First Thursday critic's picks

Published: Wednesday, January 05, 2011, 5:00 PM

Unlike the weather, the local art world has had little trouble thawing out from the cold. That's because some local dealers spent part of December under the warmer skies of Miami at the high-powered art fairs that have become an annual rite for cognoscenti, collectors and various kinds of cultural aspirants.

But now they're back in Portland, to cooler climes and a cooler reality. The month's offerings again highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the local scene -- lots of talent but not enough serious collectors or galleries to showcase them properly.

But for the general public on First Thursday, none of this matters much. The free monthly art walk is an evening of casual enjoyment. Here are a few stops to keep in mind while touring the Pearl District and downtown galleries.



Chambers@916: Scott Johnson's new show could pair quite well with the light and space works of Hap Tivey and Anna Von Mertens across the street at the Elizabeth Leach Gallery. Johnson projects subtle, radiant, optical light effects -- illusions -- onto various surfaces.

Also, Ethan Jackson continues his similarly rigorous space-and-time-bending exploration of projected imagery using mirrors and different surfaces. (916 N.W. Flanders St.; chambersgallery.com)