OCAC is currently building a new 16,400 square foot Drawing, Painting and Photography Studio and Thesis building. This construction includes new parking areas, fire truck access lanes, landscape improvements, pathways linking existing facilities, and offsite improvements including sidewalks and improvements to adjacent public roads and campus entryways.

What is currently happening?
• Ground breaking occurred in September 2008
• Excavation and site prep is complete
• Foundation is now being poured
• Structure work commenced in November 2008

How is the college promoting energy efficient design and sustainability?
• LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design as developed by the US Green Building Code. OCAC is seeking LEED silver certification.

Project Completion:
• Occupancy expected late August 2009

RAW OYSTER PROJECT, a gallery run by OCAC students, presents Wood vs. Paint.Two artists, four walls, and a whole lot of Pabst establish the stage for this ultimate call & response battle of materials and vision. Benjamin “The Drip” Rood sets his pigments loose on the end-grain of Nicholas “Chop-Saw” Musso, as each of these talented multimedia artists push themselves, each other and their creative weapons of choice to the extreme. OPENING RECEPTION: February 5, 5:00-9:30PM at the Everett Station Lofts, 625 NW Everett St. #106 in Portland. Hours- Febuary 7, 8 & 14: 1:00-5:00PM

Image: Kristin Shiga

Brienne Steckly (Photography ‘04) created an art installation in parking garage display windows for the Urban Art Project in Great Falls, MT. The work will be on view February 5-May 5, 2009.

Ellen Goldschmidt (Drawing/Painting ) will be teaching an OCAC workshop for high school art students titled “Off-Press Printing Techniques on Paintings” on March 21st.  She leads the design team for the annual Friendly House Inc. fundraiser to be held on March 13; the theme is “The Greatest Auction on Earth.”  Ellen’s new body of work explores the relationship between writing and images. 

Traveler Terpening (Photography ‘03) continues to work on his travel guide to the state of Alaska for English publisher Bradt Travel Guides. He will also be starting graduate school at Prescott College in February 2009.  His focus will be environmental journalism.

Jocelyn Ruth O’Shea (Fiber ’06) is designing knitwear for sustainable fashion designer Eviana Hartman of Bodkin.  The pieces will be on view at the Bodkin fashion show in New York City and available for purchase through select retail establishments. Jocelyn is also working with Knit New York to create their first ever full line of knitwear. 

Lisa Sikorski (Metals, ‘03) was awarded a Vilas Travel Grant to help fund her continued work with an ad-hoc collective of women she met during her exchange at the University of Dundee, Scotland.

Courtney Murphy (Ceramics ‘04) has a new website: http://www.courtneymurphy.net

Kristin Mitsu Shiga (Metals ’01) will be teaching a workshop at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts from May 31-June 12, 2009. The workshop, entitled “Co-Laboratory: Making it Together,” will explore Kristin’s new love: making art collaboratively. For details, visit http://www.haystack-mtn.org

Susannah Lints (Ceramics ’03) has been selected along with other Oregon Potters Association (OPA) members, to attend and send one ceramic piece each to Hokkaido Pottery Society’s annual exhibition.  The exhibit will be held at the Sapporo Museum of Contemporary Art, Japan in September 2009, commemorating the Hokkaido Pottery Association’s 40th anniversary celebration. 

Colleen Flanigan (Metals ‘97) received a fellowship to attend and present at the annual TED (TED.com) conference this February.  Colleen also has a Biorock metal reef model in the crocheted community reef on display at OMSI from January 26-Feb 28.  OCAC students Colleen Flanigan, Sarah Hall, Jeanne McGivor, and Heidi Armour all worked on the film “Coraline.“ This 3D stop-motion animated, Neil Gaiman-inspired movie (directed by Henry Selick) will be in theaters on Feb. 6. 

Josh Smith (Wood ‘08) is showing his new work “The righteous foundation of us” at Manuel Izquierdo Gallery at the Pacific Northwest College of Art February 5-26, 2009. http://www.jjfab.com

Jewish Theater Collaborative, Oregon Jewish Museum and the German American
Society jointly present: Charlotte Salomon: Life? Or Theater? A Multi-Media Performance

February 14-15, 2009, West End Theatre, 1220 SW Taylor St - Portland, OR 97203
Performances: Saturday, February 14, 8PM
Sunday, February 15, 2 PM and 7 PM
Opening Night Pre-show Reception February 14, 7:00-7:30 PM

By RSVP only to
For more information or to purchase tickets
Contact Oregon Jewish Museum
503.226-3600, http://www.ojm.org
Jewish Theatre Collaborative, co-sponsored by the Oregon Jewish
Museum and the German American Society presents Charlotte
Salomon: Life? Or Theater? This unusual theatrical experience – a
staging of a 1930s graphic novel by German expressionist painter,
Charlotte Salomon, set to music is directed by Sacha Reich.
In 1941, Charlotte Salomon put her remarkable work into the
hands of a neighbor in southern France and said “Keep this safe,
it’s my entire life.” Two years later, at age 26, Charlotte Salomon
was killed upon arrival at Auschwitz October, but her story lives
still through her art as it survived her.
Set again the historical backdrop of the rise of the Third Reich
“Life? Or Theatre? is the story of a young girl striving to find her
voice as an artist,” says director Sacha Reich. “At age 24, Charlotte
worked day and night painting – an average of 3 paintings a day.
Charlotte Salomon’s art was the means of her survival.”
JTC will bring Charlotte’s story to life on the stage, using
projections of Salomon’s paintings, performers, live and recorded
music. Salomon indicates music throughout the work and the
performance will include a range of music from classical pieces like
Schubert’s Lieder (selected as inspirations by Salomon herself at
the time of her painting) to modern chansons composed especially
for this occasion.
The cast includes Drammy award winner Michele Mariana and
critically acclaimed singer, Cantor Ida Rae Cahana. The production
is realized by a talented and award winning team of designers
including Peter West, Rody Ortega, Mark Loring and Sara Gahagan.
Themes and issues raised by the plays will be explored with the
audience in a facilitated discussion.
This performance is made possible by a generous grant from the
Regional Arts and Culture Council.
Tickets available through Oregon Jewish Museum: http://www.ojm.org