,” “GQ,” “Grantland,” and practically everyone else. His 2003 essay collection “Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low-Culture Manifesto” launched him into the culture writing stratosphere, and he’s published several collections and two novels since. Now he’s out with his tenth book: “Chuck Closterman Ten: A Highly Specific, Defiantly Incomplete History of the Early 21st Century.” He takes us behind the scenes on his essays, plus talks about his recent move to Portland.

Katie Kitamura's Psychodrama About a Wife's Search for Her Husband - 19:27

In a landscape scorched by wildfire and summer sun, a woman, frozen with grief, comes searching for her estranged husband. Death of their marriage muffles her like a thick veil; she can barely see what’s going on around her. So begins Katie Kitamura’s elegant, suspenseful novel, “A Separation.” It’s a great read for the dank winter days, full with burned landscapes and arid Mediterranean atmosphere.

Hannah Tinti's Coming of Age Mystery - 33:52

Every parent is a mystery to their child. But few bear the secrets of Samuel Hawley. His scarred body maps out a life of theft, guns and murder, but for his daughter Loo, they’re just scars. That is, until they settle into the New England hometown of her deceased mother and she begins to question her father’s past and what truly happened to her mom. Such is the central mystery for Hannah Tinti’s second novel, “The Twelve Lives of Samuel Holly.” Ann Patchett called it “one part Quentin Tarantino, one part Scheherazade, and twelve parts wild innovation.”

Tinti is one of those gloriously creative writers, whose plots sparkle with suspense and emotion. Her best-selling debut novel, “The Good Thief,” was an American Tall Tale of sorts, starring an orphan and a con man at odds with a mouse trap magnate. Tinti also co-founded and edits the the award-winning magazine “One Story.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13358850Sat, 18 Nov 2017 00:35:36 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on 'State of Wonder,' we bring you the second show we recorded live at Wordstock, this time with the culture writer Chuck Klosterman, who pulls back the curtain on his celebrity profiles, and two ace authors, who discuss their thrilling new...
Want more books? Check out the first show we recorded at Wordstock this year, with the creators of the hit podcast and novels "Welcome to Night Vale" and the seriously hilarious poets Morgan Parker and Tommy Pico.
Chuck Klosterman Explains the 21st Century of Pop Culture - 1:26

What do Taylor Swift, Tim Tebow, and the search for free will in “Breaking Bad” have in common? They are all pop culture casualties of Chuck Closterman, one the keenest critical minds writing today. Growing up in North Dakota, Klosterman cut his teeth in the Midwest before heading to New York to write for the “New York Times,” “GQ,” “Grantland,” and practically everyone else. His 2003 essay collection “Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low-Culture Manifesto” launched him into the culture writing stratosphere, and he’s published several collections and two novels since. Now he’s out with his tenth book: “Chuck Closterman Ten: A Highly Specific, Defiantly Incomplete History of the Early 21st Century.” He takes us behind the scenes on his essays, plus talks about his recent move to Portland.

Katie Kitamura's Psychodrama About a Wife's Search for Her Husband - 19:27

In a landscape scorched by wildfire and summer sun, a woman, frozen with grief, comes searching for her estranged husband. Death of their marriage muffles her like a thick veil; she can barely see what’s going on around her. So begins Katie Kitamura’s elegant, suspenseful novel, “A Separation.” It’s a great read for the dank winter days, full with burned landscapes and arid Mediterranean atmosphere.

Hannah Tinti's Coming of Age Mystery - 33:52

Every parent is a mystery to their child. But few bear the secrets of Samuel Hawley. His scarred body maps out a life of theft, guns and murder, but for his daughter Loo, they’re just scars. That is, until they settle into the New England hometown of her deceased mother and she begins to question her father’s past and what truly happened to her mom. Such is the central mystery for Hannah Tinti’s second novel, “The Twelve Lives of Samuel Holly.” Ann Patchett called it “one part Quentin Tarantino, one part Scheherazade, and twelve parts wild innovation.”

Tinti is one of those gloriously creative writers, whose plots sparkle with suspense and emotion. Her best-selling debut novel, “The Good Thief,” was an American Tall Tale of sorts, starring an orphan and a con man at odds with a mouse trap magnate. Tinti also co-founded and edits the the award-winning magazine “One Story.”]]>3081falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nov-25-celebrating-brian-doyle-s-big-bold-oregon-legacy--13386907
It’s hard to imagine a more quintessentially Northwest writer than Brian Doyle. He was not from Oregon, but he was of Oregon.

His tales of off-kilter small towns played out in an Oregon where the land and the animals speak, sometimes metaphorically, sometimes literally. He was famously nominated for eight Oregon Book Awards in four categories, before finally winning one.

No less than the writer Ian Frazier immortalized Doyle’s place in the literary landscape in a 2016 poem for the “New Yorker,” writing: "The Brian Doyle, the Portland sage;/His writing's really all the rage."

Brian Doyle died in May after developing a brain tumor.

Several hundred people attended a memorial for him Sept. 21, including some of the region’s most prominent authors. Listening to them talk, we fell in love with Doyle anew, and wanted to share the event with you. So today, in partnership with Literary Arts, OPB presents memories and readings from that memorial from the following friends and writers.

The poet Kim Stafford, one of Doyle’s longtime friends and master of ceremonies for the evening - 4:00
Robin Cody, author of Richochet River - 5:54
The writer and environmental philosopher Kathleen Dean Moore. (Love her writing as much as we do? Listen to our interview with her around her Oregon Book Award–nominated "Great Tide Rising.") - 9:57

Chip Blake, the editor-in-chief of "Orion Magazine" - 17:01
The Oregon Coast writer Melissa Madenski - 22:45
The award-winning nature writer and lepidopterist Robert Michael Pyle - 24:56
Ana Maria Spagna, an author living in the North Cascades in a remote town you can only reach by foot, boat or float plane - 33:59
David James Duncan, the author of the bestselling novels “The River Why” and “The Brothers K” - 37:56]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13386907Tue, 21 Nov 2017 20:44:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on "State of Wonder," some of the Northwest's most prominent writers come together to share stories and memories of the man the "New Yorker" called "the Portland sage." It’s hard to imagine a more quintessentially Northwest writer than...
It’s hard to imagine a more quintessentially Northwest writer than Brian Doyle. He was not from Oregon, but he was of Oregon.

His tales of off-kilter small towns played out in an Oregon where the land and the animals speak, sometimes metaphorically, sometimes literally. He was famously nominated for eight Oregon Book Awards in four categories, before finally winning one.

No less than the writer Ian Frazier immortalized Doyle’s place in the literary landscape in a 2016 poem for the “New Yorker,” writing: "The Brian Doyle, the Portland sage;/His writing's really all the rage."

Brian Doyle died in May after developing a brain tumor.

Several hundred people attended a memorial for him Sept. 21, including some of the region’s most prominent authors. Listening to them talk, we fell in love with Doyle anew, and wanted to share the event with you. So today, in partnership with Literary Arts, OPB presents memories and readings from that memorial from the following friends and writers.

The poet Kim Stafford, one of Doyle’s longtime friends and master of ceremonies for the evening - 4:00
Robin Cody, author of Richochet River - 5:54
The writer and environmental philosopher Kathleen Dean Moore. (Love her writing as much as we do? Listen to our interview with her around her Oregon Book Award–nominated "Great Tide Rising.") - 9:57

Chip Blake, the editor-in-chief of "Orion Magazine" - 17:01
The Oregon Coast writer Melissa Madenski - 22:45
The award-winning nature writer and lepidopterist Robert Michael Pyle - 24:56
Ana Maria Spagna, an author living in the North Cascades in a remote town you can only reach by foot, boat or float plane - 33:59
David James Duncan, the author of the bestselling novels “The River Why” and “The Brothers K” - 37:56]]>3100falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-2-five-oregon-podcasts-you-have-to-hear--13486617
We’re taking this as an opportunity to talk to them about their shows, and to spotlight some more of our favorites made in Oregon. On this week’s episode:

Minority Retort - 1:30

Jason Lamb’s morning drive drops as part of the XRAY-FM feed feature conversations that reflect what’s going on in communities of color — often featuring stand-up artists Lamb’s met hosting the monthly “Minority Retort” comedy showcase.

Funemployment Radio - 5:31

Greg Nibler and Sarah X Dylan have chops honed by years in the trenches of terrestrial radio. But when they turned their powers to podcasting, freed from the constraints of 3-5 minute breaks, their creativity found a fifth gear. Voted Portland’s Best Podcast in the Willamette Week's 2016 and 2017 Readers’ Polls, Funemployment Radio tackles all kinds of subjects, but shines brightest on the weird stuff.

Roam Schooled - 13:58

Musician, sound engineer, and producer Jim Brunberg is best known to music fans around Portland as the founder and co-owner of two iconic venues: Mississippi Studios and Revolution Hall. But this side project, undertaken with his twin 8-year-old daughters, is an audio odyssey. Brunberg and the girls hit the road and interview everyone from the governor of Oregon to gun shop owners and Big Foot experts, as they explore big (and sometimes silly) issues, like death, the Second Amendment, fear, memory, and more, under the guiding principle: “Let’s go find out.” While the touchstone from each episode are questions from the girls, this podcast is one for the grown-ups.

Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men - 23:34

In 2014, Jay Edidin and Miles Stokes launched a grand experiment to tease out one of the most confusing — and compelling — storylines in comics: the saga of the X-Men, a group of outsider superheroes, mostly hated and feared by humanity. Taking on all the storylines, duplicate backstories, and alternate universe complications in order was no small task, but they ultimately took an even thornier storyline to unravel in their own lives. We love the podcast for their ultra-brainy takes and intensive research on the publishing history and the sheer glee they derive from Marvel’s intricate superhero soap-opera.

Outside Podcast - 35:47

Gorgeous production values and edge-of-your-seat storytelling are the hallmarks of this podcast offshoot from "Outside Magazine." Whether telling harrowing survival stories (getting cast adrift at sea, getting struck by lightening, getting treed by a jaguar, oh my!), interviewing extreme athletes of all stripes, or wandering far and wide with stories of the natural world, Portland-based Robbie Carver and Peter Frick-Wright are laser-focused on bringing each episode home with a slam-dunk narrative clinch.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13486617Sat, 02 Dec 2017 00:48:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis time we live in is a feast of audio storytelling. You can find a podcast for any interest, from Harry Potter to stories of death-defying survival, and it turns out Oregon is a hotbed of homemade shows. In fact, several enterprising producers have...
We’re taking this as an opportunity to talk to them about their shows, and to spotlight some more of our favorites made in Oregon. On this week’s episode:

Minority Retort - 1:30

Jason Lamb’s morning drive drops as part of the XRAY-FM feed feature conversations that reflect what’s going on in communities of color — often featuring stand-up artists Lamb’s met hosting the monthly “Minority Retort” comedy showcase.

Funemployment Radio - 5:31

Greg Nibler and Sarah X Dylan have chops honed by years in the trenches of terrestrial radio. But when they turned their powers to podcasting, freed from the constraints of 3-5 minute breaks, their creativity found a fifth gear. Voted Portland’s Best Podcast in the Willamette Week's 2016 and 2017 Readers’ Polls, Funemployment Radio tackles all kinds of subjects, but shines brightest on the weird stuff.

Roam Schooled - 13:58

Musician, sound engineer, and producer Jim Brunberg is best known to music fans around Portland as the founder and co-owner of two iconic venues: Mississippi Studios and Revolution Hall. But this side project, undertaken with his twin 8-year-old daughters, is an audio odyssey. Brunberg and the girls hit the road and interview everyone from the governor of Oregon to gun shop owners and Big Foot experts, as they explore big (and sometimes silly) issues, like death, the Second Amendment, fear, memory, and more, under the guiding principle: “Let’s go find out.” While the touchstone from each episode are questions from the girls, this podcast is one for the grown-ups.

Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men - 23:34

In 2014, Jay Edidin and Miles Stokes launched a grand experiment to tease out one of the most confusing — and compelling — storylines in comics: the saga of the X-Men, a group of outsider superheroes, mostly hated and feared by humanity. Taking on all the storylines, duplicate backstories, and alternate universe complications in order was no small task, but they ultimately took an even thornier storyline to unravel in their own lives. We love the podcast for their ultra-brainy takes and intensive research on the publishing history and the sheer glee they derive from Marvel’s intricate superhero soap-opera.

Outside Podcast - 35:47

Gorgeous production values and edge-of-your-seat storytelling are the hallmarks of this podcast offshoot from "Outside Magazine." Whether telling harrowing survival stories (getting cast adrift at sea, getting struck by lightening, getting treed by a jaguar, oh my!), interviewing extreme athletes of all stripes, or wandering far and wide with stories of the natural world, Portland-based Robbie Carver and Peter Frick-Wright are laser-focused on bringing each episode home with a slam-dunk narrative clinch.]]>3088falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-9-todd-haynes-on-wonderstruck-christian-scott-atunde-adjuah-phoebe-bridgers--13542528
Embers, the Iconic Portland LGBT Bar, Closes Its Doors - 1:32

Another landmark of old Portland has closed. The downtown bar and dance club Embers opened almost half a century ago when the world was — to say the least — a very different place for gay men and lesbians. Last week club managers announced on social media that owner Steve Suss had suffered a massive stroke and that Embers must close almost immediately. Kevin Cook, who performs as Poison Waters, took part in the final party as one of the club’s hall of fame drag performers and talked with us about the club's legacy.

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah Stretches Jazz: 5:15

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah's newest three-LP release, “The Centennial Trilogy,” includes post-bop harmonic foundations, boom-bap hip-hop feels, Afro-Cuban percussion and the electric beat manipulations of trap music — all while sounding unmistakably his. “The Centennial Trilogy” bears all the markings of a landmark jazz release, while itself marking a historic milestone: this year is the 100th anniversary of the first-ever jazz recording. Not that Scott is a big fan of that word, “jazz.” He prefers the term “stretch music” to describe his genre and its boundlessness.

Eleri Harris on the Tasmanian Murder of the Century: 14:16

On the other side of the world, in a city roughly the size of Corvallis, a murder mystery has kept news watchers and voyeurs on the edge of their seats for eight years. A wealthy scientist from Hobart, Tasmania disappeared in 2009. The ensuing investigation was, in Tasmanian terms, the trial of the century.
Portland-based artist Eleri Harris wanted to bring out the tragic family story behind the case in her seven-part serialized comic, “Reported Missing.” This gorgeously rendered, and binge-worthy story lays out the case in patient detail, as well as the surprising developments that keep the case alive to this day.

Phoebe Bridgers' Profoundly Melancholy Debut - 23:48

Phoebe Bridgers' new album, “Stranger In The Alps,” is a profoundly melancholy offering packed with heavy songs about grief and breakups. It even contains a number called "Funeral" — and yes, she really was once hired to play at a funeral. Like the artist herself, the music has a well-developed and wry sense of dark humor running through its core, making for an impressive and surprisingly mature debut from the 23-year-old LA musician.

Bridgers and her band stopped into the OPB studios earlier this fall before a gig opening for The War On Drugs. You can see the videos here.

Filmmaker Todd Haynes Pivots to Children's Cinema - 32:55

Portlander filmmaker Todd Haynes might seem an unlikely director to make a children's movie. He first attracted attention and controversy with a film where Barbie dolls acted out the life of singer Karen Carpenter. That was followed by melodramas, including 2015's "Carol," which conjures a forbidden lesbian affair in the 1950s. Now Todd Haynes has taken a turn into entirely new territory with his film "Wonderstruck," where you'll find wide-eyed children chasing around the magical dioramas of New York's Museum of Natural History. Haynes spoke with Rene Montagne about the film, as well as the accusations against Harvey Weinstein, who has distributed some of Haynes’s films.

Searching for the Painting One Jewish Family Traded for Escape from the Holocaust - 41:01

This story is about the power of art — or the power of one painting in particular. In the fall of 1938 in Munich, Germany, the Nazis rounded up thousands of Jews and sent them to concentration camps. A Jewish woman left her apartment carrying a painting and came back with carrying a visa that allowed her to escape the Nazis.

Now the exhibition "Munich to Portland: A Painting Saves a Family" at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education commemorates the family’s story. Stephen Engleberg, a former Portlander, is the editor of the news organization ProPublica, and it was his grandmother who used the painting to escape.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13542528Sat, 09 Dec 2017 01:07:13 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on "State of Wonder," we talk to Todd Haynes about his newest film, "Wonderstruck," and the fall of Harvey Weinstein; we explore Christian Scott aTunde Adjua's groundbreaking contemporary jazz; and discover the story of a painting that saved...
Embers, the Iconic Portland LGBT Bar, Closes Its Doors - 1:32

Another landmark of old Portland has closed. The downtown bar and dance club Embers opened almost half a century ago when the world was — to say the least — a very different place for gay men and lesbians. Last week club managers announced on social media that owner Steve Suss had suffered a massive stroke and that Embers must close almost immediately. Kevin Cook, who performs as Poison Waters, took part in the final party as one of the club’s hall of fame drag performers and talked with us about the club's legacy.

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah Stretches Jazz: 5:15

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah's newest three-LP release, “The Centennial Trilogy,” includes post-bop harmonic foundations, boom-bap hip-hop feels, Afro-Cuban percussion and the electric beat manipulations of trap music — all while sounding unmistakably his. “The Centennial Trilogy” bears all the markings of a landmark jazz release, while itself marking a historic milestone: this year is the 100th anniversary of the first-ever jazz recording. Not that Scott is a big fan of that word, “jazz.” He prefers the term “stretch music” to describe his genre and its boundlessness.

Eleri Harris on the Tasmanian Murder of the Century: 14:16

On the other side of the world, in a city roughly the size of Corvallis, a murder mystery has kept news watchers and voyeurs on the edge of their seats for eight years. A wealthy scientist from Hobart, Tasmania disappeared in 2009. The ensuing investigation was, in Tasmanian terms, the trial of the century.
Portland-based artist Eleri Harris wanted to bring out the tragic family story behind the case in her seven-part serialized comic, “Reported Missing.” This gorgeously rendered, and binge-worthy story lays out the case in patient detail, as well as the surprising developments that keep the case alive to this day.

