July 9 — September 18, 2016

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July 9 — September 18, 2016
Curated by Michelle Grabner
about the Portland2016 Biennial
Every even year, Disjecta Contemporary Art
Center presents the Portland Biennial,
a major survey of Oregon visual artists who
are defining and advancing the state’s
contemporary arts landscape.
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history
The Portland Biennial was initiated in 2010 and
follows the tradition of the Oregon Biennial, begun
by the Portland Art Museum in 1949. With the end of
the Museum’s biennial in 2006, Oregon artists lost
a longstanding platform for career advancement.
Portland2016 continues Disjecta’s rejuvenation of
the biennial and provides an unduplicated program
of recognition and support for Oregon artists.
Past curators include Cris Moss, now director
The Portland Biennials have presented the work of over 60
of the White Box at the University of Oregon in Portland;
artists, including Oregon Painting Society, Holly Andres,
Prudence Roberts, former Curator of American Art at the
John Brodie, Blair Saxon-Hill, Alex Mackin Dolan, Modou
Portland Art Museum; and Amanda Hunt, Assistant Curator
Dieng, Jessica Jackson Hutchins, Wendy Red Star, Arnold J.
at the Studio Museum in Harlem.
Kemp, Matt McCormick, Akihiko Miyoshi, Ben Buswell, Bruce
This amassing of talent under the
biennial banner led critic and writer
Richard Speer to note,
“Disjecta is one of the Pacific
Northwest’s most vital and important
Conkle, Marne Lucas, Ditch Projects, and Heidi Schwegler,
arts nonprofits.”
among others.
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Today, the Biennial is a two-month
exhibition that spans multiple venues and
includes events, lectures and public projects.
In keeping with the interdisciplinary
character of contemporary practice, the
Biennial includes visual arts and new media,
as well as performance-based works.
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Disjecta’s headquarters in North Portland
serves as the main venue for the Biennial,
but the exhibition has always expanded
to partner spaces throughout Portland,
making it particularly accessible and
uniquely citywide.
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activating the state
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For the first time in 2016, the Biennial
will extend beyond Portland, activating
locations around the state, making
the exhibition available to a larger
and more diverse audience.
this approach
+ celebrates the beauty and diversity of the state
+ encourages cultural tourism
+ allows for more public projects
+ engages underserved communities
This use of multiple venues will allow artists the space
and flexibility to develop work specifically for this
opportunity. A catalog with essays by visiting and local
writers will support the exhibition.
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MICHELLE GRABNER
the curator
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As David Norr writes in the introduction
to her exhibition at MoCA, Cleveland
“All of Grabner’s activities are driven by
distinctive values and ideas: working
outside of dominant systems, working
tirelessly, working across platforms and
towards community.”
2016 curator,
Michelle Grabner
Exposing the
curatorial process
Portland2016 will be curated by
Grabner is an artist advocate. She places
Michelle Grabner. Ms. Grabner works in
preeminent value on the studio
a variety of mediums including drawing,
practice—and conversations in and
painting, video and sculpture. Incorpo-
about the studio dominate her curatorial
rating writing, curating and teaching
logos. It’s also a curatorial process she
with a studio practice grounded in
intends to unveil—through captured au-
process and productivity, she has created
dio, photos and notes, Grabner hopes
a multi-faceted and dynamic career.
to bring artists to the forefront of this
As a community-maker, Grabner runs
year’s exhibition. By opening the doors
The Suburban and The Poor Farm
with her husband, artist Brad Killam.
These exhibition spaces in Little Wolf,
Wisconsin
and
Oak
Park,
Illinois
embody new models for facilitating and
to her research, she will highlight the
ways in which artists create and communicate their work, and celebrate the
conversations and learning that are a
part of each studio visit.
presenting artists’ projects.
As an artist, I Work From Home,
Grabner’s
first
comprehensive
solo
museum exhibition at the Museum of
Contemporary Art, Cleveland was
organized by David Norr and opened
in October of 2013.
These varied interests and experiences
led Grabner to be chosen as co-curator
of the 2014 Whitney Biennial at the
Whitney Museum of American Art along
Grabner reviewed
over 400 applicants
and conducted
over 150 studio visits
around the state for
the Biennial — perhaps
the most comprehensive
survey of Oregon
artists ever.
with Anthony Elms and Stuart Comer.
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audience & impact
Over the past five years, the Biennial has become an invaluable marker
of the rich and varied arts landscape in Oregon. It has grown to facilitate
dialog across demographics, provide unduplicated opportunities for artists,
and showcase important new work. This year, the participation of Michelle
Grabner allows the Biennial spotlight to shine brighter on the immense talent of
Oregon—on a national stage.
Our goal is to make Portland2016 the
most significant Biennial yet, attracting
substantial national acclaim and media
attention.
Through increased marketing and
outreach, social media and advertising,
along with public receptions, panels
and events, we intend to reach a
wider audience than ever before.
