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Openwide says Goodbye

Calvin Ross Carl — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:08:11 +0000

After three years of tireless documentation, the time has come to lay Openwide to rest. It comes with great reluctance, but we decided now is the time. Despite Portland being hit hard by the recession, the Portland art scene has still evolved quickly over the last three years (perhaps in response to the recession), and the need for a site which simply photographs exhibitions seems as if it may no longer exist. Portland deserves more critical responses to the great artwork being created and exhibited in this city, and unfortunately, one thing a photograph can not deliver is a critical response. Also, the time commitment involved with producing Openwide has slowly began to conflict with some of our own studio practices, to the point where it has become problematic.

The History

I started Openwide three years ago, relatively fresh from getting my BFA, and immediately Ashley Sloan joined my side to become “co-founder”, along with Chelsea Linehan and Nathanael Thayer Moss joining to contribute all the amazing photo and video documentation they have. Our goal was a simple one. Photograph all the best exhibitions, and archive them online for everyone to see. None of us had ever been photographers (which is either self-evident in our photos or not). We were just dedicated to the cause, and I would say our scrappy team of four far exceeded our own expectations on this goal. I can’t express my love and appreciation enough for my fellow Openwiders. Over this three years, I appreciated the hard work done by Ashley so much I recently got married to her. I may not have married Chelsea or Nate to show my appreciation, but I hope they truly understand how wonderful their contribution to Openwide has been. Chelsea and Nate have even been responsible for creating some of the only documentation for many of Portland’s great performance pieces.

The Future

Ashley is moving on to attain her MFA at Portland State this year. I will be focusing on my own studio work. Chelsea and Nate will be doing the same. We have discussed the possibility of publishing a book in the future, focusing on the last three years of Portland art, but there have been no final plans. If we move forward with the book, we will be sure to keep everyone updated.

Thank You

Thank you for the years of rabid fanaticism. We couldn’t have kept up the motivation without you. This certainly won’t be the last of us, and you will still be seeing our faces out at shows and around town. However, we just might be looking at the artwork with our eyes and not the lens of a camera.

Thanks for everything and keep in touch,

Calvin (and Ashley, Chelsea, and Nate in absentia)

Michael Reinsch performance at Gallery Homeland

Nathanael Thayer Moss — Thu, 19 May 2011 21:53:58 +0000

Mr. Reinsch’s 40 minute performance @ Gallery Homeland, Portland, OR for the opening of “THE WORLD IS NOT ENDING, YOUR WORLD IS ENDING,” curated by Sean Joseph Patrick Carney.

View photos of the The World is Not Ending…

Nate Manny at Land Gallery

Chelsea Linehan — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:00:57 +0000

Portia Roy at Pacific Northwest College of Art

Nathanael Thayer Moss — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 15:00:52 +0000

‘The World Is Not Ending, Your World is Ending’ at Gallery Homeland

Calvin Ross Carl — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:00:55 +0000

Curated by Sean Joseph Patrick Carney

Damien Gilley

Daniel J. Glendening

Justin Gorman

Laura Hughes

Israel Lund

Joseph McVetty

Michael Reinsch

Stephen Slappe

Rebecca Steele

Craig Wheat

Michael Welsh

Vanessa Calvert at Nisus Gallery

Calvin Ross Carl — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 04:43:22 +0000

Adds Donna at Half/Dozen Gallery

Calvin Ross Carl — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 15:00:44 +0000

Matt Cosby at Augen Gallery

Calvin Ross Carl — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:00:47 +0000

Jessica Curtaz at Charles A. Hartman Fine Art

Calvin Ross Carl — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:00:28 +0000

Jeffry Mitchell at Pulliam Gallery

Calvin Ross Carl — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:00:09 +0000