Phoebe Bridgers' Profoundly Melancholy Debut - 23:48

Phoebe Bridgers' new album, “Stranger In The Alps,” is a profoundly melancholy offering packed with heavy songs about grief and breakups. It even contains a number called "Funeral" — and yes, she really was once hired to play at a funeral. Like the artist herself, the music has a well-developed and wry sense of dark humor running through its core, making for an impressive and surprisingly mature debut from the 23-year-old LA musician.

Bridgers and her band stopped into the OPB studios earlier this fall before a gig opening for The War On Drugs. You can see the videos here.

Filmmaker Todd Haynes Pivots to Children's Cinema - 32:55

Portlander filmmaker Todd Haynes might seem an unlikely director to make a children's movie. He first attracted attention and controversy with a film where Barbie dolls acted out the life of singer Karen Carpenter. That was followed by melodramas, including 2015's "Carol," which conjures a forbidden lesbian affair in the 1950s. Now Todd Haynes has taken a turn into entirely new territory with his film "Wonderstruck," where you'll find wide-eyed children chasing around the magical dioramas of New York's Museum of Natural History. Haynes spoke with Rene Montagne about the film, as well as the accusations against Harvey Weinstein, who has distributed some of Haynes’s films.

Searching for the Painting One Jewish Family Traded for Escape from the Holocaust - 41:01

This story is about the power of art — or the power of one painting in particular. In the fall of 1938 in Munich, Germany, the Nazis rounded up thousands of Jews and sent them to concentration camps. A...]]>3067falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-16-remembering-vera-katz-best-music-of-2017-minor-white-explode-into-colors--13600595
Remembering Beloved Former Mayor, Vera Katz - 1:24

This week, Former Portland Mayor and Oregon House speaker Vera Katz died. A trailblazer who steered Portland into an unprecedented period of growth and vitality (see: Pearl District, South Waterfront, East Bank Esplanade, etc), she always had her eye on how arts and creativity could enrich public life.

We look back on Katz's legacy and then sit down with two arts leaders who worked during Katz tenure: Eloise Damrosch, the long-time head of the Regional Arts and Culture Council, and Linda K. Johnson, a dancer, choreographer, and teacher who brought many projects to life inside and outside the public sector, including an Artist-in-Residency program in the early days of the South Waterfront.

The Year In Jazz With KMHD - 16:35

We’re going to take some time to look back at the year that was in music. First up, we talk the ever-widening world of jazz with the mighty triumvirate behind KMHD Jazz Radio: program director Matt Fleeger and hosts/producers Isabel Zacharias and Derek Smith.
They talk some of the best albums and best concerts of the year (hey, Solange!) that remind us why jazz continues to be so important — it uplifts, inspires, reflects and makes space for honesty.

opbmusic's Favorite Music Of 2017 - 26:35

It's been a big year for local pop, rock, and hip-hop artists. opbmusic's Jerad Walker joins us to talk the two biggest songs to come out of Portland maybe ever: Portugal. The Man's "Feel It Still" and Amine's "Caroline" (don't miss Portugal's performance of their whole album live in the OPB studio). Then we move onto some of the year's other breakouts and best live opbmusic sessions, including The Last Artful, Dodgr, Kelli Schaefer, and Wild Ones.

Bullseye Glass: The Heavy Metal Saga Continues - 34:46

Bullseye Glass came under heavy state and county scrutiny last year after scientists found heavy metals in air and plants near the art glass maker’s southeast Portland headquarters. The company has since spent millions of dollars to comply and now has now sued the state for civil rights violations, claiming Governor Kate Brown’s actions were arbitrary and capricious, and violated the company’s right to due process.

City Council Approves Portland Art Museum's Expansion - 37:49

Last year, the Portland Art Museum announced plans for a new entrance called the Rothko Pavilion that would connect the museum’s two existing buildings and fix its notoriously inaccessible layout. However, advocates for disability, pedestrian and bicycle rights argued that the expansion would obstruct the current pedestrian passage along Madison Street. This week, the council voted 3-1 in favor of the museum.

Minor White's Photographs Of The Portland Before Old Portland - 39:18

We talk a lot about how much Portland has changed in the last few decades, but if you want to really blow your mind, look at the city compared not to the 1990s, but to the 1930s. Talk about a whole different town. The artist Minor White spent several years photographing Portland for the Works Progress Administration.
Now there’re two exhibitions of his work: "In the Beginning: Minor White’s Oregon Photographs" at the Portland Art Museum and "Parting Shots: Minor White’s Images of Portland, 1938-1942" at the Architectural Heritage Center. Eric Slade dropped by to discuss Oregon Art Beat's recent profile of White.

Explode Into Colors Are Back In The Music Game - 43:56

The reunion of Explode Into Colors for two epic live shows last fall fall — and an opbmusic studio session — had Portland music fans in ecstasy. They liked playing together so much that they’re back for a two-night stand at Mississippi Studios Dec. 30 and 31.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13600595Sat, 16 Dec 2017 00:24:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on "State of Wonder," we discuss the legacy of former mayor and arts booster Vera Katz, the best music of 2017, and get a glimpse into Portland's past through the photos of Minor White. Remembering Beloved Former Mayor, Vera Katz - 1:24...
Remembering Beloved Former Mayor, Vera Katz - 1:24

This week, Former Portland Mayor and Oregon House speaker Vera Katz died. A trailblazer who steered Portland into an unprecedented period of growth and vitality (see: Pearl District, South Waterfront, East Bank Esplanade, etc), she always had her eye on how arts and creativity could enrich public life.

We look back on Katz's legacy and then sit down with two arts leaders who worked during Katz tenure: Eloise Damrosch, the long-time head of the Regional Arts and Culture Council, and Linda K. Johnson, a dancer, choreographer, and teacher who brought many projects to life inside and outside the public sector, including an Artist-in-Residency program in the early days of the South Waterfront.

The Year In Jazz With KMHD - 16:35

We’re going to take some time to look back at the year that was in music. First up, we talk the ever-widening world of jazz with the mighty triumvirate behind KMHD Jazz Radio: program director Matt Fleeger and hosts/producers Isabel Zacharias and Derek Smith.
They talk some of the best albums and best concerts of the year (hey, Solange!) that remind us why jazz continues to be so important — it uplifts, inspires, reflects and makes space for honesty.

opbmusic's Favorite Music Of 2017 - 26:35

It's been a big year for local pop, rock, and hip-hop artists. opbmusic's Jerad Walker joins us to talk the two biggest songs to come out of Portland maybe ever: Portugal. The Man's "Feel It Still" and Amine's "Caroline" (don't miss Portugal's performance of their whole album live in the OPB studio). Then we move onto some of the year's other breakouts and best live opbmusic sessions, including The Last Artful, Dodgr, Kelli Schaefer, and Wild Ones.

Bullseye Glass: The Heavy Metal Saga Continues - 34:46

Bullseye Glass came under heavy state and county scrutiny last year after scientists found heavy metals in air and plants near the art glass maker’s southeast Portland headquarters. The company has since spent millions of dollars to comply and now has now sued the state for civil rights violations, claiming Governor Kate Brown’s actions were arbitrary and capricious, and violated the company’s right to due process.

City Council Approves Portland Art Museum's Expansion - 37:49

Last year, the Portland Art Museum announced plans for a new entrance called the Rothko Pavilion that would connect the museum’s two existing buildings and fix its notoriously inaccessible layout. However, advocates for disability, pedestrian and bicycle rights argued that the expansion would obstruct the current pedestrian passage along Madison Street. This week, the council voted 3-1 in favor of the museum.

Minor White's Photographs Of The Portland Before Old Portland - 39:18

We talk a lot about how much Portland has changed in the last few decades, but if you want to really blow your mind, look at the city compared not to the 1990s, but to the 1930s. Talk about a whole different town. The artist Minor White spent several years photographing Portland for the Works Progress Administration.
Now there’re two exhibitions of his work: "In the Beginning: Minor White’s Oregon Photographs" at the Portland Art Museum and "Parting Shots: Minor White’s Images of Portland, 1938-1942" at the Architectural Heritage Center. Eric Slade dropped by to discuss Oregon Art Beat's recent profile of White.

Explode Into Colors Are Back In The Music Game - 43:56

The reunion of Explode Into Colors for two epic live shows last fall fall — and an opbmusic studio session — had Portland music fans in ecstasy. They liked playing together so much that they’re...]]>3083falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-23-ghost-of-portland-past-remembering-elliott-smith--13646945
Last March, we sat down with Smith’s friends, peers, and a live studio audience to talk about “Either/Or” and Smith’s legacy.

Smith’s ultra-reflective songwriting and well-honed recording style represent an apex of the DIY sound that made Portland’s name during its intensely fertile 1990s. His music continues to inspire people like Frank Ocean, Ben Gibbard, Wayne Coyne and many others.

Our Guests

Larry Crane of Jackpot Recording Studio was a longtime friend and collaborator and has assumed the role of archivist of Smith’s catalogue. He tells us about what he’s observed of the record through the years, leading up to the re-release of a re-mastered, extended edition of “Either/Or.”
Slim Moon, founder of Kill Rock Stars, worked with Smith to release two studio records, including “Either/Or.” The label also shepherded the release of some posthumous material. Moon’s perspective puts Smith in the context of a constellation of regional and national artists of the time.

Loving Covers By

Luz Elena Mendoza and Ali Clarys (Y La Bamba, Tiburones): “Speed Trials” - 00:10
Catherine Feeny + band: “Between the Bars” - 13:31
Amit Erez (The Secret Sea): “Angeles” [15:51] and “Southern Belle” [26:03]
Matt Drenik: “2:45 AM” - 32:08
Sean Croghan: “Alameda” - 39:30]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13646945Thu, 21 Dec 2017 21:57:49 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTwenty years ago, Elliott Smith opened a door into a hypnotic new world. The album “Either/Or,” released on Kill Rock Stars, marks a turning point in Smith’s transition from Portland rock journeyman to international star. This time had enormous...
Last March, we sat down with Smith’s friends, peers, and a live studio audience to talk about “Either/Or” and Smith’s legacy.

Smith’s ultra-reflective songwriting and well-honed recording style represent an apex of the DIY sound that made Portland’s name during its intensely fertile 1990s. His music continues to inspire people like Frank Ocean, Ben Gibbard, Wayne Coyne and many others.

Our Guests

Larry Crane of Jackpot Recording Studio was a longtime friend and collaborator and has assumed the role of archivist of Smith’s catalogue. He tells us about what he’s observed of the record through the years, leading up to the re-release of a re-mastered, extended edition of “Either/Or.”
Slim Moon, founder of Kill Rock Stars, worked with Smith to release two studio records, including “Either/Or.” The label also shepherded the release of some posthumous material. Moon’s perspective puts Smith in the context of a constellation of regional and national artists of the time.

Loving Covers By

Luz Elena Mendoza and Ali Clarys (Y La Bamba, Tiburones): “Speed Trials” - 00:10
Catherine Feeny + band: “Between the Bars” - 13:31
Amit Erez (The Secret Sea): “Angeles” [15:51] and “Southern Belle” [26:03]
Matt Drenik: “2:45 AM” - 32:08
Sean Croghan: “Alameda” - 39:30]]>3029falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-30-author-tom-perrotta-considers-online-porn-culture-remembering-fred-cole--13691326https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13691326Fri, 29 Dec 2017 21:02:12 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBest-selling novelist Tom Perrotta has a flair for finding humanity in talks about thinking through the social and spiritual dimensions of inetrnet porn for his bittersweet satire, "Mrs. Fletcher". We also discuss famous film and video adaptations of...3166falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dec-30-author-tom-perrotta-considers-online-porn-culture-remembering-fred-cole--13691338https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13691338Fri, 29 Dec 2017 21:06:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBest-selling novelist Tom Perrotta has a flair for finding humanity in talks about thinking through the social and spiritual dimensions of inetrnet porn for his bittersweet satire, "Mrs. Fletcher". We also discuss famous film and video adaptations of...3166falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-6-lemony-snicket-maria-bamford-robert-frank-artists-repertory-theatre--13733448
Hard Times For Artists Repertory Theatre

The year got off to a hard start for Portland’s oldest theater, Artists Repertory. Founded in 1982, the mid-sized company performs high-octane work by hot playwrights, tackling subjects like racism, the Great Recession, and climate change. As OPB’s April Baer reports, the company announced plans to sell half its building to retire its debt and set it on a sustainable path, as well as the departure of its managing director.

Comedian Maria Bamford - 6:38

Comedian Maria Bamford is cruising back through Oregon next week for shows at Eugene’s McDonald Hall Jan. 12 and at Portland's Revolution Hall Jan. 13. She’s been cranking out the work lately. Last year she released a Netflix special, "Old Baby," where she's performing in front of all different kinds of crowds: clubs, neighborhood streets, a bowling alley with a bunch of complete strangers. She also kicked out a new web series, "Ave Maria Bamford" — sort of a self-help for the holidays missal — and her series on Netflix, “Lady Dynamite,” has wrapped a second season. In it, she plays a fictionalized version of herself, and tells stories about rebooting her career after a serious mental health crises breakdown in 2010.

Nick Delffs Live at opbmusic - 18:20

Nick Delffs was a longtime part of the Portland music scene, fronting the shaggy indie rock band The Shaky Hands and collaborating with Luz Elena Mendoza and Ali Clarys in the group Tiburones, before moving to Boise, Idaho, several years ago. Delffs went back on the road to promote the release of his first solo album, “Redesign,” and, no surprise, it’s a collection of songs about reinventing yourself.

A Conversation With Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket - 22:40

Beginning in 1999, a writer under the pen name Lemony Snicket began “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” a thirteen volume collection of blockbuster children’s books that have been turned into a movie and a Netflix series. They told the story of the Baudelaire children, who lost their parents in a fire and became the wards of their evil Count Olaf. The books struck a chord with kids because they didn’t moralize or try to make the world seem better than it was; instead, they confronted the fact that bad things happen, often for no reason at all.

Lemony Snicket was later revealed to be the author Daniel Handler. He has since written many works under his own name, ranging from poetry to plays. Last fall, he released both the novel “All the Dirty Parts” and the children’s book “The Bad Mood and the Stick.” He spoke at Wordstock in November with "New York Times" TV critic Gilbert Cruz.
Remembering Violinist Robert Mann - 32:36

This week, a giant in the classical world — with Portland roots — passed away. Robert Mann, a founding member of the Juilliard String Quartet, died Monday at age 97. We take a moment to remember Mann, and the contributions he made to classical music, including the symphony where he got his start: the Portland Youth Philharmonic.

Art Publisher Gerhard Steidl on Photographer Robert Frank - 35:11

Robert Frank has been called the father of street photography because he was the first person to shoot everyday life with a raw, shoot-from-the-hip aesthetic, but "street photography" is an understatement. His photos of people around the world are really documentary works that tell complex stories, and his book "The Americans" (with an introduction by Jack Kerouac) basically invented the photography book as we understand it.

Now the world’s preeminent publisher of photography books, Gerhard Steidl, is in town for an exhibition of Frank's work at Portland’s Blue Sky Gallery, titled “Robert Frank: Books and Films: 1947 to 2017.” Frank’s films are shown on a wall at the same size as the photos, all the photos are printed on newsprint, and, as Steidl tells us, they'll all be destroyed at the end of the run.
Pepe Moscoso Passes the Torch at Fusionarte Radio - 45:28

If you listen to the KBOO arts radio show Fusionarte, part of the Spanish language block, you know it’s a free-rolling conversation about everything that’s current. Host Pepe Moscoso talks to guests about books, theater, film, and music - lots and lots of good music. Now Moscoso is ending his run — a working artist, he’s going to spend more time on his photography and mixed media projects — and handing the show off to Luna Flores, a poet who also works with KBOO radio’s Youth Collective. We invited them in to talk about the show.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13733448Sat, 06 Jan 2018 01:17:09 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on "State of Wonder," the comedian Maria Bamford on her hit Netflix series, author Daniel Handler on his best-selling "Series of Unfortunate Events" books, and the man who pretty much invented the photography book, Robert Frank. Hard Times...
Hard Times For Artists Repertory Theatre

The year got off to a hard start for Portland’s oldest theater, Artists Repertory. Founded in 1982, the mid-sized company performs high-octane work by hot playwrights, tackling subjects like racism, the Great Recession, and climate change. As OPB’s April Baer reports, the company announced plans to sell half its building to retire its debt and set it on a sustainable path, as well as the departure of its managing director.

Comedian Maria Bamford - 6:38

Comedian Maria Bamford is cruising back through Oregon next week for shows at Eugene’s McDonald Hall Jan. 12 and at Portland's Revolution Hall Jan. 13. She’s been cranking out the work lately. Last year she released a Netflix special, "Old Baby," where she's performing in front of all different kinds of crowds: clubs, neighborhood streets, a bowling alley with a bunch of complete strangers. She also kicked out a new web series, "Ave Maria Bamford" — sort of a self-help for the holidays missal — and her series on Netflix, “Lady Dynamite,” has wrapped a second season. In it, she plays a fictionalized version of herself, and tells stories about rebooting her career after a serious mental health crises breakdown in 2010.

Nick Delffs Live at opbmusic - 18:20

Nick Delffs was a longtime part of the Portland music scene, fronting the shaggy indie rock band The Shaky Hands and collaborating with Luz Elena Mendoza and Ali Clarys in the group Tiburones, before moving to Boise, Idaho, several years ago. Delffs went back on the road to promote the release of his first solo album, “Redesign,” and, no surprise, it’s a collection of songs about reinventing yourself.

A Conversation With Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket - 22:40

Beginning in 1999, a writer under the pen name Lemony Snicket began “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” a thirteen volume collection of blockbuster children’s books that have been turned into a movie and a Netflix series. They told the story of the Baudelaire children, who lost their parents in a fire and became the wards of their evil Count Olaf. The books struck a chord with kids because they didn’t moralize or try to make the world seem better than it was; instead, they confronted the fact that bad things happen, often for no reason at all.

