Hello art lovers!

I volunteer for Art on Alberta, (http://www.artonalberta.org/) a small but mighty nonprofit organization whose mission is to “promote the Alberta Arts District’s distinct cultural identity through art and educational activities.  This year, we are celebrating our 10th anniversary and have been working really hard to bring a very important show to Portland.  Thelma Johnson Streat was an Oregonian of African American and Native American descent, who went to the Museum School here in Portland in the 1930’s.  She became an internationally reknowned artist, who worked with Diego Rivera on public murals, and was part of many important art collections, including being the first African American woman whose art was acquired for the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in NY.  Most Oregonians don’t know her name and this important part of our local art history, and we have been working with Streat’s family who still lives in the region to mount a major show of her work on Alberta Street in a few weeks.  By all accounts, this could be the largest show of this woman’s work ever presented to the public. 

Half of the show will be hung next week, opening at the Last Thursday event.  On the day of Art Hop (May 16) we will also open an additional venue with a large group of original works.  There will also many historical documents available to explain more about this amazing woman’s life. We are still a few thousand dollars short of our fundraising goals, and I’m reaching out to the art community to help us bring this show to Portland.  I recently posted a blog entry (http://www.bunnywithanartblog.blogspot.com) with more information about this show and Art Hop.  Memberships in Art on Alberta start at just $20.  We can also take Paypal donations of any amount on our website http://www.artonalberta.org . Thanks and we hope to see you on May 16!

Hilary Pfeifer