Cliff Notes
Each week our regional Cliff Notes columnists Christopher Alam, Sharon Arnold, Demian DinéYazhi’, and Gabrielle Lawrence pick the most exciting events and exhibitions on the West Coast.
Ranran Fan: 上天入地 Ends of the Earth
Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem, OR
April 15–May 20
The first time I was introduced to Ranran Fan she was working on her MFA thesis show at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. Her experimental approach to screenprinting and elaborate transdisciplinary installations meditate on the complexities of language while also striving to dismantle hegemonic power systems. 上天入地 Ends of the Earth finishes out it’s month long exhibition at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, and showcases the work of Ranran Fan who is a visiting assistant professor of photography and 4D art. Students and faculty at Willamette University are very fortunate to be able to work alongside Ranran Fan as well as contribute to the transitional state of the arts in Oregon.
“Fan’s exhibition invites viewers to explore both the physical aspects of the installation, as well as a hidden augmented reality that can be viewed with an iPad, as they navigate through the exhibition. 上天入地 Ends of the Earth represents what the artist describes as “a metaphorical spell-casting ceremony” designed to gather energy to treat traumas, restore mental health, and fight against oppressions. It also provides an alternative spatial and temporal dimension to contemplate death. Fan says, ‘This is where I find alternative solutions and a path to walk out of predicaments and desperation.’” — Hallie Ford Museum of Art Gallery text.
Anna Fidler: Torrent of Light
Stumptown Coffee Roasters Downtown, Portland, OR
May 12 – June 21
Anna Fidler is one of Oregon’s longstanding hidden gems. Her detail oriented process is endlessly captivating from topographic, vibrant ritual celebrations to her ambitious abstract portraits of the Portland Trailblazers, as seen in her mesmerizing 2009 show “The Game.” The vast range of energy portraits, altar cards, and symmetrical paintings that she shared throughout the pandemic via-Instagram (@annafidlerart) were grounding and transformative when the rest of the world felt heavy, chaotic, and hopeless. Thankfully the folks at Stumptown are also fangirls of Anna Fidler, so much so they awarded her a Stumptown Fellowship and solo exhibition. Torrent of Light is currently on view in their downtown location until June 07, 2023.