Lemony Snicket was later revealed to be the author Daniel Handler. He has since written many works under his own name, ranging from poetry to plays. Last fall, he released both the novel “All the Dirty Parts” and the children’s book “The Bad Mood and the Stick.” He spoke at Wordstock in November with "New York Times" TV critic Gilbert Cruz.
Remembering Violinist Robert Mann - 32:36

This week, a giant in the classical world — with Portland roots — passed away. Robert Mann, a founding member of the Juilliard String Quartet, died Monday at age 97. We take a moment to remember Mann, and the contributions he made to classical music, including the symphony where he got his start: the Portland Youth Philharmonic.

Art Publisher Gerhard Steidl on Photographer Robert Frank - 35:11

Robert Frank has been called the father of street photography because he was the first person to shoot everyday life with a raw, shoot-from-the-hip aesthetic, but "street photography" is an understatement. His photos of people around the world are really documentary works that tell complex stories, and his book "The Americans" (with an introduction by Jack Kerouac) basically invented the photography book as we understand it.

Now the world’s preeminent publisher of photography books, Gerhard Steidl, is in town for an exhibition of Frank's...]]>3070falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/typhoon-talks-about-offerings-at-opbmusi--13771211https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13771211Thu, 11 Jan 2018 07:19:37 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingKyle Morton and his band join us for an opbmusic studio session in front of a live audience. The new record, "Offerings" is the tale of a disturbing personal journey , tracking personal and cultural memory loss.826falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-13-typhoon-josh-ritter-laura-veirs-portland-youth-philharmonic--13791866City Council Seeks to Preserve Arts Spaces with New Proposals

So many Oregon cities are going through catalytic change because of rising real estate costs, and the front-line casualties include galleries, stages, clubs and artist studios. Most recently, Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland proposed selling half its building. At a work session this week, Portland City Council showed signs it may be ready to take action with a list of about two dozen recommendations for preserving arts and creative space, ranging from creating a new zoning category for creative spaces to an arts concierge in City Hall and giving arts groups priority pick of surplus city real estate.
Former RACC Director Eloise Damrosch on the Future of Portland Arts - 4:19

In the seventeen years that Eloise Damrosch was at the helm of the Regional Arts and Culture Council, she had a 10,000-foot view of the seismic changes in the city’s arts scene. She retired in 2017, paving the way for an executive search, now in its eighth month. It’s clear that the task ahead for the next generation of arts leaders is a heavy lift. Damrosch joined us this week to talk about her time at RACC and about this list of ideas on preserving creative space from commissioners Nick Fish and Chloe Eudaly.

Live opbmusic Session with Typhoon - 11:49

The band Typhoon is back this week with "Offerings," another record of songs made with finesse and ferocity. But this new release finds frontman and songwriter Kyle Morton going to strange and dark places, as it imagines one man’s descent into memory loss and madness. With as many as eleven musicians, this band has never lacked for ambition, but the high-concept music in “Offerings” raises the bar.

The Silent Film Classic "The Passion of Joan of Arc" Gets a Soaring Live Soundtrack - 25:10

For years, one of the worlds greatest films was thought lost, only to be discovered in a custodial closet in Norway. Carl Dreyer’s 1928 silent film, “The Passion of Joan of Arc,” will be screened at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Jan. 26 in a most unique way: Portland Youth Philharmonic’s chamber orchestra will perform Richard Einhorn’s oratorio “Voices of Light” live to accompany the film, along with a slew of soloists and vocal ensembles including the female vocal ensemble In Mulieribus and three Portland State University choirs. We spoke with the composer Richard Einhorn and PYP's musical director David Hattner, who conducted a similar production in New York City in 2006 to glowing reviews. The "New York Times" asked whether it was Einhorn's "Voices of Light" that accompanied the film, or the film that accompanied the music?

Musician Laura Veirs on Her Children's Book and New Podcast - 35:08

In 2018, Portland singer-songwriter Laura Veirs puts down her guitar and picks up the interview mike for a new podcast, "Midnight Lightning," where she talks to musician moms, charting all the insane things they do to keep their careers and families on track. From rootsy pickers to funk rockers, there’s one thing they all have in common, she says: “Guilt. That was the main thing everyone said. They feel guilty. Especially the touring moms. And then gratitude. ‘I’m grateful I get to do this.’” Veirs also tells us about the children’s book she just published about an early folk singer, “Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten.”

Josh Ritter Plays Sisters - 44:46

Singer-songwriter Josh Ritter is coming to Central Oregon for a concert at the Sisters Folk Festival Winter Concert Series on Jan. 23. The Idaho native’s a big get for them. In addition to his accomplishments as a musician, Ritter also wrote a "New York Times" best-selling novel in 2011, "Bright’s Passage," about a farm boy caught up in World War I. We listen back to a conversation and performance on OPB’s Think Out Loud the year the book came out.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13791866Sat, 13 Jan 2018 01:17:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on "State of Wonder," exclusive sessions with singer-songwriter Josh Ritter and the epic band Typhoon, new ideas to preserve Portland's arts spaces, musician Laura Veirs branches into podcasting and children's books, and more. City Council...City Council Seeks to Preserve Arts Spaces with New Proposals

So many Oregon cities are going through catalytic change because of rising real estate costs, and the front-line casualties include galleries, stages, clubs and artist studios. Most recently, Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland proposed selling half its building. At a work session this week, Portland City Council showed signs it may be ready to take action with a list of about two dozen recommendations for preserving arts and creative space, ranging from creating a new zoning category for creative spaces to an arts concierge in City Hall and giving arts groups priority pick of surplus city real estate.
Former RACC Director Eloise Damrosch on the Future of Portland Arts - 4:19

In the seventeen years that Eloise Damrosch was at the helm of the Regional Arts and Culture Council, she had a 10,000-foot view of the seismic changes in the city’s arts scene. She retired in 2017, paving the way for an executive search, now in its eighth month. It’s clear that the task ahead for the next generation of arts leaders is a heavy lift. Damrosch joined us this week to talk about her time at RACC and about this list of ideas on preserving creative space from commissioners Nick Fish and Chloe Eudaly.

Live opbmusic Session with Typhoon - 11:49

The band Typhoon is back this week with "Offerings," another record of songs made with finesse and ferocity. But this new release finds frontman and songwriter Kyle Morton going to strange and dark places, as it imagines one man’s descent into memory loss and madness. With as many as eleven musicians, this band has never lacked for ambition, but the high-concept music in “Offerings” raises the bar.

The Silent Film Classic "The Passion of Joan of Arc" Gets a Soaring Live Soundtrack - 25:10

For years, one of the worlds greatest films was thought lost, only to be discovered in a custodial closet in Norway. Carl Dreyer’s 1928 silent film, “The Passion of Joan of Arc,” will be screened at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Jan. 26 in a most unique way: Portland Youth Philharmonic’s chamber orchestra will perform Richard Einhorn’s oratorio “Voices of Light” live to accompany the film, along with a slew of soloists and vocal ensembles including the female vocal ensemble In Mulieribus and three Portland State University choirs. We spoke with the composer Richard Einhorn and PYP's musical director David Hattner, who conducted a similar production in New York City in 2006 to glowing reviews. The "New York Times" asked whether it was Einhorn's "Voices of Light" that accompanied the film, or the film that accompanied the music?

Musician Laura Veirs on Her Children's Book and New Podcast - 35:08

In 2018, Portland singer-songwriter Laura Veirs puts down her guitar and picks up the interview mike for a new podcast, "Midnight Lightning," where she talks to musician moms, charting all the insane things they do to keep their careers and families on track. From rootsy pickers to funk rockers, there’s one thing they all have in common, she says: “Guilt. That was the main thing everyone said. They feel guilty. Especially the touring moms. And then gratitude. ‘I’m grateful I get to do this.’” Veirs also tells us about the children’s book she just published about an early folk singer, “Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten.”

Josh Ritter Plays Sisters - 44:46

Singer-songwriter Josh Ritter is coming to Central Oregon for a concert at the Sisters Folk Festival Winter Concert Series on Jan. 23. The Idaho native’s a big get for them. In addition to his accomplishments as a musician, Ritter also...]]>3054falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-20-final-portlandia-mimicking-birds-mk-guth-moviepass-and-more--13850343
Time to Hang up Your Bird Stencil and Say Goodbye to "Portlandia"

“Portlandia” began its final season this week. Since its premiere in 2011, the sketch comedy show sometimes feels like it’s come to define Portland — or at least a particular cross-section of the city. It put us on the map as the capital of earnest urbanism at a time when words like “artisanal” and “locavore” were sweeping the nation. It was an image Portlanders embraced, but then came to struggle with.

Muralist on 82nd Avenue Faces Backlash for Depicting Diversity - 13:42

82nd Avenue is a marker for a diverse community that defies Portland’s reputation as one of the whitest cities in America. Reporter Ericka Cruz Guevarra met with Asian-American artist Alex Chiu whose mural depicting diversity was met with such backlash that supporters signed up to stand watch with him while he worked.

Live opbmusic Session with Mimicking Birds - 18:51

The music of the portland band Mimicking Birds is so beautifully composed that it’s easy to zone out the lyrics as just another gorgeous instrument. We don’t recommend it. Songwriter Nate Lacy probes our place in this great big universe with the soul of a poet and the eye of a scientist. The band's previous albums have turned them into an NPR favorite. We had them into the studio to play a few tracks from their new record, “Layers of Us,” which comes out Jan. 26, and talk about the new layers of instruments they’ve added to their sound.

The Beautiful Creatures of Christopher Marley - 27:47

A couple years ago, we profiled a Salem artist who transforms poisonous snakes, tropical fish and exotic insects into works of art. His name is Christopher Marley, and he had just put out a New York Times bestselling book. He said at the time that his next big project was putting together a museum show with the goal of moving from high-end retail to the world of galleries and museums. Well, he’s done it. He’s mounted a major exhibition of some 400 works at the Weiner Museum of Decorative Arts and The Gallery of Amazing Things near Miami, Florida. We head down to his studio for an update.

MoviePass's Move Theater Subscription Service is Changing the Game for Moviegoers - 32:35

What if you could pay $10 a month and see a move a day in a theater? If you went once a week, you would only pay $2.50 a movie, and nothing would stop you from going all the time and paying pennies a shot. This is the pitch that MoviePass has been making, and it’s working. Since the company slashed its price over the summer, it’s grown from 20,000 customers to 1.5 million. But if – on average – people see even just two movies a month, how is MoviePass going to make money? And what will this mean for theaters?

Drinking Whisky with Artist MK Guth - 42:09

If you’ve ever thought that a visit to an art gallery could be enhanced by a stiff drink, MK Guth’s most recent installation at the Elizabeth Leach gallery (up through Jan. 27) might be right up your alley. “Instructions for Drinking with Friend” is just that — a bottle of whisky with instruction meant to incite deeper conversation and turn the observer into the performer. Guth is an artist fascinated by social interaction and the rituals of food and drink. Her past projects include private dinners, like "Dinner to Plan a Revolution," an experience that involves eating a hearty meal, drinking vodka, and following instructions to facilitate dialogue about change. A range of her work is now on display at a retrospective in Salem’s Hallie Ford Museum of Art titled “MK Guth: Paying Attention.”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13850343Sat, 20 Jan 2018 19:09:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on "State of Wonder," there are birds everywhere. We say goodbye to "Portlandia" as it enters its final season, hear new music from the Portland band Mimicking Birds, meet the Michelangelo of animal art, and raise a toast with MK Guth....
Time to Hang up Your Bird Stencil and Say Goodbye to "Portlandia"

“Portlandia” began its final season this week. Since its premiere in 2011, the sketch comedy show sometimes feels like it’s come to define Portland — or at least a particular cross-section of the city. It put us on the map as the capital of earnest urbanism at a time when words like “artisanal” and “locavore” were sweeping the nation. It was an image Portlanders embraced, but then came to struggle with.

Muralist on 82nd Avenue Faces Backlash for Depicting Diversity - 13:42

82nd Avenue is a marker for a diverse community that defies Portland’s reputation as one of the whitest cities in America. Reporter Ericka Cruz Guevarra met with Asian-American artist Alex Chiu whose mural depicting diversity was met with such backlash that supporters signed up to stand watch with him while he worked.

Live opbmusic Session with Mimicking Birds - 18:51

The music of the portland band Mimicking Birds is so beautifully composed that it’s easy to zone out the lyrics as just another gorgeous instrument. We don’t recommend it. Songwriter Nate Lacy probes our place in this great big universe with the soul of a poet and the eye of a scientist. The band's previous albums have turned them into an NPR favorite. We had them into the studio to play a few tracks from their new record, “Layers of Us,” which comes out Jan. 26, and talk about the new layers of instruments they’ve added to their sound.

The Beautiful Creatures of Christopher Marley - 27:47

A couple years ago, we profiled a Salem artist who transforms poisonous snakes, tropical fish and exotic insects into works of art. His name is Christopher Marley, and he had just put out a New York Times bestselling book. He said at the time that his next big project was putting together a museum show with the goal of moving from high-end retail to the world of galleries and museums. Well, he’s done it. He’s mounted a major exhibition of some 400 works at the Weiner Museum of Decorative Arts and The Gallery of Amazing Things near Miami, Florida. We head down to his studio for an update.

MoviePass's Move Theater Subscription Service is Changing the Game for Moviegoers - 32:35

What if you could pay $10 a month and see a move a day in a theater? If you went once a week, you would only pay $2.50 a movie, and nothing would stop you from going all the time and paying pennies a shot. This is the pitch that MoviePass has been making, and it’s working. Since the company slashed its price over the summer, it’s grown from 20,000 customers to 1.5 million. But if – on average – people see even just two movies a month, how is MoviePass going to make money? And what will this mean for theaters?

Drinking Whisky with Artist MK Guth - 42:09

If you’ve ever thought that a visit to an art gallery could be enhanced by a stiff drink, MK Guth’s most recent installation at the Elizabeth Leach gallery (up through Jan. 27) might be right up your alley. “Instructions for Drinking with Friend” is just that — a bottle of whisky with instruction meant to incite deeper conversation and turn the observer into the performer. Guth is an artist fascinated by social interaction and the rituals of food and drink. Her past projects include private dinners, like "Dinner to Plan a Revolution," an experience that involves eating a hearty meal, drinking vodka, and following instructions to facilitate dialogue about change. A range of her work is now on display at a retrospective in Salem’s Hallie Ford Museum of Art titled “MK Guth: Paying Attention.”]]>3100falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jan-27-ursula-le-guin-remembered-portugal-the-man-decemberists-offa-rex-randy-porter-nancy-king--13898860
Remembering Ursula K Le Guin

Portland lost a living legend this week. Ursula K. Le Guin passed away on Monday at the age of 88 in her Northwest home. Her writing not only spanned genres, it tore down the barriers that separated them, helping to elevate science fiction and fantasy into "literature" — to say nothing of opening up fiction to women writers and women protagonists. The worlds Le Guin created were places of refuge for those who felt like outsiders and places that challenged readers to think differently and expand their imaginations.

In this segment, we listen to:

2:04 - A remembrance from April Baer
5:50 - A conversation with Le Guin at Wordstock in 2015, shortly after the release of a new version of her guide to writing, “Steering the Craft,” in which she spoke about her writing process and what it means to “push back” as a woman writer.
13:57 - A conversation with Le Guin's eldest child, Elisabeth Le Guin, a professor of musicology at UCLA, about the inspiration that is her mother, and what it was like to sit around the dinner table with such a fierce woman. You can listen to the full interview here.
22:38 - A conversation with Molly Gloss, the author of numerous books including "The Hearts of Horses" and "Wild Life," who met Le Guin in 1981 and has been a close friend and writing peer since. You can find the full conversation on Think Out Loud.

Portugal. The Man's "Feel It Still" Is Up for Best Pop Group Performance - 29:17

“Feel It Still,” the first single from Portugal. The Man’s newest album, “Woodstock,” set new records at the top of multiple charts, becoming the biggest crossover hit since Gotye’s “Somebody that I Used to Know.” Now the song has snagged Portugal. The Man a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Last summer, the band played an exclusive live set at the OPB studio and sat down to talk about the album. You can watch videos of their opbmusic session here.

The Decemberists' Collaboration with Olivia Chaney Gets Nominated for Best Folk Album - 35:57

The Decemberists may have finally met their match. The band teamed up with British singer Olivia Chaney under the name Offa Rex — a reference to an Anglo-Saxon king. The album, produced by local whiz Tucker Martine, is called “The Queen of Hearts,” and it's up for the Grammy for Best Folk Album. We invited Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy into the studio, and got Chaney on the line from England, to talk about how this dream team came to be.

Randy Porter and Nancy King Contend for Best Jazz Vocal Album with "Porter Plays Porter" - 44:32

Last but not least in the trio of Oregon Grammy contenders is the jazz pianist Randy Porter. Porter was first exposed to the music of his namesake, Cole Porter, at age 20, when he worked on a revue of the great American composer’s work. Randy Porter has since become a successful pianist known for his impeccable technique, and now his trio has teamed up with one of the region’s jazz treasures, vocalist Nancy King, on the record “Porter Plays Porter with Nancy King.” It’s up for the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13898860Sat, 27 Jan 2018 01:56:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on "State of Wonder," we remember the life and legacy of the ground-breaking writer Ursula K. Le Guin, and then we talk with Oregon's three Grammy nominees: Portugal. The Man, The Decemberists' side project Offa Rex, and Randy Porter and...
Remembering Ursula K Le Guin

Portland lost a living legend this week. Ursula K. Le Guin passed away on Monday at the age of 88 in her Northwest home. Her writing not only spanned genres, it tore down the barriers that separated them, helping to elevate science fiction and fantasy into "literature" — to say nothing of opening up fiction to women writers and women protagonists. The worlds Le Guin created were places of refuge for those who felt like outsiders and places that challenged readers to think differently and expand their imaginations.