Objectives
12,000
attendees
5,000
new email subscribers
7,500
new facebook fans
Reach 40,000
Oregonians with Biennial marketing
50
national media mentions in publications
like The New York Times, Art Forum,
and Art in America
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generating attention
With a nationally recognized curator at the helm and statewide
ambitions, all the pieces are in place to make this the most
impactful Biennial yet. But if we ask for the attention, the product
better be damn good. This is where we need help—it takes
community to produce a nationally lauded exhibition. All the
talent, desire and know-how in the world will fall short without
financial resources. We—Disjecta, Michelle, the artists, our
partner institutions and our sponsors—have the opportunity
to produce something remarkable in 2016.
Please join us.
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Opportunities
Plans for Portland2016 speak to the natural growth of the exhibition, the desire to
spur cultural tourism and the goal of providing greater resources to Oregon artists.
Your support will help us navigate the expenses of the following initiatives:
presence Disjecta and our
publications With the leadership of Michelle Grabner,
wayfinding If increased engagement is key, providing well
partners will mount a significant marketing and advertising
we will produce a catalog that explores regionalism through
designed navigation documents is critical. Maps, apps and
campaign to attract new audiences and build excitement
the lens of the Biennial. Part exhibit document, part tome, the
didactic materials will need to be produced so audiences
around the venues, artists, and curator.
catalog will feature essays by leading thinkers and discuss
can access and fully experience Biennial locations, artists
expanding statewide Portland2016 will break new
the significance of working “locally” and how that affects the
and events.
increased
national
ground and significantly expand the acreage of the Biennial.
art world on a profound level.
This means additional costs for shipping works, lodging artists
and managing venues.
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Online Opportunities
Creating a site where interested parties can go to learn more about the
artists, events and locations associated with the Biennial will help reach
new audiences and provide a level of engagement and context that not
only educates and informs but also manages to engage and inspire.
interactive map An online experience that invites visitors
social media Frequent updates, event announcements,
online catalog
to discover and explore the different cities, towns and studios
images and other biennial news will be shared with our nearly
highlight the biographies and works of artists featured in
that Michelle visited as part of her curatorial process, gaining
10,000 followers to promote community awareness and extend
the Biennial.
access to photos, artwork, audio and other insights into the
the network of information.
Built into the map, this component will
selection process. As the exhibition nears, a calendar of events
and Biennial locations will be added, making the site a timely
email campaign Weekly updates will be sent to our 9,000
resource during the run of the exhibition, and an enduring
person email list.
archive of the project thereafter.
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Print Collateral Opportunities
Enhancing our robust online presence, we will create an array of informational
material and advertisements to further engage new audiences and provide
handheld direction to the sites and activities throughout the state
More—much more—than a catalog,
A more finite printed version of the online
advertisements Beautifully designed ads will be placed
biennial
map, this tactile piece will provide a practical navigation tool
in leading national arts publications and in local and regional
the reader will provide insightful thoughts around the topic of
that presents all exhibition information in a visually compelling,
periodicals, showcasing the works, venues and artists
regionalism. National critics, writers and artists will be invited
and collectible, way. It will be distributed at Biennial venues, in
participating in the Biennial.
to provide essays about how Portland, and the Biennial, provide
exhibition map
context for the larger conversation. The reader will also include
hotel lobbies, shops, galleries and other outlets across Oregon.
venue cards
seattle art fair Disjecta has been invited back to
reader
Each location will produce a site specific
program highlighting the artists, works and venue information.
full color documentation of the works in the Biennial, making it
a complete archive of the time.
participate in the second Seattle Art Fair. To fully leverage this
opportunity, we will design a booth that celebrates the Biennial
and inspires attendees to visit Oregon and engage with
the exhibitions.
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1
8
public lectures
3 & 4
Michelle Grabner
selected as curator
3
2
a call
to artist
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of artists announced
biennial exhibition
takes place statewide
studio visits
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7
public lectures
installation of works
1 & 2
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2015
9
selection
curator visits
with selected artists
2016
november
september
july
may
march
january
november
september
july
may
march
january
next steps
building partners, donors and affiliations
The Biennial is supported by…
a diverse range of businesses and foundations. The list below includes several
groups that have supported us in past years — our hope is that many will return
to fund the upcoming Biennial. Those marked by asterisks are already on board
for the expanded efforts of Portland2016.
The Oregon Cultural Trust*
Travel Portland
The Andy Warhol Foundation
for the Visual Arts*
The Mark Spencer Hotel
The Robert Lehman Foundation*
Moda Health
The Standard
Ford Family Foundation
Stumptown Printers
The Regional Arts and Cultural Council
Clear Channel
The Kinsman Foundation
Deschutes Brewery
Oregon Arts Commission
Sign Wizards
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THANK YOU
Disjecta
8371 N Interstate Avenue
Portland, OR 97217
(503) 286.9449
disjecta.org
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