THINKSPACE CURATES “LAX/PDX” @ Antler Gallery – Portland [PREVIEW]

Located in Culver City in Los Angeles county, Thinkspace Gallery has long been an important and influential force amidst a thriving epicenter of visual art, especially in regards to the particular brand of pop surrealist, underground, and new contemporary work that it specializes in showcasing.  But beyond their own personal accomplishments, one thing that has been encouraging to watch is Thinkspace and its founder, Andrew Hosner‘s noticeable efforts to support and strengthen the entire movement beyond their own business and individual projects.  A more cynical outlook could be to attribute these endeavors to the fact that Hosner and his partners at Thinkspace simply recognize that the preservation of the scene at large directly translates into the preservation of their own livelihood, and that’s definitely a fair assessment to make.  That being said, if you’ve had the great fortune to successfully root your livelihood in something that you are truly passionate about and believe in, and build it up from/structure it around that foundation, then ensuring that foundation remains strong and fruitful, while continuing grow, is imperative, if not also an obligation.

In the past, we’ve seen Thinkspace team with such peers as Santa Monica‘s Copro Gallery for major group shows paying tribute to subjects like low brow pioneer, Robt. Williams, as well as his groundbreaking art publication Juxtapoz; even bringing a second Juxtapoz exhibit to the Fort Wayne Museum Of Art, just last year.  They’ve also collaborated with the likes of Spoke Art Gallery in San Francisco, but not unlike NYC on the East Coast — a city where Spoke Art, incidentally, opened a second location — both Los Angeles and the Bay Area already have flourishing art scenes and communities.  Perhaps, more intriguing is when they venture to seemingly less obvious regions like they did for the Juxtapoz show in Fort Wayne, Indiana, or the Invisible College group exhibit that Andrew co-curated along with is wife/Thinkspace co-owner, Shawn Hosner and FWMOA‘s Josef Zimmerman.

One of the greatest examples of Thinkspace working to expand its reach and bring the new contemporary art movement — if not their select brand of it — into new territories is their ongoing, traveling “LAX” series, which has found them curating exhibits in locations both domestic and international ranging from such disparate environments as Berlin, and Hong Kong, to Detroit.  This Saturday, June 9th will mark the opening of the 13th installment of the series and, this time around, it finds the Thinkspace heading to Portland, Oregon, a city that is steadily proving to have a unique, burgeoning art scene of its own.  More specifically, LAX/PDX will be hosted at Antler Gallery and “will showcase the work of 80 internationally acclaimed artists, many new to the Thinkspace Family.”  Among those featured are local Portland artists Josh Keyes, David Rice, and Stephanie Buer (formerly of Detroit).  Also in the mix are names like Seth Armstrong; Mary Iverson; David Cooley; and ABCNT, who’s responsible for the extremely controversial cover art on the recent limited edition Rev Shine x Conway The Machine “Grimey Shit” / “Take Life” 12-inch single.  With its open theme and the range of various aesthetics, approaches, and disciplines being presented, this should be a good one.

Here’s a list of contributing artists…

ARTIST LIST INCLUDES:

ABCNT • Abigail Goldman • Alex Yanes • Alexandra Manukyan • Allison Sommers • Amy Sol • Anthony Clarkson • Anthony Solano • Bicicleta Sem Freio • Brian Mashburn • Brian Viveros • Brooks Salzwedel • Buff Monster • Candice Tripp • Carl Cashman • Carly Ealey • Christopher Konecki • Craig ‘Skibs’ Barker • Dan Witz • Daniel Bilodeau •David Cooley • David Rice • Drew Merritt • Edith Lebeau • Eelus • EINE • Ellen Rutt • Erik Siador • Ermsy • Evoca • Fanakapan • Hueman • Isaac Cordal • Jana & JS • Jaune • Josh Keyes • Josie Morway • Kaili Smith • Kari-Lise Alexander • Kathy Ager • Kelly Vivanco • Kelogsloops •  Ken Flewellyn • Kevin Peterson • Lauren YS • Leon Keer • Marco Mazzoni • Marie Claude Marquis • Mark Dean Veca • Mary Iverson • Matthew Grabelsky • Meggs • Molly Gruninger • Mwanel Pierre-Louis • Nosego • OakOak • PichiAvo • Ricky Watts • Rosa de Jong • Royyal Dog • Sam Yong • Saner • Scott Radke • Sean Chao • Sean Mahan • Sergio Garcia • Seth Armstrong • Sheryo • Skewville • Slinkachu • So Youn Lee • Spenser Little •Stephanie Buer • Super A • Telmo Miel • Tiktoy • Timothy Karpinski • Tran Nguyen • Van Arno • Yok • Zezão

Check out preview images for the exhibit below the following event details…

WHAT:

Thinkspace Presents:
LAX / PDX
Group Exhibit

WHEN:

Opening:
Saturday, June 9, 2018
6pm-11pm

WHERE:

Antler Gallery
2728 NE Alberta St,
Portland, Oregon 97211

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Opening is ALL AGES
Select artists will be in attendance
Gallery Hourse: Thurs – Monday / 12pm to 6pm
Facebook Event Page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/173115460018901/