In this segment, we listen to:

2:04 - A remembrance from April Baer
5:50 - A conversation with Le Guin at Wordstock in 2015, shortly after the release of a new version of her guide to writing, “Steering the Craft,” in which she spoke about her writing process and what it means to “push back” as a woman writer.
13:57 - A conversation with Le Guin's eldest child, Elisabeth Le Guin, a professor of musicology at UCLA, about the inspiration that is her mother, and what it was like to sit around the dinner table with such a fierce woman. You can listen to the full interview here.
22:38 - A conversation with Molly Gloss, the author of numerous books including "The Hearts of Horses" and "Wild Life," who met Le Guin in 1981 and has been a close friend and writing peer since. You can find the full conversation on Think Out Loud.

Portugal. The Man's "Feel It Still" Is Up for Best Pop Group Performance - 29:17

“Feel It Still,” the first single from Portugal. The Man’s newest album, “Woodstock,” set new records at the top of multiple charts, becoming the biggest crossover hit since Gotye’s “Somebody that I Used to Know.” Now the song has snagged Portugal. The Man a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Last summer, the band played an exclusive live set at the OPB studio and sat down to talk about the album. You can watch videos of their opbmusic session here.

The Decemberists' Collaboration with Olivia Chaney Gets Nominated for Best Folk Album - 35:57

The Decemberists may have finally met their match. The band teamed up with British singer Olivia Chaney under the name Offa Rex — a reference to an Anglo-Saxon king. The album, produced by local whiz Tucker Martine, is called “The Queen of Hearts,” and it's up for the Grammy for Best Folk Album. We invited Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy into the studio, and got Chaney on the line from England, to talk about how this dream team came to be.

Randy Porter and Nancy King Contend for Best Jazz Vocal Album with "Porter Plays Porter" - 44:32

Last but not least in the trio of Oregon Grammy contenders is the jazz pianist Randy Porter. Porter was first exposed to the music of his namesake, Cole Porter, at age 20, when he worked on a revue of the great American composer’s work. Randy Porter has since become a successful pianist known for his impeccable technique, and now his trio has teamed up with one of the region’s jazz treasures, vocalist Nancy King, on the record “Porter Plays Porter with Nancy King.” It’s up for the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.]]>3160falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-shins-joe-morton-keith-rosson-plus-magellanica-at-artists-rep--13957842https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13957842Fri, 02 Feb 2018 20:42:45 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOur valentine to you, dear members, this week includes musical inversions with The Shins' James Mercer, who remixed one great Shins album to make another. We also hear from veteran actor Joe Morton of "Scandal", check out fun fiction with...2259falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/feb-17-how-can-portland-save-space-for-artists--14077947
Towne Storage - Where Are They Now?

There are many artists and arts groups that have been priced out of their space. But one of the stories that stayed with us was Towne Storage. A 100-year-old warehouse in the Central Eastside, its brick walls and wood floors housed hundreds of creative businesses for decades — artists, photographers, musicians, booksellers and much more. We caught up with a few artists who used to work there.

The Vision: Commissioners Nick Fish and Chloe Eudaly - 5:48

City Commissioners Nick Fish and Chloe Eudaly, working in concert with Mayor Ted Wheeler, will present a series of two dozen recommendations aimed at preserving the city’s creative space. Their work has been deeply informed by Towne Storage and other projects, as well as by case studies from other West Coast cities. We sat down with both of them this week to hear more about what they’re proposing.

Proposal I: Re-Establish the Arts Concierge - 9:21

The minute you start asking around about creative space in Portland, there’s a guy everyone tells you to see: Ken Unkeles. The owner of five industrial buildings filled with maker space, he’s played a long-term strategy to turn inexpensive buildings into artist studios, while staying in the black. His secret weapon? A lone employee at the Bureau of Development Services, Suzanne Vara. Vara’s mandate was to help shepherd small businesses through the complex permitting process. One of Commissioner Fish and Eudaly’s proposals involves recreating Vara’s unique role.

Proposal XV: Creative Districts — 18:17

Another proposal up for consideration this month would ask Portland to designate creative districts. By drawing bright lines around a neighborhood rich with artists, music or other makers, in hopes of influencing design and permitting decisions. Seattle is already doing this. Our colleague Marcie Sillman from sister station KUOW in Seattle sent us this case study.

Proposal XV: A Dedicated Real Estate Investment Model — 24:16

Some arts non-profits would dearly love to buy their own building and leave behind the uncertainties of leasing space. We were fascinated by a nonprofit in San Francisco that’s helping arts groups do it: the Community Arts Stabilization Trust. Reporter Cy Musiker at KQED in San Francisco tells how it works. Then, we speak with Moy Eng, executive director of CAST, to talk about whether her group’s model could work in a smaller city.

Proposal VI: Incentivize Creative Space — 34:50

Fish and Eudaly’s proposals include a recommendation that the Revenue Bureau consider ways to make it more viable for commercial developers to build creative space into their buildings. Portland’s most famous experiment of this kind is Milepost 5. Perched on Northeast 82nd Avenue, the complex is full of condos and apartments for artists. But it has something of a mixed legacy, and the building is about to change hands. We check in with Milepost 5 at 10 years, and talk with the project’s developer, Brad Malsin.

Zidell Yards Will Reshape Portland's Skyline — With Arts at the Table — 45:10

The clanging of steel on steel that filled the air for a half century of barge building at the Zidell Yards went silent when the company launched its barge business last year. But consider this quiet on the 33- acre-stretch of land spreading out under the Ross Island Bridge along the Willamette River’s west like a field gone to fallow. Zidell Yards is waiting to be reborn as an enormous, new, multi-use development: office space, housing, parks, and restaurants, with, if the Zidell family has its way, affordable arts space interwoven throughout. We catch up with Charlene Zidell and some of the arts groups imagining how they might make a new model with arts co-working space, a flexible performance hall, and an ambitious public art plan that spreads across Zidell Yards, OHSU, and OMSI's coming development. Can they create a new center of gravity for the arts?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14077947Sat, 17 Feb 2018 19:39:56 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe squeeze on Portland's real estate market has sent artists scampering for affordable space. On Feb. 28, Portland city leaders will bring a year's worth of research to bear with two dozen recommendations aimed at preserving the arts spaces that...
Towne Storage - Where Are They Now?

There are many artists and arts groups that have been priced out of their space. But one of the stories that stayed with us was Towne Storage. A 100-year-old warehouse in the Central Eastside, its brick walls and wood floors housed hundreds of creative businesses for decades — artists, photographers, musicians, booksellers and much more. We caught up with a few artists who used to work there.

The Vision: Commissioners Nick Fish and Chloe Eudaly - 5:48

City Commissioners Nick Fish and Chloe Eudaly, working in concert with Mayor Ted Wheeler, will present a series of two dozen recommendations aimed at preserving the city’s creative space. Their work has been deeply informed by Towne Storage and other projects, as well as by case studies from other West Coast cities. We sat down with both of them this week to hear more about what they’re proposing.

Proposal I: Re-Establish the Arts Concierge - 9:21

The minute you start asking around about creative space in Portland, there’s a guy everyone tells you to see: Ken Unkeles. The owner of five industrial buildings filled with maker space, he’s played a long-term strategy to turn inexpensive buildings into artist studios, while staying in the black. His secret weapon? A lone employee at the Bureau of Development Services, Suzanne Vara. Vara’s mandate was to help shepherd small businesses through the complex permitting process. One of Commissioner Fish and Eudaly’s proposals involves recreating Vara’s unique role.

Proposal XV: Creative Districts — 18:17

Another proposal up for consideration this month would ask Portland to designate creative districts. By drawing bright lines around a neighborhood rich with artists, music or other makers, in hopes of influencing design and permitting decisions. Seattle is already doing this. Our colleague Marcie Sillman from sister station KUOW in Seattle sent us this case study.

Proposal XV: A Dedicated Real Estate Investment Model — 24:16

Some arts non-profits would dearly love to buy their own building and leave behind the uncertainties of leasing space. We were fascinated by a nonprofit in San Francisco that’s helping arts groups do it: the Community Arts Stabilization Trust. Reporter Cy Musiker at KQED in San Francisco tells how it works. Then, we speak with Moy Eng, executive director of CAST, to talk about whether her group’s model could work in a smaller city.

Proposal VI: Incentivize Creative Space — 34:50

Fish and Eudaly’s proposals include a recommendation that the Revenue Bureau consider ways to make it more viable for commercial developers to build creative space into their buildings. Portland’s most famous experiment of this kind is Milepost 5. Perched on Northeast 82nd Avenue, the complex is full of condos and apartments for artists. But it has something of a mixed legacy, and the building is about to change hands. We check in with Milepost 5 at 10 years, and talk with the project’s developer, Brad Malsin.

Zidell Yards Will Reshape Portland's Skyline — With Arts at the Table — 45:10

The clanging of steel on steel that filled the air for a half century of barge building at the Zidell Yards went silent when the company launched its barge business last year. But consider this quiet on the 33- acre-stretch of land spreading out under the Ross Island Bridge along the Willamette River’s west like a field gone to...]]>3185falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/live-show-in-astoria-fisher-poets-photographer-corey-arnold-moe-bowstern--14135218https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14135218Sat, 24 Feb 2018 21:54:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA spectacular live show from the 21st annual Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria, where a unique way of life gives rise to truly unique poems, songs, and stories. One writer describes Fisher Poets as "stories of immigration, indigenous oppression,...3183falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/netflix-s-everything-sucks-allison-janney-on-i-tonya-therese-marie-mailhot--14187405https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14187405Sat, 03 Mar 2018 02:03:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on "State of Wonder," we talk to the creators of "Everything Sucks" and Allison Janney about her Oscar-nominated turn in "I, Tonya," and meet Portland's new creative laureate.3157falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-10-walking-dead-creator-robert-kirkman-haley-heynderickx-celeste-noche--14248293
Accusers of Sherman Alexie Go On Record - 1:15

The #MeToo movement continues to hit the literary world. Writer Sherman Alexie issued a statement this week responding to allegations of sexual harassment circulating online. “There are women telling the truth,” he wrote. “To those whom I have hurt I genuinely apologize." NPRs Lynn Neary spoke with some of the women who have accused Alexie of predatory behavior.

This revelation is stirring some tough conversations within literary and native communities, as reported by KUOW's Liz Jones in Seattle.

opbmusic Session with Haley Heynderickx - 11:55

Songwriter Haley Heynderickx has received plenty of high-profile praise in the wake of her first full-length album, “I Need To Start A Garden” — Pitchfork, the “New York Times,” Stereogum, Paste, and NPR have all gushed over the record. The eight-song release is a stunning debut, but it’s not a total surprise, at least not to music fans here in her hometown of Portland, where we’ve followed Heynderickx’s career as she’s progressed from a teenager singing Bob Dylan covers on YouTube to becoming one of the most promising musicians in the country.

The Many Monsters of 'Walking Dead' Creator Robert Kirkman - 22:42

Have you spent considerable time thinking about how you would survive the zombie apocalypse? To a large extent, you have Robert Kirkman to thank for that. He created the comic book “The Walking Dead,” which became one of the biggest TV shows of the century, not to mention an empire of novels and video games and a spin off TV show.

Zombies aren’t the only beasts in Kirkman’s imaginary menagerie. His longest running comic series is actually about a superhero named Invincible, and it's coming to a close, just as word came out that Seth Rogen is going to make it into a movie.

Robert Kirkman was in town for the Image Comics Expo last month and stopped by the studio to talk zombies, superheroes, and his newest series, "Oblivion Song."

Celeste Noche & Mercedes Orozco - 36:37

This month marks the closing show for UNA Gallery, a small space on Northwest Broadway that’s made a big impact in representation. UNA is dedicated to showing work by artists who don’t get a lot of gallery attention: people of color, queer artists, and younger artists. The show is a luscious set of portraits by commercial photographer Celeste Noche, called “Portland in Color.” Noche, who’s Fillipino-American, came to Portland from San Francisco six years ago. She specializes in lifestyle and food subjects, but for this series she delivered a warm treatment to fellow artists and politically-minded people of color by photographing them at work in sun-drenched studio, blooming amid bright-colored flowers, or relaxing at home.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14248293Sat, 10 Mar 2018 00:05:57 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on "State of Wonder," we’re going to dive deep with "The Walking Dead" creator Robert Kirkman into the worlds of zombies and caped crusaders; immerse ourselves in the music of Portland's newest breakout star, Haley Hendrickx; and take one...
Accusers of Sherman Alexie Go On Record - 1:15

The #MeToo movement continues to hit the literary world. Writer Sherman Alexie issued a statement this week responding to allegations of sexual harassment circulating online. “There are women telling the truth,” he wrote. “To those whom I have hurt I genuinely apologize." NPRs Lynn Neary spoke with some of the women who have accused Alexie of predatory behavior.

This revelation is stirring some tough conversations within literary and native communities, as reported by KUOW's Liz Jones in Seattle.

opbmusic Session with Haley Heynderickx - 11:55

Songwriter Haley Heynderickx has received plenty of high-profile praise in the wake of her first full-length album, “I Need To Start A Garden” — Pitchfork, the “New York Times,” Stereogum, Paste, and NPR have all gushed over the record. The eight-song release is a stunning debut, but it’s not a total surprise, at least not to music fans here in her hometown of Portland, where we’ve followed Heynderickx’s career as she’s progressed from a teenager singing Bob Dylan covers on YouTube to becoming one of the most promising musicians in the country.

The Many Monsters of 'Walking Dead' Creator Robert Kirkman - 22:42

Have you spent considerable time thinking about how you would survive the zombie apocalypse? To a large extent, you have Robert Kirkman to thank for that. He created the comic book “The Walking Dead,” which became one of the biggest TV shows of the century, not to mention an empire of novels and video games and a spin off TV show.

Zombies aren’t the only beasts in Kirkman’s imaginary menagerie. His longest running comic series is actually about a superhero named Invincible, and it's coming to a close, just as word came out that Seth Rogen is going to make it into a movie.

Robert Kirkman was in town for the Image Comics Expo last month and stopped by the studio to talk zombies, superheroes, and his newest series, "Oblivion Song."

Celeste Noche & Mercedes Orozco - 36:37

This month marks the closing show for UNA Gallery, a small space on Northwest Broadway that’s made a big impact in representation. UNA is dedicated to showing work by artists who don’t get a lot of gallery attention: people of color, queer artists, and younger artists. The show is a luscious set of portraits by commercial photographer Celeste Noche, called “Portland in Color.” Noche, who’s Fillipino-American, came to Portland from San Francisco six years ago. She specializes in lifestyle and food subjects, but for this series she delivered a warm treatment to fellow artists and politically-minded people of color by photographing them at work in sun-drenched studio, blooming amid bright-colored flowers, or relaxing at home.]]>3083falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mar-17-helio-sequence-holly-andres-kelli-schaefer-the-art-of-prosthetics--14310294
Karaoke Has A New Role: Teaching Tool - 1:33

What’s the best way to learn a language? Some people might take a class or read a book, but our vote goes towards music, which is exactly what Salish teachers are using to introduce their Native American language to new speakers. Every year, a conference that celebrates Salish, a language spoken by many tribes across the Northwest, culminates in an annual Karaoke Contest in Spokane, WA. Contestants have to translate a song and perform it in front of judges. Our correspondent Emily Schwing was backstage at the contest this year.

Museums Are Displaying Native Artifacts To Tell A More Complete Story - 6:01

Language isn’t the only facet of Northwest indigenous culture that’s getting focused attention right now. The region’s museum curators are working to update their exhibits in a way that both modernizes stories of indigenous people and tells them more truthfully. But what does that mean? Emily Schwing visited two Northwest museums to find out.

Photographer Holly Andres - 10:24

The photo exhibition "Dreamers of Oregon" features big, dramatic black and white portraits of young men and women whose lives are really, really complicated right now. It went on view this week and is making the rounds in Washington and Multnomah Counties — starting at Pacific University, moving to Portland City Hall and other spots.

The photographer of this exhibit, Holly Andres, describes herself as more of a farmer than a hunter: rather than capturing moments of serendipity, like a hunter would, Andres creates them. She builds a set, casts characters, and styles the lighting around her subjects, using as much intention and direction as a filmmaker might. What results is an emotional story richly saturated with color and ornamental backdrops. Her work’s been gaining momentum for years. She was shortlisted for a big industry award, the Ellie for Best Feature Photography, for an incredible spread that appeared in "New York" magazine.

Opbmusic Turns 10: A Look Back At Sessions With Helio Sequence [21:42] & Kelli Schaefer [29:05]

If you’re a regular State of Wonder listener, you know we partner up all the time with our friends at opbmusic. For 10 years now, they’ve been spotlighting the best in local and national bands, often bringing groups in for a studio session just before they break big nationally. Everyone from Big Thief and Jay Som to, most recently, Haley Heynderickxx.

To celebrate their 10th birthday, they’re organizing a concert at the Crystal Ballroom on March 23 with a couple of their favorites: Helio Sequence, Kelli Schaefer, and Natasha Kmeto. To prep you for the big show, we decided to spend a few minutes listening back to those sessions. Tickets for the show are on sale now.

Fixing the Arts Tax - 36:34

Collection rates the city’s Arts Education and Access Fund, better known as the Arts Tax, haven’t been great since the tax’s inception in 2012, in large part because the terms voters agreed to have required the Revenue Bureau to spend no more than 5 percent of gross collections over a five-year period. Now Portland City Council has removed that collection cap, although it will revisit collections costs every year. The revisions also expand some exemptions for the tax. The arts tax is due this year on April 17.

The Design Element of Prosthetics - 38:13

When designers talk about designing for humans, most often we think about things that will add a little to your life: a shoe that will make you run faster, a mobile app that will make your website easier to navigate. But some design can truly transform the human experience, and nowhere is that more apparent than at a new exhibit called “Bespoke Bodies: The Design And Craft Of Prosthetics.” It’s curated by the Design Museum Portland at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, and it looks at prosthetics not simply as a medical issue, but as a design challenge.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14310294Fri, 16 Mar 2018 21:55:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on "State of Wonder," we get live music from Helio Sequence and Kelli Schaefer, travel the country with photographer Holly Andres, look at the design of prosthetic limbs, and harness the powers of karaoke to learn a language. Karaoke Has A...
Karaoke Has A New Role: Teaching Tool - 1:33

What’s the best way to learn a language? Some people might take a class or read a book, but our vote goes towards music, which is exactly what Salish teachers are using to introduce their Native American language to new speakers. Every year, a conference that celebrates Salish, a language spoken by many tribes across the Northwest, culminates in an annual Karaoke Contest in Spokane, WA. Contestants have to translate a song and perform it in front of judges. Our correspondent Emily Schwing was backstage at the contest this year.

