Curator, gallerist (the greatly missed, SOUNDVISION), visual artist, arts writer, TJ Norris takes a moment to answer the ultra Q in which we ask Portland’s movers and makers a number of pressing questions
Opening this Friday at the Guestroom Gallery (Mark Wooley’s annex gallery at the Wonder Ballroom complex at 128 NE Russell) is grey|area curated by TJ Norris. Trust Norris, whose shows at SOUNDVISION were always on the must-see list to lasso some of the more interesting artists in Portland for a show that in deliciously and typically Norris-esque fashion the kaleidescope of possibilities inherent in the notion of grey and all the in-between-ness it suggests. Look forward to seeing work by David Eckard, Scott Wayne Indiana, Ty Ennis, j.frede, Troy Briggs, Laura Fritz, Ellen George, and of course, Norris, himself. There’s an opening June 2 from 6-9 PM, or more interestingly, a panel chat on Saturday June 10 at 1 PM.
Recently, Norris took time out to answer the ultra Q.
TJ Norris
Qualities you most admire in design:
Elegant minimalism, neutralities. I am particularly fond of designers who cut to challenge the body, presenting an ‘other’ (being, thing). Design that conceals and may also present a layer of peek-a-boo attracts me. As a photographer, it’s a voyeur thing.
Qualities you most despise in design:
Glib, crackhead design following a flash trend. Too much is too much. It may seem “fun” in the moment but if it has no sense of timelessness - it’s simply recyclable.
Reading:
Beside the internet? I”ve been constantly fumbling through catalogues of work by sound sculptors Achim Wollschied, Carsten Nicolai and Christina Kubisch.
Listening to:
A new series of work on UK’s Lumberton Trading Company imprint, Aphex Twin’s eleven Analord EPs, and my guilty pleasure is replaying “Destroy Everything You Touch” by Ladytron!
Dream project:
To show my collaborative installation work in Japan. Maybe finally bring to light the “banned work” I conceived with artist/composer Terre Thaemlitz. We were selected for an exhibition about the transgendered body slated to open simultaneously with the Summer Olympics in Athens a year or two back. I thought the concept of bringing olympic bodies into the same major city where this ‘other’ body was on view made for a synergistically strange fusion. The museum director nixed the show in the final hours. It was disappointing because other contributors to this exhibition designed in London also included work by Genesis P. Orridge and Joel-Peter Witkin.
Favorite virtue:
Art as vocation
Favorite vice:
Other than moochi ice cream? Probably amassing a huge music library. And lately, Matthew Barney.
Tragic flaw:
Non-stop. I need a zen garden.
Secret superhero power:
Spending hours pounding the pavement, citywide with my camera, it can be endless, and it only energizes me more. Feet don’t fail me now!
That which keeps your afterburners firing:
Actually, I am working on adding a few coals on the bar-b behind-the scenes!
What you’d like to be when you grow up:
Me.
Portland’s best kept secret:
mmmmmum.
Portland heroes (sung or un-):
Artists like David Eckard and Brenda Mallory. Younger gallerists like Jenene Nagy and Ruthann Brown. Breathless do-it-all guys like Paul Middendorf and Scott Wayne Indiana. Oh, I could go on…it’s a great town!
Interesting on the horizon (PDX):
Opening “grey|area” at Guestroom Gallery this Friday, June 2. I am also having a small solo show in October at the still newish 12×16 Gallery on SE Division. On August 5th I will be “In Clover” (Mt. Scott Park, public art group show). In January my photographic objects have been included in an exhibition about “place” at Boise State University’s Visual Arts Center. Next year I am planning curatorial projects with both New American Art Union (April) and Newspace Center for Photography (October). My biggest news is that I will travel to Sweden for my first-ever solo exhibition abroad at the Neon Gallery in Brosarp to present “Infinitus”. This coincides with the conclusion of my ongoing Tribryd series of collaborative installations and the release of the CD/DVD set “triMIX” (the original soundtracks, de-constructed by Nobukazu Takemura, Mokira, Xela and several others). This will be released on Innova Recordings, part of the American Composers Forum.
WHAT TO DO NOW?