Pearl District Welcomes The Art of Trade Gallery

Monday, August 03, 2015

Briauna Skye McKizzie, GoLocalPDX Contributor

"By continuing to support our waterfront industries, we create a richer environment for everyone,” said Greta Blalock. Photo Credit: Art of Trade (Image Cropped)

On Thursday, August 6th, the Pearl District will welcome The Art of Trade Gallery to Portland during the gallery's public opening.

The Art of Trade Gallery is a collection of work from some of today's finest artists that pays tribute to the people and industries located along the banks of the Columbia and Willamette rivers.

Although the gallery doesn't officially open until Thursday, there will be a judging event that takes place on Wedsnesday evening.

During this time, a panel of professional art curators will name one work “Best in Show” and award the artist a $1,000 prize.

The curators on the panel are Herschel McGraw and Susan Hodge from Gallery 903 and Greta Blalock, the Port of Portland’s art program manager.

“The public (and official) opening on August 6th is planned to coincide with First Thursday to spread the word about the importance of supporting workers on the waterfront and the education that is so vital to their success. By continuing to support our waterfront industries, we create a richer environment for everyone,” said Greta.

Open from August 6th through August 15th, the gallery features nearly seventy paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, and sculptures. Click HERE for a full list of the artists featured.

Attendees of the event not only get to enjoy the art featured at the exhibit, but they are also welcome to purchase works of the artists.

Half of the proceeds will go to the artist who created the work, and the other half will go toward the Portland Community College Industrial Jobs Training Program scholarship fund.

“The Art of Trade exhibition is an offshoot of the Seaport Celebration, an annual event that welcomes the public into working marine terminals that are usually closed to the public. Artwork featured at the Art of Trade exhibition explores the work and workers that usually live behind the scenes. These people and industries are largely responsible for making sure the industrial economy of our region stays healthy. In turn, proceeds from the sales of this artwork go to job training programs at Portland Community College to ensure that our region continues to have a strong industrial workforce. Workers who are professionally trained are better able to make a living wage, have more options in life and contribute to the community. Art of Trade celebrates this cycle of interdependence; it’s a show about neighbors, really – about all of us working together," said Greta Blalock.

To learn more about The Art of Trade Gallery, click HERE.

The Art of Trade Gallery, 915 NW Davis St. Thursday, August 6 - Saturday, August 15. Open Daily Monday - Saturday from 10am - 5:30pm and Sundays noon - 5pm.

Related Slideshow: Party Report: 1st Thursday at PNCA’s new Pearl District Home

Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) hosted its first First Thursday event on March 5, from 6-9 p.m, at theire new campus flagship, the Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Center for Art and Design.

Prev Next

Angela and Aaron

PICA's Angela Mattox and OPB's Aaron Scott.

PNCA’s first First Thursday attracted hundreds of people, involved lots of refreshments (popcorn and wine) and was an opportunity for the public to explore the school’s art galleries and student projects. The gallery currently features "Gathering Autonomy: Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative," a cooperative of 30 artists whose work focuses on radical social, environmental, and political topics. There was also work from PNCA students, alumni, and faculty presented at the gallery on the third floor. And there was lots of banging from a community drum circle.