Museums Are Displaying Native Artifacts To Tell A More Complete Story - 6:01

Language isn’t the only facet of Northwest indigenous culture that’s getting focused attention right now. The region’s museum curators are working to update their exhibits in a way that both modernizes stories of indigenous people and tells them more truthfully. But what does that mean? Emily Schwing visited two Northwest museums to find out.

Photographer Holly Andres - 10:24

The photo exhibition "Dreamers of Oregon" features big, dramatic black and white portraits of young men and women whose lives are really, really complicated right now. It went on view this week and is making the rounds in Washington and Multnomah Counties — starting at Pacific University, moving to Portland City Hall and other spots.

The photographer of this exhibit, Holly Andres, describes herself as more of a farmer than a hunter: rather than capturing moments of serendipity, like a hunter would, Andres creates them. She builds a set, casts characters, and styles the lighting around her subjects, using as much intention and direction as a filmmaker might. What results is an emotional story richly saturated with color and ornamental backdrops. Her work’s been gaining momentum for years. She was shortlisted for a big industry award, the Ellie for Best Feature Photography, for an incredible spread that appeared in "New York" magazine.

Opbmusic Turns 10: A Look Back At Sessions With Helio Sequence [21:42] & Kelli Schaefer [29:05]

If you’re a regular State of Wonder listener, you know we partner up all the time with our friends at opbmusic. For 10 years now, they’ve been spotlighting the best in local and national bands, often bringing groups in for a studio session just before they break big nationally. Everyone from Big Thief and Jay Som to, most recently, Haley Heynderickxx.

To celebrate their 10th birthday, they’re organizing a concert at the Crystal Ballroom on March 23 with a couple of their favorites: Helio Sequence, Kelli Schaefer, and Natasha Kmeto. To prep you for the big show, we decided to spend a few minutes listening back to those sessions. Tickets for the show are on sale now.

Fixing the Arts Tax - 36:34

Collection rates the city’s Arts Education and Access Fund, better known as the Arts Tax, haven’t been great since the tax’s inception in 2012, in large part because the terms voters agreed to have required the Revenue Bureau to spend no more than 5 percent of gross collections over a five-year period. Now Portland City Council has removed that collection cap, although it will revisit collections costs every year. The revisions also expand some exemptions for the tax. The arts tax is due this year on April 17.

The Design Element of Prosthetics - 38:13

When designers talk about designing for humans, most often we think about things that will add a little to your life: a shoe that will make you run faster, a mobile app that will make your website easier to navigate. But some design can truly transform the human...]]>3089falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hamilton-in-portland-laura-veirs-willy-vlautin-portland-tropical-garden--14372861https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14372861Sat, 24 Mar 2018 04:46:02 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingJust in time for the last excruciatingly gray days of March, we’ve found a slew of artists making wonderfully reflective work, directing our energy toward each other. Dive in for restorative thinking from Laura Veirs, a blast of curative chlorophyll...2964falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/leni-zumas-s-dystopian-vision-artist-rep-s-big-gift-remembering-bend-s-arts-champion--14430452https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14430452Sat, 31 Mar 2018 16:41:27 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe’ve got one hot read for you imagining an alternative future for American women, plus news from Portland and Central Oregon. Shuck off those gardening gloves and sit a spell!3156falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-7-mohsin-hamid-chris-smither-oregon-shakespeare-festival-s-manahatta--14477182
Mohsin Hamid’s Mystical Exits —1:35

We knew author Mohsin Hamid’s novel, “Exit West,” was going to be a good read. His prior best-sellers create emotionally rich worlds that create pathways between global events and personal revelation. But when we realized “Exit West” has been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and chosen as this year’s Multnomah County Library Everybody Reads selection, we went running for the bookstore. A graceful love story about two refugees traveling the world through magical portals, it unpacks some crushing realities of the global refugee crisis, without losing sight of the personal losses of his characters. We’re listening this week to an excerpt of Think Out Loud’s full interview with Hamid, recorded live at Literary Arts.
Call Him Lucky: Songwriter Chris Smither’s Lessons From the Road —12:52

For 50 years, singer-songwriter Chris Smither has been honing his craft. Smither grew up in New Orleans, then moved between Paris, Mexico and the South, before eventually settling in New England. That wide map seems to give his songs a fluidity, but it’s the southern influence that really gives his songs their depth and color. Smother was in Portland for a recent date at the Alberta Rose Theater. opbmusic caught up with him for a pre-show soundcheck and conversation with singer-songwriter Robin Bacior. Smither’s new record is “Call Me Lucky.”

Process, Past, and Presents with Stacey Tran — 20:22

Poet Stacey Tran has a vibrant writing process. In addition to getting verse down on paper, she also collages words, phrases, and fragments in ways that may or may not end when her poems go to publication. For her new poetry collection, “Soap for the Dogs” (Gramma Press), Tran committed to paper prose poems, fake haiku, as well as experimental forms. A student of language, fluent in English and Vietnamese, she delights in how we use words and how we change them. Tran tells us about some of the touchstones for her work.

Sitting Around A Tender Table — 33:26

When Stacey Tran is not writing poems, she’s making space for others to tell their stories. It’s been a year since she first invited friends for a pot-luck style session of storytelling, with an emphasis on family, food and identity. Tender Table has become a hub for women, femmes, and gender non-binary people to find community. This week, Stacey invited two of her favorite storytellers from the series, Mercedes Orozco (former director of UNA Gallery) and Leslie Stevenson for a slightly-condensed (but very tasty) version.

World Premiere of “Manahatta” at OSF — 43:11

Oregon Shakespeare Festival is premiering a new play this spring by Mary Katherine Nagle — a playwright, a formidable lawyer, and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. It’s the story of a securities trader dealing with her own indigenous history, while her family struggles to hold onto their home during the Great Recession. "Manahatta” draws fascinating parallels between colonial American history and the financial crisis. Liam Moriarty of Jefferson Public Radio takes us behind the scenes in Ashland.
Portland Tropical Gardens, A Small Correction — 49:34

A couple of weeks ago on the show, we misidentified some of the artists working on the Portland Tropical Gardens. Xi Jie Ng, Michael Stevenson Jr, Erika Dedini, and Shawn Creeden are graduates of different programs within Portland State University’s School of Art and Design. Rachel Hines is a Senior Instructor in Art Practices at PSU. Also, Ralph Pugay is not teaching in the Art and Social Practice program; he is a visiting professor of Art Practice. OPB regrets the error.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14477182Sat, 07 Apr 2018 00:14:25 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingStories often emerge from scribblings in notebooks. But we also find them tumbling out of pantries, rolled amid rumpled shirts in suitcases and spewing forth from text messages with friends. This week we feast on offerings from brilliant writers and...
Mohsin Hamid’s Mystical Exits —1:35

We knew author Mohsin Hamid’s novel, “Exit West,” was going to be a good read. His prior best-sellers create emotionally rich worlds that create pathways between global events and personal revelation. But when we realized “Exit West” has been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and chosen as this year’s Multnomah County Library Everybody Reads selection, we went running for the bookstore. A graceful love story about two refugees traveling the world through magical portals, it unpacks some crushing realities of the global refugee crisis, without losing sight of the personal losses of his characters. We’re listening this week to an excerpt of Think Out Loud’s full interview with Hamid, recorded live at Literary Arts.
Call Him Lucky: Songwriter Chris Smither’s Lessons From the Road —12:52

For 50 years, singer-songwriter Chris Smither has been honing his craft. Smither grew up in New Orleans, then moved between Paris, Mexico and the South, before eventually settling in New England. That wide map seems to give his songs a fluidity, but it’s the southern influence that really gives his songs their depth and color. Smother was in Portland for a recent date at the Alberta Rose Theater. opbmusic caught up with him for a pre-show soundcheck and conversation with singer-songwriter Robin Bacior. Smither’s new record is “Call Me Lucky.”

Process, Past, and Presents with Stacey Tran — 20:22

Poet Stacey Tran has a vibrant writing process. In addition to getting verse down on paper, she also collages words, phrases, and fragments in ways that may or may not end when her poems go to publication. For her new poetry collection, “Soap for the Dogs” (Gramma Press), Tran committed to paper prose poems, fake haiku, as well as experimental forms. A student of language, fluent in English and Vietnamese, she delights in how we use words and how we change them. Tran tells us about some of the touchstones for her work.

Sitting Around A Tender Table — 33:26

When Stacey Tran is not writing poems, she’s making space for others to tell their stories. It’s been a year since she first invited friends for a pot-luck style session of storytelling, with an emphasis on family, food and identity. Tender Table has become a hub for women, femmes, and gender non-binary people to find community. This week, Stacey invited two of her favorite storytellers from the series, Mercedes Orozco (former director of UNA Gallery) and Leslie Stevenson for a slightly-condensed (but very tasty) version.

World Premiere of “Manahatta” at OSF — 43:11

Oregon Shakespeare Festival is premiering a new play this spring by Mary Katherine Nagle — a playwright, a formidable lawyer, and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. It’s the story of a securities trader dealing with her own indigenous history, while her family struggles to hold onto their home during the Great Recession. "Manahatta” draws fascinating parallels between colonial American history and the financial crisis. Liam Moriarty of Jefferson Public Radio takes us behind the scenes in Ashland.
Portland Tropical Gardens, A Small Correction — 49:34

A couple of weeks ago on the show, we misidentified some of the artists working on the Portland Tropical Gardens. Xi Jie Ng, Michael Stevenson Jr, Erika Dedini, and Shawn Creeden are graduates of different programs within Portland State University’s School of Art and Design. Rachel Hines is a Senior Instructor in Art Practices at PSU. Also, Ralph Pugay is not teaching in the Art and Social Practice program; he is a visiting...]]>3081falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-14-soul-d-out-vs-coachella-black-belt-eagle-scout-shayla-lawson-frank-ocean-and-more--14536491Soul'd Out Festival Sues Coachella

A David and Goliath showdown might soon come to a federal courtroom near you. This week, Portland’s homegrown Soul’d Out Music Festival filed a suit against one of the west coast’s giants: the Coachella Festival in Indio California and its affiliates. Soul’d Out alleged the big guy is violating anti-trust law through anti-competitive practices by barring any bands playing Coachella from playing another concert within 1300 miles for five months — basically ruling out any other West Coast shows — unless it's with one of Coachella's affiliate promoters.

Shayla Lawson's Love Poem to Frank Ocean - 4:23

Some artists move us, and some artists move us to make new things of our own. Frank Ocean was already one of the hottest names in music for his effortlessly brilliant lyrics and non-conventional musical collaging, but when he started writing songs about loving other men, as well as women, he blew open some long-standing music industry taboos. Just as Ocean has inverted his musical form, Shayla Lawson's new book of verse, "I Think I’m Ready To See Frank Ocean," pays tribute to the iconoclastic figure in soul by offering up some very different ideas about poetry.

Oregon Stages Align for Three Indigenous Playwrights - 18:21

There's been an incredible alignment in Oregon theater this month. Three of our biggest and best professional theaters are staging works by three contemporary indigenous playwrights, who all happen to be women. Mary Katherine Nagle’s play, “Manahatta” is onstage at Oregon Shakespeare Festival through Oct. 27. Delanna Studi is performing her autobiographical one-woman about retracing the Trail of Tears with her father, “And So We Walked,” at Portland Center Stage through May 13. And Artists’ Repertory Theatre is presenting “The Thanksgiving Play”, by Larissa Fasthorse. This. Has. Not. Happened before.All three playwrights arranged to be in Portland this week. They did some panel discussions. But we could not resist inviting them in to talk. They’ve been running in the same circles forever, to the point where it was hard for them to say where they first met.

The Sonic Judo of Black Belt Eagle Scout - 42:02

Katherine Paul’s musical journey has taken her from pow wows on the Swinomish Reservation in Washington to grunge-drenched rock clubs, but it was on her own that she truly found her voice. Last year, she released her solo debut, “Mother of My Children,” as Black Belt Eagle Scout. She plays all the instruments on the record. Of course, Paul, who goes by KP, is no stranger to Portland music lovers. She’s been a member of several bands, including Genders and Forest Park.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14536491Sat, 14 Apr 2018 04:10:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on "State of Wonder," Soul'd Out sues Cochella, three native playwrights soar at Oregon's biggest theaters, poet Shayla Lawson's love letter to Frank Ocean, and the quiet heartache of Black Belt Eagle Scout. Soul'd Out Festival Sues...Soul'd Out Festival Sues Coachella

A David and Goliath showdown might soon come to a federal courtroom near you. This week, Portland’s homegrown Soul’d Out Music Festival filed a suit against one of the west coast’s giants: the Coachella Festival in Indio California and its affiliates. Soul’d Out alleged the big guy is violating anti-trust law through anti-competitive practices by barring any bands playing Coachella from playing another concert within 1300 miles for five months — basically ruling out any other West Coast shows — unless it's with one of Coachella's affiliate promoters.

Shayla Lawson's Love Poem to Frank Ocean - 4:23

Some artists move us, and some artists move us to make new things of our own. Frank Ocean was already one of the hottest names in music for his effortlessly brilliant lyrics and non-conventional musical collaging, but when he started writing songs about loving other men, as well as women, he blew open some long-standing music industry taboos. Just as Ocean has inverted his musical form, Shayla Lawson's new book of verse, "I Think I’m Ready To See Frank Ocean," pays tribute to the iconoclastic figure in soul by offering up some very different ideas about poetry.

Oregon Stages Align for Three Indigenous Playwrights - 18:21

There's been an incredible alignment in Oregon theater this month. Three of our biggest and best professional theaters are staging works by three contemporary indigenous playwrights, who all happen to be women. Mary Katherine Nagle’s play, “Manahatta” is onstage at Oregon Shakespeare Festival through Oct. 27. Delanna Studi is performing her autobiographical one-woman about retracing the Trail of Tears with her father, “And So We Walked,” at Portland Center Stage through May 13. And Artists’ Repertory Theatre is presenting “The Thanksgiving Play”, by Larissa Fasthorse. This. Has. Not. Happened before.All three playwrights arranged to be in Portland this week. They did some panel discussions. But we could not resist inviting them in to talk. They’ve been running in the same circles forever, to the point where it was hard for them to say where they first met.

The Sonic Judo of Black Belt Eagle Scout - 42:02

Katherine Paul’s musical journey has taken her from pow wows on the Swinomish Reservation in Washington to grunge-drenched rock clubs, but it was on her own that she truly found her voice. Last year, she released her solo debut, “Mother of My Children,” as Black Belt Eagle Scout. She plays all the instruments on the record. Of course, Paul, who goes by KP, is no stranger to Portland music lovers. She’s been a member of several bands, including Genders and Forest Park.]]>3093falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-21-design-week-portland-with-swift-agency-bora-architecture-project-and-more--14592429
[slideshow: design-week-at-the-nightwood-society,left,5ada733e9245030158d5cd95]

Cultivating Creative Space at the Nightwood - 1:55

Michelle Battista is the founder of the Nightwood Society, the collective of women creating a safe space for artists and designers to come together to learn and share their skills. Their unique event space, the Nightwood, is hosting parties of every kind and offering ways to widen your foodie skill set. Some of the events the Nightwood Society have put on include tastings for Oregon-grown olive oil, top-drawer chefs cooking to raise money for Puerto Rico, wine tastings that spill over into secret locations — even classes on how to butcher a hog or chicken. Battista talks to us about founding Nightwood and her ethos.

Designing With Women: Anyeleh Hallová and Amy Donohue - 7:57

There's no end to new development in Portland right now. But many of those impressive new buildings can look different, depending on who's doing the looking. The fields of real estate development and architecture are mostly male. We talked to two people about how the design process is different with women involved. Anyeleh Hallová is partner at the Portland firm project. Her latest act involves a high-rise made of wood. Amy Donohue is a principal with Bora Architects. She has a special feel for the places where people learn. They spoke to us about projects they worked on.

Tranformative Office Space at Swift - 26:26

Portland is full of successful design agencies, but few shine as brightly as Swift. Started by Alicia McVey and Liz Valentine in 2006, it has grown to 140 people, 65 percent of whom are women. Of course, a fabulous company needs a fabulous office, and two years back, Swift set their eyes on an old awning factory in Northwest industrial Portland. We spoke with McVey and Swift's Chief Talent Officer Maren Elliott about designing the building, and what's different in an office where architecture deconstructs hierarchy.

Reconstituted Sugar: Hacienda CDC Creates Las Adelitas - 40:43

A blighted corner of the Cully neighborhood is about to get a big makeover. Hacienda CDC is creating a new multi-generational affordable housing complex on the site of a long-standing strip joint. Rose Ojeda, Director of Housing Development for Hacienda CDC, talks to us about the new project, designed with women and their families in mind.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14592429Sat, 21 Apr 2018 05:26:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe went live this week for Design Week Portland at the hottest new event space in Northeast Portland: the Nightwood. And we invited some exciting people in architecture and development to talk about homes and work spaces designed by women. Sit back...
[slideshow: design-week-at-the-nightwood-society,left,5ada733e9245030158d5cd95]

Cultivating Creative Space at the Nightwood - 1:55

Michelle Battista is the founder of the Nightwood Society, the collective of women creating a safe space for artists and designers to come together to learn and share their skills. Their unique event space, the Nightwood, is hosting parties of every kind and offering ways to widen your foodie skill set. Some of the events the Nightwood Society have put on include tastings for Oregon-grown olive oil, top-drawer chefs cooking to raise money for Puerto Rico, wine tastings that spill over into secret locations — even classes on how to butcher a hog or chicken. Battista talks to us about founding Nightwood and her ethos.

