Solid Mind - Showing at Place 
A drawing installation by Jamie Marie Waelchli

Solid Mind examines the disappointments and frustrations, internal and external, that interfere with one’s goals, ideals, and anticipated life trajectory. The installation considers the reconciliation of personal expectations with lived reality using glass containers, liquid, light, and a stream-of-conscious drawing technique. Translucent vessels occupied with mixtures of oil, water, and ink suggest the tensions and frustrations of wanting and needing, and the subsequent anxieties of having, holding, and keeping. 

Hours: Thursday - Sunday, 12:00-6:00 PM 
Opening Reception - January 19th 5-9pm
Second Reception - February 16th 5-9pm
Artist Talk - February 24th at 2pm

PLACE is a gallery space on the third floor of the Pioneer Place Mall (Atrium Bldg) in downtown Portland, OR. 

Working on some experiments with glass, oil, ink and vellum. 

When I was an undergraduate at UW-Madison I studied color theory under Derrick Buisch. It was such a fantastic class. He used to read us color theory books while we painted. I got into Josef Alber’s book The Interaction of Color. 

I’ll be speaking about color theory and sharing some color based activities at Neurobics! on November 7th at 7pm. Here’s a link to some more information. 

A recording of the performance Little Pleasures, will be screened this month in two places:

At Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design as part of Attribute (v./n.) curated by Tanya Dhein

And at Boom Bap throughout this month in Portland, Oregon. (Reception 5:30pm until 10:30pm on Friday, October 5th)

I made this video five years ago (feels like 50) during grad school and it’s gone on to be more widely screened than any other video I’ve made. It’s also gotten more publicity and personal response than anything I’ve done before or since. This makes me sometimes terrified that my best work is behind me. (And it involved me slobbering) But I have to say I’m extremely grateful that the piece has meant something to people. It was cathartic to do, it come from a very real place, it gave me a way to express struggles I didn’t have the words to admit. When I watch it now I feel disconnected from this younger version of myself, and so I see it very differently than I used to. At any rate, here are a few images from the first time I performed Little Pleasures. (My professors (reluctantly) asked me to do it again because the background looked so distracting that first time.

I love teaching, so I’m beyond thrilled that Clark College offered me a summer digital photography class. This is an extreme honor. College was crazy with meaning, completely opened my world. I can’t express the gratitude I have for my professors. So now I need to make sure I to do right by my own students. I’m working on our syllabus and first presentation right now. And there’s A LOT more to do after the class starts… so if you don’t see me around for a few weeks, thats why.

I’m finishing up on my work for the RACC development grant; the business cards are in final draft, the new site is almost there, and I’ve got two hardcover photo book portfolios nearly ready to be ordered. Feels good. 

Here are some photographs from the Perceptual Control opening at Worksound. Thank you to everyone who came out. I had the opportunity to speak with many people who were interested in the work, so that was fantastic. 

This evening at Worksound, 7pm, Michael Reinsch and I will be discussing our work and development. I’m also speaking about meditative drawing and opening a Q&A for any questions people may have about the Life Inventory Project. 

Alone on Holidays at Half/Dozen by Jamie Marie Waelchli

On Wednesday evening I was invited to screen Translations at Research Club/Holocene present: WILD COMBINATION. Read BePortland’s review of the event. 

Experimenting with installation plans for the Alone on Holidays show coming up at Half/Dozen.

Finally got to see my family again. (Missing sister Genna though.) Went crazy at the Atlanta airport. Got teaching application in on time. Sent out work for the FEARproject to Texas. Applied for Open Engagement. Finishing up a little video project collaboration for Place next month. Starting a residency in February. Making it through winter.