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This content was published: November 6, 2015. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.

EastSouthEast: Merge by Shawn Demarest

Southeast Gallery

SE Powell and 82nd

SE Powell and 82nd 18″ x 30″ oil and graphite on panel

SE Powell #1

SE Powell no1 30″ x 30″ oil and graphite on panel

Shawn Demarest

  • Dates: November 6 – Dec 30, 2015
  • Gallery hours:
    • Monday – Friday, 7:30am-10pm
    • Saturday, 7:30am-5pm
  • Opening reception: Friday, November 6 from 6-8pm,
    PCC Southeast Student Commons

Artist statement

After moving into the Foster-Powell neighborhood I became enamored with a street I often drive on – SE 82nd. In 2014, I approached PCC about exhibiting a new series of work in the Student Commons area. It was my intention that people who live and travel in this southeast Portland area would have easy access to see and respond to the paintings. In fact, one of the paintings depicts the intersection of SE Division and 82nd (adjacent to PCC Southeast Campus). I was drawn to the rhythm of lights, cars, power lines, advertisements, and energy of this part of town. Surprisingly, as the paintings progressed, I found my recent abstract painting approach finding its way into my, generally representational urbanscapes. To tell this part of the story, I have included a number of my small abstract paintings in the exhibit. Initially, this series was titled EastSouthEast. After the melding of styles occurred, I renamed it EastSouthEast: Merge.

Please consider sharing your thoughts about the paintings and their depiction of the streets surrounding PCC in the notebook accompanying the exhibit.

Supported by a grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council.

View more work at Shawn Demarest’s website.