Designing With Women: Anyeleh Hallová and Amy Donohue - 7:57

There's no end to new development in Portland right now. But many of those impressive new buildings can look different, depending on who's doing the looking. The fields of real estate development and architecture are mostly male. We talked to two people about how the design process is different with women involved. Anyeleh Hallová is partner at the Portland firm project. Her latest act involves a high-rise made of wood. Amy Donohue is a principal with Bora Architects. She has a special feel for the places where people learn. They spoke to us about projects they worked on.

Tranformative Office Space at Swift - 26:26

Portland is full of successful design agencies, but few shine as brightly as Swift. Started by Alicia McVey and Liz Valentine in 2006, it has grown to 140 people, 65 percent of whom are women. Of course, a fabulous company needs a fabulous office, and two years back, Swift set their eyes on an old awning factory in Northwest industrial Portland. We spoke with McVey and Swift's Chief Talent Officer Maren Elliott about designing the building, and what's different in an office where architecture deconstructs hierarchy.

Reconstituted Sugar: Hacienda CDC Creates Las Adelitas - 40:43

A blighted corner of the Cully neighborhood is about to get a big makeover. Hacienda CDC is creating a new multi-generational affordable housing complex on the site of a long-standing strip joint. Rose Ojeda, Director of Housing Development for Hacienda CDC, talks to us about the new project, designed with women and their families in mind.]]>3082falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/apr-28-oregon-book-awards-laini-taylor-omar-el-akkad-anis-mojgani-samiya-bashir-nicole-georges--14656428
"Strange the Dreamer" with Laini Taylor — 1:42

Laini Taylor possesses an epic imagination. In her best-selling “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” series, she dreamed up a world where a girl who has a monster as a foster parent gets caught up in an epic war with not-so-benevolent angels. And now she is starting a new series with “Strange the Dreamer,” the story of a day-dreaming librarian who journeys to a fabled land living in the shadow of a war it has yet to recover from. The book received Michael L. Printz Honors for Young Adult lit and is a finalist for the YA Oregon Book Award.

"American War" with Omar El Akkad — 11:46

Journalist Omar El Akkad has spent his career covering the Arab Spring in Egypt, military trials at Guantanamo Bay, refugee camps in Afghanistan and the Black Lives Matter movement in Ferguson, MO. Now he’s poured all of his experiences into his new novel “American War,” a story about a second American civil war over fought over fossil fuels and set in a Louisiana that is underwater from rising sea levels.

"Field Theories" with Samiya Bashir — 19:36

In her newest book, Samiya Bashir has named her poems after scientific principles like “Plancks Constant” and “Synchronous Rotation.” Their verse plumbs the space where theory collides with real life: from the back seat of a taxi cab to jazz clubs, early morning cigarettes, gun violence, and tall tales. Bashir is a creative writing professor at Reed College and a consummate artist who can’t be contained by the page. "Field Theories” is a finalist for the Stafford/Hall Award for Poetry.

"Fetch" With Nicole Georges — 30:45

What do we owe the pets in our lives when they don’t make our lives easy? And what can we gain from taking care of these animal companions despite their foibles? These are some of the questions illustrator and comic book artist Nicole Georges asked when writing her graphic memoir “Fetch: How a Bad Dog Brought Me Home.” The book focuses on Georges’ symbiotic relationship with a spirited, neurotic and sometimes fearfully aggressive dog named Beija, and it's a contender for the Oregon Book Award for Graphic Literature.

“In the Pocket of Small Gods” with Anis Mojgani — 38:34

The poet Anis Mojgani isn’t up for one of Literary Arts' Oregon Book Awards — at least not this year — but he is a Literary Arts favorite. He regularly emcees Verselandia, the annual high school poetry slam organized by Literary Arts, and he is himself a two-time National Poetry Slam Champion who tours the country reading and performing.

Mojgani’s work is known for its optimism and joy, but his newest book,“In the Pockets of Small Gods,” is all about vulnerability, particularly as it relates to grief.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14656428Sat, 28 Apr 2018 17:35:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingToday on "State of Wonder," we talk finalists for the Oregon Book Awards in fiction, poetry, graphic literature, and more. "Strange the Dreamer" with Laini Taylor — 1:42 Laini Taylor possesses an epic imagination. In her best-selling “Daughter of...
"Strange the Dreamer" with Laini Taylor — 1:42

Laini Taylor possesses an epic imagination. In her best-selling “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” series, she dreamed up a world where a girl who has a monster as a foster parent gets caught up in an epic war with not-so-benevolent angels. And now she is starting a new series with “Strange the Dreamer,” the story of a day-dreaming librarian who journeys to a fabled land living in the shadow of a war it has yet to recover from. The book received Michael L. Printz Honors for Young Adult lit and is a finalist for the YA Oregon Book Award.

"American War" with Omar El Akkad — 11:46

Journalist Omar El Akkad has spent his career covering the Arab Spring in Egypt, military trials at Guantanamo Bay, refugee camps in Afghanistan and the Black Lives Matter movement in Ferguson, MO. Now he’s poured all of his experiences into his new novel “American War,” a story about a second American civil war over fought over fossil fuels and set in a Louisiana that is underwater from rising sea levels.

"Field Theories" with Samiya Bashir — 19:36

In her newest book, Samiya Bashir has named her poems after scientific principles like “Plancks Constant” and “Synchronous Rotation.” Their verse plumbs the space where theory collides with real life: from the back seat of a taxi cab to jazz clubs, early morning cigarettes, gun violence, and tall tales. Bashir is a creative writing professor at Reed College and a consummate artist who can’t be contained by the page. "Field Theories” is a finalist for the Stafford/Hall Award for Poetry.

"Fetch" With Nicole Georges — 30:45

What do we owe the pets in our lives when they don’t make our lives easy? And what can we gain from taking care of these animal companions despite their foibles? These are some of the questions illustrator and comic book artist Nicole Georges asked when writing her graphic memoir “Fetch: How a Bad Dog Brought Me Home.” The book focuses on Georges’ symbiotic relationship with a spirited, neurotic and sometimes fearfully aggressive dog named Beija, and it's a contender for the Oregon Book Award for Graphic Literature.

“In the Pocket of Small Gods” with Anis Mojgani — 38:34

The poet Anis Mojgani isn’t up for one of Literary Arts' Oregon Book Awards — at least not this year — but he is a Literary Arts favorite. He regularly emcees Verselandia, the annual high school poetry slam organized by Literary Arts, and he is himself a two-time National Poetry Slam Champion who tours the country reading and performing.

Mojgani’s work is known for its optimism and joy, but his newest book,“In the Pockets of Small Gods,” is all about vulnerability, particularly as it relates to grief.]]>3173falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/may-5-mark-rothko-sera-cahoone-women-in-tech-chris-coleman--14710748
Painfully Honest Job Descriptions for Women in Tech — 1:15

Backfence PDX is about to welcome some storytellers from the tech world to the MainStage for an evening of home truths on May 12. #MeToo isn’t just limited to Silicon Valley. We heard about this in 2016 when we welcomed one of the Backfence storytellers, Megan Bigelow, to our studio. Along with friends Kasey Jones and Amanda Brooks, they helped us rewrite job descriptions for women in the industry. All three say they’re in good places with their current employers, but some of their past experiences at other firms, from start-ups to big players, were truly hair-raising.
Rothko in Portland — 10:08

This week, Oregon Art Beat premiers a new documentary about a painter who was, arguably, the greatest modern artist ever to call Oregon home. Mark Rothko flew in the face of convention and ultimately helped create a new American vanguard, but his early years as an immigrant kid in Portland were a hard education. We talk with producer Eric Slade about Rothko’s Portland roots, and the experiences that influenced his visual vocabulary.

Sera Cahoone Flora String Sessions — 16:43

There’s a simple honesty to the music of Seattle singer-songwriter Sera Cahoone. Her songs tell intimate stories about love and loss, where acoustic guitar and Cahoone’s voice are complimented by the steady percussion that is a holdover from her days as the drummer for Seattle’s Band of Horses and the occasional cello, piano or country-tinged slide guitar. It’s hard to imagine that her twist on Americana needs any embellishment, but while she was touring with the multi-instrumentalist Alex Guy, they had an idea: Guy would arrange full strings for a number of Cahoone’s songs for a big upcoming concert. What started as a one-off show has grown into the new album “The Flora String Sessions.”

Chris Coleman Says Goodbye to Portland Center Stage — 26:48

After 19 seasons, the artistic director of Portland Center Stage is leaving for a new job in Denver. Chris Coleman brought the city’s largest company to new heights, carving out programming space for original works as well as new interpretations of classics, while midwifing the renovation of the Armory into a new multi-stage venue. He also had a busy side hustle advocating with state and local governments for arts funding. Coleman stopped in to talk to Think Out Loud’s Dave Miller about his time in Portland.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14710748Fri, 04 May 2018 23:36:48 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHad enough of the status quo? This week’s wonders are shaking it up: the greatest modern artist who ever called Portland home, a director who set the bar higher, two friends turning fan-favorite songs upside down, and ladies calling time’s up on...
Painfully Honest Job Descriptions for Women in Tech — 1:15

Backfence PDX is about to welcome some storytellers from the tech world to the MainStage for an evening of home truths on May 12. #MeToo isn’t just limited to Silicon Valley. We heard about this in 2016 when we welcomed one of the Backfence storytellers, Megan Bigelow, to our studio. Along with friends Kasey Jones and Amanda Brooks, they helped us rewrite job descriptions for women in the industry. All three say they’re in good places with their current employers, but some of their past experiences at other firms, from start-ups to big players, were truly hair-raising.
Rothko in Portland — 10:08

This week, Oregon Art Beat premiers a new documentary about a painter who was, arguably, the greatest modern artist ever to call Oregon home. Mark Rothko flew in the face of convention and ultimately helped create a new American vanguard, but his early years as an immigrant kid in Portland were a hard education. We talk with producer Eric Slade about Rothko’s Portland roots, and the experiences that influenced his visual vocabulary.

Sera Cahoone Flora String Sessions — 16:43

There’s a simple honesty to the music of Seattle singer-songwriter Sera Cahoone. Her songs tell intimate stories about love and loss, where acoustic guitar and Cahoone’s voice are complimented by the steady percussion that is a holdover from her days as the drummer for Seattle’s Band of Horses and the occasional cello, piano or country-tinged slide guitar. It’s hard to imagine that her twist on Americana needs any embellishment, but while she was touring with the multi-instrumentalist Alex Guy, they had an idea: Guy would arrange full strings for a number of Cahoone’s songs for a big upcoming concert. What started as a one-off show has grown into the new album “The Flora String Sessions.”

Chris Coleman Says Goodbye to Portland Center Stage — 26:48

After 19 seasons, the artistic director of Portland Center Stage is leaving for a new job in Denver. Chris Coleman brought the city’s largest company to new heights, carving out programming space for original works as well as new interpretations of classics, while midwifing the renovation of the Armory into a new multi-stage venue. He also had a busy side hustle advocating with state and local governments for arts funding. Coleman stopped in to talk to Think Out Loud’s Dave Miller about his time in Portland.]]>2445falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/johnny-cash-s-folsom-at-50-paul-simon-chuck-klosterman-aaron-scott-s-greatest-hits--14777796
Reconsidered: Johnny Cash's "At Folsom Prison" Album at 50 - 1:08

In May 1968, Johnny Cash made a record that opened America’s eyes to life behind bars. But are those songs still relevant today? A group of Oregon musicians and artists, under the name Luther’s Boots, are re-staging the concert at prisons around the state to find out.

To help fund their Folsom50 tour, they’re putting on a concert for those on the outside at Portland’s Polaris Hall May 20.

Pop Culture Talk with Chuck Klosterman - 8:33

If the first eighteen years of the century have left you gasping for breath, take heart. The post-Avengers, post-Kapernick, post-#MeToo, post-Beyonce era is not just an amazing time for pop culture; it's also a golden age of pop culture critics. Chuck Klosterman is one of the best. His bracing essays on music and sports in the "New York Times," the "Washington Post," "Esquire," and "Grantland."

Klosterman will read from his latest book, “Chuck Klosterman X: A Highly Specific, Defiantly Incomplete History of the Early 21st Century,” at Powell's in Portland next week.

Paul Simon’s Farewell Tour - 19:17

This summer concert season is rife with acts doing farewell tours — Joan Baez, Elton John, Yassiin Bey (Mos Def) — but one of the most significant is legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon. His "Homeward Bound Tour" hits the Moda Center May 19. To send him off, we listen back to our interview with Peter Ames Carlin, author of the biography “Homeward Bound: The Life of Paul Simon,” at Wordstock 2016.

Aaron Scott’s Greatest Hits - 30:32

It’s our bittersweet duty to inform you that this is State of Wonder producer Aaron Scott’s last week on the show. He is moving on to report and produce stories for "Oregon Field Guide." We're totally excited for him and couldn't resist the chance to pull him in front of the mic one more time to talk about some of his favorite moments, and trends he's observed in the regional arts ecosystem as he's reported on it for the better part of a decade.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14777796Sat, 12 May 2018 16:38:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDo we sound a little verklempt this week? Our show is full of fond farewells, from Paul Simon's goodbye tour to our own producer Aaron Scott's departure for green Field Guide pastures. But it's not all tears. Before Aaron goes, he'll tell what he’s...
Reconsidered: Johnny Cash's "At Folsom Prison" Album at 50 - 1:08

In May 1968, Johnny Cash made a record that opened America’s eyes to life behind bars. But are those songs still relevant today? A group of Oregon musicians and artists, under the name Luther’s Boots, are re-staging the concert at prisons around the state to find out.

To help fund their Folsom50 tour, they’re putting on a concert for those on the outside at Portland’s Polaris Hall May 20.

Pop Culture Talk with Chuck Klosterman - 8:33

If the first eighteen years of the century have left you gasping for breath, take heart. The post-Avengers, post-Kapernick, post-#MeToo, post-Beyonce era is not just an amazing time for pop culture; it's also a golden age of pop culture critics. Chuck Klosterman is one of the best. His bracing essays on music and sports in the "New York Times," the "Washington Post," "Esquire," and "Grantland."

Klosterman will read from his latest book, “Chuck Klosterman X: A Highly Specific, Defiantly Incomplete History of the Early 21st Century,” at Powell's in Portland next week.

Paul Simon’s Farewell Tour - 19:17

This summer concert season is rife with acts doing farewell tours — Joan Baez, Elton John, Yassiin Bey (Mos Def) — but one of the most significant is legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon. His "Homeward Bound Tour" hits the Moda Center May 19. To send him off, we listen back to our interview with Peter Ames Carlin, author of the biography “Homeward Bound: The Life of Paul Simon,” at Wordstock 2016.

Aaron Scott’s Greatest Hits - 30:32

It’s our bittersweet duty to inform you that this is State of Wonder producer Aaron Scott’s last week on the show. He is moving on to report and produce stories for "Oregon Field Guide." We're totally excited for him and couldn't resist the chance to pull him in front of the mic one more time to talk about some of his favorite moments, and trends he's observed in the regional arts ecosystem as he's reported on it for the better part of a decade.]]>3050falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/typhoon-alex-gino-s-kidlit-trans-hero-arthur-and-katherine-bradford--14831434https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14831434Sat, 19 May 2018 01:19:46 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we turn our face toward the void with one of Oregon's great painters, the band Typhoon, a mother and son who share a unique creative language, and a new play that explores a new dimension to urban displacement.2916falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/viet-thanh-nguyen-back-country-book-club-l-a-salami--14889736https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14889736Fri, 25 May 2018 22:05:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPulitzer Prize winning writer Viet Thanh Nguyen on refugee families and walking in his mom and dad’s shoes. We’ve also got reading recommendations from people whose professional lives let them spend long, uninterrupted, stretches of time between the...3184falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/playwright-tanya-barfield-s-homecoming-season--14951366https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14951366Fri, 01 Jun 2018 22:41:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTanya Barfield grew up in Portland and first caught the theater bug from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. But even though her plays have been performed around the country and got her nominated for a Pulitzer, they had never been staged in Portland...3153falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ursula-k-le-guin-readers-of-color-react-to-her-work-filmmaker-arwen-curry-prepares-to-release-ukl-biopic-music-and-poetry-of-the-kes--15004041https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15004041Sat, 09 Jun 2018 01:29:11 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingOn the eve of a grand literary celebration, we remember the life, writing, and transformative thinking of an Oregon literary titan.2958falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/oct-21-eastern-oregon-film-festival-where-big-movies-meet-small-town--15057496
Filmmakers come from all over the country to share their work, listen to Northwest bands, and learn to throw hatchets at artists' brunches — a combination that has landed it on the list of the world's coolest film fests in "MovieMaker Magazine" multiple times.

The little fest is playing out for its eighth successive year in theaters and pop-up venues around La Grande, Oregon, and "State of Wonder" is broadcasting live this week from the festival headquarters.
The Little Fest That Could: Christopher Jennings And Ian Clark

From the minute we arrived, festival co-founders Christopher Jennings and Ian Clark have been running around nonstop, greeting guests, trouble-shooting projectors, setting up bands, serving as walking answer boxes, and more. We get them to sit still long enough to talk about how the festival grew out of a film challenge and learn about how they manage to lure filmmakers from all over to a small town in the mountains of Northeast Oregon.

A Man, A Woman, And A Talking Robot Head Walk Into A Desert ...

The opening night film is a sumptuous sci-fi fable about a guy, a girl and a robot head hiking across a desert looking for a mythical lake. “Everything Beautiful Is Far Away,” starring Julia Garner and Joseph Cross, premiered this year at the LA Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Fiction Cinematography Award. It’s not hard to see why: filmed entirely in the Imperial Sand Dunes in Southeastern California, the characters wander through hills of white sand against a backdrop of blue sky with colors and lighting so soft and delicate that Garner’s porcelain skin simply glows. The pacing is patient, the dialogue spare, but the whole film is such a potent meditation that when the characters stare straight into the camera, we are more than happy to just lose ourselves in their eyes.

We sit down with the writer and director Pete Ohs.

The Do's And Don'ts Of Screenwriting With Jon Raymond

Jon Raymond will be the first to say that he accidentally stumbled into the world of screenwriting. He had just published his first novel in 2004 when a friend of his asked to adapt his short story “Old Joy” into a film. That friend was the director Kelly Reichardt, and that film started a working relationship that took them both into theaters across the world with the award-winning films “Wendy and Lucy,” “Meek’s Cutoff” and “Night Moves.” Raymond also co-wrote the teleplays for the five-part HBO series “Mildred Pierce” with his friend and Portland filmmaker Todd Haynes, which got him an Emmy nomination. He's at the fest for a talk about screenwriting, and we asked him to give us the Jon Raymond Golden Rules.

Sara Salovaara And 'Let Me Die A Nun'

Directed by Sara Salovaara, the six-part web series "Let Me Die A Nun" bills itself as "the opposing but intersecting trajectories of a lesbian soon-to-be nun, her Jewish stalker, and the object of her affection." We had to have Salovaara on to discuss this contemporary, comedic take on the 70s nunsploitation films (yeah, we didn't know that was a thing either). We also ask Salovaara, a regular writer for "MovieMaker Magazine," to help us understand just what sets the Eastern Oregon Film Fest apart from all the others.

Zombie Puppets And Other Furry Monsters

Portland filmmaker Jesse Blanchard claims "Frank & Zed" is the world's first puppet movie, which raises the question: How has this never been done before? Is there anything better than puppet-brain-eating puppet zombies? Or fire-breathing puppet monsters and bloody puppet limbs flying this way and that? Festival-goers are getting a first look at this work in progress, in which Blanchard and his Puppetcore Films team lovingly build every stitched eyeball, puppet skull and hurtling ax by hand. Could this be the next cult classic?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15057496Fri, 15 Jun 2018 17:21:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIf you’re sitting in a dark room with a cattle rancher, a fish biologist and an English professor, watching a sci-fi film shot on a $200,000 budget, chances are good you're at the Eastern Oregon Film Festival. Filmmakers come from all over the...
Filmmakers come from all over the country to share their work, listen to Northwest bands, and learn to throw hatchets at artists' brunches — a combination that has landed it on the list of the world's coolest film fests in "MovieMaker Magazine" multiple times.

The little fest is playing out for its eighth successive year in theaters and pop-up venues around La Grande, Oregon, and "State of Wonder" is broadcasting live this week from the festival headquarters.
The Little Fest That Could: Christopher Jennings And Ian Clark

From the minute we arrived, festival co-founders Christopher Jennings and Ian Clark have been running around nonstop, greeting guests, trouble-shooting projectors, setting up bands, serving as walking answer boxes, and more. We get them to sit still long enough to talk about how the festival grew out of a film challenge and learn about how they manage to lure filmmakers from all over to a small town in the mountains of Northeast Oregon.

A Man, A Woman, And A Talking Robot Head Walk Into A Desert ...

The opening night film is a sumptuous sci-fi fable about a guy, a girl and a robot head hiking across a desert looking for a mythical lake. “Everything Beautiful Is Far Away,” starring Julia Garner and Joseph Cross, premiered this year at the LA Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Fiction Cinematography Award. It’s not hard to see why: filmed entirely in the Imperial Sand Dunes in Southeastern California, the characters wander through hills of white sand against a backdrop of blue sky with colors and lighting so soft and delicate that Garner’s porcelain skin simply glows. The pacing is patient, the dialogue spare, but the whole film is such a potent meditation that when the characters stare straight into the camera, we are more than happy to just lose ourselves in their eyes.

We sit down with the writer and director Pete Ohs.

The Do's And Don'ts Of Screenwriting With Jon Raymond

Jon Raymond will be the first to say that he accidentally stumbled into the world of screenwriting. He had just published his first novel in 2004 when a friend of his asked to adapt his short story “Old Joy” into a film. That friend was the director Kelly Reichardt, and that film started a working relationship that took them both into theaters across the world with the award-winning films “Wendy and Lucy,” “Meek’s Cutoff” and “Night Moves.” Raymond also co-wrote the teleplays for the five-part HBO series “Mildred Pierce” with his friend and Portland filmmaker Todd Haynes, which got him an Emmy nomination. He's at the fest for a talk about screenwriting, and we asked him to give us the Jon Raymond Golden Rules.

Sara Salovaara And 'Let Me Die A Nun'

Directed by Sara Salovaara, the six-part web series "Let Me Die A Nun" bills itself as "the opposing but intersecting trajectories of a lesbian soon-to-be nun, her Jewish stalker, and the object of her affection." We had to have Salovaara on to discuss this contemporary, comedic take on the 70s nunsploitation films (yeah, we didn't know that was a thing either). We also ask Salovaara, a regular writer for "MovieMaker Magazine," to help us understand just what sets the Eastern Oregon Film Fest apart from all the others.

Zombie Puppets And Other Furry Monsters

Portland filmmaker Jesse Blanchard claims "Frank & Zed" is the world's first puppet movie, which raises the question: How has this never been done before? Is there anything better than puppet-brain-eating puppet zombies? Or fire-breathing puppet monsters and bloody puppet limbs flying this way and that? Festival-goers are getting a first look at this work in progress, in which Blanchard and his...]]>3047falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/elliott-smith-either-or-at-20-slim-moon-larry-crane-sean-croghan-luz-elena-mendoza-matt-drenik-the-secret-sea-catherine-fee--15109938https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15109938Fri, 22 Jun 2018 17:06:53 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTwenty years ago, Elliott Smith opened a door into a hypnotic new world. The album, “Either/Or” marks a turning point in Smith’s transition from Portland rock journeyman to international star. We sat down with Smith’s friends, peers, and a live studio...3232falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/victor-maldonado-sean-patrick-carney-crow-s-shadow--15210753https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15210753Sat, 07 Jul 2018 18:20:27 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week's show is guest curated by Victor Maldonado.. An interdisciplinary artist who works in paint, as well as more ephemeral mediums, he also teaches at PNCA in Portland. We talk with Victor about what shaped his life and practice, from growing...3013falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lasting-grace-a-memorial-for-writer-brian-doyle--15252740https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15252740Fri, 13 Jul 2018 22:03:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week on “State of Wonder,” some of the Northwest’s most prominent writers come together to share stories and memories of the man the “New Yorker” called “the Portland sage,” Brian Doyle, who died in 2017 at the age of 60. We hear readings and...3105falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/buildings-full-of-women-state-of-wonder-at-design-week-portland-2018--15301740https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15301740Sat, 21 Jul 2018 16:47:31 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe gathered some of Portland’s brightest minds at the creative event space the Nightwood to ask: What would buildings designed by and for women look like? Developer Anyeleh Hallová of project^ and Amy Donohue, a principal with Bora Architects talk us...3121falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/podcast-roundup-outside-magazine-jay-and-miles-xplain-the-xmen-roam-schooled--15344069https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15344069Fri, 27 Jul 2018 20:46:14 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis time we live in is a feast of audio storytelling. You can find a podcast for any interest — from Harry Potter to stories of death-defying survival — and it turns out Oregon is a hotbed of homemade shows. We’re taking this as an opportunity to...3028falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/haley-heyndrickx-grammy-nominated-pianist-randy-porter-blossom-and-ripley-snell-cartographer-dave-imus-hunter-noack--15416373https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15416373Fri, 03 Aug 2018 22:28:09 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingFill up the cooler and buckle up! We are getting you all set up for your weekend summer road trip — lots of great music to keep you moving, including pillow talk with the R&B singer Blossom and MC Ripley Snell. They’ll invite us inside the dreamy...2312falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wonder-extra-why-two-of-oregon-s-creative-colleges-are-closing--15416416https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15416416Fri, 03 Aug 2018 22:39:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt has been a devastating summer for students and staff at two Oregon that helped thousands of creative Oregonians to find their calling. The Art Institute of Portland and Marylhurst University are two very different schools, but they're both...765falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/created-spaces-anne-hamilton-jessica-hernandez-and-the-deltas-richard-swift-ksmoca--15470835https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15470835Sat, 11 Aug 2018 16:21:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingCome explore — this week, Centennial Mills, the 107-year old site of an old flour mill, gets the treatment from conceptual artist Anne Hamilton, social practice originator Harrell Fletcher and friends create a contemporary art museum inside a K-8...2987falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-manila-sound-comedian-caitlin-weierhauser-papi-fimbres-homiefest-the-cult-of-orpheus--15517393https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15517393Sat, 18 Aug 2018 02:18:22 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat exactly is art supposed to do about the state of the world in 2018? Carry a political flag? Make us forget about bad things? This week we’ve got a pile of stories for you about some of the things art can do in traumatic times. Man-of-all-bands...3086falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/michelle-zauner-of-japanese-breakfast-last-artful-dodgr-demian-dineyazhi-tender-table--15567873https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15567873Sat, 25 Aug 2018 17:25:31 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe’re exploring those connections between art, food, culture, ancestral lands and how it all fuses and fits and makes up who we are. Michelle Zauner of the band Japanese Breakfast talks about her powerful essay in the New Yorker about crying in Asian...3117falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sept-1-rebecca-gates-guest-curator--15616241First, there’s her recording career, both in the Spinanes and as a solo artist. (if you haven’t checked out 2012’s The Float, you need to do that)
A few years ago, she began a journey into music advocacy, exploring revenue for artists and other messy areas of the post-milennial music industry. She also has a foot in the contemporary art world, through her consulting work and practice in sonic art.

This week she’s bring us some perspective on
-The economic realities of music revenue
-How art fairs are changing the game for gallerists and artists
-Building a creative life around community…and more.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15616241Fri, 31 Aug 2018 22:23:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingNot so easy keeping up with this week’s guest curator, Rebecca Gates. But fun? You bet. First, there’s her recording career, both in the Spinanes and as a solo artist. (if you haven’t checked out 2012’s The Float, you need to do that) A few years ago,...First, there’s her recording career, both in the Spinanes and as a solo artist. (if you haven’t checked out 2012’s The Float, you need to do that)
A few years ago, she began a journey into music advocacy, exploring revenue for artists and other messy areas of the post-milennial music industry. She also has a foot in the contemporary art world, through her consulting work and practice in sonic art.

This week she’s bring us some perspective on
-The economic realities of music revenue
-How art fairs are changing the game for gallerists and artists
-Building a creative life around community…and more.]]>3088falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/madame-gandhi-john-cameron-mitchell-black-belt-eagle-scout-gabriel-kahane--15671538https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15671538Wed, 12 Sep 2018 16:57:55 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, artists whose work — and sometimes even their mere existence— have caused a kind of social friction. In an awesome way. You’ll hear from prolific drummer and polymath Madame Gandhi, actor/director/writer John Cameron Mitchell, musician...3092falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/future-tense-julia-oldham-daniel-wilson-ursula-k-le-guin-lidia-yuknavitch--15720861https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15720861Fri, 14 Sep 2018 21:53:24 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat is it with humanity, anyway? Seems like, since the beginning of time, we have just been waiting for it to all fall apart. (seriously, how many sci-fi books have you read set in a time of global peace and infinite resources?) And how is it that...3151falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/life-death-and-punk-with-jessica-hopper-comics-artist-anders-nilsen--15778400https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15778400Sat, 22 Sep 2018 00:36:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe firebrand music critic has a new memoir, chronicling the formative time she spent in a gentrifying Chicago in the mid 2000's.2129falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/virtually-unlimited-kristen-lucas-sera-architects-darcelle-xv-crystal-rutland--15836049https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15836049Sat, 29 Sep 2018 01:05:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingVirtual reality may not quite be the tech that all the kids are doing these day, but there are entire communities interacting as we speak in VR worlds. This week, we hear about an 87 year old drag queen is the subject of a new VR narrative...3077falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/i-did-it-my-way-prentice-onayemi-s1-debra-granik-and-anne-rosellini-chanti-darling--15892351https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15892351Sat, 06 Oct 2018 01:09:51 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEvery person who makes something, anything, it doesn’t even have to be particularly artsy, there comes this moment of like, all right, you got this idea, but you have to get it done3122falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/design-for-space-parking-fly-fishing-and-the-world-originally-aired-jan-23-2016--15939543https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15939543Thu, 11 Oct 2018 20:53:54 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn this week's rebroadcast, we welcome user experience (UX) designer Elena Moon as our guest curator. She has this fantastic way of explaining what works and why. She’s going to lead us through her own work and the designed world, from parking meters...3082falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fabi-reyna-women-of-color-in-music-esperanza-spalding-ear-trumpet-labs-catalinbread--16007668https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16007668Sat, 20 Oct 2018 03:59:55 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we’re handing over the keys for State of Wonder to local musician and small business owner Fabi Reyna. She's the creator of the guitar magazine "She Shreds."3070falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/guest-curator-sleater-kinney-s-corin-tucker-previously-aired-oct-18-2014--16065645https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16065645Fri, 26 Oct 2018 20:58:23 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, we’re diving into the "State of Wonder" archives for one of our favorite guest curators. Corin Tucker spent 12 years in the iconic Northwest band Sleater-Kinney. We asked Corin to look back at the Sleater-Kinney catalog with us, and think...3106falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/american-fantasies-abigail-deville-leni-zumas-typhoon-omar-el-akkad--16122962https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16122962Fri, 02 Nov 2018 23:08:10 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIf you’ve been feeling like the lines are blurring between the America you imagined and the America we all live with, take a listen. We found some incredible artists and writer addressing the magical thinking, fantasies, and illusions that shaped our...3056falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/creative-families-esperanza-spalding-kim-kovel-and-jeff-kovel-lisa-and-lori-lubbesmeyer--16182710https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16182710Sat, 10 Nov 2018 00:09:58 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhen we imagine artists at home over the holidays, it’s a pretty rosy picture: imagine musical clans like the Nevilles and the Wilsons singing around the table. (Why can’t our families be that awesome???) But let’s be real — life can be tough. This...3082falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-book-festival-daniel-h-wilson-angela-garbes-elizabeth-rush--16253525https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16253525Sun, 18 Nov 2018 20:38:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week’s show takes us to Portland Book Festival, for conversations with three fascinating authors pondering birth, imminent environmental devastation, and...robots.3035falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/portland-book-festival-tommy-orange-trevino-brings-plenty--16279894https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16279894Wed, 21 Nov 2018 20:28:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingTommy Orange’s breakthrough debut novel, titled, “There, There,” unites the stories of twelve Native people, brought together on one momentous day in Oakland. We meet Orange, and along with poet, Trevino Brings Plenty, discuss the depth and breadth of...2981falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-the-side-hustle-jodi-darby-ben-tyler-alicia-jo-rabins-amy-miller-ro-tam--16355796https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16355796Sat, 01 Dec 2018 01:08:52 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe jobs that pay money. The jobs that pay out in other ways. The jobs that make art possible: Artist Jodi Darby talks about driving a big rig, comedian Amy Miller pierces the thin façade of success, Alicia Jo Rabins talks about deepening her...3073falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/best-of-2018-dj-anjali-caitlin-weierhauser-staff-picks-from-kmhd-and-opbmusic--16414586https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16414586Fri, 07 Dec 2018 23:05:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe year that was in jazz music, homegrown indie rock, comedy, and more. However 2018 has been treating you, we’ve got picks to help you celebrate the good things of the year.3015falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-panoramic-imagination-of-somaiya-daud-susan-fletcher-tin-house--16479433https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16479433Fri, 14 Dec 2018 23:40:07 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingInterstellar intrigue on a Moroccan-inspired world? Strong female hero of color? Yes, please. We talk with one of the YA breakout stars of 2018 at the Portland Book Festival, Somaiya Daud. Also we meet one of Daud's early inspirations and catch up on...3014falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-long-journey-abbi-jacobson-tara-westover-shayla-lawson--16542791https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16542791Fri, 21 Dec 2018 20:41:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAs you contemplate the road ahead for 2019, listen to three amazing artists talk about their transformational journeys: some road trip medicine for heartbreak, a daughter emerging from a tightly-wound family cocoon, and a transatlantic odyssey...3132falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/readers-delight-super-librarian-nancy-pearl-books-for-trails-towers-and-trawlers--16584662https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16584662Fri, 28 Dec 2018 20:47:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe’re drilling down with the pros to find reads that challenge, reads that work in far-flung places, and reads that will stay in your head years after you put down the book.3076falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/author-aja-gabel-musicians-of-the-oregon-symphony-classical-s-metoo-reckoning-the-met-opera-aria-code--16632952https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16632952Sat, 05 Jan 2019 00:09:28 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingA soap opera in the string quartet. The #MeToo moment at the conservatory. And opera appreciation for the rest of us. This week, three tales both classical and modern.3029metoofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/satirist-andy-borowitz-teenage-dick-onstage-at-artists-rep-keyon-gaskin-and-nadia-buyse--16691215https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16691215Sat, 12 Jan 2019 00:04:18 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDon’t turn away. Sometimes even the most awkward situation can be spun into something wonderful. This week: cringe-worthy national events make for brilliant satire, a new play mines liberal guilt surrounding disability, and the story of the most...3006falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sun-ra-dug-the-space-lady-pepper-pepper-cherdonna-shinatra--16752926https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16752926Sat, 19 Jan 2019 01:52:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt may seem like the art world depends on gatekeeping: deciding what art goes in museums, which songs will get played, who gets the grants. But sometimes, the gates swing in ways we might not have expected. What seems like fringe turns out to be...3102falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mary-oliver-claudia-rankine-the-mayo-house-mia-zara-and-no-candy-julia-oldham--16844515https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16844515Sat, 26 Jan 2019 00:23:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhen the going gets tough (and we mean really, really tough) what pulls you back from the edge? For some folks, it’s revisiting a favorite poem; for others, it’s about finding something -- anything -- to laugh at, even when the circumstances are...3053falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fisherpoets-best-of-2018-kelli-schaefer-anders-nilsen--16926766https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16926766Fri, 01 Feb 2019 23:06:00 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingEver found yourself in a room full of people, feeling totally and overwhelmingly alone? Don’t worry — there’s art for that. This week, we take a look at how local artists are exploring the meaning of longing and connection.3090falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/walidah-imarisha-oregon-s-black-pioneers-pontypool-arthur-bradford-matt-sheehy-art-policy-shift-in-portland--16992080https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16992080Sat, 09 Feb 2019 01:49:32 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt’s all about perspective. Does anything ever really change, or do we — the observers — merely shift our thinking? On this week’s show, we examine how Oregon’s artists, historians and public employees are rewriting our collective story. From pioneer...3045falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/y-la-bamba-roman-mars-kill-rock-stars-portia-sabin-jesse-thorn--17059612https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17059612Sat, 16 Feb 2019 07:47:12 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLuz Mendoza of the band Y La Bamba shares the inspiration for her new album, “Mujeres.” Portia Sabin talks to us about the KRS produced Bratmobile podcast series, "Girl Germs." Plus, some of the major players in the podcasting industry weigh in on...3079falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/michelle-zauner-of-japanese-breakfast-tender-table-demian-dineyazhi-the-manila-sound--17122230https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17122230Sat, 23 Feb 2019 01:35:28 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIn the age of ephemera, fleeting tastes and snapshots can leave the most indelible experiences. Artists reflect on what endures and what satisfies.3064falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/american-fantasies-abigail-deville-leni-zumas-typhoon-omar-el-akkad--17197853
If you’ve been feeling like the lines are blurring between the America you imagined and the America we all live with, take a listen. We found some incredible artists and writers addressing the magical thinking and fantasies that shaped our world.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17197853Fri, 01 Mar 2019 23:05:24 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis episode originally aired on November 3, 2018. If you’ve been feeling like the lines are blurring between the America you imagined and the America we all live with, take a listen. We found some incredible artists and writers addressing the...
If you’ve been feeling like the lines are blurring between the America you imagined and the America we all live with, take a listen. We found some incredible artists and writers addressing the magical thinking and fantasies that shaped our world.]]>2845falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kelly-sue-deconnick-and-captain-marvel-the-numberz-helado-negro-what-s-happening-to-portland-s-creative-spaces--17270125https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17270125Sat, 09 Mar 2019 03:23:54 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIf there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that art can be a powerful, trailblazing force. Art is so much more than an oil painting hung on a gallery wall. We use art as a tool for imagining new possibilities, forging better lives. This week,...2997falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/brian-michael-bendis-david-f-walker-nilufer-yanya-mousai-remix--17335963https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17335963Fri, 15 Mar 2019 23:47:35 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSometimes, it’s easy to feel like we’re lacking in heroes. This week, we’ve got a collection of tales to prove valor is anything but dead. Meet the comic book writers investing in the tenacity of teens, an all-female string quartet playing the...3031ferfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lindy-west-and-shrill-dick-dale-morgan-parker-tommy-pico-kathleen-collins-and-losing-ground--17410849https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17410849Sat, 23 Mar 2019 01:40:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, we’re trading in the familiar narratives for some new, previously-unheard ones: a plus-sized coming-of-age story, a pair of young poets of color and a lost classic of black female film making. Plus, a tribute to the late Dick Dale and a new...3027falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/mohsin-hamid-terese-marie-mailhot-mitchell-s-jackson--17478101https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17478101Fri, 29 Mar 2019 23:48:39 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingPeople say, there’s no place like home. But what if “home” is more than one place, or it doesn’t exist anymore, or it hurts to revisit? This week, three incredible writers share how the concept of home influences their work. From migration to...2981falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/colson-whitehead-black-life-experimental-research-group-mary-kathryn-nagle-alex-chiu--17549699https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17549699Fri, 05 Apr 2019 23:23:34 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingDon’t trust your textbooks. This week — artists and writers whose work is illuminating the histories that have been pushed to the margins. We might not always get it right, but it’s important we try.3026falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-native-perspective-missing-from-design-caroline-blechert-louie-gong-whitney-minthorne-neebin-southall-adia-victoria--17620601https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17620601Fri, 12 Apr 2019 22:40:16 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAs often as Native and Native-influenced imagery turns up in apparel, graphic design, product design, and elsewhere, there’s a chronic dearth of Native designers or influencers involved in the creation. Adia Victoria kicks off the show with a very...3011falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/soul-d-out-festival-shy-girls-jacqueline-woodson-raven-chacon-the-1491-s--17693452https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17693452Fri, 19 Apr 2019 21:01:03 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingMaybe things in our lives haven’t actually changed, but we can see them differently. This week, artists hitting the reset buttons for us through their work: composer Raven Chacon, sketch comedians the 1491s, Shy Girls, and more...3078falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/helado-negro-saloli-malheur-refuge-symphony-pendleton-s-string-education-program--17763965https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17763965Sat, 27 Apr 2019 18:31:22 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWho doesn’t love music? You’re not going to believe this, but we actually found someone. Still, music remains — for most of us — one of the most intuitive tools to work out our feelings. This episode is a music intensive that dives right into those...3155falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/marisa-anderson-mohanad-elshieky-bhi-bhiman--17829411https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17829411Fri, 03 May 2019 21:43:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt's almost impossible not to view everything around us — whether it’s music, books, movies, or films — in the context of the political turmoil washing over the U.S. right now. Some artists get pushed into tackling the times, and some go there by...2211falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-the-side-hustle-amy-miller-jodi-darby-alicia-jo-rabins-ro-tam-ben-tyler--17883362https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17883362Thu, 09 May 2019 19:53:33 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe're revisiting one of our favorite shows from last year. The jobs that make art possible, and the ones threatening to take over everything. We’re talking with artists about the work they do for love, for money, or some mix of the two.3034falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/marcus-fischer-a-brief-history-of-craft-goodbye-to-ocac-amy-dotson-coming-to-nw-film--18006207https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18006207Sat, 18 May 2019 01:59:06 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingLest you thought the Blazers were the only action in town, we’ve got some updates. Oregon claims the only Northwest artist selected for this year’s Whitney Biennial. A much-beloved film center makes a dream match with a new incoming director. But the...3017falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/karen-russell-angela-garbes-bill-oakley-bed--18069566https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18069566Sat, 25 May 2019 00:03:29 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAs a parent, you’ve buried your ambitions, your social life and your dignity. You’ve put your own health and well-being on the back burner. But hey, once a year you might get brunch. Parent-child relationships are a complicated matter for us all....2999falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jesmyn-ward-mitchell-jackson-arts-hub-on-the-move-portland-parks-art-budget-cuts--18139893
As we kick back in the folding chair with a frosty glass and some porch music, we’re thinking about all the comforts of home. Writers Jesmyn Ward and Mitchell S. Jackson trade stories about recreating the places they grew up. A dozen nonprofits make a home away from home. And some beloved assets of Portland’s parks system — its arts resources — get ready to transition off the city budget.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18139893Sat, 01 Jun 2019 00:02:05 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHome can be a place you love and a palace of mixed feelings. But at its best, home is the place where you can be seen and feel understood. As we kick back in the folding chair with a frosty glass and some porch music, we’re thinking about all the...
As we kick back in the folding chair with a frosty glass and some porch music, we’re thinking about all the comforts of home. Writers Jesmyn Ward and Mitchell S. Jackson trade stories about recreating the places they grew up. A dozen nonprofits make a home away from home. And some beloved assets of Portland’s parks system — its arts resources — get ready to transition off the city budget.]]>3052falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/john-doe-on-la-s-punk-scene-team-dresch-chachalu-s-loan-from-the-british-museum--18210552https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18210552Sat, 08 Jun 2019 03:11:30 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt’s a weird world that obliges you to negotiate for decades to borrow things your great-grandparents made. And where are we if we can’t recover and know our history? This week, classic stories from the L.A. punk scene in the '80s, and Portland queer...3041falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/scotland-s-mobile-libraries-tales-from-the-fisher-poets-east-portland-s-arte-soleil-scotland-tales-from-the-fisher-poets-east-portl--18276639https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18276639Sat, 15 Jun 2019 00:25:10 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSometimes good stories take a while. This week, long-awaited gems from Astoria’s Fisher Poets and an arts outpost in East Portland. Also, a photographer goes the extra 4,000 miles for the literary story she believes in.3006falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rebroadcast-the-panoramic-imagination-of-somaiya-daud-susan-fletcher-tin-house-rebroadcast-the-panoramic-imagination-of-somaiya-daud--18332462https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18332462Thu, 20 Jun 2019 22:45:48 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe continuing search for awesome summer reads led us back to one of our favorite interviews from Portland Book Fest 2018 — and quite possibly one of our favorite book interviews ever! Somaiya Daud’s debut novel lit up the YA world. She is a dazzling...3004falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kayelaj-summer-playlist-2019-the-numberz--18419248https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18419248Sat, 29 Jun 2019 18:44:55 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week, we’re kicking off our summer playlists. We called in some experts: The people in town actually making the music, writing about it and putting on the shows. Artist and rapper, KayelaJ, is also about to drop a scorcher of a debut, “D.Y.K.E....3077falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-reads-kiese-laymon-ted-chiang-rosanne-parry--18471936https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18471936Fri, 05 Jul 2019 20:49:35 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingBump up your beach reads with three spectacular writers, each grappling with human connection: Kiese Laymon's Southern coming-of-age, science-fiction spectacle from Ted Chiang, and New York Times best-selling author Rosanne Parry imagines life through...3019falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sun-ra-arkestra-y-la-bamba-piano-push-play--18538121https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18538121Fri, 12 Jul 2019 23:33:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWe’re taking a look back at some of our favorite music stories and interviews. We blast out of this galaxy with Afrofuturistic music, come back down to earth to follow one musician’s odyssey, and explore those whimsically designed pianos that have...3070falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/guest-curator-fabi-reyna-of-she-shreds-noche-libre-amenta-intisar-abioto-osa-atoe-dj-anjali-esperanza-spalding-ear-trumpet-la--18586927https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18586927Fri, 19 Jul 2019 03:13:16 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we’re handing over the keys for "State of Wonder" to musician and publisher, Fabi Reyna. She's the creator of the guitar magazine She Shreds.3070falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/artist-garrick-imatani-mdou-moctar-hop-along-lucy-s-punk-rock-show-for-kids-roll-hardy--18652971https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18652971Sat, 27 Jul 2019 02:35:59 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingHappy Moon Week! If you didn’t make it to OMSI or the High Desert Museum to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first crewed space mission to the moon, you can still celebrate our shared celestial history. We’re visiting an exhibition honoring...2977falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dom-flemons-bundyville-roger-guenveur-smith-low-bar-chorale-las-chunta--18710378https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18710378Fri, 02 Aug 2019 22:36:40 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we visit people doing difficult and dangerous work. We talk about threats to domestic security, people fighting for their voices and stories to be told, and an act some may find the most terrifying of all: singing in public.3014falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/w-e-b-du-bois-data-visualization-maria-semple-open-signal-head-cleaner-the-nude-party--18781081https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18781081Sat, 10 Aug 2019 01:43:41 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we lost two giants in the arts community, Pulitzer- and Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison and poet and musician David Berman. We remember their impact and explore other hard truths, but also look to other artists whose work has us...3018falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/molly-gloss-holland-andrews-behind-the-bullet--18839241https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18839241Fri, 16 Aug 2019 22:54:23 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingYearning for voices to steer you through the darkness this week? We’ve found stories from places of devastation and salvation: from an artist whose voice harnesses a wild range of human emotion, to a film project that suggests new perspective on gun...3073falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/emilly-prado-michelle-ruiz-keil-tehlor-kay-mejia--18902830https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18902830Sat, 24 Aug 2019 01:41:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAs much as we may try, we can never leave our younger selves in the dust. This week, three writers mine from their own childhoods to create some powerful storytelling.3012falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/from-the-archives-kelly-sue-deconnick-matt-fraction--18953116https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18953116Thu, 29 Aug 2019 22:51:11 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we're going back to a favorite guest curated episode from 2014. Husband and wife Kelly Sue DeConnick and Matt Fraction have each racked up top awards for their comic books. DeConnick has written a run of Captain Marvel that was the basis for...3001falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ruth-e-carter-thing-music-festival-asl-in-the-arts--19028837https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19028837Sat, 07 Sep 2019 01:40:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingInnovators and icons tend to have something in common, they do things differently. This week we hear stories from a few people changing the game one costume, festival, or ASL gesture at a time.3048falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ken-burns-country-music-women-who-skate-wellness-warrior-camp-pass-the-mic--19095648https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19095648Sat, 14 Sep 2019 00:15:36 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis episode is as American as it gets. We got country music, women skateboarding, indigenous youth reconnecting with their land, immigrant and refugee children learning to play music. All we're missing is a recipe for apple pie.3013falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/margaret-atwood-ursula-k-le-guin-nilufer-yanya-ok-theater-s-100th-anniversary--19176398https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19176398Sat, 21 Sep 2019 03:05:50 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWhat gets us through those uncertain moments? The speculative story? The daring album concept? The strenuous film shoot? The risky venture? RESOLVE. This week: square-jawed stories from tenacious creators.3030falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/indie-film-producer-christine-vachon-karen-russell-mitchell-jackson-christopher-marley--19261980https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19261980Fri, 27 Sep 2019 21:07:17 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThe producer who brought so many classics of queer cinema to life is coming to BendFilm Festival this fall. We talk with Christine Vachon about working with Todd Haynes and other breakout '90s auteurs. Also, Christopher Marley talks about creating...3064falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/helado-negro-saloli-malheur-refuge-symphony--19360209https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19360209Fri, 04 Oct 2019 23:55:33 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis episode originally aired in April 2019. Who doesn’t love music? You’re not going to believe this, but we actually found someone. JoAnna Wendel experiences musical anhedonia, a condition in which songs read as an over-stimulating pile of melodies...3151falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/caitlin-weierhauser-looking-back-at-ocac-closure-preserving-creative-space--19577559https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19577559Sat, 19 Oct 2019 00:06:12 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingAs we head toward the end of the year - and a big transition for State of Wonder - we’ve sorted a few key stories about where we’ve been and what we’ve done.3077falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rebroadcast-tommy-orange-trevino-brings-plenty--19692369https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19692369Fri, 25 Oct 2019 20:56:58 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week we are re-visiting a conversation we had in 2018 with author, Tommy Orange. His breakthrough debut novel, titled, “There, There,” unites the stories of twelve Native people, brought together on one momentous day in Oakland. Along with poet,...3053falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nicole-georges-malia-jensen-anne-ellegood-guns-and-design--19810357https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19810357Fri, 01 Nov 2019 21:25:55 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingIt’s April’s last show before heading off to Michigan … sigh. There WILL be more State of Wonder faves in the weeks to come, but right now we’re delivering some final thoughts on what it means to leave the place you love, and ways for thinking about...3258falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rebroadcast-aja-gabel-oregon-symphony-classical-s-metoo-reckoning-the-met-opera-aria-code--19934375https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19934375Fri, 08 Nov 2019 23:15:33 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWash some dishes to Brahms, and for one brief shining moment, you’ll feel like your life is being directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. This week, three stories from the orchestra pit, the rehearsal hall and the studio.3066metoofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rebroadcast-abigail-deville-leni-zumas-typhoon-omar-el-akkad--20053094https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20053094Fri, 15 Nov 2019 18:51:54 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis episode originally aired on Nov. 3, 2018. If you’ve been feeling like the lines are blurring between the America you imagined and the America we all live with, take a listen. We found some incredible artists and writers addressing the magical...3020falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nicole-georges-rumspringa--20058379https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20058379Sat, 16 Nov 2019 01:53:26 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingWriter, illustrator, podcaster and storyteller Nicole Georges relocated to Los Angeles to upscale her prolific career. We’ve loved her work for years, from her zine, “Invincible Summer” to her band, The Sour Grapes. Georges’ award-winning memoir,...968falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rebroadcast-the-native-perspective-missing-from-design-design-week-portland-adia-victoria--20197195https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20197195Fri, 22 Nov 2019 19:05:44 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis episode originally aired on April 13, 2018. We’re playing some of our favorite episodes this fall, looking back on all the things we made over six years of State of Wonder. Today’s is something special we did for Design Week Portland. When you...3053falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rebroadcast-satirist-andy-borowitz-teenage-dick-at-artists-rep-keyon-gaskin-and-nadia-buyse--20366330https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20366330Fri, 29 Nov 2019 17:35:08 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis episode originally aired on Jan. 12, 2018. Embarrassing situations don’t always result in great inspiration — but we wonder if some artists actually benefit from their fiascos. Doesn’t a debacle make us feel a kind of fearlessness for whatever...3065falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rebroadcast-kiese-laymon-ted-chiang-rosanne-parry--20536918https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20536918Fri, 06 Dec 2019 20:34:47 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingState of Wonder is bringing back some of our best episodes, and today’s was an easy yes. Some years, you get some good books. And then there are years that deliver great ones. We hope you’ve got room on your shelf for some more winter reads, because...3055falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rebroadcast-john-doe-on-la-s-punk-scene-team-dresch-chachalu-s-loan-from-the-british-museum--20723889https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20723889Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:13:37 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis episode originally aired on June 8th, 2019. It’s a weird world that obliges you to negotiate for decades to borrow things your great-grandparents made. And where are we if we can’t recover and know our history? This week, classic stories from the...3061falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/scotland-s-mobile-libraries-tales-from-the-fisher-poets-east-portland-s-arte-soleil--20931116https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20931116Fri, 20 Dec 2019 22:09:45 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingSometimes good stories take a while. This week, long-awaited gems from Astoria’s Fisher Poets and an arts outpost in East Portland. Also, a photographer goes the extra 4,000 miles for the literary story she believes in.3011falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/elliott-smith-s-either-or-at-20-slim-moon-larry-crane--21119952https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21119952Fri, 27 Dec 2019 19:49:55 +0000Oregon Public BroadcastingThis week’s show is a rebroadcast from April 2017. Twenty-two years ago Elliott Smith opened a door into a hypnotic new world. The album, “Either/Or,” released on Kill Rock Stars, marks a turning point in Smith’s transition from Portland rock...3040falsefull